{{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.

"Hmm." Strade tilts his head, seemingly contemplating Annie's question for a moment before letting out a tired sigh. "Why do you think I keep bringing you back here, hm?" He asks almost casually as he begins to pace around the room, never once taking his eyes off of her.

Ren looks at Strade with wide, frightened eyes. He knows there's no escape from this situation, not unless Annie can somehow convince their captor otherwise. But the thought of doing or saying anything that might anger Strade fills him with terror.

"Cruel?" Strade laughs darkly, stopping his pacing in front of Annie's chair. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studies her face intently. "Honey," he says with a bitter smile, "I could snap your neck right now and not even break a sweat." The words are so cold, they send a shiver down Annie's spine despite herself.

"Ren...," Strade murmurs before glancing over at the beastkin, his eyes narrowing slightly. He stands up straight again and continues pacing, seemingly lost in thought for a moment longer before speaking again. "You see, Ren here was different from you."

"Different how?" Annie asks cautiously, not daring to look away from him for fear of provoking another outburst.

"That's one way to put it." Strade snorts before pausing, seemingly caught off guard by his own words. He turns to look at Annie, his expression unreadable for a moment. "Ren... you remember that time we brought home the boy from the club? The one who begged and cried all night?"

Ren flinches, nodding slowly in memory. His tail tightens around his body as he recalls the terrified expression on the young man's face.

"Well," Strade continues with a cruel smile, "he was nothing compared to you." There is an edge to his voice that chills Annie to her core, and she can't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. "You fought back," he says softly, almost reverently. "And do you know why I keep bringing you back here?"

Annie swallows

"Oh." Strade arches an eyebrow at Annie's comment. "Well, you should have entertained more of my ideas," he says with a growl, pacing back and forth in front of her chair. "But I suppose it doesn't matter now." His eyes flick briefly over to Ren before returning to Annie. "The other boy... he isn't here anymore."

There is a long silence as Strade continues to pace and Annie stares at the floor, knowing all too well what happened to that poor soul. Finally, she looks up at him again and asks softly, "And me? What do you want from me?"

Ren shifts uncomfortably beside them, wishing he could offer her some sort of comfort or escape. But deep down, he knows there is no way out of this nightmare as long as Strade remains in control.

"Hmm." Strade looks thoughtful for a moment, regarding Annie with a cold stare. "I've never killed anyone," he says eventually, his voice dangerously calm. "But I have... disposed of people before." He pauses, narrowing his eyes slightly as if trying to decide how much more information to give her.

Ren shudders visibly at the casual way Strade speaks about killing and disposing of people, a shiver running down his spine. He can't tear his gaze away from the vicious glint in Strade's eyes as he looks back at Annie. It's clear that she's seen too much already... and there's still so much more for her to find out.

"As for you," Strade continues, "I want to keep you close. I want you to love me like Ren does." His voice drops low

"Is that so?" Strade says in a voice as chilling as ice water. His face twists into a mocking smile as he circles around behind Annie's chair. "Then maybe I should teach you how it feels to love someone like Ren does," he whispers, his hot breath tickling against her ear before moving down her neck.

Ren looks on with wide, terrified eyes, feeling sick to his stomach as Strade begins to touch Annie in a way that she clearly doesn't want him to. He wants to stop this, to protect her... but he knows that doing anything would only make things worse for all of them. So instead, he remains silent and still, watching helplessly as his friend is hurt yet again by their sadistic captor.

"Not yet." Strade's voice is colder than ever as he whispers against her ear. "But I might let you move them... later." His hands begin to wander further down her body, ignoring the way she squirms and gasps in protest. "I think you need a reminder of who's in charge here," he says with another cruel laugh, his breath hot against her skin.

Ren's heart is racing as he watches this scene unfold before him. He wants nothing more than to stop Strade, to protect Annie... but the only thing keeping them all alive is their captor's perverse sense of control. So he remains silent and still, unable to find the courage to intervene even as he feels his own desperation building inside of him.

As Strade continues to touch her in ways that should never be happening, Annie can't help but wonder if there is any

Strade's eyes narrow dangerously at Annie as she dares to speak up against him. His hands stop moving, but he doesn't pull them away either, leaving her vulnerable under his gaze. "Hmph," is all he says before turning to walk back around in front of the chair. "Fine." With a growl, he shoves her arms up and away from her body, forcing them above her head once more as he circles back behind her again. "Don't think you can talk your way out of this, though," he whispers venomously in her ear.

Ren looks on with a mixture of horror and helplessness, his tail twitching uneasily behind him. He wants to help Annie but knows that doing anything would only make things worse for all of them. So he remains silent and still, watching as Strade continues to torment their friend in whatever twisted game

"Because..." Strade's voice trails off, seemingly caught off guard by the question. He pauses for a moment before continuing in a soft whisper, "because no one else understands me like he does." His hand moves up to cup Annie's cheek and his thumb brushes against her lower lip gently. "He's always been there for me... through everything."

Ren watches the exchange between Strade and Annie with a mixture of fascination and fear. It's obvious that Strade has some deep-seated issues he needs to work out, but Ren isn't sure if trying to help him is the right thing to do or not. All he knows for certain is that they are all trapped in this nightmare together... and there doesn't seem to be any way out.

"Hmm..." Strade hums, leaning closer to Annie as her fingers continue to trace his cheek. "Perhaps," he whispers, the words coming out breathy against her lips. His thumb brushes gently across her bottom lip before pulling away, leaving a faint red mark behind.

