Chapter 1

1

Akai

M r. Abram stood at the front of the classroom, shoulders back, chin high, fulfilling the pompous reputation he had on campus.

"In this class, you will learn all the rules, every detail of what to expect, and how to comport yourselves as the optimum in brood slaves that Pack Dmitri is known for."

There were three of us set-omegas turning eighteen this year. Our senior year. We were taken out of our regular classes and put into a slave class. We would graduate with the rest of our class, but with our future fates already decided, our diplomas were nothing more than scraps of paper.

We'd already heard all the stories, the jokes. We knew the laws inside and out. Since we'd already failed shifting class and were designated set-omegas, we'd lost all our rights. We knew what was happening.

"You are lucky to be here," Mr. Abram told us. "Not every pack offers training, and many send away their set-omegas in a state of ignorance, not knowing what to expect."

On our tablets, our syllabus read:

Week One : How to obey and please your master. Things you can do to look your best to entice him as a proper slave should.

Week Two : How to cook savory meals for your master and at the same time ensure optimum fertility from him.

Week Three : What to expect from alpha dragon shifters and their flights. Overview of dragon culture history and enslavement of set-omegas.

Week Four : Alpha dragon anatomy and how it affects you. You will produce eggs, not live births. Nesting instincts.

Weeks Five and Six : Alpha dragon sexual behaviors. How to best please your master in mating and give him pleasure. Pictures, video and books tell all.

Week Seven : Slavery expectations, common and uncommon. Punishment. Best case scenarios. Worst case scenarios. How to best prepare for every event and outcome.

Week Eight : Final exams. Your grade will be included on your permanent bio page at any sale or auction.

Remember! You are property and must behave as such. Dragon culture punishments for misbehavior can be severe! These lessons are to make your life easier as you acclimate to your new environment.

Set-omega slave class was a joke. In my mind, there was only one rule. To do as I was told, or else. I didn't need to read a book or watch a movie about what was going to happen to me. I already knew. I would be bought, forcibly bred, and lay dragon eggs. That was my future.

As soon as I'd received my designation a year ago, pack soldiers watched my every move. I was merchandise now. I couldn't run away. If any of us tried to avoid our fates by damaging or hurting ourselves, we'd be thrown in prison for life.

My life was over anyway.

This stupid class was mandatory. But that didn't mean I had to do well. Why should I have to listen to Mr. Abram's sniveling lessons on how to suck dragon cock?

I didn't care about my grade showing on my bio at auction, or how my behavior reflected on Pack Dmitri. Fuck them.

A dragon would buy me; I couldn't prevent that. But no one could make me pretend to like it.

By week five, when Mr. Abram began showing us what looked like dragon mating porn, I got up and walked out. Abram tried to stop me.

"Akai, this class is mandatory."

"I don't care. I had sex education in sixth grade. And then again in tenth. What the fuck are you showing us mating videos for?"

"You will have a better life if you learn how best to please your master. That includes in the bedroom."

I stood up straight, chin up. "Oh, really? Does that mean you've already met my master and know what he likes?"

"Of course not. These techniques are tried and true through the provinces. The pleasure centers of alpha shifters are generally universal. You need to understand about their systems, how best to entice arousal, how best to behave while knotted, or when they go into rut."

"We learned about knotting and ruts in sex ed," I argued.

The film was still running as I stood by the door with Abram blocking me. I glanced at my two classmates, who were watching the porn with big eyes. On the TV wall-screen a cute omega knelt at the foot of a bed and sucked hard on a giant veiny cock. The scene didn't shock me. I could get this stuff on my computer at home. But here in class, with two other set-omegas and Abram watching, my blood began to boil. And not in a good way. If there could be any more ways they could demean us just because we couldn't shift, I didn't know what they were.

The omega in the film popped off the cock, then turned in the classic omega breeding position, ass up, head down, hands holding his cheeks apart to show the alpha his wet and ready hole.

"Ohhhh, I'm ready for your knot right now, alpha." The omega's voice was almost whiny.

"Yeah, like that dialogue is necessary to this class," I grumbled, pointing at the TV.

"If you say and do all the right things, your life with your master will go easier for you," Abram said.

I got in his face. "None of this is easy. None of us has a say in any of this."

