Chapter 6

Nova startled awake. Bolting up, she panted, shaking as she glanced about the room. She’d had a nightmare, as real to her in sleep as the room was now.

A little whimper next to her brought her out of the panic. Looking down, she smiled at Veka, restlessly asleep next to her. Gently, she stroked her head to calm but not wake her. Beside her, wrapped warm and tight, was a single multicolored pup. It slept peacefully snuggled against its mother’s side, unaware that it almost had a litter mate.

Slipping out of bed, Nova squinted in the brilliance of the midday light. Shutting the door behind her carefully, she rushed to the latrine. Relieved, she sniffed the air and followed her nose to the front room where the table was covered with a new feast.

At the window stood Anubis, his back to her, hands clasped behind him. He was an enormous black form against the bright emerald background of the mountainside. Anxiety caused her hackles to rise, and she put her hand behind her, smoothing it down.

An ear swiveled to acknowledge her. “Veka is well?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” Nova responded nervously. “She’s still asleep.”

His ear returned forward. “You may eat if you are hungry,” he said, staring out the window but looking at something not out there.

There was a bowl of berries and a pot of stew with a few tubers, but the rest were meats of various forms and manners of preparation. Just like every meal so far. She shook her head. “All it’s been is a lot of meat.”

He glared over his shoulder at her. “Of course! We are hunters! Predators!” Turning back, he snorted, muttering “your people eat the food our food eats. It is why we are superior.”

Nova glared at his back, brow furrowed. “That don’t make you superior.”

His growl made all of her fur stand on end, her eyes widening. Memory of the torture room had her regretting opening her mouth. Veka had told her never speak back or against a Wogtal. It was enough reason to be returned to the Slave Maker, and he had less mercy the second time. Even if he did not send her back, he had all he needed right here.

“Oh but we are superior.” Turning sharply, he stalked towards her, his commanding form all she could see in that moment. Not but the brilliance of his gaze and the flash of his teeth could be seen upon his inky mass. “We are superior in every way. Could you have even hoped to fight that gregin? So how could you even hope to fight me? What hope does any one of your kind have against mine?”

Nova trembled, backing away until she hit the tree trunk that grew through the middle of the rooms. Lowering herself in submission and tucking her tail, she prayed it would placate him. He loomed before her, blocking all chance of escape. Stepping even closer so that their fur touched, his gruff, ominous drawl was like a mounting storm rolling over her, causing her body to go numb with terror. “You are helpless, Nova. I can do as I please and you are but a doll. Do not ever delude yourself thinking our people are equals.”

His arm moved and she cringed, whimpering, expecting him to do something terrible. The touch of his hand was tender. He cupped her snout, stroking the fur on her cheek back into place with his thumb. “It’s because I am superior that you fear me. It’s why you submit. You would be just as afraid no matter what Wogtal stood here, because you know we are the dominant species. You don’t fear Veka because she’s your equal. Just like the rest of the slaves.”

With a deep breath, he placed his hand heavily between her laid back ears, his voice gentle. “I know I am superior, so I feel no need to abuse it. The others flaunt it so needlessly, until there’s nothing left but a breathing puppet. Do not forget your place, Nova, but you don’t need to be afraid. I—I don’t like the cowering.”

His hand stroked down her neck, pausing where her societal braid had been. Her straight black hair glided through his fingers. Then she felt his tongue between her ears before he turned away, looking over his trophies.

“On my first gregin hunt, I was cocky and nearly paid the price. The doctor stitched me, but no one would have cared for me. I was left to heal alone. If I died, then that is the way of the Wogtal. The strongest survive. But the slaves took care of me. They gathered whatever herbs they could, knowing it could mean punishment. There was always one or two checking on me.” He ran his claws through the fur under his left arm and along his front. That fur had been stubborn during brushing. “I should have died. Instead, it hardly even shows. My second hunt ended very differently. Now, the trophy sits here, in case mother ever decides to visit. She never has.”

Shrugging, he turned back to her. Her eyes went back to the ground. It would be best if she just stayed quiet.

“Don’t be afraid to speak with me, Nova. Remember your place, but I did not leave you with Mustava for a reason.”

Gathering herself, she clenched her hands and licked her nose nervously. “What reason is that?”

Smiling at her, he approached by a few steps but kept a comfortable distance. “So that you did not turn out like Veka. She couldn’t hold a conversation with me. None of the slaves here can. Mustava’s mind tricks have seen to that. To even say his name around the slaves elicits a terror you only had a taste of. She’d likely faint before even having the thought to tell me I’m ‘full of myself’.” He gave her an amused grin.

Walking past her, he sat and invited her to join him. As they ate, Nova’s mind raced. There were many things she wanted to say, but she didn’t want to cause anymore conflict. Swallowing a deliciously juicy berry, she glanced around the room. “Did, uh, did you paint these?”

“I did,” Anubis admitted with less enthusiasm than she thought he would have. “I know they’re not as good as what I’ve seen from your people...”

Nova looked at him with wide eyes. “Why would you compare them?” He peered at her, blinking in surprise. Realizing she had interrupted him, she licked her nose and continued nervously. “Y-Yer ways are ... different. It shows in the details ye pay attention to, the colors ye choose. I don’t think they can be compared. I-I think they’re beautiful.”

