Anya backed away from the sight, too stunned to say anything there. The sight itself was not chilling. The implication behind it was. If this was their instinctive reaction for pleasing her, then how many times in their lives had they done this?

Done this and then gotten praised.

Done this and then been used as the position suggested it to.

Taehyung's legs were trembling now with the amount of effort it took to keep it straight. The posture perfect.

Tae tightened his muscles to stop the quivering, his back completely wet with sweat coating it.

Earlier, Anya had not cared. She still did not care about so many thousands of hybrids going through the very same situation as the one hinted before her. But this was different

They were her hybrids.

Her Conditioned hybrids.

This cut her.

She was someone who was untouchable in the society to the extent that no one bothered her. And to think that the people in her care were still subjected to such an anguish was unthinkable.

Worse was the fact that Anya knew that Taehyung and Jungkook were hoping to impress her.

She knew that the both of them were expecting praises from her. Were expecting affection for what they had done.

It was that thought that hurt her.

The thought that they were so perfectly conditioned, their psychological compulsion so rooted, that they firmly believed that degrading them was the proof of love, that humiliating them was what should be normal.

That using them meant they were cherished by her.

"Taehyung, Jungkook, stand up." Anya called out to them in a shaky voice.

Their tails swished once, but both of them maintained their position.

Trying to calm herself down, Anya entered the room fully. She closed the door behind her.

As she came closer to them, she understood one thing.

Her other hybrids knew what was happening to them was unfortunate, they wanted to escape that hell. So they easily caught on to what she wanted. How she wanted them to treat themselves and what to let go of. What mannerism she hated.

It was easy for them to follow, because they hated it themselves too.

But Taehyung and Jungkook never even questioned what was being done to them. They were both the prime examples of a successful endeavor by the scientist in brainwashing and taming predator hybrids in the way the humans wanted.

As such, she needed to make them understand it in their language. She could not expect them to accept what she wanted. It would be confusing for their slave mentality which had only known that lifestyle as the sole truth in their limited experience.

She knew she could break their conditioning. She knew it. Because both of them were either Black or a Code Red. She just needed to find the weak point in their psyche.

She needed to search for the unfortified point in their conditioning, in their emotions.

"Taehyung, Jungkook. Do not make me repeat myself. Get up."

Both of them lifted their heads, lowered their bottoms, but still maintained the position.

After a few seconds, "We remained this way since you asked us to wait Master. Did we do good?" a small, insecure voice reached her. Taehyung.

She wanted to cry. She wanted to throw up. What had the world done to these pure souls?

"This is the last time I will be saying this. Get. Up." She infused an icy command in her voice. Frankly she was proud of her ability to do so. She needed to tackle this in a manner that they would not break, or isolate themselves.

Showing sympathy, kindness, softness or comforting them would work inversely on them. She could not reach down to gently caress them and guide them to stand up.

In the twisted reasoning created by their sellers, they would translate that into her rejecting them.

Slowly, Taehyung and Jungkook withdrew from the position, sitting back on their heels. Their face was red and stained with sweat, their hair, drenched with it. Their exposed forms clearly highlighted the tremors in their forearms.

Their eyes were downcast. Their expression, blank.

Trailing her eyes on their bodies, she indeed had to admit to herself that they both were exceptionally handsome.

Their dark hair, the perfect cheekbones, pink lips, smooth golden skin covering their toned muscles and wide chest leading down to chiseled abs and muscular thighs.

God had indeed taken his time while creating them.

Anya skipped over their privates. Being in this situation, being the person for whom they had subjected themselves to this form of humiliation was already enough to have her stomach churning with acute unease. In no way could she further add to her guilt by witnessing their naked form for her pleasure attached to their mentality.

She walked over to the bed, where they had neatly folded their clothes. Picking them up she held it out to them.

"Wear your clothes and then we will talk." She commanded yet again.

Jungkook breathed in deep, closing his eyes, while Taehyung quietly reached for the clothes.

Jungkook kept his position of sitting down in front of her on his heels, eyes still on the floor, but he spoke up. He spoke in a quiet, barely there voice.

"We tried our best Master. We can do more. We know much more. Give us a chance. Please?"

Taehyung paused in the action of pulling the hoodie over his head, looking at the youngest then slightly back at her again, undecided to whether wear his clothes or do what his brother said.

"Verbally tell me what more do you want to exhibit to me?" Anya said patiently. She lifted her chin at Tae, silently asking him to continue dressing.

Still confused, Taehyung complied hesitantly.

His voice steady, as if finally being confident, Jungkook replied, "Anything. We can take any amount of pain if you so wish, we can please you in any manner if you command us. We will never say no to you. If you gain pleasure by watching a show, then you can ask any number of people to come use us sexually, we will promise to remain graceful and obedient of their demands knowing---"

"STOP."

Jungkook immediately stopped. He bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood. His mind again in misery knowing that he had displeased her again. He just could not get it right.

He wanted to talk to her. He wanted her to love him the way he had seen her love his hyungs. He wanted to sit by her, he wanted her to pet him again.

Most of all, he wanted the Mark from her.

After meeting her, he was so certain that his long held dream would come true. It was a dream he had harbored since the time he could think.

To be cherished by his Master enough to receive the first 2 marks.

But he knew he was lacking. Severely lacking in comparison to his Hyungs.

He was not like them. He could not even comprehend to be like them, so he wanted to please her in the ways he knew he was good at.

Jungkook wanted to always sit by her foot, to breathe in her sweet fragrance, he wanted to show the world that he belonged to her.

In a way, many knew. But it seemed hollow.

Because his Master kept him away. She distanced him from all that she liked. And he felt like he had no anchor. He felt like he could not grab onto anything to get rid of the feeling he was experiencing.

He did not know what was expected of him. He did not know what he could do. He did not know how to eat with cutlery. He did not know how to obey her commands. He did not know why his hyungs were acting the way they were.

Everything felt safe, but it also made him feel like the other shoe could drop any moment.

Everything was serene, he knew he belonged to her, others kept their distance from him, but he did not know what she wanted from him.

Everything that he knew seemed meaningless here, while everything that was prohibited, everything that was taught to him to never want or do, was what was required here.

He was disoriented.

He was lost.

He felt alone.

Jungkook wanted her. The time in the ceremony had scared him. The events which took place was something he had never seen. The way that man had broken his own hand all because his Master had asked him too, had awed him. Awed him and frightened him too.

But she had gently soothed him. Carefully handled his fear. Had loved him in that hall.

Jungkook wanted her to do so again.

So he and Taehyung had tried to show her how obedient and good they could be. There was no pain that they would refuse for her. That they could be the perfect slave anyone could ever want. That they could exceed expectations for model behavior.

He had thought she would be impressed. That she would pet his head like she had.

But Master was actually displeased.

Would she really give him and Taehyung away to that woman?

A shiver worked its way through his body at that thought.

He hated Mistress Jennifer. He did not want to be used by her again. Not when he was finally an owned slave. That too owned by someone so opposite of Mistress Jennifer.

But what if what he heard in the morning did happen? What if Jimin Hyung was wrong? What if Master really gave them away to Mistress Jennifer to be sexually trained?

His insides churned with pain. Anxiety and sadness colliding in his heart.

He truly did not want to be touched by Mistress Jennifer.

He wanted to show Master that he did not need sexual training. He really, really could do whatever she wanted from him.

Desperation colouring his voice, he disobeyed his Master's order to be quiet and said in a rush,

"I can take any amount of whipping Master. I can stay hard for you for however long you want. I can take any toy you want to fuck me with. I can please you, make you cum as many times as you want. I can lick you the whole day if you want without pausing even once, let me show you!"

Working himself up in a state of panic at the thought of being given away to Jennifer, Jungkook acted without thinking, trying to prove to her that he could satisfy her.

He blindly reached out to pull Anya by her hips and then flipped her on the floor on her back. Not hearing anything, he started tearing at the trousers she wore, trying to get rid of it and her undergarments, to show her what he just said was true.

But before he could claw away the trousers, a body slammed at him from his side, throwing him slightly away from Anya. The movement cleared up his mind as he rolled back and stood up to see Taehyung looking at him worriedly, his body crouched protectively over Anya.

Not understanding what had prompted his Hyung to push him, or his protective stance, Jungkook looked at his Master, only to get alarmed at what he saw and heard.

She was moaning a little as she clutched the back of her head. When Jungkook had pulled her and flipped her on the floor, her head had banged painfully on the marble.

