Captured and Freed

Screams. Blood. Fires. The last memories I have of my childhood home. I relive that night every time I sleep. The smell of smoke is still so strong in my nose as if I was standing in the fire. Everyone I knew was running outside to try and escape the terrors that descended on our small village. Howls mixed with the screams as the sky and ground turned red with cinders and blood. I was being carried by my mother, whose face I don't remember any longer. She tried her best to cover me from the m******e that was happening around u, but she failed when long black claws ripped into her arm and I crashed to the floor. I quickly became drenched in the blood of my kin. I looked around in horror to see wings being pulled from those around me by massive gray and black wolves. As I took in the surrounding view, my mother's screams quickly became silent as she fell to the ground next to me. No sound passed my lips, but I could feel the tears streaming down my face. I lifted my eyes to the large black wolf who took my mother's life as it reached for me. I waited for the pain of its claws to reach me, but instead, they took me into its arms and began to carry me away from my home. As we left, my gaze lingered on a valley filled with Fae lying dead on the ground. I jumped awake in my room, sweat dripping down my face and neck. My heart was racing and beating as if I had just ran a marathon at full speed. One would think that after 13 years of watching the same event, the same murders, it would begin to be dull. It never got easier to watch, the faces just blurred over time, and some details became muddy. I looked at the clock and noticed I needed to start to get ready and be available for the ranked family's, or I would be risking another beating. I sighed as I stretched and realized that tonight, at a quarter til midnight, I would officially be 18. I could finally fight back. I smiled to myself at the thought of finally leaving this awful wolf pack. After all these years, I still don't know why the Gamma wolf of this pack spared me, but every day I wished he hadn't. I spent everyday washing, cleaning, cooking, and serving the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma family of the wolf pack I was brought to. I am a "member" of the Ravaged Moon pack, one of the leading packs in the war of the supernatural. The Fae tried to stay neutral, but after my home was destroyed in a surprise attack, the Fae king joined the war. The war started out small with the Werewolves and Vampires fighting for dominance, but shortly alliances with the Dragons and Witches were formed and caused an all-out war between all species. Over the past 15 years, the war has claimed many lives, but interspecies Matings have caused the war to reach an end point. The kings and queens of each species have been in discussion over the past few months to finally end the war, but until an agreement is reached, war prisoners, like myself, must remain with their captures and are not required to be released yet. I had hoped to be set free before my powers and wings formed, but it appears that peace can't happen overnight. I enter the bathroom and stare at my reflection, hoping to see a fully grown Fae, but only see that same thing I always do. My pitch black hair hanging perfectly straight down past my shoulders, my pointed ear tips peeking through the black sheet. My crystal blue pale eyes that couple easily be as white as stars stare back at my moon dust pale skin. I would be beautiful if my cheek weren't sunk in and my body unscared from years of neglect and abuse. I didn't even bother to look at my back, as I knew there would be large whip marks to match the cuts from the blades on my arms. Just a few reminders of all the times I have disappointed the ranked members of the pack and stepped out of line. I sighed again as I quickly washed and dressed myself to head down to the kitchen to prepare the meal for the ranked members. Usually, only the Alpha was up at 5am, but I always prepared enough for all ranked members. There are 12 in total. The Alpha and Luna, Maximus and Diana, with their heir, Simon. The Beta and Beta Female, Rodger and Patrice, with their twin daughters, Lilly and Rose. The Gamma and Gamma Female, Nelson and Rebecca, with their 3 sons, Diego, Marcus, and Vlad. The Alpha and Beta families treated me the worse. They truly saw me as a waste of space and a slave for their enjoyment. The Gamma family was a bit nicer to me since Gamma Nelson was the one who let me live. Gamma Nelson wanted to take me into his family, but his wife, who had 4-year-old triples at the time, shot that idea down as soon as he spoke it. After she rejected my potential to join the family, I was marked as a war prisoner and left to whatever the Alpha decided. I have been a slave and servant for 13 horrible years. Whips, knives, and being given no food were their favorite punishments. I was left with large gaping wounds while I worked as I was told, "Slaves are seen, not heard. Do not dare make a peep and finish your work." I would keep quiet as tears would fall down my face in silence. I shake my head to empty my mind of all the thoughts of the past. No time to think on the past. Keep moving forward as my mother used to say. "The past can be dark, but the future is always bright. Continue to the horizon in front of you." Her soft voice whispers to me in the back of my mind. That motto of hers always kept me moving. Even though her face is a long-lost memory, her words echoed in my mind every day of my hell. "NYX!" I heard screamed from the dining room just past the kitchen door. I quickly finished my meal prep and entered the dining hall to see the Alpha sitting at the tables head. "Yes, Alpha?" I asked softly with my head slightly bowed. I can't risk being punished today. "Tomorrow, we are hosting a Mates ball as part of the pending peace per our Alpha King. The Kings and Queens and all ranked members of each species will be in attendance. Today, you are to clean and prepare every guest room. You are not to take any other work today until the task is done. I have already informed everyone that you are unavailable for the day." He puffed his chest out with pride at being chosen as the hosting pack. I nodded and kept my eyes down. "Of course, Alpha, I will start once I have finished serving your meal," I stated. He huffed in response and waved me out. I quickly finished the tray prep to serve and rushed out the meal while keeping my eyes down. I carefully placed the meal in front of the Alpha, who had moved his interest to the newspaper. As I was preparing to leave, he grabbed my arm and held me in place. "I like when you are obedient. Close your eyes and open your mouth." He moaned. I have always hated this game, but it always guaranteed a meal. I do as ordered and can feel and taste a banana enter my mouth. I wait for my next order. "Chew girl. Enjoy it." He almost purrs. I slowly ate the banana as I could feel his gaze on me. I slowly swallowed and panted lightly after taking the whole banana. "Good girl. I like watching you skillfully enjoy my fruits." He touched my leg and slowly ran his fingers up to my thigh. "Don't think I forgot that you turn 18 tomorrow. You will finally be a woman worth my touch." He hissed into my ear. I turned my head away from his hot breath and hoped the Luna would walk in soon. He always stopped when his Luna was near. "Happy Birthday, my sweet play thing. Soon you will be all mine." He let go and pushed me away. I took that as my chance to run to my room. I passed the Luna on the way and bowed to her before I disappeared into my room. I locked the door and jumped into the shower to wash off his touch. Luckily, he didn't know I turned 18 today, and I hoped not to be around this pack at morning light. After scrubbing myself clean, I looked into the mirror and felt more fire in my soul than this morning. Rage burned in my eyes as I found a strength I didn't have before. Yes... Happy Birthday to me.