Baron held me up so Michael could strap the chastity belt back on. They each had a key to it, so whenever I needed something from down there, I had to ask for their permission.
It was a magical device, so the openings would move on their own, clean on their own, but the moment something got near, it would close, blocking the path.
It was a perfectly crafted thing and I hated it. I hated it. I wanted to break it. But I couldn't. I had to wear it. It was my punishment.
Michael grinned at me, "I bet you are regretting it now, aren't you, Little Miss?"
I didn't answer and looked down. He didn't have to rub it in.
Baron wrapped my legs around his waist, walking away from the camp, "You can sleep if you are tired. You are not going to miss anything, believe me."
"I'm...not tired," I said, and yawned, "Just sleepy. It's not the same. Sleepy, not tired," I corrected myself, "I can sleep anytime, but I'm not tired."
I was babbling nonsense again, and he seemed to understand it, nodding along.
I wondered why they took me along for a walk until they hid their presence, and I saw why. It was for a hunt. We were hunting. And I was a bait.
I should as well take a nap, almost forgetting my biggest usefulness to the pack. My only usefulness.
I was a good bait, my scent was strong, my instincts were weak, and my meat delicious and tender. So they were going to have a nice and quiet feast. I wasn't tired though. I wasn't.
Night beasts were a higher class; they looked at the rest of the animals like they were nothing more than mere insects.
Extremely hard to catch and even harder to kill. The most dangerous trait was their ability to make themselves invisible.
For Michael, who didn't need eyes, their invisibility meant nothing.
I heard a few thuds and cracking sounds and soon we were back to the tent.
Everyone had a different sleep schedule and mine matched Moyu's, who was already deep asleep in his spot.
Skaris was also sleeping, while the rest were gone. I blinked my eyes in confusion. Gone where?
"They have some business to take care of and left for a few days. They will be back soon," Baron said, placing me on the bed and tucking me in, "It's just going to be the five of us for a few days. I hope you are okay with that."
Moyu, Skaris, Baron, Michael and me. It sounded lonely with half the family missing. And surely enough, it felt that way.
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Baron was doing the laundry in the river while I was soaking my legs in the water. I wanted to help him, but he refused to let me.
"I'm supposed to take care of you, not the other way around," he explained, "Moyu's training can be harsh, you will need all the energy you can get."
As if summoned, Moyu soon called me over to teach me how to tap into my beast senses and abilities. I could only shift, and that was the only thing I knew how to do.
I quickly got out of the water and followed him, sitting under the shade of a tree.
"Our spouse will try to get rid of you the first chance she gets. You have to learn how to create a mate bond with her before that happens," he added, "That's how we did."
"But she looks like she doesn't want to get rid of me anymore?" I asked.
Moyu chuckled and shook his head, "Once she finds a better place for you to live, she will kick you out," he said, "Her feelings don't matter in this situation. She will do what's best for you."
He offered me his arm, "Bite me. Hard."
I held his forearm with both of my hands and opened my mouth, but quickly closed it, not sure how to do it. "Won't it hurt? I...I don't want to hurt you."
"Bite," he repeated.
I opened my mouth again and closed my teeth around the skin. He didn't flinch and just kept looking at me, waiting.
I bit down harder.
He blinked and I blinked back. He raised his brow and I tried again, this time putting all my strength into it. I was biting down so hard my mouth was getting tired and I had to stop.
"..." he took his forearm back and looked at the untouched skin, not a single mark left on it, and I felt terrible about it, "Did you even try?"
"I did!" I bobbed my head up and down, "With all my might."
"Try again," he offered his forearm again.
I took his arm again and took a deep breath. I was going to do it this time. I was going to do it.
I opened my mouth wide and bit down on it, putting all my might into it. My face scrunched up and I groaned at the effort, and I was biting him so hard my eyes started to water, "Grrr...rgh...!"
He looked unimpressed, his lips pressed together as I continued biting him and hurting my teeth in the process.
"You are a horrible biter," he said and put his hand on top of my head, "Let's try claws."
He removed his arm and inspected the surface, finding no trace that I ever put my teeth on it, the saliva being my only proof, "Show me your claws. Let's hope they are sharper than your teeth."
I wanted to cry, lifting my hands and showing him my blunt nails, "I don't have claws...I don't have any."
He sighed and poked my cheek, "You have no claws, no fangs. How do you hunt? How do you defend yourself?"
"I...I don't," I replied, fumbling with my hands, "I am a prey...Preys don't hunt. We are the food."
"..." he looked at me with a frown, "You are not food, alright?"
"..." I didn't reply.
"You are not food," he said, his voice firmer this time, "Now try to scratch me," he offered me his forearm again.
He was not going to let it go, was he?
I better try harder this time.