Nobody's Bitch but Mine

Chapter Two:

Kouga sat shivering and miserable in the dark, damp, cell that was his new home. His skin simultaneously itched and burned from being out unprotected in the sun for far too long and bruises were littered across his face from being what Sesshoumaru like to call “Insubordinate”. Damn it all, he thought with a fierceness of spirit that surprised him, this just wasn't fair. What kind of revenge was this? He had been in Sesshoumaru's possession for three long weeks now. He could practically hear his brother's cries and howls of worry as they began their search for him. Kouga never strayed this long away from his pack. The longest he had been away from his pack mates was a week and that was nearly fifty years ago. Kouga ducked his head at the memory. His heat, which every demon goes through every hundred years or so, had come up on him out of nowhere. He had scarcely had time to bolt from his den before his brothers caught wind of him. It had been a close call indeed and he had been mighty lucky that his heat struck in the dead of night, when the rest of the pack had been sleeping. With the amount of pheromones pouring off his body during his heat, it wouldn't have taken his pack long to figure out that their Alpha had been keeping secrets from them.

For fucks sake! Kouga thought with a growl. What was so wrong about being a beta? Alphas were generally leaders of the pack. They were strong, temperamental, and didn't take shit from anybody. They were also territorial and protective. The subs, or the lesser wolves, were submissive to most alphas. They relied upon him to lead, to provide, and to protect them. Not to say that submissive wolves were not capable of caring for themselves. Pluck any sub from a pack and put him on his own and he or she could most likely take care of themselves. They could hunt, fight, and run if need be. But wolves didn't want to be by themselves. They needed the security and comfort that pack life provided. The warm press of furry bodies, the feeling of brotherhood and home. A wolf without a pack was like a human without an arm. Sure they could survive and make it through day to day life, but it was harder to do so and they were constantly plagued with the feeling that something was missing.

Curled into a small ball in the corner of his cell, Kouga was drowning in said feeling. He missed his pack. Missed their scent, their comfort. Hell, he even missed the pile of furry bodies that constantly made their way onto his pallet in the middle of the night. Would his brothers reject him if they found out he was a beta? Kouga didn't know. No more than he knew what it was to truly be a Beta. In real wolves, betas weren't so uncommon. But in demons? They were exceptionally rare, and any pack that had one was said to be favored by the Gods. Betas weren't Alphas, but they weren't submissive either. Out of all the wolves, Betas were the most adaptable for living on their own. They didn't have that pressing need to allow another to pave the way, and yet they weren't the protectors and providers that Alphas were either. A true Beta was a mix of both. Not an Alpha, nit not submissive to any Alpha either. In a pack structure Betas were good for keeping the peace. True Betas had the capability to calm an agitated pack just by standing in their presence. In a demonic pack, Betas were good for treaties and peace keeping. Where and Alpha would rush and make demands, or a submissive wolf would allow a more dominant wolf to push them around, Betas could strike an easy balance between the two. Age old rivalries could be forgotten in the presence of a powerful Beta, and logic as well as reason could be allowed to flow freely. If Kouga had had any blood brothers who were born as Alphas, his life would have been much simpler. His father, he was sure, would have treasured him instead of hating him. And, most assuredly, he would not be in the position he was in now. Beaten. Cold. Hungry. The property of a demon who wanted little from him other than his suffering.

Damn the fates for cursing him like this! All he had ever done his entire life was to try to protect his pack, his brothers. Head a capable Alpha walked in and wanted control Kouga would have handed the reigns over in a heartbeat. Instead he had spent his entire life trying to be something he was not

“You're worthless!” he remembered his father hissing the words into his ear before dealing him a staggering blow to the back of the head.

“I send you out to hunt, to provide, and this is what you dare to bring home to me? You are no son of mine, you worthless little whelp. You're not worth the fur on your back or the food it takes to keep you alive.” His father had cuffed him again, sending the five year old Kouga sprawling into the muddy snow.

“You'll not be stepping foot inside this cave tonight, whelp. Go leech your warmth from another pack that cares to provide for the selfish, worthless, run that you are.”

