#5.

ATHENA

I woke slowly, the world coming back to me in pieces . My head throbbed, a dull ache behind my eyes, and for a moment, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t move. The air was heavy, smelling of sweat and something sour that made my stomach turn. I tried to shift, and pain bit into my wrists sharply, pulling a gasp from my chest.

Rope.

My eyes snapped open.

I was tied to a chair. Thick cords cut into my skin, my arms pulled tight behind me. My ankles were bound, my feet completely numb. Panic slammed into me, hard and fast, as pieces of the memory came back.

The path.

The footsteps behind me and a hand clamping over my mouth.

I shivered as the memory of the smell hit me, the chemicals, the dark swallowing me whole before I could fight, before I could scream.

I tried again.

“Hmm! Hmmm!”

The sound died uselessly against the cloth shoved into my mouth. My muscles strained against the ropes, my heart hammering so hard it felt like it would tear through my ribs. The chair scraped softly against the floor as I jerked.

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back. Panic wouldn’t help. Panic would only make this worse.

Then I heard a footsteps.

My breath caught as a shadow crossed the dim light across the floor. The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside.

My stomach dropped.

It was him. The same man from before, the one with the broken smile and missing teeth. His eyes were small, sharp and predatory. Recognition hit me with fresh fear.

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

I recoiled as far as the ropes would allow. My spine pressed painfully against the back of the chair.

“Our beautiful Bambi,” he said, savoring the words. He stepped closer, boots heavy against the floor. When he stopped in front of me, he bent until our faces were level.

The smell hit first. Hot, foul breath that made me gag. My skin crawled.

He reached out.

I jerked back quickly and he chuckled, tugging the cloth from my mouth roughly. Air rushed in sharply, burning my lungs.

“Don’t panic, dear,” he said softly, mockingly. His hand slid to my neck, lingering.

“Get away from me,” I spat. My voice shook despite my effort to sound steady. “Let go of me, you disgusting animal.”

His grin widened.

“Oh,” he said, straightening, “you’ve got quite the tongue.”

I froze as his hands moved toward his belt, fingers working the buckle. My head swam, terror clawing at me.

The door slammed open suddenly.

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

The voice was cold and commanding.

Edward froze, irritation flashing across his face as another man stepped in. He carried authority, his presence heavy. His eyes swept over me sharply.

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

Auction?

The word hit me like a physical blow. My breath left me.

“No,” I whispered, the sound tearing out before I could stop it. “You must be mistaken. Please.” My voice cracked as I struggled against the ropes. “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, low and humorless. He shoved Edward aside and crouched to my level.

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

He stood and slapped Edward’s chest. Edward grunted, then stepped back as the man’s phone rang. Edward turned and left to answer it.

His gaze returned to me, dark and unpleasant. “Unfortunate,” he said with a crooked grin as he cut the ropes binding my wrists.

I turned my face away, bile rising. Everything about him made my skin crawl.

“Move,” he snapped, yanking me roughly to my feet. Pain shot through my legs as blood rushed back in. My knees trembled. My body was weak and reeling. His grip on my arm didn’t loosen as he dragged me forward.

We stepped into blinding light.

I gasped, shielding my eyes. Noise hit me in waves,voices, murmurs and laughter. My head spun.

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

The lights shifted. For a moment, they caught on the crowd. My chest tightened. Hundreds of men stared, rows of them, all looking at me. Curious and hungry.

I felt my stomach twist. Nausea rose as dread settled deep.

The lights focused entirely on me. Heat pricked my skin. My heart hammered so loudly I was sure they could hear it.

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

I felt revulsion surge through me. I turned sharply, face twisting in disgust.

Then I straightened. Slowly. I lifted my chin deliberately.

“Bidding starts now!”

“One hundred!”

“Two hundred!”

“Three fifty!”

“Four fifty!”

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

“Eight hundred!”

I snapped my gaze toward the voice, horror washing over me. Were they all insane? Couldn’t they see I wasn’t an object?

“One thousand!”

My hands clenched at my sides, nails biting into my palms. I fought the urge to scream.

“Four thousand.”

The voice was different. Deep. Cold.

Silence slammed down over the room. I froze.

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

Hands seized my arm again. They pulled me from the stage.

“No,” I pleaded, the word ripping from my chest. “Please. Don’t sell me. Please.”

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

We stopped in front of my buyer.

I looked up and faltered.

He was nothing like I imagined. Tall. Young. Striking in a way that stole my breath rather than repulsed me. His presence was commanding. His gaze sharp, assessing me from head to toe.

He towered over me, unreadable.

“Omega,” he said finally, calm, almost detached. “Unfortunate. But she will carry out the job.”

My chest tightened as his eyes lingered on my face.

“She’ll please the king.”