Chapter 1

"Buon compleanno Tesoro" My father smiled at me as he wished me a happy birthday. 

"Thank you, Arcano" I simply replied. 

"Perché non mi chiami papà?" My father replied in a hurt tone. 

"You know why Arcano, and please stop speaking Italian, we both know very well you speak English,"  I replied nonchalantly. 

"Must you always be so serious?"

"I was born this way and I shall die this way," I replied as I took a seat at the dinner table. 

“Where is everyone?” I questioned as I looked around the empty dining room. 

“They had errands to run, Tesoro.” My father smiled at me. 

“Stop It.” 

“Stop what?” 

“I know damn well you are planning a birthday party for me. I don’t do parties and you know it” I sighed in annoyance. 

“Don’t be ridiculous, I would never throw you a surprise birthday party.” 

“You are lying through your teeth Arcano.” I spat as I rose from my seat and headed out of the door in search of my father’s henchmen. 

“Nicoli! Giancarlo!” I yelled out looking for my father’s most trusted men. 

“Buona Sera Bambi!” Nicoli smiled as he walked out of one of the rooms shutting the door behind him. 

“Nicoli, What does Arcano have you doing?” I questioned in distrust. 

“Master Arcano hasn’t given out any orders.” Nicoli smiled as he pulled me into a hug. 

“I know when you are lying to me, Nicoli.” I sighed in annoyance as I pulled away from him and quickly walked into the room Nicoli just walked out of. 

“Bambi wait!” Nicoli spoke out as I opened the door. 

I let my eyes adjust to the darkroom I had just entered. After a few minutes, I could see a man and a woman. She was Pantherean. Her cat-like ears stood up in an alert form. There was a fire in her eyes and she was clearly in discomfort.  Her hands were tied together and she hung from the ceiling of the room. She was in a black bra and a set of matching panties. There were cuts all along her body and many bruises covered her skin. She stared at the man to her side as if he were some kind of monster. 

I glanced over at the man and recognized him as one of my father’s men. He was way lower on the totem pole and I doubted my father even knew his name. Hell, I didn't even know the poor bastard's name. He had sandy blond hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a tight black shirt and a pair of jogging pants. He wasn’t ugly but he wasn’t very appealing either. 

“Calm down or I’ll do worse.” The man spoke in an annoying tone. 

In all honesty, I was annoyed by the sound of his voice. I just wanted him to shut up. The woman spits out at him and I smile at her fierceness. 

“You are going to regret that.” The man growled out as he started to pull his pants down. The man had yet to notice my existence and I was a bit shocked by that. Nicoli had already joined me in the room but he just watched as the scene played out. 

“What is going on here?” I questioned before the man had a chance to pull down his boxers as well. 

The man quickly turned his attention to me and turned as white as a sheet of paper. In a flash of lightning, he pulled his pants back up and quickly bowed showing us a sign of submission. 

“Master Nicoli, Miss Bella.” The man acknowledged. 

“I apologize, your father wanted me to make sure this woman was tamed enough to gift her to you but she refuses to cooperate.” The man spat out at the woman. 

“I see.” Was all I replied as I made my way to the chained-up woman. 

Her hair was cut short like a bob and a few strands of hair were in her face. She had once again met my eyes with hers. 

“What's your name?” I questioned as I lifted my hand and pushed the strand of hair behind her ear. 

The woman flinched at my touch and ignored my question as she closed her eyes and looked away from me. 

“Miss Bella has spoken! Answer her!” The man yelled almost in my ear. 

A frown formed on my face and my first reaction was to quickly slap my hand across his face. 

“I can speak for myself.” I all but growled out at the man. 

The man's shocked face made me somewhat happy. I watched his face from astonishment to slight anger. 

“Of course, I apologize.” The man spat out as he bowed. 

It was no secret that the slap bothered him but I paid him no mind as I turned my attention back to the woman once again. 

“If you don’t tell me your name, I will name you myself.” 

“I don’t have one.” She replied in annoyance. 

“What do people call you?” I questioned. 

“Cat.” She replied curtly. 

“Well, Cat, It seems my father has given you to me as a give for my birthday. Do you know what that means?” I questioned. 

I watched as the woman looked me up and down and slowly shook her head no. At this point, her ears had fallen to the side in a relaxed position.

“That means that I own you. For as long as I live you will be my slave.” I smiled in excitement. 

The woman’s ear quickly fell back and she hissed at my comment. I could sense Nicoli tense up behind me and I quickly waved my hand as a dismissal. 

“From this day forth you shall be called Neko and no one will touch you unless I allow it,” I spoke out in a definitive tone as I shot a glance at the man beside me. 

He quickly looked at me and shot me a small smile as he backed away. 

“Bring me the collar,” I spoke out to Nicoli. He bowed and quickly left the room. 

“A collar will be placed on you that will render you submissive to my every command. Once I feel you have earned my trust the collar comes off. Understood?” I asked as I slightly backed away from the woman. 

She looked at me with a scared look as the door opened and Nicoli walked in with a metal collar. I pulled out a swiss knife from my pocket and slit my palm. I slightly winced at the pain but let a few drops of blood fall on the collar activating it. 

When my blood landed on the metal collar the designs on the metal started to fill with my blood making the collar glow. When the collar opened Nicoli placed it on the woman’s neck and the collar quickly shut. 

The woman screamed out in pain as the collar began to activate. 

“If you keep fighting it the more painful the collar will become.” I sighed at the sound of her screams making my head hurt. 

Her screams continued to fill the room as she struggled against her chains. 

“Very well have it your way.” I sighed as I closed my eyes and focused on the chant I had to say. 

“My name is Bella Salvatore and by placing this collar I have deemed Neko my slave until I decided to free her or until my death. From this day forth Neko will be my property.” I chanted out loud as the screams coming from Neko started to die down. 

Soon a few moans escaped her lips causing me to open my eyes abruptly and shoot her a quizzical glance. 

“It seems she has accepted her fate, Tesoro.” My father chuckled as he spoke. 

I quickly turned around and was met with my father’s proud glance as he stood at the doorway of the room. 

“What do you mean?” I questioned in ignorance and annoyance. 

“There is one special secret about the collar Tesoro. If the slave accepts the Master before the ritual ends they will be filled with euphoria.” My father laughed. 

“It would have been nice to know this ahead of time,” I replied in annoyance as I stared at my father. 

“ But then your reaction wouldn’t have been so comical Tesoro.” My father smiled back at me. 

I rolled my eyes and quickly shot Nicoli a glance. 

“Get her down” I ordered as I watched Neko breathe heavily. 

Nicoli quickly did what he was told and Neko was slowly placed on the floor. I shrugged off my jacket and placed it over her exposed body. I undid Neko’s chains and helped her up. Her tail swayed from side to side as she looked at me. 

“Come we are going home,” I spoke as I started to walk out of the room. 

“So soon Tesoro? Why don’t we at least cut a cake for your birthday?” My father smiled sweetly at me. 

“No Arcano, It’s quite alright. I thank you for my gift but I must be going. I have a business to run.” I spoke as I continued out the door not bothering to turn around and say my goodbyes. 

I walked out of the house with Neko right behind me. I climbed into my car and signaled for my driver to start the car as soon as Neko climbed in. 

The driver started the car and before I knew it we were out of my father’s territory and on our way home. 

Neko laid her head against the window and I checked my phone. Ignoring the Birthday wishes that my friends sent me I wasn't exactly in a festive mood.