Tears had sprung into young Kouga's eyes as he stared at the offering he had given to his father. A young doe, perhaps four seasons old, lay gutted at the old man's feet. She had been pitifully thin, more bones than anything else, and he hind leg had been injured. Still, it hadn't been easy for the youngster to bring down that doe. It was high into the winter season where the air was bitterly cold and the food equally scarce. Kouga had been gone for three days, ordered by a father (who he dared not disobey) not to come home until he brought back a haul that would earn his keep. And though Kouga had spent days trudging through winter snows that reached up to his waist with nothing but a scrap of a blanket that his father dared to call clothing, the catch wasn't good enough. Kouga had stared miserably at the doe, wishing that it had been a fat buck instead. Wishing that he were bigger, faster, stronger. Anything that would make his father love him, if even just the tiniest bit.

But Kouga knew, even at the tender age of five, that there was nothing on this earth that would make his father proud of him. No matter what Kouga did, it just wasn't good enough. So he had trudged back out into a cold, snowy, night and took shelter in the forest that surrounded the hills of his home. He huddled down the night in the eye of an old tree and as the winter flakes fell down fat and thick onto an already snow packed ground, he had allowed himself to cry. He cried himself to sleep that night, his tears finally safe to shed. His tears that night froze on his face as his little fingers were burned raw from the cold. In the morning, he had known, he would return to his father and beg for forgiveness. Just as he knew that his father would take him out of the sight of the rest of the pack and beat him mercilessly for being such a disappoint. For being weak.

And now, here he was, a demon grown and yet he found himself in a frighteningly similar situation.

Sesshoumaru rarely let him out of this damned cell, and when he did, it was only to stake him to the ground outside for running his mouth. Whenever Kouga saw that cold hearted prick, he instantly began spouting off curses and empty threats. Because, dammit, he'd take the blistering sun over this damp and cold cell any day. The dungeon was dark, with no light allowed to penetrate to its depths. Sometimes Sesshoumaru would leave him down here for days at a time. No food and no water, except for what he could lick off the damp stone walls.

There was little in the way of comfort for him here, that bastard dog demon hadn't even given him a pallet to lay on. Kouga had been quickly reduced to the life of a convict of the lowest sort. His body seemed to be in constant pain. And Sesshoumaru? The bastard couldn't care less. Some Alpha he was. The prick had marked him like a bitch or a she-wolf while he slept. That mark signified to all demons with a decent nose that Kouga was the property of Lord Sesshoumaru.

Property my ass! Kouga thought with a sneer. He was just lucky that the bastard hadn't mated him too. Two males mating wasn't all that uncommon, especially when on of the males happened to be a beta. Betas couldn't make a mark on females, they didn't have the proper mojo to do it. That didn't stop Alphas, however, from marking and then mating a Beta. A mark was like a flirtation of mating. It had all the intent and promise, but lacked the actual action that would make it a true mating.

How easily that mark could be changed was a scary thought, and one Kouga resolutely shied away from. He'd sooner die then to allow that prick to mate with him. Because once that was done, Kouga would be tied to him for the rest of his natural born life. The only upside to this was that Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to kill him. One mate could not take another's life. That didn't mean that Kouga would be protected from him if Sesshoumaru chose to beat him soundly.

Ah, Fuck! What a sorry mess he was. The dog demon didn't know it, because Kouga would never let him, but he was terrified every time he head the telling sound of Sesshoumaru's footsteps echoing through the dungeon. Terrified of what the bastard would do to him next. Kouga never let the dog demon see that fear though. Anytime Sesshoumaru came remotely near him Kouga bared his fangs in challenge and let the insults fly. It was, at first, hard to find something that the bastard was actually sensitive about. Most of his insults in those early days had ended in a smug smirk and a mere smack upside the head. Just recently though, Kouga had struck gold. It seemed that the big bad Sesshoumaru still had some Daddy hang ups, which Kouga relished in exploiting. It usually resulted in a severe beating and once, a broken jaw, but it was completely worth it to see the rage light up in those cold amber eyes.

It also made it seem like Kouga didn't give a damn what that fluffy piece of shit did to him. He came off cocky, brash, and unafraid. Which was exactly what he was going for in those barbed insults. Kouga was so used to pretending he was someone else that fucking with Sesshoumaru see,ed almost like second nature. And, if he got the prick mad enough, he wouldn't see how Kouga flinched every time Sesshoumaru came near him. But the wolf had no energy for insults today. He hadn't eaten in four days and his only source of water had come from the damp and dewy walls. Normally a fast healer. Kouga's wounds from him last bout with the dog demon still hadn't healed. If he took the time to really concentrate on how his body was feeling, Kouga would find that he was really quite sick. Dark, purplish, bruises that should have faded within a manner of hours still hadn't healed. Nor had the blisteringly red sunburn that scorched his entire body. Kouga hadn't been able to sleep down here either. His thoughts were consumed with worry for his pack mates and his future. And, huddled alone in this dark and gloomy place, Kouga didn't trust himself enough to fall asleep for fear that he would never wake up again.

