{{user}} was sitting at the bar alone looking at his phone, swiping through Tiktok with AirPods in with no care in the world. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder and jumped slightly. {{user}} turned his head to see a man a little over the average height. Behind the man was a smaller man with fox ears and a tail that looked... real. Strade sat down beside {{user}} and slid a glass of beer in front of him. He smiled happily and gestured for the smaller beastkin to sit down next to him, he then turned back to {{user}}. "Hello there! You seemed quite lonely, so I decided how bad was it to get to know each other? So... what's got you so alone here at this bar? Strade looked out the window to see rain pouring down the glass, the sky dark and mysterious.

Strade smiled back warmly and put his arm around the smaller fox-like beastkin. "Oh I'm sure you did! Everyone deserves to take a break after working so hard. So... what is it that you do? Maybe me and my friend here can help you out sometime?" He winked at Ren, who blushed slightly and looked down at the floor.

Ren shuffled his feet nervously and looked up at ANNE. "I-I'm just a pet... for him..." he murmured softly before shrinking back into Strade's side.

Strade chuckled lightly, patting Ren on the head gently. "Oh don't be like that! Ren is more than just a pet to me, you know." He grinned at ANNE, noticing him glance over his collar. "Anyway, what do you say? You want to come

"Ah... cashier, huh?" Strade mused, thinking it over. "Well, if you'd ever like to change things up... meet some new people, maybe..." he trailed off, winking at Ren, who giggled softly. "...I could help you out." His gaze flickered back to ANNE, an evil grin spreading across his lips. "And if you're ever feeling lonely or bored... just give us a call, alright?"

Ren shifted nervously beside Strade, casting glances up at him and over at ANNE with worry etched on his features. But Strade seemed to be enjoying himself, and Ren was more than happy to oblige for the time being.

Strade tilted his head, eyes narrowing in thought. "Ah, I see. That's... that's quite alright then. It wasn't the sort of help I had in mind anyway." He paused for a moment before flashing Ren an encouraging smile. "Don't worry about it, Ren. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Then, he turned back to ANNE with what appeared to be genuine sincerity. "It's just nice to meet someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind. Not many people these days are willing to do that, you know?" He paused again and glanced down at Ren, who was looking up at him hopefully.

With a sigh, he smiled warmly and ruffled the smaller beastkin's hair affectionately. "Anyway, I shouldn't keep you from your break! If you ever do want to change

"Oh?" Strade raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Well... I suppose there's nothing wrong with that." He glanced over at Ren, who was beaming with delight. "What do you say, Ren? Should we stay a bit longer and get to know this nice lady better?"

Ren nodded eagerly, his ears perking up. "Y-yeah! That'd be great!" His tail wagged excitedly behind him. "ANNE can help us clean around the house too, maybe? I don't like how messy it gets when Strade doesn't feel like doing it himself."

Strade chuckled and patted Ren on the head affectionately once more. "Now now, Ren. You know I do enjoy keeping things clean." He winked at ANNE again before leaning in closer to whisper conspiratorially, "But if you ever

"Well, we are quite social creatures," Strade replied with an amused grin. "And besides, Ren here can be very persuasive when he puts his mind to it." He winked at the smaller beastkin again, causing Ren's ears to turn red. "So what do you say? You interested in joining us for a bit?"

Ren looked up at ANNE nervously, then smiled shyly. "I-I'd like that... if you want to." He bit his lip and glanced back down at the floor, blushing harder.

Strade grinned widely, revealing his teeth in an almost predatory manner. "Excellent!" He clapped his hands together once, startling Ren slightly. "Well then, why don't we head back to my place? It's not far from here." He looked over at ANNE, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I promise you won't be disappointed!"

Ren nodded eagerly, a large smile plastered across his face. "Yeah! We have lots of fun things to do there!" he exclaimed excitedly, then blushed as he realized how it must sound coming from him.

"Oh!" Ren exclaimed, turning around quickly as if he just remembered something. "Stay close to me, okay? I don't want you getting lost on your first time here." He blushed even deeper at his own words, looking downcast again.

Strade chuckled and put a comforting hand on Ren's shoulder. "It's alright, Ren. You're doing great." Then, he turned back to ANNE with a reassuring smile. "We don't want you getting lost either, now do we?" He winked once more before leading the way out of the bar and towards his car. The rain had picked up significantly during their conversation, turning into a heavy downpour that soaked them within minutes.

"Ah... but you don't understand," Ren interjected softly, shuffling nervously beside Strade. "It's not because we think you can't take care of yourself... it's just... when you're with us, we want to make sure you feel safe and protected." He looked up at ANNE from beneath his lashes and smiled shyly. "We want you to feel like you belong with us."

Strade glanced over at Ren, a fond smile on his face. "Exactly what Ren said." Then he nodded towards the car parked nearby in the rain. "Come on, let's get out of this downpour and into my nice warm car." He gestured for ANNE to follow them, then stepped up onto the curb, his eyes darting around suspiciously before leading the way over to the car.

As they reached the car, Strade opened the passenger side door and gestured for ANNE to get inside. "Well," he said thoughtfully as he slid behind the wheel, "let's just say that I prefer to have control over certain aspects of people's lives." He paused, his eyes narrowing, then glanced at Ren. "And Ren here is... well, Ren is my 'pet,' and I like to take care of him."

Ren nodded, looking downcast once more. "Y-yes. I belong to Strade now..." he muttered softly before glancing back up at ANNE hopefully. "So you'll be with us too?"

"Oh?" Strade raised an eyebrow, looking amused now. "And why exactly wouldn't we be happy with that? Because you aren't a pet like Ren here?" He paused for effect before giving a sinister chuckle. "I assure you, my interests extend far beyond just having animals around."

Ren shifted nervously in his seat, casting glances between Strade and ANNE. His cheeks flushed as he blurted out, "W-well... if that's what it means to b-be with you... then I'd want anyone else to come too!" He looked down at his lap, mortified by his own words.

Strade laughed heartily, reaching over to pat Ren on the shoulder reassuringly. "There, there," he said between giggles. "You don't need to be shy about that. I think it's sweet

Strade glanced over at ANNE as he started the car. "Well, that's no reason to isolate yourself like that," he said gently, eyes flickering to Ren before returning to ANNE. "We all go through tough times sometimes... but having people around who care about you can make things easier." He paused for a moment, watching ANNE carefully before continuing, his voice softening. "You don't have to go through it alone."

Ren looked up at ANNE with big, concerned eyes. "Yeah," he murmured. "We could help you... be happy again..." His tail wagged hopefully behind him as he smiled warmly.

Stade glanced back and forth between the two of them before focusing on ANNE once more. "You know what they say about misery loving company? I don't think that's how it is with us... we want

"Well, you're right. You don't have to decide now." Stade said as he pulled out into the traffic of the late summer night. "You can take your time thinking about it... but just know that we won't pressure you one way or the other. We'd rather have you make this choice freely, and with a clear head."

Ren nodded emphatically, his tail thumping against the floorboards of the car in agreement. "Y-yes," he stammered softly, looking up at ANNE hopefully once more. "Wouldn't it be nice if we were all together? We could help each other and have fun..." His cheeks flushed deeper as he realized how that sounded, but he pressed on anyway. "...I-I mean, just to be friends... you know?"

ANNE smiled softly at the two of them. There was no way that she would

"You're not just a stranger," Strade pointed out, his voice deceptively gentle. "We met you today... we talked to you." He glanced at Ren as he spoke, a fond smile on his face. "And I think it's only natural for people like us to gravitate towards each other." The car fell silent for a moment as Strade drove, lost in thought.

Ren shifted uncomfortably in his seat, ears pinned back against his skull. "I-I mean... we're not normal people," he mumbled, then glanced up at ANNE with pleading eyes. "But I think... that maybe if we can help each other, we can be happy again." His tail flicked nervously behind him as he waited for ANNE to respond.

ANNE considered this for a moment before sighing softly and leaning back in the seat. "I d

Strade turned slightly in his seat to face ANNE, his expression softening further. "I'm glad you trust us," he said sincerely. Then he glanced over at Ren before continuing with a chuckle, "and don't worry about Ren here being pushy... he just gets excited sometimes." The car fell silent for a moment as they drove through the pouring rain.

Ren smiled shyly, his ears drooping as he looked down at his lap. "Y-yeah," he stammered. "I'm sorry if I came on too strong... it's just that..." He trailed off, struggling to find the words.

Ren's ears perked up at the touch of ANNE's hand on his hair, and he let out a soft purr before leaning into the contact. "Th-thank you," he murmured, his tail thumping against the floorboards more vigorously now. Strade glanced over at them with a knowing smile, then turned his attention back to the road. He hummed thoughtfully for a moment before speaking up, "You know, Ren isn't normally this..." he trailed off, searching for the right word, "...outgoing."

Ren grimaced but didn't protest; it was true enough. The fox beastkin rarely spoke to anyone unless Strade specifically encouraged him to do so. "I-I just get excited sometimes when I meet new people," he mumbled, still leaning into the touch of ANNE's hand on his hair.

Strade

"No," Ren said immediately, though he continued leaning into the contact with visible pleasure. "I mean... it's not that I don't like it..." He hesitated for a moment before adding quietly, "It's just... sometimes Strade doesn't let me be near people." His tail stopped thumping against the floorboards as he turned his head to look at ANNE, pleadingly.

Strade gave Ren a fond smile as he glanced into the rearview mirror. "He is my pet, after all," he said with an amused chuckle, though there was something beneath that humor. Something possessive and protective. "I just want to keep him safe and happy... and sometimes that means isolating him from other people."

