A Slaves Mistake, a Peasants Downfall ((RESTART, closed for Kaena and Yeisha))

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204 years. It has been 204 years since Diego had been beaten in combat, Put up to auction, sold, and collared to his Owner. 230 years since he had been kidnapped as a child. Torn from his pack, his family, living in the old country, shipped to an American settlement as slave labor, to help fight as a gladiator for the royals, to be entertainment, what a waste. But now, 204 years later. Living with his Mistress, his owner, her pet wolf things had not been so bad. She was caring, inventive, and treated him more as a pet then a slave, allowing him free will to shift and hunt at will. And after years of not trusting her, fighting her every step of the way she finally broke him. And he was happy.

Although he was a slave, collared and owned, he had also been his Mistress enforcer. About 150 years a business deal that would have made his Mistress a rich women had been stabbed in the back but an up and coming duke something or other, Diego hadn’t cared about his name. His mistress had unleashed him, sent him to hunt, to kill the male for betraying her. And he slaughtered everyone in the mansion, servants, maids, children, it hadn’t mattered because his Mistress had ordered it, and his beast loved the blood. After all was said and done his Mistress took the mansion as her own, transformed the plantation into a rich farm, where they could live quietly.

His Mistress however was no ordinary human, no, she was like him, she was a Were-tiger, a queen tiger, powerful enough to control him, the magic she commanded was unparalled, her origins to him even this day remain clouded in mystery. But, well, he loved her, and had never questioned it. Tonight was they 204th anniversary of the day he had been collared, the Moon was full, not a cloud in the sky. Diego wanted blood, and perhaps something more tonight, as he stood on the front porch of his Mistress home he looked to the sky, the pulsing glow of the moon beating on him, calling to his beast.

Standing at 6ft even and a little over 200 lbs Diego had a workers body, lean and tanned, but not overly muscled, his ear twitching Diego looked to his Mistress, a smile on his face, the contentment he’d come to love from her, his body seamlessly flowed away, dropping to all fours, like water through fingers he transformed, raising his muzzle skyward he howled, the hunt was on

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The breeze played gently against Harper's skin as she looked out into the night. She could almost feel the heat coming off Diego's body as he stood at her side, waiting for her cue to be able to run and hunt. Turning her head towards him, she smiled softly as she watched him shift, her violet coloured eyes flashing in the light of the moon. His howl and the moon spoke to her own beast, but she kept it bay for the moment, content to stand there, her fingers running softly through his fur, as she thought back to the night 204 years ago when he had become hers.

She hadn't been in America long when she had purchased Diego at the slave auction. Her father had been a prominent business man in the old country, his wealth known throughout the country. They lived a quiet, happy life, without anyone in the village aware of their secret. That was until the night her mother had been killed while out hunting. Harper could still remember the sound of the town warning bells ringing and her father waking her urgently from her sleep. It was that night that she left the old country, her father buying her passage on the first ship, desperate to save her the fate that had befallen her mother, barely slipping her past the angry mob that had already started to descend upon their home.

She had begged her father to come with her, but he had refused. Since her mother was dead, he didn't have anything left to live for, and there were no others of their kind left in the old country anymore. Her last memory of her father, was seeing him on the shore as the ship pulled away.

The voyage across the ocean had not been easy, a single young woman alone on a ship full of men. For the first few days, she had had to deal with some of the men trying to take advantage of her, but she was capable of protecting herself, and it didn't take long for the word to get out around the ship to leave her alone. Once the ship harboured in America, her reputation was already established as a woman that wasn't to be messed with and the gold her father had given her before she left made her a very wealthy woman.

She wasn't naive enough to think her reputation was going to be enough to protect her and her wealth. It was this that had brought her to the slave auction. She had come there looking for a young man that would be her companion and protector. The moment her eyes had fallen on Diego, she had known he was the one. She didn't even wait until the auction to purchase him, she made the auctioneer an offer he couldn't refuse, ensuring that the young man would be hers.

She smiled at Diego again, her thoughts returning to the present. She couldn't believe it had been 204 years since the night she had brought him home to the small cottage she had bought once she had gotten off the ship. Since she had collared him and made him her own. If it wasn't for the fact that he was more obedient and trained than he was then, it would have felt like yesterday, the time having flown by so quickly.

Running her fingers through his hair again, she shifted herself, the whiteness of her fur gleaming in the moonlight. Nudging him with her head, she gave him a feral grin before jumping off the porch into the yard. Looking back at him over her shoulder, she growled softly before running off into the night, the need to hunt calling to her beast.

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Amelia sat in the room she had been given at the inn staring at woman filling the tub with hot water wishing she would hurry up; she was aching to wash the dust from her hair and body. As soon as she was gone she took her merger rations of soap and shampoo and sank into the tiny freestanding bath. Finally her hair washed and body clean she sat there knees hugging her chest mulling over what she was to do next.

They had arrived in America from England after an arduous voyage which had claimed the lives of her husband and mother. Finally a week ago death had also claimed her father, she was now utterly alone. It had been her fathers idea to buy land here, they would be self sufficient, they would be rich. She rolled her eyes, her father was an idiot this place was dirty hot bed of dust and grime, it was full of uncouth loud strangers who to Amelia’s eyes appeared to be mostly men.

