Eyes Behind the Mask

"Never! I will not put on this repulsive costume," I cried out, struggling against the guards' ironclad grip as they tightened their hold.

"Put it on now, or suffer the consequences," the mistress of the Rouge King barked, tossing the outfit at my face with a sneer.

That is Nora, a notorious slut, often preying on innocent she-wolves like me for the Rouge King's auction house. I couldn't hide my disdain as I glanced at Nora's revealing attire and garish makeup, then eyed the skimpy three-piece lace bikini she was trying to force on me with utter disgust.

I felt a surge of hatred within me. The Rouge King captured and auctioned, abandoned and helpless she-wolves to fulfill a beast's sadistic lust, as if we she-wolves have no feelings. I've witnessed numerous prisoners being escorted by guards daily. Last evening, a fellow prisoner, slightly older than the others, confided in me that these unfortunate souls were subjected to daily abuse by sadistic men to break their spirits and prepare them to serve their future masters. So far, I have been spared of this fate.

Today, it seems I don't have the luck for any longer. I overheard some guards saying that Nora had been called in specifically to deal with me. She's infamous for achieving her goals by any means, and as a mere captive, I stand little chance against her.

"I won't give in......" I intended to yell at Nora, but my voice was strained and fatigued after a prolonged struggle.

Nora's disdain for my response was palpable, as she required a guard who wasted no time in delivering a brutal lash across my back.

"Ah!" I groaned, a smirk playing on Nora's lips at my distress.

"Natalie Myers, you'd do well to be obedient. Otherwise, nobody will appreciate these bruises on your pristine skin," Nora cautioned, pressing her high heel into the back of my hand with force.

This pain means nothing to me. It has just hardened my resolve. I've endured far worse in the Blue Moon pack. When I made the decision to fight for my dignity, I had already braced myself for this.

"That's even better..." I objected with a painful moan, but my protest was met with another brutal whiplash.

Getting increasingly frustrated with my continuous defiance, Nora angrily grabbed the whip from the guard and took matters into her own hands, delivering the punishing blows herself. Eventually, the agony became overwhelming, and I succumbed to a deep, pain-induced slumber.

"Nora, stop! She might not survive."

"Then so be it. I've had enough of her disobedience."

"Then prepare to face the consequences from my Lord." He arranged her auction today for a reason; some big shots are on the way."

As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I caught snippets of Nora and the guard's conversation.

"Ouch..." I felt something wet splash onto my face, startling me awake. It seemed Nora had thrown water on me to rouse me as the loud noise from the auction filtered in, signaling its start.

Looking around, I realized I was in a cramped backstage room, already clad in the revealing outfit.

"Ahh..." Pain throbbed through my body as I tried to lift my hand to press my aching head, and I quickly realized both my hands and legs were chained.

I glared at Nora, but she only responded with an evil smile and raised eyebrows, swaying her body provocatively. "How does it feel?" she jeered, tugging on something in her hand.

"Ahh, ouch..." I noticed a collar tightening around my neck, with a leash in Nora's hand. I knew this collar was meant to suppress a werewolf's ability to access their instincts.

"What good does this collar do for you, Natalie, when you can't even shift?" I whispered to myself. It seems as if I was never fortunate enough. I even got trapped in this situation today. Bitterness was creeping into my thoughts. I grew up in the Blue Moon Pack. As an orphan taken in by the former alpha and his wife, I was incessantly singled out by other pack members. From the youngest pups to the oldest elders, I was the subject of disdain, enduring endless bullying and being tasked with all the pack house chores. That doesn't seem to be enough.

I am the mate of their son, Asher, which is why they adopted me. Andrew and Sofie Wood, the former Alpha and Luna, reminded me countless times, assuring me that once I found my wolf, Asher would mark me as his own, and I would be the Luna. Their words were searing in my mind.

The torture of my situation only worsened when my wolf failed to emerge, even after my 20th birthday. Eventually, Asher gave up on me, like I was trash. His rejection cut deep, but what hurt even more was that when I managed to accept it, he proved he could be more cruel. He callously sold me to the Rouge King's auction house, driven by his bruised ego and a desire to inflict further suffering upon me.

"Asher, I'll never forgive you for this," I murmured to myself, my eyes clouded with tears. But I didn't even have time to immerse myself in the painful memories of the past.

"Now, it's time to present the most exquisite gem of our rouge king's collection." The auctioneer's booming voice shattered my reverie, jolting me back to the present. With a dry throat, I forced myself to swallow, summoning whatever resolve I had left to confront the impending trial.

Once again, I endured the sting of the whip, forced to crawl onto the stage with a leash held firmly by a man, adhering to the Rouge King's tradition of presenting each she-wolf to her buyer. Despite my disdain, compliance was my only recourse.

As I stepped onto the brightly lit stage, every detail of my body was exposed under the harsh glare, inviting the hungry gazes of the werewolves to roam freely. I felt utterly exposed, as if I stood before them completely naked. Their lecherous stares made me squirm, as if a swarm of insects were crawling over my skin.

Feeling disgusted to meet their eyes, I hung my head low, when one pair of sea-green eyes, framed by a clean-cut face that is hidden behind a black mask, captured my attention. The man behind those eyes stared at me unwaveringly, a serene smile gracing his sculpted lips. He seems different.