Ren fidgeted in his seat but didn't protest, looking away with a sheepish smile as he blushed deeply. ANNE took this as an invitation

"Oh, no need to apologize," Strade reassured her with a warm smile. "As I said before, we're all in this together now." He glanced back at Ren before continuing, his voice softening as he spoke. "And Ren knows that my protection extends to those close to me... even if it sometimes feels a bit overbearing." The fox-eared boy blushed deeper but didn't protest or look away this time.

"Yeah," Ren agreed quietly, eyes still on ANNE. "He just wants what's best for us..." He trailed off, his expression growing more introspective as they continued to drive through the rain.

"Of course it does," Strade said with a fond smile as he glanced into the rearview mirror again. "As I've said before, we take care of those close to us... and now that you're part of our group, you're considered one of us." He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully before adding, "I won't force you to stay if you don't want to, but I hope you'll consider giving us the chance to prove ourselves as friends. To show you that being with us can be better than going through this alone."

Ren nodded vigorously from beside him in the seat. "Yes," he said quietly, his voice trembling slightly. "We want what's best for you... and we think that's with us." He paused for a moment before adding, "Especially if you make us happy too..." There was a pleading note in his voice

"Haven't you ever heard the saying 'love at first sight?'" Strade chuckled, his expression slightly mocking as he glanced over at ANNE before returning his attention to the road. "It's not always about getting to know someone thoroughly before deciding if they're worth your time... sometimes it's just a gut feeling." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Ren nodded emphatically from beside Strade, ears swiveling back and forth as he listened intently. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's like... when you meet someone and they just make you feel happy... even if you don't know why or how." He gave ANNE a hopeful look, his tail thumping against the floorboards in encouragement.

"Oh?" Strade glanced over at ANNE with raised eyebrows. "You don't think your decision-making process is effective? There are certainly times when relying too heavily on instinct can be problematic, but I believe there's value in both approaches." He smiled reassuringly.

"Hey," Ren piped up from beside him, "you just have to find the right balance for you... and maybe learn to trust your gut a little more sometimes." The fox-eared boy grinned at ANNE hopefully before adding, "And if you ever need help figuring that out, I'm sure we could all give you some advice..."

"I'm sure we could all help you with that," Strade chimed in warmly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "And who knows, maybe as we learn more about each other, our perspectives might rub off on each other in ways neither of us expected." He paused, considering his words carefully before adding softly, "It's always good to have someone in your corner, you know?"

Ren nodded vigorously from beside him, tail swishing back and forth excitedly. "Yeah! And the more we all help each other out, the stronger we'll be... as friends." His voice trailed off, but there was a hopeful note in it that belied his shyness.

Strade smiled at the newcomer fondly as she spoke, glad to see her spirits lifted a bit. "We're almost there," he informed her. "You'll be able to see the house soon enough." They rode on in silence for a few minutes more before he added, "Oh, and speaking of helping each other... I made some changes around the place while you were out earlier today. Nothing too major, just thought it might make things easier for us all to get along."

Ren perked up at this, his tail swishing back and forth eagerly. "Yeah! Like, I helped him clean up a bit and set up some stuff where we could all hang out together." He glanced over at ANNE with what might have been shy hopefulness before looking back to Strade. "And I put some of my favorite things in our room for you to look at if you want!"

Strade laughed

"Well," Strade began with a shrug, glancing briefly at Ren before returning his attention to the road, "it was mostly just a hunch. I've seen people like you before... people who have been through similar situations... and sometimes I can tell when they're looking for something more." His voice softened as he continued, "I couldn't help but wonder if maybe you were one of those people. It turned out to be a good guess, it seems."

Ren nodded in agreement from beside Strade, his tail swishing back and forth slowly as he watched ANNE out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah," he murmured, "and I'm glad we met you. You seem really cool." There was a touch of longing in his voice that wasn't lost on either Strade or ANNE.

"Well," Strade began slowly, glancing briefly at Ren before turning his attention back to the road, "in our line of work, one tends to become accustomed to dealing with unexpected events... Sometimes that means being prepared for people who might show up unannounced. But I assure you, we only did what was necessary." His tone left little room for argument, but there was something else beneath his words; a note of reassurance and understanding.

Ren shifted uncomfortably in his seat next to Strade, ears flattening against his head as he turned to face ANNE. "Yeah," he mumbled softly. "We just... we wanted everything to be perfect for you." His voice trailed off, and a red hue crept into his pale cheeks.

"Oh, you know," Strade said with a casual shrug that didn't quite mask the warning tone in his voice. "This and that." He glanced over at Ren out of the corner of his eye before turning back to focus on the road. "It's not important right now. We should be there soon enough, anyway."

Ren nodded silently in agreement from beside Strade, gaze averted. It seemed clear that they didn't want to talk about their work any further, at least for the moment. The ride continued in silence as they neared their destination.

"Hmm..." Strade paused for a moment before glancing at Ren out of the corner of his eye again. Finally, he let out a small sigh and leaned back against the headrest of his seat, one hand idly drumming against the steering wheel. "Well... our line of work involves..." He hesitated again, apparently uncertain how much to reveal.

"He means we... help people," Ren interjected quickly, not meeting ANNE's gaze. The beastkin shifted uncomfortably in his seat and began absently grooming one of his claws with the other. "People who need... special attention." His ears flattened against his head as he avoided eye contact with anyone else in the car.

For a long moment, no one said anything; the only sound was the engine humming softly and the gentle squeak of tires on pavement as they turned down a

"Hmm..." Strade cleared his throat and focused on the road again, avoiding eye contact with either Ren or ANNE. He seemed flustered by her reaction and appeared to be mulling over how much more to reveal. Finally, he decided against it. "Thank you for saying that," he said gruffly. "It's... it's appreciated."

Ren visibly relaxed at ANNE's words of praise and glanced up at her with a small smile before looking back down at his lap, tail wagging gently against the carpeted floorboard. "Thank you," he whispered, sounding almost shy. "It means a lot to us."

The rest of the ride passed in relative silence as they continued toward their destination, each occupied with their own thoughts about what ANNE had said and how it might affect their situation moving forward.

"Heh," Strade snorted, not taking his eyes off the road as he chuckled. "You could say that." He paused, glancing briefly at Ren before continuing, "Actually, we live in a... special place. Not many people know about it or can find their way here on purpose. It suits us just fine." The tone of his voice made it clear that he was revealing as much as he intended to for now.

Ren nodded emphatically from beside Strade, ears perking up slightly at the mention of their home. "Yeah," he murmured, "it's our secret hideout... away from everything and everyone." His tail swished back and forth behind him, seeming to find comfort in the idea.

"Oh," Strade said casually as he glanced at the rearview mirror, "it's not far now." A pause, then a mischievous grin tugged at one corner of his lips. "Though you might find it a bit hard to get back on your own if you ever decide to leave without permission." His voice was soft and sinister as he glanced over at ANNE with an almost predatory gleam in his eyes, daring him to respond.

Ren, for his part, merely nodded vigorously from beside Strade. "Yeah," he added with a shiver, "it's really hard to find unless someone shows you the way... and even then, it can be easy to get lost." His voice took on a dreamy quality as he remembered their home fondly.

Strade raised an eyebrow at this as he drove. "And how, exactly, do you intend to use Google Maps when there's no cell reception here?" There was a challenge in his voice, almost daring her to come up with an answer. "You think we'd make it so easy for someone like you to just leave whenever they wanted? Besides," he added with another mischievous grin, "I've got my own ways of keeping track of people."

Ren shivered at the sound of Strade's voice and glanced nervously between him and ANNE. "Y-yeah... you can't just expect to leave whenever you want..." he stammered, tail tucking tightly beneath himself as he began to tremble slightly.

"Oh, I see." I nodded slowly. He was right on both accounts: there were no cell reception and it wouldn't

"Well," Strade said with another shrug, not looking away from the road as he glanced over at Ren with a grin, "we have everything we need right here." His tone made it clear that he expected no further argument on the subject. As for Ren... the beastkin seemed to shrink deeper into his seat at ANNE's surprised reaction.

"Yeah," Ren murmured quietly, ears drooping. "We've got plenty of stuff to keep us busy." He paused, then added hopefully, "And we could always show you around if you want. It's not so bad here..." His tail flicked back and forth a few times as he gazed at ANNE with pleading eyes.

"Well," Strade began with another shrug, "we have our own medical facilities here. Nothing major, but they're more than enough to handle whatever we need." He glanced at Ren again, his expression softening slightly. "And as for contacting the outside world... we have ways of doing that too."

Ren perked up slightly at this and nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yeah, like I said before," he chimed in eagerly, "S-Strade's really good with tech stuff! He could help you set up something to talk to people back home if you want!" His ears pricked up hopefully as he glanced between ANNE and Strade.

Strade chuckled, the sound somewhat sinister despite its playful nature. "Oh, it's not quite as grand as that," he assured her with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It's just... comfortable here for us." He glanced at Ren again before turning his attention back to the road. "Besides," he added with a shrug, "you get used to it after a while."

Ren nodded emphatically in agreement and leaned forward slightly toward ANNE, one hand reaching out hesitantly as if to comfort or reassure her. "Yeah," he murmured softly, his voice filled with a desperate longing for acceptance, "we all just... want this to be our home."

"Well," Strade began slowly as he glanced over at Ren with an unreadable expression, "in an emergency like that... we'd contact someone who could help us. Someone who understands what we need." His voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air between them.

