Wolf Dominion Volume 2

I couldn’t sleep. That was nothing new.

Having the place to myself, before Hades’ return – I brave the mirror.

It’s showing washed and brushed hair, a clean face and my simple metal woven dress. Hades said it would be lightweight armour for the night. It wasn’t enough to make me feel courage.

I was free but I was a monster inside, one layer underneath.

What place did she have here?

I have enjoyed freedom on the outskirts, but to really join the people out there, to actually interact with them socially was a huge step I hadn’t been willing to take. To learn to reach.

When Hades tried introducing me to Cindy, she tried to kill me.

Multiple people tried to kill me in the last 90 days.

But I couldn’t let it stop me being alive; living.

“They’re all dead,” I tell myself in the reflection, imagining vividly the braids I used to wear and the charcoal around my eyes.

Maybe I could use parts of the old her – to give me a bit of courage to go back outside. A dose of bravery.

I was sick of feeling inadequate, or always telling myself I would wait until I was ready.

“You’ll never learn to be ready,” I pretend it’s Jawkin, who was most likely dead too, “You just have to be ready.”

I had an idea of how to spend the rest of this night.

There was a neighbour a door over, one of Hades’ allies in the Shade network.

Luxor was always offering to chat when I came back from work, if he was hanging out in the wide corridor, taking a smoke.

He would be a good start to try social engagement.

Hades never explained what any of his friends got up to, beyond ‘it’s their business, not mine’. Perhaps it was to encourage me to explore.

I’d find out myself.

I still remember Lemeri’s quick fingers as she once braided my long thick hair. I braid it now, one chunk at a time. I then use a charcoal stick Hades kept for decorating his face whenever he felt like it – to decorate mine.

Once done up, I slip off the dress and I put on my work clothes instead. A white tank top, cameo pants and a belt and boots.

I then make my way down to Luxor’s door, and I knock on the vibrating metal.

Music plays loudly from the inside.

Perhaps a party?

Despite my quiet knock, the door is manned. As always – he’s right there.

Luxor was a Bear Shade and they were notorious horders – so I expect to see a residence filled with useless but sentimental junk perhaps.

Luxor swings open the heavy door, drunk but aware. He hides the inside of his place while leaning one arm up and looking me over with admiration and surprise.

He’s damn tall like Hades, like all Shades – a bit on the older side with greying hair and large yellow eyes.

“Hey,” I force my cold tongue to move.

“Didn’t recognise you for a second,” Luxor blinks slow, and holds my eyes politely, “You finally braving the free world, darls? Proud of you.”

“Finally? I was never running if that’s what you meant,” I start to snap and he holds up a hand.

“Calm down, calm down, I wasn’t attacking you,” Luxor speaks low, but I note some condescension in his tone that rubs me the wrong way.

Fuck – I was overreacting already.

“Um… I apologise,” I force out these submissive words, “May I… come in? Or is this a privately held party?”

“I’m never shut to the public,” Luxor scoffs and stands back, waving an arm back, “You’re welcome, you’re a charge of Hades and that makes you an ally.”

I nod as I slip into a very dark residence, with blue neon lights lining the ceiling in a strange dim pattern.

I hear a few rattles as I look around, while Luxor murmurs about getting me a drink and telling me to take a seat.

Couches in a ring are filled with men smoking and doped out on drugs or alcohol, or both. They listen to music, while some women are… well, servicing them.

Sex wasn’t a shy thing in Cracklen.

I don’t care.

But… then, as the door abruptly slams open behind me and I hear Hades call out my name – my eyes focus hard on the dark wall on the left.

Fuck you, Luxor.

Fuck you.

I’m in shock.

I see cages. Filled. Five slaves in heavy chains and blindfolded.

I can barely see the hunched forms but I can read… the label above.

It gets worse for my triggers.

‘$ Wolf Dominion Bitches $’

Breathing in sharp, I immediately turn on my heel to face Hades, who’s in the door looking panicked.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” Hades growls out, trying to dominate.

“Leave her alone, Hades,” Luxor ‘defends’ me, lightly coming up behind me with a shot glass.

I turn on my heel again to spin and look Luxor in the eye.

“The cages,” I state the two words – it’s enough to have Luxor know what I’m asking.

He smiles, cheeky, “My side business, darls – I paid a lot of money to get them in. For all I know they’re the last of them, I’m making big big gains and everyone gets their high off of showing them their new place,” he makes it sound normal.

“I was in a cage,” I state to Luxor – I haven’t blinked and he’s still holding out the shot glass, awkwardly.

Hades’ heavy hand lands on my shoulder, “He’s a dear friend, Ryder,” he tries to explain it away, “Come home. You shouldn’t be here.”

Luxor loses his kind smile when he realises I’m not going to take his fucking drink.

His large yellow eyes turn menacing. “If you don’t like it –” his lips start to snarl up in the corners. Animalistic. He would dare…

“We’re leaving,” Hades snarls louder than him and suddenly grabs both my elbows, hauling me around and shoving me out fast – and damn rough.

By the time I spin around and try to run back in, Hades has exited after me and slammed the door shut, catching my wrists.

“Inside with me, now,” Hades walks me back and forces us both into his home, swiftly locking the door behind us.

I stand in the middle of the room, back straight and eyes cutting through him.

No need to rush.

I had time to figure this out.

Hades faces me with a raised hand, hovering in the air, “It’s not my business. It’s the way of the Shades – so stay out of it.”

“No.”

Hade’s green eyes flash.

“Why did you do yourself up like that?” Hades tries to change the subject, “You’re not her anymore.”

“I was in a cage – !”

“I know!” Hades snaps over me, cutting me off.

So do I.

I walk toward him, making my way to the door.

He said he’d never stop me – never force me to stay anywhere.

Now, Hades snakes his hand around my elbow and jerks me into his giant chest, growling in a sudden intense snarl of passion over the top of my head.

“What do you want me to do… Luna.”

Excuse me?

I – I look up at him, my breath almost hitching as I state, deadpan, “Kill Luxor and free the slaves –”

I haven’t even inhaled a breath and Hades suddenly unhands me, turning and stopping to unlock the door he bolted shut at every hinge.

“I’ll be ninety fucking seconds, fuck you bitch,” Hades snarls back at me – raging but agreeing to subdue me.

But he…

…he’s obeying me?

Keeping me calm and out of trouble.

My heart pounds in my chest as he exits swiftly.

I wait for him to return, fucking shell-shocked is an understatement.

I’m deeply impressed.

If he really does this… I’m going to fuck his brains out when he gets back.