Cinderella in Chains Part One

[grianchloch]

Title: Cinderella in Chains
Charatcers/Pairings: Jared/Jensen, brief Jared/OMC
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 23,651
Beta: seleneheart
Disclaimer: Sadly, they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them for a while.
Summary: Jared loses his best friend when they are both children, but he never forgets him. And he never expected that he'd get him back.
Notes/Warnings: Written for the j2_fairytales challenge. A retelling of the Cinderella story with added D/s relationships, mentions of BDSM, mentions of corporal punishment, and some dark themes. Further notes at the end.

Once upon a time, in a land where dominance and submission were a way of life for every subject, Prince Jared the Fair had reached the age where he should be bonded to a mate, a submissive that would share his life and fulfill his every desire. But for all his travels, for all the balls and parties he’d attended where submissives would happily kneel at his feet hoping to be chosen, he’d not yet met anyone he wanted to be bonded with for the rest of his life.

His parents began to despair that he would ever meet a suitable person, wondering if it was time to suggest an arranged bonding.

Jared insisted that his soul mate was out there, somewhere. He just had to find that special person. But secretly, he wondered if he was capable of falling in love. He’d spent time with many men and women, all beautiful, intelligent, willing submissives. He’d satisfied his need to dominate, and given them nights they would remember always, but never once had he felt drawn to anyone enough to bond with them.

What Jared didn’t realize was that his heart was already broken, and until it healed, he wasn’t capable of love. It had broken when he lost his soul mate, although given he was only eight at the time, Jared had only known then that the boy was his best friend in all the world.

Sixteen Years Earlier

Jensen of Ackles was the son of the King’s oldest friend and trusted advisor, a wealthy philanthropist who’s wife had died in childbirth. He was born two months before Jared, and the babes were raised together from before they could walk.

The Ackles small estate bordered the palace grounds, and was a safe place for two small boys to play, under the watchful eyes of guards and nannies. When they were four, Jensen’s father took them to see the tree house that he and the king had played in together when they were children. The boys immediately claimed it for themselves, and spent many happy days there over the next few years.

A month after Jensen turned eight, his father married again. Jensen was never fond of his stepmother, and refused to call her mother, much to her disgust. She brought her own two sons to live with Jensen and his father in the castle they called home. Mike was a quiet boy, but Chad was a bully, and more than once, Jared found Jensen angry or upset over something wicked that Chad had done. Then one day, Jensen was in tears when they met. Chad had been cruel to his cat, and now the animal had disappeared. Jensen feared the worst.

Jared held Jensen tight and promised that as soon as they were old enough, they would be bonded so he could make sure no-one ever made Jensen cry again. The next time Jensen’s stepmother was mean to him, he told her about Jared’s promise, but she laughed at him, and told him that as soon as the prince grew up, he’d forget about Jensen. Who would want such a sniveling brat for a mate?

Then Jensen’s father began to ail. Within a matter of weeks, he was bedridden, his breathing becoming more and more labored. Jensen clung to Maggie, the cook who had practically raised him, and buried his face in her neck as she held him. The day after his father died, Jensen ran through the woods towards the palace. He climbed up into the tree house and curled up, sadness filling him. His father was gone, his stepmother was going to sell the castle, and she had dismissed Maggie.

Jared climbed up into the tree house, and held Jensen while he told him what had happened.

“I’ll ask my father if you can come and live with us!” Jared was certain that there’d be no objections. His parents had always loved Jensen, and he’d seen the looks of distaste they’d often given Jensen’s stepmother.

The friends parted, both in high spirits. Jensen had left an old worn teddy bear behind, so Jared took it with him, thinking he would give it back to Jensen the next day when he arrived to live at the palace.

When Jared got home, he asked his father if Jensen could live with them now he didn’t have his father to look after him. The king nodded, saying that he would speak to the queen. They were both very fond of Jensen, and felt that it was only right that they take him in, stepmother or not.

In the morning, Jared bounced out of bed, impatient to let Jensen know that he could live in the palace. He raced downstairs to where his parents usually sat on the terrace eating breakfast, but there was no-one there. Breakfast had been laid, but his parents were nowhere to be seen.

Jared picked up a pastry and munched on it as he wandered back through the royal quarters, looking for his parents, getting more and more concerned at the lack of people going about their regular early morning routines.

He looked down into the courtyard, and saw Jensen’s stepmother. She was clutching a bloody rag, and there were tears on her cheeks. Standing opposite her, the King had the Queen in his arms, his face grim as she sobbed against his chest.

Jared ran down the stairs, coming to a halt in the door way, and slowly walking towards his parents. The rag that Jensen’s stepmother held in her hand was the tunic that Jensen had been wearing when he and Jared had parted the day before.

She was shaking her head, and Jared heard one of the courtiers whisper “ripped apart”, and another said “wolves” under his breath. Jared reached up to tug on the King’s sleeve.

“Papa?”

When his father looked down at him, his eyes were bright with tears, and Jared’s teared up too. He’d never seen his father cry. Suddenly, both his parents wrapped their arms around him, and whisked him back into the castle, away from scrutiny.

“Jared …” his father began, but stalled.

“Is Jensen alright?” Jared asked, his voice small and frightened.

“Oh honey …”

“No!” Jared yelled, then broke down sobbing. “Jensen was gonna come live with us. I told him it would be okay. He didn’t like it at home, he was gonna come live with us.” Jared gulped out as his mother held him tight.

“It’s okay, Jared, it’s okay.”

But Jared shook his head. If Jensen was gone …?

“No, it’s not, it’s never gonna be okay.”

That was the moment Jared’s heart broke. The sharp spike of grief that tore him open that day dulled over the years, but the ache in his chest from his wounded heart remained. He carried it with him as he grew until it was so much a part of who he was that he didn’t remember a time when it wasn’t there.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jared killed his first wolf at fourteen.

He’d hunted before, and had been tutored in using weapons by the best warriors in the land, but this hunt was different.

