Something a little different today but a fast update now I have more drafts ready.

Glad you all liked the last chapter, a shift is starting but you'll just have see how and when it all plays out!

Comments would be appreciated as there are a few ways I can progress from here within the framework of the overall plot and I do value your opinions.

Enjoy x

xxxx

"Good evening to you, My Queen. It has been both pleasurable and educational," Eva smirked as she offered the queen a curtsey.

"And I have enjoyed getting to know my friend's daughter, as the woman she is becoming," Regina purred, cocking her head but not leaving her chair.

"I know that she will blossom under your tutelage, Majesty," Eva replied as she watched Greta dress as quickly as she could.

"Mistress," it was the young wolf's turn to bow towards the queen before she went to open the door, holding it open for the nobleman's daughter. "Miss," she murmured as the other girl passed her, the queen's eyes fixed on them until they left.

xxxxxxx

Greta led the way through the halls, her usual swift pace restricted by her companion's long skirts.

"Sorry, this dress is cumbersome," Eva apologised when she realised the other girl was waiting on her. It was an excuse to make conversation as the feel of the dark haired tongue between her legs was still a very fresh memory, a welcome one but was not enabling her to engage in polite conversation. If that was even appropriate?

"Don't worry," Greta smiled. "I am used to walking with the Queen."

"How long have you been her slave?" They had paused at the end of a corridor, Greta gesturing the girl to stay back out of sight as a group of revellers passed by.

"Only a matter of weeks," the wolf confirmed. "I still have a lot to learn," she admitted with a shrug.

"Why do you do not wear a collar and the one who rescued me does?" Eva questioned, slightly confused.

"I have not been honoured with one yet," Greta responded. "I hope to receive one soon though but it has been a stressful time for the Queen. With Emma going missing and being injured -."

"Emma, her name is Emma?"

"Yes. She hasn't worn her collar long though," Greta explained as she gestured that they should continue.

"And she comes from a world without magic?" Greta stopped dead as they reached the rooms Eva was sharing with her father and turned to face the girl.

"Yes," the wolf frowned, this was not common knowledge so she assumed the queen must have told her. "What do you know of this?" Greta dropped her voice to a growl.

"Only that my aunt, well my mother's half sister," Eva clarified for the wolf's benefit, "sent her daughter, Emma, to another world. Given our Queen's skill I do not think it beyond the realm of possibility that they are one and the same. How ironic," she chuckled to herself. "But to know that Emma may be my cousin-."

"Do not share such theories with anyone," Greta warned, allowing her wolf was close to the surface as her companion's eyes widened at the yellowing of eyes and slight distortion of her lips as teeth elongated. It did not look monstrous, it just looked more and gave the young wolf a darker edge, a darker, dangerous, incredibly attractive edge.

"She is my Queen and has my loyalty," Eva pledged as she admired the change and air of confidence the queen's pet was now showing. "So you really are a wolf, it is not just a pet name when the queen calls you 'pup'?"

"No," Greta straightened under the scrutiny. "I am pure wolf," her words acknowledging that there were others descended from wolf lines but they were unable to transform.

"And you are very beautiful and talented," Eva praised as she let her eyes roam the wolf. They were almost equal in height but the faye was of much slimmer, delicate build. A slender hand reached out and rested against the wolf's breast bone who flinched but held still and Greta felt warmth just as she did when the queen touched her there. "And your magic is very strong," Eva murmured as she used her own magic to sense what was in the wolf.

"Yes, as is Red's. We are alpha and both the last of our lines. Red says our magic attracts the queen to our kind," she replied, proud of her heritage as she looked back into golden eyes. "Your own magic -, I can sense it, smell it, taste it." The last words came out in a growl and Eva gasped as she was pinned back against the door by a solid body, nose pressed into the curve of her throat as Greta held her there. A growl and the wolf pulled back, eyes glowing as she cocked her head to survey her prey.

Her time with the queen had awakened strong instincts in the young wolf, ones that she had never experienced before and was not yet in full control of, unlike Red who had undergone intense training with the queen while wearing her collar. It was normal for wolves to go through the sexual stage of puberty later than most humans as they tended to live much longer. While Greta was naturally submissive to the queen, her hormones had been roused by pleasuring the girl standing before her, and her wolf wanted more.

She was wanted.

Just the slightest scent of the fresh flood of wetness between the girl's legs and the wolf surged forward for the second time, lips pressing against those of the faye, both young women moaning into the kiss as their bodies met.

"Enough!" Greta yelped in pain as her head was yanked back, fingers in her hair pulling her away from the other girl, then the young wolf found herself flying through the air and impacting against the far wall. Red snarling down on her as the elder wolf stood over her, fingers curled into claws. Both wolves knew that Red was the stronger of the two but that did not stop the younger wolf from growling back in challenge, Greta launching herself upwards with lightning speed, knocking the older wolf back.

