She Truly Was A Whore

Leda did not believe in souls, or that they could be linked together in some metaphysical way. But pair-bonding ceremonies were common. The male would bite his mate, while friends and family watched, and then rut(fuck) her in front of the assembled crowd.

Leda supposed the whole thing to be completely atrocious and disgusting. As far as she was concerned, the pair-bonding ceremony was just an alibi that Alphas used to make a public show out of claiming their mates. There was no such thing as a heart connection between two people.

The door chimed, shaking Leda from her trance. She realized that she had been wiping the same area on the counter for the past minutes. She looked up to find Selene still eyeing her, expression smug.

“Why don’t you take this one, honey? It looks like you could use the distraction.” said Selene.

“Thanks,” Leda murmured.

She wished to add for nothing but avoided the urge. Leda pushed off the counter, wiping her hands on the apron that was part of the basic uniform. She turned to face the service station, a fraud smile already half-plastered on her face.

Then Leda came face to face with the Whoremonger. She froze, mouth working uselessly as she tried to no avail to establish coherent sounds.

“Table for one.”

His smile was amused, as he obviously derived happiness from her discomfiture.

“I assume there isn’t a wait.”

The diner was practically deserted, save for a few regulars who leaned on tables throughout the day for the free refills on coffee.

“Right this way,” Leda murmured, voice tight.

Pulling a menu tablet, she moved around the counter and ushered him to a booth in the back of the diner, away from the handful of other customers and hopefully out of Selene’s hearing.

She struggled to retain her composure, caught in the epicenter of two colliding worlds. Who the hell did this Alpha think he was? He had no right to interfere on her life without warning. Someone of his standing would never wander the hovels just for kicks, so he was certainly here for her. She bristled at his surprising, and entirely unwelcome, appearance.

Leda waited for the Whoremonger to seat himself and inwardly seethed. He pulled a white coloured silk handkerchief out of the pocket of his suit jacket and wiped it across the ruined tabletop, a look of disgust twisting his quinine features.

“What a charming small place.” He said.

Pressed beyond any power to be reasonable, Leda dropped the ordering tablet in front of him.

“I am not okay with this.” she said.

“You’re looking well, Leda.” The whoremonger added.

He appeared completely unfazed by her small flare of temper.

“Is it too much to implore for a glass of water that hasn’t come directly from a waste river?” He said

She could not hide a small smirk.

“We only run the distillers at designated meal hours.” she replied.

“What a Pity.”

He appeared to be ignoring her disrespectful tone if he noticed it at all.

“I will have a plate of soup without additives, if you don't mind. Are there any specials?” He asked.

She disliked having to be a player in whatever purpose had brought him, a man clearly born of privilege, into her hovel.

“You cannot be serious.” leda said.

“No specials, then?” He added.

“The farmfish and porridge is special, if by that you mean, it’s still a few days from turning.” she said with so much assurance.

“I believe I’ll pass, thank you.” He said.

He studied her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable.

“Might I imply that you fetch me a cup of hot tea while you take a minute to soothe your ruffled feathers. Maybe then, we can discuss like civilized adults.” He added

The warning in his voice was obvious as a bell. As much as she wanted to continue mouthing off, her actions had clear consequences. This man was an Alpha from the elevated levels. He could ruin her if he chose — get her sacked from her position at the diner or her family kicked out of their apartment. hovel dwellers depended on those from the upper levels for their very survival, angering the Whoremonger would gain her nothing.

“Good,” she said through gritted teeth.

Selene was on her the moment that she got to the service counter.

“You spent a lot of time with that man? It seems you know him? He scents like an Alpha.” Selene asked.

“I don’t know, Selene. Why don’t you inquire for yourself?” Leda replied.

Selene looked as if she were contemplating doing just that before her greater sense of reason returned.

“You two just seemed very cozy.” she said

Leda avoided the urge to roll her eyes so hard that they’d fall out of her head.

“He’s just a customer.” leda replied.

She kept herself busy at the drink station, trying to ignore Selene’s overpowering presence, wishing she had the strength to just walk out the door and never to return again.

Selene followed her to the edge of the counter, stopping short of accompanying her all the way to the table. Even that desperate woman was smart enough not to force an unwelcome interaction on an Alpha male. She might get the attention she yearned for with a boot on her neck.

Leda set the metalic teapot and a cup on the table, keeping her eyes trained on the items in her hand. She could feel his gape on her as he watched her movements, but she averted looking at him.

Standing upright, Leda fixed her gaze firmly on the air a foot above his head.

“Are you ready to make an order, sir?”

The Whoremonger laughed, the tone like a piece of ice running down her spine.

“Poor little darling, so vague about what she needs.”

Her fingers gripped in a fist as a wave of anger and fear rolled over her.

“I do not know what that means.” she replied.

“Don’t you?” Fingers too large for refinement lifted the pot and carefully poured hot water in the cup. He picked up a spoon and whirled it.

“I think you know why I am here.” he added.

She bridged her arms over her chest.

“I truly don’t know” leda replied.

“Stop it.”

He put the spoon down with a hard click. He moved to rise.

“Some may admire your little spark of insolence, but it does nothing for me. Maybe I should leave you to the service sector and be done with it.”