Chapter 9.

Iadin stepped through the living area and headed straight for the stairs, taking them two at a time. He continued up to the third floor and walked down a lavish hallway with curved arches. Lights glowed from maroon and gold spheres and the ever-present incense censers glinted from each archway.

Iadin stopped in front of a blue door and took a breath, drawing back his shoulders.

"Time to settle this." The alien said and dread curdled in Finn's stomach.

Iadin opened the door to a dome shaped chamber. Sapphire, lilac and emerald green throws, rugs and blankets were harpharzardly spread across the glossy black floor. A bed was in the center, partially shielded by ripped gossamer blue curtains.

"What a mess." Iadin snapped.

A tousled black head lifted from the green satin sheets and Finn tensed, arms tightening around Iadin.

"Finn!" Noni shouted and jumped up, only to be jerked back by a purple arm. Liler sat up and restrained the smaller feline, white tail lashing, as he bared his teeth.

Noni released a deep growl and flashed his teeth right back. Liler snarled.

"Stop!" Iadin shouted and two pairs of icy blue eyes focused on him.

Iadin placed an unwilling Finn on his feet and advanced on the felines. Liler hissed and spat, claws still clenched on Noni's shoulders.

Iadin grabbed him by the scruff and Liler howled, turning and tearing into the taller boy's arm.

Iadin clenched his jaw and wrestled the Ytra onto his stomach, placing a knee in the small of his back. He gripped the feline's light purple hair and ripped his head back.

"Cease!" Iadin hissed against the triangular ear flattened against Liler's scalp. "You are mine!"

Liler's hiss was cut off when Iadin bit hard into his neck.

A soft tail brushed against Finn's arm and he started violently. His attention had been so riveted, he hadn't noticed the feline approaching.

Noni's ears were drooping and he smiled tentatively. "Finn, are you okay?"

The Human hunched back against the wall, eyes flicking to the door.

"I didn't mean to bite you so hard. I'm sorry." Noni ran his tail silkily across the Human's flank and Finn clutched his arms around his middle.

He noticed the Ytra didn't apologize for biting him in the first place. He'd mentioned claiming Finn. As if he was a possession. Could it be pack mentality? It might have been justified in Noni's mind, but to Finn it had felt like a betrayal.

"Noni, I don't think I can talk about this." His hands were starting to shake again and his eyes stung.

Noni stepped closer and smoothed his fingers across Finn's cheek. So gentle, but those claws were incredible sharp.

"I never meant to hurt you. Finn, please look at me."

Finn reluctantly looked down the short way into large, mournful eyes. Noni's black hair was softly tousled around his white face and his pink mouth was trembling slightly.

"I just wanted you close to me. I wanted to protect you." Noni said quietly.

"By hurting me?" Now tears did slip down his cheeks.

He didn't feel mentally prepared for this at all. He wanted to curl up somewhere quiet and rest; process everything happening in his chaotic life.

The hand on his jaw slid down to rest lightly on his bandaged neck and Finn's breath caught.

"This," Noni said intently, "this means you're mine. That I'm your alpha and no one can touch you!"

"Except me!" Iadin barked. He stood with his hand on Liler's shoulder. The purple Ytra's ears were lowered and his slim neck bled steadily.

Noni's eyes narrowed and his hand tightened against Finn's neck, making the the Human gasp.

Iadin was beside them in an instant, long fingers wrapping around Noni's throat and lifting him off the floor.

"The only alpha around here is me. You don't claim anyone!" Iadin bared his teeth. His incisors weren't as sharp as an Ytra, but his greater size made them large enough to cause considerable damage.

Noni hissed and writhed, but Iadin drew him effortlessly forward and bit into his throat. The feline instantly stilled, arms falling to his sides and tail dropping limply.

Iadin drew back and pressed Noni the floor. The Ytra stared up at the larger boy with fretful eyes and blood ran down his white neck.

"Who's your alpha?" Iadin demanded.

Noni's mouth worked but all he managed was a small yip.

Iadin's molten eyes sparked and he pressed his fingers hard against Noni's torn throat. The feline screamed, and his tail puffed up, tears streaming down his face.

"Who?"

"Y-y-you!" Noni cried hoarsely and Iadin shoved him away.

The feline instantly curled up, tucking his poofed tail tightly around himself.

Finn watched in dumbfounded silence. Iadin glared at Liler next.

"Kneel!" He ordered.

The purple feline moved slowly forward, reluctance in each step, and Iadin snarled. A flick of his wrist sent Liler crashing to the floor and he was pressed to his back with a gold painted foot. Liler gasped and tucked his tail around his middle.