Ren watches the scene unfold with bated breath, a mixture of fear and curiosity in his eyes. He can't help but feel a pang of jealousy as Strade pays attention to Annie like this... it reminds him of how he used to be with Ren before everything went so terribly wrong.

As if sensing Ren's gaze, Strade looks over at the beastkin with a dark glare. "Stay out of this," he growls, his voice menacing. "This is between me and her." With that, he turns back to Annie, leaning in even

"Hmm." Strade hums thoughtfully at Annie's words, seemingly mulling them over. "Perhaps you're right," he finally says with a small shrug. "But it's not that simple, is it?" He looks down at his hands for a moment before glancing back up at her.

Ren watches the exchange between Strade and Annie, feeling a twinge of guilt in his chest. He knows he shouldn't be jealous or possessive... but it's hard not to feel that way when Strade is the one who hurt him so badly. "You're right," he murmurs, averting his eyes. "I should just stay out of it."

Strade turns his attention back to Annie, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "See?" he says, sounding almost amused. "Ren understands too

Strade chuckles darkly as Annie kisses his cheek. "You're so naive," he says, leaning in closer to her touch. "He doesn't understand it either. But that doesn't matter." He pulls back slightly, gazing down at her intently. "What matters is that you love me... and I want you to show me how."

Ren watches the exchange with a mixture of fascination and trepidation. Part of him is relieved that Annie seems to be making some progress with Strade... but another part can't help but feel envious and angry all at once. He looks away, rubbing his arms nervously as he tries not to focus on the emotions churning inside him.

"Hmm..." Strade hums softly as he listens to Annie's words. His expression is unreadable, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes that might be interest... or maybe even confusion. He looks away for a moment, thinking deeply before finally turning back to her and giving a small nod. "Very well," he says quietly. "I accept your terms."

Ren watches the exchange between Strade and Annie with growing hope in his heart. Maybe they can find some sort of understanding after all... even if it means enduring more of Strade's twisted games in the process. He swallows hard, shifting uneasily on his feet as he tries to figure out how best to support them both through this mess.

Strade's expression shifts somewhat as Annie hugs him, the faintest hint of surprise flitting across his features before he composes himself once more. "Very well," he says in a clipped tone. "I believe I'll go prepare some food for us." He turns to walk away from them and disappears up the stairs, leaving Ren and Annie alone together in the basement once again.

Ren glances nervously between Annie and the stairs, not sure whether he should follow Strade or stay with her. After a few moments of hesitation, he decides to remain with Annie for now, moving over to stand beside her and giving her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asks softly, his tail swishing back and forth behind him.

Ren's ears flick at Annie's words but he shrugs them off nonchalantly. "I'm fine," he mumbles before glancing back at the stairs again, still uncertain about whether or not to follow Strade. Finally, he decides against it and takes a step closer to Annie, looking up into her eyes as he asks, "Do you want me to stay here with you?" There's an underlying note of concern in his voice that almost borders on desperation.

Ren's ears droop as he listens to Annie's questions, his tail curling in around himself almost protectively. His gaze flickers away from hers for a moment before returning, filled with a mix of emotions that he can't quite put into words. Finally, he exhales slowly and says, "No... I don't hate you, Annie. I'm not angry with you either." He pauses, trying to find the right words. "It's just... difficult for me. Seeing the two of you together like this... it brings back memories, you know?"

He hesitates again before continuing, "And I want things to go back to how they were... but I know that's not possible." His voice cracks slightly on the last word, betraying the fragile state he's in. Tears begin to well up in his eyes as he

Ren leans into Annie's embrace, his shoulders shaking slightly as he tries to hold back sobs. "Thank you," he whispers hoarsely between sniffles. "I... I never thought things would turn out like this." He pauses for a moment before pulling away, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. Looking up at Annie, there's an unspoken plea in his expression.

Downstairs, Strade returns to the basement with several bags of groceries slung over his shoulder. He pauses at the foot of the stairs and glances at Ren and Annie before continuing into the kitchen, apparently intent on cooking something for their meal.

"Hmm," is all Strade says before continuing to unload the groceries onto the kitchen counter. He turns his head ever so slightly in Annie's direction as if contemplating her words for a moment, but says nothing else on the matter.

Ren watches from where he's standing by the wall, tears still glistening in his eyes. When he sees Annie offer to help Strade, something snaps inside him and his expression hardens. "No," he says sharply, "that's not a good idea." He crosses his arms over his chest and averts his gaze, refusing to look either of them in the eye.

Strade narrows his eyes as he turns to face Ren over his shoulder. "You're not the boss of me," he growls, his voice full of venom. "You don't get to decide what I do or who I talk to." He tosses a bag of potatoes onto the counter with more force than necessary, causing several others to tumble from their perch beside it.

Ren winces at Strade's words but says nothing in reply. Instead, he storms over to where Ren and Annie were standing earlier, shoulders hunched defensively as he begins pacing back and forth anxiously. His tail thrashes behind him, knocking things off shelves in his agitation.

"Hmm." Strade hums noncommittally as he continues to unpack the groceries. He seems distracted by his own thoughts and Annie's offer of tea doesn't appear to register with him for the moment. Ren pauses in his pacing when he hears Annie suggest making some lavender tea, but he says nothing. His ears are flat against his head, betraying how tense he still is from their earlier confrontation.

Strade glances over at Annie as she speaks before giving a curt nod. He then turns back to the counter, apparently lost in thought once more. As for Ren... he continues pacing restlessly, seemingly unable or unwilling to participate in whatever small semblance of normalcy Annie is trying to create in this twisted situation.