He had hurt her.

Jungkook had hurt her.

Tears filled the Panther's eyes as he slipped to the ground. What had he done?

He had just proven to her why he should be kept at a distance.

Why was everything going so wrong for him?

"I am so-so-sorry. So-sor-sorry" he wobbled out to her, "Pl-please don't g-gi-give m-me aw-away. Ple-" he broke down.

Jungkook sat down on his bottom, propping up his knees and wrapping his hands around them. Head buried, he swayed on himself, lost, alone and miserable.

His sobs got deeper, as did his self loathing and fear.

What had he done?

He sobbed his heart out until a gentle hand softly brushed his hair and then carefully rubbed his ears.

He sniffed back his tears, head still hidden, as she felt his Master sit before him, wrapping him in her warm embrace.

"Shush...." She cooed at him as she securely clasped his naked body to her soft fragrant frame.

Jungkook hesitated a bit, but her sweet scent beckoned him, made him feel safe.

Made him feel like Home.

A sense of Home that he never knew, neither did he experience.

So he let go off his knees and lowered them, allowing more space to open up for her to pull him more closer to her.

"My sweet, sweet Panther. Don't cry. Everything is fine." She soothed him.

Never having felt such gentle reassurance, never having felt such loving softness, never having experienced such security, such open affection after committing a mistake, Jungkook started bawling and hiccupping badly, while he clutched her to him.

He stuffed her running nose on her coat, his tears flowing freely on her skin, his body shaking with his sobs and hiccups, he grasped on to her small body, finding his anchor in her.

He had hurt her, after disobeying her commands to stand, to dress to be quiet. By rights he should have been severely punished. Even his Hyungs would have scolded him. But she did not.

She came to help him. To calm him down.

To love him.

This was love. Was it not?

Nothing else could explain this.

Jungkook held on to her for his life as he cried out all of his insecurities, his frustrations, his confusions, his pain, his fear, his uncertainty.

He let everything out, making himself completely vulnerable, knowing that the person hugging him to her would keep him secure. Would protect him in his weakest time.

He knew it from within himself.

Anya let him cry out while she kept soothing him, stroking his back rhythmically. She knew that this bout of emotional outburst was cathartic for him.

He was afraid of something. That much was clear to her.

Maybe he was afraid of what they both had overheard. Added to that the frustration of seeing the interactions she had with his Hyungs but unable to contribute might have pushed him to the edge.

She shushed him, letting him cry himself out.

When his sobs went down to occasional hiccups, she turned with him still in her arms, to look at Taehyung, who stood behind of her. His eyes emotional and loving.

She gestured to him for the pair of clothes behind him, which he promptly gave her.

Still letting Jungkook lean heavily on her, Anya picked up the hoodie and rolled it in her hands. Then she pushed her Panther a little, to pull the hoodie down his head, urging him to put his arms through the sleeves, then rolling the rest of it down his abs.

She gave him the sweats, "Dress in this for me? hmm? I promise we will talk after that."

Jungkook looked up to her for the first time.

Big doe eyes, innocence shinning from them, were framed with eyelashes sparkling with little dews of tears. His eyes held his purity, expressing his unsullied soul.

His jaw was sharp, as were his cheekbones, giving him a seductive and spectacularly handsome face.

But his eyes.

Dear lord his eyes.

Those showed his naked soul. It showed just how unblemished he was. His gaze, completely open and vulnerable, with no hint of pretense whatsoever.

Jungkook was a being who was rare. His soul was completely untouched. Just how it was made originally by God.

Anya was stunned. Not only by his gaze, but by the knowledge of him being subjected to the hell she had seen in the past few days and perhaps, more.

How could anyone inflict pain to someone with such eyes? are they so far gone in their corrupt desires that even THIS gaze could not make them stop?

Jungkook took the sweats and stood up to pull them on

"I obeyed Master." He said in a low voice.

Anya snapped to attention. She stood up and guided both Taehyung and Jungkook to sit on the bed.

"Sit at the far end of the bed, rest your back at the headrest." She directed and saw that they complied.

Once she saw them seated comfortably, she herself climbed the bed to sit before both of them.

Anya noticed that both Taehyung and Jungkook were serious. Serious and attentive. That was a good thing. Once they would leave here to go live at her home, they would be further disoriented if this confusion was not cleared.

"Let me start. Firstly, I need both of you to know that what you heard in the morning, the conversation between me and Jennifer, does not apply in reality. She is someone I cant deal with directly in the manner I want to because of her father, something I will make you understand when we reach home." Anya stated explaining. Tae and Kook listened to her without interrupting, all their senses clear and directed at each and every word she uttered.

So she continued.

"As such, before dealing with her, I wanted to know her desire. Her motive. I played along to avoid conflict and to buy time. My main priority right now is getting all of you Home without any mishaps or conflicts. I'll deal with Jennifer once I reach home. The main thing is, I will never give you to her or anyone else. So calm your fears in that regard."

She was certain that the position they had kept themselves in was the result of that fear. To show her that they did not need any further lessons. Hopefully, any further displays such as the one today would be curbed if the fear was destroyed.

Taehyung looked at her. His expression did not give away any thoughts that he had. His handsome face was shrouded in a blank emotion that did not portray any thoughts. He voiced his concern

"If that is your promise Master, why will you not Mark us? We will never be afraid that way."

Not with the marking again.

Beside him, Jungkook nodded. He was at least looking at her now.

Thank god for small progresses.

Jungkook further added, his voice low, still apologetic and thick with tears, "We understand what you want Master. But we are not that way. We want to be." He stopped, bowing his head, he quickly swiped up at the tears forming in his eyes again, "But you have to know too, please Master. Please."

Gently Anya asked, "Know what Jungkook?"

At the question, Jungkook shook his head and clammed up. Finding it difficult to verbalize his thoughts, never having done so with his previous Masters.

Tae thankfully, continued in his stead. With his head lowered, body slumped in itself, making himself physically smaller, more vulnerable.

"Master, we..." he couldn't continue.

The frustration of not being able to express themselves, due to their own conditioning, was acutely piercing for them. It ate at them.

Their vocal cords closed up, from the remembered pain of the training. From the past experiences. Since their childhood, whenever they wanted to voice their thoughts, or speak, they were badly shocked. Either shocked or beaten.

They were trained to not speak before their Masters. Trained and broken to not talk. Not to express anything they felt. They were supposed to be animals in human forms. Not speaking but doing all that was directed of them.

Completely mute for their master's pleasure.

Years of such abuse had affirmed its purpose in them.

As such they could not even color in the words required to make someone understand what they wanted. They did not know how to make anyone understand what they felt.

Both of them struggled to override it. Tears flowing freely from their faces, completely unchecked as they dripped down to their hoodie. Their anguish was silent, but loud in its existence.

They were trapped in the vicious hold of their own mentality. They were completely owned by their conditioning.

Their screams on the inside at their helplessness echoed in a vacuum of nothingness on the outside.

They wanted to cry out for her help, but didn't even know how to.

All they could do was cry.

Cry and strain their throats, their own vocal cords to make it work, working on it desperately. But getting defeated yet again at the memories of the evoked consequence of the past. Getting defeated by the echoes of the phantom excruciating pain.

Anya understood it. She knew what was happening to them. And she was....

Overjoyed.

The fact that they were trying to do something that was forbidden to them, for which they had been punished, in itself was the first break in their compulsion.

Their need, their desire to do something that they were trained not to do, was the first step in the direction of wanting something for themselves. A form of freedom. A sliver of desire to do anything outside of what they were trained to do.

Anya smiled at that.

"Take your time. I will wait. You need to make me understand, only then will I be able to address your concerns. Take all the time you want, I am right here." She softly told them both.

Both of them nodded and then breathed in deep, trying to draw courage.

They straightened and sat cross legged before her, concentrating on themselves, even while their physical emotions trailed down their cheeks, uncontrolled.

"Master, the floor has been cleaned a long while ago where are-" Jin came barging in, flinging open the door, only to come to a complete stand still when he saw his two youngest of the pack sitting on the bed, crying but their expressions that of acute concentration.

Both the kits flinched at his entry and suddenly, both Jungkook and Taehyung reached their hands out to grab one of Anya's.

They looked at Jin, their expression that of slight anger.

"Master is waiting for us to tell her something. You cannot take her away from us just because you feel like it!"

At the intrusion by Jin, Tae suddenly growled.

His growl had no hint of timidness or insecurity in it. Tae's voice was angry, commanding and deep.

