Office Romance with a Werewolf - Chapter 160

“Let’s go, I haven’t eaten all day.” Randell said as they got up and made their way downstairs to eat. Once they were done they returned to their room and Randell dug out a small item he found that day. As he was about to give it to Nida she started to hand him something as well.

“I guess we think alike.” He laughed as they looked at what the other got them. Nida handed him a necklace, a small pendant with the make of a wolf. It looked silver but when Randell touched it his hand didn’t burn.

“I already made sure it’s not silver, it’s probably just something that looks like it.” Randell smiled, and immediately hung it over his neck. Nida then looked at what he handed her, and her smile was radiant. She instantly put the charm bracelet on her wrist, and said,

“I love it, thank you.” When he saw her smile Randell couldn’t help himself and leaned forward to kiss her, and the two spent the rest of the night in a very good mood.

It was a little over a week later that Randell heard about a small slave auction at the market about to start. He went with Nida to get a general idea of what they were like, and see what conditions slaves were usually kept in. He didn’t expect much, but the reality of what was there was almost too much for him. Men, women, and children of all ages and races were marched out onto a stage, chains on their wrists and nothing but a small loincloth to protect their shame, some didn’t even have this.

They were clean for the most part, after all who would want to buy dirty merchandise? But almost all of their eyes were dead, and most showed obvious signs of malnourished. He watched as the first man was led forward and the announcer proclaimed,

“First we have a strong strapping young man, capable of doing physical labor or perhaps even training to be a fighter.” He continued going on before they started the bidding, and the man was bought for ten gold pieces by someone Randell learned belonged to the coliseum. He knew the man would now make his living as a killer for sport, or would soon die for sport. His already sour mood took another turn downhill.

After that the auction got progressively worse, until one point that a girl, no older than thirteen was led forward. Once she stood in front of the crowd the only piece of clothing she had, a small loincloth, was ripped from her and the announcer shouted out,

“And here we have a beautiful young woman, still growing and it has been confirmed, pure. She knows housework, and could be useful as a maid.” Randell knew the announcer didn’t believe she would be a maid though, otherwise he wouldn’t have removed her loincloth. He gripped his hands so hard a drop of blood fell, and he felt bile rising in his throat. The most intense bidding started then, as several nobles started trying to buy her.

“Five gold pieces!”

“Ten gold pieces!”

“Twenty!”

And so the prices went up, and up, until she was finally sold to a fat disgusting man for fifty gold pieces. A strong worker sold for ten, and a youthful pure girl sold for fifty, Randell grew even sicker. He could feel Nida trembling beside him, both from revulsion, and relief that she was able to avoid that kind of life. Randell hoped that was the worst, but he was proven wrong. After that girl several other girls were led up, some even several years younger than the first, most were bought by filthy looking lords, and some were bought by people he learned were brothel masters.

As the auction went on his revulsion only grew, and finally it ended and Randell left with Nida, leaving a small trail of blood drops from him gripping his hand so hard. If he hadn’t been training to control himself he was sure he would’ve gone wolf there, maybe he should have. For the first time Randell was looking forward to the next full moon, just a day or so away. It was obvious this world was rubbing off onto him, as he simply wanted to kill at that moment.

Randell refused dinner that night, and was unable to sleep after witnessing what he did. The only reason he did not act on it, was the thought that in only around a month he would be fighting to free all of them. That and the thought that he committed the faces of the ones who bought them to memory, and would personally ensure they all died horribly.

It has been two weeks since Randell witnessed the slave auction, and he had been avoiding going to another one ever since. After the full moon he actually felt better than he did before for once, mentally if not physically. As the major auction approached it was almost time for Randell and Nida to leave and rejoin the others for the attack. They didn’t write down the information they needed as if it was found they would immediately get pegged as spies. However Randell had something else on his mind.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked Nida who seemed to not be feeling well the last few days. He knew that not all of his capabilities would be transferred to werewolves he made, and it appeared that it also applied to his resilience to sickness. She shook her head and said,

“I’m fine, probably just from being in the city for so long.” Randell didn’t disagree with her, as even he felt a little ill just from being here as long as they have.

“I’m going out for a bit, maybe walking around will do me some good.” She said as she left the room. Randell wanted to go with her, but knew she wanted to be left alone for a while. So he went downstairs and simply hung out in the pub. He simply decided to drink with the other patrons as he waited for Nida. While drinking he was chatting with the others while also listening to his surroundings to hear of there was any new news he should know before leaving. Like this he spent the next couple hours, then when he was starting to get worried when a little before sunset Nida finally came back. He went up to her,

“Let’s walk around for a bit and get something for dinner.” She smiled at his suggestion and gladly held his arm as he escorted her out of the inn. He had gone out with her a couple times, but usually waited until the end of the day to avoid the crowds. She of course still needed to keep her hood up. The two walked around until they found a place to get some food, and enjoyed a relatively nice evening together.

That ended though on the way back shortly after dark. They were walking back when he caught some movement in the corner of his eye. He saw a robed figure being stopped by some guys and heard what they were saying.

“How about coming to play with us for a bit, huh cutie?”

“Um, no thank you. I’m supposed to be on my way…”

“Ah come on, we’ll show you a really good time.”

“No, please.”

The robed figure, a girl was then dragged into a darker alley, and as Randell watched this he grew angry again. He had done nothing when a man got robbed, he stood by and let some innocent girls get sold to scumbags, he wasn’t going to stand by and listen as a girl was violated when he could do something about it. Without even checking Nida stepped in line next to him and went to help him.

“Get on the roofs, I’ll take care of it while you keep lookout.” She nodded, knowing they still needed to keep a low profile. And the two went to deal with some worthless punks.

Lady was happy her plan to sneak out succeeded. She was walking around the city with a small purse of gold coins and a hooded robe to keep her face hidden. She noticed a few of her father’s men searching for her, but stayed hidden so they couldn’t find her. She knew that she would most likely get punished later, but didn’t care when she compared what her life will be like soon anyways.

She enjoyed herself walking around, trying new food, seeing plenty of people, and getting to spend time outside for once. Eventually it started to get dark and she had to go back. Lady started working her way to the palace, but couldn’t remember the right way to get there. As she was walking it got darker before she finally decided she was lost.. She started to look for one of her father’s men, before a group of guys stopped her.