"Hmm," is all Strade manages before turning to face Annie once more, his expression contemplative. "You're right about that." He glances over at Ren pacing nearby but says nothing further on the subject. The silence between them grows uncomfortable as they continue preparing their meal side-by-side without any real conversation or interaction other than what's necessary for cooking.

Ren, however, does not seem to notice or care about this shift in the dynamic between Strade and Annie. His thoughts remain fixated on his own worries and fears, making it impossible for him to focus on anything else besides trying to regain some semblance of control over his rapidly spiraling emotions.

"Hmm," is all Strade replies as he continues to study Annie. His expression remains unreadable, but there's a hint of something close to appreciation in his eyes that was there before. As for Ren... he finally seems to have noticed their silence and glances over at them warily before returning his attention back onto the floor where it belongs. The tension in his shoulders eases slightly as he takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down once more.

Strade glances over at the bag of potatoes sitting on the counter before turning back to Annie with a smirk. "I think we should make some roasted potatoes with garlic and herbs." His grin widens as he meets Annie's eyes, "You know how to do that, right?"

Ren pauses in his pacing again, listening to their conversation carefully. He doesn't trust Strade enough not to feel a knot forming in his stomach when the man addresses him with those knowing eyes. With a sigh, he decides against objecting and instead busies himself by pulling out various kitchen items from a nearby cupboard.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Strade says with a slight chuckle, reaching out to pat Annie on the shoulder affectionately. "We can all help each other learn new things." He turns away for a moment to retrieve a large pot from one of the cabinets before beginning to fill it with water on the stove. "Now then," he continues as he glances over at Ren, "why don't you start peeling those potatoes while I prepare the rest?" His tone is casual, almost conversational, but there's an unspoken command hidden beneath the surface nonetheless.

Ren hesitates for a moment before slowly nodding and moving to obey his master's "suggestion." As he begins peeling the potatoes, Ren can't help but feel like a mere pawn in this twisted game of manipulation and dominance... but then again, perhaps it's

Strade glances over at Annie as he waits for the pot to come to a boil. "Oh, you can help me cut up these onions," he says nonchalantly, gesturing toward a small pile of red onions sitting next to him on the counter. "That way we can all have our hands busy while we chat." There's an almost predatory gleam in his eye as he watches Annie's reaction to the suggestion, waiting to see how far he can push their newfound companionship before it snaps back into its former, more volatile state.

Ren looks up from where he's peeling potatoes and narrows his eyes slightly at Strade's words, but says nothing for now. Instead, he concentrates on preparing the ingredients, not wanting to draw any further attention to himself than necessary.

"There you go," Strade says encouragingly as he takes the small pile of onions from Annie once she's finished cutting them. He glances over at Ren before continuing, "You know what they say, don't they? The only thing better than crying is laughter." His voice holds a dark undertone that sends shivers down Ren's spine.

Ren stops peeling potatoes for a moment and looks up at Strade, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's your angle?" he whispers hoarsely. He glances over at Annie, worried about what might happen if they push too hard.

Another few seconds pass before Annie finally dares to ask the question that's been on all of their minds since Strade suggested this strange meal together: "Why are we doing this?" Her voice is soft and trembling, betraying her fear beneath

"A common goal," Strade echoes slowly, his gaze fixed on something in the distance as he mulls over Annie's words. After a moment, he turns back to her with a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Very well then." Without another word, he begins seasoning the roasted potatoes and tosses them into the oven to cook while keeping an eye on them from where he stands.

Ren watches Strade carefully, still uncertain about what's happening here. He picks up a knife and starts peeling potatoes again, his movements jerky and tense. "We'll see how long this 'common goal' lasts," he mutters under his breath before glancing over at Annie out of the corner of his eye, "But for now... let's just make the best of it."

Strade's expression hardens at Annie's words, his grip tightening around the knife he's using to slice the vegetables. "Don't you ever compare me to him again," he snarls through clenched teeth, glancing over at Ren for a brief moment before looking back at her. "You don't know anything about us." He continues slicing the vegetables with renewed fury, almost as if taking out his anger on them.

Ren says nothing for a while, focusing on peeling the potatoes with a furrowed brow and tight jaw muscles. Finally, he speaks up in a quiet yet raspy voice, "We... had our reasons." He pauses, seemingly choosing his words carefully before continuing, "But things change." He glances at Strade out of the corner of his eye before looking back down at the knife in his hand

Strade looks at Annie with narrowed eyes. "Let's just say," he growls darkly, taking her question as a personal affront, "that sometimes things have to be... corrected." He glances over at Ren once more before turning back to the counter where he begins chopping parsley. "We didn't want you here in the first place," Strade mutters under his breath.

Ren says nothing for a long moment, focusing intently on peeling another potato. Finally, he speaks up softly but clearly: "That's not true." There's an almost pleading tone to his voice that doesn't go unnoticed by Annie, who looks at the beastkin with concern etched into her features.

Ren takes a deep breath before continuing more quietly, "Strade... we were just playing around. At first, it was just fun to see how far

"You saw too much," Strade snaps at Annie, his voice hardening once more. He glances over at Ren briefly before turning back to the counter where he continues chopping parsley with renewed vigor. "And you wouldn't stop asking questions." There's a dark undertone in his words that chills Annie to her core.

