Louisa's POV
The Red Box is used to refer to a secluded lounge on the second floor of the auction hall.
It's like the box in a theatre, overlooking the whole auction hall.
I stood at the edge of the box, holding the handles and leaning forward.
I felt that I was like a little bird, flying across the entire venue.
Alpha Lucas approached me from behind, holding a glass of bubbling champagne in his hand.
He looked like a star walking right off the stage. But no performer had his dignified bearing, which didn't seem like something that people were born with. It must have taken years of a stress-free life to make someone behave in a certain sophisticated and confident way.
"What are you looking at?" He looked down at me and stroked his face. "Was there something on my face?"
"No. It's just... You look like a king..." I mumbled.
He looked at me in surprise, paused for a brief moment, and said, "How do you know? Have you met Lycidas before?"
I felt so stupid. Of course, he looked like the King, he was the King's half-brother.
"Sorry, I haven't met His Majesty at all... I was just talking nonsense. I guess I'm just too overwhelmed to meet a real Lycan in my life. You look glorious. Wherever you go, you draw people's attention. That's what I mean." I lowered my head and slurred. "I'm nothing and I'm used to being ignored... I'm not supposed to be here. It's too... posh for me. Everything looks too fragile and expensive..."
Alpha Zackery smiled and said, "Fragile and expensive. What a nice combination of words. I should use it as my new piece of sculpture. Louisa, you're really the source of my inspiration."
"You're so charming. With you, I feel everything I do is just right..." I looked at the first floor and saw Lucas walking into the auction all with Lucian, who was looking up at me.
I frowned at him. And of course, there wasn't any emotion in his icy cold eyes.
"... and whatever I do with him is wrong," I murmured in such a quiet voice that I couldn't even hear.
I felt someone was pulling my dress.
I turned back and saw Will standing behind me. He looked so innocent and terrified.
Feeling a bit soberer, I took him up in my arms and said, "I'm sorry, Will. I must have scared you just now. I don't know what happened to me."
He welled up and looked at me.
"Whatever it is, don't do that again," he said. "I thought I was going to lose you. I can't afford to lose you, but I thought you were turning into..."
He wasn't able to continue, because he was choking on his tears.
I held him in my arms and sighed.
It really had been a long exhausting day.
I shouldn't let Will get involved with all the bad fortune in my life.
I knew he took me as his substitute mother in his life. He had lost his biological mother and I could tell that he really didn't handle death well -
He chose to drive his own father crazy.
I didn't know what he would do if he lost me.
My heart was throbbing when I saw the sadness and sorrow in his childish eyes.
Such an innocent child wasn't supposed to be so sad.
"I'll never leave you, Will." I kissed his forehead and said.
"You have to promise..." He looked up at me and said, "You have to promise that you will never ever get drunk again and you'll take me everywhere you go!"
"Will, you know I can't make a promise that I can't keep. It's always easy to make a promise..."
Will looked at me indignantly and said, "Are you going to abandon me as well? Are you going to leave me like all of them? You're just like them!"
Then, he covered his face and wept.
I took my seat and put him on my lap.
Alpha Zackery put a box of tissues next to me. I pulled out a piece of tissue and handed it to Will. But he didn't take it.
"Leave me alone! Don't pretend that you care, because you don't!" Will cried even louder.
The door opened. A young soldier popped his head inside to check. He must have heard the noise of crying.
Alpha Zackery looked at him and said, "Ah, Fyrer, I'm just about to call you."
The young soldier straightened up his back and said, "At your disposal, Your Excellency."
"Bring in some blankets and some chickens."
"Chickens, Your Excellency?" The soldier frowned and asked. "You mean the live ones?"
"Yeah," Alpha Zackery replied with curled-up lips. "You know, the creature with flapping wings and feathers. Do you need me to draw it for you?"
"That won't be necessary, Your Excellency." The soldier's back got stiffer.
"Great. Off you go." Alpha Zackery said.
"Very good, Your Excellency. Blankets and chickens, coming right away. Your Excellency." The soldier rushed out.
Alpha Zackery stroked Will's hair and said, "There, there, kiddo. Don't cry anymore. Drink some warm chicken blood. It will cheer you up."
Will looked annoyed and shook his head, "Don't touch me! I'm not a kid! I've been living for almost a thousand years and I'm fed up with people treating me like a child!"
"Will, don't get too upset. Alpha Zackery is just trying to help." I said.
"I don't care! Werewolves are stupid and Lycans are the worst of the worst. I have seen so many of them coming and going. Same circus, different clowns," Will said emotionally. "Louisa, let's go back to our cottage in the village. Or you can stay with us in our castle. These people are really bad. They'll hurt you."
"Will, what are you talking about? Don't be so rude. Alpha Zackery is a nice person. He doesn't have to be kind to us..."
Will interrupted anxiously, "No, he doesn't. So he must be scheming something and trying to take advantage of you! Stop hanging out with these stupid mortals and get away with me!"
I stared at Will seriously and said, "Will, listen. You're my friend, and so is Alpha Zackery. He has meant nothing except to be friendly and nice to us. If you keep trashing him like this, I'm afraid I'll have to let you go. A kind gentleman shouldn't be treated like this."
Will looked shocked and stopped weeping immediately.
What was he going to do?