When the door opened, I didn’t breathe for a while.
My father sat in one corner of the opulent room, nursing a drink with the expression he always wore when he was drunk and filled with worry. A young girl—she couldn’t have been much older than me—was kneeling in front of him, bobbing her head up and down my father’s desire.
The sight didn’t shock me. My father was a serial cheater who never bothered to hide his women back at Crestborne. But what was more surprising was what he was doing here.
All around the room, similar scenes played out. To the best of my knowledge and to their aura that filled the room, all the men in the room were Alphas except for two human men. They all sat with their eyes closed, relishing the attention of young girls who attended to them in ways that made my stomach churn.
Most of the men were groaning in ecstasy. My father barely acknowledged the girl in front of him. His eyes were glazed into nothing, lost in whatever torment was eating at him.
My eyes widened with shock when I recognised Alpha Jason, Marcus’s father, with two women pleasuring him. His wife was downstairs. Did she know this was what her mate was up to?
What was this place? Why would Vale bring me here? For some reason, I knew things were always meant to be secrets and not something anyone could get access to. Why was I here?
My father’s eyes met mine for the briefest of seconds, but I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my heart rate go up ten times its usual beat.
My father rose to his feet and sauntered towards us. His eyes were unfocused from being drunk. He came up to me again, staring at me. My heart began pounding so violently I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. If my father recognised me now, then I’m doomed.
Was this a ploy by Vale? Did she purposely bring me here to give me to my father?
"Vale..." he slurred, after a few minutes, moving past me to stand in front of her. "Did you find my daughter yet? Please, help me find my daughter. She came to Ravenspire, and I’ve combed the entire territory looking for her..."
Headmistress Vale took a calm step toward my father, and I watched in horror as she casually reached down to zip up his pants, speaking in the patient tone one might use with a confused child.
"Silas, if I see your daughter, you’ll be the first person to know. Don’t worry. Haven’t we given you clearance to search Ebonvale to your heart’s content over and over again? Have you considered looking elsewhere?"
My father laughed bitterly. "I’ve combed every single pack in our world. I’ve searched in every nook and cranny I can think of. I want my child back. Is that too much to ask for?" His voice cracked with anguish. "I have a hunch that she’s here, in the human world, but I need help. I can’t navigate this place on my own..."
"Why are you telling me, Silas?" Vale cut him short. "You know I don’t meddle in things . I am only the middle man."
"If you could just get me an audience with him." My father nodded towards the closed door in the room. "Please, I beg you."
"What makes you think I have such influence, Silas?" Vale sighed. "Fine, I’ll mention it to him, but don’t expect too much. In the meantime, maybe you should stop searching. As long as the girl’s dead body has not been found, that should mean she’s alive. The girl will turn up when she wants."
"Do you think I have the entire year to wait for her to turn up?" My father’s voice turned cold immediately. "The Alpha King has given me a week to find her or kiss my alliance with him goodbye. I have to act quickly."
"I’m sure things will work out for you, Silas," Vale replied dismissively, pushing him out of our way. "But we’re in a hurry."
She reached for my hand and pulled me across the room, past the disturbing scenes of exploitation that surrounded us. I was still shaking with fear and the surreal shock of seeing my father in this place, clearly a regular patron of whatever horrific establishment this was.
We approached a closed door marked with golden letters: VIP. Vale suddenly stopped and turned to face me, gripping my shoulders as our gazes met and held.
"Do whatever you’re told without questions. The more you cooperate, the easier and faster everything would be," she said in a low tone. "I’ll come back for you in an hour."
"What instructions?" I asked desperately, my voice barely a whisper. "You never told me what I’m supposed to do!"
But Vale was already knocking on the door using the pattern she used the first time and then adding something else—three sharp raps, then two softer ones.
When the door opened, she pushed me inside before I could protest further.
"Headmistress Vale!" I cried out, but it was too late. I was plunged into darkness. I leaned against the door of the room, trying to breathe evenly. I picked up human scent mixed with an expensive cologne and wine.
"Hello!" I called out weakly, trying to see beyond the pitch blackness where even my night vision couldn’t work. "Please let me out I begged."
Suddenly, the lights flickered on and I went blind for a few seconds. When that passed, I opened my eyes, adjusting my vision to the room now. I spotted a tall, thin man who stood at the centre of the room.
His eyes swept over me from head to toe as he approached me. Then, without introduction, he lifted my chin, tilting my face left and right as if he wanted to make sure the correct goods were sent to him.
"So you’re a Shadewolf?" he asked matter-of-factly.
I didn’t answer. I was still too shocked by everything and too terrified of being alone in the room with this man. I scrambled to my feet and backed up to the small bar at the corner of the room as I tried to understand and assess my situation.
"I can see you’re still flustered. Do you need a minute?"
As he spoke, he crossed the room to the other side, removing his suit jacket and draping it carefully over a chair. Then he settled onto a leather sofa facing me and loosened his tie.
"Strip," he said in a low commanding tone.
The way he said it was clear to me that this would not be the first time he had given such instructions.
"Excuse me?" I stammered; certain I’d misheard.
His tone didn’t change. "I said, strip. Now!"