Chapter 3

Three days. Three nights. That was how many times she had awoken and had to endure his breedings. In any position that struck his fancy, he violated her, constantly reminding her of how helpless she was, how she belonged to him and would be mothering many pups for him. After all, she was his slave now, and that was her purpose.

As helpless as she was, he showed a greater restraint than she thought he’d be capable of. Before he would have his way with her, he made certain she was ready and wet, practically on the verge of begging him. Never would she give him that satisfaction, she promised.

Another night and Nova’s first reaction upon waking was to retch. Something had to be standing on her head, it was the only way it could hurt so bad. Perhaps some strange brain eating beetle had crawled through her ear. Whatever the reason, when her stomach was emptied, she lay limp and defeated with a low, involuntary whine. Maybe Anubis would hurry up and be done with her so she could go back to sleep.

His dark presence beside her hardly even registered until he stroked her gently. “Oh little pet. I’ll be back.”

She had no way of knowing how much time passed, or even if it passed. Closing her eyes, she was brought back to awareness when she felt something standing over her. Despite her migraine, every nerve tingled with fear when a sniff was all she needed to know it was not Anubis.

Squinting up, a gray and white face hovered over her with a toothy grin. “How nice,” he drawled with a thick accent, “a li’l bitch in heat, all trussed up. Like a gift.”

Frozen in terror, she whimpered a weak protest.

The male sniffed her again before moving her into a better position. “Dun worry, dirt licker. I’ll be quick...”

“Quick to get off my bitch!”

Nova didn’t want to admit she was happy, but the shudder of relief that flooded her was certainly close. The older male, on all fours over her, growled back. “You in Rugal land, pup. She my bitch now.”

Anubis approached with a dangerous snarl. “I don’t give a fuck whose land I’m in! She’s mine!”

The stranger lowered his head and bared his teeth. “Ya cun ‘ave ‘er back when I’m done.”

He suddenly let out such a yelp that it echoed through the trees, leaping up in shock. The thought that Nova might do anything- such as kicking the stranger in the balls- clearly hadn’t occurred to either of them. Anubis, however, was quick to use it to his advantage. Knocking the older male to the ground, they continued their disagreement past the light of the fire. It was a short fight, the stranger cursing as he fled.

Hurrying back to her side, Anubis sniffed her over before setting about some task with the fire. When done with that, he walked around with his nose in the air before returning to her side, chuckling to himself. “Crafty mutt. The look on his face. Think he was embarrassed.”

Nova didn’t feel like talking. She really didn’t even want to hear his voice. The pounding in her head had only gotten worse. She startled awake again to find Anubis over her, offering her something very warm and earthy and awful. He made her drink more of it than she wanted to, finally laying her down when he was satisfied.

As she rested, he paced around the perimeter of the camp. Always alert, no sound or movement ever seemed to get past him. Almost immediately, he noticed when her breathing grew steadier.

“Feeling better?” he asked, coming to lay beside her, nuzzling her.

Swallowing hard, she replied barely above a whisper, “I don’t want to be a slave.”

She had a moment to wonder if he might hurt her when he growled quietly. Instead, he nuzzled her sweetly. “Of course you don’t. The gazal’le never want to be captured and made to work for us. The daaveer never want to be eaten. The weak never want to be food or fun for the strong. But it is the order of things, the law of nature.”

She didn’t respond. Tugging her bindings until she was free, he sounded infuriatingly smug and entertained. “Well, since you’re feeling better, you can try your luck, mutt.”

When she still did not respond, he moved away and she found herself on her back. He grinned at her from between her legs. “Well, while you think about it, I think I’m going to pass the time.”

Clenching her teeth, Nova wanted to resist him, but only a few strong licks were enough to draw the whimpers of arousal from her. The hot blanket of his tongue could cover her entire slit and reach so deep inside her. Despite herself, within moments he had her hips bucking against his face.

The more she lost herself to the last remnants of her heat, the more excited he became until he could stand it no longer. Holding her ankles, he spread her wide, rubbing himself along her slick and swollen spade before plunging in and pumping her into a moaning mess. He made it quick, though, and did not tie with her.

They did not stay there for long. He was still on high alert, pacing about and sniffing the air as he let her catch her breath. Once bound and muzzled again, he forced her to her paws and dragged her along through the dark forest. Even when the sky grew dim and a thick fog swirled into existence to drench the landscape like a moist blanket, still they walked.

