Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 33

Kai's father came to get him a mere few hours later. He was dragged by a chain leash into a part of the warehouse he'd never been before, blocked off by a rust stained steel door and a heavy cross bar made of solid wood. Every hair on his body rose as he was shoved inside and ordered to shift into his human form. He did, but he was unable to rid himself of his ears and tail—he was too scared for his wolf to fully pull back.

His father's men chained him to the back wall of the room, with his arms spread above his head and his ankles bound to the floor. Then they muzzled him, pulling the leather straps so tight around his head he felt his pulse moving in the skin under them.

His father joined him shortly after he was fully restrained, wearing a new shirt, one without teeth holes and blood on the sleeve. His father said nothing for the first few minutes, just stared at him with a look Kai was all too familiar with.

He was angry. Violence shimmered behind his eyes.

Kai stared back. He was afraid, yes, he was terrified. But he also didn't regret biting his father. Even if by the looks of it, the puncture marks had already scabbed over and begun to heal due to his being a werewolf.

Kai's father was the first to break the silence. "You disappoint me, Kai."

"What have I not?" The words had a bite to them he hadn't realized he was capable of.

"You've been rather extraordinary these past weeks, Kai. Nearly a month now, and you've grown into a son I thought I could trust. I thought I could be proud of you." He clicked his tongue. "But it turns out, my training hasn't quite gotten through to you."

He waved his hand towards the door in a beckoning motion, and the door slid open with a loud creak. Out of the hallway, his father's men wheeled in a steel cart full of medical instruments—some common, others of his father's design. Kai swallowed dryly. Many of his scars came from those instruments.

Kai's father sighed heavily and ran his hand over the edge of the cart. "It's such a shame you've put me in this position, son. I thought you cared more about your mate than this."

Kai's heart skipped a beat. "What?"

Another cart, this one larger, was wheeled into the room. Atop its steel surface lay Owen, stripped to his briefs and strapped onto the table by his wrists, ankles, and head with silver lined leather. He was panting and sweating, straining against his binds and looking around wildly.

His eyes landed on Kai's and he saw pure, raw fear in them. Kai lurched forward, trying to get free. "No."

Kai's father ordered his men out of the room and the door shut behind them. "I wish it hadn't come to this. But you obviously didn't believe me when I said your actions will affect your mate."

"No." Kai threw himself forward so hard he felt something in his shoulder pop as he pulled it at the wrong angle. "Please. Please no."

Owen had stilled now, breathing so rapidly he way as well have been sprinting at full speed.

Kai's father studied the tools on the cart, as if deciding which one to use.

Kai kept fighting against his binds, trying to summon all of the strength he'd gained under his father's training in the last month. The shackles didn't budge.

Kai was nearly sobbing, begging his father not to do this. "Please. Do anything you want to me. I'll do anything."

"Oh, I know." His father set the scalpel down and picked up a small metal mallet instead. "Which is why I know this will whip you back into shape.

"I know that you two fantasize about running away." He picked up a small scalpel, testing its weight. "I know that you two will try to escape the first chance you get."