Master of My Soul

by hopelessromantic5

What happens when a person loses his humanity? Jacob Black, the cruelest dominant of the new world, is the perfect example. In a strict and unforgiving caste system it will take the lowest of the low to help him find what he had long lost. Can Seth, a submissive slave, achieve such task before it's too late? Contains heavy angst, abuse and cruelty.

21. Chapter 21

Thank you to all the readers that are still with me. Thanks to the reviewers, the ones who favorite and alert the story. Please believe me when I tell you that you are the motor that keeps this story alive.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 21

Jacob left his father's office with the force of a tornado. He couldn't believe the villainy of the council. How much more they needed to take away from the unfortunate men whose only sin had been being born with the wrong genetic makeup? For years he had ignored the many decrees that added another nail in the submissives coffin. After all he had nothing to worry about; to him a slave was nothing, not even the crap a dog leaves behind.

He wanted to go check on Seth but knew he was in no shape to do so. His anger was so intense and all-consuming that he could feel his alpha wolf creeping to the surface through his barely restrained fury. The master reached the hallway in the second floor where his room was located and immediately detected his submissive tantalizing aroma. Jacob paced back and forth with hurried stomping steps on the brightly lit hallway. He needed to calm down before facing Seth, he couldn't risk losing control.

At least he had decided the day before not to tell the slave about the possibility of being free by nightfall. The day was definitely not going as he planned. He imagined himself running to his room with Seth's freedom document in hand. He would present it to his puppy who he dreamed would jump to his arms and cry openly. The alpha could picture the submissive's youthful face as he read the letter so many times the ink could fade. He would then offer an escort and safe passage to South America so Seth could look for Leah. The master hoped that the submissive would come back but he was not going to hold his breath. That thought made the tears prick at the corners of his eyes but he didn't allow any tears to fall. The real problem was way more devastating than his imaginary ones. He needed to find a way to protect Seth from the other dominants and help him escape slavery.

After pacing back and forth from over an hour he felt calm enough to face his sub. Jacob made his way to his room; each door that he passed was a step closer to facing his own incompetence. In his arrogance he was convinced that he could grant Seth his freedom. The sub had pleaded, cried and begged but the master was too full of himself to pay any attention. They were alone; no witnesses meant that Seth's ideas wouldn't have been debated. If only he would've listened, he could've taken the slave to one of the safe houses along the way. He would've asked Quil or Edward since he had no idea where they were located, but he was certain they would provide all the necessary information. Once there he would pay whatever was necessary to guarantee Seth's escape to one of the few areas in which slavery had been abolished. He thought it was more than a coincidence that one of those places was located in South America and wondered if Leah had anything to do with it. But he messed up again; he had a real talent to hurt those he loved.

Jacob took a deep breath before placing his hand on the doorknob and turning it. He would need a lot of strength to keep his composure. The room smelled clean and was bathed in combinations of orange, red and grey. The master looked around the room unable to locate his sub, that was until he decided not to depend on his sight and scented him. His heart was filled with even more pain and distress when he caught the submissive's small form. Seth was in full slave mode, kneeling behind the dining table next to his chain. The master could smell the sub's tears. He had warned the slave about not paying attention to his words but guessed that was easier said than done.

"Damn it Seth, don't do that! Stand up!" Exclaimed Jacob, his exasperated tone making him seem angry. He couldn't be annoyed with the sub for behaving like a perfectly trained slave. That would be like penalizing a bird for singing. In two long strides he was in front of the submissive and grabbing one of his arms pulled him up until he stood up on his own two feet. Seth's shaking hands didn't escape his attention and he cursed himself for being so rough.

"Baby look at me, why are you like this?" Asked Jacob while he cradled the submissive's face between his beefy hands.

"Master that wolf kissed me and I hit him. I accept my punishment and understand the reason for it." Each one of Seth's pain filled words was accompanied by a double meaning. He didn't intend to anger his master any further, quite the contrary. His total acceptance of Jacob's judgment was based on trust and the need to please his master.

"You did hit him?" Seth nodded without lifting his eyes to meet his master's.

A sexy smirk appeared on the dominant's face, it was a shame that Seth couldn't see it. "Good boy"

Seth's frown deepened and his eyebrows furrowed. He was very confused. Did his master just congratulate him for hitting a dominant? What kind of upside down dream was he having? "Hey no frowning, as cute as you look with that perplexed look on your face I prefer to see you smiling. And what did I say about denying me your eyes?"

"Master you're ok with what I did?" Seth's small voice barely registered in the dominants hearing.

"More than ok puppy; just don't overdo it; I really don't feel like dismembering any of these idiots for hurting you. I've seen you run, you're fast, if that happens again wiggle yourself free if you can and run to find me. If you cannot run scream, I know they could hit you if you do that but trust me that would be nothing compared to what I'll do to them. I'll deal with any disorderly conduct."

"But master that's the thing; it's not disorderly at all. Any dominant is in their right to use me any way they see fit." Jacob couldn't bear the thought of his sweet puppy being brutally mounted by any of those beasts. The master knew he had done much worse since the submissive arrived, the only difference was that Jake regretted each and every time he hurt the slave. He would dedicate his life to earn his forgiveness; lucky for him they lived very long lives because one lifetime wouldn't be enough for Seth to forgive him. But the slave was right; he was at the mercy of a pack of hyenas. There was very little he could do to help his situation, it was up to Jacob to provide the best set of circumstances for his pup.

