Scentless

SHATTERED DREAMS

I can't remember, What are the things that I hoped for. Now I'm scared, Where did the fragments of my dream go. – 28 – Agust D

A sharp pain around his wrists urges Yoongi to move forward through the endless gray tunnels, the chilled ache of his joints fading into the background. The hollowness in his chest sucks the life from his eyes even as they struggle to focus on his surroundings. He stumbles along behind Sire, the metal cuffs around his wrists scraping against already raw skin. No matter how quickly he moves, Sire keeps the chain pulled taught, allowing him no reprieve.

Remember, you deserve this.

It's his punishment. He'd struck out the first time Sire had tried to take Mother from his side. Struck out like a rabid beast, rather than the noble wolf he should present himself as. Sire had promised to correct that savagery. Had promised to correct all of Yoongi's flaws. So, he trots along, doing his best to ignore the pain. After all, it's for his own good.

'This is wrong.'

He buries that voice. If Sire says it's right, then it is. That's how it works. Otherwise, why would Sire have complete command of him? This is only natural, right?

'It's WRONG!'

The wound over his scent gland sears with pain, and he feels a fresh trickle of blood inch down his neck. It itches, but he dares not scratch it.

It should have healed by now.

But Sire bit him every morning in the same place.

'This is wrong.'

"Yoongi," the voice of Sire, thick with the command he uses to control Yoongi, echoes against the stone.

"Yes, Sire," Yoongi bows his head in obedience.

'Wrong, wrong, wrong.'

He peeks around Sire's large frame. A wolf, omega by the looks of him, waits with his head bowed in respect. Sire takes Yoongi's chin in his hand, his grip firm, and tilts his face up, forcing Yoongi's dead eyes to meet his own.

"I'm leaving you in the omega's care. You will cooperate with everything you're told to do. I'll return once you're presentable."

He wants to ask for what reason he is being made 'presentable', but he knows better. He'd learned what happens when he speaks out of turn, his jaw and ribs still aching from the several beatings he's taken. But even those hadn't stopped him. No, he hadn't stopped until Sire learned that redirecting Yoongi's punishment to Mother was a much more effective way to control him.

He wonders, not for the first time, why Sire hadn't just commanded him not to talk back.

"Yoongi!" He fights back a whimper as the grip on his jaw tightens, fingertips digging into the bruises. It feels as if the bone will snap at any moment.

"Yes, sire. I will behave," he replies, his blood singing with the need to please.

"Good pup."

And oh, how good that feels. To have the approval of his sire feels like nothing he's ever experienced.

'Lies.'

Sire removes the metal cuffs, taking the chain with him as he stalks away down the tunnel. The moment he's out of sight, the omega standing next to Yoongi relaxes, raising his head.

"Come with me," the omega says gently, and Yoongi follows obediently. He wonders what the wolf's name is. He wants to ask, but it's impossible. He's forbidden to speak to any wolf outside of Sire's supervision. It's improper. He is a higher class, a noble. Well, half a noble. But that is enough of a distinction.