The Beast's Virgin Claim

"Why?"

"Because if you were my age it would have been easier and less worrying for me. I would have taken your virtue before my departure left my claim on you, even marked you and all the males would have known just whom you belonged to. I knew with that face of yours as you matured into a juvenile, famished males would surely pursue you for a taste."

"It must have been arduous for you to leave a pup who was your female behind like that for the sake of her protection." I glimpse down at my feet chewing on my lower lip. I never had understood his reasons for leaving me at one point in time but after several conversations between us, the line of communication that once did not exist was brought to life.

"It was unbearable, I had to fight the demands of my beast as well. I spent numerous late nights on my bed thinking of the best way to let you know of my departure. You were so very small and often glanced up at me with wide childish doe eyes what was I to do? I thought I could act cruel with you for a while and make you hate me but I did not have the heart for it."

"So you chose to go ahead with the plan where you would inform me minutes before."

"It was the quickest and less painful possible way. But it still upset you." The player shifts to the next track but Phobos continues to sway the both of us not paying it any heed, he is engrossed with this conversation. Opening our hearts to the truths of our pasts.

"Do you still wish that...I was your age?" I ask with a sense of vulnerability.

"At times yes, I think if you were my age we would be able to understand each other much better and comprehend our opinions and perspectives. But at the same time, I am quite pleased with this gap between us."

"Why?"

"We teach each other, Theia. I learn so much from you every day. Though it is difficult to deal with you at times." I uncover my teeth to him and he grins down at me in response. "My female is a feisty firecracker who gets offended quickly a tiny pup with sharp claws, so immense patience is needed from my side to deal with you."

"I am not a pup! And do not mock me of my height. It is not my fault you resemble a godforsaken tree." I grumble annoyedly and he casts his head back cackling like a villain irritating me further.

"That is precisely what you said whenever you spent time with me when you were young. Do not be upset with me my female, I was merely teasing you." He tries to kiss my pout away as I turn my face to the side with a fake upset huff while folding my arms across my chest. I grasp the feathery pillow from the couch and hurl it at his face but he simply catches it with a boisterous laugh before it could encounter him. I love hearing the sound of my male's laughter it is contagious.

"Krl." A wolf's deep-toned voice from outside our cabin has Phobos halt his chasing and turn towards the door.

(King)

"Do you have something planned for the afternoon?" I ask.

"No. Not that I am aware of." He utters wrenching open the door to greet one of the male's from our pack. "Co je to?"

(What is it?)

"I apologize for disturbing you. Vdce would like to speak with Luna, she said it was important. She sent me to fetch her." The male bows to Phobos with respect yet when he shifts his gaze to me there is this hidden ghostly coldness within those eyes that disturbs me.

"Did she tell you anything about this, Theia?" He turns around to regard me and I casually shake my head in denial. I thought we had finished discussing all the matters concerning me the last time we saw each other but I suppose not.

"No she did not but I assume it is about the medic- I mean I think it must be serious if she has sent someone to take me. It will not be long I will return in a few minutes." Swiftly dressing in a snug winter attire I stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek in farewell. Yet Phobos seems to be occupied for his piercing intimidating gaze is fixed on the male standing outside our door carefully studying him. Phobos looks frustrated as he hesitantly lets me go with the male towards Vdce's tent.

"This way, Luna." The male points towards another direction a bit farther away from the normal route I take and I follow him nodding gratefully with a smile.

"It is kind of you to accompany me, you are Castor yes?" His eyes are hard his jaw tensed as he guides me towards an isolated area screened by thickets away from the pack grounds which ignites a spark of doubt within me.

"Yes, that is my name." He grunts out.

"I have met your female before and your pups. You have beautiful males." He did have a nice family he was a good father and a good male. That is what I often heard from his mate. Castor does not reply to me so I keep up the conversation to slice through the uncomfortable silence that walks with us. "I heard that you are not originally from this pack, that Phobos took you in when you were a juvenile." His eyes harden as though he finds our chat to be a nuisance but he still complies. This is the first time I have felt such dislike from one of my pack wolves that too after two years of being their Luna and I wish to know why.

"My old pack had been ruined by war my family massacred in cold blood and I had fled and sought aid from Krl knowing there would be no wolf who would dare to enter his territory. He was known for his power and strength even though he was the same age as me. Other packs feared and respected him."

"What age were you when you both met?"

"Twenty." A bright smile once more creeps up my face a sense of pride puffing up my chest. I had always known how mighty and well known Phobos became as soon as he claimed his throne but hearing it from one of his closest wolves pleases me. It makes me proud that the goddess picked me as his female.

