Elara froze the second his voice filled the room.

"Spread your legs, Elara."

The way he said her name-slow, calm, and deliberate-sent a cold shiver through her.

This was the second time he'd spoken it tonight, and somehow the sound of it in his mouth hit differently: soft, heavy.

She obeyed immediately.

Stop, she warned herself. Don't think. Don't feel.

She waited, longing for a touch, for anything-but nothing came.

The absence was worse than pain.

Was this all part of her punishment, or did sex slaves not deserve pleasure? Making her feel unworthy even of being touched? As if holding her might grant her comfort, might make her feel human again, and he refused to allow even that.

The first thrust caught her completely off guard.

It wasn't just unexpected... it was brutal, deep, and hard, searing pain through her body.

"Ahhhh!" Elara's screams tore through the chamber, clutching the bedsheets as if they were the only thing keeping her strong.

He was too big for her... too huge for her tight pussy, leaving her bleeding and confused. Was it because it was her first time or because of his hard, brutal thrusts?

There was no one to ask.

No mother.

No comfort.

No answers.

Now she was here again.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric as agony tore through her, worse than anything she'd ever endured, even worse than watching her father be executed. This particular pain pierced deeper.

Kane did not slow his pace.

He did not care.

His dick thrust deeper inside Elara.

"Ahhhh!" Elara groaned, a low cry escaping her throat-half sob, half pounding breath. This wasn't desire. It was nothing close to it.

It was punishment.

Pure torture.

When he pulled out, Elara gasped, clinging to the brief relief, but it vanished as quickly as it came when Kane thrust into her again.

She bit down on her lip, fighting back her cries. What if he grew angrier? What if it got worse?

Tears streamed freely now, blurring her vision.

Her pussy stretched beyond its limits, every nerve screaming. It was unbearable.

"My lord!" she cried, instinctively trying to move-but he pinned her down.

"My lord, please!" she begged.

"My lord..." she whispered again. "Please... be gentle."

Her words meant nothing.

He did what he came to do.

He punished her.

He said nothing.

The silence was merciless.

"My lord, please!!!" she screamed. Not a single word or sound came from him, not even a moan, but the torture only increased. He was really punishing her with all he had.

"That hurts, Kane!" Elara shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He pulled out of her, and her face fell on the bed. She couldn't breathe; her pussy felt so hot and it stung. She swallowed hard, but still, she couldn't move her body or remember that she had just called him by his name.

**She called you by your name.** His wolf muttered...

Kane ignored him, staring at the bloodstain on the bed...

**I love her audacity. He continued. And she's a virgin too.**

**"Shut up,"** Kane snapped and cut off the link.

He walked away. Elara sat up weakly and helplessly, sweat dripping down her body, her face covered in tears and her long black hair sticking to her wet skin.

She felt something wet dripping down her thighs. She sniffed, not bothering to look. She had never felt such pain in her life. She had just lost her virginity to the same man who ordered the execution of her father.

She stood up, limping towards the door when she heard Kane's cold voice.

**"If I meet you in my chamber, you will send my regards to your father."** The door slammed shut.

Elara swallowed painfully before forcing herself to move. Every step was torture. Her legs shook as she dressed slowly and carefully, leaning against the wall for support.

She made it into the lounge before her strength failed.

She collapsed.

Holding onto a pole, she dragged herself upright again.

Guards stared openly as she passed, their eyes following her battered form-but none of them moved to help.

They wouldn't dare.

Elara kept walking.

**She's just faking it.**

**I'm sure she enjoyed every bit of it.**

Elara wept, hearing their cruel words.

Crying.

Alone.

********

"Is this how I'm going to live for the rest of my life? A sex slave?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by the presence of Lady Anika; five maids walked closely behind her, and Elara wondered who she was.

"His mistress?" she swallowed. "Why would his mistress come here?"

**To be with the Alpha,** her wolf voiced out.

Elara rolled her eyes and tried to ignore her.

Like she read her thoughts, Lady Anika blocked her path.

"Good evening, Lady Anika," Elara bowed.

Anika gave her a sweet smile, surprising her maids, who had expected her to lash out at Elara.

"Oh, poor child," she said with a fake sadness in her voice.

Elara swallowed and said nothing.

"I know what is going through your mind... I feel your pain, child. As long as you breathe the same air I breathe, Elara, you will be subjected to more pain. I will make sure of that," Anika swore in a serious tone.