Deeper than any voice Anya had ever heard before. His voice grabbed hold of her.

She looked at Tae and saw his determination. This was obviously something he felt strongly on. All those times of talking to his hyungs made him think she would prefer them over Tae.

Meanwhile Jin narrowed his eyes, assessing the tiger. Seeing the continuous growls coming from him, seeing the anger and frustration shinning in his eyes, seeing his body tight, ready to pounce, he looked at Anya.

Anya understood the silent permission Jin was asking from her.

Afterall, these two were also his pack, his responsibility. And Anya too wanted to see this.

Nodding once, she acquiesced.

Jin stepped inside the room.

At once Jungkook growled at him and moved closer to Anya, gently encircling her in his arms, while Tae.... Tae became silent.

Like a switch being flipped, Tae's silence became loud, contrasting completely with his focused deadly stare, aimed at Seokjin.

He moved himself in front of Anya, his back to her, facing Jin and said in his unnaturally low and deep voice, "You are not taking her away Hyung. Go. Back."

Both of them crowded her, with their complete focus on Jin. They were protecting her, as well as claiming her as their own.

Their desire for the conversation, their yearning for their Master, their longing for her to understand them, superseding the deep-rooted conditioning, to make their baser, true personality break through.

At this moment, faced with the threat of their Hyung, yet again taking someone they craved, someone they hungered to feel her love from, away from them, tipped all the emotions they possessed to one side of their scale, prompting their Wild Animalistic side to claw in fore front.

Anya was overjoyed!

This was something even she did not dream to be possible this early!

It meant they TRULY wanted to talk to her, let her know their side. It was important to them.

In their life, for the first time, something was so important that it shattered their compulsion for a while. She was important to them.

However, these rogue emotions were good to have made an appearance but she knew that this state was not be encouraged for a long time.

The emotions riding them hard right now were all strong but negative. If they settled on it, then the only times they would successfully break their compulsion would be if they felt these things again.

Anger, possessiveness, jealousy, hurt, helplessness or frustration.

Anya would never allow her sweet hybrids to be subjected to the whims of the burns and stings of the corrosive sentiments as the crutch to be used for becoming normal.

Their action inspired Hope in her, but it was time to put a check on it.

Jungkook kept growling threateningly, holding her within his embrace but facing Jin. His hold on her was loose enough that she could turn to look at Jin.

Jin was focused on both of them, but his eyes were sparkling brighltly in amusement and happiness. He was extremely happy seeing his submissive little brothers acting in this manner.

As he made eye contact with Anya, his eyes smiled at her, recognizing the mirrored emotions shinning from her gaze too.

"Don't." Taehyung's voice registered even lower. He lowered his head and lifted his body, his frame crouching properly, his gaze steady and focused as he threatened further, "Don't look at her."

Curling his lips up in a growl, his entire body became still as a statue, only his tail lazily swayed, "Go. Back."

Anya nodded at Jin.

Jin understood as he straightened up. Before her eyes, his entire demeanor changed.

Gone was the easy going and polite hybrid she knew. Standing before her was a dangerous dominant animal. His body tensed up as his expression darkened, even though he was the same, somehow he looked huge.

His eyes had no compassion in them, dark eyelashes framing the orbs with the gaze highlighting the keen focus of the eagle that he was.

His aura radiated an tamed wildness, a force that could not be controlled.

He growled at Tae, the sound low and menacing. The vibe reaching out to smother all of them in a chilling sense of standing without any protection in front of someone lethal.

"Taehyung." Was all he said. His usually pleasant silver voice roughened and deep.

Deadly.

Immediately, both Taehyung and Jungkook snapped, coming back to their senses. With a horrified gasp, Tae sat back on the bed and looked down while Jungkook's hold of her loosened further, tremors running through his hands.

Anya understood that Jungkook could not decide what to do. Coming to his senses to find himself being so openly aggressive to the Master he wanted to please, and now not knowing should he let go or keep holding on.

Anya hid a smile.

"Hyung. Sorry." Taehyung whimpered in a low voice.

Jin, instantly smiled, relaxing his posture, yet again changing back to the persona that she was well acquainted with.

The way he manipulates his own personality, does he know how very close to the surface his animal side is? Does he know that the Code that he has, no matter which, is a part of him which is so integral, that in just a few days its steadily surfacing?

Anya was aware of it. And she had a feeling that her Eagle was aware of it too, but did not speak on it.

That was good for her. The one truth that she was fast realizing was that the more in touch Jin would get with his base personality, the more easier it would be on her to take care of the other hybrids.

She knew she could depend on Jin. His wildness, his dominance was well established among the pack she had.

The only problem she would have in the future that she anticipated was the day Jin would turn his Wildness, his desires on her. The day he would confidently want her attention.

The day he would openly show her his affections.

Would she be able to handle him then?

Shaking off that thought, Anya looked at Jin.

That day was still a long way in the future. Long, long way.

She smiled as she nodded at him, and Jin understood it yet again without her having to put her thoughts into words.

He understood because he felt the same. He was not offended. Just the opposite.

"I'll come by once I have finished my conversation with them. Before that, if Park comes with the information that I requested, then take it and keep it safe." Anya told him.

Jungkook, who was holding her, momentarily tightened his grip as he heard her.

She was still staying with them.

Even though his Hyung had clearly come to collect her. Even though it was blatantly clear that she preferred the company of his hyungs more than them, she was still going to stay.

Because she had promised to hear them out.

"Thankyou." He whispered softly to her, his fears and frustrations dying down a bit. He could relax a bit now that he knew he did not have to hurry to keep her attention otherwise fearing she might get fed up and leave before they could explain.

Jin nodded and smiled at them, "Take your time kits." He gently said, as he turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

"You can let go now Jungkook." Anya said with an amused smile.

Jungkook scrambled back to his original position as soon as he heard her. Tae too crawled back to sit beside Kook.

"I am listening." She gently prompted them.

The promise was there. But in order to bring about the change in the right manner, she needed to proceed in the right manner. The first step towards it was to understand their perspective.

Tae hesitated, then gathered his courage to speak softly, "Firstly, Thank you for letting this transgression go. We really want to speak with you Master, can you please give us the permission to talk in a manner we can freely speak in?"

Anya wrinkled her brows at the request.

"Please." Jungkook's doe eyes looked directly at her beseechingly.

Who would say no to those eyes?

She consented.

Gracing her with a smile, both the wild cats got out of the bed.

Puzzled, Anya just looked at them

Both of them rounded the bed to reach its front, then gracefully went down on their knees. Folding their legs and crossing them at their ankles, they sat back on their heels on the floor. Both their palms flat on their thighs, head bent, eyes downcast.

The official position of a well trained slave.

Anya hated it.

But if the posture helped them talk, then she would tolerate it.

And it seemed to help. Jungkook and Taehyung both relaxed. At ease completely since the time she had come in to see them.

Chewing on her lips, she moved on the bed to sit directly above them, hanging her legs off the bed, while sitting on its edge, knowing that is what they wanted.

"Master." Taehyung said.

"Master." Jungkook smile was clear in his voice.

Taehyung spoke first on both of their behalf.

"Before you Master, we went through the days as we were instructed to do. Honestly, that is the only lifestyle we know. We were comfortable in the daily routine, simply existing to please whoever we were serving. At night when we returned back to our cells, without knowing the reason to, we would cry. Each night. Every time. We never knew why. The emotions of the whole day would overwhelm us, unidentified, and we would let it out as tears."

Anya took a deep breath. They felt used. They felt the abuse. But their compulsion confounded them enough that they could not identify what they felt.

"One day, Jin hyung said, he wanted to go to you. The next day, we were bought. We were finally owned. Something we never even thought could be possible. We were happy and scared."

Jungkook picked up next, "That night, we met you and you were nothing like anyone we had met." He kept his head bowed, still, his voice carried a lightness with it. "That night, you talked with us, the way no Master should. You clothed us, gave us respect that we do not deserve. You soothed our hyung, joked with us, the way that no hybrid has experienced. Then, you made us a bed. A bed that was soft, clean. Comfortable. Added to that you kept a light on for me."

His voice took on a tone of reverence. Although Jungkook's tall frame was folded in a perfect kneeling position, his voice at least, had no hint of servitude in it.

His words, were completely a different matter.

"For the first time in over 20 years, we smiled at night. We did not cry. And it was the night we were owned. The night we became yours."