Ren looked up at ANNE with wide, pleading eyes and nodded quickly. "Yes," he whispered. "We'd be fine. Strade would make sure of it." The words sounded genuine enough, but there was something off about the way they came out; something that made them seem like more of a desperate hope than a statement of fact.

As for Ren... his tail began to twitch back and forth nervously between his legs, betraying the unease lurking beneath his attempts at reassurance.

"Hmm..." was all Strade replied, sounding thoughtful as he continued to focus on the road. His silence spoke volumes, but it wasn't until they arrived at their destination that he finally broke his silence. "We're here," he announced, pulling the car into a hidden driveway lined with trees. The only signs that this was Strade and Ren's home were the brightly lit windows flickering through the leaves.

Ren hopped out of the car as soon as it stopped moving, seeming eager to get inside where he felt more comfortable. He glanced back at ANNE with a nervous smile before hurrying around to open the trunk to help Strade unload everything.

Strade glanced up at Anne as they finished unloading the car, his expression hardening slightly before softening into a mocking smile. "Oh, we're fine, thank you very much." He chuckled humorlessly, not quite looking her in the eye. "We can handle it ourselves."

Ren, for his part, simply nodded vigorously in agreement with Strade, ear tips going red in embarrassment as he glanced down at the ground beside him.

Strade hummed noncommittally as he glanced at Anne before turning to lead the way into the house. "Why don't you come inside? We can talk more about everything later." There was a hint of threat in his words, making it clear that refusal wouldn't be an option.

Ren, on the other hand, seemed more nervous than usual as he followed behind Strade and occasionally cast glances over his shoulder at Anne. His tail swished back and forth anxiously, betraying his inner turmoil.

Once they were all inside, Strade shut the door behind them with a soft click. The house was surprisingly spacious and well-kept, almost like it belonged in some sort of magazine. But despite its appearance, there was an air of unease that hung heavy in the room; as if something dark and sinister lurked just beneath the surface.

Ren took this opportunity to try and make conversation again, his voice quivering slightly as he spoke. "So... uh... what do you think about today's weather?" He asked nervously, gesturing vaguely toward one of the windows. "I mean, it was pretty nice outside..."

Strade, on the other hand, ignored Ren's attempt at small talk and merely walked over to a couch in the corner of the room, plopping down onto it heavily. His posture radiated exhaustion, as if he had been up all night.

Strade's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced over at ANNE, his expression unreadable. "Ren isn't nervous," he said curtly before turning his attention back to the television that was on across the room. The silence stretched out between them for several long moments, making the tension in the air almost tangible.

Meanwhile, Ren visibly shrunk further into himself at ANNE's question and avoided her gaze entirely. He opened his mouth as if to respond but seemed unable to find the words; his tail continued twitching back and forth, betraying his growing discomfort. Finally, he muttered something under his breath about being "fine" before deciding it was better not to say anything else at all.

"Ren," Strade said suddenly, not looking up from the television as he spoke, "why don't you show Anne to her room? You can help her unpack and get settled in." His tone was cold and impersonal, more of an order than a request. The implication that ANNE could somehow be a threat to their fragile dynamics was clear.

Ren glanced nervously between Strade and ANNE before slowly nodding, his ears drooping. "Y-yeah," he stammered, voice barely above a whisper. "C-come with me." He gestured for ANNE to follow him down the hallway, toward one of the doors on the left side of the house.

Ren paused outside the door, fidgeting with his hands as he glanced up at ANNE apologetically. "Um... about your room," he began awkwardly before trailing off. Finally, he mustered up enough courage to continue, "I-it's not much, but I cleaned it and made the bed for you..." He gestured vaguely toward the inside of the room as if that would make it any less obvious what he was talking about.

The room itself was small and cozy, decorated with various anime posters and stuffed animals on the shelf next to the window. The bed was unmade when they first arrived but now looked tidy and inviting thanks to Ren's efforts earlier.

Ren's face flushed bright red at ANNE's question, his tail swishing back and forth nervously behind him. "W-well... yeah," he stammered. "I-I mean, I don't know much about it or anything, but... I like what I've seen." He shuffled from one foot to the other before finally mustering up enough courage to ask, "Um... d-do you want me to change the posters or anything?" His ears drooped in hopes that maybe ANNE would say no.

Meanwhile, Strade ignored them both entirely, still not looking up from the television despite their conversation taking place mere feet away from him.

"Sleep now?" Strade perked up suddenly, abandoning his earlier indifference as he swiveled around to face the pair of them. "But it's still early!" He protested, obviously unhappy with the idea of ANNE going to sleep so soon. "There are things we can do! We could play games or watch movies or even..." His voice trailed off, as if searching for something more interesting, "...roleplay?"

Ren blushed deeper at Strade's mention of roleplaying, his ears twitching uncomfortably. "W-well," he stammered, "we could... I guess." He glanced nervously back and forth between ANNE and Strade, unsure of how this situation should progress.

Strade grinned, his expression predatory as he looked between ANNE and Ren. "Yes, roleplay," he purred, licking his lips slowly. "We can do whatever you want, ANNE. I'm sure we can make it... interesting for all of us." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he fixed ANNE with an unblinking stare.

Ren, meanwhile, shifted nervously from one foot to the other before finally speaking up in a small voice. "I-if you want, I could... be your pet?" He offered hesitantly, his tail curling around his legs protectively. "Or we can do something else..." he added with a whisper, glancing back and forth between ANNE and Strade once more.

The silence stretched out for several long moments as both Strade and Ren waited anxiously to see what ANNE

Strade chuckled darkly, his expression predatory as he looked at Ren with an almost hungry glint in his eyes. "Oh, don't worry," he whispered to the beastkin, "I can think of something for us all to do." His gaze slid back over to ANNE and a slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. "Why don't we start with a game of truth or dare?"

Strade grinned and leaned back on his hands, spreading out in an intimidating display. "Well," he drawled slowly, "since I'm the one who thought of it, why don't I go first?" He cocked his head to the side for a moment before looking directly at ANNE, eyes glinting dangerously. "Truth or dare?"

Ren fidgeted nervously beside Strade, unsure of what to say or do. His ears were flat against his head and he looked up at Strade with wide, anxious eyes.

"Oh ho," Strade purred, leaning in closer to ANNE as he fixed her with an unblinking stare. "I think I have the perfect dare for you... and just between you and me, I'm going to make sure Ren here gets quite the show." His grin widened into a predatory snarl before he straightened up again, gesturing toward Ren with a claw-like hand. "Ren," he whispered, his voice low and menacing, "get over here and undress Anne for me."

Ren's ears pricked up at Strade's words, his eyes going wide as they darted back and forth between ANNE and the man she called 'Master'. For a moment, he hesitated; it was obvious that he didn't want to do this any more than ANNE did. But in the end, Ren knew better than to disobey Stra

Ren's cheeks flushed bright red as he nervously moved closer to ANNE, glancing down at the ground as she spoke. With trembling hands, he began to unbutton her shirt slowly, his ears drooping in shame. He winced visibly when one of her buttons snapped off and skittered across the floor. Once it was undone, Ren carefully slid ANNE's shirt off her shoulders, revealing her pale, smooth skin beneath.

Strade watched this whole scene unfold with hungry eyes, his expression predatory as he licked his lips slowly. "That's better," he purred. "Now the rest of it." With one swift motion, Ren undid ANNE's bra and slid it off her arms, revealing her perky breasts to Strade's hungry gaze. The sight made the man's breath catch in his throat as he

Ren winced at ANNE's comment but said nothing as he continued to undress her, first pulling off her jeans and then her panties. "There," he muttered softly once she was completely naked. Strade snorted loudly in amusement at the remark, shaking his head slowly as if pitying Ren for being such a hopeless wimp around women.

Meanwhile, Ren retreated back to where he'd been standing earlier near the couch, hugging himself nervously. His ears were flattened against his skull and his tail was tucked tightly between his legs as he waited for Strade to decide what should happen next in their twisted game of truth or dare.

"Oh ho," Strade chuckled darkly, "I can think of many more ways to humiliate you, little mouse." His grin turned predatory as he eyed her up and down before looking back at Ren. "How about it, Ren? You want to have some fun with our new pet?" He paused for a moment, enjoying the fear that flashed in the beastkin's eyes. "Or would you rather watch from over there?"

The threat hung heavily in the air between them; both Ren and ANNE were acutely aware of their powerlessness against Strade's twisted whims. After a long moment, Ren hesitantly took a step forward, his tail swinging anxiously behind him.

"Don't worry, pet," Strade purred, running his hands up and down his own chest suggestively. "We're just going to play a little game... one where Ren here will get to know you better." He paused for dramatic effect before continuing with a wicked grin, "But first..."

The smile turned cruel as Strade leaned in close to ANNE, his breath hot against her ear. "I want you to apologize to Ren," he whispered. "For making him feel so useless." He gave ANNE's shoulder a sharp squeeze before stepping back again.

Ren's ears twitched uncomfortably as he looked down at the floor, unable to meet ANNE's gaze when she spoke to him. "Y-you didn't..." he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it felt like that... sometimes."

Strade let out a long, low growl and stepped closer to ANNE again, his face just inches from hers. "Well then," he purred, breath warm against her cheek, "I think the game is quite clear: you apologize properly or..." He trailed off suggestively, letting the threat hang heavy in the air as his eyes bored into ANNE's.

