HOSEOK :

Hoseok was warm and comfortable. He smiled a little. He had to be dreaming. His body was resting on a soft surface and a warm body was pressed to one side.

Hoseok sunk even deeper in the tantalizing dream. His face was pressed to a cloud he assumed.

Consciousness came flitting in on the edges but he tried to push it away as he willed his mind to remain foggy. To not wake up yet.

He wanted to remain in this space, but he knew he had to face the reality of his life soon enough. It would be the same hated face of the guard Wilson coming in with the drugs and cuffs. Whips and gag. Blades, if he was particularly pissed off.

He had stopped dreaming early on, so his befuddled mind wanted to enjoy the rarity a bit more.

But the nudge of the warm body against him and the heavy weight of one arm resting around his middle felt too real. So did the soft surface below him.

His waking sense also noticed a pleasant sweet fragrance lingering in the air, nothing like the cold dank smell he was used to.

Confusion chasing away the last vestiges of his sleep, he groggily opened his eyes and saw the luxurious room.

He rubbed his eyes once, wondering if he had suddenly acquired the ability to dream with his eyes open, when it finally clicked.

Memories of yesterday rushed in and he sat up abruptly, uncaring of the grumble from the person next to him, who withdrew his hands from Hoseok and continued to slumber on.

Completely awake and cognizant now, Hoseok looked to the side to see Namjoon curled up next to him, and the rest of his friends still sleeping peacefully, cuddling each other, on the temporary bed they had made last night.

He craned his neck to look at the bed beside him to find it neatly made. Neatly made and empty.

Master is awake.

Something in him, started ro rise, then abruptly settled down. Ever since he had heard the name, a restless feeling of apprehension and excitement warred in him.

He reached for the blanket covering his lower body and lifted it carefully, so as to not disturb Joonie further, and slid away from their bed. He fixed his clothes which were now wrinkly from sleep then stretched his body and neck to get the crinks out.

He had NEVER slept so comfortably or peacefully ever before in his life. Being the breed he was, his resting place had always been in cage or a cell with its cold hard cement floor.

He turned around to look into the inner room to see where his Master was.

After all, it was due to her benevolence and consideration that he got to experience such a restful night.

He took a few steps to peak in the inner room and saw her seated on a sofa, her back to him.

For a moment, he thought to the most prominent of his emotion.

Be courteous. Polite.
Do not make her Fear me.

He was a Snake hybrid after all. He must be feeling these emotions to try and make her stay with his brothers.

Hoseok padded forward to her without making a noise. He had just crossed the threshold of the inner room when his Master called out without looking at him,

"Goodmorning Hoseok. Did you sleep well?"

He stopped in his track, blinking his eyes rapidly.

He was supposed to be the one with heightened senses, wasn't he?

His Master, was not like any other he had ever seen.

Hoseok moved forward and around the table, his Master was working on, to look at her.

To look at her and put a halt to all his thought processes it would seem.

She was gorgeous. Sunlight came streaming in through the windows to illuminate her features, highlighting them even more. Her dark hair lay silkily, framing her delicate face, to fall till her stomach, the edges curling in.

She was wearing black trousers, high on her small waist with a black blouse, unbuttoned to a level which made Hoseok shift a bit and avert his eyes. It was too early to be temped by the creamy swells and a tempting mole which kept drawing his attention back to it like a magnet.

Her feminine frame was attired with clothes that spoke of her personality : stylish, commanding, confident and ....... unattainable.

But her eyes. Her eyes contrasted alluringly with her dark hair and dark outfit. Her Azure Blue eyes lightened by the beam of sunlight was warm and affectionate. Her gaze open and inviting.

A gaze, which reminded him of clear skies.

No veil. Such beauty should not be caged.

She was working on her laptop while drinking orange juice.

"Honestly it was the best night of my life Master. I have never slept so comfortably before" Hobi replied gradually.

She had allowed his curiosity, had been patient during his perusal of her, even though it had been rude.

A slave should never have been so blatant in his staring.

More and more Hobi felt the tug of tenderness from her. More and more he felt snared by her kindness, a golden rope pulling him to her.

Her expression though dimmed a little at his reply.

"That is hardly what i would call a comfortable arrangement to sleep." She huffed. "You need a proper bed with soft mattress, nightclothes that aren't uncomfortable, better sheets and pillows that are not generic and most of all an environment that isn't this blasted mansion." She finished darkly.

Looking up she smiled once more, "Its okay though, we will be going home even quicker than i previously thought, so you will get all that and more sooner. Although its still not soon enough for me."

She indicated for him to have a seat on the sofa opposite to hers and continued,

"Still, that news made my day honestly. I want to leave here quickly." She paused in confusion, "Is something wrong? Why are you not sitting down?"

"No nothing is wrong, I just did not get your request Master, do you wish me to sit between the table and the sofa? If so i need to shift the sofa a bit. There is little space for me to squeeze in. But if you want, i shall do that." Hobi rushed to explain.

"Why would i want you to sit between the table and sofa?"

Hobi paused, uncertainty trickling in. He asked, a bit unsure "You indicated for me to sit earlier while you were speaking. I thought you indicated that area. I am sorry if i am wrong."

Master sat back with a small smile on her lips, "I did indicate that area Hoseok. You were not wrong. But i did not mean the floor."

"Then....?" Hobi asked confused.

He kept looking at her and she did not say a word. She let him come to the realization on his own.

His eyes widened, "You meant the sofa? You wish me to sit on the sofa opposite you and converse?"

Master kindly tilted her head once "Never sit on the floor unless YOU specifically want to Hoseok. Another of my rules."

Hobi sat down, tamping down his emotions HARD. Right now, in this moment, He was being treated as an equal. Being respected, that to by a person who owned him.

That rope pulled him harder.

He dug his fingers in his thighs to concentrate on the physical pain to get over his emotions. Emotions that threatened to spill over. It would hardly be good manners if he lunged across the space at her to tackle her in a fierce hug. He ruthlessly steadied his voice to keep up the conversation with her instead.