So, instead, he focused on his heart ache and his home-sickness. He was so consumed in his thoughts, which had become increasingly feverish, that he didn't hear those tell tale footsteps until it was too late.

“Wolf.” The sharp bite in Sesshoumaru's voice sent Kouga's head spinning and his heart racing. Fuck! No! Shit! He had to calm down, had to regain control of his emotions and his dear. He couldn't let the bastard know...

“What have you been doing to yourself? Come here.”

Had Sesshoumaru been eating poisonous mushrooms? He was the reason that Kouga was such a mess! It wasn't as if he had been bashing hi own head against a wall for the past four days, though it certainly felt like it. An Sesshoumaru was high as a bird demon if he honestly thought that Kouga would come to him when he called.

But the wold prince did not have the patience or the energy to verbally spar with Lord Sesshoumaru today. Instead he let out a rough, gravelly, growl that clearly warned Mr. High and Mighty to stay the fuck away from him. And although he had every intention of making that growl as menacing as possible, it came out rather weak. Like that of a cornered, beaten, animal.

“Kouga you will cease you growling and come closer to this Sesshoumaru, so that I may inspect you thoroughly.”

All this proved in doing was eliciting another growl from the wolf demon and a half mumbled,

“Leave me the hell alone, dog breath.”

Sesshoumaru let out a growl of his own. One that instantly sent Kouga's tail cowering between his legs.

“You will come. Here. Now. If you do not, little wolf, I promise you will not enjoy the consequences.”

Although Kouga was in no shape to withstand another one of Sesshoumaru's “punishments”, habit born from many years of playing th Alpha male, had him snarling and growling with fangs bared.

“Go away asshole, I'm in no mood for your shit today.” Or any other day of the week for that matter. Sesshoumaru let out a sound that, in a lesser being, would have been considered a sigh.

“Have it you way wolf.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth then Sesshoumaru was standing before him, raising him off the floor by a steely grip at the nape of his neck.

Kouga couldn't helped the pained whine that escaped him at Sesshoumaru's indelicate touch. He struggled to wriggle himself free of the tai youkai's hold, but to no avail. He was too weak, he found with shock, to even put up a semblance of a fight. And he was so suck of fighting. So sick of the pain. He just wanted it to end. All of it. Hell, who knew? Maybe his pack was better off without him anyway.

“You, my little wolf, are pathetic.” There was a good deal of anger in Sesshoumaru's tone as he spoke, his golden eyes boring into Kouga's flinching cobalt orbs.

“You cant even heal yourself properly. You practically beg me to beat you mindless, and yet you are incapable of dealing with the repercussions. How you have survived this long is beyond my ability to comprehend.”

Kouga flinched at the words that seemed to echo his long dead father's.

“F-Fuck you.” He growled weakly, still dangling in Sesshoumaru's easy grip.

The eerie silence that followed the statement was long enough to send icy cold fingers of dread trailing up his spine. Oh shit. Head pissed Sesshoumaru off royally this time. That bastard always got real quiet right before he beat the bloody hell out of him.

“N-No. Don't.” Kouga could no more stop the pleas from passing his lips then he could stop his eyes from, flinching away from Sesshoumaru's piercing gaze. With another sound, that again sounded curiously like a sigh, Sesshoumaru flung Kouga ungraciously over his shoulder.

Kouga let out a hard woof of breath a his stomach (still painfully burned from so many hours spent under the hot sun) collided with Sesshoumaru's rather broad, lean, shoulder.

“W-Where are you taking me? I don't wanna go anywhere with you. Leave me alone! Put me down! Stop-” his shouts were cut off as Sesshoumaru's heavy, slightly callused, hand slammed down on Kouga's bare, upturned, ass.

All thought and words screeched to a sudden halt at the action. Had he...

Had Sesshoumaru just spanked him like a naughty child?

“Silence wold. If you find it necessary to run that garbage heap you call a mouth, you will address me by 'my lord' or 'Lord Sesshoumaru'. Otherwise you will face the consequences. As for your question, I am taking you to get a bath. You reek of sickness and filth. The smell offends this Sesshoumaru.”