Right about the time she was thinking she would be difficult by sitting down and refusing the move unless she rested, she heard the whirring of large machinery. Out of the fog appeared the angular and terrifying M.A.S. before them. A grand predatory skull was strapped to the top of the one that Anubis saluted while calling out a friendly insult. The response involved a lack of gender and a wave through.

Tail tucked tightly, ears back, and head down, Nova tried to be as tiny as she could, but the sensation of many hungry gazes could not be shaken. He marched her hurriedly to a building where she was left in a small room with only a slit in the door for light, chained to a chair. She didn’t know how long she sat there, alone in the quiet, but she sure needed to be relieved.

She dared not try to call attention to herself, though. She had seen the guards at the door, and she had serious doubts about their tenderness.

Contemplating calling out for a guard after more time, she startled when the door swung open. Anubis was smirking at her. Casually waving a document, he bared his teeth in a cocky grin as though he had won some sort of game. “You are now my very own P.O.W.: ‘plunder of war,’ and my leave is effective immediately. It’s good to be the general’s son.”

Thankfully, she did not have to ask to use a latrine; he needed to use one, too. The outhouses were crude, but what could she expect from savages? Why, just as he marched her towards another exit of the base as briskly as he could, she witnessed two fights break out; in one, the female sank her teeth into a male’s hand over an argument of whose turn it was to use a tool. Animals.

“Oh, Annie!” sang a female’s voice some distance behind them.

Anubis froze solid and sucked in his breath. “Shit.” Spinning on his heel, he stood tall and stiff, aloof and annoyed. “What is it, Terra? You know I hate when you use that name. We are not pups.”

The brawny gray and brown colored female sauntered to them, standing with a saucy stance, a hand on her tilted hip. Wearing tight leather britches and a white fur hemmed vest, a leather holster kept a long knife at her thigh and a gun on her other hip. She was tall enough to look Anubis in the eyes, yellow and piercing as his were. She cocked her head with a teasing smile. “It gets your attention, doesn’t it, Annie?”

Nova could not help but smirk. Quickly turning her head, she hoped his bulk would hide her irrepressible amusement. She would have to save this ammunition for later.

“And honestly, that’s the first thing you say to me?” Terra continued with a hint of irk. “Not even a ‘Hello, dearest sister, so glad to see you alive after I abandoned you’ from my favorite brother? I’m hurt.” She pouted, her ears to the sides, giving him the saddest puppy face Nova had ever seen on a grown wolf.

It was enough to break even Anubis. “Shit, Ter-Ter, stop,” he grumbled fondly, his posture relaxing. “I’m sorry. It’s really good to see you. I’m relieved that you made it, and I’m glad you’re the first face I see coming back.” He glanced around, tensing again. “I was just trying to get out of here before Gray sees me.”

Terra scoffed, crossing her arms, her lip up to bare a fang in disdain. “Gray already went home. He tugged on mother’s strings the moment the mission was over. You think that pussy would stick around when he doesn’t have to compete with you?”

Anubis snorted, flicking an ear and muttering mostly to himself. “I suppose not. Probably used the ‘family business’ excuse again.”

“Speaking of which.” Terra fixed Nova with those eyes, looking her up and down without bothering to hide her judgmental expression. “Did you really use our mission to go pillaging for a grasser? Aren’t there enough of the little mutts at home?”

Anubis growled and shook his head. “Drop it, Ter. I will see you at home some time.”

“You are going back?” Truly she seemed surprised. Glancing down at Nova, some realization came upon her, and her brow furrowed. “Oh, I get it. Mother’s not a fool, you know. She’s going to have her eyes on your bitch in an instant. She’ll call you soft.”

Rolling his eyes, Anubis turned, his grip still firm on Nova’s arm. “It’s nothing new. I’m sure the carriage is waiting by now. Keep ‘em in their places, sis.”

She sighed then smiled, calling to his back. “Don’t you know it! Take care of yourself, Annie.”

He grumbled fondly as he marched them away. At the gate, a carriage fit for royalty waited for them. Its shell was made of red wood so finely polished that Nova could see her reflection as she approached. The craftsmanship alone was beyond anything she had seen before. Three large beasts of burden snorted and shook their square ears, snorting with frustration at being held back. With six long legs and nostrils on their chests, the brown and white striped fuzzy creatures no doubt enjoyed the running side of their job. They honked and made attempts to pull at their harnesses. Within, the benches and floor were covered in numerous, luxurious pelts of every sort of beast.