"How will we be leaving earlier?"

"Aah, Ye Jun briefed me in the morning. Her contact has successfully gotten into the hidden auction." She happily told him "Which means we need to leave before it happens. As it will take place in the 5th day, we need to go on the 4th day."

"Master, what--?"

"Oh, right, you don't know about the reason why i came." Saying so, Anya told Hoseok all about Ye Jun, the hidden auction, her being a distraction, and her wish to buy the hybrids.

Hoseok remained silent. He knew all about the hidden auction, he himself along with Jimin was going to be the hybrids everyone bid to kill.

But he was more concerned about another thing. "Does this mean you don't really want us and will get rid of us soon Master? Because you were forced to buy us to help the authorities?"

Hoseok expected a sigh, a wince, a sad yes, maybe an emphatic no from his Master at his question. What he did not expect, was for her to burst out laughing.

He sat there gawking at her as she genuinely laughed till there were tears sparkling in her eyes.

"I am sorry." She called out to him, still laughing a bit. "Its just that, someone daring to force me to do something is a concept that is too funny to me." She finished, occasionally letting out a chuckle.

"No Hoseok, i bought you all because i wanted you. No one can ever force me to do something. As i said earlier, you are mine for as long as i live."

The words eased something in him, the concept of being owned by her was so appealing. He liked being hers. The sudden dread in his heart settled, he said, "Hobi."

His Master smiled and understood at once. She lifted the jug of orange juice and a glass, poured it till the brim and extended the glass to him. Invitation and command for him to drink it, clear in her actions.

"Hobi." She said softly.

Hobi accepted the glass, gratitude in his heart, but did not express it. He was still stunned by how much he was affected by her melodic voice speaking his name.

He gulped down the cool liquid, its sweetness and tart taste a delight to his senses. He finished every drop.

Wiping his lips a little he focused his attention on her as saw her shutting down her laptop.

"Will we be allowed to leave? On the 4th day?"

Pausing in her task, his Master raised one eyebrow at him, mocking the question and letting him know that she knew. She knew the question was rhetoric, that he knew the answer to it already.

He nodded once to indicate he indeed did.

Anya finished zipping her bag with her laptop and reached over to another bag lying on the other side of the sofa.

"One of my security delivered some necessities for all of you while you all were knocked out completely. Here, take a toothbrush and paste. Go freshen up."

She handed him a red toothbrush.

Accepting both the items he asked, "May i know the time?"

"Don't be so formal with me Hobi. Its 2 in the afternoon." She said lightly.

The time did not surprise him. They were too relieved yesterday night, felt a little safe in a long while, which resulted in the deep sleep.

The lack of threat in form of constant footsteps of the guards and the dank smell which would keep them on alert subconsciously, was absent too.

He got up from the sofa but hesitated a bit before going to the bathroom.

"Something on your mind?"

"How did you know it was me?" Hobi asked. The question had been tickling the back of his mind.

Anya smiled wide, her cute dimples on show, while her eyes shone playfully.
"I have great hearing, i heard the grumbling of someone and you creeping up after stretching. As for how did i know it was you?"

She paused and relaxed back completely on the sofa, her blouse stretching to reveal a bit more shadowy valley and her creamy breasts, making him captivated by the sight she made.

"When i woke up, i saw you tossing around while the others all slept peacefully. Stands to reason you would be the first one to wake." She winked at him, "Impressed?"

His Master.

He smiled and nodded.

"Let me impress you some more." She said, still in that playful tone, but raised her voice a bit "I do believe an Eagle and Jaguar have been awake for sometime now too while they are trying to act and listen in on our conversation. Might as well as join us." She completed, laughter in her voice.

Hoseok's head turned towards the makeshift bed and sure enough, two forms were slowly sitting up. They got up and padded to where they were. Both looked chagrined.

"Goodmorning sleepyheads." Anya drawled, completely relaxed and amused at the towering hybrids.

"Ghmpphhh" came an unexplainable sound from Yoongi while Seokjin wished them Goodmorning.

Chuckling softly, Master reached for the bag and took out two more toothbrushes and extended it.
"Freshen up, shower if you want. Then we'll wake up the rest and go get some food. Unfortunately, you are stuck with this clothing unless you are okay with scented clothes from other people?"

Startled Jin asked "You know about scented and unscented clothes?"

"My parents have 3 Dog hybrids. I know quite a bit about you, don't worry. So, would you want any?"

"No." Yoongi answered simply. Straight away.

Unlike Hoseok and Jin who knew it was a luxury to be given a choice for scented or unscented clothes, hell they knew it was a luxury to be getting the option to be clothed at all, Yoongi did not hesitate to speak his mind. As hybrids, wearing clothes of other males carrying their scent, especially the ones in this place, was extremely uncomfortable to them.

He took the toothbrush and strutted to the bathroom leaving both Jin and Hobi in awe.

"That is exactly what i want from all of you, do you know that?" Anya asked quietly into the silence.

The Eagle and Python hybrid turned back to look at her, question in their eyes.

"You are my hybrids now. Mine. You need to understand that. Part of it means communicating with me honestly and openly. If i ask something, i want you to answer me honestly. If you have something you wish to say, i need you to say so without any hesitation. If you feel something, i want you to express it to me without any shame or gratitude crowding the way." She explained quietly.

"Gaps in communication, hidden emotions churns out misunderstandings. And those misunderstandings can rip apart any trust that we build between us." She looked at them both.

"And trust is a component which is highly essential in any relationship. So don't get discouraged by gratitude or conditioning. Speak freely to me always."

Hobi understood every single word she said. He felt those words vibrate within him.

His Master wanted to build a real relationship with them. A relationship which included emotional aspect as much as the physical one he hoped for.

His Master did not want to control them to show her power over them, she wanted to make them a intimate part of her life.

A life she would live with, not a life she would live while stealing theirs.

He wanted that too. He longed for such a life.

