Seven.

Zane

It’s quiet when I turn the water off. I knew she hadn’t left. There was no way out of the bedroom without a key and I had it.

As I get closer to the door, I hear the subtle sounds of pencil scratching on paper.

She sits at the desk with one leg folded up on the chair, her arm wrapped around it as she concentrates. She had pulled her blonde hair back into a loose bun at the bottom of her neck and seemed oblivious to me watching her.

Half the packets of pencils had been torn open, the boxes discarded on the floor along with many of the sketchbooks.

Her shoulders aren’t so tense and from here I could see a corner of her lip curved up into a smile. The first natural smile I had seen since I laid my eyes on her. I could see why they wanted big money for her at the auction. I had done since I first laid eyes on her.

***

Stevens and I had been on our way to a meeting when I caught her scent. It wasn’t like anything I had smelt before. Strong cinnamon and I had to find her. There was no other option.

The last place I expected to find her was in a human auction.

I soon got word that Willow was in high demand. Many of the men there were there specifically for her. And from what I understood, she had been a tease for some time. Partially being advertised but never shown or sold. The main man wanted big money for her, he knew what he was doing.

She had been paraded out on stage like a prize. The red dress ripped from her body, revealing all. I wanted to shift and kill everyone for just looking at her. 

Stevens had looked at me like I was mad when I told him to make the bid. It had to be high enough that the humans would feel challenged and back out immediately. If I hadn’t won the bid, I would have killed the man who had. Ensuring that I was the only one she left with. She was mine, and mine alone.

Even finding out that she is half human didn’t deter me. Though I hit the roof when I discovered she couldn’t heal like the rest of us.

***

Willow sighs, and puts her pencils down. Rubbing the back of her neck, she stares longingly out the window. She is quiet for a few minutes before picking up a pencil and drawing again. I wondered what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. I wondered what her skin would taste like, what she would feel like, wrapped around my cock.

There would be plenty of time for that.

She doesn’t even look up when I go to the closet, almost like she is lost in her own little bubble.

She slowly picks up the sketch pad and eyeballs the drawing. I see a picture of a young woman.

“Who is that?”

She jumps at my voice, as though she had forgotten I was still here.

She closes the sketchbook without answering me, hugging it to her chest. A crease forms between her brow.

“Someone from the auction?” I press

“She was killed.” Her answer is short and she refuses to look at me.

“She was a friend?” 

Her scowl deepens but she nods her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“You weren’t the one who shot her!” She spits, pure anger flooding through her.

There was so much more to Willow’s hardened front than just what her father had done. I saw it when she broke. Everything is kept buried within her. Afraid to show it to the world. She was afraid to be seen and I couldn’t understand why.

It was then that I realised why all the women and girls on stage were so quiet. Silently letting their tears run free, not a single sound could be heard over the auctioneer and the bidders. Well nearly all of them. If they made a sound or begged to be saved, they were shot.

“You want to get revenge?” I ask curiously

She doesn’t answer me, and continues to stare out the window

“You have a soft spot for humans.”

“I am half human.” Her words are spiteful, as though she was trying to find something to make me despise her.

“I am aware.”

“Then let me go. I am not worth anything to you. I will pay you back every penny. It might take a while, but I will. I swear.”

“I won’t let you go.” There was no way in this lifetime that I was just going to let my mate walk out on me.