The floor was exactly where she was made to kneel at his feet. At least it was softer than the ground. Anubis told the driver to take them to a destination she didn’t quite catch.

The ride was mostly smooth and fast. For several minutes, Anubis stared out the window until he let out a long breath and looked down at her. Reaching down, he stroked her between her ears. “This will be an uncomfortable day for you, but once we are home there will be a feast and I have a very comfortable bed. Just keep it in mind while we visit Mustava.”

Her eyes grew wide and she began to tremble. Everyone knew that name. The Slave Maker. His name could terrify any of her people. She should have known better than delude herself into thinking she’d avoid torture.

Fiddling with her braid, his voice was low and coarse. “You’re just his type. Young. Low ranking. Submissive. Make no sound, keep your eyes down, and obey, and he’ll be in a good mood. It’s the only way you’d ever want to be in his presence.”

The carriage came to a stop. Slipping a thick rope around her neck, he dragged her out after him. Glancing around, she was surprised and impressed. The building they stood before was as elegant as any she had seen. Made from the mature, living trees of the forest, there were stone walls stacked with mathematical precision that made mortar unneeded anywhere the trees were not close enough. The ceiling was just the canopy but very little sunlight made it through the thick foliage.

Before they even entered through the large doors, carved with the image of whips and chains, Nova’s nose quivered at the smell. Going in only made it stronger. Terror. The fear of countless others who had been forced here before her. The well packed ground was smooth and level, but there were spots darker than others and they did not smell like blood.

In the receiving room was a wall of small cages and in each was a slave, not all of them plains wolves. Hell, they weren’t even all wolves! What they did all share was the morose expression on their faces, not bothering to peek up when Anubis entered.

At the desk was perhaps the burliest wolf Nova had ever imagined. Dark gray and off-white, covered in scars, his braid was full of crudely whittled wooden beads, bones, and river rock. He was looking at some sort of square contraption, growling to himself as he twisted it every which way. Only when they stood right in front of him did he bother to look up, glaring at Anubis with beady black eyes. Sniffing the air, he gave a cold grin.

“Ah, Ah-nubis! Bin a while. How’s the fightin’ bin goin’?” His accent was thick and slow.

“I suppose you wouldn’t know anything about fighting, would you, Ivan?” Anubis replied with thinly veiled disdain.

He snarled. “Always gotta rub it in, like a ass. It ain’t my fault pa’s bin keepin’ me at this stupid desk!” He glanced at the object in his hands and held up the multi-colored square with its many smaller squares. “At least this bin keepin’ me busy. My brain’s bin boggled by this thing! Found it on the otter bitch a week ago. Haven’t figured it out.”

“That’s because otters are smart.” Anubis snatched it from his hand. Ivan snarled but quieted quickly when he realized the other wolf knew what he was doing with it. He then held the toy out, all sides the same colors. “No wonder you’ve never moved up. Not good for much else when the slaves are smarter than you.”

There was some timid life in the cages. Ivan’s growl killed it in an instant. He then bared his yellowed teeth in a grin that was not friendly. “It’s good ya don’t come by of’en.” Taking it back and dropping it on the desk, he stood, a good head taller than Anubis. His eyes looked Nova up and down intently. “Bringin’ pa a side project? Looks submissive enough. Leave ‘er here, kin have ‘er broken in a week...”

“No,” Anubis growled flatly. “Is he busy?”

Ivan fixed him with an odd look then turned without a word, heading through a doorway. As they waited, Nova could tell Anubis was tense. Staring straight ahead, he did not glance at the slaves that could only shift back and forth on aching paws. She did much the same, keeping her eyes on the piss stain by her paw.

A terrible scream was hardly stifled by a muzzle. The tall stone walls of the place echoed the sound. All around them the slaves shuddered and whimpered softly.

Through the doorway came an even taller tricolored wolf. Nova dared a glance, noticing a great many scars through his thick fur. His hair was mostly grey with his advanced years, and his peppered braid was flashy and exotic. The clothing he wore were fancy and otherworldly, with bejeweled buttons and rare colors. His snout was as sharp as his gaze. Feeling like she was noticed though he did not look upon her, she quickly looked down at her paws as he gave Anubis a bright and friendly smile.