"We will. There will be no secrets between us." Jin answered for Hobi too who emphatically nodded at the elder hybrids promise. However Jin continued, "But....."

Anya looked inquisitively at him.

"Our younger kits, Taehyung and especially Jungkook.... They..... they will not understand this easily. They.... they.... may require time, lots of it. I mean- they are- a little- i mean-"

Seokjin stuttered while trying to explain.

Master bit her lips as her eyes became a little sad, "I know. Their conditioning is too strong and i can tell they have suffered through a lot too?" She framed it in a hesitant question, voice losing its confidence.

Jin simply nodded once.

Anya closed her eyes and swallowed once then continued "I know they will require time and patience. Above all else, they need to know that they are safe. Safe from future abuse." She looked down.

"They need to know and have power over their own future, know that they will be more feared than any person here, then, then they will finally be who they truly are. Its fine. I will make sure it happens."

"Sorry, they are more feared than any masters here?" Hoseok asked bemused.

Anya sharply looked at him with an emotion in those expressive eyes that he had not yet seen.

Anger.

"Masters?" She asked icily.

Jin winced.
I fucked up.

"Forgive me. Please. I meant, other... people." Hobi started pleading right away, not letting any time lapse between his mistake and the apology.
Her anger made him afraid, not for any coming punishment, but due to the knowledge that he had displeased her.

Somehow, he realized, it was important to him to never become the reason for her disapproval, of her being upset.

"You don't have to apologise for it Hobi but please understand this. You have no other Master except for me." She stressed on it. "You will not obey or fear or submit to anyone. No. One. Else. Can. Command. You. Ever." She punctuated each word.

"He'll get it." A voice answered. "It takes time to beat the instincts instilled in us with fear and pain." Yoongi drawled, walking back towards them.

"I know. Just remind yourself constantly. And to answer your question, yes, not only them but all of you too. All of you are more feared than the humans in this house." She said.

"How? Why?" Hobi asked.

Anya got up from the sofa, stretching her lithe body lazily. Her hair cascaded as a dark silky waterfall down her back, her shirt stretched to give tantalizing glimpses of her lucious curves while her high waisted trousers emphasized her small waist and figure.

She rolled her shoulders and then leisurely looked at the 3 hybrids, replying.

"Because you belong to me."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

NAMJOON :

"So should i ask my security to escort us now? Everyone is ready?"

Master asked us as we all gathered together in the bedroom after finally having freshened up.

Namjoon looked around at his friends, his brothers. Everyone looked nervous. He could very well relate to that as well.

They were going down to the main halls to have lunch. Which was what had them nervous.

In this room, closed off from the world, it was easy to feel safe. It did feel safe. But as soon as they would be out of those doors, they would be presented to the rest of the people living in this Mansion.

Here in the room, he knew his identity. It was resolute.

In this room he was a Grey Siberian Wolf hybrid named Kim Namjoon, responsible for his 6 friends, belonging to only one Master.

Out there, he had no identity. He was just a body to be used by whoever he was passed on to.

Namjoon breathed in deeply, trying to put his trust in his Master.

Master.
She had completely surprised him. Having no prior contact with her, all he could know about her was what he heard from his Hyung and the guards.

At that time he thought, the two different opinions to be conflicting. Power, fear and kindness could only be mutually exclusive.

To see that it was not, that she was made from both, that she inspired fear from others while being gentle with them, had him in a tailspin.

To top it off, she was beautiful. Both inside and out. Her nature, her patience, her requests, her views even her claim was beguiling.

Namjoon was falling headfirst and fast, aided by that soft smile, bewitching eyes and her ability to reach within him and calm his fears, stroke his weakness.

She was brave. So courageous at the face of the onslaught of information she had received, not shying away from any of the facts. Processing it and then reassuring them when she could have just ordered them to bend down and keep them forever locked in chains.

She was making an effort and he wanted to return in kind.

He had awoken when Yoongi and Jin had left the bed. Her reaction to Hobi calling the other people masters confirmed to him that she was just as possessive as he suspected he was.

And he was. He was becoming possessive of this lady he knew to be his Master. His lust too, was stirred deeply yesterday.

So yes, he wanted to trust her implicitly but the ordeals he had been through, the experiences he had lived with and the brutal abuse he had been subjected to in this Mansion, by every single human out there, was making it difficult for him.

"Can we not eat here?" Jimin asked.
He wanted the same.

"No." She replied. Absolute.
"You are caging yourself in again. Locking yourself willingly, restraining yourself in one room. I won't allow that."

She pulled out her phone and talked to someone "Yep, ready. Have us escorted out."

She ended the call and turned to face them, "You need to see for yourself. There is nothing to be afraid of. I am right here with you."

Some nods.

"Will you be taking us to the dining hall?" Jin asked.

Namjoon saw Master pause at that question. She fleetingly looked at Hobi, as if remembering something and then looked at Taehyung and Jungkook.

Pursuing her lips, she appeared to be considering something while the hybrids in question kept their heads down.

Seeming to reach a decision she looked back at Jin and shook her head. "No. I think the casual lounge with the breakfast bar will be more suitable for now."

Knocks from the door made her turn around to throw the doors open.
The security head named Peter smiled at her and then checked the rest "4 of us will be accompanying you from now."

"Wait, don't you and the others have a meeting scheduled with my brother today?" Anya asked.

"We do. As soon as you all settle down to have your lunch, 3 of us will have the session nearby leaving one with you. I don't expect it to be more than 15 minutes."

Anya just nodded.

"The lounge with the breakfast bar." She said.

Peter paused for a bit, then smiled. "You always amaze me with your insight Anya."

Namjoon quietly went to the back of the group, making sure to be the last one, guarding the group from behind in the formation they were in. Although, 2 security guards came up behind him and gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

He always made sure to be alert of their most vulnerable position, or link. Speaking of which, he saw Hobi and Yoongi gently tug Taehyung and Jungkook in the middle as they started walking, being led in the front by their Master.