The young woman rubbed her temples worriedly, what on earth was she to do?

This small town was to be her final stop she had very little money left and her horse and wagon were both on their last legs, they would never make it to the place marked on the worn map she had hidden in her bags.

The only good thing that had happened to her since her arrival in this country was that she had been relieved of the tyranny of both her demanding husband and her over bearing father; good riddance to them both. She had loved her husband until she had realized that she was nothing more than chattel to him, a warm body to fill his bed whenever he desired it, which was far to often for her tastes. She closed her eyes images of his naked his body holding her captive under his colossal weigh as grunting and red faced he took his pleasure inside of her unresisting body unmindful, of how she felt or at her lack of response or pleasure. She dragged her mind back to the present…

Amelia had paid for one week at the inn after which she knew she would have to find a job, she needed money if she was to move on and try and find the land to which as the sole survivor she was entitled to.

What kind of job would she find in such a place as this? She could teach school but to be honest she hadn’t seen many children in this unforgiving place. She had spied a Saloon and a smattering of stores and of course this small Inn. Mind you her attention had been fully occupied by trying to coax her ailing horse to the stables where she was told she would be better off having him put down rather than waste her money on his feed.

She pressed her hands to her temples willing her headache to simply go away. Would she end up like the woman who filled her bath moments before scrubbing floors in a place like this tending to the needs of others? She couldn’t have been older than thirty but she had the careworn air of a much older woman, she looked defeated and tired not even cracking a smile at Amelia’s whispered thank you.

Her mothers face came unbidden to her minds eye; on the day after her wedding night frightened Amelia had ran to her for comfort. “Only whores enjoy the wedding bed and you are not a whore.” Her face turned pink as she recalled the memory her hand straying of its own volition to the soft curls at the juncture of her thighs, she had touched and found pleasure in her forbidden places and had innocently thought her marriage would bring more of the same pleasure.

“Perhaps that is my destiny to be whore to some disgusting man in order to survive,” she queried of the silent room a single tear dropping from her deep green eyes, she shuddered at the thought.

Realizing the water was stone cold she rinsed her body and hair and stepped naked from the rusty tub unmindful of the water dripping from her smooth skin onto the threadbare carpet as she crossed to the mirror to stare solemnly at her reflection. As a teenager she had dreamed of ball gowns and handsome princes who would cherish her and lead her to a world of beauty and pleasure but of course the dreams of naive teenage girls are often crushed under the reality of what really is, as were hers.

She took stock of her reflection wondering if perhaps she should marry again, dismissing the thought as immediately as it entered her head. She had wowed that she would never allow herself to be under the rule of another again, she would rather end her days alone; at least as a whore she would have choices.

Amelia, barely 25 regarded her naked reflection with a critical eye turning this way and that. Her breasts where high and firm as was her derriere, the gentle swell of her tummy ending in a small thatch of deep golden curls. Amelia considered her best feature to be her legs they were unusually long and shapely ending in daintily ankles and feet. Not bad at all, even her skin had retained the resilience of her youth. The girl in the mirror didn’t consider herself to be beautiful though her mother had told her so many times to her disbelief.

Amelia continued her assessment. She had long silken hair falling in a thick veil to her waist. It was a shade darker than those covering her sex, sun kissed with highlights due to her unaccustomed time spent in the sun; huge expressive green eyes and a small pert nose completed the picture.

She smiled at the somber girl; the change of her expression was like a ray of sunshine… it was in that moment that she became a vision of radiant loveliness.

“You never know Amelia maybe your Prince charming will find you here in this very Inn. Get dressed you won’t find him moping here you silly girl”

Giggling like a school girl she donned her most elegant day dress, deep green muslin which cinched her tiny waist and molded her curves to perfection giving a small provocative glimpse of the swell of her breasts as she took each breath. Her long hair she piled on top of her head allowing a few strands to escape and fall over one shoulder. It was the best she could do having lost good deal of her belongings to the elements, dainty matching slippers and she was ready.

Carefully counting out her money she decided that tonight she would eat and worry tomorrow about her fate. Locking the door wrapping a lace shawl around her slender shoulders she went into downstairs and found a table near the hearth. She ordered a simple meal of bread and cheese and as an after thought added a jug of cider. It would warm her insides she told herself and once she had eaten and was relaxed she would come up with a plan.

After she had eaten Amelia’s spirits had risen no one was bothering her, her belly was full for the first time in days and she was warm. Sipping her Cider holding the heavy mug between both hands she felt as if she was being watched.

Carefully she raised her eyes and glanced curiously around the dimly lit room……

The trees passed by quickly as Harper ran, her heavy paws silent against the hard packed forest floor. Her strong muscled legs carried her deep into the forest, away from the village and the chance of been seen by anyone. If anyone were to see her and word got out that there was a tiger loose in the forest, it wouldn't be long before the villagers would be out hunting her, fearful of what a wildcat of that size would do to them or their livestock. The rareness of her species in the area was also one of the reasons she chose to hunt alone and not at Diego's side. Seeing a tiger would cause enough of stir, but to see a tiger and a wolf hunting together would surely make the villagers even more curious as to what was going on, and even more viligant in trying to capture them.