The horn blared, and the dogs took off through the forest, tongues lolling from their mouths, loping through the trees with the scent in their noses. He’d expected to be hunting deer, but when a wolf had been spotted, Jared saw his chance to take revenge for Jensen’s death. As they chased it through the trees, Jared drew his bow and shot an arrow which flew straight and true, hitting the wolf in its side. It yelped, stumbled, then regained its footing and ran on. But the dogs had caught the scent of blood, and they wanted the taste of it too. Now they ran with purpose, almost silent as they slowly began to catch up with their prey.

Up ahead, Jared caught sight of a dark brown pelt as the animal ran, and he spurred his horse on. He forgot about the rest of the hunting party. All he could think of was that wolves had torn Jensen apart, and now he could make one of them pay. Up ahead, the dogs began to howl, a sign that they had the animal cornered. Jared growled. He wanted the kill for himself.

Faster he rode, ducking under tree boughs and trusting that his horse wouldn’t fail him. Together, they galloped into a clearing to find the dogs surrounding the wolf, baying and snapping at it. The wolf snapped back, it’s desperation to survive driving it to try and keep the pack at bay, even as its strength began to fail. The wolf’s flank was covered in blood which now dripped from the wound the arrow had caused. The wooden shaft still protruded, but the rest had snapped off as the animal raced for its life.

Jared threw himself from his horse, knowing the rest of the party was close behind him. This was his kill, and no one was going to take it from him. His pulled his short sword from where it hung in the scabbard around his waist and waded into the sea of dogs surrounding the wounded animal. The heat of the chase still on them, some of the dogs snapped at him, but he pushed them away, and hauled another back by its collar. The wolf turned, trying desperately to stay on its feet, but it was exhausted and weak from blood loss. As Jared took another step towards it, it threw itself at him, jaws wide, eyes crazed, but Jared thrust his sword forward, and impaled the animal on it, watching as, with a whimper, the light died in its eyes. It slumped forward, the dead weight pushing Jared over.

He scrambled to his feet, pushing the wolf away and turned to find the whole party watching him. His father’s eyes were grave, and held a sadness that Jared didn’t understand, while the rest of the party seemed awed by the boy’s first kill.

One of the hunters stepped forward, and nodded at Jared, grasping his wrist, and raising his hand, still clutching his bloodied sword, aloft. The hunting party erupted with cheers and clapping as the hunter walked over to the wolf and cut out its heart. He painted stripes of blood on Jared’s cheek with his fingers and grinned at the boy.

“Tonight, you feast on its heart.”

Later, at the feast that followed every hunt, the same huntsman presented Jared with the heart of the wolf he’d killed. It had been lightly roasted to make the meat more palatable for the youngster, but Jared could still taste the strong copper tang of blood when he bit into it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the years that followed, Jared grew up strong and tall, taller even than his father, but he never forgot Jensen. He became obsessed with hunting wolves and grew to relish the taste of raw wolf heart. Each one he devoured, he dedicated to Jensen’s memory.

Jared worked hard in between the hunts he was drawn to, learning how to rule a kingdom, and becoming quite the diplomat when the situation required it. And when he needed to satisfy his urge to dominate, he knew exactly where to go.

The party was in full swing when Jared arrived at the club. He strode through the doors, his guards nodding at security at the entrance who stood back to let them through. The young prince’s three friends and two guards were dressed in similar clothes, and to the casual observer, it would have been impossible to tell who was who. But the reality was that no-one was paying them any attention, not with Jared in the room. The prince stood taller than most men, and he exuded confidence and power, so much so that several subs in the room fell to their knees automatically, unable to contain themselves in his presence.

The black silk mask that covered the top half of his face let everyone there know that he was there anonymously. He may have been unmistakable, but that night he was a man, a dom of the highest order; he was not there as a prince.

Which meant he wanted to play. A thrilled ripple passed through the crowd as Jared slipped the wolf fur cloak from his shoulders and handed it to one of his entourage. They walked to the raised area at the back of the club and took their seats at their regular table. Drinks were ordered, flagons of ale and short glasses of a fiery spirit from lands to the south. Jared allowed himself one of each, wanting his senses to be sharp if he saw anyone worth playing with.

On the dance floor, doms and subs danced, bodies writhing together. Jared looked for the subs wearing red ribbons around their necks, a sign that they were free to be claimed for the night or more. His gaze fell on one in particular. He was tall, his body lithe with sleek muscles and pale blue eyes stared back at Jared. Once he knew he had the prince’s attention, he lowered his eyes respectfully and continued dancing, losing himself in the music.

Jared watched for a few minutes more, then got to his feet and walked towards the stranger. He didn’t waste time dancing. He took the man’s hand, getting a nod of consent before he led him away to one of the back rooms.

The dark haired man, slipped to his knees as the door closed behind them, and bowed his head.

“Limits?” Jared asked.

“No limits.”

Jared heard what wasn’t said. “For you, no limits.” Every sub he’d been with since the age of seventeen had said the same thing. It had given Jared the opportunity to experience every act, kink and perversion he could dream up, some of which he’d never try again, but there was no negotiating, no beginnings that would lead him on a journey with the sub he was with. It was all his for the taking. He knew that many doms would jump at the chance to be in his position, but frankly, he wanted a challenge.

That wasn’t something he’d be getting that night, but the man at his feet was attractive, and went willingly to the cross on the far wall. Jared took his shirt off, and flogged Jake’s ass until it was red and radiating heat. Tears leaked from Jake’s eyes as Jared pulled his tender ass cheeks apart and fucked him roughly, making Jake beg over and over for the privilege of coming before he closed his large hand around the man’s rampant cock and making him spurt all over the wood he was tied to. Jared followed, filling Jake’s tight ass. It was satisfying, but even as he was untying Jake and talking him back from the endorphin rush he was still high on, he felt empty. Jared settled Jake on the bed and held him for a while before he left.

His mood darkened on the short journey home to the palace, and his companions knew him well enough not to comment on it. As they rode into the stable courtyard, a messenger ran towards them.

“Your Highness.” The stout man bowed low. “I bring a message from the village of Easterbrook. A wolf has been threatening their flocks, and it has grown bolder, entering homes in the dead of night.”

“Has anyone been hurt?”

“No, your Highness, but the village elders fear it is only a matter of time. They sent me to beg for your help. It is no ordinary wolf. It is pure white, and bigger than any wolf that’s been seen in those parts.”

