Cold and shivering, I slumped to the ground with my head feeling dizzy. It was seven days since I left my pack, Moonraven, and ran to the vast outskirts of Seattle from Vancouver, scared that Benedict’s men must be hunting me down. But I guess this is the farthest I could get with no money and food.
I leaned on the tree and closed my eyes. The light from the horizon was starting to fade and I could barely see a faint light from where I was because of the tall trees surrounding me. Sure, it was a good place to die, somewhere peaceful and calm. But should I allow myself to just die like this after my parents sacrificed themselves for my freedom? Should I put their efforts into waste by giving up?
I don’t think I have the heart to do that. But I also don’t know where I can get strength in the middle of wilderness.
I can’t help but ponder about some things. Too much trust and kindness were my father’s weakness. He trusted Benedict and the people surrounding him too much that he was blinded by their lies and deceptions.
Back then, seeing how kind my father was, I was always proud of him. I looked up to his pure heart and I once dreamt of leading the pack with the same kindness he showed our people. But when I saw how those he trusted took advantage of his good heart, I wished he wasn’t good at all. If one is too kind, it is easier for the wicked to take everything from you. What’s the use of being good when you will receive no goodness in return?
The same time the darkness finally dawned, consciousness slipped away from me.
I woke up in a dimly lit room, doubting if I was in the afterlife. But after a few moments and feeling the pain in my head, I realized I was lucky enough to be still alive.
I heard muffled voices and cries and that was when realization hit me. I figured out I was tied, slumping in the cold tiles with thin clothes that could barely protect me from cold, and I wasn’t alone in the room. There were like a dozen women, barely clothed and tied like me. Some were crying while some remained silent but had forlorn expressions on their faces.
“What’s this?” I asked the girl close to me confusedly. I remember I was in the woods, alone and barely breathing. Why am I suddenly in a room with weeping women as if they were to stay here against their will?
“I have no idea myself…” the girl replied in a shuddering voice. “I-I was on my way home from school when a man suddenly grabbed me and put me inside a van. I can’t remember anything else aside from that. But I think I know who those people are.”
“Who?”
“Human traffickers from underground society. I know about this because my father used to be a part of it… and I know once in a while, like in several months or a year, they hold an auction in which women are the ones to be auctioned.”
I was shocked. I didn’t know something like this was happening in the city. I was raised in a town in Vancouver and spent my past nineteen years in a peaceful environment with the pack but today, I proved that I am yet to know many things in the world. I can’t say that humans alone are the mastermind of this. Wolf shifters have a fair share of evil too and I have already seen it with my own eyes.
I want to shift and save myself from damnation but I was too weak to even move. Besides, humans had long known the existence of wolf shifters. They have advanced weapons to kill us and considering my state, I’d just end up dying quicker than one could imagine. I better save my energy to see a way out from this hell.
After a while, armed men arrived along with a blonde woman who must be in her forties. She threatened the other girls to stop crying or else she would send them to the stage naked. I gritted my teeth in silence, pinning in my mind the image of the woman so I won’t forget.
We were untied and told to go out without creating a fuss. The armed men were by our sides, ensuring that we won’t be able to escape. I didn’t feel the urge to cry. I was furious at how helpless I was in my situation. I was living the life of a town girl peacefully a week ago and now I have to face such cruelty. Moon goddess, what have I done to receive such a punishment? I never did evil to anyone.
The sharp light directed to us on the stage was blinding. The crowd cheered when we were pushed to the stand in front of their eyes, and from their voices, I could say that the majority of them are men, if not all of them are.
When I was put to the stand to be auctioned, my fist clenched at my side as I watched the evilness in every man's eyes looking at me. There were a lot of them and I don’t know if Benedict was there or one of his men was, but one thing was for sure at that point. I will be sold to a man like a creature nothing less than an animal. Who knows what will happen to me in his hands, but I will do whatever it takes to survive even if it means losing my soul in the process.
“Two thousand dollars!”
