Chapter 2

CALYX'S POV 

The air is disgusting, filled with the smell of rot and sweat. It's a mix of dirt and hopelessness that's hard to breathe. My wrists hurt from the ropes that tie them, and my body aches all over from being held captive for so long. I'm not even sure how long it's been. 

The wagon is moving over rough ground, and every bump slams me into the cold metal bars of my prison. The other women around me are quiet now, but their eyes show how scared they are. 

Their eyes are sunken, and their lips are pressed together in thin lines that tremble. I don't know where we are, but I know what's going to happen to us.

The underground market is where they sell people like me. It's where people go to disappear. A voice outside breaks the silence. 

"We're here." The wagon stops suddenly. Heavy boots hit the ground. The smell of blood gets stronger. My stomach turns violently as the iron doors open with a loud screech, letting torchlight into our dark prison. "Get out," a rough voice orders.

A whip cracks loudly. Someone screams. I panic, my heart racing wildly. I try to stand up, but rough hands grab me and pull me forward. My feet barely touch the ground before I'm thrown through the air. 

I land hard, and the wind is knocked out of me. I gasp for air, coughing on the dust and bile rising in my throat. Men stand over us, smelling of sweat and cruelty. 

They rattle chains as they walk between us, checking us out, poking and prodding, tearing our clothes, talking about how much we're worth and what shape we're in. I flinch when a gloved hand grabs my jaw, forcing me to look up.

The man examines me, tilting my face toward the light. "Not bad," he says. "You'll sell for a good price." He pushes me forward, and my legs almost give out. But I force myself to stay standing. I won't fall. 

I won't show them I'm weak. Inside, though, my heart is racing like a wild animal trapped in a cage. The underground market stretches out before me, a terrifying and surreal scene.

The huge space is filled with movement and noise. There are rows and rows of cages holding people and creatures who are broken, captured, and doomed. The air is thick with the hunger and desire of the creatures that roam the market. 

I see werewolves with sharp fangs, vampires with empty eyes, and witches wrapped in silk and shadows, their whispers full of curses. 

And above it all, I see the stage. The auction block. The place where I'll be sold to the highest bidder.

I suddenly feel someone push me hard, making me walk against my will towards the stage. No, I can't go there or else I know what next awaits me. 

I try to slow down, to stall my movement but unfortunately, the iron grip on my arm is dragged forward, forcing me to move once again. 

As I arrive there, the imposing height of the auctioneer hovers above me, making me feel intimidated, my heart thudding rapidly in my chest. 

He stares down at me with a Predatory look, a sly smirk laced at the corner of his dry lips. 

“Nice….” He snarled, his rotten teeth coming into view. “I think I like this one already” 

Just then, the stage comes to light, the crowd which was previously very noisy now becomes quiet, a pin drop can literally be heard as all eyes fix on me that it seems as though their stares could penetrate through my clothes. At this moment, I just want to disappear from the surface of this earth. 

“She is fertile, untouched!” The auctioneer’s voice booms through the crowd, void of any form of emotions. “Let the bidding….” He pauses for a few seconds, observing the crowd before he speaks up once again. “Begin!” 

Almost immediately he finishes his sentence, the crowd falls into chaos. Cruel voices coming from literally everyone present. 

“I bid for a hundred gold coins!” One person declares. 

“One hundred and fifty!” Another roars out. 

“Five hundred gold coins!”  I notice someone say, his skin is pale, probably a vampire. “And fifty rubies!” He adds. 

“One thousand gold coins and the runt is mine!” Another interrupts, bidding higher. 

My heart sink to my stomach, thudding vigorously with each passing seconds. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would be at the mercy of a crowd, watching as they priced me like some kind of asset. 

The numbers of interested participants piques, some even trading things worth more than gold coins. 

I take a deep, shaky breath and with my last resolve, I pray that the moon goddess intervenes in this situation. 

Just then, the air suddenly grows suffocating. It seems as though something dark and dangerous had stride into this auction hall. 

Everyone notices the change in atmosphere as the hall suddenly goes quiet, the brooding, intimidating figure coming into view. 

His face is yet to come in view, as though it is covered by a shadow. Each stride he takes is graceful, commanding and deadly. Without being told, the crowd divides, clearing an uninterrupted path to his destination. 

Just then, his face finally comes into view and then I see him even clearly. A tall, broad-shouldered man, he had a ripped body that even the clothing he wore couldn't hide it. His aura was commanding. 

Then his face…. heavens, well defined, it seemed as though he was created on a special day, giving him unique, extremely handsome features. His midnight black eyes held no emotion, a huge contrast to his handsome, alluring facial features. 

Alpha Iskander Damaris of the blood moon pack , The almighty warlord. The soulless butcher.

A living monster that walks the earth. My breathing hitches, what the hell is he doing here? 

I notice the auctioneer's fear, I see the hesitation in his action and hear it in his voice as he speaks up. 

“Alpha Damaris” he speaks up, picking his words carefully. “We…we weren't expecting you, he….” 

Like a jolt of lightning, Alpha Iskander moves, faster than my brain could process. 

One moment, the auctioneer gasps, the next second, Iskander’s hand is wrapped around his throat in a chokehold, smoothly lifting him up his feet. 

“No…Alpha…pls…” the auctioneer begs, his feet kicking helplessly in desperate movements against the air. 

“I didn't come here to place a bid” Iskander finally speaks for the first time since his arrival, his tone deep and guttural, sending shivers down my spine. 

Without having the chance to process what had happened, I suddenly hear a snap and almost immediately, the auctioneer's body is dropped as he crumples to the floor, lifeless! 

A gasp escapes the lips of literally everyone present, the hall noisy and filled with panic but no one dares to take any move for fear of being the next. 

Suddenly, much to my horror, he tilts his head towards me, our gazes locking. 

“Mine” he growls. 

I feel like peeing my pants as fear grips my entire being, before I have the chance to react, I suddenly feel strong hands grabbing me; his warriors. 

“Noo!!!” I scream, desperately pleading to be freed but it is daytime. At this moment, I wish I'd been bought by anyone in the crowd instead. 

As the warriors exit with me caged like an animal, realization dawns on me. I've been bought, claimed by the devil himself.