Louisa's POV
When we walked into the main tent, I saw all the dignitaries sitting around a giant rug at the center of the tent. Seven exotic dancers, half-naked, were moving their slim waists and slender arms while dancing to the cheerful beats of music played by a band of musicians at the corner of the tent.
Everyone in the tent was watching the performance of the ladies, but I laid my eyes on those musicians. They were kneeling on the ground, wearing legcuffs, concentrating on playing the oud, dulcimer, and drum.
By their attire and facial features, I could tell they were from the West Land. There were visible beaten ad branding marks on their exposed skin all over their neck and arms. They must have been taken by Lucas as slaves from the West.
"Seven Maidens' Dance. The Aberrant Canines are very talented at music and dancing. Do you know the story behind this dance?" Alpha Zackery lowered his head to talk to me next to my ear in the loud music.
I shook my head and looked around.
I saw Lucas, surrounded by female slaves, sitting in a distance while looking at me.
Now you see me, you heartless heartbreaker. I thought to myself and tightened my fists.
I intentionally leaned against Alpha Zackery and he placed his hand around my hip naturally.
"I'll tell you about it later. It's very fascinating," Alpha Zackery smiled at me.
I looked up at him and smiled back faintly.
He looked a bit overwhelmed and said, "You're smiling at me, little girl. I finally made it. I finally managed to make you laugh."
I quickly lowered my head. My face was burning. I must have blushed.
When I lifted my eyes to see Lucas, I could see that his eyes were on me. If he could use his eyes to rip off my head, he must have already done it a thousand times.
Then, he tilted his head and talked to the soldier standing behind him while still looking at me.
The soldier nodded and approached Alpha Zackery and me.
"Your Excellency, please come this way," he said.
We followed him and were led to a seat right next to Lucas.
"Alpha Zackery, please let me have the honor to sit with you," Lucas said in a cold voice, without taking his eyes off me.
The chilliness in his eyes made me shiver.
Alpha Zackery took off his cape and wrapped it around my shoulders. Then, he gently pushed my shoulders to let me sit down on the cushion next to him.
But just when he was about to take his seat, Lucas stretched out his arm and pulled my cushion towards him, so I was sitting right between him and Alpha Zackery.
Alpha Zackery didn't seem to care about this change of seating arrangement. He sat next to me and pulled my cushion closer to him while wrapping his cape around my shoulder.
All of a sudden, everyone in the tent stopped looking at the performance. They were busy looking at me being physically pulled back and forth by two majestic men.
Sitting between two men, I had never had this much attention in my life.
I wrapped myself tighter in Alpha Zackery's cape like a dumpling. My heart was about to jump out of my chest.
Service maids started to pour drinks and bring snacks to our table.
"Do you enjoy the show, Your Excellency? Or is it too vulgar for a decent man like you?" Lucas asked.
"I was talking to Miss She-wolf here about the story behind this dance." Alpha Zackery looked at me and said. "Do you see the glittering decoration on their costumes?"
I nodded. Their naked torsos were wrapped in long thin metallic chains. As they moved, their plump breasts and thighs flickered behind those web of chains.
Alpha Zackery continued, "In the original dance, these decorations were made of precious moonstones, which can only be found in the Kanz Mountains. A few decades ago, when their tribe still existed, the Aberrant Canines used to use them as decorations and trade moonstones with other tribes. Later, when people from the east found out that these stones could be a reliable source to provide energy and warmth, the price of moonstones soared in the east. Kings and Lords from the east started to demand the supply of moonstones. They first sent their tradesmen, envoys, and diplomats. Then, they sent their chariots and soldiers. They stole, smuggled, and robbed, exploiting the precious stones in barrels, carts, and wagons. The tribe leader at that time, the last leader of Aberrant Canines, Alpha Shay, organized several battles to fight against the invaders, but it turned out to be a drop in the bucket. After all, when you see musicians and dancers start to take up spears and shields, you know the end of the world is coming."
"What happened in the end?" I was lost in his mellow voice and fascinating way of storytelling.
"You want to know what happened in the end?" Lucas looked at me and said. "I'll tell you what happened. That fucking maniac asked seven maidens to carry seven barrels of gunpowder into that fucking mountain and blasted it into a fucking ocean of fire. No more Kanz Mountains. No more fucking moonstones. The end."
His words were like sharp knives, stabbing at me relentlessly.
I bit my lips and lowered my head.
Alpha Zackery held me in his arm and said, "The dance we're watching now is actually a war dance, which is about the valorous and dauntless deed of these young martyrs."
"Well, that's a lovely censored version of the story," Lucas said contemptuously. "The reality was they were fucking slave girls and they were forced to carry out this fucking suicidal mission."
The excitement in Lucas' eyes made me sick. So I turned to Alpha Zackery and asked, "Why did Alpha Shay let seven young girls risk their lives?"
Alpha Zackery replied, "They were isolated and helpless, trapped in an arduous and horrifying war with the entire Eastern Kingdom for more than 15 years."
Lucas continued arrogantly, "Which means that there weren't any fucking men left in their fucking tribe. Plus, you can't make a fucking good story without the slam-bang death of some innocent young maidens, can you?"
I lifted my head and saw Lucas' eyes flaming with tremendous anger and greed.
He must have been cursing me with the dirtiest and risque language in his mind right now. I knew he would jump at me and strangle me to death if Alpha Zackery wasn't by my side.
Alpha Zackery must have sensed my fear, because he pulled me closer to his chest and said, "Don't worry, little girl, it's just a story. Let's enjoy the show."