*Content warnings in description*
It took nearly two weeks for them to catch Lan.
He had made a fatal mistake on the tenth day.
One of the vanguard stumbled upon him and instead of running, he had engaged. Why exactly Lan thought that was a better idea—well, he had no idea. Some sort of fight or flight instinct kicked in and for once, he had chosen to fight.
When the vanguard member laid at his feet spurting blood and whimpering his final wails, Lan knew that this was the worst outcome.
There was no sense of victory. Just confusion and an impending sense of dread.
If he were someone else—another packmate or a rival wolf—this wouldn’t be so terrible. In fact, they might even praise him for getting rid of a weak member. A light punishment might be used for appearances but overall, the strong speak among wolves.
No. This is betrayal.
A toy. An undesirable. What right did Lan have to be anything more than that? They wanted him because he was tough enough to fight back but too weak to win.
All this victory proved was that they had chosen incorrectly. Lan was a danger to their pack and would need to be eliminated.
He ran. Harder and faster than he’d ever run before.
It wasn’t enough. Once they discovered their fallen packmate, it lit a new fire under them. They had a reason to capture Lan. He would be soundly tortured for this before being torn apart. That was the only option left.
Three days later, they cornered him near the border of Germany.
Lan honestly thought Nyx was going to tear straight through his neck, but instead, he ordered the others to make vehicle arrangements.
“He won’t be able to run when I’m done with him.”
Those were the last words he spoke before shifting and sinking his teeth into the claim. Lan cried out but could do nothing as the vanguard dispersed and Nyx dragged him off into the woods. His limbs were dangling uselessly, body refusing to cooperate so long as his owner held him.
As they traversed through shrubbery, they came upon one of many hideouts. Given their role, it was only natural that Nyx had plenty of secret caves and complexes. Him and his team needed shelter wherever they went, after all.
Lan had never been to this particular one. It was smaller than the others with a far more elaborate tunnel system. He ignored the mounting fear in his body as Nyx dragged him further and further inside. The darkness didn’t bother him, but the sense that this was going to be different from every other beating became clearer.
He’s not going to let me die easily.
That singular thought replayed in his mind as Nyx threw him across the enclosure. Lan skidded, catching himself before he slammed into the wall. If this was where he had to make his last stand, he would do it.
No amount of bonding or claiming would stop him from putting up a decent fight.
“Aren’t you excited?”
Lan snarled back. Was he being taken lightly? Why would Nyx shift back to a Human now? It would only make it that much harder to dismember Lan with Human hands and teeth.
“Death isn’t your only option.”
He tensed, teeth bared.
Nyx’s eyes glowed in the darkness, lips curled up in such a bizarre mixture of cruelty and interest. It was like being appraised by a collector with only had bad intentions. He pushed his hair back, the long dark tresses falling behind massive shoulders.
“I don’t like my possessions going off on their own. Making trouble and causing chaos in the pack. By all rights, you should be dead.” He laughed and the sound made Lan’s fur stand on edge.
When Nyx calmed, he spoke in a low, lulling tone. “I also lead the vanguard. I know what we need, and I have no qualms about making use of what’s in front of me. Finding a new packmate to replace the one you killed will take time.”
Lan watched warily as Nyx took a step toward him.
“But I can’t exactly trust you to be a loyal temporary replacement. What if you go ahead and bite through another one of our necks?” He closed in and Lan snapped his jaws before he could think. Nyx barely grunted as sharp teeth lodged in his thick forearm.
Biting down harder, Lan tried to get through the bone. Completely tear his arm off. Stop him before he could go further.
It didn’t work though.
The claim was still there and in no universe could Lan truly defy it. I can’t kill my owner no matter how much I want to.
He held on tightly though, panic rising the longer he kept his teeth sunken into Nyx’s flesh.
“I thought you’d been trained enough to know right from wrong. I hoped you understood who owns you.” He didn’t sound upset. Not exactly. There was something awful and wrong about his tone though. Lan had seen flashes of something darker and unhinged in Nyx, but it was always controlled.
Right now, he could see it clearly.
The deranged twist of his features made Lan’s blood run cold.
“Maybe we need to try a variety of methods until something sticks.” Nyx dug sharp claws into the back of Lan’s neck. Immediately, his muscles unclenched, and his jaw slackened. Nyx shook his arm free, the wound closing withing seconds. “I don’t mind disciplining you here until we understand one another.”
Nyx shifted back to a wolf and Lan braced himself.
Endure. Hold out. I can find a way.
He silently recited that mantra as each of his bones cracked and popped. His fur was ripped, and his flesh scraped off. Cruel laughter ricocheted off the walls each time his jaw was torn off its hinges again and again.