The sound of a small animal scurrying through the bushes caugher attention and she skidded to a halt, sniffing the air. A low growl rumbled in her throat as she crouched low, stalking the unfortunate creature. With an almost unnatural speed, she struck, the only sound being the squeak of the mouse as it was crushed beneath her paw. She quickly devoured her kill and lay down among the cool leaves to rest, licking her paws clean. The mediocre kill was enough to satisfy her beast for the moment and she was content to enjoy the cool night, her purr mingling with the sound of the wind howling through the tree tops.

She was about to return home when the sound of a twig snapping caught her attention, a strange scent drifting across the breeze to her sensitive nose. The sound of an arrow travelling through the air was all she heard before feeling a biting pain in her side. Growling in anger, she turned towards her attacker, her eyes red with a mixture of anger and pain. The hunter didn't even have time to run before she pounced, her sharp claws and teeth biting into him as she brought him to the ground, killing him instantly.

Standing over her kill, she sniffed the air again, making sure there wasn't any others out there waiting to ambush her. She cursed herself that she had allowed the man to get close enough to shoot at her, something she hadn't allowed to happen before that day. Looking down at the man, she recoiled in horror, realizing what she had done. Shifting back to human form, she fell to her hands and knees and got sick, both from the taste of human blood on her lips and from the pain of the arrow sticking out of her side.

Biting her lip, she grabbed ahold of the arrow and pulled it from her side, falling to her hands and knees as her natural healing powers quickly closed the wound. Getting unsteadily to her feet, she quickly dragged the body under a pile of leaves and branches, burying it well so that it wouldn't be found for awhile.

Shifting back to tiger form, she turned once again towards the plantation and home, the peaceful calm she had felt at the beginning of the night shattered.

He watched his Mistress shift, rubbing his wolven body against hers he licked at the nap of her neck, a wolven smile on his muzzle he watched her graceful ass dart off into the woods surrounding their home. Turning he raised his muzzle to the air, letting out a long low howl to the moon, bathed in the soft glow of twilight he headed off in his own direction, he was in the mood for meat tonight, and blood, and well, if he played his cards right maybe something more soft, and supple, his tail wagging he darted off opposite direction. Stalking through the woods quietly, his shifting in all directions atop his head, Sniffing the air he caught scent of a deer, a buck, grazing in the long grass.

Slowly he stalked through the grass, making little noise, he advanced, the buck had grown lax, inattentive, by the time it saw me it was too late, with a snarl Diego leapt from the bush, teeth sinking into the neck of the beast, throwing his weight he twisted himself, the buck thrown off balance and brought down his teeth remained locked in the jugular. Growling low he heard the beasts heartbeat slowing, the wheezing as it tried to breath, felt the spasms of death finally take it.

Releasing the death hold he circled the carcass, teeth sinking into the bucks stomach he fed, Liver, kidneys, heart, licking his muzzle after half n hour he had his fill, moving to a small creek he shifted back into human form, the water cold in the night air he washed the blood off his face and hair, moving back to shore he clothed himself once more, the lights of the village luminescent on the edge of the woods Diego grinned. It had been weeks since he had last been to a bar, and he needed a drink, he figured his Mistress would be hunting for a while, as she had often basked in the night.

Reaching the edge of the wood s he shifted back to human form, buttoning his shirt halfway he let his cross dangle on his chest, brushing a hand through his hair he slipped into town. Looking around he watched the peasants around him, skittering about their lives, traders, farmers, the blacksmiths hammer echoing in the night air. With grin he slipped into the Tavern. His ears catching everything, sights, smells, the clanking of dinner ware, the rowdy hoots or drunk patrons

His eyes scanned the crowd, inhaling he picked up a scent, below the sweat, and booze, despair, fear, it was an odd thing to smell in a place such as this, his eyes swiveled around and finally came to rest on a young girl, well, although he only looked to be in his mid twenties she was truly a child to his eyes, after 220years of living. With a smile he took up an empty seat beside her, making a small motion with his fingers the bartender nodded and poured him an ale.

“evening Miss, “ he smiled to her

It took her but a second to spot him in the crowded place, he stood out like a beacon of light similar but different somehow from the other patrons she could not put her finger on the why of it. She watched mesmerized unable to tear her eyes away from his as he came in her direction moving with an animal like grace. Her heart beat accelerated in response.

Amelia’s first instinct was to turn tail and run something told her clearly to do so. Perversely she ignored the inner warning and remained in her seat lowering her eyes and taking a gulp of her drink to steady her nerves. Lord he was handsome in the predatory manner of a man way to sure of himself. Was his intent to speak with her? surely not, there were many whom he would be acquainted with in this now crowded place.

Amelia relaxed slightly then almost jumped out of her skin when as silent as a panther he joined her on the wooden bench and spoke, “Evening Miss.” She scooted further along the bench acting on pure instinct before stilling her motion. Where are your manner’s, she scolded herself.

Placing her now almost empty mug on the table she returned his greeting and smiled, “Good Evening my name is Amelia Hatherway, I am pleased to make your acquaintance”

Shyly she offered him her hand...