The sound of his tail steadily brushing the ground was just barely louder than her pounding heart. His expression softened into a smile. “I’m glad you think so. It’s difficult to get anyone around here to have appreciation for them. The kind of art my people appreciate are carvings and sculptures. I find the canvas is easier to express myself with.”

“Me, too,” Nova responded barely at a whisper. Now his interest was piqued enough for him to stare at her and tilt his head, so she spoke a little louder. “I, uh, I paint, too.”

His ears stood tall, his tail wagging again. “You do?” Standing when she nodded, he indicated for her to follow and led her to a room that she had figured was for storage. In the corner under a large sheet covered in dust that blew about was an easel.

“Everything I have is at your disposal,” he offered with generous enthusiasm, pointing out boxes on the shelf. “I have paints you’ll see nowhere else. If you use up any color, I can easily get more.”

Hesitant as she was, curiosity was stronger, and she peeked into the boxes. “Are ... are these from ... off-world?” she asked, startled by most of the labels.

“Yes.” Taking a deep breath, he glared out the window. “The sand lickers trade the minerals they use the slaves to mine with outsiders. Aliens. Sometimes even humans. Mother said if this was what I insisted on then I would ‘only paint with the finest.’ She thought supplying my choice in art would make up for killing the slave that taught me to paint.

“Uh, it wasn’t for teaching me,” he added when he saw her shudder, looking up at him in horror. “I had just come of rank. I kept her here most of the time. We didn’t have the chance to get far in our lessons before she was,” he sucked in a breath before finishing in a rush, “selected for the ambassador.”

Shaking his head, he strode over to a table that had several unfinished paintings strewn across it. He picked one up and eyed it thoughtfully. “Ah, I believe I was making something from the garden for Rasha.”

“Does, uh, does she like ya?” Nova cursed herself. Veka had told her she was supposed to be invisible and bring up nothing that was ever spoken around her. Most certainly she was not to ask personal questions, or really any questions, at all.

“Ha!” Anubis barked, placing the picture down. “That is an understatement! Sometimes I can’t get her off me. She’d make a good mate, if I could stand her. She is the most ... shallow wolf I know. Nothing but gossip. It can get so dull.”

A wistful little smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “My litter-sisters are kinda like that. I’m the runt so they keep especially close eye on me. Always seem to know more ‘bout my life than I do.”

“Isn’t that a coincidence?” His gravelly chuckle was all at once amused and sinister. “I’m the runt of my litter, too.”

Gulping anxiously, Nova felt her hackles rise again as he turned, his lustful gaze sweeping over her. A cold shiver rushed through her and grew hot by the time it ended in her loins as she remembered that he considered her his property and he could use his property whenever he wanted; and he had intentions of using her.

“This is exactly why I did not leave you to my uncle. I’ve already learned so much about you, and the more I learn, the more I’m glad you’re mine.”

Whimpering, Nova backed away, her tail pressed against her legs. Her heart was racing. She looked down in submission but knew it would not stop what he would do to her. He had already proven her pleas did not move him.

The presence of him so close now was oppressive. Pressed against the wall, she knew she had no choices. Until she could leave, this was her purpose- to pleasure him. It pleasured him to pleasure her, so he had said before, and she couldn’t help the trembling of her pussy anymore than the rest of her. His deep and knowing sniff brought a lecherous grin to his snout. Her breath caught as his grip on her wrists held her fast to the wall. The bite to her neck was enough for her to melt.

Shame made her ears burn. How could she be liking this? He was right when he guessed she had practically begged to play out scenarios like this. Her dirty little fantasy most of the males gleefully obliged. The one across the river had been especially eager to live out her desires, even catching her unawares in the fields. Not even that had made her feel this numb and alive at the same time.

A hand caressed down her body, slipping between her thighs that she tried to press together. Every ounce of her wanted to resist him but she knew it wouldn’t be possible. He was going to have her. The more she fought him, the longer this would take.

With no other recourse, and knowing that at least she would enjoy it, she gave him what he sought and his fingers slipped further between her folds. The rumble of his approval vibrated through her body. “That’s my good girl.”

The finger he dipped inside her was instantly soaked. By now he knew exactly how to force every humiliating sound from her. Hardly could she resist the sensations that made her knees weak so that he had to press himself against her to hold her up. Her body was losing control, the carnal haze of an approaching climax washing away the last of her resistance so that she was humping his hand.

Then his hand was gone. “Not yet, pet,” he growled as he lifted her up by her legs. She gasped and threw her arms around his neck when he pulled away from the wall. He smirked and turned, stepping across the room and planted her on her back on the table without concern for his unfinished work. With a firm grip on both ankles, he spread her wide, leering down at her wet and quivering spade.

His wry, cocky grin sent another pulse of warmth through her body. Spreading her even wider made her utterly helpless to his smooth and dribbling member that he rubbed along her folds. Every bit of him that he dragged across her was about to be inside her, and she could not help the whimpers that escaped through clenched teeth.