Rogue Wolf

Ch 4 fake it

The leader of this freaky group stood in front of me finally. He was in no hurry. He stroked the side of my face, looking for some reaction. He got none, except a sigh. Suddenly he grabbed my chin in a vice grip, making me look at him.

I knew he was expecting fear. I could have laughed. I've been handled this way too often. I knew how to get out of it at home. Nonchalant attitude. Bored even, but never disrespectful. Slightly adoring if needed, although that held risks of whatever guy had hold of me mistaking that look for an invitation. Never amused until after you saw some sign of approval from them. It worked. His grip loosened some, but still tight enough to prove he was in control. I merely waited.

"Hmm, a bold one here."

He slapped me then, hard, across the face. I fell over on my side. I moved myself back into position before him on my own, before the guards could come close enough to do so. I needed to gain some measure of respect from him, in a way he understood. If the guards had to handle me it would give the impression that I was weak, and that they had some power over me. I wanted both them and him to believe he alone controlled me. They would be less likely to bother me if I could get in his favor.

His eyes narrowed and he hit me again. Again I struggled into position before him on my own. Again, and again. A yank that had me standing. A punch to the gut. Another hard pull, a blow aimed at my stomach that never landed. I looked at him in surprise. He kneed me, hard, and I fell to the ground groaning.

"Know your place mutt. It will always be on the ground before me."

That was it. The guy who claimed me came forward, pulled me to my feet and dragged me to a room down that hall. I was collared, a frigging dog collar, and chained to the floor. I could tell I wasn't the first one to ever be here.

"Try and take that off and you will be punished with the whip."

There wasn't enough slack to allow me to stand upright. My head couldn't go higher than about three feet off the ground, which meant I was down on all fours, like a dog.

It looked like at least this one guard was going to be exerting some authority over me. He came back with two bowls and a wore out blanket. Water and... you gotta be kidding me! A bowl of kibbles and bits dog food. This guy was seriously whacked! He left again and brought in a chair for himself. He closed the door before he sat down.

There was a long pause before he said anything. I kept my eyes down because I didn't want him to see the anger in my eyes. If he saw that, it might ruin everything. I reminded myself that patience was my tool, my weapon to wield to ensure my escape. It was very hard in that moment.

"You're off to a good start. Alpha likes you. Listen, learn, and most importantly, obey and you might end up doing well. Rule one, the rule you NEVER want to fail to obey- always address him as Alpha. Never speak unless spoken to, unless you plan on living with the consequences.

"Now. Let's review. He is your Alpha. Say it."

"He is my Alpha." My voice came out steady. I wasn't sure it would. I kept it low.

"Again."

"He is my Alpha."

"Again, and louder."

The evening wore on that way. He would tell me the rules, I would repeat them. Again and again and again, hour after hour after hour. I knew what he was doing. I could practically guess what was going to happen next. Degrade me, the food was obvious, probably disrupt my sleep. Definitely keep hammering these stupid rules at me.

I've had men try and control me since I was six. I gained some measure of control of my life when I was eleven. I wasn't about to give it up now. I could act broken. I've played that roll before too.

If someone had watched my life they'd think I had a dozen split personalities. I knew all the different parts to play and had become a most consummate actor. I'd have to be careful though. The main guy I think really was a psycho.

"From the top."

I tried really hard not to sigh.

"He is my Alpha. Alpha is to be obeyed. Should I be summoned before the Alpha I am to lay prone along the floor. Never speak unless spoken to. All others who are ranked above me are to be addressed as Lord. I am to kneel before the Lords, my head bowed down. The Lords must be obeyed. Females are not to be touched without permission. Disobedience will will be severely punished. The lowest rank are omegas. Omegas are to be ignored unless instructed otherwise. My rank is undetermined pending the change."

He had said more than that, had given me some insight into the depraved life in this hellhole. I didn't want to give up hope. I knew there was still hope, I just had to go the long way to get there. I was going to be chained here for a month he said. How long or how short the leash depended on my behavior. A month of making sure I understood the rules and my place here.

Alpha only allowed the guards to kneel before him. Everyone else had to grovel. If I managed to be a scout, I would still be below the guards, the lords. Alpha had already decreed that my place would always be on the ground before him.

The whole set up here was sick. The people were devalued. I've known depravity. These people took it to a whole new level. The way he spoke of females let me know how they were treated. He spoke of being given access to them as a reward for Alpha's approval. He said otherwise once I got my rank I could always use the omegas whenever I wanted, once I had earned that right.

Assuming I didn't end up an omega. If he thought that was the proper way to entice me into doing what he wanted, he was so wrong. Except I couldn't afford to end up an omega, so it actually was the way to get me to fall in line, just not for the reasons he might think.

Sick. When I considered just how I might have to act it made me sick. They were all just so sick. Juicing up on abuse, causing others pain and misery. Sick.

The word patience became my mantra.

And there were things I didn't understand. Things he said he would explain in time. I braced myself to fake changing into one of them so I could make my break.