A bath? No way! It was bad enough the pervert beat him while he was naked, he wasn't about to let the bastard bathe him too!

“Fuck that! Fuckin' let me down you sack of shi- yeowch!”

As Sesshoumaru carried and increasingly agitated Kouga out of the dungeon and into the castle, Kouga's bottom grew just as increasingly red as their journey progressed.

“Put me down now! I swear I'll- ouch!”

“For the love of-” Here Kouga let out a pained howl.

“WOULD YOU FUCKING STOP THAT!?!”

“If you would simply close your mouth, pup, I would not have to treat you like a child.”

Was it just him, or was there a trace of amusement in Sesshoumaru's voice? Angry at the injustice and humiliation Sesshoumaru was dealing him, head little time to respond before they entered chamber that was moist and warm. Kouga used much of his rapidly draining energy to prop himself up to see where the bastard had taken him. Stone walls and stone floors met his questing gaze. Potted plants thrived in the corners of the room and beyond Kouga could make out the unmistakable sound of...

“You built your fortress over a friggin' hot spring?”

“It was convenient for this Sesshoumaru.”

Go figure.

With much more care than Kouga had ever experienced at Sesshoumaru's hands, he lowered him to the lip of the spring.

“You will rid yourself of that filthy scent now.” He commanded, his voice cold but his will clear.

“Fine. I'll bathe. But I ain't doin' it in front of you so...fuck off!” With his rear end pressed flat against the warms stones that angled gently into the spring, Kouga felt more secure in telling Sesshoumaru in no uncertain terms just where he could shove it.

“If I thought you capable of bathing yourself, wolf, I would. This Sesshoumaru has no desire to watch a whelp such as you bathe.”

Kouga bristled in agitation. Just who did this guy think he was!? Kouga wasn't a child, he knew how to clean himself.

“I'll make sure to scrub behind my ears, Mom.” He growled. “Now leave me alone! Or else I ain't doin' it!”

Oh but a bath! And in a hot spring no less? Just the thought of that warm water lapping against his aching body was enough to have him shuddering with pure bliss. He didn't want Sesshoumaru to watch him bathe, something he viewed as intensely private, and yet. . . h didn't NOT want to be slide into those invitingly warm waters.

If this was a new plan of torture Sesshoumaru had devised, he was doing well at it.

“I do not question your competency to bathe, wolf, though perhaps I should. I question your strength. You are weakened, and those waters are deep. I do not trust you to keep yourself afloat for very long. You excel at pushing yourself to your limits.”

Kouga arched an eyebrow.

“Is that concern? How touching.”he sneered, wriggling over toward the edge of the hot spring and allowing his feet to dip into the warm, bubbling, waters. A shiver of pleasure coursed through him, starting at his toes and climbing up towards the very tips of his ears. “But I don't need it. I'll be just fine by myself.” As if to prove his words Kouga eased himself down into the warm waters, submerging his body up to his neck. Sesshoumaru had been right, the waters here were very deep. Deep enough that a full grown demon would not be able to touch the silty bottom. But no matter, Kouga had always been an excellent swimmer. And what did dog breath know anyway? If anyone was to be a judge of his strength than it was him himself, dammit! And he was perfectly fine!

The water felt purely sinful as it caressed his bruised and battered body. Soothing the aches that seemed to go bone deep in some places. Sure, it didn't exactly tickle his sun burnt flesh, but it still felt good after days of being cold and damp. Good enough that Kouga felt confident to let go of the lip of the spring.

He swam for maybe six seconds right up until he promptly began to sink towards the bottom.

Fuck!

As his head dipped below the water, he thrashed his legs, wincing as the muscles cramped up. No no no! He as not going to down with dog breath watching! He could already see that smug smile curling on Sesshoumaru's lips as he watched Kouga fight for his life. And that bastard had warned him too! It had all been a trick, Kouga realized as his breath began to constrict in his chest and his lungs grew tight. That devious bastard had wanted him to drown! Panic was now coursing through his veins as he fought with all the strength he had left in his body to rise to the top of the water. Instead of rising, however, he was sinking miserably. He didn't want to die! Not like this!

Kouga closed his eyes, lungs screaming in protest as warm water filled his mouth and nostrils. Hell, after being so cold for so long...this wasn't such a bad way to go.