Goosebumps spread out on his body as they exited the room and anxiety churned in his stomach. The halls of the Mansion set him on edge.

It felt strange to be walking and seeing the sights when after having lived here for a long time, because all he was used to seeing were the 2 ballrooms for the evening party and the auction hall. The dining hall too, when they were owned and flaunted.

It also felt strange to be walking in this place with clothes covering him. It almost felt wrong.

He could see Jungkook pulling on his hoodie, feeling the same way, but was kept in check by Jimin who lay a hand on his back.

They reached the stairs and started descending them, encountering no one along the way.

In no time they reached the lounge.

Anya waited for the them to gather around her "Please listen to me carefully and don't make me repeat myself okay?"

At that, every single hybrid snapped their attention to her.

"We will all be sitting on the sofas surrounding these tables. On. The. Sofa. Not on the floors. On the sofas. Okay? So take your seats."

For some reason, Hobi smiled, followed by Jin and Yoongi, who reached out and gracefully sat down. Jimin reached for the chair beside Master and happily sat down too.

Leaving the three of us gaping at Master for her order.

Sit on the sofa? Not on the floor?
That was unheard of.
Completely unheard of.
Not just for them.

Even domestic hybrids, or hybrids, any hybrids, never sat at the same level as their Masters.

In some benevolent households, a chair or stool with its height lower than the chair the Master sat on, was provided to the hybrids.

Asking them, trained slaves, to sit beside her, at her level to partake food with her, in the very Mansion she had bought them from, was...... Inconceivable.

But here she expected them to obey those orders.

Namjoon gave himself a mental shake and saw that his Master was patiently waiting for him, her eyes on his frame. He saw Hobi nod encouragingly.

Seeing his friends sitting down, gave him the courage to do so too. He placed both of his hands on the back of Taehyung and Jungkook, pushing their rigid bodies forward.

Yoongi and Jin reached out to them and pulled the kits to sit between them. Only when they were seated, Namjoon pulled a chair. Tremors wreaking his whole body, he hesitantly sat down on the chair and looked up at his Master beside him.

She was smiling widely at them, "I am proud of you." She said, her voice filled with pride. She knew it was a huge step for hybrids subjected to psychological compulsion of their worth being lower than humans, to be doing what she asked without making a scene.

She knew it was a huge boundary crossed. A bad boundary broken and leapt from.

Her security guards took up their positions surrounding them, one of whom signalled for a waiter.

Two male waiters came forward, professional smiles in place. "How may i help you Ma'am?"

"We will be having 7 steaks, medium, and one fully cooked steak for now." Anya said fluidly

"Excellent choice ma'am." The waiter smiled and then turned to display the same smile to the rest in company when he noticed their ears and tails.

He staggered where he was standing, the smile dropping from his face as he realized he was catering to hybrids. Hybrids who were supposed to be sitting on the floors, getting their paste food in little bowls to eat from.

Turning to look at Anya he said "Ma'am hybrids you own can get the hybrid menu food while they wait for it on the floor."

At this Jungkook jerked and started to slide down on the floor, his senses screaming at him to sit kneeling on the floor, especially now that it was pointed out. Those were the rules he was taught. But hiis arm was firmly caught by Hoseok, who yanked the Panther harshly back on his seat.

Anya calmly replied the waiter. "Are you paid to insult the intelligence of the patrons here?"

"N-no... Ma'am i-i apo-poligise. I just thought maybe you were not informed." The waiter said.

"I have given my order. Please have it made and brought here as quickly as you can. If we will need anything else, we shall call for you." Anya dismissed him politely.

The waiter bent down to his waist, nodded and went away hurridly.

Namjoon looked at her in awe.
She was a Queen.

My Queen.

His trust in her steadily spreading through his veins, he acknowledged her fully in his soul.

My Master. My only Master.
My Queen.
Mine.

"I ordered steak without asking because i figured that would be the most nutritious for you, seeing as all of you are predators. But"
Turning her body to Jimin she asked, "I don't know about snake hybrids. I mean python I know but, is it okay for you?"

Jimin smiled and pushed his chair close to hers so that their bodies pressed together side by side. He shamelessly leaned into her, reaching up to hold her hand as he entwined his with hers. Letting out a sigh, he leaned over to rest his head on her shoulders.

That close to her he whispered in her ears "I love what you ordered for me." And then lightly placed a kiss on her ears.

Jimin was becoming dangerously attached to Master, Namjoon thought.
Namjoon did not know what would happen if he lost control. The cobra hybrid fast becoming unpredictable.

As for Anya, she simply nodded and turned back to watch their orders being brought out, letting Jimin rest his head on her shoulders, his body glued to hers.

The 2 waiters swiftly put the dishes on the table, not looking at any of them. Completing their tasks, they left just as swiftly.

Anya popped the shoulder on which Jimin rested to get his attention and then told everyone "Lets eat."

At first, Namjoon just looked at the plate.
The steak looked juicy while the shrimps looked creamy. His stomach gave a huge growl. He wanted to devour the food in front of him right away, but he had to be slow.

He lifted the knife and fork. He remembered having practiced a bit after watching the way of eating on tv. His then master of 3 months had been asleep at that time, while his chain length had allowed him to reach the cutlery.

He slowly cut the meat with his knife, being extremely careful in his movements.

Master had given him a respect not bestowed on any hybrid, he would not shame her by being a klutz and dropping his food.

Namjoon successfully cut the meat into a neat square and lifted it with his fork to eat it. The flavours burst in his mouth causing him to unconsciously groan. He chewed happily, his ears perked up and tail wagging excitedly as he finished the delicious morsel inside his mouth. Eager to get another bite, he leaned in and then stopped as he heard Master ask,

"Why are you not eating? Do you want me to order something else for you?"

He looked up to see Her looking at Taehyung and Jungkook, who had their hands folded tightly in front of them, head down to the point it looked as if they had curled up on themselves.

The food, sat untouched, in front of them.

