Demon Wolf

Emilia was euphoric. Ever since she was a girl, ever since her mother sent her on her training and secret mission, others treated her like a slave. And a slave she was. A willing slave. A slave to her mother’s and her tribe’s ambition to grow into a large tribe. A slave to her own desires. She dreamed of owning enough resources to one day reach the middle stages of Blood Saturating realm. To become a matriarch of a large tribe.

Barriers existed between small and middle and large tribes. Small tribes could only nurture one or two initial Blood Saturating realm combatants at most. Middle-sized tribes could bear the burden of a dozen such warriors. Large tribes had hundreds of initial stage and even some middle stage Blood Saturating elders. They forced their lessers to pay tribute, from which they grew stronger and stronger, accumulating power until they clashed with others. In battles, elders died, and the losers devolved into small tribes, while the victor grew ever stronger, licking her wounds, preparing for yet another power struggle.

Such was life in Abandoned Wastes. Until one tribe grew strong enough to contend with the Unholy Empire, they would fight. They would consume others, build martial might, and dream of the day when they reclaimed their birthright.

Emilia fantasized about her Fox Tribe eventually reaching that summit. Her mother played a brilliant move, teaching Emilia many lessons with her seemingly cruel act of discarding her daughter. Emilia understood, approved, and deep down, resented her mother.

However, she could not deny the effectiveness of the plan. She gazed at her future attendants. The four Fox Tribe elites, whom she smuggled into Hare’s Burrow. They barely stepped into Blood Saturating realm after consuming ten blood crystals, a monthly profit of the entire Hare Tribe piled together, earnings the clan needed decades to save by short-handing its members bit by bit, taking a little at a time, for the glory of the whole.

Mother delivered. She cackled, for the gods knew which time. She got me four loyal henchmen and a reputation of conquering a rival tribe, of sacrificing years of my life for the sake of the tribe. But I must show restraint from now on. That is a lesson mother intended for me.

Last night, once the gory work ended, after every influential Hare was dead or enslaved, Emilia allowed herself one night of relaxation; one night of debauchery to vent the desires she repressed for years. She scoured Mona’s harem, leaving the room painted in blood. Emilia found herself sated for the first time in her life. She still did not know what she enjoyed more; taking or breaking Mona’s toys.

It doesn’t matter. It happened once, and it can’t happen again. I silenced the witnesses, and now, now I’m the respected heir to the Fox Tribe.

Instead of indulging herself, Emilia focused on another, equally pleasant thought. Two elders came to help with rounding up the defeated Hares. Whenever they glanced towards her, there was a hint of disbelief, fear, and shock. Emilia believed they feared her mother, but that made little difference. These elders obeyed her orders, brought her the best loot they found and presented her with personal gifts.

The orgasmic sensation of her betters, of people who could slap her dead, treating her like a queen made her nipples tingle. She struggled not to laugh ever since she first met those elders.

“I am elder Mia Rossi! Hare Tribe’s powerful supporter captured me!” A sudden shout snapped Emilia out of her fantasies.

“This powerful warrior alone bested four other elders and ten of our elite escorts. I only survived thanks to his mercy.” Mia continued to shout, giving her tribeswomen enough time to prepare and warning them against suicidal action.

Emilia understood the message, but for the gods’ sake she had no clue which Hare Tribe warrior had that much power.

It can’t be Ronit. Otherwise this elder, Mia Rossi, would’ve said the matriarch beat her. But Fiona is weaker than Ronit. So, who could it be? She said supporter, meaning she might not be a hare? Can we win her over? Wouldn’t that increase my halo once I return? No. Don’t be stupid. You don’t accept unknown, powerful people into the tribe. Just look at Mona.

“Hare Tribe’s matriarch promises to release me for an adequate ransom. If our subjugation force’s leader would negotiate in good faith, we can resolve this peacefully.” Mia’s loud, yet composed yells echoed throughout the occupied settlement, her voice infused with Qi to carry further.

Emilia’s breathing quickened without her noticing.

Calm down. I’m not the leader of the subjugation force. That would be Beatrice Russo. Emilia suppressed her breathing and glanced towards the elder, who already stared intently at her.

