Chapter 168: Training For Freedom
Life inside the pit seemed disturbingly well-established—a testament to the countless cycles of life and death that had already played out within its walls. Though all the prisoners were children below a certain age, they had developed a rigid hierarchy, with the older ones assuming roles as their leaders.
Each child had been assigned a specific "job" based on their abilities and skills, ensuring the delicate system they had created could function smoothly. It was a grimly efficient routine designed to occupy their time and maintain order in the oppressive confines of the prison.
"We have a few alphas here," Laesh said, helping Rhaegar sit up and offering him a small cup of water. It had been two days since he woke up in the pit, but still needed help to move around. "But they’re still unshifted, so their rivalry hasn’t kicked in yet. They won’t let us shift, you know."
Rhaegar drained the cup in one swift gulp, the cool water barely enough to soothe his parched throat. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he furrowed his brows slightly.
"Why not?" he asked cautiously.
"So we don’t get too strong or aggressive," Laesh replied, his tone tinged with a quiet sadness. "Whether they make us gladiators or..."—his voice faltered briefly before he pushed through—"sex slaves, the most important thing for them, before we shift, is to suppress our greed for freedom. They need us to be hopeless and obedient. You know what happens once a beast shifts."
Laesh offered Rhaegar a knowing smile, one that carried a mix of pain and reluctant acceptance. Rhaegar hesitated but managed to mirror the expression, though his heart twisted.
In truth, Rhaegar didn’t fully understand what his new friend was talking about. He had spent his entire life on the run, always in hiding, and the only person by his side during that time was Cara. She had refused to shift, knowing that doing so would release enough pheromones to attract his father’s scouts.