Something about the sentence, maybe the way he said it with his golden voice, or the words, caused a her to choke up. The thought of her being able to give them a night, a simple night with a mediocre mattress on the floor, squished with others in the light of a solitary lamp, that night, being special to two pure souls, made her swallow her tears. That mediocre night was something they treasured, for the simple reason of it being remembered for the lack of their pain. Their tears.

Something that should be normal, was extraordinary to them.

How much had they suffered??

"You gave us that present on our first night Master. You gave us something very precious." Jungkook said with a smile.

Anya closed her eyes to stop her tears.

"Then, you fed us. You took us to the place you eat. You- you" Taehyung stopped to clear his throat, "You fought for us. Protected us. Cherished us. And we melted. We melted Master."

"Did you know that we were labelled as the perfect hybrids?" Jungkook suddenly asked her, lifting his head to look at her. His expression nostalgic but clear.

Anya shook her head in answer.

Nodding, his eyes happy he answered, "We are the best. Our obedience in commendable. As such we always dreamed about something. In the nights when we cried, when we wanted to stop, we dreamed. We dreamed the things that would be our ultimate wish. Our fantasy."

The suspicion of the direction the conversation was taking, made Anya feel a bout of Déjà vu.

Taehyung lifted his head at her. His face composed in a handsome smile, his eyes, drawing her in.

"We dreamed of being owned. We dreamed that our Master would love us. We dreamed of being with our hyungs for life. We dreamed of our Master Marking us."

There it was.

Anya was fast coming to understand that this was an important point to unravel their Personalities. Their desire of the Marks was too strong.

"That Mark would be a visible, irrefutable proof to us, to our eyes, of the promise from our Master. Of the promise of being liked enough that we would not be shared. Of being a favourite, of being a hybrid, that our Master would never leave. That-that-" Taehyung struggled.

"That we are not replaceable. That we mattered. Our existence mattered" Jungkook completed for him.

Said simply, the statement was devastating.

That statement, also made everything clear to her.

The compulsion had been strong on them. By logic, they should not be feeling anything, no emotions, no pain, no sadness. But their Codes were strong enough that the compulsion never truly settled in. But it did take root in them.

They in turn, internalized their Codes, their dominant sides and attached it to a dream they shared. A dream that they thought about whenever they felt emotions, when they cried. When their base dominance tried to overrule the conditioning.

Their Codes, got attached to the dream.

The dream, eventually became a sense of security for them. A promise.

But more than that, Anya suspected, the dream also became the key which could unlock their Codes.

If that was the case, then she was screwed.

Taehyung's face reflected a long ago held bitterness, "But we knew, the dream was exactly what it was. A dream. Until." His gaze snapped to her.

His aura changed as he became serious. His mesmerizing eyes held her captive as he slowly raised himself on his knees and walked on them towards her, never once looking away.

He reached her and then hesitantly stretched his arms out. Slowly, he laid his head on her lap, settling down, while his arms hugged her legs. His head turned sideways on her thighs, his ears flicking casually with his tail curled around her, he softly exhaled and said, "Until you bought us Master."

Jungkook came closer too. Still on his knees, he looked at her with a soft smile, "We could dream again. Because you promised us with your actions, that you loved us. You told us, that we only belonged to you. We understand that you want to take us home before Marking us, and we are thankful of that as well. Something as intimate as the promise between the Master and her hybrids is sacred. It should not be shared."

Umm.... They still thought she would mark them once they reached home? In the light of the realizations she had, could she absolutely turn it down?

"We know that you don't like slaves, we know that you treasure freedom, we know you want us strong, but Master, that is exactly who we aren't." Taehyung murmured in her lap.

Anya reached out to gently brush his hair, her touch gentle as she soothed him.

"Still, we will try. We will try to overcome what we are. It will take time Master. But we promise to do it. But. We- we are stumbling on something. Both me and Kookie talked about it. and we realized something." Taehyung said in a soft voice.

Clearing his throat, Jungkook drew her attention.

"We are used to the way of being a slave. More than that, the affection we desire, the reassurance that we garner, is in the language of what we know. Sometimes only that way of things reaches us."

Not understanding him, Anya asked, "Meaning?"

Taehyung tensed in her lap. He drew back from her, sitting back on his heels again, his tail still curled around her legs. His expression was blank, he said, "We will try to overcome what holds us back, but will you please reach us halfway too?"

"I am not understanding what you are asking of me."

"Treat us like we are used to." Jungkook said bluntly.

Anya cocked her head at that. "No."

Taehyung went to speak but Anya put up her hand.

"I get what you are trying to ask me, but sweetheart," she reached down to cup both of their faces in her palms, bringing them closer, to gently touch her forehead to both of theirs. Both of them closed their eyes, savouring the contact. The three of them remained a bit like that, close, intimate.

"Sweetheart, let me think about how to make you happy. Understand that your happiness is my responsibility now." She whispered the words to them.

"Both of you belong to me. So does your pain, your sadness, your frustrations. Its not just your body that I own, its your helplessness, your dreams and your hope. And what I own, I always protect. My promise to you will always remain steady. Like the breeze in the sky, invisible, but always present."

She hugged both of them, "Never again will anyone touch you, Never again will I let anyone sully even a single thought you have. The silent tears that you have stored in your hearts, the doubts that you riddle yourself with, those are the things I will destroy. You will never again have to think about pleasing someone, or getting praised for being good. You are mine. Mine. The days of the past will not be a part of your future."

Tears tracked down the cheeks of Jungkook and Taehyung as the tiger Brokenly whispered back, "Don't. Don't give us hope if you don't mean it."

Anya pulled back but got down on the floor with them. She waited until both of them opened their eyes to look at her.

"I will give you your Mark."

A beat of silence before huge smiles graced their face.

Jungkook's face reminded her of a small happy boy while Tae... Tae's boxy smile, his smile provided the perfect example of the definition of innocence.

Eyes bright with tears, both of them lunged at her.

"However, there are some conditions." She resolutely stated.

Pausing a bit, they looked at her and nodded before knowing it.

They were desperate for the Mark, weren't they?

Anya stood up and sat down on the bed again.

"I understand that your conditioning runs deep. As such, your wants and desires will, for the time being, reflect it. I will give you all of my patience until the times comes. But in turn, you need to understand something.

Learn a truth, burn it in your souls. If you are a slave, you are a slave only to me. Me and no one else. No one. Without any exceptions. You will obey on one else. Will not let anyone else touch you."

She looked at them, making sure that they understood the importance of her statement.

Eyes a little cloudy, they still nodded. The clarity slowly burning away their doubts and questions.

"To anyone else, you are a Tiger and a Panther. Someone who can change forms."

"But Master we cannot." Tae said

"You will be able to. I will remove your collars as soon as we go home."

Jungkook and Taehyung blinked rapidly, digesting that information.

"If ever, you have a feeling, a misunderstanding, something on your mind, directly ask me. Ask. Never bottle it up. If I am not around, ask your Hyungs. Learn to lean on them during situations you find awkward. They will never steer you wrong."

Nods of assent.

"As for the acts such as the position you took up for pleasing me when I came in? sweetheart, your smiles will make me happier than any other action in this world. So if you truly want to please me, be happy. And trust me."

"We do." Both answered together.

Anya smiled at them, "Then will you follow the conditions?"

"Yes."

Okay.

She could not pull them out of the way they were, but she sure could coax them out. Make them feel secure. And also, ask them to work, to grow on their Codes on people other than her.

Jungkook smiled happily at her. He was pleased of the way the morning had turned out to be. Master had heard them, their concerns. Understood them. Given them the promise of the Mark and above all else, made them feel that their position, that their presence, was equally important to her. Just like his hyungs. And that was a beginning he could work with.

Happy though he was, something in him had stirred when he felt her love. His life was hers, she had promised him something elusive today. Happiness. Jungkook wanted to give back to her too. Give back in a way he knew.

A way, he was well known for.

He would please his Master, in the way he was most proficient at. He promised himself.

Taehyung felt the same way. He was delighted that he was a part of the pack. A pack that she equated in equal terms.

But.

Taehyung also felt another emotion. The emotion which lingered since he had confronted Jin hyung. A wildness in him that he understood was dormant for now. Sleeping. But could awaken any second he felt she could be taken from him. Could awaken, if he thought her to be displeased or hurt.

And that unknown darkness inside of him, scared him.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

HYBRIDS:-

"Will she really Mark them? Just them? Not us?" Jimin whispered to Hobi.