"I know love, until we figure out ways to protect you I want you to stay in our room. I know you get bored here all the time and enjoy working in the kitchen. I have to talk to Ed about this and determine the logistics for the whole thing. Until then you must remain here with the door locked. I don't like that new wolf, Eric. He gives me a really bad vibe. Tomorrow I'll tell my dad I want him in my pack." The last bit of news surprised and intrigued Seth.

"Master if you don't trust him why do you want him in your pack?"

"You've never heard of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer? If he is in my pack I can impart alpha orders." Understanding lit up the submissive's face and warmed his heart. His master was willing to have a wolf in his pack that could cause trouble if that meant he could order him to stay away from him.

"Thank you master, I was afraid he would turn into another Felix or James." The mere mention of those names caused a bubbling rage filled rumble in the very pits of the dominant's spirit. He never asked Seth about the attack; the last thing he wanted was to make Seth relive the assault. Instead he asked Quil to tell him. The wolf showed Jacob the condition of Seth's body when he saw it after the first attack. At the time he didn't care much or refused to acknowledge that he did. If that happened in the present time he would've torn those miserable sons of bitches limb by limb.

"Don't even think of those two, they cannot hurt you now." Jacob bent forward to capture Seth's lips with his own, the submissive placed his arms around his master and lingered as long as he could on his master's lips.

"Mmmmm puppy you smell so good; you showered and everything." Jacob nuzzled the submissive's cheek with his nose and left a trail of kisses starting on his ear and going down towards his chin. "If I weren't so fucking hungry I would take you to bed right now. I'm missing your warmth, I got very spoiled and now reality really sucks."

"I know how you like your slaves and it's my duty to please you." The submissive's choice of words didn't go over too well with the dominant. He was hurt, it was easy to understand why Seth felt the way he did but that didn't make it hurt any less. He wanted Seth to like him for who he was, not because he had an obligation to fulfill. The slave was so attuned to his master that just by the subtle changes in his breathing and pulse he knew something was wrong. He couldn't put his finger on what it was but it still affected him.

"Seth, I know it's really hard being back here and not falling into our old routines. We'll both try to make it work. You'll do your part, stop calling me master while in our room and please trust me. I'll keep you safe and take really good care of you. Do we have a deal?" Seth nodded enthusiastically before kissing his master. Jacob had to peel himself away from his sub, he was two heartbeats away from taking the slave to his bed and making him his. "Now wait for me, I'll take a quick shower and we'll go find something to eat."

Once they got to the kitchen Seth was greeted by a smiling Edward who didn't even turn to look in Jake's direction. "Seth! Good to have you back, man." Edward gave the submissive a warm hug; he had mixed feelings about the slave's return. He was happy that Jacob had a shred of decency and didn't kill the sub. On the other hand a part of him hoped that Seth would've have been able to escape Jacob's clutches.

Seth never expected such an outpour of affection to come from Ed; as far as he knew his friend was never one to express affection. What the submissive couldn't see was Ed glaring at Jacob, his head towering over the slave's. Jacob tried to remain impassive, plastering his best poker face on. The slave tried to take a step back and separate himself from the cook but that only made Ed hug him tighter. Seth felt Edward's soft lips as he kissed his bald head affectionately.

Jacob couldn't stand it any longer and a deep growl showed the three men in the room that the alpha's patience was running very thin. He stalked towards the pair of friends and pulled Seth away from Edward's hold, he tried to make it seem like he was being rough when in fact he was barely exerting pressure on the sub's forearm. "Enough with the happy reunion, we're here to get food, not to socialize. Is there anything to eat here?" Asked Jacob, his voice a combination of a hiss and a snarl.

"Yes, there are some leftovers in the refrigerator." Edward's contempt towards Jacob was almost visible. The way he talked to him was irreverent and arrogant. He couldn't care less that Jacob was the son of the Aleph; Edward had no respect for someone who abused those weaker than himself.

Seth knew his way around the kitchen and brought out of one of the side by side refrigerators several containers with food and began warming everything up. "Master do you wish to eat it here or in your room?"

"The room, and hurry up mutt, no need to remain here longer than necessary. It kind of reeks of loser here."

"Wow Jake, great to see that a nice vacation had absolutely no effect on you. You have been, are and always will be a bastard. And newsflash, the only loser in this room is you."

"Ed, do me a favor, eat shit and die."

"Likewise, asswipe."

"You do realize than the more you anger me the harder I'll pound him right." Ed was left speechless; he was flabbergasted by Jacob's statement. How crude could the alpha be was beyond words. It didn't surprise Ed that he would say such a thing, actually he'd heard him say worse. What did surprise him was that he would admit to his atrocities. He was so concerned with the impression his father had of him that he tried to hide his actions the best he could.