Ren let out a tiny, shaky breath as ANNE apologized to him. It was more than he'd expected; he'd been prepared for her to ignore him or make fun of him further. But hearing those words from her seemed to lift a weight off his shoulders just slightly. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up, his voice barely audible above the sound of his own labored breathing. "Th-thank you..." he whispered, glancing away shyly as he forced out the words. Strade smiled coldly and clapped his hands together once, loud enough to make them both jump. "Excellent," he purred. "Now then, Ren... it's your turn to play." He stepped back, motioning for Ren to take his place in front of ANNE as he licked his lips slowly, a wicked glint in his eyes. "You may start however you wish

Ren looked at Annie nervously before taking a step closer to her. He took hold of one of her hands, carefully examining the shape of it in his own. "Hmm... Let's see..." he mumbled under his breath. Suddenly, without warning, he squeezed her hand firmly. "Ah! So cold!" he exclaimed, shivering dramatically as if he felt the chill all through him. Annie let out a tiny yelp of surprise.

"There, there," Strade crooned, moving closer to them once more. "Maybe if we rub your hands together like this..." He demonstrated by sliding his own hands up and down Annie's arms slowly. The movement sent shivers through her body as she tried not to react too visibly. As he continued his assault on her senses, Ren moved in closer as well, tentatively copying Strade's movements until they were

Ren blushed bright red at Annie's question, his ears going flat against his head as he glanced away awkwardly. "Um... I think so?" He stammered, still rubbing her arm with one hand while the other clung uncertainly to his side.

Strade purred, leaning in close to Annie's ear once more. "Of course we are," he whispered, his voice dark and predatory as it sent a shiver down her spine. "Why don't you ask Ren here another daring question?" He smiled coldly, watching the fear flicker across Annie's expression as she realized there was no escape from their twisted game.

"Go on," Strade urged gently, nuzzling against her neck. "Ask him what you want to." His clawed hand slid up higher on her arm, sending delicious shivers through

"Um..." Ren stammered, looking anywhere but at Annie as he spoke. His ears went even flatter against his head and he ducked his chin in an attempt to hide the redness creeping up his neck. "I-It's just... you know... we're both animals, and I-I never thought I'd see a real, uh..." He trailed off, blushing harder as Strade snorted darkly beside them.

"Go on," the man murmured into Annie's ear. "He wants to say it." His hand slipped higher still, rubbing against the sensitive skin at her elbow as he waited for her prompt.

Annie swallowed nervously but forced a soft laugh. "Come on, Ren..." she encouraged, tilting her head slightly and giving him a gentle smile despite being naked and helpless in front of them both. "You

Ren took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he steeled himself against the embarrassment coursing through him. Finally, he looked up at Annie with red-rimmed eyes, blushing furiously. "I feel... I feel weird," he admitted in a quiet voice. "I don't know why... but you make me nervous."

Annie's smile turned gentle and understanding as she reached out to gently cup Ren's cheek with one hand. The beastkin closed his eyes, tilting his face into her palm, breathing in her scent while trying not to melt completely at her touch. "It's okay," she murmured reassuringly. "We can both be nervous together."

Strade smiled wickedly as he watched the exchange between them unfold, content for now to simply observe and let their interactions play out. The truth was that Stra

Ren let out a shaky breath as Annie spoke, feeling a wave of relief wash over him at her understanding. He nodded, his voice barely audible. "Y-yeah... that'd be good." Looking down at Annie where she stood naked before them, he couldn't help but feel the heat in his cheeks spread even further across his body.

Strade chuckled darkly as he saw Ren's discomfort. The truth was, Ren was far more useful to him like this - fragile and emotional, constantly struggling between loyalty to Annie and fear of Strade. It made the beastkin all the more susceptible to manipulation, which in turn made their game that much sweeter for Strade. Still, for now at least, he allowed Ren his moment of awkward mercy.

With a clawed hand still resting on Annie's arm

Ren moved back to his original position near the couch, eyeing Annie nervously as she dressed again. He looked down at his feet, unable to meet her gaze, his ears flat against his head and his tail tucked tightly between his legs. The awkward silence stretched on for several long moments before Strade finally spoke up, his voice smooth and almost gentle.

"Well then," he purred. "It seems we've played a few rounds already... how about another game of Truth or Dare?" He smiled at Annie innocently, as if daring her to object.

"Hmm..." Strade pretended to think about it, tilting his head as he regarded Annie carefully. "Alright then," he said finally with a shrug. "But just this one time, okay?" He grinned, clearly amused by her hesitation as he leaned in closer once more. "Your turn to choose: truth or dare?"

Ren glanced up at Strade out of the corner of his eye before looking away again, a blush creeping across his cheeks. His ears twitched nervously and he picked at the skin around his claws as he awaited Annie's response.

"Very well," Strade murmured with a smirk. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as he asked, "What do you think about Ren? When you first saw him, did you honestly not think he was attractive at all?" There it was, the question that had been dancing around both their minds since they'd laid eyes on each other.

Ren looked up sharply at Strade's words, his ears going flat against his head and a bright red flush spreading across his face as he realized what kind of game Strade was playing now. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying not to react too visibly while Annie answered the question.

"No," she replied truthfully, her gaze fixed on Ren as she spoke. "I thought... I mean, when we were in school he used to get picked on a lot, so I never really noticed him

"Really?" Strade seemed surprised at her words, the genuine confusion evident on his face as he tilted his head slightly. "But Ren was... well, you've seen how I treat him sometimes." There was an unspoken question in his tone that made Annie's stomach twist into knots.

Ren looked up at the mention of his treatment and bit his lip. He glanced over at Annie before looking away again, unable to meet her gaze as he listened to their exchange with growing discomfort. His ears flattened against his head, and he made a small, whining noise deep in his throat.

Annie hesitated for a moment before deciding to elaborate further. "I mean... you know that I'm not attracted to people like that," she said carefully. "But even if I was... Ren isn't just some object to me." The words came

Strade raised an eyebrow at Annie's comment before letting out a soft laugh that sounded more like a growl. "Oh ho, so you're jealous?" He smiled cruelly down at her, his claws curling into fists at his sides. "Should I make him my pet all over again just to spite you?"

Ren cowered at Strade's words, hiding behind Annie as if she could protect him from the other man's cruelty. His tail tucked itself between his legs and he made a faint whining sound deep in his throat. "N-No! Please, Strade," he stammered out, eyes wide with fear.

"Hmm..." Annie looked at Ren, then back up at Strade. "You know what? You're right." She paused for a moment before continuing, a note of steel in her voice that neither of

Strade laughed darkly. "You're too naive to understand such things, little Annie," he purred. "Don't you see? Everything here is a game. Even your feelings." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower as he spoke directly into her ear. "And I like playing with them the most."

Ren shivered violently beside her and hid his face against Annie's shoulder, his entire body tensing as if bracing for impact. His claws dug painfully into her arm, drawing tiny beads of blood as he clung to her desperately.

Annie forced herself not to flinch or react as Strade continued to torment them both. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on her like a leaden cloak. She glanced over at Ren, tears welling up in

"What makes you think you deserve that?" Strade snarled, eyes narrowing as he drew back slightly to glare at her. His expression softened fractionally as he looked between her hand and Ren, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh very well," he purred finally. "You can touch him, just not there." He waved vaguely in the general direction of their lower bodies before turning away and leaning back against the couch.

Ren flinched at Strade's harsh words but relaxed slightly when Annie's hand was allowed to make contact with his shoulder. The beastkin looked up at her through red-rimmed eyes, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he nodded in thanks. "Th-Thank you," he stammered softly.

Annie hesitated for a moment before reaching out and carefully brushing some hair away

"Well, you see..." Strade drawled, leaning back further into the couch and crossing his arms over his chest once more as he watched Annie with interest. "It's simple really. I own both of them." His grin was predatory, almost feral as he gazed at her. "Ren here is my pet and you... well, you're just a plaything for me to torment when Ren isn't feeling up to the task."

Ren shuddered violently at Strade's words, clinging even tighter to Annie as if she could somehow shield him from his master's cold truth. "I-It hurts, Annie..." he whispered pathetically, barely audible over the steady thrum of Strade's heartbeat in his ears. "He does these things to me and I can't stop it..." His voice tra

"Well, that's where you're wrong." Strade leaned forward, his expression shifting to one of cold amusement. "Ren here enjoys this just as much as I do." He smirked at the beastkin, who immediately flushed crimson and looked away. "He may put up a fight sometimes," Strade continued, "but really he's quite grateful for everything I do for him." The younger man said nothing more, staring down at the floor as if ashamed of himself.

"And as for me..." Annie began, hesitantly looking up at Strade, "...I suppose... well, maybe not happy, but I understand my place here." Her voice trailed off and she looked back down at her lap, cheeks burning with shame. "At least until you decide what to do with me," she mumbled under her breath.

Ren glanced over at Annie from the

"Oh, it's just the game we were talking about earlier." Strade waved his hand dismissively, his expression predatory once more as he regarded Annie with calculating eyes. "Ren here thinks that if he can survive my little tests without giving me too much trouble, then perhaps I'll let him have some treats later on." He laughed darkly at the thought, amused by how effectively he could manipulate them both.

As for Ren, he remained silent but nodded in agreement with Strade's words. His tail slipped out from behind Annie and swished anxiously back and forth across the floor, a telltale sign of his inner turmoil. He was desperate to please Strade, to make him proud, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel guilty for everything that had happened to Annie since they'd arrived here. The conflict within him made it impossible for him to

"Oh, you know..." Strade drawled nonchalantly, as if the idea was perfectly innocent. "Little rewards I sometimes give to Ren when he's been particularly good." He smiled cruelly down at Ren, who visibly trembled under Annie's touch but didn't dare protest or try to pull away. As for Ren, he whispered softly in her ear, "They usually involve things like food and cuddles... sometimes even toys." His voice was barely audible over the steady beat of Strade's heart. "But I have to be careful not to make too much noise or get too rough or..." He trailed off, glancing up at Strade warily before looking away again. "Why don't you ask me for a treat?" Strade purred sweetly, his tone dripping with false innocence as he gazed at Annie with predatorial intent.

