CHAPTER 2
~ Scarlet~
I didn't sleep a wink last night, and now we were inside the Howl slave house in Whisper Howling Pack, a famous place where Alphas and other dignitaries come to buy slaves as breeders or servants.
It was 9 p.m. when Harry and Mark, his butler, busted into my room. Harry clung to my bag and headed outside to wait for me. He had expected me to bid my brother farewell, but I spat in his face for sending me into the lion's den.
I walked out and exuded an air of confidence. I can't afford to show Mark how broken I am knowing where I'm headed, it's better I became a rogue than walk into the Fedele.
"Rogue?" Bey growls.
"Yes, Rogue," I answered, undeterred by her tone. I knew she would never like going. Rogue loved royalty even if I wasn't fully treated as one.
"What of Mark?" She shuddered, but I rolled my eyes, knowing Mark was under my spell. He had always had a crush on me, but I didn't give two cents about him. I wouldn't accept a mate like him. I'm of Alpha blood, and I knew I deserved better, but I was a benevolent seductress. I graced him with my presence on a particular night that I never regretted.
Soon we were in, and I watched Mark push me inside the slave house, forcing me to turn to him full of fury, but he shunned me to stay quiet, which I did as I watched him trail off. So this was it. Approaching footsteps jolted me out of my thoughts, and I watched as some ugly old hags and wolves closed the distance between us.
They snatched my bag, and I watched as they ransacked my luggage. Rifling through my belongings made me want to shift, but Bey had always warned me not to shift in a crowd of people. My wolf was different and unique. My paws were as beautiful as ever, while my creamy fur shone through.
One of them turned to me with a mocking smile and said, "Oh, a slave and you brought along your makeup kit?" I scoffed at her comment.
"She thought she was going for a contest," added another woman, her face contorted and her eyes bulging. "Let me have that, I'll apply it to look good," she said, snatching my lip gloss from the other woman. I scowled at her, even though it wasn't her fault. I had brought along plenty of makeup, not knowing this mission was unlike any I'd undertaken before. I was stuck in this stuffy place for hours, waiting for the Fedele family to select new maids for one of their recently released brothers.
Having to crouch inside that dark space all night just to avoid the other slaves seeing me because Harry had tipped these old hags in front of me, I stared down at my feet, realizing they reeked. My clothes weren't much better. 'Shit!' I muttered in frustration at how I had become a homeless girl just to infiltrate the Fedele family.
The door slammed open, and hefty men clad in black suits entered. They appeared as if they were attending a funeral, but it wasn't just any suit—it seemed to be an expensive one. With a trained eye, I took in the details, they each carried a pocket pistol and had emotionless expressions. I could quickly tell they were from the Fedele family.
"Good afternoon, sir!" greeted the old woman with a wrinkled face. None of the men responded. Instead, they walked past each of us, standing like sheep ready for sale.
"Are these the best you have?" One of the men bellowed, his voice brimming with authority and confidence, suggesting he was the leader. "Ye, ye, yes." The old hag stuttered in response, and I could see fear in her eyes, but I remained silent.
"We'll be taking seven of them," he declared, fixing his intense gaze on us. The room tensed up as every eyelid shot up, each girl wondering who would be chosen. I knew my fate was about to be decided, and only my luck would determine the course of this mission.
"You, you, you, and you," he pointed to four girls, and my heart sank. I had just four more chances, and it seemed like none at all, he was selecting the girls at the back, leaving us who were at the front.
He walked around again, and his intense gaze met mine, forcing us both to lock eyes for what felt like minutes before I quickly turned my head, not making eye contact. But then he pointed at me and said, "You, you, you, and you." I breathed a sigh of relief as a satisfactory smirk curled up my lips.
"Follow me," he commanded. We followed them to their car, and the other girls seemed astounded. by the ride, but it was nothing new. The latest Range Rover sports car Harry was planning to purchase a few days ago.
A few minutes later, the car pulled to a stop, and I watched as the gate opened itself. The other girl's mouth fell agape, wondering how possible that was. I could see their astonishment all over their faces. To me, it was nothing new. I had been to the human world to sign off on a deal for Harry, and I had seen this type of gate before and even The last mission Harry had sent me on was the Orchid Pack, technology had taken over.
We all exited the car, and two of the men led us through a dark hallway before pushing us into a room. It was dark and menacing, but I wasted no time in turning on the lights. The atmosphere brightened instantly, causing the guard to shoot me a glare.
"Who asked you to do that? You seem interesting," the first man chuckled lustfully. I didn't bother to look at him.
I took involuntary steps backwards, but he closed the distance between us, and I wondered what he was up to. My mind began to race as I thought, "Was this guard going to taste me before his master?" The thought of it knotting my stomach made my breath shallow and rapid.
He forcibly pulled me into his embrace, causing my boobs to hit his broad chest. I cried, shuddering at the pain, and I pushed back, but his physical strength was greater. "Hmm, you look good," he whispered into my ear. I clenched my fists as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I wondered what he was planning on doing.
Holding me against his chest, he loosened his belt, but suddenly, the door slammed open. This forced him to toss me aside as though he had seen a ghost. "Argh!" I sobbed silently as my butt hit the cold floor.
Lying on the bare floor, I watched as three men entered the room. They were tall, well-built, and had a presence that seemed to make the room hotter. My body warmed, and it wasn't just a normal reaction. It was like a volcano rumbling with fury and ready to erupt. The leader wore an eyepatch, and I knew he was Alpha Eliot. The eyepatch reminded me of my mother. I was sure she was the one who had blinded him ten years ago. A satisfied smile formed on my lips as I thought, "I'll make sure I blind the other eye."
The second man, Beta Xavier, scowled at the guard, who had mistreated me, before walking further into the room. But the third man, Addison, appeared different, as rumors had suggested. His face bore a smile as he chatted with the guards who had brought us in. However, when I locked eyes with Alpha Eliot, a chill ran down my spine, causing my heart to race even faster.
What was going on? Bey was stirring around inside me like she was trying to refute something, and then she blurted out, That's our mate! Mate! Mate!!"
I looked up and saw all three men staring at me. What? Was I married to all three of them?
"Yeah, Our mates!" She chuckled, and I almost lost balance. I met the three leaders of the Whisper Howling pack. This had to be the biggest joke of the century. The moon goddess must have made a mistake.