1| Selling Myself

JONEA

I stood in front of an old antique shop in the suburbs. I just stood there doing nothing for a while. And it's as if my reflection in the shop glass is teasing me.

You're a loser, Jonea!

Before coming here, I purposely dyed my hair bright red. I hoped this red color could disguise my pale skin from hiding in a cave in the forest for too long.

This old antique shop is among other shops selling everyday items. After standing there, I now became doubtful. Without noticing, one of my feet stepped backward.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Miss?"

I turned my head. A man in his 60s with neatly combed gray hair stood behind me. I glanced at his hand, carrying a cup of hot coffee from the vending machine across the street.

"Come in! You are free to visit my shop."

The man smiled kindly at me and walked towards the shop. He opened the glass door, and the old brass bell that hung above the door jangled.

I followed him into the shop. Strange, the feeling of doubt that appeared a moment ago in my heart now suddenly faded. There was even a strong urge to enter the shop without hesitation.

I looked at the interior of the shop building and saw that there were lots of old things that seemed very ancient on display.

"Sir, I want to sell myself!"

I conveyed my purpose to the man without strings attached.

The old man was surprised and cleared his throat.

“Sorry, Miss. Perhaps you mean you want to sell your antiques?"

I shook my head and looked at him thoughtfully.

"I want to sell myself."

I took a black card from my trouser pocket and handed it to the flustered man behind the shop window.

"Arman asked me to come here."

The silver-haired man checked the card I gave him. "Okay, I understand what you want."

I suddenly felt the shop was cramped and claustrophobic with strange furniture. Most of the table consists of glassware. I'm worried that I accidentally hit one of them and must compensate.

"Come with me, and please watch your step!" scolded the shop owner.

He led me away to a small door inside the shop. The door led us to a different room.

After passing through that narrow door, I suddenly felt like I entered a different world. I was baffled because I was no longer in the antique shop. We stood on the terrace of a building that resembled the Capitol building with tall, majestic pillars.

"Where is this? Am I dreaming?"

I literally rubbed my eyes because I couldn't believe my eyes. The old man who ran the antique shop had walked a few steps ahead of me.

"Wait, Sir! Do not leave me alone. What place is this? Do we go through the unique path and come to the back of the shop?"

"We are in the auction house." The man answered briefly while pointing at the nameplate printed in large between the pillars supporting the roof of the terrace.

"Auction building?" I repeated his words. I've never seen an auction building this grand.

"Didn't you say you wanted to sell yourself? This was no ordinary auction house but a place where magicians and underground creatures legally traded. There are a lot of magic items with supernatural powers being auctioned here."

I need clarification on what he's talking about. We arrived at the entrance. The old man spoke to the two men guarding the door. He handed me a black card that I previously gave him.

The antique shop owner said, "From here on, you can continue your journey with them and complete your needs."

I let out a deep breath. I've given up on my life. I no longer have fear or doubt. I came here with one goal: to give my life to someone who can protect me from those bastard werewolves out there.

Two young men in black suits led me into an office. It was in the office that I met Armand.

"Welcome, Jonea."

Arman once introduced himself to me as a professional auctioneer who worked for decades at the magic auction.

"Are you surprised?"

"When you gave me a black card and asked me to go to the antique shop, I thought you were joking."

"This auction venue is obscured by magic spells. Not everyone can come here."

"Am I really going to get what I want, Arman?"

"Yeah, if you're lucky. Countless races want to have the red moon girl. However, only special people would buy you at the highest price."

"What about the conditions I put forward?"

Armin nodded. "I've prepared a contract for you and your potential buyer, Jonea."

It all started a year ago.

I stand between the graves of my parents. The burial ground was even still wet and red. I clutched the flower sprinkles over their tombs.

I… failed to protect you.

I could only sob and wipe my tears with my sleeve.

I can't even keep Miller by my side. They took him.

My head could only continue to bow until my chin was attached to my chest.

It's only a matter of time until they discover who I am. I don't want to go to their pack and become a slave.

I shook my head and clenched my fists very tightly. Anger bubbled up in my chest. Before they died, my parents said that Miller and I were the sons of a local king banished by war.

Mr. and Mrs. Fallon are humans who accidentally found us. They know we are not ordinary human babies. However, they are willing to look after and care for us at the risk of their lives. They are also the ones fighting to cover our power with extraordinary magic.

"You are twins of the lycan king born on different days. You were born on a full red moon, Jonea, as for Miller, born the day after you. I helped your birth. Your father died as a prisoner of war. Your mother died giving birth to you. You're a special girl, Jonea. You're a red moon girl. Within you sleeps a great power that is being chased by many parties. Within your blood is stored a gift from the Moon Goddess that can turn the whole world around. Because of that, your biological mother casts a powerful magic spell to suppress your wolf soul from awakening. When your wolf soul awakens, all beings in this world will come to fight for your strength!"

The wind blows with leaves, plastic waste, and dust. A piece of newspaper in the wind hit my face. I grabbed the dirty-looking newspaper from my head and read its big headlines.

"The country is in a crisis due to the continuous war between packs. The country needs more soldiers. The remaining humans are forced to fight alongside the werewolves."

I crumpled the piece of newspaper into a lump in my palm. I closed my eyes, and the remaining tears spilled down my cheeks.

We've been trying to leave the Blue Sapphire country. However, a group of werewolf soldiers came faster and took us prisoner.

The government sent mercenaries to recruit and forcefully take every male family member to fight alongside the werewolf army. While the women were sent to refugee camps to be employed as slaves.

I can not take it anymore. I screamed while kneeling in front of the graves of my parents-Mr. And Mrs. Fallon. Even more, burials have just been made for the humans who died in the war.

The war in the Blue Sapphire country was no longer inevitable. I've lost everything. My parents died at the hands of the werewolves from Pack Abraham. They took my twin brother to be taken prisoner because he is a lycan. And what hit me the most, I had to be separated from Aland – the man I really loved.

I was just lucky that the wolf inside of me didn't awaken until recently. They think I'm just a useless human being. Is it luck or bad luck? Because I have to keep running to escape slavery. I fled to the forest and hid in a cave before meeting and living with my tight-fisted uncle's family.

I snapped out of my reverie when Arman handed over a piece of the auction contract that would change my life forever. I took the pen and paper contract.

"Are you sure?" Arman asked before I put my signature on the paper.

I nodded firmly, then quickly wrote my name on the auction contract.

Jonea Fallon.

"Now the contract is finished, Jonea Fallon," said Arman after checking the contract and saving it. "Someone will come and buy you at a very high price. I can feel his presence!"