Wolf Dominion Volume 2

I’m agitated with pressure and need to steal back the true Alpha from Cat Dominion’s claws.

The eldest; Vastian. He was the most difficult to understand and the least predictable. He was valuable.

As for Imperator Opular, the unknown entity who rarely showed his face to the public of Genesis; he was also a concern. However, I was not going to worry until we were in the same room and I had his throat freshly ripped out in between my teeth.

The rule was simple. If you meet an immoveable force… if you have the rare chance – make the kill. I would always keep Jawkin’s advice close on hand.

And so, I make my way into the depths of Wolf Dominion that late afternoon – edging toward a blazing hot twilight. The trek through the tunnels underground back to Wolf Dominion are both heavily patrolled and busy – with Genesis Kind making their way to Cat Dominion for ID tagging. It’s the weak and the cowardly, looking to make an ally with the enemy. The only benefit would be total loyalty to Cat Dominion. I walk with the crowds, a heavy robe disguising my form as an older injured female. I keep inline for the public entry – and use my light footing wisely, sticking to crowds or families entering together.

Entering as a sole entity at the end wasn’t difficult. Sole traders were welcomed for gossip about all the Kinds battling for liveable territory on Genesis’ harsh terrain. Threats, wars and trades were all open for discussion; if you were fool enough to think Cat Kind cared beyond themselves.

Wolves were strict and brutal to enforce a general code on Genesis – but Cat’s were more about drama and theatrics and fame. At least that’s what I hear from the whispers around me.

Once back in the enemy’s territory, ID tagging is still so new that they don’t have a policy to check each arm of each newcomer – at least not yet. Just another good reason to act as quickly as possible.

I find a hole in the rock by the inflow to make my move. I pretend to fall and scream in pain by some patrols – pretending to have broken a bone in a freak accident.

My loud cry echoes around – drawing attention to me.

Cat Kind in their sand coloured robes crowd around to inspect my injury, and I act as a young girl might – scared and in pain. I whimper and sob simultaneously, unable to reason beyond, “I think I broke my arm on this rock! Please! Help me?!”

“Why are you here?” one of the Helpers tries to interrogate me further but I just cry profusely and pretend I am in too much pain to comprehend logic.

“It must be bad, let’s get her to the hospital,” one of the kinder Cats whispers and the others murmur in agreement as a stretcher is brought over. As I’m hauled up onto the stretcher, I pretend to pass out, while they talk about how I must be a lost orphan.

I get an express ride to the labs – connected to the general hospital ward of old Wolf Dominion. The moment I’m left unattended to wait in line for help, I coax one Helper into a back corner and a rubbish chute to make my first move.

I have enough teeth to kill them and draw blood – which is what I need.

But not before I ask them where Vastian is.

And Vastian is not in the labs.

He’s under the whole entire Dominion – in a classified area that I can enter through a hidden wall. My lovely new friend on death row also tells me how to enter – then I execute him. The details are irrelevant.

However, blood could be used in a variety of ways – such as to change your scent. Hades used to smear Reptile blood over his arm pits – it mixed with his body odour to create an illusion.

I do so with my fresh kill, stealing their robes and their smell.

I dispose of the body and stand tall, grimacing at the blood stains on the floor. I wipe away the mess with the corner of my new clothes and wipe my mouth clean of excess blood.

The taste of it made me hyper aware of the enemy. I would use my alert senses to get down to the classified area as quickly as possible.

The secret wall is in between the hospital and the start of the military labs, a Solividian fake – with grooves to feel for the key to open the light weight door.

As it slides aside silently. I make my way into the ‘Basement’.

It says so on the lightly lit corridor, leading down a fair way and winding consistently. No cameras. No security. Only those who know about this area are here.

So, it’s safe for them.

Heh.

I walk with my disguise allowing me to reach the first door, sealed and with hazards signs warning not to enter.

I open the door anyway – and I find Vastian.

He’s weighted down with many leg vices, and he slowly moves between tables, reading with a pen in his hand, muttering to himself.

Before he notices I am not a guard checking on him – I see one more familiar face.

Locked behind sound proofed glass is a naked Mila covered in bruises, her screwed up pretty face is against the glass, her hands banging on the cell front. I notice she isn’t pregnant anymore – but a violent scar lines her stomach, red and healed rough from the wound being opened multiple times.

Shit – what did they do to you, Mila?

She was beaten worse than Raygar and Fyre. Since she was captive, I assume she caused the most damage when free of confinement. She was vicious and knew no mercy for anyone but the wolves when she went on missions.

Now Mila’s eyes widen and then light up with my approach. I’m also feeling Vastian’s shocked gaze peer over as I make my move. I walk up and lower my hood so they both see a familiar face – and I grab an iron wrench to smash Mila’s cage open.

“Wait! Shit. I have a button,” Vastian calls out, voice husky and dehydrated but still somewhat dominant.

I lower my arm with the wrench and he points out a keypad next to the cell.

“Open it,” two simple words – and I’m pleased to see him lower his eyes to the keypad and enter the code in a rush.