Currently, Hobi, him and Yoongi were crouched down on the open panel of the hidden door, listening in on what was happening in the other room.

"Why would she? No one is fond of spying creeps." Namjoon calmly said back at the trio while he and Jin hyung studied the papers called X Rays on the bed.

"We are not spying!! We are just keeping watch!!" Jimin hotly defended their actions.

"Tell yourself that. Can you shut the door now?" Jin kept on studying the Films, comparing the picture to his own hand. He completely ignored the trio of idiots who were unfortunately a part of his pack.

"We are observing." Hobi said as he pushed back both Yoongi and Jimin by their faces and smoothly shut the door.

"Ooomf!"

"Watch it!"

Came their protests.

"But seriously, will she Mark only them? I want her Mark too" Hobi whined as he came towards where Namjoon and Jin were sitting.

A sudden painful smack on the back of his head made him wince.

"We all want it you slithering pipe." Yoongi walked by him to lie down on the bed.

Grumbling at the rough treatment he just received from his hyung, he fell back on the bed they had made.

"The Mark might not be like a Mark we know or want. Master has a thing of doing the unexpected. So don't get your hopes high. For now, Let her come back and we will tell what we discussed."

"I want her Mark." Jimin said, completely ignoring Joon, then promptly complained, "Owwww hyung, what was that for??" as a pillow smacked him right on his face.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

ANYA :

"Wait. So you want to go down to your cell one last time before leaving?" Anya clarified the request which was made to her by the rest of the hybrids when she came back with Taehyung and Jungkook.

"Yes. That was our prison for a long time. A place that we loathe. A place we will never go back to again. We want to say goodbye to it." Hoseok explained.

Anya was touched by the trust they placed on her. They knew they would never go back there.

She also knew them pretty well. In these few days, she was the person who had witnessed each and every change taking place in their personality. So she was the only person who understood them.

Anya flicked a glance at the X Rays lying on her bed and the impressions of bodies surrounding it.

She lifted one eyebrow at them and drawled, "You know, Wilson will not be down there."

Namjoon immediately coughed a little in his hands, while Jin cleared his throat.

My hybrids want a little harmless revenge, don't they? Bloodthirsty already.

"No- Master... hehehehe you got it all wrong." Jimin giggled a little. The laugh was, 100% fake. Painfully so.

"We really want to see the room." Joon said with an innocent face

"It holds memories-"

"It's a part of our past-"

"We just wanted-"

"There were guards other than Wilson who tortured us. They will be there." Yoongi's voice cut through the middle of the others. Calmly stating the real reason behind the visit without flinching.

Joon, Jimin and Hobi sighed at his bluntness.

Jin remained quiet.

While Jungkook and Taehyung stared.

That's my Jaguar.

Smiling at Yoongi, she looked at his dark eyes and said, "I don't want any bloodshed."

An answering smile of delight presented itself on Yoongi's face, "Everything beside that?"

Laughing now she replied, "Is allowed."

"Awesome." Jimin said.

"No. we will not do whatever we want." Namjoon physically restrained an excited Jimin from jumping about. Turning to her he vowed, "I'll keep them in check Master. We just want to-" he hesitated.

"Show off a bit?" Anya asked teasingly.

Smiling widely at her tone, Hoseok winked at her, "Just a bit."

Shaking her head, Anya summoned Peter and Jackson, "They want to go to their cells one more time before leaving. Let them take the lead."

"Ah. Okay. Got it." Jackson understood at once and Peter nodded.

Someone tugged on her sleeves from the side, "Can I stay with you? I am hungry Master." Jungkook looked at her with wide eyes.

"Me too. Am hungry too." Jin sided with Jungkook.

Anya was amazed that Jin did not want to go. More amazed she was at the fact that Taehyung, quietly joined the crowd who were going.

Apparently, she was not the only one who noticed it.

"Tae? You want to come along?" Jimin asked, surprised.

Taehyung stood tall and looked at his friend, "I have only one Master. The rest all should know me as a Tiger. I have no one to fear. But they need to know that."

Well, That was quick. Her words seemed to have made a big impression on him. Either that or he was hungry for his Mark.

"I should go too hyung..... but..... I am too hungry." Jungkook slightly pouted.

Jin came from behind to hug his shoulders, "Time enough for that later Kookie, let's eat with Master for now. She herself has not had any breakfast yet."

Observant Eagle.

Jin met her eyes by accident. For just a glimpse, Anya noticed his naked desire. Just for a glimpse. It was quickly replaced with a genuine warm smile.

Jin liked her. Maybe loved her, cared for her, but his dark desire for her was equally strong. He just did a better job of controlling it.

What would she do on the day his control splintered?

"You can come with us Master." Jimin suddenly came to her to bend down and kiss her head. Before she could reply back,

"No. Master will not like to see what used to happen to us. Don't add to the reason of her unhappiness Jimin." Joon's clear voice rang out.

Joon, knew her feelings for them.

He never knew it himself, when he had started caring for her. Knowing her. Protecting her feelings in the way she did theirs.

"Oh. No no. Master should never be unhappy because of me. She should only have two emotions when dealing with me. Being happy is definitely one of them." Jimin murmured to her.

Raising her brow she asked, "Second?"

His smile turning positively rakish, the flirtatious snake bent down more to kiss her ears and whisper, "Sexually pleasured of course."

"Okay Reptile, we are going." Yoongi reached out to pluck the incorrigible, mischievous hybrid from before her, pulling him back, while sighs from all directions were heard in response to what Jimin had said.

Anya genuinely laughed again. The foundation of the pack, was already strong. They were easily bonding in that capacity.

"I need you all to do something for me too." She asked them.

"Hmm?" Hoseok came up to her and reached up to tuck a strand of hair back behind her ears.

"Provoke them to the extent they can't tolerate. Make them angry."

"So as to know if there is any other device or way still with them that can control us? A hidden controller or microchip?" Namjoon caught on to her thoughts accurately.

She smiled wide yet again, "Spot on."

Hobi leaned in to leave a feather light kiss on her forehead, "That will be fun for us."

She nodded at them to proceed.

"Take care."

"Always."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

HYBRIDS :

"This should be gold! I am loving this! Its been sometime since we have had such situations. Nowadays Anya simply resolves things strategically before any confrontations can rise. It was boring for so long!" Jackson piped up as he walked along with Peter behind the hybrids.

"True." Peter agreed.

"Meaning?" Joon asked him.

They were going through the Mansion, heading towards the basement while Master, Jin and Jungkook stayed back to have some lunch and call up Master's brother and also to finalize all other arrangements left for them to go home.

"She has this.. you can say, Gift? She can read people really well. Observes them and knows. Or from their behaviour pattern. Whenever she feels like someone may act up on a certain issue, she already takes steps to subdue them. So the confrontation, just never takes place." Jackson explained to Joon as they reached the corridor with stairs leading down from the Mansion.

"She chooses to let a situation fester enough for it to come to pass only when she wants to make an example of it. That or if she is bored." Peter continued.

"And well, she is rarely bored." Jackson called out as skipped down the stairs.

Clasping Joon's shoulder with his hand, Peter said, "There will come plenty of examples. You will see once we go home."

That statement, coming from this man, made the future even more solid for Joon. It was within their reach. Going home. Leaving this place.

The excitement was tangible. Just a few hours. Just a few hours in this hell and then....

Then they would all leave.

Leave to go settle and live.

Live. Truly live.

An acute longing wrapped around Joon, making him stumble on the stairs, only for Taehyung to reach out and steady him.

He wanted to run there. To that dreamy future. At the same moment, he wanted to savour this feeling, this anticipation.

Wanted to engrave this feeling in his heart forever.

The hours before his life changed.

A life with a home, rooms, beds, no collars, laughter, pack, friends, Peter, Jackson.

And,

Her.

His Master.

"Not now Joon. Other than what we wanted, we need to do what Master requested us to." Yoongi quietly said to the Wolf hybrid, correctly guessing his line of thoughts.

It was easy to do so. He himself was thinking the same.

"Right. Sorry Hyung." Joon shook himself mentally from the fluffy daydream. Time enough for it later.

Yoongi waved a hand, dismissing the apology.

He was keenly looking forward to what they were doing right now.

They all reached the huge gate barring the basement. Would be better to call it dungeon, Hoseok thought.

Guarding it were two of Park's men.

"Remember, Anya asked you all to take the lead. We are here only In case you need help." Jackson whispered.