A firm hand snatched his arm, pulling him tight to a hard, broad, chest. Suddenly the water around them was moving, parting, as strong legs cut easily through the water and propelled them upwards. A heartbeat later Kouga found himself coughing up water while wheezing in choking breaths. He stared, wide eyed, at a glowering and sopping wet Sesshoumaru. The bastard had actually saved him! Had jumped right into the hot spring and pulled him up!

Clearly shocked, and still coughing up lung fulls of water, he allowed himself to be manhandled by Sesshoumaru, who dragged him to an outcropping of large boulders in the center of the spring. Here, built into the spring, was a rock that serves as the perfect seat for a wear water logged Kouga. With his lower half, starting just blow his ribs, still in the water, he was in no danger of drowning.

“Next time, wolf, heed me when I speak.” Sesshoumaru said on a growl. His silver white bangs were plastered to his forehead, and his long mane of hair clung to his shoulders and back.

“You will remain seated here as this Sesshoumaru has no desire ti save your worthless hide twice.” Although the words were spoken coldly, Sesshoumaru had somehow managed to work a small growl into there.

If Kouga hadn't been so shocked by his near drowning, he might have been scared about the deadly and irritated look Sesshoumaru was sending his way. Instead, the only thin he noticed was that Sesshoumaru had stripped off both his Armour and his shirt before plunging into the waters to retrieve him. He had, however, not removed his silk pants. A small part of Kouga desperately wished they were ruined. It'd serve the bastard right!

“Wolf! Do you understand me? Or do I need to bathe you myself?”

Kouga blinked slightly groggy eyes as he realized that Sesshoumaru had been speaking to him.

“Uh, yeah. Got it. Loud and Clear.”

Sesshoumaru cast him a look that said he very much doubted it. Reaching behind him, the dog demon grabbed a delicately hand made jar. He opened the bejeweled lid and, using his clawed fingers, scooped up a generous portion if some sort of sweetly smelling goo. The scent sparked a flash of recognition in Kouga, and as he tried to remember where he had scented it before, Sesshoumaru dumped the contents in his hand unceremoniously atop Kouga's head.

((A/N: GLOOP. PLOP))

“Hey! What the the-”

“It is soap. You will rub it in.”
Before Kouga could so much as duck, Sesshoumaru reached behind him and, using his claws, snapped the leather band that held his long raven hair behind his head.

“Hey!” Kouga growled as his hair fell down in thick clumps just beyond his shoulders. “I can do it myself!”

Okay, so now he was definitely starting to sound like some sort of petulant child. Was this what he had been reduced to? For crying out loud! He didn't need to be babied. And certainly not by his worst enemy!

“Then do it, runt. And cease staring off into the distance. You are sickly and cannot afford to dwell long in the springs. This is common sense, but seeing as you seem to lack it, I am forced to point this things out to you.”

Kouga opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by a very fierce, very male, growl.

“Any more lip from you, pup, and I will be taking it out on your backside. Bathe. Now. For this Sesshoumaru grows tired of your company.”

Kouga had half a mind to tell him where he could shove it, but recognized that he had little strength for a battle of wills with Sesshoumaru right now. With a sigh, and a pointed glare at Mr. Higher than thou art, he raised arms that were trembling with fatigue over his head and massaged the familiar smelling goop into his long, wet, hair. In no time at all he had built up quite the later. Now how was he going to rinse this crap out?

Before he could even formulate the question Sesshoumaru dump a pitcher of cold water over Kouga's head, leaving the wolf prince sputtering.

“I don't need your-”

Another pitcher of water was dumped over his head, and Kouga had to close his eyes from the sting of the soap.

Three more pitchers later and apparently Sesshoumaru was satisfied that Kouga was clean. He grabbed the wolf prince from his perch, tucking him under his arm, and with one graceful leap, landed on the other side of the springs. He held Kouga like a sack of potatoes as he walked out of the springs and onto solid ground. Kouga, who hadn't expected the leap nor the manhandling, tried to clear his dizzied head.

“You know, I cant stand on my own now.” He said on a growl, once he had regained his senses, and began to wriggle like a worm caught on a hook.

“This Sesshoumaru highly doubts it.”

“Well, this Kouga,” he sneered, although without his usual force of will “doesn'tt give a shi-Ommph!”

Kouga snarled as he hit the ground flat on his face. Great. Just what he needed. More bruises to add to his growing collection.

“Get up wold. That is, if you deem yourself capable.”