"And before I forget, I don't want you in my room again. You or whoever brings the breakfast must leave it outside on the table by the door." Edward looked at Jacob with a vacant look in his eyes; he didn't know what to think of the alpha's request. What was he planning for the submissive that couldn't be seen? Besides killing him, there was not much more he could do to the sub. At least Ed was almost certain that Jake was not planning to kill the submissive, but that meant squat. Edward's perception of Jake was that he was an attention whore and would do anything to intimidate those around him. He was a person with no leadership, competence or courage whose only way to lead was by using fear as a weapon. Of course that was only one man's opinion; there were countless others who would attest to the alpha's bravery in battle and leadership skills, as with everything it depended on who you asked. Unfortunately at the end of the day, if death came to the slave, it would be more merciful than to continue living under Jacob's roof.

During the dominant's exchange Seth had been able to arrange the plate and utensils on a tray to bring to the room. He picked up the tray and stood to the side waiting for his master. "That took you long enough, let's go. Can't wait to have you in all fours on my bed, slut, when you're biting the pillow to muffle your screams remember to thank your pal Eddie."

Jacob was about to exit the kitchen when Edward called his attention. The cook was shocked, his face and body tense, his hands shaking in frustration. "Wait, what time is Seth coming to the kitchen tomorrow?" Ed did what he could to make Jake accountable for his actions. Maybe if the alpha knew Seth had to be in the kitchen where Billy would see him he would take it easy on the little guy.

"By ten o'clock, his first responsibility is to me and I got seriously spoiled by having him at my complete mercy twenty four seven. Actually I was thinking about ending his kitchen duties."

"Jacob you gave me your word, or did you forget?" Asked Edward, the words struggling to come out through his clenched teeth.

"I didn't forget, I chose to ignore you. Come Seth." Jacob motioned for Seth to follow him, leaving the cook in the kitchen fuming.

The master and his slave walked quietly to their room, Jacob holding the door open for Seth to walk through. The submissive didn't know what to make of the dominants conversation. He had no clue where the truth ended and the deceit began. The slave noticed as his master locked the door, something he had never done before. He wanted to ask the reason for this but decided against it. If his master was grumpy on a full stomach when he was hungry he would turn into an evil fiend.

The submissive set the table and stood by his chain waiting for his master to sit. After the dominant sat down Seth walked towards him with his small bowl in hand. Jacob turned to look at him, the bowl seeming minuscule to the alpha. As it always happened a new wave of shame was unleashed on the wolf as he recalled all the times the slave had gone to bed hungry. "Seth, that bowl is tiny. Tomorrow sneak out of the kitchen a bigger bowl. You know what? Sit next to me, we're going to share. Jacob slid his chair to the left, pulled a chair and placed it to his right.

Seth hesitated but all it took was one stern look from his master to help him decide that sitting was the wisest choice he could make. Jacob pushed the plate towards the sub and gave him a spoon seeing that there was only one fork. He didn't mind if Seth shared his fork, he was just too hungry to take turns using the utensil. The master began eating but after wolfing down three big bites he stopped to look at his submissive who was fidgeting with the spoon he held. "Why aren't you eating? I know you're hungry."

"The thing is that… I don't remember how to use this." He said lifting the spoon to his master's line of sight. "I'll wait until you're done and I'll eat what you leave on the plate."

"No way! You're not going to eat crumbs, come here." He said grabbing the spoon out of Seth's hands. Very gently he took the submissive small hand and positioned his fingers in a mock grip. With the fingers in position he rested the spoon on the slave's middle finger with the index finger and thumb keeping the handle steady. He covered the hand that held the spoon with his own and dug in the food in front of them.

Seth was embarrassed; it was not his fault but he still felt responsible and inadequate. He unsteadily dipped the spoon in the food and brought it to his mouth. His hands were shaking out of both embarrassment and nerves, as a result half the food fell back on the plate. "Master your food will get cold. I'm sorry I cannot remember how to eat using silverware. I promise I'll practice."

"You tried, that's all I ask. I'll drop it for now, but you need to try at least once every day. It's not hard; I know your body will remember. Now eat however you always do it." Again Seth froze in his position, there was no way in hell he would stick his fingers in Jacob's food. "Seth just looking at the food will not make it jump into your mouth. I've seen you eat, dig in, I don't mind." The submissive started picking up peas from the outside border of the plate and popping them in his mouth one at a time. At that pace he would finish sometime in the next decade.

"You know what? Screw this fork. Today we eat like you do; tomorrow we'll do it my way, deal?" Jacob dropped the utensil on the table with a light clinking sound. The slave was grinning widely. Not only his master understood how self-conscious he felt, he didn't make fun of him. The dominant took a piece of chicken and brought it to the submissive's lips to savor. He felt satisfied with himself for having given the slave some dignity back. It would take years before Seth was completely restored but he wouldn't rest until that happened. The mashed potatoes were a little more challenging, since Seth had more experience in that area he took over that part of their meal, using his fingers to spoon good amounts of food into his master's mouth. After each bite the dominant would lick the sub's fingers, enjoying each time the slave's breath would hitch as he struggled to keep his composure.

"Damn, I think we should eat like this every day." Seth couldn't look at his master's sexy smile; if he did he would straddle his master and have his wicked way with him. Who would have thought that sharing a meal could turn into foreplay?

In no time Seth's pants became very uncomfortable, the scent of his arousal reached his master who smirked knowingly. "I created a monster; didn't you have enough this afternoon?" Jake's question caused the submissive to blush furiously. The master said he had been coaxed into making love to the sub, but the slave knew the truth; his master had been more than a willing participant. Anyway he was sure that if he hadn't mentioned it his master would've seduced him anyway. The submissive just enjoyed taking charge of things and loved how empowered he felt.

