Chapter 2

The Enforcers finally overcame Vitas for a second time. He gazed at his father who attempted to intervene.

“He doesn’t receive his gift until he turns twenty-five. How do you intend to keep him docile for that long?” Vitas’ father shouted.

His mother stood nearby with tears running down her face “Do as your father commands, my son. You must protect your gift so you can give it to your Mate.”

His father lied to the Alpha. “His blessing is small and as insignificant as he is, of no real use. Why take him for such a paltry gift?”

Chernof slapped Vitas’ mother’s, then his father’s face while the Enforcers held them down, leaving his red hand print visible on their cheeks.

“His gift is immense or else you would not have tried to run. I want it, and no one will get in my way.” Chernof shouted a command to his Enforcers, “Hold them.” The First ripped out Vitas’ parents’ throats then had his Enforcers sever their heads. Their blood spattered Vitas. He fell to his knees in grief. Chernof’s men took Vitas underground.

He found his new home to be the cold, damp mushroom cellar, where he spent the entire spring, naked and shivering. Things were so bad that he didn’t even have a bucket for his own excrement. They unleashed him once a day, and he was permitted, like a cat, to go in the corner and cover it with dust.

He brought himself back to the present day and lifted his head. Footsteps thudded closer. The Betas came to beat him daily so he would change his mindand accept Chernof. He quickly buried his memories deep in his mind where they would be locked against Chernof’s Alpha link. But the link only gave the Alpha impressions unless the loup garou permitted the intrusion. Vitas would give Chernof nothing. His thoughts were his and his alone. He guarded them against the Alpha when he attempted to use the link. The Alpha stood in the doorway impatiently waiting for Maxim, one of his Betas, to bring him paper booties so he wouldn’t ruin his boots with shit and fertilizer.

Vitas had lost track of time during his imprisonment but his birthday approached. He could feel the quickening of his gift and the Siren song of his Mate. Vitas despaired. Helpless to do anything about his current situation, he could only wait. If his Mate didn’t come, he had a plan, it may be desperate but, it was still viable.

Chernof marched into the dark room. Evil rolled off him in sickening waves. The Russian Alpha regarded him with a feral smile of satisfaction. “Now that your parents are dead, there is nowhere left to run.”

Tears ran down Vitas’ face like rivulets. He tasted their salt.

“I will mate you tonight, you piece of shit. The first loup garou in your channel gets control of your gift.” Chernof casually kicked his chest. Vitas grimaced and tried not to scream out in pain.

Despite his torment, Vitas hoarsely shouted, “I’m not your Mate. I’d know if I was.” He was losing his voice, yet he continued to try to yell. It came out as a harsh whisper. “My father told you I didn’t belong to you before you murdered him and my mother.”

“You little bastard.” Chernof seized him by his neck and cuffed him on his ear. He hit him so hard, Vitas heard bells.

Chernof gritted his teeth. “You made me lose my temper. I can’t deal with you now, or I’ll beat you to death.”

“Death would be preferable to you.” Vitas spit, hitting the tongue of the Alpha’s shoe and top of his sock well away from the booties.

“If I lay into you, you might get a concussion, and I’d damage your gift. I’m leaving, but know this, I’m going to bite you tonight, and the pack will see the marks. Even though I can’t knot you, no one will ever know. Who would take the word of an Omega over mine?” The First strode toward the door.

Vitas used his last deep breath to scream in defiance, “Anyone—all the packs know you for the lying scum you are.” He stood and pulled on his chains.

Chernof stopped and swerved. He stalked Vitas back across the room, coming so close that Vitas smelled the cabbage and onions on his stale breath and the stench of a cheap cigar on his rumpled shirt. Vitas wrinkled his nose. Chernof cupped his face in one big, beefy hand, squeezing his cheeks together so hard that Vitas felt like a trout.

The First laughed manically. “You’ll take my cock in your channel, boy, and down your fucking throat. After the mating, I might cut out your tongue and let you make the change to grow it back only when I need you to speak. That will teach you not to sass me. Know that I’m going to fuck you until you’re bloody. By tomorrow you won’t be able to walk, and I’ll have control over both you and your gift.”

Without thought, again, Vitas pulled at the heavy chains Chernof had spiked to cement-footed rings in the ground.