Namjoon clenched his fists around the cutlery feeling extremely ashamed. The lure of the delicious meal in front of him made him forget to check on his friends, made him not apprehend the situation. If he was having difficulty with the cutlery, he knew everyone else was too. They had discussed it in their cells and encouraged each other to try it when auctioned off for months at end. So he knew others had the same skill level as him.

But he had completely neglected to think about the youngest kits.

Too conditioned to disobey their masters, they had never tried the utensils. Usually fed with shakes, or expected to eat their food on the ground, with their hands cuffed on their backs, eating with their mouths messily just like an animal, they had absolutely no clue how to eat normally.

Jin soothingly caressed their back while saying "They have never eaten with cutlery before."

Anya's worried face softened while her grip on Jimin's fingers tightened.

Taehyung's body began to shake as his shoulders jerked, ears flattening to his head. All hybrids could hear his sniffles which were fast turning into crying.

"I-I a-am so-s-so so so-so-sor-sorry" Taehyung broke down completely, trying to make himself small as he sobbed out the apology to Master. Tears streaming down his face, he lifted his knees to wrap his hands around himself.

He was ashamed of himself. He was acutely feeling the shame creeping up on him as he failed to do the most basic thing His Master had asked of, after giving him the honour for being seated as equals. He couldn't even eat respectfully. Did he deserve the respect of sitting as equals if the only way he knew how to eat was like an animal?

Namjoon saw Master rising up instinctively, her own face reflecting the alarm she felt on seeing Tae cry but she sat down immediately. "Taehyung." She said in a voice that brook no softness. A pure command, demanding to be met without delay.

Tae responded to it, too conditioned not to. He raised his head to look at her even though sobs kept jerking his frame.

When she knew she had his attention, Anya softened her demeanour and gave him a reassuring smile "Its okay. Its absolutely okay if you can't. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."

Those words made Tae sob out even louder but this time in relief. Beside him, Jungkook's tight grip on his own hands relaxed as his shoulders dropped. His tightly shut eyes opened slowly. He may not have been crying, but he was holding back tremendously. If he broke, Namjoon was afraid, he would truly break. The past would catch up with him for him to go down in a inconsolable and utter breakdown.

"Here, both of you pass me your plates. I'll cut up the steaks for you. As for how to use cutlery, its not a complex task. We'll learn it when we are safely home, okay?"

Anya's softly spoken words reached the distraught hybrids as they passed their plates to her, Taehyung noticeably quietening down.

The meal progressed smoothly after that, every hybrid enjoying the sumptuous lunch, comfortable in an invisible layer of protection and acceptance given to them by their Master. Although that layer disrupted a bit when Peter came forward to inform Anya of them leaving the room for 15 minutes to take the scheduled meeting with her brother.

Leaving behind one security guard, Namjoon kept an eye on his surroundings. He finished his lunch quickly and saw all the others except the kits leaning back as well.

A moment later the remaining security guard received a call. He came forward to inform Anya that the correspondence was from his pregnant wife. Anya immediately excused him to attend the call, who assuring her it would only take a few minutes, turned to leave the room for better connectivity.

Something in the atmosphere shifted right then. Namjoon felt it. He felt uneasy, antsy. It felt to premeditated, like something was about to happen.

He looked around for the cause scanning the room. He felt a cold sweat when he saw Wilson entering the room with a malicious smile on his face, a baton swinging freely in one hand, his beady eyes fixed on Anya.

Alarmed Namjoon turned back to inform his Master when he saw that she was already aware of the fact.

Anya had seen Wilson appear and walk towards her.

She sat looking at him, while looking bored. Utterly bored.

That expression, paradoxically, calmed him down. Seeing her not reacting in fear made his lessen too. Her scent too, did not change. Nor did her heart rate. Her scent had no traces of anxiety in it.

Namjoon saw the others similarly remain calm. Hoseok and Jin clamped their hands down on the kits, grabbing their nape, keeping their heads down and them in place.

While Jimin. Jimin remained where he was. He sat rubbing his body on Anya, hands stroking her arms, occasionally leaning in to breathe in her fragrance, pushing his face to the crook of her neck.

Although when he looked up at Wilson, his eyes changed, it held a malicious intent. Gaze cold and vicious, expression blank, his entire personality changed from the warm over eager puppy to that of a ruthless predator. A killer. He kept rubbing and touching his Master, but his eyes were trained on the approaching figure.

Namjoon then noticed Hoseok. He wasn't looking at Wilson at all. With his back to him, Hobi leaned forward to pierce his fork on the last piece of meat on his plate, lifting it to his mouth to chew slowly. He looked so normal, if one overlooked his expression.

His expression, was the complete opposite of his casual actions. Eyes glittering in rage and his face in a controlled mask of fury, his body coiled tight, he looked too dangerous to be messed with. He looked as if he was one step away from hunting down his prey and devouring them without mercy. Hoseok looked, every inch of the dangerous Snake hybrid that he was.

Wilson's had reached them when he finally looked away from Anya to register the snake hybrid at her side. He recoiled back in sheer terror on seeing the Jimin. Bitter odour of his fear leaked out of him in waves.

Jimin kept rubbing his face on her shoulder.

"And who might you be?" Anya asked, her voice completely uninterested.

Namjoon knew Peter had told her about the troublesome guard in their briefing yesterday, along with his picture, so she knew presently, who she was dealing with.

Somehow, Wilson looked at Anya again, sneering at her.

That surprised the Wolf hybrid. Wilson's ego, his pride, his perceived sense of hurt was greater than his self-preservation it would seem. So much so that he overlooked a raging snake hybrid. Then he recalled this guard's previous words from the night they were discussing Anya and her future attendance to the auction.

He had said something along the lines of teaching her a lesson. Guess he was unbalanced. Even from his perspective he could see the lack of intimidation or fear in her. A person could only remain that way if they KNEW that the presenting situation was beneath their level of skill or worth.