Iadin reached for Finn next. The Human yelped as he was yanked forward and Iadin tore his bandage off and licked a hot line up his throat. In the next instant his hair was seized in a tight grip and he was shoved in between the Ytra.

"This," Iadin snapped, and forced Noni's face against the Human's neck, "is mine!" He shoved Noni away and the feline yipped weakly. Liler's face was pressed against Finn next.

"And I claim each of you. You are submissive to me!" Liler hit the floor hard and actually yipped.

Iadin folded his arms and watched them beneath his sharp brows, eyes burning.

"You're going to stay here and behave for the rest of the day!" Iadin turned and strode out the door.

There was a moment of stunned silence, where Finn looked from one feline to the other. His hands were still shaking and his scalp stung. He looked at Noni's pitifully curled up shape, fuzzy tail and spine trembling, and his chest tightened.

He eased forward and brushed his fingers lightly against that velvety fur.

"Noni?" He spoke softly.

The feline's face was pressed against his tail and he didn't respond. Finn carefully stroked those silky ears and soft spine, until he heard a small sniff.

"Go away." Noni croaked and Finn's heart broke.

He eased himself around the smaller boy and brushed the tangled strands from his delicate face. Noni gasped wetly and turned away, but Finn held him tight.

"I want to be left alone!" Noni cried and covered his face with his hands. "I'm so ashamed!"

Finn would have left, if he thought that was what Noni truly wanted. But the smaller boy's resistant arms soon pulled him close and a satiny head pressed beneath his chin.

Finn looked up to see Liler had moved away to lean against the wall and the he was thankful. The idea of dealing with the purple feline made him positively nauseous.

Iadin returned and raised a brow at the entwined boys, but made no comment. Liler was treated first - never moving from the spot or uttering a sound.

Next was Noni. Iadin huffed at the way the feline clung to Finn and tilted back the sniffling boy's chin, wiping and spraying his throat. Finn merely received a small swipe on his neck with a damp cloth.

"It's healed now." Iadin said and pressed a brief kiss to Finn's lips, before leaving the room.

Noni's tears were gradually easing and he pulled back a fraction to look up at Finn with swollen eyes.

"Is he always this awful?" He rasped and Finn managed a strained smile.

"No...he hasn't been cruel to me." Finn hesitated as he thought, apart from now. Though it didn't compare to Noni's brutal treatment.

The Ytra watched him closely and his face crumpled.

"I wanted to protect you..." Noni sniffled.

Protect him? Own him? Claim him? It didn't didn't sit right with Finn, but there were too many thoughts to process and nothing threatening in the small, injured body clinging to him; seeking comfort. He pulled the feline closer and stroked his furred spine.

Noni gave a watery sigh and melted against him, tail curling around his waist.

Noni's breaths soon deepened into sleep and Finn's eyes were just starting to close, when the door opened. Iadin placed a case on the floor and gestured to Finn.

"Come here."

The Human's eyes flicked apprehensively from the case to Iadin, but he carefully disentangled himself from Noni's warm limbs and stepped forward.

Iadin tinkered through the case and drew out a silver disk that he touched to Finn's Keafule bracelet. The transmitter clicked open in a spike of needles and Finn gasped with pain.

The taller boy wiped his stinging arm and sprayed it with the itching substance. Next he repeated the process with Noni and Liler.

Noni woke with a shocked gasp when the bracelet unhooked and quaked at the sight of Iadin. The taller boy absently scratched Noni's ear and stepped back to Finn, pushing him to his back.

Iadin brushed his hand over Finn's chest and pinched his nipple, making the Human flinch and squirm.

"Don't move." Iadin said, as he swiped an astringent cloth over the area and picked up a slim gold device.

He riffled through the case again, the contents jingling, and selected a grey gem with silver triangles fanning around it.

He held it briefly to Finn's chest and tilted his head thoughtfully. He seemed to come to a decision and deftly attached it to the device.

Finn's mouth tightened, and he clenched his fists, as Iadin pressed the cold metal to his nipple and braced one hand against his side.

The piercing punched through and Finn hissed out a breath. The pain was brief, but as he breathed out shakily a soreness spread over the area.

Iadin was already attaching an identical gem to the device and swiped Finn's nipple before punching the piercing home.

The Human made a small noise of protest and took a deep breath. The thought of needles brought out a cold sweat on his brow and a lump in his throat. Iadin hummed and pushed back Finn's damp curls.

"Good boy." He said airily and reached into the case a third time.

Finn's mouth pooled with sickening saliva when the cloth swiped over his belly button and strong fingers pinched the skin taut. He struggled to breathe evenly as the third needle drove through the skin.