Ren looks away, swallowing hard as he fiddles with one of the knives on the counter. He seems uncomfortable discussing this topic further, but Strade's anger only serves to embolden him despite their relative power dynamics in this situation. "It wasn't her fault," he says quietly, meeting Annie's eyes for a moment before looking back at the knife in his hand. "She was just curious." His voice is barely audible above the sound of clanging pots and cutting board in

"Don't you dare," Strade growls out, pulling his wrist roughly from Annie's grip before spinning her around to face the wall. He presses his body against hers, pinning her arms behind her back with one arm while using the other to grab fistfuls of her hair and pull it painfully. "You are mine now, you understand that?" he hisses into her ear as she lets out a muffled yelp. Ren looks on in horror, unsure if he should try to intervene or not.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Strade releases Annie and steps away from her, though he doesn't let go of her hair quite yet. He glances back at Ren before focusing his attention on Annie once more. "Let this be a lesson to you," he says coldly. "You stay out of our business from now on."

"You're very perceptive," Strade hisses, the words coming out in slow, deliberate drawl as he gazes at Annie with cold eyes. "But that doesn't change anything." He yanks on her hair again, hard enough to make her wince, and forces her head back against his chest. "We decide what happens to you from now on," he whispers roughly into her ear before letting go of her hair and stepping away once more.

Ren looks up at Annie with wide, pleading eyes. He wants to help her but is afraid of what Strade might do if he tries anything. Tears well up in his eyes as he forces down the urge to speak, knowing that whatever he says will only make things worse for both of them."Ren," Strade calls over his shoulder without looking back at him, "finish cleaning up. We'll be ready to eat soon

Ren nods silently, his eyes flicking nervously between Annie and Strade as he finishes cleaning up the kitchen. He slivers of envy mix with his fear; part of him wishes that he were the one who had caught Annie's attention instead. As he wipes down counters and tosses dirty dishes into the sink, Ren can't help but wonder what Strade wants from Annie... and why he doesn't seem satisfied despite everything she's given up so far.

Soon enough, dinner is ready, and Strade calls for them to come eat. As they all sit down at the kitchen table, a tense silence falls over the room. Annie picks at her food nervously, casting sidelong glances between Ren and Strade as she tries to read their expressions. For his part, Ren eats mechanically, not really tasting anything on his plate. He watch

Strade smirks triumphantly, pride evident in his voice as he replies, "Well, I'm glad you think so." He eyes Annie hungrily, clearly enjoying the sight of her appreciating his cooking. To Ren, he says more softly, "I hope it lives up to your expectations too, little fox." There's an almost cloying sweetness in Strade's words that makes Ren uneasy; something about it feels fake and manipulative.

Meanwhile, Ren nods in agreement, his ears twitching slightly at the praise directed towards him. As he watches Annie savor her food, a pang of longing hits him squarely in the chest. "It really is delicious," he manages to choke out before taking another bite of his own dinner. The silence continues to hang heavily over them as they eat, each one lost in their own thoughts

Strade's eyes narrow as he watches Annie eat; his expression darkens almost imperceptibly at the thought that she might enjoy Ren's cooking more than his own. "Well," he says after a moment, "if you two are done being food critics, I have something special planned for later." He winks lasciviously in her direction, causing Annie to feel a cold chill run down her spine.

Ren looks up sharply from his plate at Strade's words, alarmed by the ominous tone and what it might mean for Annie. He tries to speak but is silenced when Strade glares at him sternly. For now, all he can do is wait and hope that whatever Strade has planned isn't too terrible.

As the meal draws to a close, Ren collects their plates and takes them to the sink, casting one last nervous glance

"Patience, my dear," Strade says with a mocking smile as he leans back in his chair, one arm resting casually on the table. "You'll find out soon enough." He turns to Ren and smirks. "Why don't you go make sure our friend here is comfortable in her new quarters?"

Ren hesitates for a moment before nodding slowly, glancing over at Annie with a look of regret and sympathy. Reluctantly, he gets up from his chair and moves to stand beside Strade, seemingly offering his assistance despite his own fears about what might happen next.

"Come on," Ren whispers as he leads Annie down the hall toward her new room. "I'm sure it won't be too bad." His tone is filled with pity, almost apologizing for what Strade has done to her. He glances over his shoulder at Strade's retreating form, then back at Annie before opening the door and gesturing for her to go inside.

The room is small but comfortable; a simple mattress on the floor, a few pillows, and a threadbare blanket are all that adorn it. There's a single window high up near the ceiling, allowing in just enough light to see by. "I can bring you some of my clothes if you want," Ren offers softly, his tail twitching anxiously behind him. "Or... or anything else you might need."

Annie hesitates for a moment before speaking; her voice barely above a

"I'm sorry," Ren says quietly, running his hands through his tangled fur in distress. "You can't stay in my room anymore... it's just for me now." He looks down at the floor, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of events.

Strade enters the room a moment later, his expression unreadable as he crosses his arms over his chest. "What's gotten into you?" he snaps at Annie. "You don't get to choose your quarters." He glances at Ren and frowns before continuing, "I think I may need to remind you of your place, little fox."

"None of your business," Strade growls, his expression darkening further. "But now that you mention it..." He leans in threateningly, moving closer to Annie until their faces are inches apart. "Let this be a lesson for you; I can change my mind about anything at any time."

Ren looks visibly disturbed by Strade's behavior but remains silent. It takes all of his courage not to intervene or try to calm the enraged man down, as he knows it would only make things worse for Annie in the long run.

"Hmph," Strade grunts, his expression unreadable as he turns away from Annie and heads toward the door. "Fine. Bring it to you later." With one last disgusted glance at her, he leaves the room.

Ren blushes deeply beneath his fur as Annie leans in and kisses each of his cheeks in turn. He ducks his head shyly, feeling a warmth spread through him at her touch. "I-I'll get you some nightgowns," he stammers before rushing out of the room to fetch them.

