Finn's POV
The air in Mediland was thick with the stench of desperation and decay, a familiar reek that clung to the walls of the slave market like a second skin. I stepped through the rusted gates, my boots crunching over gravel and broken glass. The place was still a cesspool of misery, still a monument to the cruelty of the worst of the worst. But this time, I didn't feel the usual weight of despair pressing down on my chest. No, this time, I felt… light.
My plan was going on smoothly.
Lycidas, the fucking Lycan Prince, was here. In my territory. In my office. The thought almost made me smile. He'd spent years parading around the human world, basking in the adoration of his fans, untouchable. But now, he was mine. The fire in Los Angeles had been a stroke of luck - or perhaps fate. The paparazzi had scattered, and for the first time in years, Lycidas was vulnerable.
Cole met me at the entrance, his face grim. "His Highness Lycidas is already waiting in your office," he said, his voice low and cautious.
I nodded, brushing past him, but he stopped me with a hand on my arm. I froze, my gaze snapping to his. He flinched but didn't let go.
"Alpha," he began, his tone urgent, "Lycidas was expelled from the Kingdom by the old King. He hasn't been pardoned. If you see him now, the Court might think you're violating the former king's will. They could sanction you."
I stared at him, my expression blank. "What place is this?" I asked, my voice cold and deliberate.
Cole blinked, confused. "This is Mediland."
"Who owns Mediland?"
"It's you, Alpha."
"So," I said, leaning in slightly, "have I declared that this place is the Kingdom's territory? Have I sworn allegiance to the Court?"
Cole hesitated, then shook his head.
"In my territory," I said, my voice cutting through the air like a blade, "I do whatever I want and no one can sanction me."
I turned to leave, but Cole grabbed my arm again. I stopped, my patience wearing thin. He looked at me, his eyes pleading.
"Alpha," he said, his voice trembling, "I used to be a rogue. I had nothing, no one. I finally had a brother, but eventually he stopped talking to me. I've never done anything right in my life - not with Alpha Mick, not with you. But this time, I want to do something right. Please don't go in, Alpha. I'll tell His Highness you never came because you got caught up with something. He'll understand..."
Before he could finish, I kicked him to the ground, my boot pressing against his throat. "What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked, my voice icy.
Cole gasped, his hands clawing at my leg. "Alpha," he choked out, "I know I have nothing. I am nothing. But I want to protect you. You don't need Lycidas. He will hurt you."
I stared down at him, this pitiful, trembling creature. "Protect me?" I sneered. "What do you have to protect me?"
"My life," he whispered without hesitation.
I laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Your life has no value to me. I can take it whenever I want."
"You killed everyone who worked for Alpha Mick, but you spared me..."
"I didn't spare you because you're special. I spared you because you're insignificant. It's just a random choice. If you want to dedicate yourself to some noble cause, you've chosen the wrong person. I'm not a noble cause. I'm a male whore who's worth 50 bucks for a night." I approached him and lowered my voice. "You you have 50 bucks now, you can have me for tonight."
Cole's eyes widened, but he didn't look away. "Alpha," he said, his voice barely audible, "I know you're in pain. But you don't have to punish yourself for things happened in the the past. You didn't have a choice in the past, but you have a choice now. You can choose to leave this madness behind. I'll stay with you. I'll protect you."
I leaned down, my face inches from his. "Stay right here tonight," I said, my voice like steel. "Don't you dare to move. I want you to hear everything. And when the sun rises, you'll leave Mediland and never come back. I don't ever want to see your stupid face again."
Without waiting for a response, I pushed the door open and stepped into my office.
-
The moon glared down at me like a judgmental eye, its bloody light spilling over the chair where Lycidas sat, all claws and menace, his gaze stripping me bare before I'd even shed my skin.
I didn't say anything but knelt down in front of him, heart hammering, sweat prickling my scarred flesh - marks from the slave market I'd never escape. He loomed closer, the Lycan Prince, a beast of hunger and cruelty, and I forced a shiver, a little show of hesitation.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," I murmured, voice trembling just enough to sound reluctant, "I'm sorry for being late. I..."
His growl rumbled through the roof, and I felt it in my bones.
"On your fucking hands, mutt," he snarled, and I let my eyes widen, feigning a flinch as I sank to all fours. My body knew this game - crawling, submitting, pleasing - but I played the part, dragging it out, letting my movements stutter like I was ashamed.
"Show me how you used to serve your paying customers," he commanded in a bone-chilling voice.
I had seen this coming. That was why he demanded to fuck me in the slave market. He wanted to humiliate me while maximizing his sadistic pleasure.
He wanted the routine, the one I'd sold to filthy hands at the market, and I gave it to him slow, swaying my ass, arching my back, glancing up with a flicker of defiance I didn't feel.
"Like this?" I whispered, letting my voice crack.