Chapter Three

Shirley's POV

Right from the moment I and the other girls entered the loud and bustling hall, we fell into a state of utter confusion and dismay.

It didn't take long for me to know we were bidden on and sold to the highest bidders. _Agatha was right. We are the damned goods to be sold._ I began to feel really bad for Cecilia, I wish I could protect her.

_I had to accept my damned fate._

The girls was sold one after the other until it got to my turn. Suddenly, the stage light focused on me, unfortunately I hadn't covered my eyes in time, the bright light stung my eyes badly almost making me go blind.

My heart jumped in my chest, I was so scared. _I felt so useless, naked, devastated, name it._ 

I then heard an exorbitant price ring out from amongst the crowd. "12 million dollars."

The prices rose higher, and it felt like it was a battle between two people. 

"100 million dollars!" I gulped on hearing the bid. I was torn between crying and laughing. _Was I that expensive? And who is this person who that was willing to throw away such amount of money on my head? How was I supposed to pay off such exorbitant amount of money?_

The auctioneer closed the bid by hammering his gravel, seems like the other person had given up on bidding further. 

The lights went black and I could see again, barely. I was dragged off the stage by a guard or guards, accompanied by the auctioneer and another strange man in a mask and back into the long corridor. This time I wasn't taken back to the hold but outside. _It was dark already._

I was led to a sleek black Rolls Royce Limo with tinted black glasses, where a slightly burly man was already waiting. His eyes were fierce, but still had a shade of calmness in them. He was damn gorgeous but I wasn't in the place of admiring my captor _or should I say master?_ an undeniable cold suffocating air surrounded his figure.

_What's with the black?_ _Even the man before me is all clad with black, was I sold to some Mafia Boss?_

'Maybe he's the one who bought me...' I thought. 

The man in the mask spoke with respect in his voice as soon as he neared the man. "Sir, this is the girl your b..."

The man raised his hand, interrupting him. "Cut the crap. Of course I know."

"Hey, get in the car." The man opened the door and I sheepishly crawled inside and sat at a far corner. The man then got in, sitting directly in front of me and the car set in motion. 

I felt overly cautious and uncomfortable. At random moments, our eyes met, further increasing the creeps that crawled under my skin. Although the A.C was active but beads of sweat found their way down my forehead.

For miles, the car was dead silent for God-knows-how-long until I heard the man cough, probably to get my attention, I raised my head to meet his dark eyes. 

"What is your name?" His baritone voice cut through the thick air. 

I couldn't keep up with his probing eyes, so I dropped my head. "Sh..Shirl..Shirley."

"I can smell that you're a werewolf but faintly. Which pack are you from?" 

_This again?_ _Must I be reminded of what had befallen my pack?_

"Silver Streams Pack of the East Far Side." I struggled to keep my voice from breaking. I said with every amount of pride since that was the last I could do for now.

"..." _I swore I saw a knowing glint flash in his eyes._ He said nothing more after that.

I summoned every ounce of courage in me to ask for his name, at least to know my new master. _Duh..._ "My name's Kenneth Quin. You might as well want to sleep. It will be a long journey."

I was about to tell him my name but well... I wanted to but no, besides, he wouldn't care or maybe, he knew my name already.

The conversation ended there without further questions. With the click of a button on the side of his seat, the seat mechanically reclined with a soft hum and he leaned backwards on it closing his eyes, with his sturdy arms folded on his chest. 

Taking my eyes away from him and outside the window, I began recount how I found myself in this dilemma up until now. The thought was so traumatizing that I began to shed tears, which I only noticed when my eyes focused on my reflection on the glass. 

'Maybe I should have some sleep' I took his advice and shut my eyes with uneasiness. In no time, I fell into a sleepy darkness. 

******

A gentle tap on my shoulder roused me from sleep. "We are here." It was Kenneth who tapped me.

I stepped out of the car rubbing my sleepy eyes. When I raised my head to meet the edifice before me, the sleep in my eyes vanished without trace. My jaws grew inches wider, the mansion by far put my house back at home to shame.

I had never seen anything like it in my entire life. The mansion was huge and breathtaking, it looked even more magnificent as the sun went down. 

The last sunlight made the mansion glow in a warm, golden color, and long shadows played on the fancy stone columns and iron gates. Ivy had grown up the walls, like nature's decoration. 

The big, old oak trees beside it felt like they were hugging the place. The breeze carried the scent of history and rustled through the leaves, like it held secrets. The mansion was lit up by bright amber lamps all around.

Kenneth took me inside, and I almost wanted to faint. Inside the mansion, I stepped into a grand entrance with towering walls that seemed to reach for the sky. The design was amazing, filled with fancy decorations and beautiful sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging from above.

The walls were covered in the most recent and expensive paintings.

As I looked on, I saw a lined-up mix of classic and modern art on the walls. Portraits of people from a long time ago were in ornate frames, which I assumed where the heads of the family before the owner of this house.

I didn't have the luxury of time to fancy the house, I reminded myself that I wasn't a guest here.

"This way." Kenneth pointed and brought me a long way to a certain room which was huge and much more bigger than mine. _I'm insulted._

 "Have this." Kenneth handed me a pair of a black and white two piece dress. "Freshen up and put them on. Someone will be here in 30 minutes to take you to the Alpha's room. A friendly reminder, be good and don't do anything rash or stupid." With that, he walked away without a word.

Closing the door behind him, I sighed deeply and looked at the clothes in my hands. "I guess I have to bathe before I tried this on. And a really deep bath."

The stench coming from my armpits was a valid reminder.

I spent good 20 minutes cleaning up, dried myself and applied few lotions I saw on the bedside table. I still had about 10 minutes to go. I tore the wrapping containing the cloth and opened it wide.

The skirt was quite short. _Was I to wear such skimpy thing?_ _To meet the Alpha?_

"Well, I have no choice. Be good, Shirley. Be good." I put on the clothes and waited.