The few times he couldn’t control his body and shifted back into a Human were the worst. So long as he maintained that weakened form, he was beaten until blood slickened every inch of stone. His organs ruptured and healed so fast he sometimes wondered if he just imagined the pain.
Was this a special hell? A wolf could regenerate at such a maddening pace that death was almost a joke. Only old age or murder would end their lives.
He didn’t know how long they were at it, but every time he healing slowed, Nyx merely force fed him until he had enough strength to go on.
Lan hadn’t seen another vanguard member since the “training” began. They were most likely hidden away. No one wanted to get in the way of Nyx when he was in a brutal mood and it seemed like he was always in such a mood now.
“Your eyes are the problem.”
Lan blinked slowly, consciousness fading in and out. He was Human again based on the thick purpling bruises across his furless arms. The stench of his own blood and vomit filled the small cave and it only made his stomach roil.
Crouching over him, Nyx lifted one of his arms casually, examining his handiwork. “I’ve seen what someone looks like when they’ve broken.” He chuckled. “All your comrades who were chosen by the pack have given up.”
“We aren’t comrades.” Lan barely recognized his own voice. It was shredded and raw. How many times had he screamed until the world turned black?
Ignoring him, Nyx continued, “Their gazes are empty. They automatically kneel and open up to whoever comes their way, owner or not. It doesn’t matter to them. They’ve accepted what they are and live by a new set of rules.”
He traced the fine Human bones in Lan’s wrist. “But you look the same as the first time I saw you. Bold and emotional and so disgustingly naïve.” Nyx twisted his arm, listening to the telltale snap of Lan’s wrist.
He barely flinched against the pain. Endure. Hold out. I can find a way.
“I’ve been waiting for the day you wake up. It’s getting tiring, you know.” He tossed Lan’s arm aside, meeting his eyes with thinly veiled contempt. “Having to look at your face and seeing nothing but determination.”
Lan didn’t answer.
“What are you even hoping for?” Nyx snatched him by the throat, lifting him off the filthy floor. He slammed Lan back against the cave wall, a satisfying crunch echoing through the room as his skull fractured.
Stars danced through Lan’s vision and he gagged, spittle rolling off his dry lips.
“You’re so determined to do something. What are you waiting for? Who do you think is going to give you a better life than this?” His voice was rising, eyes straining at the corners as he squeezed Lan’s throat tighter.
He trembled and screamed at his body to fight back, but it didn’t respond.
Nyx tossed him aside, gazing down at his limp form. “If you just submitted, we could be doing something better. Instead, you’re pathetically defying me and spitting in the face of my kindness.”
Flashes of a handsome stranger flooded Lan’s brain. He wondered if this was what happened right before death. Was his body finally giving out? Did he want to recollect the only good thing he’d ever experienced in life? The touch of kindness from someone who should’ve loathed him on sight?
Adrian. Adrian. Adrian.
Circus. Ringleader. Delirium.
Lan’s eyes snapped open at the feel of thick fingers tangling in his hair. Had he drifted off again? What day was it? What hour? Was the moon or sun out?
Those questions vanished at the sight of Nyx’s confusion.
Did I say something? Lan reeled back but couldn’t get away.
“The Ringleader?”
Lan went rigid.
Nyx didn’t seem angry though. Instead, he was profoundly dumbfounded. “Of all the things to pray for, you ask for the king of all blood suckers? Did I actually hit you so hard your brain rotted?”
“Huh?” Lan rasped.
“You’re the one mumbling about him.” He scoffed, shoving Lan away. “You can pray all you want to any god or king out there. It changes nothing.”
“Who—the Ringleader—Delirium?”
Nyx was staring at him again. Perhaps it was due to sheer confusion at the situation that he responded the way he did. “A circus of Night Children,” he began slowly, sounding completely off-put by the entire conversation. “The Ringleader, Kallum Kingsley, is their precious lord.”
Lan couldn’t recall much of anything from that point on. He knew he was broken and torn apart again and again, but it didn’t matter. By the time he saw the outside and breathed fresh air, his body wasn’t strong enough to carry itself.
He was dumped into the back of a pick-up truck, limbs splayed and cool air rushing through his fur. A thick metal collar clamped around his neck just like the first night he’d been taken to Valentine’s pack. It was oddly nostalgic.
Maybe I’m broken in different ways.
Lan wanted to laugh but couldn’t summon the energy. He closed his eyes, the same mantra that had carried him through the darkness playing in his mind.
Endure. Hold out. I can find a way.
Circus. Ringleader. Delirium.
Kallum Kingsley.
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