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The carriage bumped and jostled along the wet and muddy, unpaved road. Soon to be Alpha of the Loup Garoux, firstborn to senior Alpha, Adolph, Randolph sat inside the fine carriage across from his Beta and childhood best friend, Nikan. His father was very ill and not in the best position to negotiate. Randolph was the opposite of his father. His father, Adolf, had been an idyllic, kind ruler and often turned a blind eye to the corruption and injustice of the outside world, which inevitably led to this long-lasting war.
Randolph could not recall a time when there wasn't a conflict between the lycanthropes, the werewolves, and the Loup Garoux. As a young man, he had been powerless against his father's passivity. So many of his Royal Advisors tried to warn him, but he welcomed those psychopaths. A bloodbath unlike the world had seen was unleashed upon the land shortly after. The lycanthropes tried exterminating the werewolves and were almost successful, having killed off 72% of the werewolves.
They were only beginning.
Next, they went after the humans, their insanity masked by sheer terror. Three years ago, Alpha Adolph's camp was ambushed. His father was poisoned with silver nitrate powder by humans. It did not kill him. Instead, it left him to die slowly and painfully.
Seeing his father suffering to the point where he was no longer able to change into wolf form to regenerate hardened Randolph's heart even more. He hated humans and lycanthropes and became a tyrant, showing no mercy to his opponent or the less fortunate.
His father had retreated to their manor on the mainland. No longer able to breathe sufficiently enough to show strength in front of his pack. Wolves smelled weakness.
His father had been an enabler, but he was no fool. He handed Randolph his signet ring and sent him in his stead.
No other Loup Garoux questioned this transition of power. Their bloodline was said to have directly descended from the original Loup Garoux Romulus and Remus, Greek leaders, founders, and Gods. It didn't spring from their material wealth or the strong Wolf-Army they commanded. It came from their blood.
Randolph had known for quite some time his father had no head for war strategy and let his Generals do as they saw fit. As soon as his father announced him as interim Alpha, he made immediate changes. One General did not heed his orders and lost his head shortly after. No explanation was given. He had no time to explain his motive, so his actions would have to suffice.
The word 'tyrant' was whispered behind his back. No one dared say it to his face. Everyone knew how short and violent his temper was. No one would dare cross him. They obeyed him, and because of that, the tide was turning in their favor.
They were winning. The Lycanthropes were running scared. Randolph wanted to hunt them down and torture and kill them one by one, but his Beta and only friend had convinced him to agree to this meeting that his father had set up more than a year ago on good faith. Randolph already mistrusted them and felt that this meeting would be a waste of time or an ambush. They had left the mainland and took the ferry here to Canis island.
He despised Canis island.
It was filled with useless humans and drug-addicted lycanthropes who were even more unpredictable and violent. Canis island prewar was a jewel in the Loup Garoux crown. Alpha Adolph had deemed it neutral territory over 50 years ago. That Treaty still held til' this day.
"What time do we meet them?" Randolph asked, already itching to get this meeting over with and be off this godforsaken speck of dirt.
Nikan answered, surveying their surroundings through the moving carriage's window. "We're heading there now. We are meeting at the brothel. Our hostess, Madam Bouvier, has something delectable planned." Nikan held a crooked grin on his face.
Randolph knew his friend well. "Whose idea was it to meet there?" Randolph asked, already knowing it was his friend's.
Nikan spoke, "Nothing wrong with mixing a little business with pleasure. You should try it sometime." He clipped.
Randolph had watched his father lose his mother at a very young age and felt his heart-wrenching pain. He never wanted to feel that again... Ever. He only satisfied his needs with women who had no idea who he was. He wanted no attachments. He was a lone wolf by choice.
The carriage halted, letting them know they had arrived. Randolph was not looking forward to any of this...
. Sylvie surveyed herself in the mirror. She was unrecognizable. Her mother had added hair extensions and styled it into a pouf with dazzling strings of pearls decorating it. She wore a corset that made her tiny waist look petite. Her sheer skirts went to her ankles, and the cream thigh highs fit perfectly on her slender, toned legs. She wore red heels.
"Now, for the finishing touch." She heard her mother say as she put a sheer face covering on the bottom half. She put rouge on both of their lips. "Are you nervous?" Luna asked.
Sylvie nodded her head ' Yes' .
"Don't be nervous. This is your first night. You won't be touched, but you will have quite a lot of eyes on you. Don't let anyone get you alone." She said the last words sternly.
"I promise." She agreed.
She could see the worry in her mother's eyes. Then it was gone, and she was calm once more.
"Let's go before she sends her guards to get us." Sylvie stood up from the vanity as her mother walked to the door and opened it. They both exited the room.
The hallway was quiet for the most part. "Breathe and remember your name is Star."
Sylvie tried to smile, but she couldn't feel her face. Her mother nudged her towards the staircase. She slowly descended. Her senses were assaulted with loud laughter and cigar smoke, with the faint aroma of expensive liquor. Madame Bouvier waited at the bottom of the staircase for them.
Her eyes assessed her. Sylvie knew she was mentally trying to pick her apart.
Seconds passed. Madam Bouvier spoke, "Well don't you clean up nice. Go wait behind the curtain. I will come for you when I am ready for you."
Sylvie said nothing, made a left, and went up to the small stairs that led to the stage. She continued and walked behind the heavy, red curtains as directed. She saw six more girls standing back there. A blonde with a fake beauty mark sauntered over to her.
"Bouvier didn't say nothin' about a new girl. Who are you?" The blonde asked.
Sylvie didn't know what to do. She hadn't expected this.
"I'm talking to you!" She spat.
The other five girls were all looking on, watching the blonde as she pushed past them and stood directly in front of Sylvie, putting her index finger directly in Sylvia's face and continuing.
"No new Cherry's gonna take my place, or show me disrespect. We girls have a system around here. It involves you opening both your mouth and your legs." She chuckled.
Some of the girls watching laughed as well.
"Well," she urged.
Sylvie once more tried to speak. She couldn't. She was too numb and in shock. The blonde raised her hand to slap Sylvie. Just then, Sylvie heard her mother's voice.
"Katrina! Leave her alone." Her mother sounded serious.
Sylvie hadn't heard much of that over the last few years.
"And why should I, your Grand Duchess?" The blonde snickered at using that condescending nickname for Sylvie's mother.
Sylviie's face was still partially covered.
"Bump your gums all you like but remember who gets the top choice." Luna quipped.
The other woman glanced at one another from Luna's catty and direct comment, which made the blonde lose her edge.
"W-Well, not all of us can have a sparkling c* nt like you."
"I'm serious, Katrina. Madam Bouvier will boot you out of here if any harm comes to that one." Luna said.
The blonde turned and looked directly at Luna, then back at Sylvie. As if making up her mind, she spoke. "You ain't worth it. And besides, you will be sold off anyways. More coin for me." She pushed past her.
Her mother did not come to her rescue and stand by her. Instead, she kept her distance away from them. This was all so strange for Sylvie. Her mother treating her like an equal made her mind flashback to when she was a small child. No more than 5 or 6.
Their life had been relatively normal. They had a nice home, Sylvie recalled, having her own ruined memories of her mother and father happy together warmed her heart. That was no more.
She felt like she was on a long journey with no companions, just herself. It was hard to cope with her secret fears in these moments of clarity.