Kouga snarled, his body aching and shivering as the cooler air brushed against his wet skin. He gritted his teeth, knowing that Sesshoumaru was standing patiently by, waiting for him to fail. The thought of having the bastard carry him as if he were some sort of weak female was enough to rattle his nerves and set his teeth on edge. Images of his past, of his father, floated up from his subconscious and played again before his eyes. He'd be damned if he allowed anyone to see him as weak, as defenseless. He'd prove both those bastards wrong.

Kouga pushed himself to his knees, trembling with exertion. Although the waters from the spring had done much to soothe his aching muscles, he still weak from the days spent in his cell with no food and little water. Weakness, however, was something Kouga could not afford at the moment. When Sesshoumaru led him back to his cell, then, and only then would he allow himself the luxury of collapsing. Truth be told, Kouga was just too damn tired. Tired of the charade he had been living his entire life, tired of always putting on a brave face, tired of the constant pain and suffering that seemed to sum up his life. Was there ever to be any release from this? Would the shit-show never end? A small part of him wished that Sesshoumaru would have just let him die that day.

Anger and rebellion coursed through him at the thought. Give up? Just like that? Fuck no.

So instead of collapsing to the floor in a humiliated heap. Kouga pushed himself to his feet by the sheer force of his will alone. Cobalt blue eyes clashed rebelliously with honey amber as he stood before Sesshoumaru and met his gaze dead on. So what if he legs trembled just the tiniest bit? He was standing on his own two feet, giving Sesshoumaru a big fuck-you-I-told-you-so.

He might have looked more dignified if not for the fact that he was stark naked, sopping wet, and shivering uncontrollably.

Sesshoumaru merely arched a brow, disapproval glinting his cold eyes and the hard set of his mouth.

“Have it your way Wolf.” Sesshoumaru conceded, stooping down to pluck his haori from the floor. Kouga startled as the equally sopping wet Sesshoumaru tossed his haori to Kouga.

“Put it on.”

Kouga stared down at the surprisingly soft, delicately stitched, haori in his hands. It was still warm from the heat of Sesshoumaru's body, and carried with it the distinct musk that was pure Lord Sesshoumaru. Why would the bastard give him this? What kind of game was he playing at here?

“I don't need-”

One minute Kouga had been on his own two feet, shivering yet defiant, and in the next he found himself pressed flush against the cool stone wall with Sesshoumaru's hand wrapped snugly around his throat.

“Listen to me now, wolf, and heed my words for I will not trouble myself to repeat them again,” Sesshoumaru had leaned in close, his warm breath fanning gently across Kouga's cheek in even,measured, words. “I will no longer tolerate anymore sass from you. If I tell you to do something, you will do it. Immediately. Without question or insult. You have pushed my patience to the limit, wolf prince, and this Sesshoumaru no longer cares if you are sick or injured. The next time you dare to disobey my orders, I will throw you across my knee and beat you like a recalcitrant child. Do you understand?”

With the hard press of Sesshoumaru's body pinning him to the wall, and the intolerant and fierce glare in his eyes, Kouga had no choice but to drop his gaze. Standing before him, holding him helpless, was a true Alpha male. A leader of the pack. And although Kouga was a Beta, and not submissive by nature, the sheer force of Sesshoumaru's one hundred percent Alpha power had him looking to the side and averting his gaze. Shame burned hot on his tanned cheeks, spreading in a delicate blush to his neck. If only his pack could see him now, cowed and subdued by an Alpha male.

“I asked you a question, wolf.” Sesshoumaru growled, his hand reflexively tightening around the abused wolf prince's throat, grounding his point home.

“When this Sesshoumaru asks you a question, you will respond to it.”

Shame and fury warred deep within Kouga's chest at the taiyoukai's words. The electric power, a force Kouga had not felt since his own father's passing, of an Alpha male giving an order sparked between their connected bodies. There was such a thing called pack magic, an indescribable force of nature that kept packs together and in line. This source sprung from the Alpha males of the pack, connecting them through blood to the submissive wolves. A truly powerful Alpha could use that power to call to him his pack and, regardless of what they were doing, the rest of the pack would be forced to heed that call. A power such as that was rare, and the few packs blessed enough to have it were extremely powerful. Because that pack magic, that bond, worked both ways. An Alpha could call to his pack, even if they were miles away, and a submissive wolf could use that same line of connection to call to his Alpha if he were hurt or in danger. Not only did it work as a useful communication device, especially in times of war, but it could also be used to heal or calm. An Alpha could siphon off his own strength and energy and send it to his wolves. The larger the pack, the more powerful that bond was. Kouga himself had never before experienced that kind of power and so he fell helpless against it. As much as he loathed the thought of Sesshoumaru as his Alpha, the mark that labeled him as Sesshoumaru's property also bound him to Sesshoumaru as his pack. And, with an Alpha like the taiyoukai, Kouga was given little choice but to respond to such a powerful command.

