Ava is dead!

KAEL'S POV

I watched as they all made worthless bids on her.

"Claim her." My wolf urged.

" Twenty million coins."

Silence. Absolute silence. Every head in the room turned to me, whispers erupting. The Alpha King. King Kael. The recognition, the fear.

She was worth more than being with this hungry wolves.

The auctioneer, momentarily stunned, stammered, "twenty…twenty million ! Going once… going twice… Sold! To the Alpha King!" He proclaimed.

"Bring her," I commanded, my voice flat.

One of my hefty guards moved forward to drag her. She flinched as he grabbed her arms. "Careful," I warned. There was no gentleness in my tone, only a warning not to damage my property. They released her, pushing her forward. She stumbled towards me, her legs weak, her eyes still glued to mine as if I was an enemy.

"Walk closely behind," I ordered. She obeyed, though her steps were hesitant, her body trembling.

Jayden was waiting outside, his expression full of disapproval. He had followed me, . "Kael," he began, his voice low, "are you certain about this? She's clearly… a victim."

I ignored him, my hand reaching out, not to comfort her, but to seize her wrist. My fingers closed around her delicate arm. My thumb brushed over a strange mark on her left wrist – a branch of thorns encircling a single, perfect rose.

"She is mine," I stated, my eyes fixed on Jayden, daring him to challenge me. "And she will be broken, if necessary, to recognize that fact."

Jayden's jaw tightened, but he didn't speak. He knew better than to argue when I had made my conclusions. He simply nodded, his eyes on the trembling girl beside me, a look of pity formed on his face. Pity.

I pulled her along, her small hand swallowed by mine. She stumbled once more, her little strength failing her. My grip tightened, yanking her upright. "Keep pace," I commanded, my voice devoid of patience. This weakness disgusted me.

The ride back to my estate was silent except for the hum of the engine and the soft, heavy breaths she took beside me in the back seat. She tightened in the corner, pressing herself against the door as if trying to disappear. I watched her, my eyes taking in every detail – the way her chest rose and fell rapidly, the flow of sweat on her forehead, the bruised curve of her lip. There was no pleasure in her fear, only a satisfaction that she understood her place.

Soon enough we arrived at my Pack house, the Blackwood pack house.

"Get out," I ordered, my voice cold like ice. She flinched rushing out of the vehicle.

"Bring her to my private quarters later," I commanded my trusted guard named Thorne, who stood straight. "Prepare a bath. Clean clothes. Nothing extravagant. Plain and simple."

Thorne nodded, with amusement in his eyes at my specific instructions, but he said nothing. He approached her, his hand extended, ready to guide her.

"Do not touch her." My voice was loud enough even for the deaf. Thorne froze. "She walks with me." I tightened my grip on her wrist, pulling her through the staircases Each step she took was hesitant, her eyes wide, lost in admiration.

I took her into the last room on the second floor.I shoved her inside, not roughly, but with enough force to make her stumble. She trembled "You will stay here," I said, my voice cold and hard. "You are my property now. You obey my commands without question. Do you understand?"

She stared at me, her eyes welling with tears. She didn't speak, just gave a quick nod

"Speak,!" I snapped, running out of patience"Use your voice."

"Yes, Alpha King," she whispered , her voice laced with genuine fear.

"Good. My name is Kael. And you will address me as 'My King' or 'Master.' Nothing less." I watched her, my eyes piercing, demanding absolute submission. She flinched. "Now, what is your name?"

"Ava," she breathed, her voice barely audible.

"Ava," I repeated, tasting the name on my tongue. "You will remember that you belong to me, Ava. Completely. Your life, your body, your very breath… are mine to command. You will do as I say, when I say, without complaint. Failure to comply will result in consequences you won't enjoy."

Her tears, which she had fought so hard, finally streamed down her bruised cheeks. "Please," she whispered, her voice cracking, "I… I don't understand. Why me? What do you want?"

I stepped closer, enough to feel her breath ony body "What I want, Ava," I whispered, my voice dangerously soft, "is for you to recognize your place. You are nothing. I am everything. And you will serve my every whim." My hand reached out, not to comfort, but to trace the curve of her jaw, my thumb pressing lightly on the bruise near her cheekbone. She flinched, still terrified. "Your fear is… expected. Your obedience, however, is mandatory."

I leaned in, my voice possessive "You will learn, Ava, that I tolerate no dissent. Your life here will be… an education. An education in submission. And a lesson in whose you are." My eyes landed to her lips, bruised and trembling.

" Go and take your bath."

"Go," I commanded, my voice sharp. "Don't test my patience."

I walked back to my room, giving her the privacy she needed.

" What the hell are you doing?" Jayden questioned giving leaving no room for excuses and I knew I couldn't ignore him any longer. He awaited my response.

"What does it look like, Jayden?" I replied. "I purchased property. That is all."

"Property?" Jayden chuckled . "Kael, she's a person. A victim of whatever hell she came from, sold like a commodity to the highest bidder! And you, you bought her." he paused, them continued "And you're treating her like... like a slave."

"Watch your tone, Jayden. You forget who you're speaking to."

He didn't back down immediately. "No, you forget, Kael. Forget the honor, the responsibility that comes with your title. Protecting the innocent, not torturing them!"

My fist clenched. "I am protecting her," I stated.

"And I am ensuring she understands her place. She was being auctioned off to a den of wolves who would have destroyed her. I ended that." I added

"By buying her yourself and promising to break her?" Jayden scoffed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "What is this, Kael? Your wolf was frantic in there, I felt it. Is she… is she your mate?"

His words stirred my wolf, he seemed happy that someone acknowledged her as his mate. He was being overactive because of a mere mate

"Yes she is" I admitted, my voice more of a whisper. "But she is not ready. She is weak. Untamed."

"Jayden. This is necessary." I stated tiredly.

"Necessary for what, Kael?" Jayden pressed, his gaze piercing. "To prove you can dominate anything? Or to protect her from a destiny you haven't yet revealed?"

I stepped closer to him, my eyes narrowed. "Do not question my motives, Jayden. Ever. Just know that what I do, I do for the Pack, and for what is mine. She is mine. And she will learn to accept it."

Jayden held my gaze for a long moment, his face full of concern, pity, and a barely concealed frustration. Finally, he sighed, a heavy sound of resignation. "As you command, My King. But I pray you remember that even the strongest steel can be broken if bent too far."

He turned and walked away, leaving me alone in my room, to battle with my wolf convincing me to accept her. In years, this was the first time my wolf and I had a rift and this one didn't seem like it would end soon.

A cold satisfaction settled in my chest when I remembered that fear in her eyes.Good. Fear would make her obedient. Fear would make her listen. .

"Alpha." Thorne yelled my name and I went out of my room to see him panicking.

" What is the matter?" I asked trying to keep my calm. It was probably related to Ava.

" She is in a pool of blood, probably dead." He broke the news.

She? Definitely Ava.