“You don’t own me.” The earlier confidence has left my voice.
His grip tightens around my throat as he snatches me up and slams me down on his bed, sending me into a coughing fit.
A little help here?I call on my wolf, but she just looks the other way.
You have a safe word. Use it if you don’t like it.
Oh, you are something else, I say to her.
I’m a better fighter, but my abilities don’t make up for the weight of his pure muscle. Without the help of my wolf, I’m pinned underneath him. Right now, I’m trapped. Shouldn’t this trigger my wolf to fight?
His face hovers over mine. “I like you like this...” He hisses the s.’ “In my room, in my bed, wearing my clothes, in my collar... andentirelyat my mercy.”
I like it, too. And that scares me more than anything.
“I’m sorry. I–I didn’t mean it... Master, please. Please don’t hurt me,” I add for effect.
“Mmm, good girl,” he growls. He runs his nose along my neck, raising goosebumps in his wake. He chuckles against my skin. “I like the way it sounds when you’re begging me for mercy. And I know it’ll sound even better when you scream for it.”
“Open.” When I do, he says, “Wider. Stick your tongue out for me.”
I obey, and he spits into my mouth. The unexpected action causes me to jump. I go to turn my head to spit it out, but he grips my face with one large hand.
“Nuh-uh. Swallow.”
I close my eyes and gulp his saliva.
“Good girl. Who owns you?”
“You do.”
He grins, and I immediately backtrack. I fumble and stammer over my words. “Wait! No—I meant. Psh, I mean, no. Obviously, you don’t own me. That’s—you’re—stop laughing!”
But, dammit, does he have me.
WARNING
This next chapter contains physical abuse, mental abuse, physical neglect, forced fighting, forced captivity, formation of a trauma bond, human trafficking, child death, discussion of sexual abuse and other violence from the point of view of a child. All instances are inferred and not in grave detail.
For those who find a content warning is not enough, please consider skipping to the next black page. There, you will find a summary of this chapter minus the explicit scenes. This will allow you to continue reading without fear of missing out on pertinent information or a need to not finish the book.
Others, please proceed with caution.
Chapter TWENTY-ONE
Jay’s first fight, weeks after being trafficked
“It’s your turn, Mylos.”
He shuffles in the dark shadows, groaning. He said he’s sore, and he didn’t want to play and would much rather sleep. But once he’d seen the puppy dog pouty face I’ve mastered with years of begging, he caved. It’s so boring. I don’t know why adults wouldn’t play all day every day.
I’ve named him Mylos because that seems to be what everyone else calls him. Plus, it’s fun to say.Mylos.
“Alright. Uh, A1.”
“Miss,” I say.
“How is that a miss?”
