Chapter 3

Milena~

A burning substance scorches my wrist and ankles, making my heavy eyelids flutter. Everything is a blurry outline. Sounds echo as reminders strike. A reminder of the brutal hit on my head and Mama's pool of blood.

“Mama,” I whisper, but I’m met with cold silence. My temples throb as I force myself to recall what happened next after the darkness.

But my mind goes numb.

I reach out to my wolf, her response comes as a whimper with slow and faint breath. My wolf is dying. Something is killing us.

Gathering my strength, I raise my head and take in my surroundings. For seconds, my vision is blurry, then clarity kicks in.

I’m out in the open— no, the middle of the pack square. The smell of dried blood and dusty air fills my nose.

Cheers from the crowd resound in my head, calling me deeper into reality.

If I'm right, this is the auction ground, a place where Rogues and Omega she-wolves are sold for slavery. Why am I here? Why did those ugly looking men bring me here?

My throat drags as I study the happy faces of our pack men, lust plastered across their features. They are desperate. Eager to be engaged in whatever occurs next.

Resting on the steel pool, I wince and hiss as silver from the chains burns my wrist and ankles deeper. My bare feet weep from sourness.

What happened within the seconds I was unconscious, and how long did I blank out?

“Three coins of copper.” A voice from the crowd forces my head to snap in that direction. It’s the dirty butcher from the town. The disgusting being who has constantly made advances on me since I turned eighteen.

“I will give Ten,” echoes another voice.

Why are they auctioning me? I’m the Beta’s daughter and not to be sold. If it’s about my attempt to run away, there are other punishments. Why this?

“Alpha Vladimir, should I trade your mate for ten coins of copper?” the auctioneer asks, and my heart skips in a hundred beats.

Mate?

What does he mean? How am I the mate of Alpha Vladimir? The auctioneer is having a slip of tongue. I hope he hasn't forgotten the implications of such a statement. I'm already in a storm. He shouldn't create another.

Throwing my head backward to calm my racing heart, my eyes dart through the crowd, and I gasp when they meet the glaring water-grey eyes of Alpha Vladimir, the first grandson of the Ryders’ household. He sits to my right, staring at me like I'm the strangest woman he has seen.

His scent, woodsmoke and patchouli, consumes my nostrils, making my mouth water in a forbidden way. A way I should never feel towards any man. The monster is indeed my mate. This is a confirmation; I'm the Goddess’s worst creation, and she is after my life.

Pushing back unshed tears building blurriness, I make an effort to send my eyes away, but a heated bond holds me captive, forcing me to notice Alpha Vladimir’s long, dark, shade-of-brown hair that’s always glossy and wet.

The hair cascades around his face and shoulders, framing them. His high cheekbones and strong jawline are incredibly manly; he’s like a creature carved from the womb of the Goddess on a perfect moon night. Never know, I will come to dread his faint chin hair. It used to be the most annoying thing about him.

How can a man be deliciously built even a short black shirt molds his muscles?

It's unexplainable how he’s the most attractive man I've ever seen. Trust me; this isn’t my first time seeing this man.

But today he’s different.

Fighting the urge connecting this monster and me, I hiss as my pussy throbs with strange sweetness. My blood boils as my nipples harden, begging for his touch.

I want this man.

No, I shouldn't want him.

Why is my body betraying me? This is the work of the mate bond. I must fight it. I can never give myself to a man, especially a cruel one like Alpha Vladimir.

"Fifty copper coins.” A voice resounds from the crowd, interrupting Alpha Vladimir's focus.

If I didn't know this heartless Alpha better, I would have said his jaw clenched when the offer was made.

“Fifty copper coins! Final?” the auctioneer announces, bringing me to reality once again, and filling my head with the right thoughts.

Honestly, why am I being sold? Is it because I wanted to run away? Or because I shifted in Wilderdeep forest? Did Alpha Vladimir come for me under the Full Moon Tree? Did I keep the almighty monster waiting?

Because it’s treason to keep an Alpha waiting.