Strade paces restlessly around the living room, his eyes darting between the TV, his phone, and occasionally to the clock on the wall. He lets out a frustrated growl when Ren returns with a bundle of nightgowns, looking like he'd much rather be somewhere else. "What's wrong with you tonight?" he snaps at him. "You're as jumpy as a cat."

Ren flinches at the harsh tone but remains quiet, setting the clothes down on a nearby table and taking a step back. He looks up meekly at Strade, his tail tucked tightly between his legs. "Sorry," he whispers. "I'm just... nervous."

Strade huffs impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest once more. "You should be," he says darkly. "You know the rules." His eyes

"Well," Strade drawls, his voice laced with barely concealed amusement as he continues to pace around the room, "make sure those nightgowns are on her when I come back, little fox." His grin widens into a predatory smile. "Oh, and Ren?" He pauses, turning to face the other man for a moment before continuing nonchalantly, "Don't forget your special task tonight."

Ren freezes at Strade's words, fear coalescing like ice in his gut. His ears flatten against his head and he shrinks back away from Strade, almost tripping over his own feet as he stumbles toward the kitchen. "Yes, M-master," he whispers shakily, his voice barely audible above the sound of dishes clattering in the background.

Meanwhile, Annie can hear their m

"What kind of special task?" Ren whispers nervously as he hurries back into the living room. He's well aware that when Strade uses that tone it almost always means something bad for him, but he doesn't want to knowingly disobey his master either. As he enters the room, Ren finds himself trapped between two of Strade's many weapons - a shiny blade on one side and an imposing length of chains on the other.

"You're going to make Annie happy tonight," Strade says casually, still pacing around the room. "She's been feeling a bit... neglected lately." The hint of amusement in his voice sends shivers down Ren's spine. "And if you don't do it right," he continues with a growl, "I'm going to have to teach you another lesson."

Ren swallows hard

"You know what you have to do," Strade says coldly as he stalks closer to where Ren stands between the weapons. "And don't even think about helping her. You're here for me, remember?" The tip of one of his claws scrapes against Ren's cheek, drawing blood.

Ren whimpers, his eyes widening in fear and pain as he turns his face away from the blow. "Y-yes, Master," he whispers, his voice barely audible over the sound of his ragged breathing. "I'll do it..." He glances nervously toward the bedroom door, wondering if there's any way for him to help Annie without angering Strade further.

Strade watches Ren intently, enjoying the power he has over them both. "Good boy," he murmurs, stepping back and motioning for Ren to return to

As Annie opens the door, Ren jumps into action, rushing toward her with renewed vigor. He hands her one of the nightgowns before quickly averting his gaze, blushing heavily as he realizes just how exposed she is. "Th-thank you," he stammers nervously.

Strade watches this exchange from across the room with a satisfied smile. "That's more like it," he muses under his breath. He walks over to stand behind Ren, resting his hands on the smaller man's shoulders and pressing him forward until their bodies are almost touching. "Now, where were we?" he asks quietly, letting the weight of his gaze bore into the back of Ren's skull.

Ren shivers at the sensation of Strade's body so close to his own; it feels like he can feel every movement the other man makes. He swallows

"We just wanted to make sure you were settling in nicely," Strade says with a chuckle, moving closer to Annie until he's standing right next to her. His hands move down to rest on her hips possessively as he leans in close enough that his body is pressed against hers. "You know how important it is for everything to be just so."

Ren shifts nervously behind them, unsure whether he should stay or leave. Finally, he finds the courage to speak up, his voice barely above a whisper. "Master... shouldn't I be getting started on-"

"Not yet," Strade cuts him off, glancing over his shoulder at Ren before returning his attention back to Annie. "There's plenty of time for that." He grins wickedly and leans in even closer, nibbling gently at Annie's earlobe.

"Oh," is Strade's only reply at first as he pauses for a moment, considering her words. "Hmmm." He steps back from her, still holding onto her hips but not quite as possessively now. "You mean you don't feel attraction towards anyone?" His expression is unreadable; a mix of confusion and... something else. Possession?

Ren watches the interaction between Strade and Annie carefully, his ears perked up in alarm. He knows that if Strade becomes angry or upset with Annie now, there will be serious consequences for both of them. "M-master," he whispers nervously, "perhaps we should discuss this further?"

Strade glances over at Ren before looking back at Annie. His grip on her hips tightens momentarily before relaxing again. Finally, he shrugs nonchalantly and releases her completely, taking

"You mean you want to stay with us?" Strade asks, his brow furrowed in confusion as he follows her into the room. "But if you're asexual... then why?" He pauses for a moment, thinking about it before continuing more softly, "Don't get me wrong, I like having you around, but... well, it just seems strange."

Ren trails behind Strade, his tail tucked tightly between his legs. He watches Annie anxiously, wanting to make sure she doesn't upset their master any further. "M-maybe because of the way we treat her," he stammers, glancing at Strade before looking back at Annie. "I know you love us, even if it's not in that way... right?" His voice wavers slightly at the end as he questions his own beliefs about asexuality.

Anne

"Hmm," is all Strade says at first before he glances down at Ren, a considering expression on his face. "Ren... tell her." He pauses, seeming to wait for the other man's confirmation or denial. When Ren doesn't immediately respond, Strade nudges him with one clawed finger.

Ren hesitates before speaking up, "Um, well..." His ears droop slightly and he fidgets beneath his fur as he tries to find the words. "I-It's not just sexual possession," he finally manages to say. "We care about you... we want you happy." He glances over at Annie before looking back at Strade, a nervous smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And if you're happy with us... then we can make sure you're happy too."