As before, the pain was brief but soreness spread through his stomach and his pulse beat in his throat.

"Hm..." Iadin brushed his hand over Finn's side and considered him with a professional distance.

At last he wiped Finn's ears and the Human couldn't suppress a groan when a pair of shimmering silver disks were punched through his lobes.

His chest heaved and aches spread throughout his body. A fine layer of sweat covered his face and Iadin mopped his brow with an exasperated huff.

"It's not that bad." The alien scoffed but his dabbing motions were gently.

He crossed his long legs and rested his cheek on one hand, observing Finn through half closed eyes. He tapped his bow shaped mouth with one gold painted finger and reached into the case yet again.

Finn closed his eyes and swallowed convulsively, hoping it would be over soon. The cloth wiped over his crotch and he yelped, scrambling back.

"Stay still!" Iadin barked, eyes flashing dangerously.

Finn shook his head frantically and his eyes filled with horrified tears.

He staggered to his feet and was hit by a wave of dizziness. His vision swam and the next thing he knew he was on his back with a weight settling on his knees.

"Hold his arms!"

Strong fingers wrapped around his wrists and forced his arms above his head.

A cool mist sprayed over his dick, while Finn breathed frantically. The spots gradually faded from his eyes and he looked straight up into Liler's slit gaze. His breath released in a whimper.

"Don't look at him!" Finn looked straight ahead into glowing eyes.

"Focus. Breathe." Iadin said, face hard and uncompromising.

Finn sobbed, but took a deep breath through his nose and out through his mouth. He jerked when his shaft was gripped in a large hand and Iadin hissed out a breath in annoyance, settling his weight heavier on Finn's legs.

There was a pinch at the base of his shaft and Finn held his breath, shutting his eyes tight. A jingle of jewelry sounded and cold metal pressed against the sensitive skin.

"Breathe." Iadin reminded him and Finn gulped in a deep breath. The needle stabbed through and the Human let out his breath in a wail.

He whimpered as tears poured down his cheeks and his groin throbbed with savage pain.

Iadin hummed soothingly and pinched the skin near his tip.

Finn abandoned all remnants of pride and pleaded shakily, "Please! Don't!"

The needle tore through him a second time and he screamed. The blood in his veins seemed to gather agonizingly in that area and nausea bubbled up his throat. He turned his head and vomited.

"Ugh!" He faintly heard Iadin's disgusted exclamation and then a ringing gathered in his ears.

Finn struggled to open his eyes but was met with nothing but darkness.

He felt the weight lift off his legs and his torso was hauled up. His head fell back against a firm shoulder and a cloth wiped over his mouth, face and torso.

The ringing faded in and out, while he faintly heard Iadin's voice.

"...him drink that..."

"...in the evening..."

The voice distorted into something unrecognizable and Finn panted, tasting bile, until he thankfully slipped away into darkness.

He drifted for a long time, feeling hands brush gently over his hair and arms, before he slept again.

He woke to unbelievable pain and groaned, followed by a whimper. His ears, chest and stomach all ached, but it was nothing compared to the hot pounding in his groin. He opened his eyes to more misery.

Liler's sharp profile greeted him and the Ytra's ear twitched before he glanced down at Finn.

The Human licked his dry lips and said nothing. His head was cradled in Liler's lap and he was in too much pain to move. Completely at the feline's mercy.

Liler's face was unreadable as he reached to the side and lifted a glass to Finn's lips. The Human drank deeply - the drink was cold and fresh, easing his parched throat. He wet his lips and tasted something faintly like thyme and citrus.

The Ytra set the glass down and his eyes drifted over Finn expectantly.

The Human frowned faintly, but then he felt it. Blissful cold eased into the burning spots on his skin. The pain slowly alleviated, until he shivered with a mix of exhaustion and relief.

Liler seemed to sense the change and slipped an arm beneath Finn's waist, tugging the smaller boy against his chest. Finn made a small noise of protest, but his mind was already swimming and his limbs felt weighed down.

"It's a pain relief and a sedative." Liler murmured, voice completely different from the few times they had spoken. It was soft. Almost kind.

Finn blinked blearily up at the feline, head too heavy to prevent his cheek from pressing into a warm purple chest.

"Don't you hate me?" Finn mumbled.

Liler blinked down at him, icy eyes only curious.

"No." The feline said slowly and a soft shape curled over Finn's waist, mindful of his piercings. Liler's tail.

"You're my brother. We have an alpha." The feline continued and a second caress had Finn's swollen eyes drift shut.

Just before sleep he thought he heard.

"You'll respect that."