Everything about his existence had become quite complicated but his present situation was fairly simple—he was chained to a bed. The thick steel collar that had been placed around his long neck was bespelled by the pack's most powerful witch, and he knew that there was no chance it or the heavy chains could be removed by force. Which left him trapped in the Alpha's bedchamber awaiting her return.
Since his pack's failed hunting expedition, this had become his life: sit and wait to be used. There had been five wolves, himself included, who dared to breach the perimeter of the Eudora Pack's property in hopes of catching that most prized of prey, a she-wolf. It was no secret that many of the packs, the Graven Pack included, were suffering from a critically low birthrate. Stemming from this, and the overall lack of females, was an eruption in intra-pack violence as wolves fought one another for the few available shes.
Of course, that had been several months ago and he had not laid eyes on any of his pack since their pathetic defeat. He had watched the she-wolves destroy two of his men in the midst of the skirmish, but once he was trapped and backed into the waiting cage he had lost sight of his remaining two wolves. Perhaps they too had been taken and were currently suffering a similar fate. In fact, he could only hope that was the case, as the alternative was much worse.
At the sound of the massive, ten-foot tall oak doors opening into the chamber, he kept his eyes focused straight ahead into the void. High heels clicked to announce the she's steps as she moved with the sensual grace of a cat toward his figure. Seated on the floor with his long legs outstretched, his large hands in his lap, and his back pressed against the massive platform of the otherworldly bed, he fought not to move a muscle as the powerful she-wolf sauntered to his side.
"I see that you're ignoring me once again," she purred as she continued past him and approached her monumental closet. Her long robes swished about her as she moved, her heels continuing to announce her steps. "Tell me, my pet, how has that worked out for you, thus far?"
He said nothing at the sound of her gowns falling to the tiles in a heavy pile, her heels tumbling to the side forgotten as her petite feet now settled down onto the cold floor and she lost easily six inches of height. She sighed. "Christopher, we really must reach an understanding between us. You have been here for nearly two months now, and I believe that I have treated you well. Have I not?"
The weight of the collar sat heavily on his neck and he couldn't help but make a noise deep in his chest. If this was hospitality, then this she might be drop-dead gorgeous but she was insane. Sure, the women of the Eudora Pack had fed him well, treated his few wounds, and spoken to him kindly, but he was a prisoner—nothing more.
Her toned and curvaceous body now as bare as his but glimmering in the light of the room's grand chandelier, the enticing female stood above him with her arms crossed beneath her sumptuously full breasts. "You understand why you are here, and it is no different from why you tried to take my Elissa. You saw something that you liked, you hungered for it, and you tried to take it by force. Well, pet, you and your men failed, and now you must pay the price. This sulking of yours is getting most tiresome, I must say."
Without a single word from him, she continued her rant. "You must understand that my pack is in a similar situation to your own: you are suffering with a need for females, we are without males. The end result is the same: without breeding pairs there are no future generations and the packs will perish. Therefore, the Eudora Pack has developed a system that works beautifully for us, and keeps our bloodlines strong while keeping us free from patriarchal tyranny."
"You capture men," he spit with a fiercely sullen rage. "You enslave us."
The Alpha giggled and it was the most sickeningly sweet, condescending sound, causing his spine to undulate. "Men of all species have been enslaving women for centuries, my pet. I am merely turning the tables and feeding you brutes a taste of your own medicine. Call it misandry if you like, but does it not taste delicious?"
She continued to move about the space, a goddess in human form. Soon she was lying on her stomach on the mattress, her long blonde dreadlocks falling down onto his bare shoulder. Her meticulously manicured, silky hand reached out and ran over the top of his head, petting him as though he were a prized feline. "My beautiful wolf, you must exorcise this ridiculous rage from your body and embrace your new life. It can be a good life if you will only embrace it with open arms!"
The vengeful silence hung heavy in the chamber as the large oak doors opened yet again, allowing a dainty young woman to enter. Imbued with a dangerously delicate and slim figure, along with deep auburn curls, the beautiful Circe was the pack's most powerful and gifted witch. Her small, red kitten heels announced her arrival as she wandered over to her Alpha, and presented herself with a smile full of glowing affection. "My lady." She curtsied with tender respect despite the fact that she was clothed in skin-tight leggings. "Do you wish the enchantment?"
Fighting to exude a callous sense of disinterest, Chris failed altogether as his honey irises grew wide at the witch's words. The chain connected to his collar jangled as he moved his head in the negative, despite the pervading sense of utter defeat that washed over his body. The Alpha continued to pet his raven locks lovingly. "Does my wolf not want to be used today? My poor, sweet pet," she taunted him in her bespelling alto. "It must be so heartbreaking for such a strong Alpha to be forced to relinquish all control to a fragile, little she-wolf. I promise you that you will eventually get used to serving beneath me. It's not such a bad position to be in, is it now?"
Circe's calm green eyes traveled the length of his reclined figure, devouring the wolf hungrily. She had performed the enchantment a total of three times now, which was enough opportunity to allow her a good assessment of Christopher—or, most importantly, his body. Sure, he had lost some muscle mass during his stay with the pack, but he was still the most beautiful wolf she had ever witnessed in the flesh. He was tall, easily over six feet of lean sinew, with deeply soulful brown eyes that seemed to communicate a narrative of their very own. He possessed a pair of powerfully large hands, no doubt a promise that he could easily best his prey, and despite this he was soft-spoken and, dare it be said, gentle. Although, perhaps that was merely the powerfully bespelled collar that clung to his long neck.