Harper cursed as she stumbled along the trail. In all the years since she had come to this country, she had always been careful enough to never let anyone get close enough to her while she was in tiger form. True, she had had some close calls, but her senses had always warned her in time. The fact that the hunter had gotten close enough to see her and get off a shot angered her, her mood growing worse as she neared her home.

What had gone wrong? Had all the years with Diego made her soft, less in tune with what was around her? She paused on the trail, contemplating the thought for a moment. Had she come to rely so strongly on the protection Diego provided that she had forgotten how to protect herself? Or was it the comfortable relationship she had with Diego that had made her feel safe and in no danger. She shook her head. Well it was a mistake she wasn't going to make again. Once the hunter was discovered missing, there was sure to be others out looking for him, which made it more dangerous for her than ever.

Reaching one of the many hidden stashes of clothes she kept along her trail run, she shifted back into human form, frowning at the blood that still covered her bare hands. She wiped off what she could using the leaves of a nearby tree and quickly dressed, lacing up the leather underclothes with shakey hands, her eyes constantly scouring the woods around her, before slipping on the simple white dress she prefered to wear. Topping off her outfit with a soft pair of leather boots, she slipped her knife into a sheath on her leg and stood up, the shakiness in her hands disappearing as she once again gained control of herself.

Looking longingly towards home, she shook her head sadly. She couldn't go home yet. She had to make sure she hadn't left any tracks around the body, something she had stupidly forgotten to take care of in the midst of her earlier panic. Taking off into a run, not as fast as she would be in cat form, but faster than the normal human, she returned to the site of the kill.

he watched the weariness cross her face, the way her shoulders had haunched. The girl seemed to have the weight of the world on her shoulders and his head cocked to one side, a rogue grin twitching on his lips as he sat with her. The abrupt move of her as she slid down the bench had his head tilt back in silent question before she seemingly caught herself and straightened, that smooth casual smile on his lips once more he sat back, taking a swig from his ale, one hand resting idly along the back of the bench

“Good Evening my name is Amelia Hatherway, I am pleased to make your acquaintance”

His head tilted to one side, his smile growing slightly as he looked to her, sitting closer he could smell her scent, worry, fear, unease, he kept his face neutral but her fear called to his beast, to hunt, to conquer, to mate, nothing more alluring then fear.
“greetings Amelia, my name is Diego, im sorry to intrude, but I can see it in your eyes and face, you seem to have something troubling you, like your life is over and you want nothing more then to drink your sorrows away”

He set his mug down, legs crossed at the knee, hands resting on his calf he sat back, letting go a breath his body relaxed, perhaps if he relaxed and didn’t seem so forward she too would relax. Afterall, he didn’t want her scared to death of him. Well…not yet…maybe….if she turned out to be a female worth keeping around if anything as a bed warmer aside from his Mistress it had been sometime since he’d laid with a human female.

“Often I find that a friendly stranger is easier to talk to then an unfriendly family member, what troubles you Miss Amelia?”

She watched him carefully, he seemed to be assessing her it made her feel uneasy, and then he spoke.

Diego no last name just Diego, she silently tested the unfamiliar name it rolled nicely off the tongue. He seemed very nice as he spoke but some undercurrent kept her wary, she had no intent of drinking her sorrows away..did she? Perhaps this stranger could read her mind.

He sat back crossing his legs increasing the space between them slightly seeming to settle in for conversation, his demeanor one of concern for her well being, his next words confirming his intent or so Amelia thought.

“Often I find that a friendly stranger is easier to talk to then an unfriendly family member, what troubles you Miss Amelia?”

She raised the shocked eyes to his, it had been a life time since anyone seemed to give a care about her troubles; suddenly it hit her she had no family members she was truly alone in this new place!

A damn burst then and she found herself telling him her story of all the things that had led her to this point in time. She confided everything in this total stranger all of her sorrows and fears. “And so you see Diego I am alone in an unfamiliar county, I have no family, I need a job, soon there will be no money. I…I am …

She lowered her voice leaning closer one hand resting on his knee unshed tears sparkling in her beautiful eyes , “I am so terribly afraid I simply do not know what to do next.”

He sat back, watching her face, her body, as she looked around then back to him, he cocked his head to the side as she began to talk, the story of her family, her trip over the sea to here, and the fact she had no money or food or place to stay, and he smiled with fake sympathy as the thoughts played through his own mind. She was perfect, alone, no one would miss her,

“And so you see Diego I am alone in an unfamiliar county, I have no family, I need a job, soon there will be no money. I…I am I am so terribly afraid I simply do not know what to do next.”