Elara's lips parted, but she didn't utter a word.

"Can I leave, my lady?" Elara bowed.

How dare you? Anika raised her hands to strike Elara, but instead, she clenched her fists, remembering Kane's words not to interfere in his affairs.

"What were you doing in Kane's room?" Anika asked, leaving Elara speechless.

"I just asked a question!" Anika yelled.

"The Alpha's affairs are private, and I can't discuss them with his mistress," Elara replied with a shaking voice.

"So the Alpha fucked you?" Anika asked, and Elara managed to nod her head.

"And now you think you have the same right with me?" Anika asked.

Elara immediately went on her knees. "May the goddess take my life if I ever wished to be like you!" Elara said.

Anika moved closer, and Elara swallowed in fear.

"I'm here to warn you... Just because Kane fucked you on the same bed that worships my body means nothing. You're nothing to him... You will always remain beneath me, Elara!" Anika yelled.

"Yes, my Lady," Elara bit her lips, fighting back her tears.

"I will make your life a living hell in this palace!!"

"Please... my lady," Elara stammered.

Lady Anika glared at her one more time before storming out of the lounge.

*********

Kane scoffed the minute he walked out of his inner chamber and met an empty room, except that it left no evidence of what happened...

**How do you feel?** His wolf asked.

**Not now, tyrant,** Kane growled.

He immediately mind-linked his Beta.

"Shift and meet me outside the palace. Now."

A pause.

"It's past midnight, Kane," Luciano muttered. "What's this all about?"

"Meet me outside. No more questions," Kane cut off the link.

Kane was already outside when Luciano appeared.

"I need the run."

Another pause.

"You usually only say that when something's clawing at your head."

Kane said nothing, already moving, stripping off the weight of the castle, going on all fours. The night air bit into his skin-cold and fresh, unlike everything inside the palace walls.

Bones cracked, clothes shredded, muscles tore and reshaped. The air changed as his wolf broke free, massive and black as the night itself. He leaped from the balcony, landing heavily on the earth before sprinting into the forest.

Luciano caught up quickly, grey fur flashing beside him as they ran side by side through the trees, the earth groaning beneath their paws. The wind carried their mighty howls, sending the weaker creatures of the forest running for safety.

They ran hard. Fast. Far.

Only when the pack's borders were miles behind them did they finally slow, stopping near a riverbank. Luciano shifted back first, breathing hard, hands on his knees.

"You don't call for a run unless something's wrong," he said aloud. "So talk."

Kane shifted back as well, standing tall, expression cold, moonlight shimmering in his dark hair.

"There's nothing wrong."

Luciano scoffed softly. "That's a lie."

Silence stretched between them, broken only by the rush of water nearby.

Luciano stared at him, crossing his arms. "Is this about Draven?"

Kane's jaw tightened...

"No."

"You killed your father's closest friend," Luciano continued carefully. "His second-in-command. A man who helped raise you. Even if he deserved it."

"He did," Kane cut in coldly.

"I know," Luciano said. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't weigh on you."

Kane's eyes darkened. "I don't regret killing Beta Draven."

His words were firm. Absolute.

Luciano studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "All right."

Another silence.

"Did you touch her?" Luciano asked.

The question landed heavier than any accusation.

"Yes."

Luciano raised his brows, just slightly. "How does Anika feel about all this?"

Kane looked away, staring at the river as if it held answers he refused to seek.

"She was a virgin."

Luciano gasped.

"That... complicates things."

"It changes nothing," Kane replied flatly.

"Doesn't it?" he pressed. "Because from where I stand, you didn't just punish her. "You took her virginity."

Tyrant stirred, restless and irritated.

"She is paying for her father's sins," Kane said. "That is all."

"And what if the goddess decides to mate with you two?" Luciano asked.

"There will be no bond," Kane snapped. "No mercy. No love."

Luciano sighed. "You keep saying that. Loudly. Repeatedly."

Kane faced him, eyes blazing. "Say what you're thinking."

Luciano smiled, then spoke carefully. "You wouldn't need this run if she meant nothing to you."

Silence.

The river rushed on.

Kane clenched his fists. "This conversation is over."

"As you wish," Luciano said, holding up his hands.

The forest suddenly felt too quiet.

Somewhere, far behind the palace walls, Elara was bleeding, broken, and alone-and Kane told himself it was none of his concern.

They shifted again.

Disappearing into the woods.