Which meant, something else drove Wilson's anger. Something else contributed enough to make him overlook his innate fear.

"No one will come to help you here bitch!" Wilson said.

Jimin straightened and rolled his shoulders back, while Yoongi let out a growl at his use of term.

Wilson turned to them "You pathetic cock sucking faggot animals think you can raise you voice at me?" he abruptly pulled back his baton and swung it forward.

Even without meaning to, all the hybrids ducked their heads, Taehyung and Jungkook letting out a whine of distress, every hybrid did, except the snakes.

Wilson never hit anyone with the baton, pausing the action mid air. He wanted to prove a point, which he did. Shamefully even Namjoon tucked his head down a little, failing to exert the confidence to protect his Queen.

Countless hours of being hung from ropes and beaten till they passed out, only for Wilson to revive them with cold water and brutally beat their bodies, breaking their bones with the baton, having an effect on them. They had endured it for more than 8 years.

In front of this hated man, no matter how much they wanted to appear confident, they bowed down when he lifted the baton. The memories of the bone breaking pain holding them in paralysis.

"That's right you weak filthy fuckers. Stay down in front of you master." Wilson laughed at them referring to himself as master.

Hoseok snorted loudly at that which took Wilson's attention. His expression wavering slightly when he understood that Jimin and Hoseok were not cowering. In fact Hoseok was relaxed back flexing his neck from side to side when he had made that mocking sound.

"I agree with you Hobi, he is funny, is he not?" Anya asked laughingly.

Jimin turned in his seat to face her, his expression again open and warm, with a sweet excited smile he said, "I find him funny too Master." Then turned back around to look at Wilson with his inhumane and savage stare, his persona changed in a blink. Voice deep he said, facing him "He is funny."

The hand holding his Baton trembled while Wilson tried to keep his sneer in place.

Anya, surprisingly stood up, "No interference Jimin, nor from you Hobi" she commanded as she walked towards the guard. Both of them sat alert but obeyed her.

"You interrupted our lovely and enjoyable meal, I asked you who you were and you replied no one will save me. Then you proceeded to threaten my hybrids." She said as she tilted her head to one side, baring her neck to his gaze and locked her hand loosely at her back. She kept going forwards towards Wilson sinuously.

"So let me ask another question. Why are you bothering me?"

"You and your hybrids need to pay bitch. Seojin is my aunt!" Wilson spat.

"Ah that explains the unflattering appearance you have. Familial resemblance unfortunately." Anya drawled, provoking the guard further.

"You need to be taught a lesson. All your money right now cant protect you from what will happen. I will gladly take any consequence afterwards, knowing that what I will do to you now will remain as a traumatic memory that will not be erased, no matter how many shrinks you hire. I will rape you bloody right here." He shouted manically.

Namjoon tensed.

"Tall claims. Are you waiting for an invitation?" came her goading response.

Bursting with rage, Wilson blindly swung his baton towards her in wide arc, aiming for her head from the side. Anya simply stood still and kicked him on his chest, HARD. He staggered back but charged again. Dropping to the ground she kicked at his shins and then flipped back to land a kick on his chin. Losing his balance he went down on his knees but suddenly punched forward with all his might.

Anya skilfully dodged the punch but grabbed him by his arm and twisted his forearm hard while pulling him up and aiming her boots on his chest which he blocked and grasped with his other arm. Body moving with the momentum, she pushed her weight on her captive foot to gracefully swing upwards and land another kick on the back of his head while freeing his arm which she held.

Wilson's body fell flat on his face while Anya casually and gracefully walked onto the other side.

Namjoon felt the air going in his open mouth and closed it.

Stunned did not cover how he felt. He felt stumped. She was magnificent!

He saw Peter and the other guards rush in running but Anya let up her hand, gesturing for them to stop and remain where they were. She turned around to Wilson.

"Get up." She commanded.

Wilson got up and let go of his baton. From his belt he pulled out a blade. Namjoon tensed again. He knew that blade. It was 7 inches long and 3 inches wide. It had been used on him plenty of times. He had bled from it, strapped to a bench too many times to count. So had the others.

Wilson charged again stabbing forwards repeatedly, swinging the blade from side to side as well. Anya waited for him to swing to one side before her body collided with him on his side, pushing him to the other direction, light on her feet, she then hooked one leg up his abdomen and lifted herself lithely on him, wrapping both the legs on his middle.

Then she pulled his body to one side with her legs as her hands which were on his neck pulled it in the opposite way. Balance lost, Wilson stumbled while she lightly jumped on his body, getting the purchase from his shoulders and kneed him on his spinal cord. As he went down she danced away from him but shot out her arm to tightly grasp his hair, preventing him from falling.

Twisting his head, Anya kicked at the knife and then grasped his forearm pulling it towards her. Holding it with both hands she jerked it to one side and then twisted it further using his body's momentum while spinning around effortlessly.

Wilson cried out in pain and went down again. This time Anya held him from his nape and pushed a finger deep in his neck at a particular spot. Instantly, Wilson's whole body froze, as he fell down with a thud and did not move an inch, seemingly paralysed.

Cool as a cucumber, Anya stood above him and looked down at the guard, head cocked thoughtfully to one side.

Tears were flowing down his eyes but not a single muscle moved. Not even a single facial tic. But his face was slowly becoming red. Wheezes of air leaving his mouth.

Shaking her head mockingly, Anya walked towards them and reached the table for a glass of water, took a sip, swishing it around her mouth and drinking it leisurely while looking at the plight of the guard on the floor.

Turning to the five of them she said "This pathetic human is who you are afraid of?" no trace of exertion in her voice. She sounded like she was just eating and conversing with them.

Namjoon looked at Wilson, his body still while his face was now alarmingly red and also wet with tears.

"Anya..." Peter called out warning in his voice.

Rolling her eyes, she replied, "Yes Peter fine." And then handed the glass to Hoseok and went back to Wilson, kneeling down before his prone figure, she reached out to press her fingers deep into the base of his neck.