He nodded as if thinking to himself, running a hand through his hair then adjusts his shirt, seeing her break down her pulled her into the crook of his arm, letting her cry on him, whetting his shirt with her tears he waited till she was calm enough that he pulled away and looked to her, letting go a sigh

“well I have a solution for you, at least a temporary fix to your problem, you see, I own a nice mansion not far from here and im busy enough that I don’t often get time to clean, so I have been looking to hire a maid, or servant to care for my home while I tend to the farms chores, you could live with me, I have several spare rooms to choose from, pay is substantial, “

It was all a lie, but after 200 years he had learned how to lie and lie well, his face broke into a charming well meaning smile, his hand reached out and he stroked a strand of hair from her face and cupped her cheek, rubbing gently before pulling away

“you’re a beautiful women, and im a single guy with very little free time, come, ill take you to my home, show you around, and if you want the job then its yours, if not, ill see what I can do to loan you some money and help get you back on your feet”

He stood then smiling and offering the girl a hand

Amelia pulled her hand from his knee as though she had been burned and finished off her Cider in one gulp feeling the unaccustomed liquid course through her veins like molten lava. She was embarrassed thinking that she had over stepped by pouring her heart out to a stranger in this manner, by touching him, what would he think of her?

She listened with rapt attention as unfazed he laid out his solution to her dilemma. Was it her weakened state, her fear of being alone or simply that the cider had muddled her judgment? Right or wrong what he was proposing made a sort of logical sense to her. She would have a job, she would have food and logging and more importantly she could start saving for the last leg of her trip

“You’re a beautiful women, and I’m a single guy with very little free time, come, I’ll take you to my home, show you around, and if you want the job then its yours, if not, I’ll see what I can do to loan you some money and help get you back on your feet”

She looked up into his eyes, he found her beautiful, what did she have to loose she could return if all wasn’t to her liking couldn’t she? He looked the picture of sincerity as he offered her his hand.

Amelia found herself standing and placing her slender hand in his giving no thought to the fact that he was a single man living alone or that she would be with him un-chaperoned in the middle of God knows where…

“Thank you kind Sir…er…Deigo, should I fetch my bags or come back for them once it had been formally decided if I should stay or not?’

Trustingly she handed him the keys to the small room she had rented and awaited his decision. Her heart rate had accelerated and she couldn't tear her eyes away from his.

“Thank you kind Sir…er…Deigo, should I fetch my bags or come back for them once it had been formally decided if I should stay?’

“leave your bags darlin, I can come back for them”

As she offered him the room key he smiled and took it, pocketing it in the breechs he was wearing, turning he wrapped an arm her waist, throwing a few coins to the barkeep for his tab of ale he walked into the cool night air, looking to the sky he smiled “it’s a beautiful night isn’t it?” waving down a carriage he haggeled with the driver about getting a ride back to his home. Finally paying the man he helped her in then shut the door, after about 20 minutes of riding in silence the carriage stopped. Getting up he turned, sniffing the air, the scent of his Mistress was faded, so she had not yet returned home, with a grin he walked to the door and unlocked it, walking in

“welcome to mansion Diego, my home, “ pulling his keys from his pocket he tossed them on a table beside the door, as he closed the door behind them he smiled as he moved around he lit a few of the wall lamps to illuminate the home, moving about he showed her about the home, although for the most part it was fairly tidy if not dusty, her personal room had clothes struin about and the kitchen was slightly messy he smiled

“I know how tough it can be on your own, ive lived alone for a few years” he stepped closer to her, his hand gently cupping her chin, making her look up to him, “im hoping you find my home satisfactory and are willing to take the job, “ his voice had dropped, a low husky octive, a dashing smile on his face he leaned in, and kissed her

Amelia followed him to the carriage and sat beside him, the silence as it stretched on unnerving her slightly. By the time they had arrived at his mansion she was having second thoughts. She knew nothing of this enigmatic man beside her; still she kept up with him as they entered his home and he began her tour. He was telling the truth his home while tidy certainly needed a woman’s touch and a good dusting, she would have her work cut out but it was nothing she could not handle.

Her tour ended in the kitchen where to her surprise he stepped closer his voice taking on a husky dangerous timber and cupping her chin he kissed her.

Amelia’s first reaction was to push him away but as she felt his lips on hers she felt an unaccustomed sensation race from their joined lips straight into the depths of her belly. She moaned slightly melting into the hard length of him forgetting where she was or why she was in his kitchen or in his arms.

It had taken Harper longer to destroy all the evidence of her kill than she had expected. By the time she had wiped away all her prints and piled more leaves over the body, the night was half over. Not risking taking tiger form again for the night, she made her way back through the trees of foot, her body nearing exhaustion when she finally crossed onto her land, the house silhouetted in the moonlight.

She was so distracted by her own thoughts that she didn't notice the strange scent in the air until she had a foot on the bottom stairs leading up to the victorian style porch that stretched along the front of the house. She froze, her body tensing for another attack as she sniffed the air again. The scent was nothing like that of the hunter she had left in the forest. No, this scent was more feminine, mixed with a touch of fear and anticipation. She frowned, looking around, her eyes seeing clearly through the darkness around her. It took her a few minutes to convince herself that there was nobody waiting to ambush her from the darkness and she made her way up the final stairs and onto the porch.

She growled as the scent of the woman hit her again, this time mingled with that of Diego's. Her anger from the earlier attack renewed, she open the door to the house, stepping inside. She could hear the muffled sound of voices coming from the kitchen, her sensitive ears picking up Diego's words. Quietly closing the door behind her, she made her way silently across the hardwood floor to the doorway of the kitchen.