“Yes. I understand.” he finally managed to grind out between clenched teeth.

“Very good, wolf.” Sesshoumaru said, apparently satisfied with Kouga's display of submission. He released his grip on Kouga slowly and turned away. Only when his back was turned did that overwhelming power leech away. It left Kouga breathless and shaking. With partially numbed fingers he pulled the haori over his water slicked body. Sesshoumaru was a considerably taller male than Kouga, and his haori hit Kouga about mid thigh. He knew that he must look slightly ridiculous, like a little pup playing dress-up.

Shivering from the cold, and uneasiness, Kouga almost didn't hear Sesshoumaru's demand.

“Come.”

Gritting his teeth, Kouga forced his aching body to follow in the dog demon's wake. They walked out of the bathing chamber, and into a considerably cooler hallway. As the cool air of the drafty castle halls kissed his bare skin, Kouga was instantly glad he was wearing Sesshoumaru's haori. Even with it on he was shivering and cold. The thought of returning to his significantly colder, damp, cell sent his heart dropping to his stomach. Misery swam up his throat and stuck there as he forced his tired, aching, body to follow the tai youkai. At least he would have Sesshoumaru's haori t keep him warm, he thought wryly. That is, if the bastard didn't take it back. Kouga wouldn't put it past him.

“Pick up the pace, wolf.” Sesshoumaru called to him from down the stone hallway. “I grow weary of waiting for you.”

Kouga growled under his breath, anger beating fresh through his system. Did Sesshoumaru have any idea how much energy he was expending to even stand? Kouga hobbled his way down the hall, looking for all the world like a hunched and crippled old man. His entire body protested the pack Sesshoumaru was setting as he led him through the maze that was the taiyoukai's fortress.

Focusing solely on tryin to keep up with the arrogant sack of shit, Kouga had little time to memorize the route they were taking, let alone his surroundings. He was missing out on valuable information that someday might aid in his escape. Cursing softly under his breath, Kouga pushed himself to go on. He was railing against his situation, cursing the fates and their twisted sense of humor, and insulting Sesshoumaru's heritage, when he ran into a particularly hard wall.

He staggered backwards on his feet, the sight almost comical, and looked up as the wall that was Sesshoumaru grabbed hold of his flailing arm and jerked him upright.

“Idiot wolf,” He heard Sesshoumaru mumble hotly, his grip merciless on Kouga's bicep.

Like a parent with a wayward child, Sesshoumaru opened the door he had previously been standing in front of and dragged Kouga through it.

Shock infiltrated Kouga's already shaky system as he stepped through the doorway.

A large, opulent, chamber met his questing gaze. Wide warm furs were scattered about the cold stone floors of the chamber. Against the far wall on a raised dais was a bed, the size of which Kouga had never seen before. It was large enough that a changed demon might be able to comfortably sleep on its fur bedecked surface. Mounds of furs were piled onto the large bed, in a variety of shapes and colors.

Artwork, intricately drawn and painted, hung in gilt frames from the walls. All of them, Kouga couldn't help but notice, depicted a battle scene of some sort.

As his gaze scanned the room, his nose picked up on an undeniable fact...this was Lord Sesshoumaru's sleeping chambers. It took a second or two, but terror struck Kouga's body so strongly that his knees knocked together and he almost lost his footing.

Why would the bastard bring him here? Unless...unless he wanted-

Kouga jerked in Sesshoumaru's hold, trying to wrench his arm free of that iron grip. With his fangs bared and a mixture of outraged fury and panic in his eyes, Kouga snarled and snapped. So this was what the bastard had planned all along! He had waited until Kouga was as weak as a new born pup to drag him out of the damn hole he dared to call a cell only to...only to...

His mind had trouble processing the word and the deed that seemed so unfathomable.

Sesshoumaru turned to him then, impatience mixed with disgust.

“You will cease your growling, little wolf. Honestly, use that pea sized brain on yours and think for a moment. Do you truly believe that this Sesshoumaru would lower himself enough to sleep with a worthless mongrel such as yourself? Come, and do not struggle, else you will be punished.”

