Chapter 9: Spending the Night in the Cage

"You ought to be well - aware that werewolf sexual encounters are ferociously brutal and wild. Not only you, but even a burly man among humans might struggle to endure it. The sole reason I refrained from handing you over to my men is that I still intended to extend a chance to you. Should you squander this opportunity, don't hold me accountable for my lack of mercy," Vesper murmured in a voice so deep it seemed to carry a latent threat.

Vesper's grip was vice - like. Fortunately, the bed was plush, cushioning some of the force; otherwise, Eleanor would have been reduced to a pulp.

This was indeed the vast gulf in strength. Werewolves could dispatch humans as effortlessly as crushing ants.

"Beast... beast... truly a heartless beast..." she screeched with all her might, yet her voice emerged as a feeble croak.

The light in Vesper's eyes instantly dimmed, plunging deep into darkness. He exerted more pressure with his hand, and Eleanor immediately found it difficult to draw a breath. She could only strain to lift her head, gasping for air.

"Help, help..." Eleanor's hand slapped frantically against the bed, while the other hand tried desperately to pry his fingers away. But those fingers were like scalding iron clamps on her face, unyielding.

For a moment, she felt the urge to weep, yet her eyes were parched, devoid of tears. She couldn't recall when she had last cried. It seemed that as a young child, tears had already deserted her. No matter how arduous life became, or how severely she was beaten and bruised, she never shed a tear. She had thought that life's trials had transformed her into a hardened creature, but now, confronted with a genuine beast, she felt helpless and yearned to cry, only to find that her well of tears had run dry.

"Mommy... are you trying to crush me to death... or do you have a penchant for necrophilia..."

"Bah," a cold sneer resounded from above. "I have no interest in necrophilia, but I am quite interested in torturing you slowly until you talk."

"No matter how much you torment me, I have nothing more to say..." Her chest rose and fell slightly, and the exposed skin took on a bashful pink hue.

Vesper had beheld numerous werewolf women's chests, most of which were voluptuously plump, seemingly on the verge of spilling out. However, he had never laid eyes on such a delicate and charming form. To be precise, he had never closely examined a human woman's body. For an instant, an impulse surged within him to tear away the flimsy barrier. As soon as this thought flashed through his mind, he was startled by his own audacity, deeming it absurd and even irrational.

...

He released his hold on her and rose from the bed.

The overhead light flickered on. Moments later, his cold voice drifted from not far away: "I have no attraction to human women. But if you prove obedient, after this period, I might consider granting you a child, which would also solidify your status." With that, he strode into the bathroom, and the sound of running water soon filled the air.

Eleanor gasped for breath, paying no heed to his words, her mind a complete blank. The surrounding air, cool and redolent with the distinct scent of a beast's hormones and blood, wafted over her skin.

When Vesper emerged from the bathroom, swathed in steam, she remained motionless, as if turned to stone.

At that very moment, a voice filtered in from outside the room: "Leader, the two envoys propose that tomorrow we prepare the blessing ceremony and the bathing ceremony for you and the leader's wife..."

Vesper stood stock - still for an extended period before slowly responding, "Understood. Instruct Alexa to make preparations tomorrow morning..."

"And the captives from the Jackal Clan we apprehended tonight..."

"Have you gleaned any information?" Vesper casually raked his hand through his damp hair, sending droplets of water flying in all directions.

"No, they were extremely tight - lipped, and we've already..."

Vesper's eyes narrowed menacingly. "Kill them all and hang their bodies at the entrance of the valley."

Having spoken, he paced over to the bedside and beheld Eleanor still lying there like a corpse. He delivered a forceful kick. This kick jolted Eleanor back to her senses, and she sat up abruptly from the bed, startled. She saw Vesper standing erect beside the bed, regarding her with an impassive expression.

At this moment, Vesper had reverted to his human form. He had just emerged from the shower, having washed away all the blood and grime, and looked utterly transformed from his previous disheveled state. A milky - white satin robe trimmed with gold was casually draped over his body, revealing the faintly pink skin of his chest. The cold, angular contours of his face were softened by the lingering steam that surrounded him. His hair, not neatly combed back, hung damply over his forehead, with water droplets trickling down the ends and pooling at his collarbone before reluctantly sliding down.

Eleanor's lower lip was swollen, bearing a row of neat teeth marks from her desperate biting during the struggle, yet she felt no pain at all. At this moment, she simply stared blankly at the man before her, her throat dry as she swallowed involuntarily.

Dizzying! This physique was incredibly alluring!

"Finished ogling? If so, get out of the bed. You're sleeping in the cage," Vesper said disdainfully, casually casting a glance at the cold, rectangular iron cage nestled in the corner of the room.

Eleanor snapped back to reality and quickly averted her gaze, snatching a tasseled blanket from the edge of the bed to wrap around herself.

"What are you doing?" Vesper's long, muscular leg had already mounted the bed, and he inquired impatiently upon seeing her actions.

"Wait, wait. I have no idea what you intend to do with me, but at least afford me some dignity. Let me don some clothes before I meet my end, please?" Eleanor kept her head bowed.

The muscles at the corner of Vesper's mouth twitched involuntarily. He kicked Eleanor off the bed and coldly commanded, "Sleep in the cage." As he spoke, he tossed a thin quilt onto the bed.

Eleanor hastily covered herself with the quilt, stared blankly for a moment, and then queried, "Boss, you're not going to do anything to me anymore?"

"For the time being," Vesper replied curtly.

"Then, you're not going to use me as a sex object?"

"Are you eager for that?" Vesper arched an eyebrow.

"No, no, no, not in the least. As long as I don't have to endure that fate, I'll do anything!"

"You said it," Vesper's voice deepened ominously.

Eleanor was momentarily stunned, realizing she had spoken too rashly, and immediately regretted her words. She quickly amended, "Within the bounds of my capabilities, I'll do anything."

"Cease your babbling. You have three seconds to crawl into the cage and lock it. Don't dare emerge without my permission!" Vesper wheeled around to face Eleanor, his dark eyes appearing even more fathomless.

Eleanor, swaddled in the quilt, scrambled into the cage and, as Vesper demanded, locked the door. After Vesper ascertained that she had fastened the lock securely, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep slumber.

That night, tormented by hunger and the cold, the frigid cage and the eerie human bones adorning the wall caused Eleanor's body temperature to plummet. Even her breath grew cold. She curled up tightly in the bedding, yearning for a modicum of warmth.

The following morning, when two maidservants retrieved her from the cage, Eleanor was completely listless, shivering from the cold.

Without a word of explanation, the two maidservants led her to the bathroom, where steam billowed, creating a hazy, dream - like atmosphere. Eleanor was forcibly pushed into the bathtub and submerged for over two hours until she felt dizzy and her vision blurred. Then she was hauled out.

Standing before the mirror, gazing at her naked body and flushed face, Eleanor was slightly dazed. She looked down and queried the maidservant who was drying her body, "What are you doing?"