“A white wolf?” Jared never needed much incentive to hunt a wolf, but his interest was heightened as he’d never seen a white wolf before. “I’ll ride for Easterbrook in the morning.”

“Thank you, your Highness.”

Jared dismounted and handed the reins to a stable boy.

“Make sure Beauty is saddled and waiting for me at eight.”

“Yes, your Highness.” The boy led the horse away as Jared turned to bid his companions goodnight.

“We’ll be ready at eight.” One of the guards stated, but Jared shook his head.

“No, I’m riding out on my own.”

The way his jaw was set, there would be no arguing with him, so the guard nodded. Jared strode back to his rooms, where he spent most of the night looking out over the tops of the trees towards the old manor house Jensen had lived in.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Before he rode out the next morning, he went to take breakfast with his parents.

As Jared approached the door of their private chambers, one of the guards opened it while the other stepped through to announce him, something that Jared always thought was excessive, but it seemed to amuse his mother.

"His Royal Highness, Prince Jared the Fair."

The guard, one Jared knew well, did his best to hide the smirk on his face as Jared walked past, rolling his eyes.

"Jared!" His mother hugged him tight. "What did we say about going off on hunts by yourself?"

"I'm a grown man, mother, and I can take care of myself."

"That's not the point. You're the heir to the kingdom. If one of your wolves rips out your throat, your uncle is next in line to inherit, and you know that he's mad as a box of frogs."

"And there I was, thinking it was because you couldn't bear to lose me."

That earned Jared a cuff to the back of the head from the diminutive Queen. She took her place at the King’s side, slipping neatly to her knees to kneel on a silk covered cushion.

“Jared.” The King pushed a plate of pastries towards him as Jared helped himself to coffee. “It really is time you chose a mate.” He held his hand up as Jared began to bluster. “You have a responsibility to the kingdom, and besides that, your mother and I want you to be happy.”

“I haven’t met anyone,” Jared insisted.

“This hunt takes you to Easterbrook, yes?”

Jared nodded.

“In that case, you have plenty of time to think about your future. When you return, it’ll be time for you to make some decisions.”

“Yes, Father.” Jared knew better than to argue with his father when he was lecturing him.

“Now, you’ve got a long journey ahead, so eat up!”

That was a command Jared had no problem following.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wolves were not commonly hunted, but for Jared, they were the only game he was interested in. Each time, he cut out the heart of his prey and ate it. He took it’s pelt to add to his collection. His cloak was lined and edged with wolf fur, pelts covered his bed, and the palace was littered with rugs,

The more he killed, the easier it came to him. Privately, his friends wondered about his obsession, and how focused he became when he was hunting.

Jared reached Easterbrook two days later, and stayed in what passed for an inn in the village, talking to the villagers about the animal.

“Wolves don’t usually bother the village,” the elder explained, “they stay in the deep forest and don’t cross the boundary. There’s plenty of game for them there, and the Wolf King makes sure they leave us alone as long as we also respect the boundary. Yet this one gets bolder by the day.”

“The Wolf King? That’s a legend told to babes.”

“No, your Highness, he’s very real. Those of us who live close to the boundary know this to be true.”

Jared went to bed that night with a new goal in his heart. To find the Wolf King and make him pay for Jensen’s death. Maybe then he could rest.

The next morning, Jared left his horse behind, and walked into the woods alone to track the wolf. He made no promises to the elder not to cross the boundary, and the man’s face was full of worry when Jared strode away.

The wolf was easy to track. It was as if it were an overgrown pup, crashing through the trees and leaving a wide trail behind. Jared reached the boundary stones and paused, looking to the right and then the left at the stones that disappeared into the trees on either side of him. With a deep breath, he stepped between two of them, both taller than he was. He’d not expected the forest beyond to be different, but it was. A deep stillness surrounded him, reminding him of the stories he and Jensen had heard when they were tiny. Of the ancient forest filled with fantastical creatures and trees that could talk. He shrugged off a feeling of being watched, and pushed through the trees. It was harder to make headway, and the trail he’d been following had disappeared.

He walked for another half an hour, stooping in places to get through the trees, when he heard a low growl. He unsheathed his sword as he turned, coming face to face with a wolf. It snarled at him, teeth bared, eyes full of hatred. Jared took a step towards it, understanding how dangerous a healthy wolf could be, but he slowly swung back round when he heard other growls. Not one or two, but several, all belonging to the wolves that were now surrounding him. One leapt at him from behind. He heard it move and turned sharply, his sword arm rising, but another struck his side, and a third hit him, driving him to the ground. His head glanced off a rock, and his world went black. His last thought was that at least he’d be with Jensen soon.


Jared woke slowly, face down on sweet grass. It took him a moment to realize that he wasn’t where he’d fallen when the wolves attacked. He assessed his situation before he moved. All he could see was that he was lying in a clearing, and there were two wolves sitting at the edge of it watching him. He felt sore all over, and wondered if they had dragged him to where he was now. He took a chance and moved his head so he could look around the clearing. On the opposite side to the two wolves standing guard, three more sat watching him. Two sat behind the biggest one, which had jet black fur apart from a white blaze on its chest. It looked for all the world as if the two smaller wolves were guarding the big one, just as his Father’s guard did in his throne room.

“Every king has his guard.”

Jared blinked, and shook his head. Someone had spoken to him. The big wolf got to its feet and padded towards Jared. It stopped and gazed at him intently.

“You are not imagining things, you can hear me. I am the Wolf King, and you, young human, have crossed the boundary to hunt where it is forbidden for you to do so.”

“Wolves cross into my world all the time …”

“And you hunt them down and kill them, yes? Why should I spare your life? Especially when you take such pleasure from killing my kind.”

“How do you know of me?”

“How can I not? You slaughter every wolf you come across. You seek us out, take our lives, wear our skins and feast on our hearts. Not one wolf you have killed ever harmed a human. Most were youngsters, rebelling against authority by crossing the boundary to taste life on the other side before rejoining their families. But you killed them.”

“So now you’re going to kill me?” Jared asked.