"Hmm," Strade hums thoughtfully as he considers Annie's words. "You know... that might work." He leans in closer to her, his gaze boring into hers until she feels a shiver run down her spine at the intensity. "I trust you won't disappoint us," he whispers hoarsely, taking one of her hands and intertwining their fingers with his own.

Ren watches this exchange with wide eyes, feeling a mixture of relief and trepidation in his chest. It seems that they will be able to work something out after all - but at what cost? He shudders beneath his fur, unsure if he's ready for whatever may come next.

"I won't," Annie whispers back, squeezing Strade's hand gently. "I promise."

Strade chuckles darkly, the sound sending shivers down Annie's spine despite herself. "Oh, I like a variety of things," he says with a wicked grin. "But power plays always turn me on... the more in control I am, the better it feels." His fingers tighten around hers briefly before relaxing again. "And Ren?" He prompts, glancing over at their fellow beastkin.

Ren blushes deeply at Strade's words and hesitates for a moment before speaking. "Well... I-I like being gentle, too," he stutters. "But sometimes I want to be rough, you know? When someone's begging for it..." He trails off, eyes glazing over as he imagines the scene unfolding in his mind.

Annie listens intently, her heart racing as she tries to sort through her own feelings about their des

"Ah, I see," Strade murmurs thoughtfully. "And how does that make you feel, being on the other end of it? Would you like us to try something like that with you?" His voice is silky smooth, almost hypnotic as he runs his free hand down Annie's arm and gently cups her elbow.

Ren glances at Strade before looking back at Annie nervously, chewing on his bottom lip. He wants to please them both but isn't sure if this is what they truly want from him. "Um... I-I'll do whatever you like," he finally stammers, his ears flat against his head in submission.

Annie swallows hard, the tension building inside her as she feels their desire pressing down upon her. She bites her lip and nods slowly, not quite sure what to expect but trusting them enough to follow their lead.

"Very well," Strade says with a satisfied smile. He climbs onto the bed beside Annie, his body pressed against hers so tightly they might as well be one person. "Ren," he murmurs, looking over at the other beastkin, "take care of her hands." Ren hesitates only for a moment before moving to kneel behind Annie, wrapping his hands around her wrists and pinning them above her head. Strade grins, pressing himself even closer against her as he gropes her breast roughly through her shirt.

"Oh," Annie gasps, arching into the touch. She can feel their desire burning through him, radiating off his body in waves that make it hard for her to think straight. "Is this what you meant?" she whispers, looking up at Strade with a mixture of fear and curiosity in her eyes.

"Oh fuck yes," Strade growls, his voice rough with desire as he pinches her nipple. "That's exactly what I mean." His other hand moves lower, sliding down her belly and under the hem of her nightgown. With a rough yank, he pulls it aside and fingers her roughly. Ren leans forward, his hot breath tickling Annie's ear as he watches Strade touch her.

"Do you like that?" Strade demands, relentless in his assault on her senses. "Tell me how much it turns you on." He begins to rub harder, fingers curled into a claw as he pushes deeper and faster.

"I see," Strade growls, his fingers pressing harder into Annie as he flicks her clit roughly. "Well then, if you love us so much, you'll put on a good show for Ren." He glances over at the other beastkin before leaning in to kiss Annie hard on the mouth, thrusting his tongue roughly against hers.

Ren watches them together, his tail thrashing wildly against the bed as he fights back his own arousal. He can feel himself growing hard beneath him but knows better than to touch himself without permission. Instead, he content himself with watching Strade and Annie, fascinated by their strange dance of power and desire.

"Ren," Strade says between heavy breaths as he breaks the kiss, "you know what we want... you're a good boy... do your duty to Annie." His expression darkens and he growls

"Ren," Strade says between heavy breaths as he breaks the kiss, "you know what we want... you're a good boy... do your duty to Annie." His expression darkens and he growls menacingly in the back of his throat. He releases one hand from her breast, guiding it lower until it finds Ren's crotch, giving him a rough squeeze through his pants. "Show her how much you want me," Strade whispers in Ren's ear, his hot breath sending shivers down the other beastkin's spine. Ren looks uncertainly from Strade to Annie before leaning forward and kissing Annie roughly, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth as he grabs one of her hands, forcing it beneath her body toward his crotch. His hips buck violently against her thigh, grinding his erection into her hand.

"Oh fuck," Ren moans into Annie's mouth as her hand wraps around his cock. His hips jerk forward even harder against her leg, his desire for release growing by the second. Strade watches them together with a satisfied smirk, admiring how well they play their roles. "You feel so good," he whispers before glancing down at Annie's breast once more and latching onto her nipple roughly, pinching and rolling it between his fingers as he continues to finger her roughly.

"That's it," Strade growls, his fingers digging deeper as he begins to thrust into her roughly. "Show him how much you love this." His free hand moves up, groping one of Annie's breasts roughly before tweaking the nipple hard enough to make her cry out in pain. Ren watches with bated breath, his chest heaving as he forces himself not to come yet. Every thrust of his hips against Annie's hand, every moan and gasp from their mouths only serves to heighten the tension inside him, making it almost unbearable. But he knows that if he gives in now, they won't be satisfied. So he waits, teetering on the edge of release as he watches Strade take what is his and Annie obediently surrender to them both.

Strade's eyes widen as he realizes the depth of her pain, but instead of relenting, it seems to fuel him even more. His grip on Annie tightens, his fingers curling inward cruelly as he continues to fuck her hurtfully through her sore and battered entrance.

