Chapter 2

Lyric Adams pov

I was awakened to the low warning growls of several large creatures, I peered from between the overhanging pine branches to see six dark fur-covered legs sticking out of loose shorts and cursed under my breath.

“Come out without delay, little wolf, or be dragged out forcefully,” a stern, rough voice asserted.

Exhaling, I scooted out from underneath my hiding place, assuming that my former Alpha had sent his elite Lycan guards to fetch me. Once I could see the three clearly, I knew instantly that they were slave traders. They roamed the mountains in search of runaways and castaways to sell to other packs for profit.

My gut sank when their glowing eyes widened at seeing me.

“She will fetch a high price. Bind her wrists and ankles. Let's carry her back to the shack with the other captives. Our auction is today at ten,” the lead Lycan snarled.

After tying me, I was lifted by one and slung over his burly shoulder.

My chest was being crushed with each of my captors' wide steps, and when they asked me for my name, I wheezed out Lyric, but they mistakenly thought I had said Mira, so I let them call me that.

It didn't make any difference. Once my brand was spotted, I would meet my demise, I surmised sullenly.

We traveled for miles, and when we finally arrived at a ransacked farmhouse, I was full of regrets when I saw a rickety platform built surrounded on one side by numerous folding chairs. It was the auction spot.

“Take her in with the others and have Cheryl give her a full exam. If she's all intact, she will fetch a higher price,” the leader stated.

“Can't we play with her first?” The second lycan said salaciously while licking his muzzle and grabbing his crotch. I cringed, but thankfully, the leader growled about needing the money my sale would bring.

“She will remain untouched go fuck one of the other well used slaves if your in that much need to dip your dick,” he growled.

Disappointed and grumbling about the others being rogue, the lycan stomped himself into the farmhouse where I was brought soon after.

I chewed on my bottom lip, realizing that I could become rogue without a pack, and shuddered as I was carried into the house.

“Cheryl, we got another one!” The Lycan carrying me shouted as he dropped me to the hard wooden floor in a heap.

Looking up I watched a haggard older woman with a hump on her back peeking out from a room and running her cold eyes over me.

“Appears that you boys got yourselves a cash cow. What does the boss man need from me?”

“Check if she is intact and ready her for today's auction. We got high rollers coming today and the boss wants their money, so clean her up and put her in something revealing to up the bids,” he asserted before turning away and leaving me lying on the floor.

“Get up! I cannot examine you on the floor,” she snapped.

Struggling to stand with my hands and ankles tied I grunted in frustration.

“Idiots, I will untie your ankles but the wrist ties will remain for now,” she complained as she whipped out a knife and cut the rope on my ankles.

Once I stood up she began cutting off my clothes while yanking on the rope around my wrists to keep me still.

I was glad that I had wrapped the fabric around my brand to keep the area from being exposed.

Yanking the rope on my wrists she told me to follow her.

She brought me to the room she had first been in, and my eyes widened at seeing several other captives, all naked, male and female alike. All of them were in cages with some gnashing their teeth.

“Spread your legs,” The woman demanded.

After I did she stuck her middle finger up the inside of my cunt and chuckled.

“You're gonna break the bank of those bastards!” She said as she wiped off her hands with an alcohol towelette. I screwed my face at being violated and eyed the crumbling ceiling at hearing a woman's scream then rhythmic thumping from the floor above.

“Don't you worry they won't be raping you, you're worth several gold pieces being a virgin. Pretty, obedient, and innocent,” she cackled as she dragged me to a crude table with medical equipment spread upon it.

Reading the vials, I eyed her incredulously, then looked at the others.

“You drug us?!”

Pffting me, she asked how else they were going to sell the rogue ones.

“Unbelievable,” I thought as she questioned me about the fabric around my wrist.

“Did you injure yourself?” She asked me while waving her knife around the flannel wrapping.

Nodding I mumbled that it was just a minor burn and my wolf was healing it.

I swallowed uncomfortably when she asked to see it.

“It's nothing,” I growled as I lifted both my bound wrists away from her reaching out to it.

“I need to see it to see that it doesn't lower your price!” She demanded as she raised her knife toward me.

“It's a banishment brand,” I hissed and she cackled heartily.

“I don't give a fuck about that, deary. Your new owner will probably kill you for it, but eh, not my problem. I will find you a cheap copper bracelet to cover the injury along with a sheer shift,” she chuckled as she knelt down and began rummaging through her chest.

“Are you a witch?” I questioned boldly, and she side-eyed me with a toothless grin.

“That's brave of you to ask, Miss…”

“Adams,” I stated.

She ignored me and continued to dig through the trunk.

“Well, I now know why you're so obedient. That brand will bring you a death sentence,” she muttered, then stood quickly with a white floral shift and a copper colored hammered bracelet clutched in her gnarled fingers.

“You know a broken crescent moon could represent change for others, but for you, it's just death,” she cackled, and I furrowed my brow at her. She was just a barrel of laughs, I thought sourly.

“Let's get you dressed, but first, I'm giving you a special shot. It will make you even more compliant,” she announced, and I gave her a scathing glare.