“Five!”
“Ten!”
“Fifteen!”
I looked at the crowd with nothing but the glowing wrath in my eyes. I wanted to kill every man who looked at me as if I was just a thing at their disposal. How I wished I could.
“Fifty!”
“Eighty!”
“One hundred and fif—”
“One million.”
The crowd fell silent, even the host was shocked. I was, too. But then weren’t these men from the underground society? Their money for sure came from illegal doings. I shouldn’t be surprised that they didn’t care about spending hundreds or a million dollars just to have a woman sweep off their feet.
“I am surprised, I must say! That is the highest bid so far!” blabbered the host.
My eyes stayed at the sea of men, searching for the man who was willing to buy me for a million dollars.
Then there I saw a man who stood out amongst the crowd. There was distance between him and the people as if he didn’t want to be touched by anyone. He wasn’t an old man with wrinkles on his face like I expected. He was young, probably just a few years older than me, and his height and build were not average. He was in a dark three-piece suit without a tie, his short black hair was neatly combed back, and his eyes were… amber.
That made me realize he wasn’t human. He was a wolf shifter.
“Going once!”
“Going twice!”
“Sold!”
My heart skipped a beat.
I’m not sure if the man meant luck or misery, but at that point I only know one thing. I can use him to get out of this hell. I have no idea what he’s planning to do with me but I’m ready for the worst. If he will have me as his whore or his slave, then so be it. Staying pure doesn’t matter now. Staying alive does. I need to live no matter what the odds are because that’s the only way I can avenge my family. “You are one lucky lass. You got a rich man to take you in,” said the woman who is dressing me up. I don’t have the energy to move so I just let her do what she wants. I stared at the mirror mindlessly, and didn't have the time to care how I looked or what dress I was wearing. The bruises in my arms I got from running in the forest were covered with long sleeves of my knee-length dress. The other girls were dressed with short sleeves, I was the only exception and I guess it was because I’d looked horrible with my bruises. My pale lips were also now painted with rouge. But no mat
I’ve always felt the weird demeanor Benedict has all those years of him acting loyal to my father. He’s handsome, quiet, I think the quietest man I’ve ever met, he’s most of the time serious, and he never looked at any girl in our pack. He was either training the men or handling the pack’s affairs. I didn’t have casual conversations with him even though he was often invited to our house for dinners and parties. I’d always seen him in the town, and back when I was still studying, we went to the same school. I didn’t give him much attention then, but I knew he was good at academics. Well, he’s good at everything he does if my memory serves me right. Although his beta father died early, with his contributions, everyone believed that he was the only man worthy of my hand. They said we were perfect for each other. I couldn’t disagree more. I had never pictured myself marrying Benedict Allen. I could stomach Tyler, his geek cousin who couldn’t even throw a punch, but not him. Even though
“Be a good girl. Do you understand, little wolf?”I gritted my teeth. Wanting to claw him on his face but I can do nothing but purse my lips tight so a word won’t slip. I’m sure he won’t think twice on hitting me and I know receiving a blow from a male alpha isn’t something my fragile body is ready for.Lucius went back to the table and drank his wine, wiping his lips with the napkin before leaving the dining hall.I blew the breath I was holding back. My eyes shut as I took a handful of my hair, sitting on my heel, feeling so weak and helpless. I’m angry at myself. Why did I have to be born a female when my family got no one to depend on but me? Although there are female alphas in other packs, most are still traditional and see women as weaklings. That the alpha position should only be given to males.I dragged my feet back to my room and stood in front of the window. The downpour was making the glass blurry, not allowing me to see what was outside. It was getting colder and I didn’t