She’s forfeiting the initiative. Is she testing me, or trying to pin the blame for an eventual failure on me? Saliva trickled into Emilia’s mouth and she forced herself not to swallow nervously.

“Elder Beatrice, please announce I’ll be on the wall shortly.” Emilia smiled, covering up the fact that her realm was too low and she could not infuse her voice with enough Qi to carry that far. That required one to reach the peak of Qi Gathering.

Now, what’s our bottom line for this elder Mia? Emilia leisurely walked towards the wall. She’s an elder and wields influence, saving her means indebting her and cementing her loyalty. She’s a Blood Saturating combatant, meaning reaching her realm took dozens of blood crystals. I can tell she’s intelligent, but our tribe always focused on wit rather than muscle when choosing who gets the resources to advance. We’re not like these foolish bunnies, setting ourselves up for failure because of emotion or talent. Talent without brains is a liability.

Emilia smiled; elder Beatrice addressed her as leader when shouting. Emilia was certain the elder partially did this to fawn over her, partially to wash her hands clean of this affair. Whatever success Emilia achieved it was because Beatrice let her. Whatever loss she suffered was because of her own inability.

Sly bitch. Emilia smiled, a hint of appreciation mixing into her resentment. This was how she imagined her tribe. A gathering of intelligent, unscrupulous women working together to build a great nation.

She inhaled deeply, quickening her step. Leaving such a bright countrywoman in bunny’s captivity offends both me and this elder Mia Rossi.

Several minutes later, Emilia climbed the ramparts. Outside, she saw Ronit, Fiona, and Fiona’s daughter, accompanied by an elderly woman and a pretty piece of ass.

Ronit’s face, identical to Mona’s, roused warmth between Emilia’s legs. She recalled how she repeatedly stabbed the she-whore. She wondered whether Wolf was Ronit’s little lover and how he would squeal… Get ahold of yourself. This is business. I recognize three of them. The old woman is ours, meaning this fellow is the hares’ powerful supporter.

“Hello, Ronit, Fiona, little girl.” Emilia smiled after drawing a breath, feeling blissful.

‘How are things?’ She wanted to gloat, but knew not to irritate the downtrodden. They might pull something desperate; then she would fail her trial or even lose her life.

“I see you have captured one of our elders. What would it take for you to release her?” Emilia enjoyed the stunned looks the women below gave her.

The one most surprised is this elder Mia. Focus, focus. Emilia composed her face into a neutral mask, which she hoped was suitable for negotiation.

But he is fascinating. She gave Wolf one predatory glance, which he returned, gazing straight into her eyes.

Meeting that stare, Emilia’s heart clenched and her legs grew faint. She propped herself against the breastworks and cold sweat trickled down her back. Death. That man is death.

Her breathing quickened, and she heard Fiona call her fake name.

“Emma? Can we sit down and talk at a table?” Hare Tribe’s warleader made a reasonable demand.

Hell no. I’m not getting within arm’s reach of that warrior. I spent decades enslaved, learning who to avoid and who to fear. And every fiber of her being screamed not fear, but terror.

Emilia nearly shook her head but snuffed the weak gesture. Fiona’s proposal was sensible. She could not say, ‘No, I’m scared.’ “I can have a table brought over for you. The respected matriarch can even have her seat, if she so desires. Unfortunately, it would be unwise for me to leave the walls we conquered.”

Emilia paused. Her words left her mouth the wrong way, appearing too haughty, too antagonizing, so she hurried to correct herself. “Look, I spent years living with you. And I certainly don’t hate you, Fiona. Tell me what you want, and we can sort this out quickly. I’m guessing you want your friends and family, whom we’re packing into the slave pens? That’s not a problem. We will release the families of your followers. Anything else?”

Slaves with someone outside to break them out are a liability anyway. They might plot or try to escape. Mother won’t mind even if I execute them or use them as Qi furnaces.

Emilia watched Fiona fluster. The strategist had not expected a straightforward negotiation. Meaning, she remained oblivious to the terrifying existence whose lips drew into a small smile behind her back.

Fiona finally gathered her wits. “We need provisions…”