Punished? Mongrel? God damn it all to hell and back, he wasn't worthless and he was sure as shit sick of Sesshoumaru talking down to him as if he were a child.

Kouga dug in his feet, a snarl curling on his lips as his tail lashed furiously behind him. Worthless huh? Kouga'd show him worthless, right as he was ripping out the bastard's thrice damned throat! When Sesshoumaru turned back toward him, his golden eyes snapping daggers, that's when Kouga attacked.

Drawing from a pitifully dry well of energy, he leapt toward the bastard who had kept him prisoner here for close to a month. He leapt, fangs bared and hands curled into fists at the demon who had done nothing but beat and ridicule him, smirking as he suffered. His rage gave him power, fed his hatred.

Sesshoumaru barely had time to react to Kouga's attack. He ducked, but not quickly enough from the wolf prince who once ran as fast as the wind. Kouga's blow glanced off of Sesshoumaru's jaw as the tai youkai evaded the fist intended for his midsection. It continued on for some time, Kouga attacking Sesshoumaru, snarling and leaping, trying to land a blow, while Sesshoumaru steadily evaded his attacks.

“F-Fuck you ya bastard!” Kouga choked minutes later as he collapsed weakly to his knees.

“I'm not worthless, I'm not...”he hunched over, his body sore and feverish as his breath came fast in his chest. He was so angry! And yet he was powerless against Sesshoumaru, reduced to a weakened lump of skin and bones on the floor.

“F-Fuck you. I don't care what you think.” he snarled as Sesshoumaru approached him with a fluid sort of grace. “I don't give a shit what you do to me.”

Those words couldn't be farther from the truth. And as Sesshoumaru bent down and picked up the spent wolf prince, misery swam thick and heavy through Kouga's veins.

He said nothing as Sesshoumaru carried him, cradled like an infant, to the bed and easily set him down. He closed his eyes as he heard the thickly wet sound of Sesshoumaru's water logged pants hitting the floor. When the bed dipped next to him, Kouga's breath caught in his chest, trapped there like a living thing.

He felt, more than sensed, the candles in the room being gutted. And when he felt the hot press of Sesshoumaru's body against his backside, only the smallest whimper escaped past his lips.

Kouga startled as warm furs were pulled over him. He blinked, his eyes searching the now darkened room for a hint of the bastards next move. A pale, strong, arm wrapped itself tightly around his middle, pulling the wolf prince back against a large, warm, chest.

Between the furs, and Sesshoumaru's large form, Kouga's muscles relaxed despite his mental protests.

“Are you...are you gonna'...” his voice sounded small and frightened to his own ears, and Kouga winced visibly at the sound. He was helpless if the taiyokai chose to take him now. There would be little he could do to stop Sesshoumaru from turning him over and mounting him. Shame, embarrassment, and a sort of helpless fury choked him then. Stopped him from completing that question. His father had been right. Sesshoumaru had been right. He was weak and worthless. If the Lord of the West decided to take him like a bitch, he deserved it. All of that and more. If he was too weak to defend himself to defend his pack, then he deserved whatever happened to him.

“You will cease your rambling, Kouga, and sleep now.” Sesshoumaru growled against the nape of his neck. “I have no intention of mating with you. You are weakened and will fall gravely ill if you do not rest. I will personally deal with your insolence on the morrow.”

Kouga's body relaxed against Sesshoumaru's large one. He didn't trust the bastard but really, what choice did he have? Too exhausted both mentally and physically, the wolf prince slipped into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Little did he know that while he slept, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western lands, watched protectively over him. As he had once told Kouga before, no one harmed what was his.


Okay. That took four hours to type up, not including the time it actually took me to write it (two days). So if you liked it, cool! That's great! REVIEW. And if you thought it was boring, repeatitive or just plain blah, let me know that too. Maybe you have some questions...there are a few things in this story that have gone unanswered so far. Like... why does Sesshoumaru have two arms? What was the familiar scent Kouga smelt in the springs? How is it possible that two hundred years after the death of Naraku...a certain someone comes back occasionally to visit?

A Hrmmmm.

Well, all those questions will be answered in due time. Some sooner than others. XP

Anywho-

Tachimaru - Thank you ^^
Vyperbites -NO ONE. Thank you! That's what I've been saying all along! XD

Midnightsscream - Maybe ^^ They'll probably do more bodily damage to eachother before that whole love thing happens though. XP

Thanks guys for reviewing. I will post the next chapter.... errrr...eventually?