Jalin's POV
The night was thick with the stench of roasted meat and the pungent odor of cheap perfume that lingered long after the banquet hall had cleared. I loomed over Lucian, who sat shackled in his own despair, a broken king teetering on the edge of abject humiliation.
Finn sat on his throne, watching the exodus of his guests with a satisfaction tinged by a strange, lurking unrest. The events of the evening had unfolded precisely as Finn had orchestrated, yet there was a tempest brewing within him - a yearning to unmask my true intentions.
I sensed Finn's eyes on me, persistent and probing as I steered the girl towards Lucian’s quarters. My grip on her arm tightened, eliciting a pained whimper that did little to soften my resolve. Her terror was apparent, her wide, pleading eyes glistening with desperation.
"I beg you, please," the girl’s voice trembled, each word dripping with fear. "Don't make me do this. I'll do anything else, just please -"
You poor little thing. You have no idea what I am going to do to you.
My expression hardened. Without a word, I wrenched her aside, my grip tightening until she winced. "I thought you've been tamed. But I guess you're just a fucking project in progress. Listen to me, you fucking slut. You will serve His Majesty tonight," I hissed, my voice low and venomous. "Or you will learn what true pain feels like."
The girl's sobs were swallowed by the oppressive silence of the corridors as I dragged her forward. Despite my outward indifference, I was acutely aware of Finn's gaze—an uneasy mix of satisfaction and unsettled curiosity. His desires and questions hung heavy in the air, an unspoken enquirer shrouded in the night’s shadows.
As we reached Lucian's quarters, I pushed the girl inside, her trembling form a stark contrast to the cold hardness of the room. Lucian's eyes, once filled with fire, now flickered weakly as he struggled against the weight of his own defeat.
"There. Have it. It's all yours tonight," I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Remember what I said. Appreciation to hospitality. I know you haven't been with girls for quite some time, but try not to break her."
Lucian grumbled something.
"What?! I can't hear you!" I said.
"Thank you, Jalin," he said in a low voice. "for granting me this one."
"Yeah. You see, obey me and you might find moments of respite," I slammed the door close.
With that, I turned on my heel and left her there. My path now led to other dealings, darker schemes that required my immediate attention.
---
The moon hung high in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the torch-lit paths of Finn's fortress. My footsteps were careful and deliberate, each step resonating with the precision of someone well-versed in navigating treacherous terrain. The hedonistic cries echoing from Finn’s chambers grew louder, a cacophony of indulgence and debauchery that grated on my nerves.
The door to Finn's chambers was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, I beheld a grotesque tableau of depravity: Finn reclined among six female slaves, their bodies entwined in a mess of flesh and sweat. Finn's laughter, sharp and grating, ceased abruptly when he noticed me standing in the doorway.
"Jalin," he sneered, pushing the slaves away and rising. He didn’t bother with modesty; his naked form was yet another testament to his relentless pursuit of power and dominance. "Come to join the festivities?"
"You look cute, but you're not my type, Alpha Finn. I came to talk," I stated flatly. "Alone."
Finn shoved the slaves aside, their protests barely registering as background noise. He began to dress with deliberate slowness, each movement filled with a mocking arrogance. "Finally," he said, pulling on a shirt. "We can discuss serious matters with the one who's actually in charge."
I ignored his jab, stepping further into the room. "There's a proposition," I began, my voice steady and commanding. "I can return your brother Lucas to you, but in exchange, you must support an immediate surrender and back Lucian’s rule."
Finn's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he scoffed. "Lucian? That weakling? I could crush him with minimal effort."
Despite his bravado, I detected a flicker of uncertainty. I pressed on, my confidence unwavering. "You wouldn't be talking to me if there wasn't something to discuss. Lucas matters to you, Finn. We both know it, and we both know that though your body has been enhanced, you lack the divine power of the Lycans."
Finn's face contorted with fury, his hands balling into fists. "I don't give a damn about Lycans or my half-brother," he spat. "I want to see this world burn, slowly and painfully, until there’s nothing left but ash. And I'll be there, taking my last breath watching it crumble."
"If that's truly your aim," I countered, turning on my heel. "Then we have nothing further to discuss."
"Wait," Finn's voice halted me. His eyes bore into mine with a calculating gleam. "Why haven’t you killed Lucian? We obviously share the same hatred towards Lycans."
The question hung in the air, a dagger poised to strike. I met Finn's gaze levelly, my voice cold and devoid of emotion. "The greatest mercy for a creature like us is to kill him, Finn. The greatest torture is to let him live."
A silence as heavy as lead settled between us. Finn's expression flickered with unidentifiable emotion as he weighed my words. Finally, he spoke, his voice a low growl. "Mediland must have autonomy. Lucian's court can never interfere in its affairs."
I nodded, a sharp gesture of concession. "Agreed."
Finn's laughter rang out, hollow and bitter, as he extended a hand. "To the end, Beta."
"To the end," I echoed, shaking his hand with a grip that spoke of unspoken deals and the unsheathing of daggers in the dark.
As I left Finn’s chambers, the suffocating weight of my own victory settled heavily upon me. The girl's face, stricken with fear and pain, somehow flashed before my eyes, overlapping with Lucian's face.
What the fuck is going on with me? I shook my head, trying to get rid of the fucking pathetic image out of my head.
I've achieved an amazing thing tonight. I fucking quenched the force of nature and slowed down the clock. But something still remains undone.