This was the gate they had always seen. The gate which would open to admit them all in after the day was over. When they were at their weakest. Their hollowest. Seeing the gate would crush him more, Hobi recalled. Just seeing this gate would add to the weight already crushing his soul.

But right now? A sense of thrill zinged through him. This was something that would never again be in front of his eyes again.

He had ALREADY left this place.

This place would never rope him in it again. All his attachments forcing him in it night after night were gone.

He strode forward to the guards who stood up immediately.

Yes Master, this will really be fun. No bloodshed was required. Their expressions would be balm enough on all of their wounds. Thank you for it.

"Open the gates." He commanded.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

ANYA:

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SIC THE ONES YOU CANT CONTROL OVER TO ME????? ESPECIALLY THAT LUNATIC OF A WOMAN!!!!!! I AM NOT, I REPEAT NOT INVITING HER FOR ANY SORT OF DINNER!!!!"

Anya held her cellphone quite a distance away from her ear, holding it at arm's length. Her brother's scream was still rather distinctly heard, as she forked up some noodles and ate them. Jin and Jungkook were equally busy with their Lunch, opting again for the steak.

They were all sitting on the make shift bed, since they figured it would not be used again.

Anya had called her brother to keep him up to date with the events happening in the Mansion.

She had just completed her encounter with Jennifer when Suhan burst forth like a dormant Volcano.

Well, she already knew this would be his reaction.

"Will you just calm down? I just made an excuse. I am not pushing you to actually-"

"OH REALLY!?!?! THAT WAS THE SAME THING YOU SAID BEFORE MAKING ME GO ON A DATE WITH THAT VAPID SHALLOW COUGAR JUST BECAUSE YOU WANTED HER DISTRACTED WHILE YOU SNOOPED THROUGH HER FINANCIALS!!!! I HAD TO SPEND 4 HOURS WATCHING SUNSET WITH HER!!! I MEAN????? 4 HOURS ON A DAMN MEDOW BEING GRABBED ON BY A WOMAN TWICE MY AGE WHILE I HAD TO PLAY NICE!!!!! REMEMBER THAT?????"

Ah. That.

"Well. It was needed was it not? Her financials revealed that her asset was actually a scam and she had a sudden influx suggesting she was either stealing or had the investors who were involved--"

"THAT'S NOT MY POINT!!!!!"

Jin had long given up on his food and was laying back laughing. He found the exasperation of her brother too damn funny to ignore. He was slowly understanding that the Angel that they perceived, was a huge brat when it came to her brother. A brother, Jin quickly grasped on, who she loved dearly.

"Oof I was out of options at that point. I had to consider Jennifer's father too. The only way to defuse the situation before she blew up was to tempt her with something that she found equally desirable! You should have seen her Suhan, even Peter thought she looked utterly Unhinged."

"Great! The only way to calm down an unhinged woman was to divert her lunacy towards me!"

"Oh come on let it go already! More important things to consider here!" Anya said, her words barely understandable, as she chewed on her food while talking.

For some reason, Jungkook found the entire exchange, utterly charming. This was the real Master. He could see the real her.

Bratty, teasing, loving, warm and open.

A huge sigh was easily heard by all three in the room, "If It comes to pass, if I have to have dinner, I am dragging you by your hair to suffer it with me."

"HEY!" Anya protested.

"AHA! SEE I KNEW IT!! YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY SET UP A DINNER!"

"FINE! If that happens, I'll go to! Now can we discuss the important things??"

Grumbling lowly for a while, her brother released another sigh, "I can understand what is the underlying problem. It's clear."

"So what I suspected is something that you can see too?" Anya asked.

"Hmmm. We need to know everything about her."

Anya nodded even if her brother could not see it, "I thought so to."

"Mrs. Han."

"I have asked all the transactions and every single tidbit that Park has on her. I'll get it in roughly, an hour."

"We need more than that. Her new Husband, I know nothing about him. And not just that, i need a guestlist of the event. All names."

"Ask Ye Jun. She can help you in that matter. Park and Jackson know everyone too. But, why?" Anya asked.

"You just openly showed one of your weak points Anya. Your hybrids are your vulnerability and you established that fact. Naturally everyone will target that to reach you." Suhan's amused voice answered back.

Giving an irritated snort Anya sat back, "Why don't they stop trying? Don't they understand that they will never succeed?"

A rich laugh came from the other side, "Power is the biggest aphrodisiac to exist little sis. The pull of that drug is something no one can resist. Besides, why are you so annoyed? You did it for exactly this purpose."

Anya smiled. Her brother knew her thoroughly. "Guilty as charged."

"I get it though. Been a long time since we reminded people to stay wise and keep away. The person in your event was a good example. Am impressed."

Jungkook and Jin had finished their meals and had carefully stacked their plates on the tray.
Jungkook shyly came to her and put his head on her lap, face towards her belly, he snuggled in, curled his body around hers and closed his eyes.

Jin on the other hand, went behind her, to gently massage her shoulders and neck.

Anya tried to protest, "Its nothing Master. I'll stop in a few minutes."

It felt too good to protest again. His large strong hands were contrastingly gentle on her tired muscles. She decided to enjoy the sensations.

"Ji-young's tale reached even to you?"

Suhan laughed loudly at that, "Oh Anya.. you know that kind of gossip is wilder and faster than a forest fire. What a dumb guy. Did he not understand that you saying his secrets out loud was when his game was over? The gossip has already reached his brother."

Anya chuckled, "Dumb. That he definitely is."

Clearing his throat, Suhan became serious, "About your hybrids. I know you haven't told me who or what breed they are, but knowing you, i am pretty certain you chose hybrids with broken conditioning? Are there any of the 7 you own that are completely conditioned?"

Jin's hand stopped while Jungkook looked up from her lap to her, his fuzzy black ears twitching up top his head.

She reassuringly rubbed his soft ears gently as she answered her brother.

"I have 2 hybrids."

"Completely conditioned?"

"Umm... not completely. But yes."

Silence stretched out for a while. Junkook looked at her with anxiety.

"Well, in a way its still a miracle that you could actually get 5 broken compulsion hybrids. In a place like that, i think it was a long shot as it is." Suhan said at last.

"Trust me I know. They are the only ones. And the funniest part is that it was fate that we met." Anya chuckled.

"Still, you need to shelter the 2 hybrids from the rest. You are no doubt being scrutinised for what we discussed earlier. Presenting weak hybrids will give them a visible soft spot to plan any strategy to attack you through them."

Fear filled Jungkook's eyes at what he heard. He could be responsible for Master's well being? His conditioning??

Anya leaned down to kiss the tip of his nose, quieting his fears.

"I know that already. They are being sheltered by me and the pack. Anyways its just the matter of a few hours. I will be leaving today."

"Waiting for Park? Wait by the way, why did Park say yes so easily? To give you the papers and info?" Suhan asked.

I am sooo not telling him about the Codes now. Nopes. Better I pack the punch with the identity of the snake hybrids. Well crap. Telling him a snake was unclassified?

Nervous laughter escaped her, "I'll tell you later." And also, "Suhan, keep Wilson in your care will you? Don't do anything. I want my hybrids to be present for that."

"Okay. About the other guard. Play along."

"I know that Suhan. Seriously do you take me to be a rookie? Glean all info you can on him"

"Okay. Meanwhile, Uncle called."

Joy filled her, "Oh really? Will he come to visit? He will be so damn proud of my hybrids!!" Anya gushed at that.

Then paused. Paused because Suhan had paused at what she said.

"Why does hearing that make me fill with dread? What breeds did you get Anya?" knowing who their Uncle was, making him proud was ......... different.

Nah.. Nopes.. not yet.

"Suhan, just come back safely and we'll talk. I need to prepare a bit and i'll get back to you, okay?"

"Oh no you don't. Anya, answer me!"

Just then thankfully, a guard knocked. Jin got up to open the door. Listening to the guard, he closed the door and faced her again.

He mouthed to her what the guard told him. Anya nodded as she said to her brother, "I need to go Suhan. Apparently I have a visitor."

"Who?"

"Mrs. Han."

"Interesting." Suhan drawled.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

HYBRIDS :

All the guards in the dungeon were quite aware of the hybrids they housed. Especially the ones to look out for. As soon as the guards manning the gate had seen a Python hybrid demanding admittance, with another snake close behind him, they had the gate opened in a matter of minutes without any words.

While the group had entered, both the guards flinched away from Jimin. The tales of the ceremony, it seemed, had reached everyone here.