If I did, it’s not my fault. I have no idea he’s my mate or anyone from the Alpha household will turn out my mate. Besides, Alpha Vladimir is already engaged to Lada Brooks, the princess of the Deadmoon Pack.

We can’t be together. He will reject me. Maybe it’s the reason he sold me.

He should have said the rejected language instead and set me free so I could carry on with my life. But yeah, the monster must show why he is a monster.

“I will buy the Beta girl for five hundred bars of gold,” a man in a black cloak speaks in a low, gravelly tone.

The offer triggers gasps from the crowd. “Five hundred bars? No one has ever been sold for such an amount. And why would anyone want to buy a woman for such a high price?” They argue.

The auctioneer clears his throat as the man steps out from the crowd. His nose masked with a leather, leaving his light brown eyes, which reveal nothing.

“We all know she is a Beta’s daughter,” the auctioneer starts, “... but she remains a woman and now a slave. No woman should be worth five hundred bars of gold.”

“It’s not in your place to decide. Let your Alpha speak.” The man steps closer, throwing five bags of gold at the feet of the auctioneer.

“But five hundred bars—”

“Deal,” Alpha Vladimir interrupts the auctioneer.

“Alpha—”

“Do you wish death?” Alpha Vladimir clenches his jaw.

“Forgive me, Alpha.” The auctioneer bows before facing the crowd. “Milena Blackwood is sold for… for five hundred… golden bars. Final!”

When the last verdict rolls out, Alpha Vladimir rises and storms away. His father and Tato do the same without looking at me.

Disappointed murmurs fill the air as the crowd splits in all directions.

The auctioneer scrunches his nose. His condescending eyes settle on me. “Be grateful the Alpha is in his best mood. You would have paid more dearly for turning out his mate.” He spits, picks up the bags of gold, and storms away.

This is ridiculous. How stupid can men sound? I should be grateful to a man who has humiliated me and ruined my plans. He could have rejected me. Selling me is worse than death. I will forever hold this against him.

The man who has bought me, or should I say, ‘my master’... hmph! This is absurd. My supposed master climbs onto the auction block.

“Time to leave,” he says, undoing the chains on my wrists.

For moments, I've forgotten how terribly the silver was eating my skin.

“Let’s hope not to meet any sea rogue.” He unwraps the chain around my ankles.

Letting out a deep breath, I whisper, “Why did you buy me?”

“I never did.”

“Then who did?”

“Someone who cares.”

“Who?”

He pauses, staring into my eyes. “I hate questions.”

“I don’t care what you hate.” I bite my tongue, swallowing back my rude speech.

“You should.” He scans my body, not sounding offended. “Your bruises are healing faster. Strange for a Beta.”

My throat drags as I shift on one foot. I’ve forgotten about Nana’s identity. I can’t risk suspense. I will make sure she is safe. “How far are we going?”

He gawks at me in a cold way, and I gulp down the lump in my throat. “Please,” I mutter, my voice shaking.

The information is important. It will help me know my fate.

“Depends on the captain.” He climbs down from the block. “Our time starts now,” he says and walks away.

Honestly, I want to run away, not back home, because I would be easily found. Maybe to the shore and board my ship. But it’s impossible, especially being surrounded by warriors with deadly watches, waiting for you to act foolishly.

One protest from me, and I'm gone, I can’t let them end my life. There may be chances for me to escape as a slave. I pray I'm not bought by another monster like Alpha Vladimir.

I pray the Goddess gives me a second chance to achieve my dreams and someday return.

I pray life ahead is fair.

I pray—

“We don’t have much time,” the man grunts, giving me a dead glare.

I nod and hurry down. Taking one last look at my pack as I walk behind the masked man, tears I didn't know I’ve been holding gush down my cheeks.

As much as I pretend to be strong, I can’t deny my heart aches terribly. The pain digs deep, knowing I'm now a slave, and my identity as a Beta is lost for life.

The worst is, I can’t tell if Mama is alive or if I'm ever going to see her again.

And as for Alpha Vladimir, the monster should pray our paths never cross again.

Never