"Don't blush; you didn't hear me complaining; well, maybe moaning a little." Jacob winked at his submissive, flirting shamelessly with him.

"Jake, can I ask you something?" The slave ate the last morsels and placed everything in the tray to bring it to the kitchen. He sat back down and clasped his hands on his lap, a clear sign that he was nervous.

"Sure babe, what's up?"

"What's going on between you and Ed?"

"Well, he hates my guts and I've given him plenty of reasons to do so. Ed doesn't approve of the way I treat the subs. He is an abolitionist, every sub I've had has been a link in his long chain of failures. He blames himself for not protecting them and even tried to free several. I caught him helping one run away and killed the slave in front of him. Actually I know he has been investigating how to ship you away from here. Seth, you're not trying to catch me off-guard and run away from me right?" Jacob arched one perfect eyebrow while looking at his submissive questioningly. Behind his tough façade he was terrified. He was worried that karma would catch up with him and he would end up bitter and lonely, not even having the solace that a submissive would provide. If he ever lost Seth he was certain he would never be able to care for another human being or even touch another sub.

"No way Jake, I know the beginning was really bad but these past weeks have been the best ones of my entire life." The slave boldly straddled his master's lap and placed his thin arms around his neck. They kissed chastely before pressing their foreheads together. In each other's arms they were able to let go of so many bad experiences and found peace.

"Leave the dishes here; I don't want you walking around the house by yourself. When I walk you to the kitchen tomorrow for your shift you can bring them."

"That means you're letting me work in the kitchen after all?" Seth was hopeful his master had a change of heart and would allow him to keep helping Edward. As much as he loved spending time with his master he knew the alpha had a lot of work to catch up with and he would end up spending his days alone. It was astounding how everything had been reversed, the slave used to hate every second he spent in his master's presence and with all the reason in the world. Jacob's cruelty knew no end and he was never shy with his punishments. Now he whimpered internally at the idea of spending any amount of time away from his master.

"Yes I am, I know you like it." Seth peppered his master's face with kisses, thanking him again and again. Jacob responded by giggling, delighted with his submissive's antics.

"I'm fucking tired let's go to bed." The slave climbed down from his master's lap and moved aside to let him walk past him. Jacob felt oddly satisfied for making his submissive happy. For a man that had spent his entire adult life caring for no one but himself this was a much needed change of attitude.

Walking back from the bathroom the master plopped down naked on his bed like he always did. It was summer, which was the worst time of the year for shifters, their high body temperature making them very uncomfortable. Jacob turned on his side only to find Seth spreading the blanket that served as his bed on the floor right next to his chain. Again the master felt that annoying bug gnawing his insides and making him suffer. Looking back he was repulsed with everything he had done to Seth. Exactly at the moment that thought was crossing his mind the submissive lifted his eyes and smiled sweetly at his master, almost like he knew his master needed comfort. Jacob was lost for words; there were countless things he wanted to say to the slave. How he regretted making him sleep on the cold floor and how ashamed he was of treating him like an animal were just two of the many things he wanted to tell Seth. At least he hoped they would have a long life together to give him a chance to gain his absolution and for Seth to get much deserved happiness.

"Seth, come to bed." The master saw the slave's face fall slightly as he stood up and made his way to the bed. Seth removed all his clothes and climbed on the bed lying at arm's reach from his master. His next action was another wound in his master's bleeding psyche. He turned on his stomach and positioned himself on all fours, his naked behind sticking up in the air. Jacob had seen him do this hundreds of times but that night it had a completely different meaning. It was a slap on the face, the deafening sound of a loud siren on the master's ears announcing to the world that the dominant was less than filth.

Jacob grabbed the slave by the waist and pulled him towards him, gently placing the sub with his back to the bed. "Puppy that's not what I called you to bed for, please believe me, I'll never take you against your will ever again." Seth's eyes shined with unshed tears. He felt relieved because his master had not reverted to his old ways. The instant Jacob called him to his bed, the submissive felt his world slightly crumble. If it had not been for the fact he trusted his master he would have been desolate.

"Then what am I doing here?" Asked the slave innocently.

"Duh, we're going to sleep. From now on you'll share my bed. It will be our bed, the same way this is our room." Seth followed with his eyes Jacob's index finger as it motioned to show him around the room they shared. Jake's smile was infectious, he was not only relieved, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Apparently being evil was not second nature to him as many people, including him, thought. Seth on the other hand should've been ecstatic but he was anything but. It was too much too fast; his master was going from evil incarnate to an angel in only several weeks. Unless he was suffering from temporary insanity, which in any case should make Seth's life a living hell the instant the master snapped back to normal, it was not supposed to happen like this.

"Master, I'm scared."

"Of what puppy? And again stop it with the master crap. I'm Jake; master is for when we are out there with those ignorant fools. This is not a whimsical place with a waterfall to lull us to sleep but that doesn't mean we cannot make it into our personal heaven."

"I am afraid that tomorrow or the next day you will come back to your senses and realize you have been shacking with a dog. You will be so disgusted that your only option will be disposing of me. I'm not afraid of dying, what scares me is the idea of you rejecting me one day. I'm so happy right now and call me selfish but I don't want to go back to the way things were."