"And my male...he simply took you in?"

"He did. Without any questions, he saw right through me. After only a few seconds of staring into my eyes as I pleaded he opened his gates and welcomed me into his pack grounds. I swore that day I would do anything if it meant he will attain a positive outcome from my actions."

"You made an oath."

"I did." He voices out coming to stand in front of me his eyes watching me with an unfeeling look. This male is quite tall I must confess a bit shorter than my male but then again no one truly can compete with Phobos's height.

"This is why Phobos trusts you, I believe."

"Yes, I would do anything for him even give up my life." He replies as I belatedly scan our surroundings searching for the familiar face of our healer.

"Might I ask where Vdce is?" I take a quick peek behind him a deep frown lying amid my brows. I know this place she often brought me out here several times to show me how she made the medicine to treat my infertility and the herbs needed to create the drink are grown here. We did so in secret but how does Castor know of this place? Did the healer trust him enough to allow him to bring me here?

"She is not here." His gruff voice alarms me and I take a wary step backwards farther away from him. She is not here then why did he bring me to this place? Something feels horribly...wrong. The emotionlessness in his eyes that does not allow me to interpret his emotions shoves me further into a state of doubt.

"Then w-why-" My eyes broaden when he plucks two sharpened blades that were stealthily buried within his clothes to expose them to me, it is an agile movement but it has me take more stumbling steps rearward.

"You are...barren." His truth has me gasp my body begins to tremble and my mind is overcome by a bleary haze. How does he know? We did everything to keep it safe and away from the pack yet how did this male come to find out?

"I am not." Even I can hear the tremor in my voice and I am quite sure he was able to detect it too. There is a cruel sick smile that paints his face and the drums of my heart quicken to a rapid pace one that makes it laborious for me to breathe.

"You need not lie for I am already aware of the truth. You have been barren for quite some time, you could have done your hardest to keep it from us but know this. We are skilful hunters there is nothing that goes past us, not even your dirtiest secrets."

"What do you want with me then? Do you wish to shame me for being condemned by the moon?" My eyes frantically hunt for an exit for a way to get past him and towards the shelter of my male but I find no open path unless I fight him. I have learned how to fight before from Phobos but I have no weapons no knives with me I have come unarmed while this male has brought everything he needs to eliminate me.

"I do not wish to shame you but I will take your life instead." There is an audible hitch of my breath that strikes through the hair-raising silence that follows his words.

"You wish to kill me?"

"No, I will kill you."

"Why?"

"Because there is no place on our lands for females who are barren not even the Luna. The moon has punished you for your sins I will not let you drag Krl or the pack to the pits of hell with you." His words have prickling tears flood my eyes, such extreme pain he inflicts upon my heart with just conveying his truth. I knew this would happen, no matter how much Phobos tried to protect me from his pack that is bound strictly to traditions I predicted at one point I would be hung for the truth of my womb.

"There is a chance that I might-"

"There isn't!" He thunders his voice rumbling out and it has me whimper as I close my eyes shut the fear of getting killed by this merciless male drowning me. "You have been forsaken, we will look for another female for Krl once you are gone. One who is worthy to rule at his right and definitely a wolf who has the ability to produce an heir."

"Does the pack know you are doing this?" I try to flee from his closeness but he advances like a pitiless predator his eyes anchored on my fruitless womb that should have been swollen with Phobos's pup by now.

He seizes my throat in a crushing grip his teeth bared to me with disgust and my fingers claw at his wrists as I fight to provide air to my lungs. "Rumours have been spreading of your infertility yet no one dares to ask Alpha. So I observed your visits to the healer's hut and I witnessed everything. The pack will accept your death once the truth is set loose by me."

"You do not know this." I choke out tears gushing down my cheeks as he slices through the frail skin of my neck a thick cut he makes that makes my blood spray out. It will heal he hasn't gone that deep but he will in a few seconds if I do not set myself free.

"Castor, you are a good male. Phobos will destroy you and your family will suffer. Do not do this."

"I am doing this for the sake of the pack. Alpha is bewitched by you he is not making rational decisions for the future as he once did. He is fighting to choose his priority and I will make the choice for him. My family will honour my death."

"Castor." I plead this will not end well I see it. Phobos will set his pack on fire if I am killed here, innocent wolves would perish this much I know for sure.

"Maybe in your next life, you will be able to give him what he needs. May the moon welcome you into her gates." He once more peers down at my empty womb and I weep noiselessly.. This is my ultimate punishment to die an awful death but for what sin I am unable to grasp.