Leah's POV
"I need you to perform for me, Miss Lewyn," Alpha Kyle stated firmly. "I saw your performance at His Majesty's birthday party recently. It was quite impressive."
"Excuse me?" I frowned, taken aback.
"Alpha Mick is getting married and has invited all the other Alphas to Mediland. I was asked to put on a spectacular show to entertain them. The usual slave dances are so tedious. So, I thought I’d try something different..."
"I'm a fugitive on the run. You can't possibly think I could dance in front of a room full of Alphas who know my hus..." I hesitated, swallowing the word 'husband.'
Finn clenched his fists angrily.
Alpha Kyle continued with a lecherous smirk, "I should inform you that your husband will also be in the audience. He has already accepted Alpha Mick's invitation. But don't worry about it. The way I want you to dance doesn't emphasize your face but other parts of your body..."
Before he could finish, Finn stood up, grabbing my arm and leading me away.
"Coming here was a mistake. Let's go, Leah," Finn said decisively, anger evident in the veins bulging on his forehead.
Alpha Kyle's guards blocked our path.
"Don't be so offended, Finn," Alpha Kyle said nonchalantly. "You know how things work in my world. I scratch your back, you scratch mine."
Finn turned back, his eyes full of hatred. I knew he would tear Kyle apart if not for my presence.
"Finn," I said softly, trying to calm him. "Let me talk to him."
"No, Leah. Do not engage with him. This is all part of his game," Finn warned.
Alpha Kyle's voice took on a mocking tone. "Come on, Finn. Don't be so possessive. Your girlfriend wants to play my game."
"Fuck you, old man. Fuck you and fuck all this," Finn snarled, lunging at him.
I pulled him back. "I'll do the dance tonight. Just one dance. And then you'll get us a boat and send us away," I declared firmly.
No one had ever asked me to do something so degrading before. Yet, I knew I had to endure it a while longer to uncover the truth about what had happened to Finn here.
There was an unsettling, intangible aura about this place. It wrapped around everything like a suffocating fog, whispering secrets and lies.
And deep down, I knew Finn was hiding something from me, something dark and insidious that I needed to unearth.
"No, Leah..." Finn protested anxiously.
"Sure," Alpha Kyle agreed readily. "Everything will be arranged. Wherever you want to go. Your safety is guaranteed. No strings attached. You have to understand, Miss Lewyn. The sooner this curfew business is over, the sooner my operations return to normal. It's a win-win."
Finn was so furious he was rendered speechless. Eventually, he gave Alpha Kyle a dark look, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Alpha Kyle chuckled, "Your boyfriend is quite special. He has a certain trait I noticed the first time I saw him in the dump site."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, frowning.
"A paradox. A force of nature combined with vulnerability. Broken, yet whole. Destructive, but protective. Violent, yet serene. Wild, but submissive. It's the most tantalizing trait I could ever find in a slave."
"Is that why you sold him to Sak Doyle?"
Alpha Kyle's face turned dark.
"No," he said curtly. "I sold him for another reason."
"And what’s that?" I pressed.
Alpha Kyle ignored my question. He stood up, straightened his suit, and said, "You can go and prepare for tonight's dance now. I’m risking a 40-year relationship with your husband's family for this performance. You'd better make it worth it. Go ahead. Finn knows what to do. Follow him."
As I walked out, Alpha Kyle called from behind, "You can still run away from him, you know. It’s not too late."
I walked off without looking back. Finn was standing by a window, staring into the distance.
I approached and stood next to him. "I'm sorry for everything," he said, lowering his head.
"You don’t need to apologize to me. I’d do anything for you," I replied.
Finn looked despondent. He then gazed into my eyes, "I don't deserve you, Leah. I don't deserve your love."
"Don’t ever say that, Finn." I wrapped my arms around him, trying to console him, but it didn’t work.
He pushed me away, "No, this is wrong..."
"Finn..." I reached out to him, my arms trembling.
"No!" Finn snapped, stepping back abruptly. "Can't you see?! You and me... this is all wrong! You're the daughter of the Lycan King, Leah! And now you have to dance in front of everyone! How can you not see this is all wrong?! This is what you get for being with me. This humiliation, it’s what you and our child will endure..."
"Our child," I corrected him softly. "It's our child, Finn."
Finn collapsed onto the floor, his body shaking. "I can't... I can't do it, Leah..." he murmured, covering his face with his hands.
I sat beside him, my heart aching. "I used to have everything. But none of it made me happy because it wasn’t what I wanted. The only thing I've ever wanted is to spend my life with someone I love. That's why I chose to marry Lucas, and it's the same reason I rejected him and ran away with you."
"But that’s not enough," Finn said, his voice cracking. "I want to give you everything, Leah. A decent life..."
I took his hand and squeezed it gently. "We will have everything. This dance is the price we have to pay for the life we want."
Finn's eyes flickered with a turbulent mix of anger and sadness. For a brief moment, we sat there, leaning against each other, holding hands, sharing a silent strength.
Four servants arrived, holding tacky costumes and accessories. One of them spoke, "Miss Lewyn, Alpha Kyle has requested we give you a tour before escorting you to the dressing room."
Finn glanced at them and then stood up. "I'll wait for you in the dressing room," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
I understood he didn't want to relive the nightmare this place held for him, so I nodded and followed the servants. Through the windows, I glimpsed the outside world. It was my first look inside the slave market.
Ordinary. It looked just like an average club, designed with surprisingly tasteful aesthetics. Branded slaves, men and women, moved about like typical office workers, doing chores or chatting.
Our guide explained, "Alpha Kyle purchased this place 15 years ago, and now it's the largest venue in the kingdom. Slaves are examined and categorized into four ranks. You can distinguish them by the colored bands they wear. The highest ranks are for distinguished guests, while the lower ranks vary in price."
"I thought male slaves were supposed to be kept away from female ones." I said.
"We have special procedures to prevent unwanted situations from happening," the guide replied.
I frowned. I didn't want to know what kind of horrifying things they had done to those poor slaves.
The guide continued, "Regardless of rank, Alpha ensures their welfare as any businessman would protect valuable assets. I assure you, Miss Lewyn, there is no abuse or legal violations here. Every Friday night is an auction. People from all over the kingdom come to bid. Due to the sensitive nature of the event and client confidentiality, it’s a masquerade. All bidders wear masks throughout the night."
"Did Finn have a rank?" I asked.
"Yes, Miss Lewyn. He was initially the highest rank but was promoted to the lowest before he left."
"Why was that?" I questioned.
The servant hesitated, then said, "There was an incident."
"What kind of incident?" I pressed.
"A mating incident," the servant revealed reluctantly. "That's all I can say, Miss Lewyn. I’m not authorized to provide more details."
Mating?! I was stunned. Finn had already mentioned a mate. Dr. Monk had told me about it. "Is his mate still alive?" I asked, my eyes wide with shock.
"Yes, Miss Lewyn," the servant confirmed.
"Is she still here?" I pressed further.
The servant gave me a meaningful look and replied, "Yes, Miss Lewyn. She is."