Red was not surprised by the attack but she fought it, as the queen had noted the young wolf was strong but still undisciplined whereas Red was a hardened fighter, soon gaining the upper hand and pinning the girl under her, the younger wolf on her stomach.

"Be still," the older wolf growled in Greta's ear but her words had no effect, her wolf was out and it was rebelling. Red realised that it was not words that would get through to her friend so reverted to action, sharp teeth biting down on the soft flesh of the girl's neck. It had an immediate effect, as Red's jaws closed Greta whimpered and went limp, her animalistic nature submitting as it would to her alpha, or her mother, the memory causing her to whine. A shake of Red's head and another whimper reassured the wolf that Greta had calmed, her wolf withdrawing.

"Stay down!" Red ordered, casting her eyes towards the other girl, Eva, seeing her pressed fearfully up against the carved wooden door that led to her chambers as the older wolf stood.

"My sincere apologies, Miss Eva," Red bowed but held her stance over the young wolf. "I will raise this issue with the Queen and she will be suitably punished," she promised, absolving the girl of any responsibility for the indiscretion. She was young and obviously attracted to the wolf, Red could sense that and also her distress as she realised what they had done. "She is wolf, she will survive." Piercing green eyes studied her a moment longer before Red held a hand out to her friend. "We will go to the Queen."

Greta took the hand offered and was pulled to her feet, dress now creased and in disarray.

"Follow," was all Red said as the wolves watched the door close behind the girl before the elder wolf led the way back towards the queen's chambers. Greta traced her friend's footsteps through the halls, head hung, thoughts in turmoil. She knew she had disgraced herself, disrespected the queen and the girl but it had felt so right. So right to let her wolf out, to act on her urges, to take what she had wanted.

Red's thoughts were equally busy but concerned with other matters, such as the punishment their mistress was likely to bestow on her friend, her sister. For a slave to touch another without the the queen's direct command was a grievous crime. Who knew how far it would have gone if she hadn't have come across them when she did? She acknowledged the genuine attraction that seemed to exist between the two of them but she also knew first hand how a wolf thought. They took and they owned. Red had no doubt that given Greta's alpha line her wolf would have overridden her more rational sensibilities and followed through on its mating urges, however they may have been received by the young noblewoman. With wolves it was different, they were equals but with a human -. Well, uncontrolled matings rarely ended well for the weaker party.

Greta was young and had not grown up around any wolves except Red herself and with occasional contact with members of the palace guard. She had no idea of the control her developing wolf could exert on her when it wished. Yes, her changes were fluid and extremely controlled which was a start, and no mean feat, but the body chemistry of young wolves was complex and it was only the queen's guidance that had allowed Red to live as she did, even then she recognised the odd occasion when she was safest in her cell. Normally only older wolves were accepted into the guard, ones that had passed the volatile years, comparative to human puberty, with guidance from their pack and alpha. Red had the queen as her alpha, a human but with unprecedented understanding of the wolf. And power.

"Wait," Reg growled and received a cowed nod from the girl as they stood outside the entrance to the queen's rooms. The older wolf slipped inside, past the wards, senses extended. The last thing she wanted was to disturb the queen if she was playing with Emma. She smelled sex, mostly the familiar scent of her mistresses arousal but fainter traces of the slaves that indicated it had been the queen taking her pleasure. At the sound of movement Red cautiously approached the bedchamber, her own steps silent.

What she was not expecting to see were the tender actions of the slave as she cared for the queen, or the emotions that crossed her face as she did. There was care and there was lust and there was frustration but not anger. The wolf froze for a moment when the slave spotted her but left as quietly as she had come, now was not the time for discussion and she had an errant pup to attend to.

When Emma heard the outer door close she went to wash herself of the oil and the queen's essence where it coated her skin. She returned to the queen's bedchamber with a goblet of water in case her mistress woke thirsty. Then a debate, where to sleep? In her room? On the floor at the foot of the bed? On the rug by the side of the queen's bed or in the bed? The last one was obviously not an option as no invitation had been made so the slave opted for the thick and surprisingly warm and soft rug by her mistresses side.

Curling up she realised how tired she was, the potion now exhausted and her body still weak from recent events. She was relatively comfortable and warm so it was not long before her eyes grew heavy, the crackling of the fire soothing her to sleep.

Xxxxx

Next on The Collar

Shit.

A mental curse as Emma tried to remember if she'd decided that it was a good idea to climb into the queen's bed during the night. Or not. Nope, she had no recollection of moving. So, noting it was still dark and her body clock told her it was a few hours before sunrise the slave took the safe option and slipped back out of the bed and onto the rug near her mistress.