Page 13 of In Bellamira's Chains

Without any hesitation, I began cutting, snipping through her thick hair. Before we knew it, the weight was off her shoulders, literally and metaphorically. I stepped around the chair and placed the length on the vanity before looking at Hazelle who had tears in her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled, but she didn’t say a word.

I got to work trimming her hair and shaping it into a pixie cut that fit her features. I learned how to do this long ago, and it was one of the first ways I bonded with Elera as well. A new haircut can bring a lot more change than just looks. It symbolizes a fresh start, and that’s what Hazelle had.

Pulling out shears, I cut the sides short and left some length on the top. The front flopped down over her forehead like bangs, and she was a whole new person with a lightness she didn’t have before.

“What do you think, my pet? Will that do?” I set aside the clippers and dusted some of the hair away as Hazelle took her new look in.

Elera came up beside us but didn’t say anything. If she was refusing to comment on it like I was, then she was also waitingfor Hazelle to make the choice to like it for herself. If she hated it, well, we had never had a wig collection before, but that would be an easy enough fix.

Tears streamed out of her eyes, but a bright smile creased her lips as she jumped up to get a closer look. She played with it while looking in the mirror, bits of hair falling here and there as she went, but she didn’t seem to mind. Hazelle would need another shower before we left to clean up, but that would give me some time with Elera, and I had missed her today.

Hazelle finished perusing and spun, throwing herself in my arms. With my heels on, I was over a foot taller than her, so her face hit perfectly at my chest. She either didn’t care or didn’t notice where she was shoving her face, but I didn’t mind.

“Thank you, Mistress Belle,” she sobbed out. “Thank you so much. I love it!” Her arms tightened around me, and I wrapped her in mine, holding her close and giving her the affirmation she needed that she was safe and welcomed here.

“Of course, my pet. It suits you, and you look so much happier with the hair gone. Keep it whatever length you’d like. I cut Elera’s every two months, but we will need to be more proactive with yours.” I’d have Simon, my assistant, ensure we cut it once a month. I would never forget about Hazelle, but my life was hectic, and sometimes weeks flew by, and it felt like days instead. This would ensure we never forgot, and her hair remained short as she liked it.

Hazelle’s tears stopped, and she pulled away to look at me. “I can’t—I can’t thank you enough,

Mistress Belle. Um, can I go—” Hazelle trailed off, then took a deep breath. “Can I shower?”

I smiled down at her, cupping her face. “Go shower while Elera and I get ready. I’ll get your clothes picked out.” I leaned down, placing a kiss on her forehead. I felt her lean into it, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she stood on her tiptoes as well.

“Thank—Oh, Elera! Do you like it?” Hazelle whirled around to our Beta with the giddiness of a child, and my hopes of her fitting in were no longer simply hopes. She would do well here as long as she got through tonight.

It couldn’t be helped. This was our life, and Hazelle had to fit into every piece of it to be mine. I would never throw her back into the auctions, but I knew of some kinder Alphas that might take her if she didn’t accept her place here.

“It’s cute, Hazelle. We can find some clips that will work with it too.” Elera ruffled her hair, and I loved the smile she had. It was free and happy, and that’s when I knew that even if Hazelle didn’t work for me, she would always be in our lives in some way. Elera deserved a friend even if she wasn’t my pet as well. “Go shower. I want the outfit to be a surprise!” Elera gently pushed Hazelle toward the bathroom, and she went along easily, leaving the door open behind her.

I chuckled, knowing she wanted to be a part of whatever we were doing in here even if she couldn’t be.

“How are things going, pet?” I had kept myself scarce until now in hopes Hazelle would settle in with Elera and things would go more smoothly tonight. Forcing my rule so soon wouldn’t have gone well with her past. I wanted an obedient pet, not a mindless blob of a person sitting next to me doing nothing but looking somber and pretty.

“Better than I expected, My Mistress. Her last Alpha was horrible to her, so it will take some time for her to fully feel at ease here.” I sensed a but coming, so I grabbed Elera and pulled her onto my lap as I sat down on the edge of the bed.

“But?” I prompted.

“But I am worried about tonight, My Mistress. Hazelle shuts down when I mention it. I explained that I enjoy it and that it’s always nice people that you let use me, but it didn’t matter. Oroslet others use her, but they were harsh and awful. I think tonight will be good, but can I make a request?”

I looked down at her, brushing her hair behind her ear as she chewed on her bottom lip. Elera was never nervous when it came to asking me things in private, and even in the presence of others, she knew how to form it in a way that was allowable. “Ask.”

“Can it be Perrin tonight? If he’s there. I think he’d handle the situation best and show Hazelle that it’s not what she thinks.” I mulled it over. I hadn’t thought about who would be using Elera tonight as I didn’t know the guest list. It was the same people with a few outliers, but we didn’t all go every single time.

If Perrin was there, I didn’t have a problem with her request, but I wouldn’t push her on him. He had to be invested and request it himself.

“If he requests time with you tonight, then yes. If not, I will pick the softest option available.” She nodded, a tinge of sadness in her green eyes. Elera wouldn’t go against me, but I knew she wanted what was best for Hazelle. Luckily, so did I. I wouldn’t allow a rough Alpha to be with Elera unless she felt like rough play that night. Usually, there were multiple requests, and unless I needed to bargain something from someone, Elera got to choose.

“I understand. Thank you, My Mistress.” Elera maneuvered herself to straddling my legs and flung her arms over my shoulders. “Having Hazelle is nice. I wasn’t as lonely as I usually am, but I still missed you today.”

I didn’t say anything as I wrapped my hand in her hair and crashed her lips to mine. My tongue worked its way in, and Elera gladly let me. My other hand worked up her barely-there dress, wrapping around her waist and pulling her into me. Elera moaned, and my cock grew beneath my skirt, but we didn’t have time for this. We were already going to be late as is.

Pulling her dress over her head, I trailed kisses down her neck and undid the pink bralette she wore, revealing her small breasts.

I sucked one of her nipples in my mouth, making her cry out before I pulled away. Her skin was flushed and smeared with lipstick, and her heartbeat was rapid beneath my touch.

“It’s time to get dressed,” I said with a devilish grin. Elera would certainly enjoy tonight if this was how she reacted with so little from me.

“Yes, My Mistress.” Elera had a slight pout on her lips, but she slid off of me and waited like a good pet.