“No. If I kill you, your Father will cross the boundary to avenge your death, and slaughter more of my people.”

Jared sat up, and the wolf padded closer.

“I know why you hunt us. You believe that we took something from you a long time ago, and you kill us out of revenge.”

“Your kind killed my friend. He was only a child and they ripped him apart!”

The wolf didn’t flinch away from Jared as he yelled. It looked deep into his eyes, so deep that Jared felt as if the wolf was staring into his very soul.

“Your heart broke when the child was taken from you, and it bleeds still. He was your soul mate and it doesn’t matter how many wolf hearts you devour, they will never heal the wound. What if I were to tell you that he didn’t die?”

“I would say you were lying!”

“Wolves do not lie.” The Wolf King turned and barked out a command.

An older wolf emerged from the trees, the oldest Jared had ever seen. It’s pelt was grey and it walked slowly, as if it’s muscles weren’t as strong as they had once been. It sat down close to the Wolf King, and respectfully bowed it’s head.

The Wolf King gently nuzzled the side of the grey wolf’s face, and it looked up at Jared. Now a different voice spoke in Jared’s head.

“Years ago, I slipped over the boundary. I was barely fully grown and wanted to see the world beyond. I ran for miles, until I came to the outskirts of your city. The woods around were full of rabbits, and I spent many months eating my fill, and watching humans go about their business. I saw you, and the other boy, often. You had a den up in the trees and you played together like pups in the sunlight. I grew fond of both of you, so when the boy was distressed one day, I followed him home. That night, a female slipped into the woods with a scrap of cloth in her hand. She pulled a rabbit from one of the traps set amongst the vegetables and smeared blood all over it.”

Jared sat back down with a thud as the wolf continued.

“Humans were coming and going from the place all night, but I didn’t see the boy again, and left soon after to come home.”

“He wasn’t killed,” Jared whispered.

“No. He lives.”

“How can you know that? Even if he didn’t die then, how can you know he’s alive? And why should I believe you? You want to protect your people from me, so how can I know that you’re telling the truth?”

In his head, laughter rumbled. “I am the Wolf King and I know many things. I know that if he were dead, then your heart would know it too, and would slowly begin to heal. And I know that you will never find peace until you find him. All I can give you is my word, and I have told you that wolves do not lie.”

“How do I find him? Where do I look?” Jared was still in shock at the thought that Jensen could still be alive.

“My daughter will accompany you back to your city. She will help you find him. Then you will outlaw the hunting of wolves throughout your land.”

A wolf with a pure white coat trotted out of the woods and regarded Jared with distain.

“You would trust me not to kill your daughter.”

“No, but she insists on going with you.”

“How will I find him?”

“You are a hunter. You must set a trap for the one who can heal your heart. But know this. There is enchantment at work. Memories are easily manipulated. It doesn’t take a spell to make someone believe they are someone else, but you might have to break a spell to make him remember you.”

Jared eyed the Wolf King, but the animal was already padding away, leaving him alone with the white wolf Jared had been hunting. She trotted to the edge of the clearing and looked back over her shoulder.

“Try to keep up.” And then she was gone, bounding through the woods and Jared had no choice but to follow her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Back in the city, in a town house that had seen better days, the household was waking up.

“Boy!”

“Coming, Mistress.” The house sub got to his feet, brushing off the ash that clung to his worn tunic. The hearth was the warmest place to sleep in the kitchen and that was his place. When he wasn’t cleaning or cooking, or trying his best to keep the house presentable, he was supposed to kneel by the fire, ready at all times to keep it going. Sometimes his mistress would allow him to sit back on his heels, head bent, his hands curled in his lap, but when she was annoyed, which was most days, he had to kneel with his forehead lowered to the stone floor and his hands clasped behind his back.

He’d always tried his best to be a good sub, but he knew there must be something wrong with him, because he didn’t like kneeling on the hard floor for hours. He didn’t like it when he messed up, and had to be punished either. His mistress and her eldest son, Chad, took it in turns to discipline him. His mistress favored tying him to the whipping post in the yard, fastening him to it and giving him ten lashes with a cruel whip then cleaning him up by throwing a bucket of water over him. Chad preferred to humiliate him by tanning his bare ass with a paddle while he was lying over Chad’s knee.

The boy counted himself lucky that Chad liked girls, and although he took great pleasure in humiliating him, he never touched him in other ways.

Mike was different. Mike was his mistress’s younger son. He was a switch who also liked girls and boys, but who treated the boy like a younger brother. Mike had never disciplined him, and often helped take care of him after Mistress and Chad had taken out their anger on him.

For as long as he could remember, Mike had snuck down to the kitchen after the others had gone to sleep, and they’d both sit on the hearth, talking through the night. When they were younger, Mike had told the boy stories of how he was really the son of a nobleman, and that one day, he’d meet his soul mate who would take him away from the drudgery of the kitchen. As they grew older, Mike embellished the tales, telling the boy that his soul mate would be a stern but kind dom, who would take care of him.

The boy had looked forward to Mike’s stories when he was smaller, but as the years went on, all they did was make him sad, because he knew that there was no escape for him. His life was as it was and nothing could change that. Once, when the boy was fifteen, Mike planned an escape for them both. He packed a small pack and unlocked the shackles from the boy’s ankles. His heart had beaten so fast as they ran through the streets, but a lawman who knew the boy’s mistress had stopped them and taken them back to the town house. Mistress had beaten Jensen so badly that it hurt to move for weeks after. Mike was made to watch, and he got the message. It was the one and only escape attempt either of them ever made.

So Mike would still sneak downstairs, and they would still fantasize about what could have been if their lives were different. But what the boy looked forward to most when they spent time together was that Mike always called him by a real name. He said it had been the boy’s name since he was born, but he had only ever heard Mike use it, so the boy wondered if Mike was just being kind.

He liked the sound of it. Two rhyming syllables that sounded right when they were spoken, as if perhaps they did belong to him.

Jensen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jared retrieved his horse from the village and the villagers watched with fascination as he left for the city with the large white wolf trotting beside him.

"You hate me." Jared glanced down at the wolf, wondering why she wanted to help him.
"Yes,” the wolf answered, but said no more.