"Love, I'll always regret being cruel to you. I actually came back to my senses the moment I realized that you are more important to me than my own life. You hold my heart in your hands; it will be your choice to crush it or cherish it. What you don't understand is that you healed me puppy, you took my broken spirit and brought it back to life." Jacob ran the pad of his thumb over Seth's high cheekbone while he looked intently into the submissive's eyes. He needed the slave to believe him; his words were true and sincere. The master observed the slave's pensive expression, his shoulders slightly hitched up and his lips in a tense thin line. Jacob understood the slave's concern; words were nothing but empty air if there were no actions to support them, but he knew that time would prove his words to be true.

The submissive remained silent, he didn't agree with his master's statement but wouldn't risk aggravating him. He was nothing special, just a man with shitty luck and an uncertain future. Lucky for him his master made a complete turnaround and with some luck he would be able to walk the Earth a little bit longer. There were no guarantees; the only certainty was that he was sharing the bed with his master without being abused. That alone was a point in his favor in the game of life.

"Jake, I want you to make love to me on our bed, please." Seth felt very self-conscious for begging to his master to do the one thing he had been trying to avoid since coming to Jacob's service. Actually this was entirely different so he was not going against his principles. He hated being fucked by Jacob, but loved being his in a loving tender way.

"You don't have to ask me twice and no begging is necessary either. The only begging allowed in this bed will be when you demand more from me." Seth's eyes widened comically as he took in his master's words. Jacob loved shocking his sub and that occasion was not the exception. For a man who had done every single sex act known to man and a few that were made up by the wild imaginations of some dominants, the slave was very innocent.

"Don't play coy with me, if I'm a horn dog you're the king of the horn dogs." Both men laughed with delight at the alpha's latest statement. For the submissive it was easy to want something he enjoyed so much. It was second nature to him; he wanted sex and demanded it. No questions asked or explanations necessary.

The two lovers found each other's mouths as their hands explored each other's bodies. Every new experience they shared had a special significance to them. From the most innocent moments to the most heated and intimate ones. The room was filled with Jacob's moans of pleasure as the night's air enveloped them. Seth had been advised to keep his voice low; the last thing they needed was a bunch of overgrown dogs breaking into their room to take justice into their own hands and attempt to discipline the submissive. Not that Jacob would allow it, but it could prove to be more than they were willing to risk.

They were lost into each other's arms, the master and his submissive knew that was the place they needed to be. The submissive placed his legs on his master's shoulders, in this position he could see his master's eyes as his body became his. Jacob entered him slowly, giving him time to adjust after every inch he buried inside the slave. The slave would pull his lover towards him to crash their lips together and give himself a chance to moan against his master's mouth. The alpha thought he had never witnessed anything sexier that his submissive writhing in pleasure below him and muffling his moans with his mouth. The slave felt his body tensing in waves of pleasure, one wave not disappearing entirely before the next one started.

They reached their release one soon after the other; the sound of their shared ecstasy washing the walls of their room with its potent force. To avoid Seth's outcry of passion from being heard, Jacob's mouth captured the sub's and ravished it with a heady kiss that seemed to have no end. The master rolled to his side to avoid collapsing on top of Seth and putting too much weight on the much smaller man. As their bodies cooled they shared the closeness they had discovered. All doubts were chased away as Seth snuggled into his master's protective embrace. For the first time in his life he felt safe in the arms of a dominant.

The next morning Seth woke up with a start, sleep leaving him fast as he took in his surroundings. The day was already on its way and they had been wasting daylight. He jumped off the bed smiling as he turned to take in his master's sleeping form while feeling the well-known sensation on his body that reminded him of the previous night's activities. While showering he wondered if Edward did as asked and left their breakfast by the door. If he didn't, Seth would have to go get it. He would be disobeying his master by walking to the kitchen unaccompanied, but didn't want to tempt fate and not have Jacob's breakfast waiting for him when he woke up, which could prove much worse. He dressed hastily and walked out of the bathroom only to be faced with his master smiling at him from the table.

"Good morning babe, come, eat fast, we overslept." Like the creature of habit he was Seth grabbed his small bowl only to correct himself and put it back down when he heard Jacob's low growl. He walked to the table and stood next to his master waiting to be authorized to sit. "Please don't tell me you're waiting for me to give you permission to sit. Seth this is getting ridiculous, I understand you are not going to change from one day to the next but please pup you know what we talked about yesterday."

"I know mas.. I mean Jake." Seth sat next to Jacob and started nibbling on a piece of toast.

"Seth today I'll be out most of the day checking the crops with Sam and my dad." At the mere mention of Sam's name Seth's head shot up and his heart began beating faster.

The submissive placed his small hand on the master's arm to get his attention even though Jake hadn't missed his reaction. "Jake will you please find out if Embry is ok?"

Jacob fork splattered some food around the plate as he dropped it down in frustration. "Damn it! What do I fucking care if the stupid dog is alive or not?" Screamed Jacob, not caring who heard him. The slave flinched at the aggressive tone of his master. He felt like a cornered mouse not knowing what to do or what to say.