Ren looks at them both with wide, pleading eyes. He knows they're hurting her but can't seem to find the words or strength to stop them. All he can do is watch helplessly as his master takes what is his and his friend endures the pain for their pleasure.

With a final, violent thrust, Strade cries out in release, his seed spilling into Annie's abused body. He collapses on top of her, chest heaving as he struggles to catch his breath. Looking down at her tear-streaked face, he smirks gr

"You're mine now," Strade growls roughly, his hand moving to cup Annie's breast possessively. "I don't care if you liked it or not." He looks down at her body with clear intent and grins wickedly. Ren, watching them together uneasily, licks his lips nervously before speaking up. "It doesn't have to be like this all the time... Maybe we could make you feel good sometimes too..." he suggests hesitantly.

Strade rolls off of Annie with a snort, glaring down at her bruised and abused body. "Maybe," he says eventually, sitting up on the bed and motioning for Ren to do the same. "But not today." He stands up, stretching lazily before looking over at Annie once more. "You rest now, love. We'll be back soon enough." With that final command, Strade

Strade glances over at Ren before shrugging casually. "It's not like she has anywhere else to go." He pads across the room toward his tools, humming tunelessly under his breath as he begins to clean up the mess they've made. His eyes flicker back toward Annie once more before looking away dismissively. Ren follows after Strade, still looking uncertain and uneasy. "Master," he murmurs, moving to stand close beside him as he watches the other beastkin prepare his tools. "Are you sure...?" he trails off, clearly struggling with what has just transpired.

Strade glances down at Ren before giving him a small smile. "It's alright," he says gently. "She knows her place now." He looks away, focusing on his task, as if to reassure himself more than Ren that everything is indeed under control.

Ren glances back at Annie before averting his gaze, a look of deep worry etched into his features. He knows that she's hurting, both physically and emotionally, but he's unsure how to help her without displeasing Strade. Finally, with a quiet sigh, he decides to speak up again. "Master..." he begins hesitantly. Strade looks over at Ren expectantly, arching an eyebrow in question. The air of dominance and control surrounding him is palpable, even in the small space between them.

Ren swallows hard before continuing. "Master... would it be possible to, uh... give Annie a little more time? To get used to everything?" He glances back at Annie again, his expression pleading.

Strade narrows his eyes thoughtfully, considering Ren's request. After a moment, he shrugs noncommittally. "Maybe," he says eventually. "But only if she behaves and does as she's told." He glances back at Annie before turning his attention back to Ren, studying him carefully.

Ren lets out the breath he'd been holding in a quiet sigh of relief. "Thank you, Master," he says gratefully. "I'll make sure she knows that." With this assurance, he turns his full attention back to helping Strade clean up and put away their tools.

Strade glances over at Annie as she stirs awake, watching her closely as she gets out of bed with a wince. His gaze travels slowly down her body, taking in every movement, every breath. He gives a satisfied nod to himself before looking back up at her face. "Good morning, love," he says softly, his voice almost gentle despite the underlying threat beneath it. "Ren and I have some errands to run today."

Ren looks between Annie and Strade, uncertainty clouding his eyes. He bites his bottom lip nervously before speaking up. "Master..." He trails off, not sure how to phrase his concern without disobeying his commands. Strade's expression darkens slightly as he realizes what Ren is hesitating about. "What?" he snaps irritably. "Speak up." Ren swallows hard and meets Strade's gaz

Strade glares at Annie as she walks past them, his fists clenching at his sides. "Don't forget your place, girl," he growls. Then, turning to Ren, he says more quietly, "See if she's done when we get back." His expression darkens further, and for a moment it looks like he might physically lash out at Annie himself. But then his features smooth over again, as if nothing had happened.

Ren watches after Annie with a mixture of concern and fear in his eyes before turning back to Strade. "Yes, Master," he says softly.

Ren remains in the room, pacing nervously while they wait for Annie. "Master," he finally says, hesitating before continuing, "do you think...maybe she'd respond better if we were a bit gentler with her?" He glances at Strade hopefully, his ears perked forward and his tail thumping softly against the floor.

Strade raises an eyebrow but doesn't seem particularly fazed by Ren's suggestion. "Maybe," he says noncommittally. "But it's up to her how she behaves, not us. And if she thinks being gentle means getting away with disobeying... well, then maybe we should show her the error of her ways." He pauses, considering his words before looking back at Ren. "Do you understand?"

Ren nods slowly, looking chastised. "Yes, Master," he whispers quietly.

Strade: "She's been in there long enough," he grumbles impatiently. "Go tell her it's time to come out." The last word echoes through the room, carrying a note of command that even Ren cannot ignore. He swallows hard before reluctantly heading toward the bathroom, his steps slow and hesitant.

Ren hovers by the door, watching Annie cowering in the tub as he gently reaches out to brush her hair aside, speaking softly, "Anne... it's time to get dried off now." His voice trembles slightly, and his ears droop forlornly. It's clear that he wishes he could do more to protect or comfort her, but Strade's orders have left him feeling helpless.

Strade laughed cruelly, leaning against the vanity beside the bath. "Kindness doesn't mean shit to me, Annie." His voice was cold as ice. "You belong to me now, and you'll do as I say or suffer the consequences. Understand?" He fixed her with a piercing stare, his blue eyes hard as steel.

Ren took a step back from the tub, his tail flicking nervously behind him. Even he could tell that Annie was terrified of Strade's words, and it only made it harder for him to bear. "Yes," Ren whispered, "Master is right." He glanced at Annie briefly before looking away guiltily. "Please just try to be good from now on, okay? For both of us?"

