The Auction

“Welcome to today’s auction,” the man on stage announces.

Claire stares blankly, her heart numb, her body frozen in disbelief. She should be terrified, outraged, broken—but instead, she feels nothing. She’s been expecting this somehow, the twisted reality settling into place with cruel precision.

The shock of her mate’s rejection had torn through her like wildfire, an ache that numbed everything else. She’s caged, bound, and gagged, surrounded by terrified faces of fellow omegas, but none of it seems real. 

What is real…. is the pain radiating from her chest, sharp as broken glass. She feels hollowed out, a shell of herself as she processes the scene before her.

“Here, we have some of the finest omegas,” the auctioneer’s voice continues, thick with amusement, as he gestures to the rows of cages lining the room. “Pretty things, just like you like it,” he adds, drawing chuckles from the crowd—a sound that grates against Claire’s ears.

She shuts her eyes against the sting of fresh tears, forcing herself to breathe slowly through the gag. Each inhale feels like breathing through shards of glass, and she fights to keep her breathing steady, trying to anchor herself.

Every word the auctioneer says only reinforces what she feared…this is an auction, and they’re the merchandise. 

Omegas, stripped of their dignity, reduced to products to be bought and sold. She wonders how many others have gone through this before her, how many lost souls stood in this very place, hoping for freedom only to be greeted with this nightmare.

As the auctioneer rattles on, Claire’s gaze drifts back to the crowd, and there he is. Her mate. The one destined to protect her, cherish her, love her. 

She had dreamed of this moment for years, imagining how her life would change when she finally found him. But now, as she watches him, her heart feels like it’s shattering all over again.

He’s standing amongst the crowd, detached and unaffected, a handsome, almost aloof figure

His eyes glint with casual interest, scanning the cages as if they’re nothing more than items on display. And standing beside him is his woman, her arm looped through his, radiating elegance and confidence. 

They look like they belong in this world of wealth and power, a perfect pair amidst the darkness.

She tries to swallow, the lump in her throat making it feel impossible, her eyes stinging as she forces herself to look at him. He’s everything she’d imagined—strong, striking, and commanding. But he doesn’t see her. She’s nothing to him, just another omega in a cage.

Her heart breaks all over again as she watches him lean close to the woman beside him, sharing a quiet laugh. She realizes with horrifying clarity that he’s here for the auction. 

The man on stage claps his hands, calling the room to order. “Today, the highest bidder will have the first choice of omegas,” he announces, his voice gleeful as if he’s hosting some grand event, not a despicable sale of lives. The crowd murmurs in anticipation, and Claire’s stomach twist with disgust.

“Not only did my mate reject me,” Claire thinks bitterly, “but he’s a horrible person, part of this… this disgusting world.”

She bites back a sob, forcing herself to stay still. Her head spins, the pain in her chest intensifying as the words of the auctioneer echo in her ears. They’re nothing but objects here, pawns in a game she doesn’t understand, and he’s a player. 

She realizes she’s spent her whole life dreaming of someone who would protect her, cherish her—but that person doesn’t exist. He’s standing right in front of her, and he doesn’t care.

“And now,” the auctioneer announces, lifting his hand with a flourish, “I’m thrilled to introduce our highest bidder for the evening….Mr. Tyson!”

A hush falls over the room, and Claire’s blood runs cold. She watches, paralyzed, as her mate…her destined mate…steps forward.