The dominant took a few deep calming breaths before speaking, they had not been up thirty minutes and he was already scaring the crap out of his little submissive. "Puppy I shouldn't have yelled, it's just very aggravating. I didn't miss your reaction and I want to be the only one to make your heart flutter. Seth, do you love him?" There was a tremendous amount of pain and fear behind Jacob's question. It was one of those occasions in which he would be dammed if he knew and dammed if he didn't.

"I'm not allowed to love; it's against the law for a slave to become attached to anyone." Seth's words had a much different ring to them than Jacob's. While the master's words were filled with fear, the submissive's words were filled with sadness. The slave wouldn't meet his master's eyes; he knew what he would see in them.

"Who gives a person the right to forbid another human being from loving? How arrogant are we?" Seth knew he needed to comfort his master and in return be comforted himself. He sat on his master's lap who immediately surrounded his slim body with his arms. The slave hid his face in the crook of his master's neck, inhaling his scent and feeling the strong pulse of his master's beating heart.

"Baby, do you love him like you love me?" Whispered Jacob in the submissive's ear. Seth moved his head from side to side in negation. "What's the difference?"

"He's like my brother, you're not." Seth's words were barely a whisper, his voice even softer than usual.

"And that's a good thing for me right?" The alpha was being crushed by the feelings that resided deep inside him. He hadn't been able to mutter the words, in a way he was as much of a slave as Seth was. The law forbade Seth from loving, Jacob forbade himself. The crazy thing was that no law and no amount of denial would be able to control something so grand. The same way nobody can cover the sun with one finger, a love like the one they shared couldn't be hidden.

"Yes it is, Jake." The submissive's lips found those of his master in a chaste kiss.

"Babe I'll find out what I can." The master couldn't bring himself to say the name of the man who made him insanely jealous. The dominant could kick himself and he should. In his blindness he had forced this man to have sex with his pup. Now the image of those two together in a bed, one buried deep inside the other man's body would haunt him forever.

By the time Jacob had gathered the reports he needed to give his father the submissive was already standing by the door waiting for him. They shared one last kiss before stepping out of their sanctuary and transforming into the master and the slave. The two lovers walked in silence, both feeling like they wanted to run back to their room and never come out.

Upon arriving to the kitchen Jacob was greeted by Alec and Collin who by their appearance one could assume they had just finished their patrols. The master made conversation with them mainly waiting for them to finish their breakfast and vacate the kitchen before he could be on his way. He needed to talk to Edward and with those two there he couldn't. Seth filled the sink with soapy water to soak the breakfast dishes all while feeling the lust filled looks the two wolves were giving him. Their gaze was so intense that it could've easily burned Seth's clothes off his back just so they could feast on his naked form. The submissive couldn't wait for the wolves to exit the kitchen; even Edward looked tense around them. To all the wolves in the house Ed was nothing but a bitter wolf with good cooking skills but a horrible attitude. The only people that saw his pleasant side were Quil and Seth. He respected Billy and Carlisle but didn't give a shit about Jake.

"Damn it I couldn't wait for those two to leave. Edward, I have a favor to ask from you." Said Jacob calmly, he was well aware that Ed would push his buttons but Seth was more important than his pride.

"Fuck off; I'm not doing you any favors." Snarled Edward.

"The favor is not for me, it's for Seth." This caught Ed's attention and he stopped what he was doing to listen to the alpha. "He will spend the day here; you need to stay with him at all times. If you need to leave the kitchen, no matter for what, you bring him with you. I don't care if you're just going to take a piss; Seth needs to be with you. I don't trust the new wolf, Eric, and Seth is afraid that he could be another Felix or James."

"Don't tell me that now you care if he gets raped. What is it; if he has been fucked he is not as tight as you like him to be?" The contempt he felt for the alpha, albeit mixed with pity, was obvious to everyone. He made not the least effort to conceal it.

"That's none of your business, will you keep him safe?" Answered Jacob curtly.

"Yes I will, but know that I do it for him. I wouldn't give a flying fuck if you fall dead right now."

Before Jake could think of a snappy comeback a storm entered the kitchen, for one so small she packed quite a punch. "SETH!" Exclaimed Sophia excitedly before launching herself towards Seth who picked her up and hugged her timidly.

"Don't worry it's just mommy and me, daddy is on patrol." Seth relaxed visibly, he knew Paul was like any other dominant, he thought Seth was subhuman and not worthy of even breathing the same air as his daughter.

"I missed you little girl." Seth's voice was like a mother's touch, soft and loving. Jake had only seen him interacting with Sophia once and that was under less than favorable circumstances. He was in awe at the tenderness and love they had for each other. The master observed the ease with which Seth engaged the little girl. He was firm and extremely loving, a perfect combination. It was obvious that Sophia adored the slave and Jacob knew the feeling was mutual.

"I missed you more; it's not fun when you're not here." The little girl pouted and gave her best representation of puppy eyes while clinging to Seth like she was afraid he would take off again. The submissive sat Sophia on the kitchen counter to take a better look at her. She seemed to have grown in the time he was away and she had even lost a tooth. The slave made a big deal when Emily told him how brave Sophia had been when they had to pull the tooth, this made her feel very proud and grown up. Seth laughed out loud when the little girl said that her daddy cried more than she did. She definitely had her daddy wrapped around her little finger.

