LOGINXlynor's POV
“Huh?” Her doe eyes glanced around, unsure if my words were meant for her.
I caught her chin, forcing her trembling gaze to meet mine. She shivered slightly.
The moment our eyes locked, I felt an energy shift that made even my demons stir. The air thickened between us. “I can’t hear a heartbeat, you don't have a heartbeat.” I murmured, tilting my head to the side. “What are you?”
She swallowed hard but didn't speak.
“She’s… human, with a heartbeat, Alpha,” the lady standing beside the silver-haired said, her voice trembling as if she were being forced to speak.
Human with a heartbeat when I couldn't hear a thing myself? Interesting.
No one could hold my gaze for even a minute, yet this defiant woman stared straight into my eyes, into my soul—without blinking once.
This wasn't the eyes of a woman fawning over me, it looked different, felt different, but I just couldn't pinpoint it.
I gave a lopsided grin then brushed my thumb against her lips. There were traces of dried blood there, it looked like she had been tortured more than the rest.
I stood straight, a smug smirk plastered on my face. These silver-haired people had a thing for messing with me. It had to be the hair.
Silver-haired wolves were said to possess powers beyond the ordinary abilities of werewolves. Mating with them as a normal werewolf had a way to boost your abilities and, somehow, they were highly sought after, but this one right here was said to be human.
I had met lots of silver-haired wolves and each time, their energy seemed to be repelled by my demons, but this silver-haired was different and that wasn't a conversation I was ready for.
With one last glance at her, I adjusted my hood then walked over to the left corner of the hall. I could perceive Nyx’s scent emanating from there.
The hall maintained a palpable silence ever since I stepped in, that even a pin drop could be heard, and I loved it that way.
“You came.” Nyx whispered the moment I took the seat next to her.
I didn't respond, I maintained my poker face, wishing for all this to be over with before I snapped. The thought about the silver-haired had vanished just as it came.
I could feel Eryndor’s hateful glare on my skin, but I didn't bother sparing him a glance. I leaned into my seat then shut my eyes.
“Going for a hundred and fifty?” The lady at the podium whispered into the microphone, obviously scared to speak out loud.
“Three hundred.” I heard a baritone voice I was forced to believe belonged to Eryndor speak.
I stilled, was this bastard interested in a slave? For the first time he showed interest in something?
I glanced at him, catching his death glare. I smiled slyly then shut my eyes back.
“Four hundred!” Nyx snapped, standing to her feet.
“Four fifty,” Eryndor countered, his demeanor calm and collected, unlike Nyx who looked like she was at the point of bringing this hall to the ground.
At this point, I could almost believe that he was doing this to spite Nyx because the Eryndor I knew would rather spend his money on books and research, not a random slave.
“Five hundred thousand dollars!” Nyx slammed her palms against the table, already trembling in anger.
Whatever Eryndor thought he was doing was actually working, or maybe I was wrong.
“One million dollars!” Eryndor muttered.
My eyes snapped open. Did I just hear properly?
“Wha…what?” Nyx stuttered, her eyes wide.
“One million dollars for the human slave,” Eryndor spelt out each word, finally standing to his feet.
Nyx's feet stayed rooted to the spot as she chuckled in disbelief. “You just bought a slave for a million dollars?” She stuttered.
My gaze narrowed as I watched Eryndor walk over to the slave.
This wasn't about him wanting to piss Nyx off, he really wanted that slave. The satisfied smile on his face said it all.
I frowned. Why did he want her so badly? Why was he willing to spend so much to have her when he could have anybody he wanted? Lots of questions lingered in my mind and it aroused my curiosity.
Eryndor stopped right in front of her then grinned widely… a sight I rarely saw.
“I won, I guess you're mine now,” he said, his tone too cheeky, like it was only both of them in this hall.
My jaws tightened at that word. His? For some reason I couldn't explain, it didn't sit well with me.
And the silver-haired? She just knelt there staring at him like he was her salvation… her eyes had no fear for someone being sold to a Dark Hounder.
My lips twitched, and my fists curled on their own.
“I'm taking her.” I declared.
“Okay, what's really going on here? I just want her because I like her…” Nyx hissed.
“What?” Eryndor turned, his nose crunched up.
I stood from my seat, then took slow, deliberate steps towards the podium.
“I. Want. This. Slave.” I dragged my words, making sure that each of my words got stuck inside Eryndor’s brain.
I didn’t want a slave. Least of all, a weak so-called human, and a woman at that. The only women I didn't hate were Nyx and godmother Jojo.
My not-so-perfect mother had planted a trauma and deep hatred inside of me for women that I thought all of them except for Nyx and Jojo had the darkest of hearts.
“It's… an auction where the highest bidder gets the… price. Alpha.” The host stuttered.
I quirked the corner of my mouth as I watched her in amusement.
“I'm expected to bid for a slave?”
“No, Alpha.”
“Yes, you should bid, but it's already late.” Eryndor spat, cutting the host off.
My tongue flicked over my lips and I stepped closer, but Eryndor quickly stepped in front of the slave protectively.
“Stay back brother, I got her already.” He set his jaw, refusing to back down.
Seeing him so protective of her, I knew she was worth something and even though I had no initial plans of keeping her, I wanted her even more.
I didn't stop in my tracks, I kept walking and when I got to Eryndor he was flung away by an invincible force.
I stretched out my palms, grabbing the slave by the neck yoke and pulling her closer.
“No, not you.” I heard her whisper as she tried moving away from me.
The same woman that had locked eyes with me earlier without fear was now trying to escape my grasp for some unknown reason and at this point I knew I wanted her to be mine.