"Then why did you not kill me?"

"Letting you live, and educating you, serves a higher purpose."

"And that's the only reason you're helping me?"

"No." The wolf paused, and Jared waited for her to go on. "I know how it feels, to lose the one you are meant to be with. You slaughtered my mate, but you were driven to take revenge on my kind, but you are not the one who deserves to die. I seek the one who pushed you down this path and once I find them, I will eat their heart. That is the revenge I seek."

Jared nodded, but didn't speak. For years he'd taken the life of every wolf unfortunate enough to cross his path and he felt humbled that the Wolf King's daughter could see past his actions and focus on the one who had faked Jensen's death. Although he itched to deal with Jensen's stepmother himself, there was enough blood on his hands already. His final act of revenge would be to make sure that the Wolf King's daughter took hers.

When they arrived back at the palace at sunset the next evening, the white wolf bounded off into the trees. Jared watched her go before he rode into the courtyard and went in search of his parents to break the news.

He found them sitting on the terrace and thankfully, the guard took pity on his exhausted state and simply stepped aside to let him pass.

"Jared!” His mother got to her feet and hugged him tight. “It’s good to have you home safely. Now, come and tell us all about your latest exploits."

"We hear that you've acquired a pet." Jared's father grinned.

Jared sat down heavily on one of the spare seats and wiped a hand over his face.

"She's not a pet," he explained. "She's the Wolf King's daughter."

The king sat up straight, his face suddenly grave. "You met the Wolf King?"

"I did. And he spared my life."

"Jared!” The Queen exclaimed, all traces of teasing gone.

"All this time, I've been killing wolves because one of them killed Jensen, but the Wolf King told me that he's still alive. His stepmother bloodied his tunic with blood from a rabbit caught in one of the garden traps. She pretended he was dead so she would finally inherit his father's fortune."

The queen trembled, emotion overwhelming her. The king held her close and they looked at each other, leading Jared to think they knew something he didn't.

"She didn't inherit his fortune. In the event of Jensen's death, Marcus had decreed that the majority of his estate would be given to the causes he supported and the castle was returned to the crown. She received a reasonable sum, nothing more."

"What happened to her? Where did she go?"

The king shook his head. "No-one has seen her for years. She never came back to court, so we assumed that she'd left the city and taken those two brats of hers with her.”

“Jensen liked Mike, but he hated Chad.” Jared was so tired that he wasn’t thinking straight, but one thing was certain. “I need to find him.”

Jared’s mother went over to where he was sitting and put her arms around him.

“It’s okay, honey, we’ll do everything we can to find him.”

“I want him back,” Jared whispered.

The Queen kissed the top of his head, and pulled him to his feet. She guided him back to his rooms and helped him get into bed for the first time in many years. She was about to leave when she saw Jensen’s old tattered stuffed bear sitting on a shelf near the bed. She picked it up, and tucked it into bed with Jared. Already asleep, he pulled it close and settled further down in the nest of pillows that covered his bed.

Closing the bedroom door quietly behind her, she strode down the corridor, giving orders to the guards as she went. She’d never liked Jensen’s stepmother, and if the boy had been harmed in any way, she would make sure the woman paid for it dearly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sometimes, usually during nights spent sore and shivering on the hearth after a flogging, Jensen would dream of a boy with floppy brown hair and pretty eyes. The dreams were always simple. The boy would take Jensen's hand and smile at him, a smile as bright as the sun. He would tug on Jensen's hand, pulling him out of the dark kitchen into a warm, bright place, where the grass was soft under his bare feet. The air smelled clean and fresh, and the trees around them were tall. He and the boy tumbled down onto the grass, and the boy tickled Jensen until he was laughing so hard tears of happiness streaked down his cheeks. Then he and the boy would snuggle up together, lying in the sun. The boy would rest his head on Jensen's chest and Jensen petted his hair, thinking it felt so soft and silky.

"Who are you?” Jensen asked.

The boy raised his head, smiling sleepily at Jensen, and opened his mouth to speak.

"J……"

And that was the point Jensen always woke up.

He always woke up feeling better after the dream. It soothed him. He'd asked Mike, not long after their escape attempt, if he'd had a friend when he was small who's name began with a J. Mike shook his head, but didn't meet Jensen's eyes. They weren't allowed to talk of the time before they moved into the townhouse. Mistress had declared it to be too painful for her, and any mention of it sent her off into one of her rages.

But Jensen wondered. Wondered what had happened to his mother and father. Mistress had told him that his mother, Maggie, who he only remembered vaguely, had left Jensen behind when Mistress was going through tough times, and never come back for him. As for his father, no-one had known who he was. As Jensen grew into his teens, and his punishments became increasingly physical, Mistress became more descriptive about Jensen's parentage. She would rage at him while she flogged him, telling him how his mother had been a whore who spread her legs for anyone, and that his father had been a drunk. But her description of his father varied so much, he was a gypsy, he was a one legged goat herder, that Jensen took everything she said with a pinch of salt.

When he was sixteen, he vowed to himself that he would one day find his mother, and find out who his father was, but as the years went on, his resolve began to fail. What was the point if she hadn't loved him enough to come back for him? If she cared so little about him that she could leave him to a life of drudgery?

Slowly, as Jensen began to lose hope of ever escaping his life at the townhouse, his dreams of the brown haired boy began to lessen. No longer could he rely on them to help him through the bad times, and the joy they had brought him, that he would cling to, began to fade.

On the opposite side of the city, somewhere that may as well have been a world away, Jared tossed and turned in his sleep. He held the stuffed bear tight against his chest as he dreamed.

But his dreams of Jensen were fading. Now, Jensen turned his sad eyes away from Jared, and shuffled back into darkness. Jared called out for him over and over, waking exhausted and wrung out, with Jensen's name on his lips. Usually, if he woke in such a mood, he would stalk down to the stables, and ride out, hungry for a kill, but that wasn’t an option any more. And he had better things to channel his energies into.

Like finding Jensen.

Across the other side of the city, Jensen woke hearing the echo of the voice of a boy whose name he didn't know.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jared’s parents had already began the search for Jensen and his stepmother by the time Jared was up and about. He felt useless, and insisted on going down to the market to follow up on a sighting of someone who resembled Jensen’s stepbrother Mike. First, he walked out of the back of the palace and through the trees towards the tree house.