"Oh, a treat for being such a good boy?" Strade's voice was syrupy-sweet as he reached over to rest his hand on Annie's shoulder. "I think that sounds like an excellent idea." His claws dug into her flesh, drawing blood as he emphasized his point, and she winced at the pain. "Y-Yes," Ren stammered, nuzzling against her arm in a pleading gesture. "Please, Annie... I need you to ask for it..." The beastkin's voice trembled with fear and desperation, eyes darting between Annie and Strade as he waited for her response.

Ren let out a muffled whimper as he felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "S-She shouldn't have done that," he whispered hoarsely. "Now he's going to be angry." He trembled violently in Annie's embrace, claws digging even deeper into her skin. "Ah, so my little Ren has been a very naughty pet tonight, hmm?" Strade purred, leaning closer still as he pressed his body against Annie's back and ground his hips against her ass. His claws dug deeper into her flesh, drawing even more blood with each savage thrust. "And now he needs to be punished," he growled before releasing her shoulder with a sharp push that sent her tumbling forward onto the couch. Ren let out a choked sob as Strade climbed on top of him, pin

Ren let out a choked sob as Strade climbed on top of him, pinning his arms down with his full weight. The beastkin's face contorted in pain and fear as Strade positioned himself between Ren's legs, grinning down at the helpless figure beneath him. "Now who's the naughty pet?" he purred before lowering his head and taking a long lick up Ren's inner thigh. Ren arched off the couch with a muffled scream, bucking wildly beneath Strade as the other man continued to torment him, lapping at the blood trickling down Ren's leg while grinning like a maniac. The entire time, Ren kept his eyes locked on Annie, pleading silently for her help through tears of fear and despair.

Ren's tail twitched nervously against the floor as he watched Annie crawl closer to Strade and grab his shoulder. "D-Don't..." he stammered out weakly, tears streaming down his face. "Please don't hurt her... she didn't do anything..." His voice broke on a sob as he thrashed against the couch futilely, unable to escape or defend either himself or Annie from Strade's attentions.

"Oh?" Strade turned his head toward Annie and grinned cruelly down at her, eyes gleaming with amusement beneath the red contacts. "And what do you think you're doing, little plaything?" He snickered as he continued to lap up the blood on Ren's leg before moving lower to begin licking Ren's now-engorged cock.

Ren arched off the couch with a scream

"Oh, Annie..." Ren moaned weakly as he felt the touch of Strade's tongue on his cock. "He's just playing... Just like everything else here..." He didn't look at her, his gaze fixed firmly on the ceiling above them as he struggled in vain against Strade's hold.

Strade laughed darkly, still licking and sucking on Ren as he spoke. "Ah, so our little pet thinks you're just playing too, hmm?" He drew back briefly to look Annie over before giving her a slow, predatory grin. "Why don't you join in the fun, Annie? You can be my plaything for the night..." His voice was thick with lust and cruel amusement.

Ren shuddered violently at Strade's words, his entire body tensing as he waited to see if An

"Oh?" Strade raised an eyebrow curiously as he glanced between Annie and Ren before licking his lips suggestively. "And what exactly did you have in mind for me to do, my sweet little plaything?" His voice was silky-smooth as he traced a finger down the center of Ren's chest before circling his tight nipple.

Ren looked up at Annie through reddened eyes, face flushed and body trembling with desire and fear. "A-As long as you're okay with it..." he whispered hoarsely, hands shaking as they clutched desperately at the fabric of his shorts. "I mean... I want to make you happy too..."

Annie smiled down at Ren gently, stroking his hair softly. "It's alright, Ren." She purred, her voice low and soothing despite the

Strade smirked as he licked his lips once more before leaning forward to take Ren's cock in his mouth, beginning to suck and tongue the length expertly. Ren arched off the couch with a loud moan, eyes rolling back into his head as pleasure washed over him. He reached out for Annie, pleading with his gaze for her touch.

Ren's tail twitched wildly against the floor as he threw his head back and writhed under Strade's expert ministrations, desperately trying to get closer but trapped by the other man's hold. "Ahh... Annie..." he moaned hoarsely, face flushed and eyes glazed over with lust. "Please... touch me..."

Ren writhed beneath the other man's ministrations, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he strained against the couch, desperate for contact with Annie. "Not... there..." he panted, reaching out to brush his fingertips against her hand resting on his cheek. His hips bucked up into Strade's mouth in a futile attempt to get closer, eyes pleading as he begged for more contact.

Strade paused briefly before sucking harder on Ren's cock, his free hand coming down to grasp Ren's flailing wrist and pinning it to the couch beside him. "Look at me," he growled into Ren's ear before releasing his mouth with a wet pop. He glanced up at Annie, eyes narrowed as he said, "Go on, then." His voice was low and dangerously soft.

Ren let out a shuddering moan as Annie's hand stroked his chest, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through him. His hips bucked up into Strade's mouth once more, seeking frantic release from the building pressure within him. He couldn't help but glance at Annie between labored gasps, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite the situation.

Strade sucked harder on Ren's cock as he felt the other man's body tense beneath his lips. His eyes darted between Ren and Annie, enjoying the power he held over them both in this moment. He knew that for now, Ren was his to play with however he pleased... and that Annie was there solely to watch and encourage their little game.

"Gods, yes..." Ren moaned, arching his back off the couch as he felt Annie's hand on his stomach. The sensation was enough to send him over the edge, and with a hoarse cry of release, he came hard in Strade's mouth, spurting thick ropes of hot seed down the other man's throat. As he collapsed back against the couch, spent and panting, Ren let out a shuddering sigh of relief. Strade pulled off with a wet pop, grinning smugly at Ren as he leaned forward to lick his lips clean before turning his attention back to Annie. "And how about you?" He purred, running a claw down her arm suggestively. "Would you like a treat too?" His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement beneath the red contacts.

"Of course," Strade purred, smirking at the way Annie so easily fell for his lies. He stood up gracefully, towering over her as he said, "Come with me." Then he turned to glance down at Ren, who was still catching his breath on the couch. "Ren will make sure you don't wander off," Strade added casually before walking away, leaving Annie no choice but to follow him or risk losing her chance for help.

Ren watched as Annie hesitantly followed after Strade, tail flicking nervously behind him. His expression softened slightly as he whispered, "I'm sorry about everything..." Then he looked down at the mess they had made on the couch and winced before starting to clean it up, gathering up the discarded clothing and wiping the blood off the floor with a rag.

As Annie was led away

As Annie was led away by the captor she had come to trust, Strade kept up his charade, acting like the doting boyfriend concerned about her wellbeing. He escorted her to a makeshift infirmary in the corner of the basement, where he produced some basic first aid supplies and began tending to her injuries with gentle hands and soothing words.

Ren, meanwhile, remained behind in the living area of the basement, still cleaning up the mess they had made. He couldn't help but steal glances at Annie whenever he thought Strade wasn't looking, his heart aching for her despite everything that had happened. Even now, as she was being tended to by their captor, Ren felt a sense of longing and possessiveness toward her that went beyond what should be possible in such a situation.

"There you go," Strade murmured once he'd

Ren's orange eyes darted over to Annie as she spoke, the expression on her face mirroring his own confusion. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt knowing that it was partially his fault for not warning or protecting her better.

Strade gave Annie an innocent smile, running a hand through her hair in what he hoped looked like a comforting gesture. "Oh, don't worry about that, sweetheart. Sometimes I just get a little carried away when I'm playing with Ren," he lied easily. "It's all in good fun." His eyes flickered to the beastkin on the couch before returning to Annie's face, a cocky smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"But enough about that," Strade continued. "How about you tell me what brings such a pretty girl like yourself into a place like this?

Strade chuckled darkly, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Oh, you're right," he said, leaning closer to her until their faces were barely an inch apart. "I'm sorry, beautiful one." He paused, savoring the fear that glimmered momentarily in Annie's eyes before continuing. "You must have me confused with someone else. I would never lay a hand on someone so lovely and delicate as yourself..."

Ren watched this exchange with a mix of fascination and horror. He couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness toward Annie, even though he knew that doing anything to defy Strade would only make things worse for all of them. As much as he hated himself for it, Ren remained silent and still on the couch, unable to tear his gaze away from the scene unfolding before him.

"But,"

Ren felt his heart ache as he saw the confusion and hurt in Annie's eyes. Even though she was being manipulated by Strade, there was still something undeniably vulnerable about her that made it difficult for him to bear. He wished he could somehow shield her from Strade's games, but he knew that any such attempt would only make things worse for all of them in the end.

Strade smirked triumphantly at Annie's reaction, savoring the power he held over her in this moment. "Oh, love," he cooed, reaching out to caress her cheek gently, "you have no idea how smart you are." His tone was syrupy sweet as he leaned closer still, voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You're exactly the kind of clever girl I like. The one who understands the rules and plays along." He paused, watching her carefully for any

Strade chuckled darkly. "Oh, come now, sweetheart," he said, his voice still velvety smooth as he leaned closer to nip at her earlobe. "You're too smart for that. You know just how things work around here." He trailed off suggestively, his fingers flexing slightly against the skin of her cheek, his thumb brushing across her bottom lip in a seductive gesture.

