332- Give You a Kiss
POV Seraphine Valerian:
“Those are Raluca and Eugen.” Adelina pointed to a young couple, coming hand in hand down another street, also curious about me. “They met at the Lust festival. He's from here, and she's from the Valmorin pack. She came to live with us, and we're hopeful they'll have pups soon. One day, I will too. Hopefully today's meeting isn't about bad news.”
Right then I had an idea. If everyone would be there, I might have more freedom to escape. I needed to go back to the castle, get candles and matches, maybe a flashlight. And sneak to the deactivated secret passages. It was my chance!
“By the way, you're coming with me.”
“Me?” Surprised, I looked at Adelina. “To the meeting? But I'm not even part of this village!”
“You're living here. Only those on guard duty are excused.” Shit! My mind worked, looking for solutions. “Here is the central office and the display of our minerals. Come see.”
She pulled me inside a building that faced the cemetery. I didn't even look over there.
She greeted a receptionist, who didn't take his eyes off me. And she dragged me to shelves with precious stones and minerals, in glass rectangles. While she explained each one, I kept thinking, distracted by my escape plan.
Then we went up a staircase, and only when Adelina knocked on a heavy, dark door did she inform me:
“This is my father's office.”
I wanted to run away, but it was too late. Who appeared wasn't Viktor, but a beautiful, sculptural woman, with straight light brown hair, dark eyes, a large, full mouth painted red. Her breasts almost jumped out of her provocative dress.
She was certainly not the secretary. She looked more like a lover.
“Katarina!” Adelina seemed surprised. “I didn't know you were here.”
“I came to take care of some... little things... with Alpha Viktor. How are you, dear?” She gave a little kiss on the younger woman's cheek, and her shrewd eyes passed over me, up and down. I felt like a toy next to her, much taller than me. And full of curves. “Look at that! The human everyone is talking about. I thought she was... um... bigger.”
That teasing tone seemed to say she didn't see anything interesting in me. Then she ignored me:
“Good to see you, Adelina. Unfortunately, I was already leaving.”
“See you later, Katarina.”
Irritated and suspicious, I watched her disappear. And I had no choice but to follow the other inside a large office, with more stones and minerals on display on one of the walls.
Viktor was behind his desk, serious eyes going from his daughter to me. His usual impeccable clothes, only his hair messier. Why? What did he do with that woman in there?
I looked away to the shelves, feigning boredom, while the girl went to give him a kiss and perched on the corner of his desk. My heart began to beat hard, something bad twisting in the pit of my stomach.
“What did you come here for, Adelina?” His tone was impatient.
“Wow, is that how happy you are to see me, Father? I was showing Seraphine the village and stopped by to give you a kiss.”
“I'm busy.”
“I could tell. Business with Katarina?”
She laughed, and I turned my back to them, my anger increasing. I approached a large purple stone that looked like amethyst. But my attention was focused on them.
“Are you going to have lunch with us today?”
“No, I have too much to take care of here.”
“And this meeting later? Is it bad news?”
“You'll find out soon.”
“Father! Tell me!”
He must have been pissed off at being interrupted with the hot woman. Did he usually do that, fuck the she-wolves in his office? Or was it just a business meeting?
How many lovers did he have in that place? Lana, Katarina. There were few females, according to Adelina. Was that why he picked up humans to also warm his bed? Like he picked me up?
But he didn't do anything to me.
That realization didn't calm me down. I felt like saying a few choice words, full of hatred. I was frightened by the irrational madness, not understanding where it came from. I didn't care one bit where that beast turned its claws. As long as it left me alone!
“Why do I have to participate in this meeting if I'm just a prisoner here?” I turned suddenly, indignant, surprising myself.
Adelina looked at me, surprised. Viktor stared at me penetratingly, hard.
I regretted it immediately, but I didn't back down. I hated that power of his that always left me shaken, out of control, and weak-kneed.
His tone was low, dry:
“Do you have other plans for today?”
I drew in my breath a little harder, as if Viktor could have read my thoughts about trying to escape. Damn! I couldn't let him suspect. So I shrugged, feigning indifference:
“I just wanted to understand.”
He observed me deeply, shaking me inside. I didn't move, nervous, increasingly irritated. Then Adelina stood up, promising:
“We'll both be there, with everyone. And don't skip lunch, Father. Daciana will surely send someone to bring you food.”
“I know.”
When the other came near, I practically ran out of there with her, grateful to return to the castle, my mind full. We walked in silence, until I suddenly asked:
“Who is Katarina?”
“She's one of the three duchesses I told you about. The she-wolf prostitutes.”
I clenched my jaw hard, understanding everything. Perverted psychopath!