When he got closer, he saw the Wolf King’s daughter sniffing around the tree.

“I don’t think there is be any scent left to catch. It’s been years since he was here.”

“It’s not his scent I need, it’s the essence of what you meant to each other. You are still bound to him, but the link is so tenuous now I fear it may break before we find him. Come closer.”

Jared did as he was asked, and dropped to one knee. The Wolf King’s daughter padded up to him and sniffed his neck. Her whiskers tickled and he smiled. Immediately, an image of Jensen sprung into his head. They were laughing together in the tree house. She grunted, obviously satisfied with his reaction, and stuck her nose against his chest over his heart. She pulled back and yipped, running off towards the city.

“Wait!” Jared called out for her, but she kept going.

“You will have your sign before the day is out.” Her voice echoed in Jared’s head.

Jared got to his feet, dusted himself off and went back to the palace to pick his guard up on his way to the market. It was busy, and crowded with people, but they parted to let him and his guards through. Everyone knew the tall prince, and most smiled at him as he walked by. He stopped by the leather goods stall, fingering the long handled whips and ornately tooled harnesses. The owner came straight over, chest puffed out in the hope that the prince had chosen his stall to buy from.

In between questions about the items on the stall, Jared asked what he really wanted to know. Had the stall holder had any dealings with a young man with a bald head. He confirmed that he had. He only knew the man’s first name, Mike, and didn’t know where he lived. Mike had made small purchases that he’d taken with him, he’d never asked for anything to be delivered. Jared thanked him for his help, and out of courtesy, asked him about the leather he used for the harnesses.

As they talked, Jared’s eyes were drawn to a display of masks, some simple, some wildly ornate, decorated with feathers and beads, hanging above the stall. He took down one mask with detailed knot work around the edges and the slightest use of feathers. He held it up, and looked at what had caught his eye. A single large pearl hung down from the mask below one eye, giving the illusion of one single tear lying on the cheek of the wearer.

He held it up to his face. It fit against his skin as if it had been made for him. The Wolf King had spoken about setting a trap and Jared wondered. If he held a masked ball, and invited all the available subs in the land, would Jensen, wherever he was, be allowed to attend?

He handed the mask to the stall owner, along with a pair of black leather cuffs lined with sheepskin. The man took them, and wrapped them up for the Prince, smiling broadly. The purchase wasn’t a large one, but now he would be able to market his products as bought by the prince.

Jared turned to give the package to one of his guards, acknowledging the amused smiles of some of the crowd, who obviously approved of his purchases. As he moved, Jared was hit by a boy running through the market.

Jensen landed against Jared’s chest with some force, but rebounded, watching in horror as the prince staggered back. He’d only seen the prince from afar, and thought him attractive, but up close, he was truly beautiful.

“I’m sorry, so sorry, your highness.” Jensen picked up the parcel that had fallen from Jared’s hands, and gave it back to him, dusting off the dirt that it had landed in.

“There was no harm done.” Jared eyed the boy, who was respectfully keeping his head bowed.

He noted that the shackles around his ankles were worn, and Jared could see sore red skin beneath them. His wrists were the same, and Jared frowned. There were those that used the laws and traditions of their society as an excuse to bind weak minded subs into slavery. The master got whatever he wanted and the sub got nothing more than scraps and a floor to sleep on. While Jared had encountered all manner of subs in his time, including some who relished humiliation, the boy in front of him showed all the signs of being misused, instead of being owned by a responsible Dom.

“What is your name?”

“Boy, sire.”

Jared was in a precarious position. It was not his place to undermine another dom’s rules, but it was his place to ensure that all his father’s subjects were treated fairly and as they wished.

“Boy? Are you happy?”

The crowd around them froze. It was a formal question, one that could only be answered with complete honesty. It was the question used by the law keepers to make sure that a sub that looked as if they were in distress truly was, or if it was something they wished.

If the answer was no, then the penalties ranged from educating the dom to make sure they understood how to ensure a sub’s happiness, to banishment if the mistreatment was severe enough.

“I …” Jensen almost hyperventilated, wishing he could disappear. He wasn’t happy, not at all, but if he implicated his mistress, then who knew what the consequences would be. She had given Jensen strict instructions to always answer yes to the question if it was ever asked of him, but that went against being truthful because in reality, Jensen was thoroughly miserable.

There was a sudden commotion close by, and the sound of hooves on cobbles as two loose horses ran towards the leather stall. Jared glanced over his shoulder and saw the danger to himself and the sub in front of him. He turned back, caught the boy by the waist and pulled him out of the way. For a moment, Jared’s arms were wrapped around Jensen, and something deep inside Jared calmed, but the moment passed as they both hit the ground hard. Jensen rolled under the leather stall, leaving Jared with nothing more than a flash of familiar green eyes.

“Jensen!”

But by the time Jared had regained his wits and pulled up the cloth looking for the boy, he was gone.

“Find him!” Jared barked at his guard, who ran past the stall and deeper into the market. “Jensen!”

But his guard came back empty handed, shaking their heads.

Jared looked around, startled when he saw the Wolf King’s daughter trotting towards him, tongue hanging out of her mouth in a way that made it look as if she were grinning at him.

“You have your sign, now set your trap. He will be there.”

Jared almost ran from the market, turning to her when they reached a quieter spot.

“I had him! In my arms! He’s alive … “ Then he remembered the shackles on Jensen’s wrists and ankles. “I can’t leave him out there, and I doubt he’d get any invitation to a ball.”

“Set your trap,” the wolf repeated. “He will be there.”

“How do you know that?”

“Wolves know what others do not.” She licked the back of his hand then trotted away, leaving Jared angry and frustrated.