In the next instant, Wilson's body jerked to life, him letting out a huge wail while sucking in lungful of air.

Anya stood up and glared at him. "Pathetic. Be thankful that you only have a broken wrist."

Looking at Peter she said, "Take care of him please? Speak to Park about this as well. I am sure the CCTV footage must have captured all that transpired here. Get a copy of it and send it to my brother as well."

Peter let out a sigh at that "Your brother will kill me." He said glumly.

Both of them carrying on a conversation while completely ignoring the sobbing man lying on the floor clutching his broken wrist to himself.

Anya laughed a bit, amused that Peter had slipped up and an incident such as this had occurred while on his watch. To her, it was completely worth it. She had blackmail material over him for life. "Tell him it was his briefing call that caused your absence. That will shut him up."

"No it won't." Peter replied "But it sure does make me feel better."

"There you go" Anya cheered slightly.

"Come on guys, if you have finished your lunch lets head up?" she asked her hybrids in a friendly tone.

All of them got up, still trying to process what they had seen. Speechless and awe struck. Namjoon especially.

As they started going up all the hybrids wondered the same thing.

Their Master appeared to be so delicate but she was a surprise wrapped up in beauty. Recalling the fight, it was a wonder to watch as her lithe body had contorted gracefully as if she was dancing. Light on her feet, she had packed a powerful punch.

Sinuous movement, agile figure and deadly knowledge of the target she wanted to hit made for a dangerous opponent.

This was the reason why she was bored when Wilson had approached. She wasn't even out of breath. The whole incident was just beneath her.

For the first time since yesterday, the hybrids got a sense of her reputation. Not the one which made people shake for her power and wealth, but the one where everyone was afraid of messing up in front of her, physically. She was no wilting flower.

Reaching their room, silence still prevailed.

"Okay... so that was a bit unpleasant." Anya said.

"I found it extremely.... Riveting." Jin replied, voice husky

Hearing that Anya let out peals of laughter, "Glad I could entertain you."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

ANYA :

"So, can you guys tell me what to expect from this evening? I am kind of clueless here." Anya asked her hybrids.

They had all had some rest in the room while she had gone to talk to Park who had once again, started apologising. It really was becoming tedious now.

Then she had to calm down her brother. Once she achieved that, her brother had taunted her about taking too long to defeat Wilson as he had already viewed the footage. That had started a fight between them with her insisting that she was just prolonging it to show off while her brother maintained that she was disguising her lack of skills by labelling it that way.

The issue was settled with a proposed fighting match between them when he returned.

Both of them had learned their fighting together. They were each other's practice partner, as such each knew the other's moves. It would be a long fight.

Lingering down had also resulted in many people approaching her to congratulate her on the purchases and indicate in a subtle manner that they were hoping to loan her hybrids sometime tonight in the special transformed rooms and the ceremony, since almost 70% of hybrids were claimed.

That made her pause. Special transformed room? Ceremony?

Which led to her questioning her hybrids right now after coming back from taking a shower and then getting dressed.

"Something about special rooms and ceremonies?" she questioned further.

Yoongi sat up from their bed. "Ceremony? So soon? Its just the 2nd day."

"Most of the hybrids would have been claimed once we were out of the list." Jin said from the sofa.

"Makes sense. Having the ceremony will provide better enjoyment to them. After that its once again free house." Namjoon mused from beside Jin.

"Umm... yeah, that answers my questions perfectly well. All my doubts are cleared." Not. Thought Anya.

Yoongi opened his mouth to explain but Hoseok beat him to that "Special rooms are just outfitted in different gears. One to hang hybrids to whip them, one to strap them down to fuck from behind or front, one room to enjoy a hybrid on hybrid show, others to make us behave as animals, or burn us with cigarettes or..."

"Okay enough. I got the gist of it." Anya interupped.

"It changes each year." Namjoon called out, finishing for Hobi.

Jimin came from behind her encircling her with his arms and pulling her back to him. Placing his chin on her shoulder and lightly caressing her stomach he said, "But this is what we are trained to endure. We wont break down for it, we can take more. The pain, the fantasies." He paused, "The sex."

"What are you saying exactly Jimin?" Anya asked.

The feel of his cold breath on her neck felt unnatural but familiar, his cold embrace tightened a bit more. Lightly, he kissed her exposed shoulder, then started kissing her neck, guiding her head to another side, letting him enjoy the bared fragrant skin. His plump cushiony lips caressed her neck back and forth as his fingers drew small circles on her stomach on the material of her dress.

Inhaling more of her sweet scent, he groaned, the sound muffled by her shoulder. Clinging more heavily to her, he panted with lust and whispered in her ears. "We are trained to be the perfect sex slave. Any fantasy that you have, any way that you want, we can fuck you without stopping till you are a screaming mess. We can take the abuse and pain for your pleasure too Master." He drawled.

Pressing his front completely to her back his one hand lifted upwards to encircle her above her breasts while the other remained wrapped around her abdomen. Firmly caging her, Jimin placed tiny licks on the back of her ear, his breath teasing.

Letting his erection brush forward, he wetly licked her ear, sucking a bit of her skin and then placing soothing kisses, flaming the waves lust deeper.

"Would you allow us to serve you Master?"

Anya was lost in a haze of pleasure, her nipples pebbled and her breaths coming out fast. Her panties were uncomfortably wet and she had a sinking feeling that the hybrids could smell that.

Jimin's tiny licks were cold on her skin, making her shiver and ironically made her hotter. The pressure from his arms, keeping her in place while he rubbed his whole body on her, including his rather impressive length on her back, was driving her wild.

His grip tightened as he roughly pulled her in more, no space left between the two gyrating bodies.

At some point she had closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations Jimin coaxed from her but she opened them now to see all her hybrids standing, gathered around her. Their breaths coming faster, their eyes dark with lust, they were coming closer to her.

They wanted to touch her, kiss her, lick her, fuck her.

They wanted to serve her.

