Chapter 1: My Merchandise

TW: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, SEXUAL CONTENT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Alora’s POV

The collar around my neck is heavy.

And I thought nothing could feel heavier until my heart sank to my stomach when I heard my captors’ voice.

“She’s an omega, right?”

“Damn right! We’re going to be millionaires by the end of the night if we sell her at the right price.”

I gazed outside the rusty cage they put me in, seeing that the sky already turned dark. I folded my legs to my chest and stayed silent like some kind of a discarded animal. When I did as much as move my hands, my wrists burned from the heavy metal chains that bound them together.

“She’s a tough one, though. I can't believe she tried to stab me on the leg!"

"Uh oh. With that kind of attitude, do you think some dumb alpha would dare buy her?"

I swallowed hard, wishing that what lies ahead would arrive sooner. I know where I'm headed to. After my mother's skull was bashed open and my father's gut pooled around her ankles by these strangers' attack, I knew that sooner or later, I was about to die too. But unlike them, it turns out that I was fated to suffer a little longer.

"What if someone sees the mess we made of her pack?"

"Don't worry. Their shabby house was easy to tear down. I made sure to leave no evidence behind."

When a soft rustling sound embraced my ear, the sound of heavy footsteps followed. I remembered the look on my brother's face as the masked men mercilessly shot him on the chest. His cries are still fresh in my head and the vivid image of him gurgling with his own blood until his eyes went lifeless haunt me.

It was pure rage that drove me to charge at them with a small knife in my hand, hoping that I could somehow take revenge. I aimed to get back to at least one of them. To slice their throat or stab their eye. Anything. But in the end, I was too weak.

As if dying is an easy way out for me, I found myself here.

"Oy, get up. I know you're awake."

"If I were you, I'd wear my brightest smile." The voice of one masked man who suddenly pulled my right arm and forced me to stand. My legs were wobbly as they dragged me out of the dark. Eleven steps were all it took until I had to blink away the sudden assault of light that lunged at me.

The man was gone and I was left alone in the middle of what seems to be a small stage.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen. I present to you the next merchandise. Eighteen years old. Virgin and an Omega. Alora Augustus."

Merchandise. That is probably my new identity now, huh?

I furrowed my eyebrows as I heard people wheeze and exchange murmurs over the cheery announcement on the microphone. Applause erupted left and right. When my body has finally adjusted, I looked up to realize the reality of the situation I found myself in.

"I don't know. I'd give her fifteen."

Gold coins started flying in my direction as the bidding began. The crowd looked at me with varying expressions. Some people were impressed. A few of them look disgusted by the dried blood that clings to my clothes. I didn't want to be reminded that some of it was mine and some, from my brother. But the majority of them are thinking about whether they will buy me or not.

"Twenty. She'd be a good servant."

"Fifty five. I'd make a good breeding machine out of her."

THUD.

"Aw!"

One of the gold coins smacked through my right temple, causing me to spin out of balance and stumble on the ground. The impact hurt enough for me to screw my eyes shut and show a hint of weakness to the strangers.

"Ah, shit! She's too weak. I want my tokens back."

"FIFTY THOUSAND."

The crowd went silent when a particularly low, intimidating and terrifying voice boomed across the huge room. All heads turned towards the origin of the sound including mine. Even though no gold coins were thrown towards my direction, a black card with silver embossed characters was waved in the air by someone at the far back.

Horror dawned onto me when the announcer grabbed the microphone for the second time since I appeared in front of many curious eyes.

"Alora Augustus. SOLD."

And then our eyes met. Sitting with his legs crossed at the farthest row of the room, the man who bought me wore a victorious smirk as the masked men started dragging me away. Before I turned my head around, I will never forget the rose tattoo on the side of his neck, just above the neat collar of his black suit.

---

A low chuckle washed through my system, slowly pulling me back from the darkness.

"Oh, you're finally awake baby?"

I furrowed my eyebrows and fought the diziness that embraced my head the instant I tried to move. This is not normal. I felt like I was asleep for eternity. What did they give me?