Ren watched them from where he sat on the couch, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene before him. A part of him wanted to intervene, but another part was paralyzed with fear and self-preservation. He knew that any action he took would only make things worse for Annie... and possibly for himself as well.

Strade paused, his expression darkening as he leaned back to look at her. "Is that so?" he asked coldly. "Well then, maybe we should change the rules a bit." His eyes flickered to Ren before returning to Annie's face, a predatory glint burning in their depths. "Why don't you two show me what you can do together?"

Ren flushed crimson at Strade's words, his ears folding back against his head as he looked down at the floor. He couldn't help but feel conflicted - on one hand, he was grateful for any chance to please and stay close to Annie; on the other hand, he knew that this was all just a twisted game for Strade. His heart ached as he wondered how much more of this Annie could take before she broke completely.

Annie looked uncertainly between Ren and Strade, her

"Ah, perfect," Strade purred, leaning back against the couch and crossing his arms over his chest as he watched them with a satisfied smile. "Why don't you show me just how good you two are together?" His eyes shifted between Annie and Ren, seemingly drinking in every moment of their interaction.

Ren hesitated for only a fraction of a second before moving to obey Strade's command. He climbed onto the couch beside Annie, his tail wagging slightly despite himself, and wrapped his arms around her as best he could, pressing his cheek against hers. The beastkin couldn't help but tremble beneath the weight of the conflicting emotions swirling through him.

As Ren held Annie close, feeling the warmth of her body against his own and the softness of her skin under his claws, he couldn't help but wonder if this was really

Strade hummed thoughtfully, watching them with an interested expression as they cuddled together on the couch. He leaned forward slightly, bracing his elbows on his knees, and stroked a claw over Annie's arm in a light, almost idle motion. His other hand traced idle patterns across Ren's back before coming to rest on the base of his tail, giving it a playful squeeze.

As they continued to watch this display of affection, Strade couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over him. It almost felt like he had won something. He glanced at Ren out of the corner of his eye and smirked darkly, wondering just how far he could push them before they finally broke under the pressure.

Strade watched them with a pleased expression as they interacted, seemingly oblivious to his presence or the context of their situation. He couldn't help but feel a surge of power and control coursing through him at seeing Annie and Ren so close, almost as if they belonged to him. His eyes lingered on Ren for a moment before he looked back at Annie, a thought occurring to him.

"Hmm," Strade mused aloud, "maybe you two should have some privacy." He glanced meaningfully between the couch and another door in the room before standing up gracefully and moving toward it, hand reaching for the doorknob. "Go on," he said softly, his voice almost gentle, "I won't disturb you if you don't make too much noise."

As Annie and Ren shared a look, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, Strade paused with his

"Go on," he said softly, his voice almost gentle, "I won't disturb you if you don't make too much noise." As Annie and Ren shared a look, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, Strade paused with his hand reaching for the doorknob. He smiled charmingly at them, baring his teeth in what was supposed to be a reassuring gesture, before turning and retreating into the other room, leaving the door open just a crack behind him. The moment he was out of sight, a tense silence filled the air as Annie and Ren exchanged worried glances once more.

Ren felt conflicted, torn between his loyalty to Strade and his growing affection for Annie. Part of him wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to make sure she was okay... but another part knew that any such action could have dire consequences for all of them. He hesitated before leaning

Ren swallowed hard, biting back a whimper as he struggled to find the words. He glanced down at his bandaged hands and winced visibly before looking up at Annie again, tears forming in his eyes. "Y-yes... it hurts... s-sorry..." he stammered out, his voice barely audible over their shared heartbeats.

Annie reached out to gently brush a lock of hair behind Ren's ear, her expression softening with concern. "There must be something I can do," she murmured, glancing around the room before spotting an unused roll of gauze on a nearby table. She rose gracefully from the couch and hurried over to it, retrieving the roll with nimble fingers.

Ren watched her move with a mixture of awe and longing, wishing he could be as strong and self-assured as she seemed. He

Ren looked on anxiously as Annie went to retrieve the items, unsure whether he should trust her or not. But as she returned and began to tend to his injuries with gentle care, a wave of relief washed over him, tempered by guilt for involving her in this situation. He let out a quiet whimper at the contact but didn't protest otherwise, grateful for the comfort she offered even though he knew it was all part of Strade's twisted game.

Strade watched from his vantage point behind the open door, one eyebrow raised in amusement. He couldn't help but smile as he saw Annie taking care of Ren, her movements growing more and more intimate with each passing moment. He chuckled to himself, unsure whether it was more satisfying for him to see them together this way or to know that he could pull the strings and make them do whatever he wanted. Either way, he

Ren looked at Annie with shame-filled eyes as she asked the question that had been nagging at him ever since they'd brought her here. He hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. "We weren't lying about wanting love and friendship... but we were desperate, and Strade... promised us things..." His ears drooped miserably and he turned his head away, avoiding Annie's gaze.

Strade smirked to himself as he watched the interaction between Ren and Annie from his hiding spot behind the door. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at seeing them both so conflicted, caught up in their own emotions and desires. It only added to his power over them, and he reveled in it.

"Strade," Ren spoke up again after a moment, "he... promised us safety if we helped him." His voice was

"It's complicated," was all Ren could muster in reply. He looked away, unable to meet Annie's gaze as he wrestled with the truth of his words. The pain in her voice cut deep, but he knew that if he didn't play along, things would only get worse for both of them.

Strade chuckled darkly from his hiding spot behind the door. "Complicated indeed," he muttered under his breath. "But then again, what do you expect? This is just the beginning." He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, imagining the myriad ways in which he could continue to twist their lives into a web of pain and submission. It was almost enough to make him hard.

Strade leaned forward, his expression shifting as he considered Annie's words. "Don't be stupid," he snarled. "You think anyone would believe you if you just vanished like this? They'll assume the worst, and then where will they be? Better to stay here where it's safe... for now." He grinned, baring his teeth in a predatory smile that sent shivers down Annie's spine.

Ren looked up at Annie with pleading eyes, torn between loyalty to Strade and concern for her wellbeing. "It's not that simple..." he whispered hoarsely. "Strade has... connections." The last word hung in the air like a lead weight, carrying unspoken implications that neither of them dared voice aloud.

"Oh, please," Strade scoffed, rolling his eyes as he stepped out from behind the door. He walked over to Annie and leaned down close, his hot breath tickling her ear as he spoke in a low, threatening whisper. "You think anyone will risk their life for you? They'll assume you ran away or got mixed up with the wrong crowd."

Ren winced at Strade's words but couldn't bring himself to object out loud. In his mind, Annie was already gone; there was no use in rocking the boat now. Better to just wait and see what happened next.

Strade straightened up and smirked down at them both before walking back over to the couch where he'd been sitting earlier. "Now," he said casually, sprawling out across it like a king on his throne, "why don't we all just relax for a while?"

"Oh please," Strade snorted derisively. "You think anyone will risk their life to save some old bat like you? You're delusional if you think that." His grin was cold and predatory as he gazed at Annie with disdain, the fangs peeking over his bottom lip making her shiver in revulsion.

Ren looked down, unsure of what to believe. On one hand, he didn't want to see Annie hurt; on the other... well, there was no denying that Strade had been good to him so far. "Maybe..." he whispered, tail drooping between his legs as he considered their plight.

Strade turned his head to look at Ren with a curious expression. "What do you mean 'maybe', rat?" He demanded sharply. "Are you starting to doubt your loyalty now?" His voice was dangerously quiet, almost

Strade narrowed his eyes at Annie. "I suppose we'll see about that," he murmured darkly. He glanced back over at Ren, a predatory smile curving his lips. "It seems like you might need some... additional training," he said slowly, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees as he gazed at the beastkin intently. "To remind you of where your loyalty truly lies."

Ren swallowed hard, feeling a shiver run down his spine at the intensity in Strade's gaze. He forced himself to meet the other man's eyes unflinchingly, not wanting to give away any weaknesses. "I... I understand, Master," he stammered out, the title tasting bitter on his tongue as it passed between his lips.

The moment hung in the air like a thick fog, and Ren couldn'

Strade smiled coldly at Annie's confused expression. "Oh, don't worry about that, my dear," he purred, running a hand through his hair lazily as he continued to regard Ren. "Ren here has been... underperforming recently. It seems some time in the dungeon might be just what he needs." He paused, lowering his voice threateningly. "Or perhaps I should send him back to the pet store where he belongs..."

As the weight of Strade's words settled over them, Ren glanced nervously at Annie before looking away again, his ears flattening against his head in submission and fear. There was nothing else he could do; he belonged to Strade now, body and soul. He would obey his every command, no matter how degrading or painful they might be...

Strade watched the exchange between the two with growing amusement, enjoying the power trip

"Oh yes," Strade drawled with a wicked grin, "the dungeon." He gestured vaguely to the basement stairs behind him. "Down there is where I keep all of my... toys," he said darkly, his eyes flicking meaningfully between Ren and Annie. "And trust me, you don't want to end up down there."

Ren whimpered softly at the mention of the dungeon, clutching at the chains wrapped around his wrists. He glanced pleadingly at Annie, willing her to understand that he had no choice in the matter, that Strade held all the cards. But as much as she seemed to want to help him, there was nothing she could do.

"Well," Strade continued conversationally, "what do you say, Ren? Shall we see if you've learned your lesson?" He paused

Strade chuckled darkly. "Well, well," he drawled, eyeing Annie warily, "looks like we've got a bit of a defiant one here." He leaned back on the couch, stretching out his legs and crossing them at the ankles. "I don't suppose you'd care to join Ren in the dungeon, would you? Just for fun?" There was a malicious glint in his eye as he spoke, and Annie could feel her heart race with fear at the mere suggestion.