Opening the shoe box, I noticed the small black velvet box beside it. I put down the shoe box and got it instead. Now I see what ring Lucius meant. It’s this.The diamond ring made me gasp. It is simple but elegant. Back then I always thought the ring I would put on my ring finger would be given by my mate, but look how it turned out. I shook my head with a bitter smile on my lips, sliding the ring through my finger.While drying my hair, I can’t help but wonder if Lucius had met his mate. For us wolf shifters mates are our other halves, the only ones destined for us. No one can hold our hearts like they do. That is how powerful a mate bond is. I haven’t met my mate yet. I haven’t felt that strong pull, that deep connection with someone. I wish he’s strong and capable. Someone who can free me from Lucius’ grip and help me take back my pack.Thinking about it, Lucius must haven’t met his mate yet. For him to pick a random girl to be his fiancée all of a sudden, his mate wouldn’t surely
I felt like a cub in the den of a pack of wolves while sitting there in front of Lucius' relatives. Bernard was tolerable because he barely spoke and he wasn't that curious about me. But his nosy sister and mother didn't spare me from their sharp glares from time to time while putting me on a hot seat with questions about my history with Lucius, which I found hard to answer because there was no history to begin with.Thankfully, the smart Lucius Voss knew better than to let me answer those stupid questions and answered them for me. With the way he gave them the story they wanted, I figured out he was such a smooth liar. He can lie so calmly that no one would think he was lying. I guess he's so used to telling people lies.The family left after breakfast. Knowing that they aren't staying in the same house is a relief. If I am to stay by Lucius' side, it would be harder for me to breathe with those women who seem like they are ready to skin me alive."Do you think they believe your story
The car stopped in one of the city's tallest skyscrapers. I just followed Lucius as he walked through the main doors and I noticed the logo in the front desk. Voss Landscapes... it says."Good morning, Mr. Voss," the staffs in corporate attires greeted. Their eyes stopping at me for a moment, obviously wondering who I was to tag along with their boss.Lucius didn't say anything and continued walking to the elevator. We went to a certain floor until we arrived in his office. He went straight to his table while I remained standing, not knowing what to do.“Why did you take me here, master?” I asked, watching him sit on his swivel chair and check the piled paper works on his table. He lifted his gaze to me, the corner of his lips tugging up. His wicked smirk made my forehead crease. What is he planning again?“To be my secretary?”I didn’t get it.“Wait, I thought I’m playing the role of your fiancée? What happened to that? Besides, don’t you want to make a move with our plan yet?“The p
Calm down, Maddy. The worst that can happen to you is get beaten up, which is obviously better than getting killed.“What took you so long, little wolf? Waiting for something?” Lucius asked, staring at me darkly as if he clearly knew what I did.“I apologize if I took long, master. Will you use the bathroom?” I said innocently, which made his eyes narrow. “Do you have anything else you want me to do?”He clicked his tongue and a sarcastic smirk appeared on his lips. Inching closer to me, I stepped back, but there was no room for me to escape. My back touched the bathroom’s door and I realized I was cornered. He put his hand above my head while his amber eyes darkening by the minute. I swallowed hard.“You know what you’ve done, don't you?” There’s that dangerous tone in his voice again as if he is ready to kill anyone if he wants.“I-I’m sorry…” Shit. Why the hell I’m stuttering? “I mean I’m sorry I forgot you didn’t want sugar in your coffee. I was thinking about something while doin
When I opened my eyes, I realized I fell asleep in the middle of all the work I was doing. I blinked and looked around, stopping at Lucius’ empty seat. Where did the devil go?I shifted my gaze to the files in front of me. Then to the wall clock. I groaned, knocking my head with my knuckles. For goodness’ sake, it was almost six in the evening and I only finished two columns of the shelf!What should I do now?For a long minute, I remained sitting on the floor, staring at the mess in front, contemplating what to do. Thinking of a wicked way to escape this hell, I stood and wandered around the room to confirm if Lucius wasn’t really around. When I confirmed it, I went to the door to see if it was locked.But before I could touch the doorknob, I stopped when I saw a small note pasted on the door.‘Don’t you dare try to run. I will find you.’I immediately knew who wrote it. I twisted the doorknob, finding out it wasn’t locked. My eyes narrowed and stepped back. He left a warning but did