"What's the deal with this crazy hair of yours?" One of Sophia's braids became undone and several strands of hair were sticking out in all directions. Seth undid the braid completely and began threading it tightly.

"When did you learn to braid hair?" Asked Sophia fascinated with her friend's skills, she had never seen another man act the way Seth did. She never experienced the gender differences that ruled before the pandemic. But even by new world standards the submissive was much different from the other males.

"My sister had long hair and she taught me so I would do her hair. She was quite bossy." Seth's chortled but his voice carried a melancholic tone to it. "There you go, perfect."

"Thank you" Sophia moved her head from side to side like she was testing her new hairdo.

Jacob stood on his spot unable to move or utter any sound. His heart was at the same time filled with sadness and with joy. He fantasized that his puppy was not a slave, quite the contrary, that he was one of the lucky ones. Jacob smiled imagining his small submissive with a round belly, his shoulder length hair being blown by the soft breeze as they walked hand in hand. The alpha dreamt that Seth had chosen him as his mate and they had a beautiful little girl together. It was a wonderful and impossible dream.

"Baby girl, did you say hello to your uncle Jay?" Chastised Seth.

"Hello Jacob." She mumbled.

"Sophia we've talked about this; be nice to your uncle. Look I don't have any boo boos." The little girl observed Seth's face, neck and arms intently, taking in his appearance.

"That's right, Seth you look good, even put on a few pounds." Until that moment Emily had been quiet, standing aside while her daughter gave all her attention to the man she had grown to love. The poor girl had been so gloomy since Seth left with his master. The worst thing was that neither Emily nor Paul knew when the slave would be back or even if he would.

"Yeah eating raw has its benefits." Seth gave his master a furtive look. Jacob couldn't peel his eyes away from his sub, as brief as the look was he caught it. What neither man realized was that their behavior was giving them away, especially Jacob's. He was looking at the slave adoringly, his thoughts very far away from that kitchen. His mind was in the land of impossible dreams and secret desires.

"Jacob I'm so relieved now that you guys are back. It's too dangerous out there for any submissive." Emily's small delicate hand brought Jake back to the here and now.

Jacob stuttered as he tried to talk. "What are you talking about?"

"You haven't heard? There are rumors of boys being kidnapped and kept as prisoners until they phase, this prevents their parents from hiding them or taking them out of the country. The demand for subs is so high that they retorted by finding ways to take subs away from their masters so they could sell them to the highest bidder. At least one good thing came out of this; it's illegal to kill subs now. It carries prison time, I doubt it will even be enforced but it's a change in the right direction." Emily's words carried with them an accusation and a warning. This didn't go unnoticed by the alpha who nodded as his only reply.

"I was not aware of any of this. What do you mean by ways to take subs away from their masters?" The alpha was losing his composure fast looking from Emily to Seth like the sub would be taken from under his nose. The submissive kept himself busy playing with Sophia but was listening to everything being said. Edward observed Jacob's reaction trying to figure out what his deal was.

"I've only heard rumors; the council is greedy, desperate and powerful. This in my opinion is a very serious threat. They come to a house and check that the submissives are fulfilling their purpose, if they are not; the masters are accused of mishandling slaves and some other crap that doesn't even make sense. I don't know how people can fall for this." Emily threw her arms in the air in an exasperated gesture.

"I feel sorry for the council member that comes to this house, trust me he will regret ever setting foot in here." Jacob's features turned hard as stone with the decisiveness and confidence of one who knows he has a powerful and courageous group of fighters at his disposition. But it went beyond that, he would give his own life to keep his submissive safe.

"I hope that if the need ever arises you would be able to protect Seth; my daughter loves him so much that Paul is jealous."

"Yes daddy calls Seth the Chihuahua." Said Sophia giggling. "What I don't understand is when he calls him the alpha's fuck. I know Uncle Jay is the alpha, but what is fuck?" The little girl looked to Seth for an answer but he was tongue tied, Jake almost chocked on his own spit while Edward turned his back to the group and walked to the pantry to hide there and laugh. As infuriating as the thought of Seth being Jacob's fuck toy was, Sophia's innocence was enough to temporarily spare Jacob from his conviction as the slave's executioner. Emily was the only one who kept her poise; she was not only used to her daughter's curiosity but to her husband's dirty mouth.

"Sweetie what have I told you about repeating the things your dad says? You know better than that."

"Sorry mama." Seth was thankful that Emily had intervened, he honestly had no clue as to how to answer Sophia's question.

"I better get going; my father has been waiting long enough." Jacob peeked into the pantry where Edward was sitting on a crate working in regaining his composure. "Ed we good?" Edward nodded, after Emily's told them about the shitty situations taking place right under their noses both dominants knew that Seth's protection was a priority.

After Jacob left the kitchen Seth began prepping for lunch. There was no way to get Sophia away from the slave, all of them succumbing to the girl's tears. The submissive had no problem keeping her in the kitchen, he enjoyed her company. Sophia was the only person who saw him for what he was, a man. To keep her busy he gave her a pair of dull scissors so she could nip the end of a huge bag of green beans. She was delighted to help, seeing that doing so made her feel grown up.