Fuck, my body is not obeying my will. It feels difficult for me to do as much as lift a finger. But one thing is for certain. The smell of black orchid is overwhelming my senses.

Stimulating my nerves.

"Nah...Don't move. I'll do everything for you." His voice sounds like it is coming from a deep well, sending goosebumps all over my skin. It was the same voice that I heard from the bidding.

I swallowed hard when I felt a hot, wet sensation graze the column of my neck down to my chest. "So fucking sweet. You know, the moment I saw you...I knew I need to buy you."

Buy? Me?

I forced my eyes to open when terror settled in. It finally dawned into me. The collar. The stage. The gold coins and the rose tattoo. No matter how blurry my vision is, I willed myself to stand up.

SMACK!

Adrenaline rush washed over me and before I knew it, my bare legs sent the Alpha flying across the dimly lit room. Now, I hunched over the bed with my breathing heavy and my head throbbing. "G-Get away from me."

"Woah. You're one of a kind, huh..." Instead of looking offended, the man popped his jaw with a playful smirk and re-adjusted his button-down white polo shirt before standing up and squaring his shoulders. When my vision adjusted, I realized the weight of danger I was in.

I looked him up and down to burn his image in my memory. He is tall, tanned, and dangerously handsome. With his unruly hair and eyes as black as the night, it was enough to mistake him for a beast in the dark.

The rose tattoo on his neck tells me that he is the same man who waved a black card in the bidding.

"Although I appreciate your firey disposition..." Despite having a playful smile on his lips, the way he let loose those words are enough to send me cowering in the corner. As the smell of black orchids intensified, every fiber of my being is screaming for me to submit.

One moment, he was a good fifteen steps away from me, the next, he was cupping my jaw with his huge fingers so tightly, it's driving me insane. "...I think you should understand the situation you're in, darling." It was a silent threat. A warning not to push his buttons any further.

He moved so fast that I didn't realize we are already face to face. It didn't take much effort from him to lift me by the hips and carry me across the room. Something about his presence and pheromones made me weak.

"No..Please..." I begged but did nothing to fight back. When he carried me across the room like a bride, I felt all the strength I had left leave my body. I don't understand. My body felt relaxed but at the same time, alerted. Maybe it was the drugs.

After a while, he brought me down to my feet in front of a huge mirror with him standing behind my figure. The moment I saw my reflection, I felt like the world has stopped spinning.

"This body..." He tilted his head and dove his mouth at the junction of my neck and shoulder as he inhaled my scent while his fingers trace the lace of the see through red, one piece lingerie that sticks to me like a second skin. "These tits..." He let his hands roam around my chest and squeeze around my breasts, ripping an involuntary moan out of my throat.

"Ah..."

He played with my nipples while I instinctively caved in with his touches, tilting my head to the side to give his lips more room to explore. What the hell is happening to me?

"This pussy..." When he was done playing with my nipples, his hands travelled down to my stomach and lower until his fingers stretched the fabric aside to touch my... "Ah, w-wait.."

The squelching sound was embarrassing when he started pumping me inside out. My knees turned jelly and my eyes rolled at the back of my head.

"...is mine. You understand? You're all mine." He stopped for a moment to bite the lobe of my ear and face me, brushing the side of my neck using his free hand.

Everything was hot.

When our faces were inches away from each other, I could feel my heart banging wildly inside my chest. "I'll do whatever I want with the merchandise I bought. And merchandises don't speak. They obey."

The playful smirk he wore earlier was gone. All that was left is a predator looming over his prey. A pair of black eyes that scream lust and blood and greed.

"Tell me you understand." He uttered with a silent command. I felt my omega whimper as I was incredibly and unbelievably turned putty in his hold. My eyes went from his nose to his lips and back up again.

I feel disgusted.

I want to run.

To bite him.

I want to crush his skull open.

And laugh while I kill him.

But in the end, I found myself standing on my toes and kissing him hard.

"I understand, Alpha."