She arrived just in time to catch him kiss her and to watch the young woman press her body invitingly against his. To see and hear him, her property, act like he was a free man was enough to make her angry, but the fact that he dared bring this woman back to her home without her permission fueled her anger even more, making her see red. Crossing the room in a blur, she grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him away from the woman, easily tossing him across the room, the table collapsing under his weight as he fell against it.

"How dare you defile my home with some little whore you found down at the tavern," she growled, the air suddenly thick with her anger and the power that seemed to flow around her body. "You know the consequences of disobeying me." Reaching her hand out towards him, she let go of her power, sending it into him, her eyes closing as the sensation of her magic overtook her body.

He had let his guard down, he had seriously miscalculated, his head turned up, the sudden shift in the air he knew he was in serious trouble, “Mistress I!!” his words were choked off as he was ripped from the female, and he felt airborne, letting out a pained cry he hit the hard Oakwood table and it collapsed and broke beneath him, and he laid there, pain radiating through his body it took him a minute before he was able to sit up, the anger, the energy roaring through his ears, the mystic collar his Mistress had placed around his neck centurys ago glowed around his neck, visible now to the girl

"How dare you defile my home with some little whore you found down at the tavern, You know the consequences of disobeying me."

“MISTRESS!! PLEA….” He gagged, her magic flowing over his body, the collar around his neck choking him off as it lanced through him, his eyes slowly bleeding to black and gold crackling sounds echod off his body as he cried out in pain, the shift over taking his body by force and it was painfull, his gold eyes look to the girl against the wall, the wide eyed, open horrored mouth as fur sprouted, hands, feet, clothing melting away until nothing but a wolf remained, breathing heavy, whimpering, pained spasms racking his body he couldn’t move, could barely breath, he whimpered as his eyes went to his Mistress

Amelia felt like she was drowning in his kiss until all hell broke loose...

He flew from her arms as if he was a mere rag doll his weight flying though the air and splintering the massive oak table as if it were made of match sticks. If she had been effected by the cider or by his kiss, all of the effects were instantly erased as if she had been doused with a bucket full of ice cold water as she beheld the impressive woman who stood at the entrance to his kitchen. Her eyes were ice and fire both as she leveled her wrath at Diego.

My God was she his wife!

"How dare you defile my home with some little whore you found down at the tavern,"

Amelia was no whore but didn’t feel it prudent to argue her point with the she devil shooting sparks of venomous rage from what seemed like every pore of her vibrant body..

Amelia stood transfixed as the scene unfolded, she watched as dazed he struggled to sit up, he called her Mistress…. what could that mean was he her servant?

A collar appeared as though by magic around his neck glowing with some unearthy magic. Amelia still stood her eyes like huge saucers in her now pale face.

What happened next was totally beyond the young woman’s comprehension; before her terrified eyes Diego the man who just moments before had kissed her, howled and turned into a huge, forbidding terrifying ……..

Omg! he had become a huge enormous wolf!!!!

"Noooooo!" a whispered plea of denial escaped her frozen lips.

Amelia backed slowly away from the apparition with the golden eyes toward the sorceress. Realizing her mistake she turned on heel grabbing her skirts as she did so. Amelia started to scream hysterically as she started to run as if the demons of hell were nipping at her heels which of course she thought they were.

Like a rat in a maze she careened into surfaces knocking pans and pots willy nilly to the floor ….there was no escape as the woman blocked her the only viable exit from the room!

Finally grabbing a huge knife from the table she stood backed against a sink her breathing ragged as she faced the pair. Amelia was beyond coherent thought her eyes darting this way and that; she was in survival mode reacting on pure adrenaline alone!

The air vibrated as Harper's power withdrew from Diego's body, leaving him quivering on the floor. There was a brief moment of silence before the girl screamed and started to run around the room, knocking over piles of dishes in her wake. Giving Diego one last disappointed glance, she turned her eyes towards the girl, the fire of her anger burning deep within them.

"Who are you?" she growled, her voice resounding through the room. She took a step torwards Amelia, shaking her head at the girl's weak attempt at bravery. She wasn't scared of a mere knife, it would take alot more than that to kill her.

"I would put that down girl if you knew what was good for you," she said, moving quickly to the girls side, her hand closing firmly around the wrist of the hand that held the knife. Taking the knife from her hand, she threw it all the wall, burying the blade to the hilt in the soft wood.

Tossing the girl to the side in dismissal, she turned her eyes back to the large wolf crouched on the floor of the kitchen, her anger easing a bit as her eyes trailed along his muscled body.

"As for you boy," she said, her voice taking on a sudden dangerous calm tone. "You have overstepped yourself this night. You have brought a mere human into my home and have exposed her to our secrets. You will face the consequences, but right now we have a bigger problem to deal with."

Looking over her shoulder at the cowering girl, she growled in disgust.

"We can't let her leave here," she finally said, sighing. "She knows our secret and if we let her go, it won't be long before we will be hunted and killed." She paused, a pained look crossing her face at the sudden memory of her mother and father. "Just like my family was."

Opening a wooden cabinet on the far wall of the kitchen she took out a set of chains.

"I am sure you remember these boy," she said, dropping the chains on the floor in front of him. "Take care of this problem."

