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***Leah's POV***

Shit. Shit. Shit. Fuck. No.

"You have been a menace. I don't like getting my hands dirty. Why did you run? Hmm?" Ryder picks me up by my neck. His hand harshly grips my tuft.

I don't know why he is asking rhetorical questions. I can't answer him in this form. Thank god, I don't want to talk to him at all.

Ryder carries me like a bag of discardable trash. He holds me far away from his body as if touching me is below him.

News flash, I don't want his disgusting paws on me either. He is below scum. He's vile, crude and filthy.

"We're going home. I will cage you like the wild beast you are. You did this to yourself. Blame nothing on me." Ryder shutters when I push my claws into his wrist.

"Bitch. I swear to the Goddess. I will make you pay." A feral hiss leaves my lips. He deserves far worse.

"Your parents promised me you would comply. I should have realized you were discounted product for a reason. Last time I barter with peasants." Ryder shakes his head in disgust.

It's mutual buddy. I promise you that.

It takes far too long to get back to Ryder's home. By the time he throws me into an iron kennel, my neck hurts. My claws are tender from the numerous scratches I gave the King of the Jungle.

He's not my King.

"I have half a mind to kill you. The other half is telling me to sell you back at the auction house. We can decide once you take human form again. About that, you have until this evening. I will force you with Chrysanthemum Root if need be." Ryder's threat proves just how cruel he can be.

That particular plant has widely known side effects to our species. Death would be kinder.

I huff out a chaste breath as I lay down on my abused paws.

Maybe I should have let Christian and his clan handle this. Why must I always be so fucking stubborn?

The cage has a rough plastic floor meant to be cleaned regularly. I assure you, this thing has never been cleaned. I think I would prefer the basement at my childhood home over this.

As if my day could get any worse, Ryder brings a harlot in to play with. Fuck my life. I use my paws to cover my ears. My eyes stay tightly screwed shut.

The girl is obnoxiously loud. He hasn't had time to create that sort of pleasure. Well done Meryl Streep.

The headboard bangs loudly against the stone walls of Ryder's castle. The springs of the mattress screech in protest of the animal that is testing their strength.

Kill me now. Hell seems a better place to rest.

Hours pass. Ryder finally winds down. If that girl can walk, it would be a Christmas miracle. I wish I did not have heightened hearing abilities. His husky pants were enough to make me nauseous. Her highly exaggerated screams were piercing to my ear drums.

I open my eyes at the sound of footsteps. Ryder prances around butt as naked.

Christ almighty. That's one image that will be seared into my memory for my many lives. What have I done to deserve such treatment?

"Time is up princess. I want you human by the time I get out of the shower." Ryder walks away, shining his tan ass in my direction. My feline eyes roll dramatically.

My cage is unlocked. I go ahead and push the door open. Stretching my aching body parts, I arch my back with a loud yowl. Ryder can kiss my furry ass if he thinks I appreciate being caged.

Switching to my human form, I search for clothes. The room is void of anything feminine. Ryder's clothes are readily available. However, I would rather be stark naked. I pull a towel from his linen closet. Wrapping it tightly around my chest and hips, I stand against the wall.

Ryder strolls out in the buff. I close my eyes and turn around.

"Leah, for fuck's sake. I'm not detestable. On the contrary, I'm a fine specimen. Do yourself a favor and witness me in all my glory." Ryder's words send a cringe of distaste down my spine. Goddess, could he be more vain?

"Just get dressed so you can decide to what to do with me. I'm exhausted from being in your presence." My words come out saturated with hatred. I would prefer to be mounted by a canine. A hell's hound would be better than this shit.

"Leah we could have had a beautiful life. You chose this path. I was content with bedding you as my mistress. Eventually, you would have become my consort." Ryder speaks with a positive connotation. He acts as though his offer is one of extreme generosity.

Believe me there is nothing positive about being tied to him in any way.

"You're as fucking charming as a rabid dog." I spit at his feet.

I prefer not to be degraded.

"You're the only woman in this realm who feels that way. I assure you. I am a pleasure one cannot partake of just once." Ryder scratches his fingernails along my chin. He licks his lips seductively. It's less than appealing.

Kill me fucking now.

"Just choose what you are doing. Your games are less impressive than your sexual exploits." I roll my eyes when he grins wickedly.

"Words of a woman who has clearly never shared with me in my experiences." He sounds pleased with his own thoughts.

"You narcissistic asshole. Kill me or sell me." I stomp my foot hard enough to make my teeth clatter together.

