#4.

Athena surfaced slowly, awareness returning in fractured pieces. Her head throbbed, a dull, persistent ache pulsing behind her eyes and for a moment she didn’t understand why she couldn’t move. The air smelled wrong, heavy with sweat and something stale that made her stomach churn. When she tried to shift, pain bit into her wrists, sharp enough to drag a gasp from her chest.

Rope.

Her eyes flew open.

She was tied to a chair, thick cords biting into her skin, her arms wrenched behind her back, her ankles bound so tightly her feet had gone numb. Panic surged, crashing through her chest as memory came rushing back in a violent wave.

The short path

The footsteps behind her.

A hand clamped over her mouth.

Her breath hitched as she remembered the smell of it, chemicals and the way darkness had swallowed her whole before she could fight, before she could scream.

She tried now.

A strangled sound forced its way up her throat, but it died uselessly against the cloth stuffed into her mouth. “Hmm—hmm!” Her body jerked instinctively, muscles straining against the ropes, heart hammering so hard it felt like it might tear free of her ribs. The chair scraped faintly against the floor.

Tears burned her eyes. She forced them back, refusing to let them fall. Panic would not save her. Panic would only make this worse.

Footsteps approached.

Her breath froze in her chest as a shadow crossed the dim light spilling across the floor. The door creaked open and a man stepped inside.

Her stomach dropped.

He was the same one from before, the man with the broken smile, the gap where his front teeth should have been, his eyes small and sharp like a scavenger’s. Recognition sent a fresh wave of dread crashing through her.

“Well,” he drawled, his voice thick with amusement, “look who’s awake.”

Athena recoiled as far as the ropes would allow, her spine pressing painfully into the back of the chair.

“Our beautiful Bambi,” he continued, savoring the words as though they tasted sweet. He took his time approaching her, boots heavy against the floor, each step deliberate. When he stopped in front of her, he bent down until his face was level with hers.

The smell hit her first—hot, rancid breath that fanned across her face, making her gag. Her skin crawled as though ants were marching beneath it.

He reached out.

Athena flinched violently as his fingers brushed her jaw. He chuckled at her reaction, clearly enjoying it, and with a rough tug he yanked the cloth from her mouth.

Air rushed into her lungs in a sharp, burning gasp.

“Don’t panic, dear,” he said softly, mockingly, his hand sliding up to her neck. His palm was rough, his touch lingering far too long. “We’re just going to have a little fun.”

“Get away from me,” Athena spat, her voice shaking despite her effort to sound strong. Fear rattled through her bones, but anger burned just as fiercely beneath it. “Let go of me, you disgusting animal.”

His grin widened. “Oh,” he said, straightening, “you’ve got quite the tongue on you.”

Her heart lurched as his hands moved to his belt, fingers already working at the buckle. The room seemed to tilt, her vision narrowing as terror threatened to overwhelm her.

The door slammed open.

“Quit whatever you think you’re doing, Edward.”

The voice was different. Colder. Commanding.

The man Edward froze, irritation flashing across his face as another stepped into the room. This one carried himself with authority, his presence heavy, his gaze sharp as it swept over Athena.

“I’m auctioning the girl now,” the newcomer continued flatly. “Don’t ruin her.”

Auction?

The word hit Athena like a physical blow. Her breath left her in a shaky rush, her skin going cold despite the heat flooding her veins.

“No,” she whispered, the sound tearing from her before she could stop it. “You must be mistaken. Please.” Her voice cracked as she struggled against the ropes again, desperation clawing at her chest. “I’m not a rogue. I’m not anything. My alpha—he’ll be looking for me. Please, just let me go.”

The man chuckled, a low, humorless sound. He shoved Edward aside with little effort and stepped closer, crouching so they were eye level.

“This isn’t about where you’re from,” he said, his tone almost bored. “Or who you are. Once you’re caught, you’re taken. That’s how it works.”

He stood and slapped Edward’s chest hard enough to make the other man grunt. “Untie her and bring her down. And don’t try anything funny.”

Edward scowled but nodded, backing away as the man’s phone rang. He turned and left the room to answer it, his voice fading into the distance.

Edward’s gaze slid back to Athena, dark and unpleasant. “Unfortunate,” he said with a crooked grin as he cut the ropes binding her wrists. “You could’ve had the best time of your life.”

Athena turned her face away, bile rising in her throat. Everything about him made her skin crawl.

“Move,” he snapped, yanking her roughly to her feet.

Pain shot through her legs as blood rushed back into them, and she stumbled, barely managing to stay upright. Her knees trembled, her body still weak, still reeling. Edward’s grip tightened around her arm, unforgiving, as he dragged her forward.

They emerged into blinding light.

Athena gasped, lifting her free hand to shield her eyes as brightness assaulted her senses. The sudden change made her dizzy, her head swimming as noise flooded in voices, murmurs and laughter.

“Announcement, everyone,” the man from earlier boomed into a microphone.

The lights shifted.

For a split second, illumination washed over the crowd, and Athena’s breath caught painfully in her chest.

Hundreds of men sat before her, rows upon rows of faces turned her way. Curious. Appraising. Hungry.

Her stomach twisted violently, nausea rising as dread settled deep in her bones.

The lights snapped back, focusing entirely on her. Heat pricked her skin as she stood exposed under their gaze, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain they could hear it.

“We’ve got a beautiful find today,” the man announced, his voice slick with satisfaction. “Tall. Flawless skin. Gorgeous hair.” He paused, grinning sharply. “And most important of all—a virgin.”

A wave of revulsion surged through Athena. She turned toward him sharply, her face contorting in disgust.

Then she straightened.

Slowly, deliberately, she lifted her chin.

“Bidding starts now!”

Numbers flew from the crowd, shouted eagerly, overlapping in a blur that made her head spin.

“One hundred!”

“Two hundred!”

“Three fifty!”

“Four fifty!”

“Four fifty?” the man echoed. “Anyone higher before she’s sold?”

“Eight hundred!”

Athena’s gaze snapped toward the voice, horror flooding her. Were they all mad? Did none of them see her as anything but—

“One thousand!”

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms as she fought the urge to scream.

“Four thousand.”

The voice was different.

Deep and Cold.

Silence slammed down over the room.

Even Athena froze.

“Four thousand,” the man repeated, his grin stretching wide. “Sold.”

Her heart dropped as hands seized her arm again, pulling her from the stage.

“No,” she pleaded, the word torn from her chest. “Please. Don’t sell me. Please.”

“Shut up,” the man snapped, dragging her forward.

They stopped in front of her buyer.

Athena looked up and faltered.

He was nothing like what she’d imagined. Young. Tall. Striking in a way that stole breath rather than repulsed it. His presence was commanding, his gaze sharp as it swept over her from head to toe, assessing, calculating.

He towered over her, unreadable.

“Omega,” he said at last, his voice calm, almost detached. “Unfortunate. But she will carry out the job.”

Athena’s heart clenched painfully as his eyes lingered on her face. What job? She thought.

“She’ll please the king.”