She was startled by his easy laugh, expecting him to be annoyed.

He did have her loyalty and adoration. For the most part. Just not at the cost of her own self-preservation, the feeling that insisted she needed to leave.

“The rewards now being the privilege of having a much larger, better decorated cage, I suppose?” Morgan asked.

“I hardly would call this a cage” he retorted, gesturing with his hands. “And you’re allowed to act human quite frequently. That’s not exactly oppressive, if you ask me. I’ve barely asked you to pay attention to your non-human side, not to completely discard your humanity. I might have, but I didn’t.” Jim shrugged. “What’s in pleasing me daily if you can get away with loads of things the rest of the time?”

Morgan’s head jerked up and she looked at him in horror. She barked urgently, pawing at him. ‘No! No leave us! No! Who alpha then? Moran? No, you alpha. You take care of pack.’

Jim found her reaction so adorable he fairly melted. ‘Don’t worry, love, I’m not leaving anytime soon’ he assured her, pulling her closer so that she could rest her head on his lap. ‘And I’ll make sure you have a good alpha if that ever were to happen.’ He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. ‘But you’ll outlive me for sure.’

As soon as Jim stepped back, Morgan relaxed. Though it wasn’t a submissive gesture, the animal part of her brain saw it as such. She felt herself becoming more human in response to his own shift. “Fine,” she said shortly, after a pause. “You’re the one who’s trained pets like me for - what? Hundreds of years, maybe? I’ve never trained a pet, but I’m pretty sure that when the pet fucks up, it’s considered the owner’s fault.” She took a step back, studying him. “Maybe your methods are rusty.”

Her words made Jim laugh, openly and lightly. “Maybe, I guess” he agreed, studying her in return. “I tend to rely more on rewards than punishments, and it’s worked for the most part. I’d rather earn loyalty and adoration than fear and resentment from my pets, you see. Both fear and love can lead to obedience, but the latter makes it long-lasting and more reliable.” He paused. “At least in my experience.”

The vampire tilted his head, thinking. “I might be choosing the wrong rewards for you.”

She groaned, back arching sharply and giving him an accusatory look. ‘I still haven’t had a proper hunt, you bring me food like I’m a cub,’ she retorted. Morgan raised her arse and spread her legs; much as she was ashamed by the act, it felt necessary. Half human, she gave a broken, needy howl.

“You will have one in time, don’t worry. We’ll hunt together when you’re no longer a cub” he promised, teasing her as well. Jim watched her with his lips parted, the temptation calling him like an old friend that’s been missing for a long time. “I have some toys I could help you with” he offered. “Or you have... well, me. I’m sure Moran would love to help you but that’s not going to happen.”

His affection was certainly enough of a treat for her. Life felt so simple and happy in that moment. And others like it. When she learned to retain complete control of her human mind during transformation, maybe then things would change. But right now she really *was* like a big puppy. ‘Maybe one day stronger,’ Morgan thought.

‘No you won’t’ he replied, though he couldn’t hide a smile. ‘And if you do become stronger, that only means you’ll protect me better. Good strong puppy keeping Daddy safe.’ Jim ran his fingers through her fur, enjoying the feeling with a bit of a lost stare. ‘I’m getting old. Maybe you will be the one to take me down after all. Better than a random wolf I guess.’

That *was* easy. How had it been so easy? She hadn’t even been trying to shift, or thinking about it. Morgan stared back at him, thinking that she probably wouldn’t grow much at all. Did werewolves keep growing once they reached adulthood? She didn’t know. When Jim gave the order she followed it instinctively, not even thinking about it first.

‘Ah, that’s a good girl’ he praised cheerfully, hands reaching to rub her tummy. Jim felt as if wolves were bigger, smarter versions of dogs, and as such he tended to assume that their loyalty and innocence were endless. It was hard for his stubborn self to accept, when they finally rose up, that they also had motivations and agendas and a desire for an independence that left them very far from a regular dog. One couldn’t blame him for forgetting they were human when they behaved like adorable fluffy balls. Like now. 

‘I should give you a treat now but I have none nearby, so my affection will have to do.’ He sighed. ‘You have room for development yet... you’ll definitely be stronger. Not stronger than me, don’t get your hopes up.’

@shootingmidnight

Morgan whimpered and writhed on her old bed as she began to shift. ‘It’s hardly recreational!’ she thought angrily.

“No! Please, no!” She summoned the strength and concentration to speak out loud, while she was still capable of speech.

'What did you do when this happened to your old pets?’ Morgan wondered.

“I’m sorry, darling. This is like your first hunting out of bloodlust -some things you just have to experience before giving them up.” Jim crouched next to her bed, watching the transformation a bit mesmerised. That was something he never got tired of. “I tried to provide them with relief whenever it was possible. Back then we had entire packs, not individuals, so it was easier. Vampires were a second best option. There are suppressants, but they’re an emergency resource. Too many side effects.”

Morgan didn’t agree with Jim’s interpretation. She didn’t want something to complain about; abuse was just easier for her to understand than whatever it was that her captivity had become.

Jim stared at her in silence for a long moment, and for an outsider it might have appeared as if he were just getting ready to tear her apart, measuring their forces, calculating risks. However, he finally stepped back, releasing a breath as his fangs vanished from sight. He still had his strength if she decided to attack, but he deemed it unlikely. And the whole fight, pointless.

“If I were like Moran I could get off on treating you poorly” he said, returning to spoken words in hopes that they would help Morgan out of her animal mindset. “But I am not a sadist. In fact, I find acting like one quite boring.” The vampire shrugged. “I only enjoy torturing people I have something against, and that’s not your case. So yes, you can still be a good pet and be spoiled, and I think that should make things easier for all of us.”

She smiled and wriggled on the floor, basking in his affection. Morgan tried to speak out loud and only noticed then that she was no longer human.

‘That was easy, wasn’t it? Nice and smooth.’ He placed his hands at both sides of her head and lifted it gently, looking into her eyes. ‘You’re still so young... You’re probably going to grow larger. And I’ll miss your little pup days then.’ Jim smiled and released her, tilting his head. ‘Roll over for me.’

Morgan clung to him, well aware he’d have a wet spot on his shirt when he set her down. ‘Just shoot me with a bloody tranquilizer,’ she suggested. She closed her eyes, trying not to think of what Jim might mean.

“I’m not a fan of drug use, you see” he replied with a hint of amusement, placing Morgan on the pet bed that was still on her cell. His shirt was left with a wide wet spot indeed, and he absentmindedly tried to separate it from his own skin. Jim didn’t like the feeling of the fabric sticking to him, for some reason. “Except for alcohol, I guess. But I do think it’s importance you experience this at least once. To truly know what it’s like. What your nature is like now.”

She made pleased noises, deep in her throat, rubbing against Jim. Her mood slightly dampened, however, thinking of Sebastian. ‘Told you I’m awful,’ Morgan pointed out. 'Don’t want but also do.’ Her sentences, even in thought, were becoming simpler.

‘You’re not awful’ he chided, reaching to scratch right above her tail. ‘You’re a lovely pup and I’ll take care of you. Don’t want Moran’s claws on you.’ Jim leant down to kiss the top of her head. ‘Mine. You’re mine.’