Edward was thoroughly amused listening to the conversations between Seth and her. Their talks ranged from every possible subject the girl could understand to her made up world. Sophia was lonely; she had all the adults at her feet but without children to play with her childhood was slipping away in a bored blur. If there was one person who could understand her it was Seth. His childhood had been taken away from him, forcing him to face the realities of the adult world before his innocent brain could fully understand it. On many different occasions he had used his fantasies and imagination to escape the harsh world he was cursed to live in.

At the end of the day Edward walked Seth back to the room, Jake was not back yet and he would probably be back very late seeing that they had such a late start. "Seth, how is Jacob treating you?" Inquired Edward.

"The same as always, why do you ask?" Edward stopped to look at the slave, Seth was not made for lying, it was definitely not one of his talents. The slave averted his gaze knowing very well that the cook would be able to see right through his fibs. Even the monotone with which he tried to mask his untruthfulness was not enough.

"Because you both look different, for starters you don't have a mark on you and probably gained around ten pounds. The way Jacob looks at you is almost disturbing, I don't know if he is crazier than ever or if there is something else going on. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he is treating you well. I have a crazy theory floating around inside my head but it is so out there than not even the best fiction tale could compare"

"Ed, we've only been back for a day, the bruises from the last time he hit me faded and we haven't been here long enough for him to go at it again. I've been trying really hard to be what he wants me to be so I won't anger him, unfortunately I know it's only a matter of time before I do something that will warrant some kind of punishment. I wish I could tell you something else." Technically Seth wasn't lying, the bruises had indeed faded, he only failed to mention that several months had passed since the last time his master laid a hand on him.

"Seth and… the sex?"

"Same Ed, if you need to know he fucks me any time he wants, day or night. You can ask Quil, he was with us during part of the trip." It was killing the submissive to blatantly lie to his friend. He knew it was a necessary evil but couldn't help but feel terrible about it.

"I'm sorry Seth I don't mean to pry, I'm just trying to make sense of things and find an explanation to this feeling I have." Edward was sorry for making the slave feel uncomfortable with his questions. A part of him wished the sub would tell him that his master was not being abusive and was indeed treating him like a human being. But he knew that was one wish that would never be fulfilled. Still the mixed signals he was getting from both master and submissive were enough to make his head hurt.

"You shouldn't apologize to a slave." Seth was desperately trying to divert the attention away from the relationship he had with his master. Edward was no fool; it was just a matter of time before he would put all the pieces together.

"I'm apologizing to a fellow man, a brother. You know very well I don't see you as a slave. Well, this is your stop." Absorbed in the conversation Seth hadn't noticed they were standing in front of the door that led to the room he shared with his master. "Let's make sure everything is ok in there so I can go bed." After making sure there were no wolves in the room Edward left but not before reminding Seth to lock the door.

The slave jumped in the shower, he wanted to smell fresh and clean for his master turned boyfriend. The submissive giggled internally thinking of everything Edward said. He was especially excited about his master looking at him differently. The sub had seen the difference in Jacob, the softness in his eyes, the serene expression he sported nowadays, but refused to accept it. If someone else saw the same thing that would give veracity to his perception. He debated whether or not to tell his master that Edward was suspicious, if only so he would be more careful around other dominants. The submissive's joy was dampened by everything Emily had told them; he was deeply troubled by the whole situation. It didn't matter that Jacob had been cruel and evil, that was in the past. Now that things were looking up and Seth was being treated fairly, it wouldn't be fair if he was sold to a new master. But it went beyond that, if he was separated from Jacob it would be like someone buried their hand in his chest and pulled his beating heart out of him.

Seth stood by the window, looking up at the darkening sky. In summer nightfall came much later and even though it was past eight o'clock there was still light out. The hot day was being blown away by the cool evening breeze. An orange haze was tossed over the horizon, the sun refusing to leave for the day. Soon enough the twilight sky would leave way to a sea of darkness which would be littered with a multitude of bright spots that lit up the heavens. The slave waited for his master, he missed having him by his side; it was the longest they had been apart in almost two months.

The submissive stood motionless by the window, studying any change or movements in the shrubs or the trees. After some time he felt his chest swell up and his heartbeat accelerate. At last his master was near, he could feel his proximity. Seth didn't know if this was because of his gift as a tracker or just his spirit announcing the arrival of the master of his soul. The wolves walked out of the treeline one by one. Seth could see Billy's majestic wolf, so similar to Jacob's. They both had russet fur but Billy's had a black face while Jacob's was the same color as his body. Several wolves followed, each one phasing to walk the last leg of their journey as men. Seth was getting nervous, why wasn't his master among the group? Where could he be?

The slave was very tempted to leave the room to inquire about his master's whereabouts. Fifteen minutes passed before Seth could let go of the breath he had been holding. His master's russet wolf emerged from the woods followed by a much smaller silver one. Seth was giddy and literally jumping with joy. He recognized the small wolf, it was Embry. His master not only kept his promise but went beyond any expectations and brought his friend. If there was any doubt left in Seth's heart about his master's intentions, they disappeared the instant he saw his friend. Then and there he knew that his dominant would even interact with somebody he hated if that brought a smile to the submissive's face.

"Thank you my love for filling my heart with joy. I love you Jacob Black." His silent prayer was nothing but a whisper that nobody could hear but it was a booming song that reached all the way to the heavens above.