"I won't kill you. I have given up on handing you an easy life. Word around is you have wished for death on many occasions. I do not seek to give you so much. Instead, I will make your life more miserable than you have ever endured. A shitty life for someone who thinks so little of the King of the Jungle." A dark chuckle chases his inept words. Ryder is less than intellectual. Clearly.

"By all means, nothing I haven't dealt with before." A snarl leaves my lips. I could claw his eyes out. That would be fun.

"You're not a victim Leah." Ryder wraps his fingers around my wrist. I stumble behind him while he harshly pulls me through the bedroom chamber door. The dark halls are as gravely as his heart. Matching aesthetic. So posh.

The scent of mildew and damp earth reek all around me. We must be headed underground.

"You will rot in these prison walls, Leah. I can't have you spewing your degradation of my character. I do wish to find a lucky woman to please me. I need someone to reign beside me." Ryder opens a large cell door. The thing is constructed of solid steal. It would be nearly impossible to escape.

"In you go kitty." His hand shifts forward with intense strength. My body flails onto the impacted clay. It smells of death within these confides.

"I will have someone feed and water you." Without another word, Ryder stalks off. The steel door slams loudly sealing me away for the eyes of no one.

I would cry if I cared. I have been done worse to. I assure you. This is nothing.

The cool air quickly becomes overwhelming. I shift into my leopard. I am more adapt to these temperatures with five inches of coat to keep me warm.

Laying in the driest corner of the cell, I close my eyes. I definitely shouldn't have allowed myself to be captured. I have no idea what I was thinking.

Christian's piercing blue eyes materialize behind my closed lids. That precious boy he always has swaddled in his arms looks at me with sympathy.

If only I could have fallen for my mate, I wouldn't be in this cell.

It's not all my fault. I was created as a loner. I have never known much aside from cruelty and harsh love. Forgive me for being cynical of fated love. It's unnatural to me.

A yawn escapes my lips. I settle my body in for the longest of my nights so far. I'm bound to be here until I give up on my will to live. Funny, I never had much to begin with.

"She's a bit mouthy, but you can always throw a muzzle on her. We wouldn't care either way. I'm sure you can find use for someone with such natural beauty. Once again, it's up to you." My mother pushes my small frame towards the gentleman in front of me. My blue eyes go wide with a glance at his wry grin.

"Carry on. Here. Count. It's all there." The older man throws the cinched sack onto the table. I cower away from the exchange. Again. They are selling me again.

I don't cry. I can't. The buyers love fear. I refuse to give in to their demonic fantasies.

My body collides with the car. A loud thud echoes behind the contact. His hand clamps around my throat tightly. My breath escapes, leaving me suffocating.

"Be a good girl for Daddy. This can go smoothly. You will be home in no time. Bad girls get punished. I like that too. Take your pick." His breath fans my face in thick, heavy moisture.

I nod my head softly. His fingers release me. He shoves me into the backseat slamming the door behind me with haste.

The car ride is long. I stare out the window as our town disappears into the darkness.

Small tears threaten to spill from my eyes. I plead with them to stay bottled. I can't cry. They thrive on it.

When the car rolls to a stop, I make sure my face is dry. Keeping my head down, I watch as my feet slowly shuffle towards the house.

Once inside, I know what to do. I follow my new master to his play room.

Quietly changing into the outfit he hands me, I stand still.

He walks around me appraising his property. It doesn't take long for the unnatural course of events to unfold.

I wonder how long I will be with this one. Who will be the next? There always another and another. Greed knows no limits.

When he is finished using my body for his perverse pleasure, I am thrown into the room he has set up for me.

The walls are pink. The bedding is a soft eyelet lace comforter. I wash in the en-suite bathroom before curling into a ball.

Hopefully, he has little stamina. My eyes close. The tears fall. Dripping like a leaking faucet, I finally allow myself to mourn another piece of my innocence.

How many pieces do you get? When will I run out?

I open my eyes to the sound of a bowl scraping across the ground. I will gladly die in this cell. Fate has played enough cruel cards. This is the least of them.

Slowly making my way to the water, I sniff for any signs of poison. Deeming the water clean enough, I lap my tongue into the bowl dipping out small puddles onto my parched tongue.

Death does not seek after me. I have chased it. I have almost caught it. It eludes me.

Having my fill of the warm water, I turn away. My body falls against the earth with a quite thud.

The first wave of warmth is welcoming. The second is overbearing and suffocating. My heart palpitates frantically. The small tremors turn into painful convulsions.

I hack on the feeling of acid on my tongue. The thick foam backwashes until I choke. My skin begins to crawl. A billion fleas could be dancing across my skin.

My stomach spasms. The water comes up in thick piles of foam. The jerking motion of my limbs tells me all I need to know.

Ryder has made good on his promise.

Chrysanthemum.