Diego laid there panting, body wracked with pain he could only watch as his Mistress cornered the girl and disarmed her, the thunk of the knife burying itself into the wall reverberating in his ears he whimpered again, slowly his breathing began to ebb. The fire of his Mistress magic swirling around the room before slowly receeding a shudder passed through the fur of his body and seeped deep into his bones. Diego knew he had screwed up, and screwed up bad, regretting now in hindsight, what he thought would be a quick screw with a hot girl would now turn into his Mistress wrath and possibly an innocents death.

"As for you boy, You have overstepped yourself this night. You have brought a mere human into my home and have exposed her to our secrets. You will face the consequences, but right now we have a bigger problem to deal with."

He whimpered again as he looked up to her, still huddled in his fur, a fine tremor traced his body, the pain had eased, and he took in a deep breath, then exhaled, tongue flicking out along his K-9’s and along his muzzle, cleaning the fur

We can't let her leave here, She knows our secret and if we let her go, it won't be long before we will be hunted and killed. Just like my family was.

He whimpered, his Mistress last words barely a whisper, he knew his Mistress spoke truth, he had not had enough thought ahead to realize that that might have been a problem, the soft thud of feet as the floor was crossed, then the familiar old rustle of chains and he shivered again, his eyes moving to his Mistress then to the girl who sat cowering in the cornor

"I am sure you remember these boy, Take care of this problem."

He sighed softly as the chains where dropped in front of him. As she walked off he remained laying there for a few minutes, gold eyes watching Amelia, her breathing, her fear, the look of stark abject horror on her face at the realization of what he was, perhaps she had heard storys? But judging by the look this was beyond anything she’d ever seen, with a slow exhale he rose to his paws, the fur melted away, paws, claws, turned to hands and feet, within seconds he was back to being Diego, same clothes, same chocolate brown eyes. Rising to stand he gripped the chains

“as you will it Mistress”

His Voice was solumn, sad, he knew what he had to do now, to protect them, to protect this house and his Mistress he advanced on the girl, his face darkened, with a snarl he gripped the girl and yanked her to her feet, manhandling her with ease, the fact she was still in shock he clapped the shackles around her hands, arms, throwing the girl over his shoulder he turned, clapping the last of the shackles on her ankles he hauled her deeper into the house

Amelia pressed closer to the sink as this madwoman advanced on her demanding to know who she was. Dutifully she opened her mouth to answer but not a single sound came out of her suddenly paralyzed vocal cords. She watched mindlessly as her assailant took the knife from her as if it were a candy bar. The terrified Amelia grasped her surely broken wrist finally letting out a shriek of pain and terror as the knife landed in the wall with a resounding thud behind her.

Amelia found herself on the floor in the corner tossed there as if she were nothing more than a rag doll, she was in pain but paid scant attention to herself her eyes riveted once more on Diego as the demon female advanced in his direction.

She still could not believe the evidence of her own eyes fully thinking she must have fallen asleep in the bathtub and that this was nothing but more than a really bad nightmare…

She had heard tales,all children had been told them, tales of the boogie man and his like, stories concocted to keep willful youngsters firmly inline, they had even heard whispered tales of Vampires on the voyage over to this godforsaken county.

Nothing however had prepared her for the huge animal cowering in fear before what looked to be a normal if abet a mightily pissed off human female .

Amelia simply couldn’t wrap her mind around the evidence of her own eyes. As she followed their conversation, dream or not she recognized that she was in mortal danger and carefully inch by inch dragged her sore and aching body towards the door way and escape. Damn her long skirts they made the covert task virtually impossible. She giggled nervously, why if this were a dream didn’t she simply make them disappear? so she could more effectively and make good her escape?

She knew their secret...what secret, he was a wolf thing but the enraged female? Her eyes widened as the unholy woman dropped a set of chains in front of the powerful chastised animal.

" Take care of this problem."

Amelia glanced around as if hoping someone else had entered the kitchen but instinctively knowing she was the problem and wishing that this damn dream would finally end. She didn’t want to die not even in a nightmare.

She froze in place when she saw him change from wolf to man once more, picking up the chains and advancing determinedly towards her.

What happened next was a blur as he manhandled her with ease, Amelia screaming all the while

Before he had thrown her over his shoulder the young woman had fully comprehended that this was no dream! Her mind however couldn’t accept the enormity of what she had just witnessed or of what she was really happening; of the chains, her abduction, of the fact she was going to die here in this unknown place...wolf man, black magic…

Amelia had fainted dead away!

The anger still flowed strongly through Harper's blood as she stood waiting for Diego to do as he commanded. She knew to be forced into wolf form and then ordered to return to human before he was fully recovered was a punishment itself, but it was only the beginning. He would surely regret his actions that night.

She watched as Diego shifted back to human form and picked up the heavy chains, advancing on the frightened girl. She winced as the girl's high pitched screams assaulted her sensitve ears while Diego secured her wrists and ankles with the chain.

"Take her to the guest room at the back of the house," she ordered as Diego threw the suddenly quiet girl over his shoulder. She watched his reaction to her words. He was fully aware that the "guest" room was anything but. Having spent nights in there himself when he had angered her for some reason or another.