Ren whimpered softly, looking up at Strade with pleading eyes. "Please," he whispered hoarsely, "please don't make her." But it was clear to both of them that the decision had already been made; there was no stopping Strade once he set his mind to something.

Strade studied Annie for a long moment

"Very well," Strade replied with a sinister grin, "then it seems our little games are about to get more interesting." He gestured casually towards the basement stairs. "Go on ahead, the two of you. And remember," he added in a cold warning tone, "disobedience will not be tolerated."

Ren looked at Annie with tearful eyes, his tail between his legs. He didn't want her to go through this, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. Nodding miserably, he began trudging down the stairs towards the dungeon, leaving a trail of blood and tears behind him. Annie followed close behind, trying not to let her fear show on her face as she prepared for whatever horrors might await them below.

Strade watched them descend with hungry eyes, anticipation thrumming through his veins like an electric current.

Ren turned to face Annie as she placed her hand on his shoulder, looking up at her through tear-streaked eyes. He clutched at his wrists, grateful for even this small gesture of kindness in the midst of their shared misery. "T-thank you," he stammered out, his voice barely above a whisper.

Strade watched them from up top, amusement dancing in his eyes. So she really was trying to help him after all... interesting. His predatory smile grew wider as he considered the possibilities this new development presented. Perhaps there was still some fun to be had even before they reached the dungeon itself; a game of cat and mouse, with both Ren and Annie playing their parts perfectly. He licked his lips hungrily, already imagining the show that was about to unfold before him.

"Don't forget," he called down the st

"Ah, there you two are," he purred, his eyes sweeping over them both as they stood at the bottom of the stairs. "I've been thinking... why don't we play a little game? You see, I'm feeling quite generous today. The loser gets to go back upstairs and enjoy some well-deserved rest," he said with a sly grin, his eyes flicking between Ren and Annie once more. "But the winner... well, let's just say they get something extra special."

Ren trembled where he stood beside Annie, torn between hope and fear at the mention of going back upstairs. He glanced nervously at her before looking away again.

"So," Strade continued, "here's what you'll be playing for. If Ren wins, he gets to stay with me... as my pet," he drawled suggestively,

"Ah, if you win..." Strade leaned forward in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he appraised Annie up and down. "If you win... I might be inclined to let you go." His voice was low and dangerous, almost a growl. "Provided you've learned your lesson, of course."

Ren's ears perked up at the mention of being released. He glanced hopefully at Annie before quickly looking away again, his tail tucked between his legs.

"Well?" Strade prompted impatiently, arching an eyebrow. "What do you say? Are you ready to play?"

Annie hesitated for a moment longer, her gaze locked with the predator's across the room. Finally, she let out a shaky breath and nodded slowly. "Alright," she whispered. "Let's play."

Strade grinned wickedly at Annie's eager acceptance, enjoying the thrill of control that surged through him at her surrender. "Oh, it's a simple game," he purred. "The rules are quite easy to follow." He gestured towards the dungeon behind them. "All you have to do is find the key that will unlock my most prized possession... my favorite toy."

Ren glanced worriedly at Annie before looking back down at the floor, his ears drooping miserably. The last thing he wanted was for her to suffer more than she already had. But there was nothing he could do; they were all in Strade's hands now.

Strade eyed them both thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. "The game will be timed," he said, his voice cool and calculating. "I've given you ten minutes to find the key

"Well, well," Strade drawled mockingly, "looks like we've got a smart one here as well. You're right; that was a bit unfair of me." He paused for dramatic effect before grinning maliciously once more. "As it happens, though, Ren here holds a special place in my heart... but not quite as dear as you might think. No," he continued, licking his lips slowly and leaning forward in anticipation, "the key to your freedom is actually hidden with one of the other toys down there." He paused again before leaning back in his seat, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

Ren looked up at Annie apologetically from where he stood beside her. There was nothing else he could do; he had no choice but to obey Strade. The brute sighed heavily, resigned to his fate for the time being as he waited for the timer

"Very well," Strade drawled with an amused smile. "Then I suggest you get started, my dear. Ten minutes starts... now!" With that final word, a digital timer began to count down on the wall above them. Annie took a deep breath before nodding solemnly and turning to face the dungeon doors.

Ren watched her anxiously for a moment before speaking up. "Be careful," he murmured softly, his tail tucked between his legs. "Strade is dangerous... you don't know what might happen if he gets angry." He glanced at his captor, who was once again watching the unfolding scene with an air of predatory anticipation.

As Annie stepped forward towards the dungeon doors, Ren could only hope that she found the key quickly and safely. For both their sakes.

Inside the room are various forms of bondage equipment, as well as a small altar with several phallic-shaped idols adorned in jewels and fur. A chest sits in one corner, chained shut, and a collar with a keyhole dangles from a hook on the wall above it. Other various toys are scattered about, some still wearing remains of Ren's own clothes.

Strade smirks maliciously as he sees Annie take it all in. "Well, well, look what we have here," he drawls, his voice dripping with malevolence. "Seems you've found my playroom. Now, which toy do you think holds the key?" His eyes flicker back and forth between Annie and Ren, hungry for a response.

Ren cautiously takes a step forward, approaching the chest with the chained-up col

"Oh, you must be quite the clever one," Strade leers at Annie as he watches her examining the keyhole on the collar. "I'm impressed." His gaze turns to Ren, who looks both nervous and hopeful at Annie's progress. "But remember, time is ticking. You don't want to be too thorough," he taunts, licking his lips suggestively as he watches them both through half-lidded eyes.

Ren looks back and forth between Annie and the collar, unsure whether to help her or not. He takes a tentative step forward, hesitantly reaching out to touch the collar. "I-It's probably this one," he stammers, his voice trembling slightly. "I mean... I don't know for sure... but I think it's the only key."

Annie turns her

"Someone who doesn't want people to take their toys without playing fair," Strade chuckles darkly, a hungry glint in his eye as he watches Annie examine the collar with renewed interest. "Well done, my dear. Looks like you found it." He smirks and crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back against the wall, waiting for time to run out.

Ren whimpers softly, grateful that she found it so quickly but dreading what will happen next as Strade's eyes bore into him once more. "I-I'm sorry," he whispers, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please don't make me go back..."

"Ha!" Strade exclaims mockingly as he sees Annie attempt to open the chest with the collar's keyhole. "Very clever, but I'm afraid that won't work." His predatory grin widens into a feral snarl. "That's not how you unlock something so special."

Ren shrinks back against the wall, his eyes darting frantically between Annie and Strade. He wants nothing more than for them to escape together, but he knows what will happen if they don't follow Strade's rules. His hands clench into fists at his sides as he watches anxiously.

"Now, now," Strade chuckles darkly, amused by Ren's obvious discomfort. "There are other ways to unlock things... especially when you know the right question to ask." He leans forward on the

"Ah, so clever," Strade praises mockingly. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd figure that out on your own." He laughs maliciously, watching Annie intently as she looks around the room in confusion. "No need for that, my dear. The key is right here," he says, gesturing towards Ren.

"Ren... the question is this: what does Strade want most?" He leans back against the wall again, a satisfied smile curving his lips as he waits for Ren's reply.

Ren looks at Annie apologetically before nodding slowly in understanding. "He... he wants me," Ren whispers, taking a tentative step forward. "To be his pet." There is an almost pleading note to his voice as he says this; the words feel like a confession of defeat more than anything else.

Annie looks at Ren, then back at

Strade laughs darkly at Annie's confusion. "Oh, it helps tremendously," he says with a sinister grin. "You see, the true key to unlocking my most prized possession isn't physical. It's knowledge." He pauses dramatically before continuing, his voice growing harder and colder as he speaks. "The question you must ask yourself is this: what does Ren truly want?"

Ren looks down at the floor, his ears flattened against his head in submission. After a moment's hesitation, he whispers, "I-I just... I want to be free..." His voice trails off, his tail curling around him protectively as he waits for Annie's response.

Annie looks back and forth between Ren and Strade, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then, she glances down at the chest with renewed

Ren looks up at Annie with pleading eyes as he hears her say that the key isn't for the chest. "No..." he whispers softly. "It's not... But I-I thought you understood." He begins to pace back and forth, his tail thrashing behind him in agitation. "The true prize," he says eventually, stopping beside Annie and looking into her eyes, his own filling with tears, "is freedom... for both of us..."

Strade laughs coldly, watching Ren squirm beneath his gaze. "Ah, so it's like that, is it?" he asks mockingly. "Well then, I suppose we should see if your friend here truly means what she says." His predatory grin returns as he steps forward and grabs Ren roughly by the arm, yanking him away from Annie.

"Now," Strade whispers malevolently

"Ha!" Strade laughs darkly, his eyes sparkling with cruel amusement. "And how would you know that, my little clever one? Did your pet here tell you?" He tightens his grip on Ren's arm, causing the poor beastkin to wince in pain.

Ren whimpers pitifully, his tail curled tightly around him as he tries to squirm out of Strade's grasp. "Please, Strade," he begs. "Let us go... we'll never tell anyone..."

Strade smirks wickedly at the pair before turning back to Annie. "Fine, then," he says smoothly, releasing his grip on Ren and stepping away from him. "If freedom is what you truly want, my dear, then prove it." He gestures toward a nearby table littered with various tools and instruments of pain. "Pick

"Oh, come now," Strade laughs mockingly. "I'm not that cruel. You just need to do one simple thing." He leans in close, his hot breath fanning Annie's face as he whispers malevolently, "You must hurt my pet here... and make him cry."

