Chapter 21

Ryder's POV

Alpha Skye reluctantly allows me to return to training the next day, perhaps because he was satisfied with my use the night before.

My hair had been kept in all the taut braids, spun so tight by Lemeri's quick and nimble hands. My charcoal makeup has all washed off at this point, especially after Skye had cum on my face, scaring me so much when he pulled out his cock and burst his seed onto my cheeks and lips – that I may have even cried a bit pathetically from the shock of it.

Or perhaps it was the intense humiliation at the last second.

That was my punishment. Skye had murmured such, while dragging my crying ass into the bathroom to wash my face with a wet warm towel, gentle enough – while smirking – then depositing me back into my cage.

All the phrases Lemeri taught me – I assume all will get me into some kind of situation involving sexual torture. I was angry about that, and I wanted to ask her why she plagued me with such useless information and behaviours.

I was not trying to be tortured, for goodness sake.

Now, however, I am running on a treadmill, while I am taught to resist heat – the room was turned up; an artificial sweat chamber. I thought I'd die when I learned what I would be attempting, but the injections the nurses gave me to help my body adjust to the blasting heat – helped a lot. I didn't know what was in them, but they also made me feel stronger and fitter than ever.

I am able to excel in all my training today. I am proud of myself and I feel some sense of self accomplishment and pride for one of the first times in my life.

Today is the day I really find my own purpose. Learning my strengths, getting stronger – and finding just how far I can go, as a 'worm' on Genesis, soon to be a Spy.

The prospect of such a job, seemed even half more appealing to me now. I guess I was settling in – and finding a place on this desolate planet.

Of course, there was also the prospect of power.

What could I do with power? Position?

Revenge? Perhaps? Of course. Raygar had not left my mind all day, fuelling my burning muscles to keep pumping and running.

If he did kill my father and taunted me for it – I would take my inner rage and revenge out on him.

It's such a comforting, calming thought – because it sits and feels so damn right.

My original plot to assassinate Alpha Skye had been based off hysteria, loneliness, depression and absolute desperation.

Now, I had some backing and a plan – and I had protection. I also had newly aquired knowledge.

Despite Skye's punishment of me last night, I had strange warm tingles in my blood at the thought of seeing him tonight. He sent me off to training this morning, where I only saw him briefly, and he smiled at me softly from his residence, in a strange little smirk, for a half second – before returning to his work as I was escorted away.

That smile stuck with me. Familiar. Comforting.

Exciting!

Alpha Skye, in that one moment, became a more stable force in my life.

Perhaps – even – a friend.

The treadmill slows and my head trainer, Jawkin, is nodding at me from her clipboard, even smiling herself.

"Your recovery is ridiculous compared to some other human Spies we've trained in the past, you have a natural athletic talent, Ryder," a compliment, as she dismisses me from training, "Have a shower – you're all done for today," she hands me a snack as I hop off the machine, my legs a little wobbly and jellified, "Ryder," she calls to me before I walk off, and I look back to see her nodding at me still, "It's a very real pleasure seeing you work so hard for the Wolf Dominion – loyalty is the most respected attribute of a pack member. Keep it up, will you?"

I nod as she smiles back, then she heads off and I turn, unwrapping my snack, grinning uncontrollably.

Today had undoubtable been the best day of my stay in the Wolf Dominion, even if I had been brought in and sold off as a slave.

I take a strong bite of the nutrition packed bar just as I hear a loud yip.

A puppy.

In pain.

Not just any puppy.

My heart strings jerk my eyes left and up – through a small glass window I see him.

Raygar is watching me through the glass, holding Xrat by the throat, pushing the pup's back against the window as Raygar then drops him – and I feel my heart tug again.

Raygar's mouth moves, snarling an insult to the small thing – and then smirking back at me.

The door separating him from I, is an open entry point, that shuts and rises constantly from the flow of trainers and researchers who come and go from this area.

I grit my teeth as I clench my fists – and the snack.

I walk toward Raygar.

Today, gave me a sense of self – and confidence, and even friends.

Now, I had to prove I wasn't scared or fearful.

No matter the danger – my Beastly friend had just been hurt.

I stalk right through the door and I turn to Raygar, who is now leaning against the wall and the window, quietly impressed I approached him so quickly, without hesitation.

"What the hell is your problem? Hurting a puppy, for what gain does that benefit you?" I snarl it to the giant Alpha, while Xrat is nowhere to be seen.

He's been taken from here – probably forcefully kept out of my sight.

"You have an awfully different tongue to the one you showed me yesterday, Ryder," Raygar shrugs a shoulder and stands up from the wall and window, his eyes rolling over my form, "…you're an awfully pretty worm too… shame my brother doesn't share… shame Meri gets jealous so easily – I'd love to teach you a thing or two about my kind of game," Raygar steps into my space, but I feel no deathly malice emanating from him this time round, only playful consideration, as he picks up one small braid, covered in sweat, and he pushes it behind my ear, out of my face, "There are plenty more uses for a loyal worm in a Dominion, besides house pet, besides spy – besides plaything for a small pup – or the Alpha," Raygar references Skye, watching my eyes light up – he smiles as he lowers his hand to his side, and just seems to stop himself from touching me again, "…what makes you think, I'm less of an Alpha to him…?" Raygar's question now, is deadly – but not to me.

I feel a reference of danger, for Skye.

Competition.

I look down as I think that and Raygar stalks by slowly, "You also smell like you have rotten flesh – try not to offend my nose again. Clean before you approach me," he murmurs it to himself, an entitled and arrogant statement, that rolls off his tongue like it's second nature to speak so base of anyone else who isn't himself.

As I am left alone, I finally walk off to the showers, while in deep thought.

For a while, I worry about Skye and Xrat.

Eventually, as I'm standing under scorching hot water, bathing off all the sweat and grime; I realise something astounding.

Respect? I just gained a little. Just a little.

I approached Raygar, I conquered my fear of him, in a moment of adrenaline after exercise, and feeling confident about myself. I approached him, and I was not hounded for once, or to the degree I was accustomed too.

So… Lemeri wasn't teaching me defiance.

She was trying to teach me confidence, I think; it was a silent layer of protection.

In contrast, try to run and you might ignite the desire not only to be chased… but to be hunted.