"Once you have her secured, you will present yourself properly for your punishment boy," she said, following along behind him. "I trust you know what is required of you."

Diego sighed as he caught up with his Mistress. Happy at least in the fact the girl had passed out, the screaming had stopped. His eyes downcast he looked at the lump of a girl on his shoulder then to his Mistress “what are your orders my Mistress”

"Take her to the guest room at the back of the house, Once you have her secured, you will present yourself properly for your punishment boy, I trust you know what is required of you."

“Yes Mistress”

He shivered at the coldness of her tone, he knew what he had coming to him, after 200 years his Mistress still managed to surprise him when it came to punishments, some were easier to handle then others, and some had left scars even his wolf blood couldn’t heal. Turning he walked down the long hall that lead down into the lowest part of the house, he opened the heavy door. Revealing not a guest room but his Mistress Dungeon, contraptions collected over the centurys, crosses, x-frames, stocks, racks, looking around he sighed. So many to choose from, however at this point the girl just needed to be restrained.

Turning to his left he laid the girl out on the x-frame table. Easily securing her hands and feet in the buckles he pulled his shirt off, licking his lips his ears twitching, he stripped completely, kneeling beside the table his head was hung low, legs spread, and hands on his thighs awaiting his Mistress demands

Amelia pushed her way through a thick fog striving for consciousness, her eyes struggling for clarity as she slowly awakened...

Not a dream, a reality...

She struggled to sit up to find she was spreadeagled and firmly bound.

The past events came crowding in on her consciousness as she awakened she began to struggle in earnest and to scream her bloody head off.

"Help pp me please someone!"

Harper waited impatiently as Diego carried the girl into the dungeon. Her eyes followed his every move from the doorway of the room as he quickly secured the girl to the table and then stripped, kneeling to await his punishment.

Even though she was angry with him, she couldn't help but admiring his hard, toned body, her eyes travelling down his chest to where his more than adequate cock hung between his legs. She smiled to herself as thoughts of what she could do with him later crossed her mind.

She was torn from her thoughts as the girl resumed screaming, her eyes moving away from the man kneeled on the floor and falling on the struggling girl on the table.

"That's enough," she said, crossing the room quickly to the table. "You are lucky to even still be alive girl. You will do well to keep your mouth shut, or I will shut it for you."

Turning her attention back to Diego, she sighed, reaching out to brush a hand along his bare shoulder.

"I had hoped that I had broken you of your thoughtless disobedience boy," she said, her voice lowering to a threatening and dangerous tone. "Perhaps I have been too soft with you lately."

Stepping back, she looked around the room, her eyes falling on a cross in the middle of the room. Hooking her fingers under his now noticeble collar, she pulled him to his feet and towards the cross, not particularily caring if he was able to keep up or if she was being too rough.

Pushing him face first to the cross she quickly secured his hands above his head and his feet to the bottom of the cross. Running a hand down his bare back, she traced the scars she had left there before, a sudden calmness overtaking her body.

"You know I hate punishing you my pet," she said quietly as she picked up a whip. "But, you have given me no choice." The whip cracked harshly through the air, striking against his back. Tuning out everything around her, Harper continued to strike him, her anger slowly ebbing from her body.

"I had hoped that I had broken you of your thoughtless disobedience boy, Perhaps I have been too soft with you lately."

His eyes closed and a pained look crossed his face, and a shudder rolled through his body, he could feel the heat in her gaze, and could almost feel the thoughts running through her head his manhood twitched, but remained flaccid. Inhaling another more powerful shudder railed through his body as the tender caress and it almost pulled a whimper from him… always before her worst punishments she had been gentle, and it forced his eyes closed again, only to catch him as he gagged, fighting to keep up with his Mistress brisk pace he was almost thrown onto her favorite cross.

You know I hate punishing you my pet, But, you have given me no choice."

“Mistress i.” the first crack of the whip against his flesh threw him forward into the cross, his hands clentching as he cried out. His body shuddering violently as the whip decended again, and he danced against the cross, twitching, jerking, his back, his skin, although tougher then normal began to welt under the impacts

"That's enough, you are lucky to even still be alive girl. You will do well to keep your mouth shut, or I will shut it for you."

It was not the words but something in her tone which silenced the struggling Amelia. Her words did penetrate however, she wasn’t to be killed at least not yet, this ray of hope allowed her to breath a sigh of relief; one that didn’t last long as she watched what followed.

The room as far as she could see came into sharp focus as did Diego, and as he was pulled to his feet she realized he was stark naked. Never in her limited experience had she seen such a body, not an ounce of fat to be seen anywhere and his manhood… her face turned crimson as she took in its size and girth. She squeezed her eyes closed picturing her dead husband, the man paled by comparison.

Her eyes snapped open at the first sound of the whip and she strained to see what was happening and had to force herself not to start screaming again, instead she balled her hands into small fists her own nails digging painfully into her tender palms. The mad woman had tied him to some sort of cross and was busy flaying the skin off his muscular back!

Harper looked calm and in control as if this were an every day occurrence in her household. Amelia shivered, yet repulsed as she was she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the marks that were appearing on his once perfect skin.

Nor could she understand why he wasn’t screaming under the torture he was receiving at her hands...