Yoongi quietly observed the behavior of the guards.

The whole basement had different sections. The one in which they were headed to were the ones with the cells. A different part having the torture rooms. The guards here called it the training rooms.

Yoongi kept his eyes on every guard as they passed. Their group, was not stopped even once. He observed the fear in the eyes.

His motive was actually aligned with what Master had silently hinted at. He needed to see if the guards here were afraid of them due to the status they now acquired belonging to Kim Anya, were they only afraid of the snake hybrids in attendance, or were they also afraid of seeing them individually.

If the fear stemmed due to the latter, then he needed to know. Because if someone was out of place with absolute fear of them, it would only mean that some knew about their Codes.

Master would need to know if it occurred.

Namjoon too kept scanning the place, noting their expressions, cataloguing everything.

The group of hybrids, confidently moved forward through the corridors of a place where other of their kinds were still imprisoned, guarded by humans who called themselves masters. Trailing behind them, Jackson and Peter were shadows. Present but mute.

Recognition hit the yes of every guard they passed. Some had anger filling their eyes, while some were terrified. Either way, they were still wise enough not to engage.

The group reached the end of the corridor where their cells were situated. As soon as they rounded the curve, 3 guards looked up from their position. All three were Wilson's friend. Together, those 4 were the ones responsible for the training of the pack.

Upon seeing them, the three guards quickly came to block them.

"What the fuck are you doing here walking about with no cuffs and head up?" one of the guards shouted at them.

They knew what had happened to Wilson, and they did not like it. Even among the employees of Park, responsible for the training of hybrids, a tight bond of friendship had developed between the four.

The guards looked up at Peter and Jackson, only to find them silent and completely distant. It was beyond clear that they would not get involved.

"We came to see our cells. Open them. We will be done in a few minutes. We'll leave after that." Namjoon said placidly.

"Did you just command us, you filthy mutt!!" another guard screeched at them.

Yoongi turned a little to look at Peter and Jackson. They stood expressionless.

Yoongi smiled coldly at that. Turning back, he felt a dark humor twisting his mind. The guards in front thought Anya's security wanted them to punish the hybrids. Little did they understand that Anya's security were simply here to reel the hybrids back if they went far.

They were motionless not for the amusement of the guards.

They were motionless for the amusement of the hybrids.

A guard charged up to them and swung his baton at Hobi, who easily reached out to grip the wrist with the baton, bruising it badly in his grasp while he pushed the guard back till he collided with the rough wall. Wrapping his other hand on the guard's neck, Hobi lifted him off the ground, choking the man.

His handsome face serious, dark hair falling on his forehead, he narrowed his preternatural eyes while he smirked at the man who was struggling with one hand to claw away at Hobi's grip on his neck. To draw some air, to breathe.

"Look at that." He muttered wickedly, "A human struggling in the grasp of a Python. Do you think you can escape?"

"LET GO OF HIM!" another guard shouted at him. Then looked at the security they had come with. Surely they would control the Python. Surely they would subjugate him for their employer.

The guard looked at Peter and Jackson. They were completely disinterested in what was going on. One of them yawned while the other was playing with his cellphone.

A chill went down the guard's spine. They were on their own with these Hybrids. Without any controller of their collar.

Hobi turned around to smirk at the Guard, "Why should I?"

"Oh look Hyung, he is turning blue!" Jimin pointed out, delighted at the scene. He came close to them, "Fascinating."

"Hobi" Yoongi drawled out in his deep voice, sounding bored.

Hobi let go of the guard who started wheezing and coughing immediately, breathing in gulps of air in his oxygen deprived lungs.

Yoongi went forward towards the remaining guards.

"Open the doors."

The anger that the guard felt at that moment, touched a point that was incomparable in his life. These were the filthy animals that they had kept beneath their shoes. Had beaten or fucked when they wanted to. How dare they come at them in the manner they were, just because they were owned now?

The guard knew of what had happened in the ceremony. But this was different. No matter what, Kim Anya would understand. In the ceremony, her hybrids were touched unprovoked. But right now, they had given him a cause. Their insolence something that no owner would tolerate.

This kind of behaviour was dangerous and unacceptable for Kim Anya too. Beating her hybrids would be a favour to her. Something she would be thankful for. The guard was sure, they would be rewarded.

Because after all, Even Kim Anya wanted Obedient hybrids. At the end of the day, she was a Master and these were her slaves.

Rage burning in his eyes, the guard grasped the hoodie of Yoongi, pulling him close as he spit out, "You are nothing but dirty slaves. Something to be used for us. You have an owner but that does not mean only she owns you. One word from us about your disobedience and you will suffer the consequence. Not only will she shock you, but maybe even give you to us to remind you of exactly who you are. Especially you, you maggot. Have you forgotten what we have done to you? How fucking dare you look at us?"

Yoongi calmly looked back at the guard, who had spit dribbling down from his mouth and veins bulging on his forehead. The man was furious it would seem.

A melodic laughter came from beside them, the sound so angelic, that even the guard snapped his head to look at the source.

Yoongi kept looking at him. He knew what the guard would see.

"You are so very clueless, aren't you?" Jimin's laugh though melodic, was ominous in the situation they were in.

His laugh stopped abruptly as he fixed the guard holding Yoongi with his gaze. His eyes were monstruous, clearly showing the lethal predator he was.

The guard turned back to Yoongi, to watch his dark gaze still fixed on him. No hint of fear, no hint of doubt. All that he saw in those dark orbs was his own reflection.

His reflection, tinged with trepidation.

"Open the door. Now." The jaguar commanded yet again.

"We will not repeat what we said." Hoseok slowly walked towards the remaining guard, his pace measured, his controlled viciousness apparent in his gait.

The other guard slowly backed away. He was the only one out of the three who recognized the threat which was real.

"SHUT UP YOU BASTARD!" the guard holding Yoongi lifted his other hand to punch him on his face.

Yoongi caught the fist in his hand.

"Foolish decision."

It was then that Yoongi smiled. The smile was coldly savage with his eyes burning into the guard's while he started crushing his fist.

The guard yelled and tried to hit out with his other hand, but Yoongi jerked the Guards fist hard and twisted his body to face away from Yoongi with the arm on his back. Yoongi pushed the captive arm higher on the guards back, making him arch and cry out again.

Yoongi combed his hair through the back of the guard's head and then grabbed a fistful of his hair to jerk back his head. At the same time he kicked hard on the back of his knees, which caused the guard to fall down hard, jarring his knees. His arm and head still in a painful hold of the Jaguar.

The guard that Hoseok had threatened got up and reached for the taser by his side.

But before he reached it, a strong arm grabbed his neck in a chokehold, while a savage punch was delivered to his back, potentially bruising his kidney.

The man shouted in pain falling forward but choking more in Namjoon's hold, who growled threateningly, "You keep making one mistake after the other."

Yoongi pulled back the head of the guard more acutely, making him cry, "All we asked was for you to open the door, did we not? You could have done that and we would have been gone in a few minutes." He said silkily. His voice in complete contrast to his violence.

The third guard rushed forward. "I'll open the door for you!"

"Look at that. Someone with common sense." Jimin mocked.

The pain both the guards were experiencing was more than what they could handle. It felt like their bones could break any moment. Resentment and anger were still burning strongly in their chest, but the pain overrode it.

"We are sorry. Forgive us." They gritted out. Their pride and ego shattered. "Let us go."

"No." a quiet voice rang out.

Taehyung.

Even the hybrids stopped a beat but they held their place. While the guards. Even the guards forgot about the condition they were in.

The most conditioned hybrid had spoken against the guards.

Taehyung walked forward to where everyone else was. His demeanor, calm. His steps, relaxed.

He reached up to the guard still painfully subdued by Yoongi, his body facing away from the jaguar, body unnaturally arched due to the hold on his head and arm on his back, kneeling on the ground.

Taehyung crouched down before him, getting on his level, facing him.

He looked straight in the guard's eyes without flinching. Without any emotions.

"You are someone who enjoyed our pain. Someone who amused themselves with us. Used us when you wanted to. Fucked us when you felt bored. Cut us when you wanted to hear our screams. Broke our bones when you wanted to know the sound of it. All of it was perfectly normal. Because we were unowned slaves."

Taehyung kept talking, his face still abnormally blank, his voice, curiously even.

"But now we are not. We are owned. You knew that, did you not?"