As Jimin started sucking her earlobe in his mouth while slowly thrusting his length firmly on her back, she saw Hoseok reach down to stroke himself once through his sweatpants as he kept coming towards her. Namjoon and Jin's eyes were focused on her bared neck while Yoongi's dark gaze was unreadable. It was unreadable but it burned her.

Through the rising lust though Anya did a headcount, searching for Taehyung and Jungkook.

She saw them both on their make shift bed. Taehyung was sitting down, breathing through his mouth while he looked miserably at his hands while Jungkook.

Dear lord.

Jungkook had his eyes closed tightly, hands covering his ears, knees drawn to his chest while he cried silently.

This was exactly what both of them had feared.

She had given them a sense of protection. Had implied the promise that she would not abuse them, but she was doing just that.

Having them serve her was by extension sexual abuse. Whatever draw they had to her, she was blatantly taking advantage of it.

They were touch starved.

Any physical gestures of affection or comfort would be blown out of proportion due to their need. And because sex was the only form of physical affection they knew, they would naturally revert back to that.

It should be up to her to stop this. It should be her who would teach them that hugs, cuddles, close body contacts could also happen to express their affinity and attachment without it being sexual.

They needed to be in a position to understand and experience that. Only then would their choice of initiating any form of sexual contact be labelled as consensual.

"No. I don't want any of you to serve me." Anya said as coldly as she could manage, infusing her words with command. "Step away from me right now."

The whole room was blanked with heavy scent of their shared pheromones making the hybrids hazy and drunk on her scent. They were behaving as an addict, her blossoming scent, their drug. The passion in her fragrance had induced them in a heated state, where no one was thinking clearly except the need to be closer to her. The need of that connection with her.

So it took sometime for her words to reach them. Ironically it was their training as slaves, their conditioning, that helped them break free of the haze.

Jin was the first one to blink and come to his sense. Clamping a hand to his nose, he started breathing through his mouth, then jerked Namjoon back. He too steadied himself.

Yoongi had halted. His dark gaze filled with hunger going blank at her words, hurt swimming in its depth. Before she could address that hurt, he turned away.

Hoseok kept coming forward, but his eyes held an apology. He came behind her and tugged at Jimin who was still attached to her, still thrusting slowly, still held her to him closely, carefully. Possessively.

"Jiminie let go." He said.

"No." was the reply that he said muffled again on her skin.

Lord give me strength.

But all she needed to break free was take yet another look at Jungkook.

She turned in Jimin's arms and framed his face in her palms. Jimin stilled at her sudden movement. She leaned forward towards him a pressed a sweet kiss on his cheek and said, "I don't want you to serve me Jimin, but you don't know how to make love yet, and that is something I would want from you. So until you understand the difference, let go okay?" she said softly.

Jimin's eyes lost its passion and turned confused at her. He looked like a lost child as he asked her, "Make love?"

"See? You don't know the meaning yet. I'll tell you why I stopped you once we go home okay? Till then, till I tell you what is so wrong with the situation here, don't involve yourself in any sexual situations."

He was still confused.

Anya understood the depth of affection he had for her. Being a snake hybrid, he put aside his lust in an instant when he got an inkling that she was uncomfortable, did not want it. He lost his desires to seek her pleasure, which right now was to talk. He did not pay any attention to his straining body, needy still, to understand what she wanted at the moment.

All he truly wanted was to make her happy. To make sure she knew he was hers. That he was enough to meet all her needs, sexual or otherwise. And he was willing to learn.

"You are my good hybrid right?" she asked lovingly.

"I am your bestest hybrid." He replied with a childlike innocence.

"Then wont you say yes to my request?" she asked with a smile.

Tugging his lips in his mouth, looking adorably lost, he nodded.

Swiftly placing another soft kiss on his cheeks Anya turned around and went to the two hybrids on the bed.

Both of them stilled. She sat on the very edge of their bed, giving them plenty of space "I wont touch you. You are safe here. Do you understand that?" she said, trying to calm them, walk them back from the edge they had gone to.

Taehyung looked at her, then looked at others. His tail curled around Jungkook and tapped at him. Jungkook too raised his head but kept his gaze lowered.

Anya repeated again. "I won't touch you. I will NOT use you"

"But, you are our Master." A statement, delivered by Taehyung.

She sighed. In his mind, being owned, having a Master was the same as Being sexually abused. She could not claim they belonged to her without using them, it did not make sense to the two kits.

Chewing on her lips, she thought about what to say. She needed them to trust her and blatantly saying no to their ingrained beliefs was not the way to go. Especially Jungkook.

"I will not touch you while we are here." She settled helplessly at that. She would just have to make something up when they went home.

Both the cats nodded instantly and relaxed. That made sense to them.

Well at least they trust me enough to believe my promises, which align with their beliefs, instantly. Thank god for small favours.

Retreating back she faced the hybrids again. Almost all of them looked at her with a soft expression, having understood her intentions and her conversation with Taehyung and Jungkook.

Almost all.

Yoongi's dark gaze still remained completely blank as he lounged back at a wall, with a leg resting on it, back relaxed against it. He had his attention focused on her, but made sure to give none of his emotions away.

Anya did not have the energy or the time to deal with the jaguar right now.

Checking her clock, she saw it was time to leave. "Okay, so explain about the ceremony thing when we reach there okay?"

"Yes" said Jin.

Anya nodded and opened the door to head out to her first evening in the mansion with her hybrids by her side.

A/N : Yes, Joonie doesn't like seafood, I know, but for this story, shrimps are okay for him😊.

Hoseok and Jimin's duality surfaced the earliest, still they don't know the extent of their own true nature, all they know till now is their ever increasing draw and addiction towards Anya. Something bothered Yoongi as he drew his own conclusions but chose to keep quiet about it.

The coming chapter again will be filled with some dark moments of abuse. The boys will not be involved in it. So please read the warnings at the start of the book before proceeding.

Please do comment and vote.

Enjoy