Fear looked special in her eyes or was that rage? Perfect.
I walked right into this hall, with something inside of her pulling me close. I should've known she was for me. Anyway, it was never too late to put my tag on her.
A slow smile curved my lips as I watched her struggle. “Yes, me Shenka. You're coming with me.”
“I’m taking her for five hundred million.” I clicked my tongue
I didn't wait for their response before my dark smoke covered every inch of the hall and I teleported with her.
Ivara's POVXlynor made a short, dismissive sound. “Brother? I don't recall Alpha Kethan having two sons. Am I misremembering?"Godmother Eira’s jaw tightened. “Cousin. Even though it doesn't matter, he's family and a Darkazov.”“Mm.” Xlynor looked at her for a moment. Then he pushed off the door frame and stood straight.“I don't appreciate this kind of morning. If it were anyone but you at this door, Eira, this conversation wouldn't be happening. You know exactly what I mean.” His voice was cold. “If you have grievances about Eryndor's situation, bring them to the elders. I have pressing matters to handle.”I blinked from where I stood. Just that? That's all he could say?Eira turned away from him, then pressed her forehead while letting out a bitter chuckle. “Seriously? I just wanted to know why. I didn't want to believe you really locked my son up because he took that slave girl.” Her tone had shifted, like she'd found the absurdity of it. “You locked up family, Xlynor, over a —”
Ivara's POVI stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the hem of the elegant dress Zane had arranged for me yesterday after I found out I couldn't get into my room. He’d quietly taken care of everything after I asked—new clothes, toiletries, the basics I’d been missing.It was a short, flowing dress in deep emerald, but it did nothing to change the fact that I looked horrible.That was the conclusion I could arrive at after approximately three minutes in front of the mirror.The dress was fine, but everything above the neckline was a different story entirely.I stepped closer, examining my reflection. Dark circles shadowed my eyes. I looked like I’d been dragged out of a nightmare.After I managed to get back to the room, I found out that Xlynor was nowhere to be found. It was supposed to ease me of my worry and panic, but I’d tossed and turned for hours, until sleep had finally claimed me, but only for a measly two hours.I wasn't surprised that I looked this terrible, and it was al
Ivara's POVI forced my eyes away from Xlynor's face, down to his chest. His injury was why I ended up here. I reached for the buttons with hands that absolutely were not going to cooperate and tried anyway.Wait, this was harder than I thought. I wanted to give up approximately three buttons in but when I dared a glance up, he was staring at me so intently I quickly looked back down as heat crawled straight up my neck.I fumbled with the buttons, finally peeling the wet shirt off his shoulders. Only then did he release my neck. But the second the fabric hit the floor, his hand was back, gripping lightly.“Maybe you should look at the host of the body too.”I groaned. “I can’t do both. Stop teasing me, please.”He chuckled. “You said I should stay wary of you. That you’re a pervert. Fortunately, I’m into girls like you.” His head dipped slightly. “So show me what you’ve got.”I hissed inwardly. Insufferable jerk. How could he just force me into this?My hands shook as I began wiping hi
Ivara's POVI didn't even have to stand or turn away before my heart betrayed me. It had already done that the second I locked eyes with Xlynor while cleaning up his injury, and it was still doing that.It hammered so hard and fast against my ribs I was sure Xlynor could hear it.“You're really stupid,” I told myself.From the second I agreed to help Xlynor, I had already begun regretting it and the fact that he became a jerk proved that my gut was right.I had to lie about being a pervert just to make him uncomfortable enough to shut up and leave me alone. That was the point.I turned away so he couldn't read through me while I lied, so I could pretend like my entire nervous system wasn't doing anything.How exactly did he expect me to keep treating him when he kept looking at me like that? He wasn't looking at the wound or what I was doing, just at me. Of course, I couldn't concentrate.In fact, what had gotten into me, getting that close to him in the first place? Oh, how stupid of
Xlynor's POVIvara gasped, hands flying up. “Did I poke it that hard?! I barely touched it. How did you get hurt that badly? Why isn’t your healing working? What’s wrong with it?”I contorted my face further. “Seriously, Ivara? I’m in pain and your primary concern is why it isn’t healing? Do you even care? I’m dying here.”She ran a hand through her hair, flustered and wide-eyed. “Dying? How did… I… You… Never mind. Let me see.”“See? You just want to see it? Just leave me alone.”“What do you want me to do? I don’t know—if it’s that bad and not healing, I should call Zane. Where’s your phone?” She reached for my pockets in full panic mode.And for a second, I almost broke character and laughed at her, but I forced myself to stay in character.I caught her wrist. “Zane is… It’s nothing to call him for. Stop panicking. You’re not the one hurt.”“But you’re—”“Why are you so bothered that I’m hurt?” I pushed, watching her closely. “You could just let me bleed out. Then you’d be free.”S
Xlynor's POVI didn't move when I got back.I killed the engine and just sat there in the dark driveway, my hands on the wheel and the engine off, staring at nothing in particular while the castle loomed in front of me.Ivara was probably asleep by now and Zane had left too after attending to her.My thoughts drifted to the Lunari festival. Today was the last day and I needed to be there, which I knew was impossible. I was hurt.I reached for Zane's link, which connected almost immediately.“Zane, stand in for me tonight. I won't be able to attend the festival.”“Understood, Alpha.” He simply responded, no questions.I severed the connection and silence returned.My eyes dropped to the cut across my chest. The stupid wound had refused to close and instead throbbed painfully despite the bleeding having slowed to a sluggish seep.Eloise must have coated her blade with something vile that made the pain from the cut linger.The drive back had been fine for a short while when, suddenly, th







