His defiance

His defiance


It was now the next day. There were three men moving furniture into my "temporary room," they called it. I hated the term. Temporary. Like I was a stray being given a place to sleep until they figured out what to do with me.

It seemed weird how they all didn't give me not one glance. Were they instructed to not even look at me? I wasn't sure, but that was the least of my worries. I sat on the floor beside Winston, growling every time one of the men passed by, which was at least a few times a minute. The low, guttural sound rumbled in my throat on instinct, a warning. Stay away. This is mine.

Winston chuckled as he leaned his hand down to pat my head gently. His fingers were warm, firm, dragging lazily through my hair in a way that made my skin crawl and relax all at once. I gave in, leaning my head further into his touch. I didn't like being dominated or seen as lower than I was but no way I would turn down pets. I mean, why would I? I hadn’t been touched gently in days, weeks maybe. It was humiliating, sure but it was also comforting in a way I didn’t want to admit out loud.

"Of course you would give in, because you're being trained without realizing it. See now if it was the first day they forced us here you wouldn't dare do what you're doing now, and we both know that."

I growled at my wolf's comment. "Shut up, you don't know anything," I said in my head angrily. My lip curled slightly, but only internally. He wasn’t wrong, and I hated that more than anything.

"You're okay," Winston said, interrupting my growls. His voice was a balm, a soft thing against the harshness of my thoughts. I rubbed my head against his knee the best I could with this muzzle on. The leather straps dug slightly into my skin, a reminder of what I was now. I wasn't really planning on biting them at the moment unless they pissed me off, but I had to put it on while the men brought furniture in my room to make sure I didn't attack them.

I didn't like how they were in my territory but I kept telling myself it was just until everything was brought in. I repeated it like a mantra, clinging to it like it meant something. Xavier also helped them, telling them where things went and how he wanted them placed. He moved with a sort of calculated calm, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other gestured. Like he owned every corner of this place—and maybe he did.

Once they were finished, one of them walked up close to Xavier and held out his hand. For some reason I didn't like this at all, him touching my mate in my territory? Absolutely not. My body stiffened, muscles tensing in instinctual rage.

I began growling loudly at the man close to my mate, bringing everyone's attention to me. The sound burst out of me like thunder, vibrating in my chest and echoing off the walls. I saw Xavier slightly smirk before thanking and dismissing the men to leave. That smirk made my stomach flip. Was he pleased? Amused? Proud?

He then made his way up to me which excited me. I reached my hands out for Winston to help me stand up in which he did, and I was now just a few inches smaller than the both of them. I was tall, but not as tall as them. I was six foot two exact, but they had to be at least almost seven feet. I looked taller than I actually was due to my broad shoulders and bigger build. It made me seem imposing, a fact I clung to when everything else had been taken from me.

As he approached, I leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder while Winston's hands held me by my waist. He knew what I wanted. I could feel Xavier’s breath against my cheek, the heat of his body as he towered in front of me.

"What do you do when you want something, hmm?"

I looked down stubbornly, not wanting to do what he wanted me to. I knew the answer. We both did. My pride twisted inside me like a blade.

"Please... take off my muzzle."

He smiled, satisfied with my words. The smile wasn’t just pleased, it was possessive, like he’d won something. He then reached over and unbuckled it, leaving it nowhere but to fall to the ground with a soft thud. I inhaled deeply the moment it was off, flexing my jaw as the skin beneath the strap burned with relief.

"What a good boy, oh such a good boy you are." He praised, messing up my hair with his aggressive pets. His hand was heavy, rough, and condescending. After a few seconds it irritated me, causing me to snap at him. My teeth clicked just inches from his hand, warning.

He pulled his hand away from me, staring right through my eyes but his expression stayed the same. That calm, measured face. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or amused, which scared me more than if he had yelled. I got scared he would be mad so I leaned myself off of him and on Winston who was still holding me by my waist.

"I'm not upset with you puppy, I shouldn't have messed up your precious hair. Come here," his tone was sweet all the way until the end, which seemed like a demand rather than him asking me. There was steel beneath the sugar.

I hesitated, unsure of whether or not I should. My body itched with the need to obey, but my mind screamed to resist. When I didn't move fast enough, I felt a sudden shock on my neck which encouraged me to make my decision and lean back into him, shoving my face back into his chest.

I wish they would take this stupid shock collar off because it hurt like hell. The zap still echoed along my nerves, a cruel reminder of what defiance would earn me.