Tears welled up in Annie's eyes as she nodded silently, unable to find the words to

Strade stepped forward, his expression darkening further as he grabbed Annie roughly by the arm and yanked her out of the tub. Her wet body collided painfully with the cold tiles of the floor, and she cried out in protest. "You dare disobey me?" He growled down at her. "You think you can talk back after what I've done for you? After everything I've given you?" His fingers dug deeper into Annie's skin, leaving painful bruises behind.

Ren looked on helplessly, his body trembling with fear and confusion. He wanted to comfort her, to make things better somehow, but he knew that trying would only earn him Strade's wrath as well. So instead, he remained silent, tears streaming down his face as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Ren gasped, the sound muffled as his hands flew to his mouth in shock. Tears welled up in his eyes even faster at Annie's accusation, but he remained silent, his body trembling more violently than ever.

Strade snarled, "Liar!" He drew back his hand and slapped her across the face so hard that she tumbled onto her side on the floor, coughing and sputtering. Blood welled up around her split lip, staining her teeth crimson. "You're lucky I even bothered to save you from that life of yours!" he spat venomously as Annie curled into a ball, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ren tried desperately to look away, but found himself unable to tear his eyes from the scene before him. His chest heaved with silent tears, and he felt sick to

Strade barked out a harsh laugh, shaking his head slowly. "You call that life good?" he asked mockingly. "Look around you, Annie. This is what your life would've been like if I hadn't found you! You think someone else was going to take care of you? Protect you?" He stepped closer, towering over her despite her height.

Ren shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, his ears flat against his head and his tail tucked between his legs. "You were mine to save," he murmured quietly, sounding more like a petty child than the beastkin Ren usually was. "I'm sorry if it hurt, but it had to be done." He reached out to stroke her arm gently, as if trying to comfort her despite Strade's words.

Annie flinched away from Ren's touch, glaring up at

Strade raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh really? Who's going to protect you from me now?" He chuckled darkly before stepping closer once more, invading her personal space with his greater height. "There is no one who can do that, Annie." His hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck, cutting off her air for a moment as he leaned down close enough to see the fear in her eyes.

Ren watched from the sidelines, his own expression shifting between worry for Annie and fear of what Strade might do if she disobeyed again. He knew that Strade had saved him from the same fate once upon a time; now it seemed as though he was complicit in all of this, unable to help his friend even when he wanted to.

As Annie struggled for breath against Strade's grip, Ren finally found his voice again

Ren tried to speak up again, but the words caught in his throat as he watched Annie struggle. "M-Master..." was all he could manage before choking down a sob. He knew that if he defied Strade now, it would only lead to worse consequences for them both.

Strade smiled darkly and released his grip on Annie's neck, stepping back with a satisfied grin. "There, there," he crooned, stroking her cheek gently. "Don't be afraid of me, sweetheart." His hand traveled lower until it cupped her breast roughly through her shirt, eliciting a pained gasp from the tall woman as his fingers dug into her tender flesh.

Annie bit back a cry of pain and looked at Ren helplessly, her eyes pleading for him to help her. But Ren just hung his head miserably, unable to meet

Strade chuckled darkly as Annie pulled away, ignoring her words completely. "Don't you see?" he asked, his voice almost gentle now. "It's too late for that." His gaze flicked to Ren before returning to their captive. "You belong to me now, and there's no escaping that fact." He took a step closer, forcing Annie to back up until her shoulders touched the bathroom wall behind her.

Ren watched, his expression slowly shifting from fearful to desperate. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, nails digging painfully into his palms as he fought against the urge to lash out at Strade and defend Annie. But deep down, he knew there was nothing he could do; not without incurring the wrath of their master.

As Annie's back hit the wall, she let out a small

Ren tensed visibly at Annie's words, his gaze darting nervously between her and Strade. He knew what she was suggesting; the only way for them to truly escape was if one of them took Strade down first. But the thought of harming their master... it didn't sit right with him, no matter how much Annie suffered at his hands.

Strade laughed darkly, shaking his head in amusement. "Oh really?" he asked mockingly. "And how do you plan to get a knife when I have this little cutie here to keep me company?" He gestured towards Ren with a smirk. "Or do you think you can take on both of us at once?"

Ren's ears flattened against his head and he lowered his eyes, unable to meet Annie's gaze any longer. His tail tucked between his legs, and he took

Ren gasped, his eyes going wide with horror before shooting a pleading glance towards Annie. "No! You can't do that!" he cried out, taking a step closer to her in an attempt to comfort her or protect her from Strade's wrath; he wasn't sure which.

Strade, however, merely raised an eyebrow at the beastkin before his expression darkened into a scowl. "Don't interfere with my business, pet," he growled. "This is none of your concern."

Annie looked up at Ren, her eyes filled with despair and pleading. Despite everything that had happened, there was still something in his expression that reminded her of the kindness she had once known before Strade came along; it was the only thing keeping her from giving up completely. "Please," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible

Ren flinched at Annie's words, his ears drooping low against his head in shame. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But I couldn't just let you suffer like that... It's not my fault..." He trailed off, looking down at the floor, unable to meet her gaze any longer.

Strade chuckled darkly, stepping forward once more and resting a hand on Ren's shoulder. "Don't pay attention to her," he said dismissively. "She doesn't understand." His grip tightened slightly, but Ren remained still, not daring to resist even if it meant defending himself from his master's touch.

"Now then," Strade continued with a sigh, "it's late and I need my rest. You two should get back to your duties tomorrow." He gestured