She Truly Is A Whore II

“Wait.”

The word rolled from her lips before she could stop it, and she cursed her own imperfection. She was presumed to be stronger than this. The Whoremonger was obviously here because of the Alpha who had acquired her body and still absorbed her thoughts.

“I’m sorry.” She said.

“Sorry enough to forsake the poor attitude?”

At her small nod, the Whoremonger brought the cup to his lips and had a small sip. He grimaced and put it down again.

“It looks like your temper is somehow desirable enough to some that I’ve had specific proposal for you. Consider this an invitation to join us for another night at Ceres House.” The whoremonger requested.

Her Alpha’s face, because what else was she to call him, even in her vision. It was useless to pretend that there was not a small and crazy part of her yearning to see him again. The more rational side of her understood just how very risky that would be.

She didn’t even have to think about it.

“No.” She answered.

The Whoremonger’s eyebrows rose in amazement, clearly not a feeling that he was used to experiencing.

“And why not?” He asked immediately.

Leda’s hands clasped into fists. Why wouldn’t she want to give herself out to the Alphas of the upper levels?

“I have my purpose which are best known to me.” she added

“Have you taken up a new moral compass? Or did your previous meet somehow disappoint? I can guarantee you that you performed admirably.” He asked.

Leda felt something deep in her belly clench as an answering wave of shame coursed through.

“The answer is no. I’ll get your food.” She had already turned away when his voice stopped her.

“Every woman is a whore, you know.” He said without rethinking.

Her shoulders hardened and her gaze immediately flew to Selene who is still hovering around the service counter. She prayed the extremely curious woman was out of earshot. Pivoting on her heel, Leda glared down at the smirking Alpha.

“Don't call me that.” She said with angered voice.

“It’s simply a matter of demand and supply, my dear. There’s nothing wrong in it. Nature has blessed you with a valuable product and it would be a shame not to put it to use. How many of the mated Beta females from the upper levels would be there if they hadn’t been ready to trade their bodies for money and privilege? It’s simply the way of things.” He said.

Leda bristled at that, even as his words rang with some small curl of truth.

“And all you Alphas are the same. Just because the game was rigged from the start does not mean you’re not still a cheater. And I’m choosing not to play.”

“Your mum was a hovel-born Omega, or was she not?” He asked.

“I don’t have to listen to this..“ Leda replied

“Do you think your father would have lifted her out of the dirt and into a life of relative comfort, if not for her beauty and his intention to possess it? Supply and demand, dear girl. This is simply how the world operates. The sooner that you accept it, the better and happier you will be.” The whoremonger explains.

At that moment, she had never hated anyone more. Face carefully blank, Leda took a deep breath. “Your food should be right out. Is there anything else that I can get for you, sir?” Leda asked politely.

“If you would agree to return for another night at Ceres House, payment will increase to 1500 dollars. All other contract terms stay in force.” He told her.

Leda froze, grabbed by his words before she could flee his presence. Her mind couldn’t help but turn to thoughts of what that amount of dollars could do for her family. It was likely pocket change to a man like the Whoremonger, but for her, it was worth much more.

And had the last time really been so bad? She could pay for a year of Argus’s breathing treatments and buy an air purifier for the apartment that might actually deter the return of his sickness. But she also wasn’t so naïve as to think that this transaction was f air in any way. The Whoremonger was hoping to take benefit of her desperation.

“I understand that it’s not something that you’re used to hearing, but when I say no that’s exactly what I mean.” Leda reminded him.

Decision taken, Leda almost relished the look of shock on the older Alpha’s face when she spoke. It wasn’t true courage that untied her tongue. Leda recognized that she had to burn this bridge completely to be sure she would never cross it again.

“I’ll send Selene over with your food. If there’s anything else you need, please call the service staff.”

She didn't get to spend much time congratulating herself before the Whoremonger spoke again.

“He requested you personally, you know. That does not occur often.”

There was no need for him to say who he was, it could only be her Alpha.

“I’m not for sale.” Leda spoke out.

"This is Aquila, everything and everyone is for sale.” He added.

The Whoremonger’s tone was mocking. “It’s only a matter of the price. Maybe yours isn’t measured only in dollars.”

She scowled down at him, very aware of the fact that she hadn’t yet walked away.

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.” She asked

“I mean that I’m giving you fifteen hundred dollars to do something that you want to do anyway. It’s only your own inhibitions that stand in your way.”

But the risk was just too enormous. And leda was no longer for sale. Her head was already moving in a negative, even as she felt an answering tug deep in her chest. She had to remember what just one night with that Alpha had done to her, she couldn’t withstand another.

“I said No.” She shouted, but the Whoremonger appeared unconcerned by her harsh tone.

“You’re more willful than most, which I assure you is not an honor. I can offer you two thousand dollars, but it had to be tonight.” He requested.

“I am sure there are at least a dozen girls, willful or otherwise, he’s had before that would be just as satisfactory.” She replied.

The old Alpha smiled. “There are no such girls. Just you.”

She felt her heart skip a beat. “You are lying.”

He raised an eyebrow at the insult but seemed otherwise unfazed. “Why would I lie?”

That an Alpha whose name she did not even know had some sort of intention for her should not have mattered. She should not have felt the tremor that gripped her stomach and made her feel briefly lightheaded. But somehow, it did. Perhaps one more night would finally dismiss the specter of him from her thoughts and her nightmares. Like an addict desperate for a fix, she could not help but think to herself: just once more and then I can be done.

“Okay.” she responded

She truly was a whore.