He strode back to the palace to begin preparations.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

On the far side of the market, Jensen stood in an alley not far from the townhouse. He’d gone to the market to buy vegetables, but a wolf, a huge white wolf had come out of nowhere and he’d been so scared he’d run into the market to get away from it. Then the prince had saved him! He wrapped his arms around himself, remembering how it had felt to have strong arms holding him, protecting him. He’d even asked if Jensen was happy. Jensen sighed and closed his eyes, letting he head drop back against the wall. If only he’d had the courage to say no, he wasn’t. If only he hadn’t run away. But there was no use in thinking that way. Jensen picked up the bag he’d been carrying and trudged back to the townhouse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The invitations to the ball were sent out three days later. Jared wanted to hold it right the hell now, but his mother had taken charge, and insisted that it was usual to give people more notice than that so they could prepare for it. She decided that two weeks was a good compromise, and insisted that Jared get involved with the preparations so he would have something to occupy his time. Even so, she knew that he spent most nights roaming the streets of the city hoping for a glimpse of Jensen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The whole city was buzzing with talk of the ball. All subs who were not bonded and who were under the age of twenty eight were invited, along with their guardians, all the nobles in the city and the higher ranking merchants. Jensen’s stepmother had never been happier that she’d changed her name after she’d left the castle. Usually, she wouldn’t have set foot in the palace, but it was a masked ball, and she could attend as Mike’s guardian, as could Chad. Mike may be a switch, but for one night, he could damn well be a sub.

Jensen was cleaning out the fireplace in the drawing room while Mistress was writing an RSPV to the invitation. She was barking out orders to Mike at the same time.

“The tailor is coming tomorrow at noon. Make sure your brother is here when he arrives. It had better be worth the investment. Oh, and make sure Jensen cleans your boots. If he doesn’t get it right this time, he can lick the dirt off them.”

“Jensen’s eligible to go to the ball.”

Jensen froze, wondering what Mike hoped to achieve by angering his mother. He knew better than to call Jensen by a real name.

“So he is.” Her voice was silky smooth. “Boy? Come here.”

Jensen got to his feet and walked over to her, head bowed.

“Do you want to go to the ball?”

Jensen began to sweat and he wiped his palms on his tunic.

“I, er …”

“Come now Boy, either you do or you don’t. which is it?”

Jensen remembered the prince’s arms around him and nodded. “I do.”

“I see. Now, on your knees. You have to be a good sub if you want to impress the prince.”

Jensen slid to his knees, keeping his head down, so the kick, when it landed on his chest and pushed him back to sprawl on the hearth, was a shock. Although with hindsight, he realized he should have expected it.

“Get back to work, Boy. The prince wouldn’t take the time to piss on you if you were on fire.”

Jensen crawled back to the hearth as she stormed out of the room. He held on to the fact that the prince had held him, despite the rags he wore and how badly he must smell. The prince had asked him if he was happy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The day of the ball arrived and Jensen spent hours helping Mike and Chad get ready to go. Mike still wasn’t happy about having to pretend he was a sub, but his mother wouldn’t listen. Eventually, the carriage arrived, and Jensen watched two pairs of boots and one pair of shoes walk through the kitchen and out of the door to where it waited, ready to whisk them off to the ball. He waited until it had pulled away before sitting back on his haunches and shaking the cramp from his arms. No, he definitely wasn’t a good sub, he mused to himself. A good sub would have stayed in position all night, until his mistress and masters returned and needed their boots removing, and possibly licked. A good sub wouldn’t be standing up and stretching his back out, rolling his head from side to side to work out the kinks in his muscles.

Jensen shuffled over to the pantry, the chain between the shackles around his ankles stopping him from taking proper strides. He moved the sacks of flour and oatmeal out of the way and pulled out a covered plate, his mouth watering. A chicken carcass sat on one side of the plate, with plenty of meat for him to pick off. He’d managed to add the last of the vegetables from the pan to the plate before he’d hidden it, and now there was also a large red apple, it’s skin shiny. Jensen smiled. Mike must have added that while Jensen was upstairs helping Chad get dressed.

Jensen made his way over to the kitchen table, sitting down on the hard wooden bench. He didn’t allow himself the luxury of sitting on one of the chairs with cushions on. He wasn’t rebellious enough to risk getting it dirty. He stripped the meat from the bones with his fingers, groaning at the taste as he pushed a piece into his mouth and chewed, making it last. The vegetables were soggy, but he ate them anyway, alternating mouthfuls of bland sprouts and carrots with succulent meat.

He heard deep purring before the cat reached his ankles to slink around them, unashamedly mewing at Jensen to feed him chicken.

“Chris.” Jensen greeted the cat, and threw some shredded meat onto the floor by his feet so that his friend could share his feast.

Once they had eaten every scrap from the carcass, Jensen picked up the apple. He turned it in his hand, admiring the polished skin. When he bit into it, the skin broke under his teeth with a crunch, letting them sink into the firm flesh below. Juice welled against his lips and he sighed at the simple pleasure of eating a whole apple.

He sat for a while, nibbling at the core, making sure he didn’t miss even the smallest piece of flesh. He wondered how it would feel to be at the ball, dressed in fine clothes, dancing and laughing, meeting Prince Jared again. Then he chided himself. Servants didn’t get to go to balls. It didn’t matter how many stories Mike had told him when they were kids, about how Jensen was really the son of a noble and owned a castle and would one day be swept off his feet by a handsome prince. Or how one day, Mike would find a way to leave his father’s house and take Jensen with him. Jensen knew his place. He’d grown up in the kitchens, and that’s where he would stay. Shackled and obedient to a thoughtless mistress for the rest of his days.

Knowing his place didn’t stop him from dreaming, though. Chris jumped onto his knee and settled down as Jensen petted him. In his head, Jensen was at the ball, dancing with Prince Jared.

“I wish I could be there, Chris, at the ball, in his arms. I wish he would pick me.”

There was a loud crack followed by a blinding flash of light in the corner of the room. Chris hissed and jumped off Jensen’s knee, dashing to hide under the dresser. Jensen got to his feet, stumbling backwards as fast as the shackles would allow. His eyes widened as the light dimmed, leaving behind a tall, dark haired man dressed from head to toe in black leather. He held a cruel whip in his hand and a cigar hung from the corner of his mouth. He glanced around the room, eyes finally settling on Jensen. He looked him up and down, a frown on his face.

“Fuck, this is gonna take some work.”

“Who … who are you?”