"But you do." Abram had his hand on the doorknob, keeping me from touching it. "A good slave can learn. That includes learning how to manipulate. With your words, your tone and your body."

Just then, the alpha slammed his cock into the omega's gaping hole. There was a squelching sound, and the omega moaned. It was not a gentle mating. The alpha cock pistoned into the omega, who shoved back as if he wanted him to plow deeper. The camera went to a closeup.

Yep, it was porn all right. I could see the shine of the omega's slick on the alpha's shaft every time he pulled out. Each thrust was accompanied by a squishy sucking sound.

I had to admit the camera angles and editing were supreme. If I'd been alone in my room at home, I might've been into it. But not here. Not with Abram and the others looking on.

"You need to become used to this. Seeing it. And doing it," Abram said. "You don't know what you will face in the flight you are sold to. The fewer surprises you have, the easier your mind and body will adapt. And the more the dragons will accept you with minimal punishments."

"Don't you see?" I walked up to the TV screen and slammed my palm into the glass. "It's already punishment. All of it!"

Abram narrowed his brows as I hit the screen again. "It's simply mating," he said. "A most natural act. Like breathing."

I made my hand into a fist. "You go sell yourself to the dragons, then. Do that most natural act yourself with a big master alpha who cares nothing for you except filling you with his egg-seed and see how it feels."

Abram huffed. "That would be preposterous. I am an alpha." He started to reach for me.

I danced two steps to the side, then grabbed the TV screen and tried to tear it from the wall. I was a small omega, which explained why nothing happened except that now I had my hands on the top of the TV frame while the rest of my body dangled above the floor.

The omega actor blared: "Knot me, alpha. Knot me now."

"Akai! Get down from there at once!"

I held on with all my strength as Abram grabbed my legs and yanked. I kicked back, landing a good thunk on his chest. Unlucky for me, it wasn't enough of a kick to knock him away.

He wrapped his arms tighter around me and pulled me down to the floor. We both fell back. The TV must've been fastened to brick. It never budged.

One of the other students got up and grabbed the remote off Abram's desk, freezing the movie at the point where the alpha was bent over the omega's back, obviously stuck to him now on his own knot.

In a small voice, he said, "We need to run it back. We missed when the knot was shown to have grown full-sized. It was just about to stretch him and pop inside."

I jumped up and ran for the door.

Abram called out, "I'll be calling your parents."

It was useless to run. The guards caught me and brought me back to class, one of them standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

I was forced to sit in the back row. I put my head down on the desk as Abram reset the movie.

My omega papa showed up soon afterward. The other two boys were left alone to watch the rest of the porn. I was taken into the hall.

"Your boy needs extra classes in taming his wild behavior," Abram began.

Papa turned to look at me. He showed no emotion. "What did he do?"

"It's not what I did," I blurted. "It's him." I pointed at Abram. "We're barely eighteen and he's showing us porn."

Abram nearly blubbered. "It's not porn. They are educational videos."

Papa blinked at Abram. "I see. Well, if he doesn't want to see it, maybe he can skip that part of class."

"All the lessons are mandatory."

Papa's lips thinned. "Is it mandatory that he pass the class in order to be sold when he is of age?"

Abram gulped. "Well, no. You know that he will be sold no matter what."

"Well, I suppose that means if he doesn't want to see it, it makes no difference to anyone but my son."

"He must be in class."

"He can close his eyes, then." Papa's voice remained calm, but his shoulders were stiff, and his nostrils flared, just like when he got super frustrated with me. "And when you test on the lesson, he may fail. But really, is it any concern of yours?"

Abram looked like he was having trouble breathing. "It is of concern, sir. All the students in this school need to be given the best education we can offer them."

Papa nodded. "Then you are doing your best and that's all that can be asked of you."

"Sir, I highly recommend you talk to your son and maybe get him more outside help. He is not ready to go to the dragons."

Papa cleared his throat. He reached out and put his hand gently on my shoulder. "Mr. Abram," he said. "Are any of them ever really ready to go to the dragons?"

Papa, I love you.

He was the one I'd miss the most when I left the pack. My Papa. The only one who'd ever understood. The only one who never put me down for not having a wolf inside me.