The guard was still in pain due to the vicious hold Yoongi had on his head, the pain in his arm overwhelming. But still, he got more scared of the hybrid in front of him

The vacant expression and tranquil voice of the hybrid contrasted exceedingly with the unflinching confidence he radiated. The hidden demonic wildness he emanated.

His danger was ruthlessly leashed, but extremely apparent.

His calm voice, stabbing him more than a thousand knives.

His serene eyes, so close to him, a nightmare.

"I belong only to Master. We are owned only by her, not you. Only she has the right to touch us, beat us, punish us, not you. Master hates it when we are touched by anyone else. Did you know that?"

The guard started whimpering. Taehyung seemed possessed. His words were frightening in the way he delivered them. His devotion to his Master, petrifying.

"You displeased her. And that is something we don't like. All we asked you to do was to open the door. Tell me, was it so difficult? Was it worth displeasing Master?"

"N-no-no no." the guard was openly crying now.

Taehyung sat close to the guard. Only a few inches separating them. He observed him blankly.

"You seem to think that you can go to complain to my Master about us. She will be bothered by you, to punish you. But she has a lot to do right now. So we will do that for her. You said you want Yoongi hyung to remember how he was used by you? Then let us make you experience what it feels like."

Taehyung quietly stood up and looked towards Namjoon. "Have this guard be used by the other." He suggested.

An unholy laugh filled the air as Hoseok coldly looked at the guards. A heartless smile slashing across his face, Jimin went forward to the guard in Joon's hold and jerked him forward. He tore away his trousers, getting rid of his undergarments too.

Joon walked the guard forward to the one who was still held in Yoongi's cruel hold.

"You seem to like abusing other hybrids in this way whenever it pleases you, don't you?" Jimin chuckled darkly at the protesting guard, trying to free himself from Joon's chokehold.

He jerked him even closer till his limp length touched the face of the guard still kneeling down in Yoongi's hold, whose face was red with horror. He was frantically shaking his head at what was happening.

"Make him cum in your mouth, or else..." Yoongi commanded, releasing his claws and placing it on his throat, near his carotid.

The third guard looked desperately at Peter and Jackson, "Please do something!"

Hearing that Peter called out, "I suggest you quickly do what they are saying. We don't have all day. Gosh what idiots." He groused at Jackson who went back to playing on his phone.

"Now." Yoongi's caustic voice rang out, while his claws on the guard's neck pressed deeper.

Drenched in his fear, blind with panic, out of his mind with horror, the guard opened his mouth and took the limp length of his collogue in his mouth and started to suck.

The guards were someone who freely used all hybrids sexually, raped them whenever they wanted. They were used to having hybrids giving them oral pleasure, even while the hybrid in question was broken, bleeding and on the verge of losing their consciousness.

As such, the stimuli of having being sucked was something familiar. Something that triggered the same reaction that happened so often to them.

Even in such a situation, even though the mouth was not of a hybrid, even with the pain in his body, the other guard got hard.

He moaned.

"Make it quick." Yoongi pressed his claws deeper. The guard instantly used both his hands on his friend, trying to make him cum faster. All ego, self-respect crumbled to dust.

He just wanted to survive.

The other guard moaned and groaned his enjoyment. Thrusting his hips forward. Reaching his peak quickly.

"Suck it all." Joon demanded in a dark voice.

In the completion of his utter humiliation, the guard, gulped down every single salty drop.

Disgusted at himself, humiliated grossly, he let out a pathetic wail. Falling down and curling up on himself at what had just happened to him.

He felt dirty. He felt filthy.

He felt broken.

Peter and Jackson smiled savagely. The taste of his own medicine was apparently bitter on the guard.

Taehyung turned to the third guard. The guard backed away from him, "I swear I did not touch you, I offered to open the door right away."

"But you used to, did you not?" Hoseok asked him in a low menacing voice.

"Do to him what he loves doing on other hybrids. Do it now and promptly and we will not touch anyone else." Jimin smoothly said.

The third guard was well aware of who Kim Anya was. He was also well aware that physically, none of the hybrids had caused any permanent damage. Nor had they violated them. As such, any complaints made would be easily dismissed by Kim Anya.

That is, if he could survive them.

He decided to obey. He obeyed, to avoid any consequences.

"No. No, Hoo-shik don't! Don't you dare." The guard who was still half naked warned in horror. His friend could not do that to him. He could not.

Joon growled deep. At once he shut up.

"Sit down. Why don't you get comfortable?" Hoseok asked pleasantly, his eyes holding a cruel spark.

Helplessly, the guard sat down. He closed his eyes. At that moment, he truly felt his actions. What he had done. The rapes, the assaults, the beating, the abuse. He was not angry. He was disgusted.

At himself.

He was miserable.

This is what he loved doing on countless other hybrids. Hell he loved making them drink it. He had done it to every hybrid he had ever met. But he never paused to ever wonder, what they felt.

He would know today.

The third guard came forward and unzipped his pants.

Aiming at his friend, he let him get soaked with his stream hot fluid.

When it was over, the guard fell down, sobbing at what he felt. The degradation cut deeper than a sword stabbed deep within his soul. He sobbed pathetically on the floor.

This was what the hybrids felt, he thought. This is what they felt.

"Open the door." Taehyung simply said to the third Guard.

He promptly opened both the doors.

Jimin, Tae, Joon, Hobi and Yoongi quietly left the guards behind and entered their dark, dank, cold cells.

This had been where they were kept. This was the cage that they thought was their home. This was the place where they deluded themselves of being safe.

This was the place where they dreamed. The place where they despaired. A dark room which represented their future.

This was the place they thought they would eventually die in.

A place which represented their life, their servitude.

A place that signified their utter misery. The soul rendering pain they had carried.

Yoongi smiled in the same place now. Smiled with genuine happiness. The room had represented their future, he had thought. How very wrong he was.

"We will never come back here." Taehyung's voice quivered when he spoke.

His friend turned to hug him, "No. this is the last time we are in it." Jimin whispered brokenly.

Namjoon and Hobi remained quiet, but they reached up to wipe their tears from their eyes, their lips stretched in a joyous smile.

"Lets prepare to go Home." Yoongi quietly murmured. Crouching down, he kissed his fingers and placed them on the hard cold ground. Making his final goodbye.

"Master is waiting." Joon whispered back. A rigid control on his emotions, he cast his gaze one last time in the cell, a place, he himself did not know, he despised to such an alarming extent.

Now that he had the promise, a strong promise of the vivid future he was granted, a miracle that was given to him, he understood how despondent he had been.

He had essentially given up on his life.

"We were given a chance, a wish, that no other hybrid in the world has. We need to always be worthy of having received it." Yoongi's low voice reached all 4 of them. "A fate which was unseen"

"We will be. We will make ourselves worthy of being hers." Jimin promised.

The hybrids turned away from the cells, turning their backs on the chapter of their past. They ignored the sniveling guards to go towards Peter and Jackson.

Peter smiled up at them, "Ready to leave?"

"Ready to go back to her." Joon answered.

Collectively, the group left the section, leaving the basement altogether.

The third guard just watched them go. Those hybrids were beyond dangerous now. Their compulsion completely eroded. And those violently brutal beasts willingly loved and obeyed a beautiful and ruthless woman.

Together, they were a group whose power was beyond infinity.

Together, they were a group whose savageness would make them rule others.

Woe befall the people who ever tried to go against them.

The future, for their enemies, was bleak indeed.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

ANYA:

Anya looked up after reading the message Peter had sent, describing all that had transpired in the basement. Her hybrids were right now in the cells.

She leaned back on the sofa and smiled.

Now that was what a higher Code was like.

Her hybrids were going in the right direction. It would not be long before they became like the person, she wanted them to be.

It wouldn't be long when they would be intelligent, cunning and ruthless like the person she wanted them all to be like.

It wouldn't be long, before they became just like her.

It wouldn't be long, before they became what she dreamed to be.

Her companions.

A family.

Her family.

Powerful, dangerous, wealthy, loving, clever and completely savage.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

A/N : 14.4k

Hopefully the psyche of Taehyung and Jungkook were made a bit clear. When someone is always made to believe a fact, abused beyond limits since childhood, breaking free by the victim is always hard. Their psychology deeply rooted to the lies their abuser made them believe.

Still, both of them will claw out of it.

How are you liking the hybrids slowly taking the form of their true natures?

Please do let me know about your thoughts on the chapter....

If you like it, please comment and vote.

Also, @LittleLezbo made a very beautiful picture of Jimin as the Snake hybrid. Its truly splendid. Thankyou so much for it.