“I’m your fairy godmother, kid, but you can call me JD.”

“My what?”

“You heard. Now, where to start.” JD walked towards Jensen, head tilted on one side as if he were measuring him up for something. “Okay, first you’ve gotta lose the rags. And those shackles.”

“No! Mistress insists they stay on all the time. If she gets back and they aren’t there …”

“Relax, kid. If you do as I say, you’ll be home before that bitch, and just as you were.”

“Home? Where am I going?”

“To the ball! That’s what you wished for, right?” JD winked.

“Well yes, but …”

“No buts. Times a wasting.” He cracked the whip in his hand. The tip bit into the metal chain between the shackles, and they fell from Jensen’s ankles, followed seconds later by the rags he wore.

Jensen yelped and covered his crotch with his hands. JD grinned.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before. Now, go and stand over there.” He motioned to the corner of the room.

Jensen reluctantly did as he was told. Seconds later, warm water was pouring down over his head. He screamed, and dodged out of the way, but the water followed him. Spluttering, he glared through it at JD.

“You can’t do this in the middle of the kitchen! It’ll flood!” All he could think about was that he would have to clear up the mess.

“No it won’t.” JD nodded towards the floor.

Jensen looked down, amazed that despite the heavy shower over his head, dripping down his body, apart from a damp spot around his feet, the rest of the floor was bone dry.

“So are you gonna get cleaned up or not?”

Now a bar of sweet smelling soap hung in the air by Jensen’s face. He closed his hand around it, and lathered up his body and hair.

“That’s Prince Jared’s favorite scent.” JD smirked.

Jensen blushed, turning away from him as he made sure he was clean all over. Once he was done, he looked around for somewhere to put the soap.

“Let it go,” JDinstructed. Jensen did, and watched as the bar hung where he’d left it. This time he just shrugged and got on with rinsing the lather off his body.

“Much better, but we’ve got some remodeling to do. Spread your legs and stand very, very still.”

Jensen was about to object, or at least question JD, but he stopped when a long razor floated into view, and opened itself in the air. The blade glinted wickedly and Jensen sucked in a frightened breath.

“Relax kid, it’ll only hurt if you move, so like I said, keep still.”

Jensen whimpered as the razor moved down his body. The soap joined it, and Jensen began to wonder if it was all a very strange dream, until the soap rubbed itself against his groin, lathering up the hair around the base of his cock and down over his balls. The razor followed, scraping it all away. The most disconcerting part was when invisible hands moved his balls around to give the razor better access. He glared at JD again who smirked at him and kept working.

“Turn round and bend over.”

“What? No!”

“Jensen, you’ve come this far. You want to be at your best when you meet the Prince, right?”

“But he’s not going to see …” Jensen trailed off, getting lost in a fantasy of Prince Jared touching his newly shaved parts. His dick began to swell, helped by the strange sensation of being shaved down there.

“Now you’re getting with the program.” JD laughed as Jensen blushed again, beet red. “Bend over and spread your cheeks.”

This time Jensen did as he was ordered without question. The razor scraped over the tender skin around his hole, until his crack was smooth and hairless. The water poured down over him again to wash off the lather, then cool lotion was rubbed into his now bare skin.

“We’ll leave your chest alone. It looks good on you.”

Jensen touched the light golden hairs on his chest, glad they were staying. He realized with a start that his skin was completely dry.

“Now, we have got to do something with that hair!” JD cracked his whip again, and Jensen felt as if a flock of small birds was pecking at his head. He hardly dared look up, and hoped he imagined the flutter of wings when JD waved his hand in the air and the sensation stopped.

“Much better.”

Jensen wished he had a mirror so he could see exactly what the birds had done to his hair.

“Now, clothes.” JD cracked his whip again, and as the tip of it bit into the dirty tile by Jensen’s foot, a cloud of sparks rose, swirling in the air, slowly spiraling around Jensen, wrapping him in magic. Little sparkles tickled his skin, and soft fabrics formed around his torso and limbs.

“Not bad.” JD’s voice was softer as he looked at Jensen.

Out of nowhere, a mirror appeared and Jensen gasped at his reflection.

“That’s me?”

“That’s you as you should have been.”

“What do you mean?” Jensen asked as he turned this way and that, amazed at how he looked. His hair was shorter, almost spiky on top, and it looked as if it had been dusted with gold.

“Hopefully, you’ll find that out for yourself real soon. Now, you need a guardian.” JD looked around the room, and spied Chris peeking out from under the dresser. “You’ll do.”

Chris hissed and spat as JD dragged him out. One crack of the whip later, and Chris the cat had been replaced by Chris the man with long dark hair and a surprised look on his face.

“Chris?” Jensen asked tentatively.

“Yeah, I guess.” Chris looked down at his new arms and legs, and fingered the jacket he was wearing.

JD handed them both masks. Chris’s was plain, but Jensen’s had a single pearl hanging down from one of the eyes.

“Now the rules. The masks stay on, and you have to leave the ball by midnight. At the stroke of twelve, you’ll both go back to how you were before. Now, gentlemen, your carriage awaits!” He ushered them out of the door, but stopped Jensen before he could leave. “You’ll need this.” JD tied a red ribbon around Jensen’s neck. “And I’m going to give you a gift.”

JD put a finger against Jensen’s forehead. Jensen took a deep breath and stood taller than he had in a long time. He stared at JD, wondering what he’d done. He no longer felt frightened about going to the ball, he felt excited.

“I gave you a shot of the confidence that would have been yours if things had played out differently. It belongs to you, and you will get it back eventually, but I think you could do with it tonight.”

“Thank you, for everything.” Jensen smiled at him.

“You deserve it, kid, and you’ve got friends in high places. Now, go! Don’t want to be any more than fashionably late, do you?” He winked at Jensen as Jensen climbed into the carriage beside Chris.

He grinned at his former pet, and leaned out of the carriage window just in time to see JD vanish with another blinding flash. Jensen sat back down, giddy at the thought of going to the ball. In all his wildest dreams, he’d never thought he would be on his way to see Prince Jared again. But it was really happening, although Jensen didn’t pinch himself, just in case he woke up.

Part Two