Master eyes me as I approach him. He looks like a normal boy, and so I resist the urge to cower before him.

“You said you wanted to come in here, right?”

I do not recall saying that, but I nod. “I believe I said it before.”

Master eyes the group of children leaving the schoolhouse, then turns back to me. “Later. Let’s go to the forest.”

Everything from the previous visit floods back to me. I shiver, feeling the sting of the slaps, the kick in my stomach, the smell of muddy water and blood and vomit. But his anger was the largest part. “Will the others leave us alone?”

“Yeah. Come on.”

“I will make sure they do not follow us.”

He grunts. I follow him, feeling the pull on the leash for the whole walk.

“How was school today, Master?”

He turns around. “Do you have to ask me that every single day?”

“If you ask me to stop, then I will.”

“It was good.”

“Would you like me to stop asking, Master?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell you when you can start asking again.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Yes, Master.” His voice is slightly higher, like a copy of what I said. “Does she just give you a bunch of things to say over and over?”

I try to respond with a “Yes, Master,” but I stop. I use another answer. “The seer trained me to respond based on the situation. It is what a good omega is trained to do.”

“So you think you’re a good one.”

“I want to be the best servant for you, Master.”

“Does she teach you how to walk, too?”

“What do you mean, Master?”

He drops the leash and copies how I walk – his hands overlapping each other in front, his face neutral, taking small steps. “I am Kai. I am a slave. My master is Alair. I serve him.” His voice is higher, but without emotion. He walks in front of me and bows like I do. “How may I serve you, Master? Would you like me to walk you to school today? How was your day? Forgive me, Master, but I do not understand what you mean.”

I stand there, watching and listening to him. A fire prickles under my skin and I feel a sudden chill run through my body. The hair on my ears and tail tickle, like they are standing straight up.

“Oh, I seem to have made you angry, Master. How should I calm you down?”

Breathe. Run to your oasis. Breathe out. This is only a moment. This will not continue forever. Breathe in.

“Is little Kyrov getting angry?” he coos.

Breathe out. “I am fine, Master. I do not understand what you are trying to tell me.” The fire begins to fade, leaving me on solid ground. My hair lies flat again. My jaw relaxes, my shoulders slump slightly.

“Come on, you know you want to hurt me,” he sings. “Just try and hit me, wolf boy.”

“I do not do such things, Master.”

He cackles, and it sounds like my clan’s laughter. “One day!”

Then he swings his fist.

I roll across the earth, breathless from his punch. My chest aches slightly. My shirt is dirty again.

“You’re a toy.” He pushes me with his foot. “Stuck between dead and a dog.”

A layer of leaves and dirt cover me as I lie there, on the ground, and I cough out the dust. I feel the dull prickle of pine needles and tiny rocks, hear the scraping of his shoe against the earth. “They should be afraid of me,” he mumbles. “When did they start going against me?”

I cough again and sit up, watching him for more orders.

He eyes me, smiling. “I made you scared, right?”

“Master, I simply accept whatever you do to me. It is my duty to serve you.”

He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Whatever. You were scared.”

“I accept it, Master.”

“Yeah. You should.”

He sighs and pulls me up. “I’m going home.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Yes, Master.”

I watch him from behind as we walk. I feel no emotion coming from him. There is only the faint thumping of his bookbag against his leg as we walk home.