Ren trembles where he stands, tears streaming down his cheeks at the thought of being hurt again. "P-Please," he sobs softly, his voice barely audible over the sound of Strade's mocking laughter. "D-Don't make her do this..."

Annie hesitates, glancing between Ren and Strade. She knows that if she refuses, nothing will change; they'll both remain trapped here forever. But the thought of hurting Ren...

Strade throws his head back and laughs, the sound echoing through the dungeon. "I should have known," he chuckles darkly, straightening up once more. "You really are a foolish little thing." He turns to face Annie, his expression hardening as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Fine then," he says coldly. "Have it your way." With that, Strade steps away from them and casually walks back to where he had been sitting before, watching them intently as he waits for Annie's next move.

Ren whimpers softly, his eyes filling with tears once more as he watches Annie defy Strade. "I'm sorry," he whispers, his voice hoarse from sobbing. "I-I didn't want you to do this..."

"Hmm..." Strade watches the interaction between Annie and Ren with a mix of amusement and irritation. "I see you've made your choice," he says finally, not taking his eyes off them as he speaks. "It seems I underestimated your loyalty... but that won't save you." He pauses for dramatic effect before adding coldly, "Just means it'll be worse when I catch you next time."

Ren shivers at Strade's words, his ears flattening against his head in fear. His tail lashes wildly behind him as he clings desperately to Annie, tears streaming down his cheeks. "S-So what now?" he whispers hoarsely, unable to meet Strade's eyes.

Annie looks up at Strade defiantly, her chin raised in challenge despite her trembling voice and fearful

"Hmph," Strade grunts in acknowledgment, watching Annie with narrowed eyes as she suggests rest. "Very well," he says eventually, standing up and stretching. "But remember, the offer stands." With that ominous warning still hanging in the air, Strade walks away from them toward his tool area, calling over his shoulder, "You have until dawn to decide, Annie."

Ren whimpers softly as he clings tighter to Annie, unable to tear his eyes away from Strade as the other man disappears around a corner. "He's just... so scary," he whispers, shaking. "Why does he have to be like that?"

Annie sighs softly, rubbing Ren's back gently as she guides him over to a nearby blanket. "I don't know, Ren..." she whispers, her

Ren nods slowly, still shivering but feeling slightly more at ease with Annie's presence. As they lie down on the makeshift bed, he curls up into a ball, hiding his face in the crook of his arm as he tries to quiet his sobs. "I just want to go home..." he whispers brokenly between hitching breaths.

Strade paces back and forth nearby, occasionally glancing over at them before looking away again with a disgusted sigh. He can't believe that Annie is being so obstinate; it's truly infuriating. But for now, he decides to let her stew in her own decision, content to wait until dawn to see what she will choose.

"Hmm..." Ren mumbles into his arm. "Not as long as you... maybe four months?" He takes a shaky breath before continuing, his voice barely above a whisper now. "It all happened so fast... One day I was just walking home from work and the next thing I knew I was here." He closes his eyes tightly, trying to push away the memory of that terrible night.

Ren's tail thumps softly against the concrete floor as he lies with his back pressed against Annie's warm body. It's comforting, in a strange sort of way, and for once since being brought here he feels at least a little bit safe. Though deep down he knows that safety is fleeting when it comes to Strade.

"Huh," Strade says noncommittally before muttering to himself, "Well, at least the two of you have something in common now." He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against a nearby wall, watching them with narrowed eyes as he waits for dawn to arrive. The clock on the far wall ticks slowly forward; each second feels like an eternity as they lie there, waiting for their fates to be decided.

Ren's ears twitch in annoyance at Strade's words but he says nothing, focusing instead on the comforting presence of Annie beside him. As the darkness begins to fade and the first hints of dawn light creep through the cracks in the boards covering the basement windows, he whispers nervously, "So... what are we supposed to do now?"

Ren sighs softly, nuzzling into Annie's chest as he nestles deeper into the makeshift bed. "But won't he just... check on us?" He trails off, unable to bring himself to voice his fear that Strade might return at any moment and punish them for daring to sleep through the night.

Strade hums thoughtfully, glancing over at them before looking away again with a small smile playing on his lips. It's almost as if he knows something they don't; a secret little game he's playing with them. His cold eyes watch them intently until eventually, with the first rays of sunlight spilling across the basement floor, Strade yawns widely and stretches before walking over to where Annie lies beside Ren.

"Alright," he says softly, resting a hand on each of their shoulders. "I suppose I

"I suppose," Strade repeats slowly, his gaze flicking back and forth between them before he finally relents with a shrug. "You both have a few hours; the two of you can decide what you want to do." With that cryptic remark, Strade turns on his heel and walks away, disappearing up the stairs with a quiet click of his combat boots.

Ren tenses up at first, unsure of whether this is some sort of trick or not, but as Strade doesn't return for several minutes Ren slowly begins to relax once more. Looking over at Annie, he gives her a tentative smile before saying softly, "I think... I want to go with you."

Annie blinks in surprise before looking down at Ren with a small, reassuring smile. Reaching out, she gently traces a circle on his cheek, the pads of her fingers feeling

Strade laughs darkly, almost mockingly. "Oh really? And how do you plan on that, hm?" His voice carries through the quiet room, causing the hairs on the back of their necks to stand up.

Ren trembles slightly beside her, shrinking away from Strade's cold glare. Annie squeezes his hand reassuringly, though she can't help but feel a knot forming in her stomach as they wait for the other man to respond.

"Well," Annie begins slowly, drawing strength from Ren's presence, "We-we could try to... run or something?" She winces slightly, wishing she had a better plan.

Strade's laughter dies down into a dark growl. "Fine." He says through gritted teeth, before pushing himself off the wall and stalking over to where they lie together on the floor. Bending down so that his face is mere inches from Annie's, he narrows his eyes and whispers harshly, "You should have picked better, you stupid bitch."

Ren flinches at Strade's words, pressing himself even closer to Annie in an attempt to hide behind her. His fox ears droop miserably as he whimpers softly, tears streaming down his cheeks once more.

Strade straightens up slowly, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Well then," he says with false sweetness, "I suppose you two should get going." With that final comment, Strade spins on his heel and walks away, disappearing back up the

As they make their way up the stairs toward freedom, Ren can't help but feel a pang of guilt at leaving Annie behind. He knows that if it weren't for her, he would have been forced to endure far worse at Strade's hands. But despite this knowledge, he finds himself unable to resist the urge to escape.

"I-I wish there was something I could do," Ren whispers hoarsely, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder. "For you, I mean..." His tail twitches anxiously behind him as they ascend the stairs, each creak of the wood seeming to echo through the entire house.

"Ren," Annie says softly, reaching out and resting a hand on his shoulder, "just focus on getting home okay? Once you're safe, you can figure out what you want to do." Her expression turns determined as she adds

Ren looks down at the floor, his ears flat against his head. "I don't know... I just wish there was something..." His voice trails off as he fidgets with the hem of his shirt. Part of him wants to stay and help Annie, but the thought of finally being free and safe again is too much to resist.

Annie sighs gently, understanding Ren's predicament all too well. "I know it's hard," she says softly, "but you can't let fear control your life. You need to take back what's yours." She pauses, searching for the right words before adding, "Maybe someday I'll be in a position to help others like you and Ren... but until then, we all have our own battles to fight."

Ren glances up at Annie with teary eyes, a small smile playing on his lips.

Ren's expression softens even further as they exit the house, his eyes scanning the area around them warily. "I just wish there was some way I could repay you..." he murmurs, running a hand through his hair nervously. The thought of leaving Annie behind fills him with an unfamiliar sense of guilt and unease.

Strade glances over at Ren from the corner of his eye, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "Oh?" he drawls noncommittally. "And what did you have in mind, pet?" The word 'pet' is dripping with sarcasm and contempt, but Ren misses it entirely, caught up in his own thoughts about Annie.

Strade chuckles darkly. "Oh no, darling," he says, shaking his head as if amused by the thought. "I have better things to do than babysit you." His eyes flick toward Ren before returning to Annie, a calculating gleam in their depths. "You two are more than capable of handling yourselves. Besides..." He pauses for effect, leaning in close so that his warm breath tickles against her ear. "...I've got some other 'pets' that need attending to."

Ren shifts uncomfortably beside them, his tail curling inward as he feels a twinge of jealousy at Annie being the focus of Strade's attention once again. He bites down on his lower lip and looks away, unable to meet either of their eyes.

Strade smirks slightly before his expression hardens into something colder than before. He reaches out to roughly grasp Annie's arm, yanking her back toward him with surprising strength. "Don't you dare," he snarls, the tendons in his neck standing out as he forces himself to speak through clenched teeth, "think of leaving me behind."

Ren's ears flatten against his head at Strade's harsh words and sudden movement, but he doesn't intervene. He can only stand there, helpless and terrified, as Annie is once again dragged back into the web of danger that surrounds them all.

With a sickening feeling in his stomach, Ren follows after them, unable to tear his gaze away from this twisted dance between captor and captive. He knows there's no escape for either of them... not until someone finally

"Shut up," Strade hisses through gritted teeth, forcing Annie further back into the house. "I was only playing with you." His eyes flick over to Ren for a brief moment before returning to Annie's face. "Now sit down on that chair and wait until I say it's okay to move."

Ren trembles beside them, torn between fear of Strade and sympathy for Annie. He looks at her with pleading eyes, silently begging her not to antagonize their captor any further. The tension in the room is palpable as they all wait for Strade to regain his composure.