As soon as the glass door lowers – Mila cries out a warrior’s distraught cry and rushes to me, filled with relief and hysteria.

I stand strong for her as she snatches my arms tight, her nails digging in with desperation. Mila smiles and snarls at once, pressing her forehead to mine, clutching my forearms as she meets my eyes and holds in her breath as she prepares to tell me something. In a whisper of tortured pain, she tells me straight, “They ripped my baby from my belly and murdered him in front of me, Ryder! You survived, you made it out, we have a chance – we have a chance and that’s all I need,” her eyes don’t blink or recede. Mila isn’t as broken as I first thought – she’s simply come alive with a mother’s instinct… but no baby. And then she mentions my own, “Your blood, your baby is alive. We’re going to take the new future Alpha back into our arms, won’t we Ryder… tell me you’re going to kill them all with me–?!”

“I’ll do what I have to, to reclaim my Dominion,” I use my words carefully, and Mila unhands me and pulls back, now smiling, “What of your fiancé?” I ask.

“Europa?” Mila bites on it, “He sold me out to them, told them I’m pregnant, to save himself and gain the symbol of Immunity from death,” Mila’s mouth twitches up and down as she tries to contain her twisting and internal rage, “…tell us how you found us...”

“I did what I had to,” I nod at them both, noting Vastian’s calculating silence, “I’m leading the new Wolf Dominion back to high power – and you’ll both do as I say. But first we’re all leaving back to Cracklen where I have a base to work out the rest of our plan.”

“Bold – but we both can’t go back with you,” Vastian speaks up, cold like me, “They’ll know something is suspicious – for one to escape, not too many questions will be asked. It’ll be a sole escape attempt. We need the advantage, don’t rush your plan… and I’ll follow your lead – for Wolf Dominion,” Vastian pledges loyalty too quickly, but it’d do for now.

I just stare at him.

I’d only truly believe him when he proved allegiance.

“You go, Vastian. I’ll stay to distract them; Alpha,” Mila looks back to her cage, “I can cope with the fighting, I enjoy the training. I learn their techniques in the Ring, Ryder.”

The Ring – it must be the Gladiator Ring Damion mentioned when he suggested Tyre throw me into that.

“They were throwing you to the lions?” I state, and Mila’s eyes are haunted with the memories of fighting as she looks back at me.

“Not just the Gladiator Ring,” Vastian’s eyes tell me of his sister’s further misfortune.

“They had their way with me,” Mila speaks up – and I feel sick, “But I learn how to fight better every time they do – Mzzry and I are built for sick battles. Scars of the flesh do not concern me.”

“…neither do they concern me…” I murmur, I didn’t want to leave her to suffer another lion fight alone.

“You don’t understand what they’re capable of,” Vastian warns me, “You don’t know Opular or Tyra’s nature –”

“Actually, I’ve met Tyra, personally – she knows who I am,” I tell him straight, “…she had the chance to kill me earlier today and didn’t. I was protected… from a favour of sorts… but I am still a Luna and she knows it now, yet still allowed me to get away as if I meant nothing. Why do you think Tyra dismissed me as a non-threat?” I ask Vastian, he would know.

“Well… Ryder… perhaps because you aren’t a threat… you weren’t here to stop the invasion – not that it was your responsibility or expected of you. You were as good as a slave under our direction at that time,” Vastian owns up to it, but neither does he apologise for it.

“…you both need to leave,” Mila urges us, her eyes darting to the walls, hearing the creaking from all around, suggesting company is coming.

“On your way… Ryder,” Vastian holds out a hand, his eyes hollow with his own torment under the Cat Dominion’s rule. He shows only moments of strength.

I hold up my hand, I stall a bit longer as I ask, “Gladiator’s win prizes if they win the fights, don’t they?”

“A lie. It is impossible to win, they have no moral issue to set out a pack of male lions to face one wolf,” Mila speaks through gritted teeth.

“…a small wolf, even with her military upgrade,” I add, “…but Xrat isn’t small – and I need to make sure he’s got more practice for war. Go,” I step aside, ushering Mila along, “I will pretend to be you – we look a lot alike when we’re dying and furious.”

Vastian is silenced, but he doesn’t have time to stop me.

Mila only hesitates briefly, holding my arm again. She opens her mouth to say something, but stops herself.

Silently she grabs Vastian’s arm and nods at him – and they prepare to leave together.

I choose to tell them only a small portion of the truth, “…make your way carefully to Cracklen and the rest will be sorted when you arrive…”

Mila helps to remove Vastian’s weights, while I look around this Basement. I don’t have time to ask what he’s doing down here while captive.

Before they depart, I get asked the question I don’t want to answer.

“…who will be waiting for us in Cracklen?” Vastian asks me.

“Family,” is all I manage to answer with – it’s the truth.

“Let’s hide and then leave,” Mila drags a freed Vastian into a closet by the exit, just before a Cat patrol arrives for a routine check.

I have a few good seconds, so I strip and throw my clothes out into the incinerator that all labs contain to minimise hazards.

And for the first time in my life, I willingly walk myself back into a cage.