Chapter 2

Talia POV

"Damon...What the hell is wrong with you?!"

I shouted at him, fury surging through me. He had always been cold, but I never imagined he could be this cruel.

The auctioneer hit the gavel with finality and declared me as sold.

The glass enclosure opened, and Damon’s Beta, Abby, approached me.

She wore her signature high ponytail. Her sharp cheekbones and icy blue eyes gave her a fierce appearance.

When Damon and I were together, she wasn't exactly kind to me, but she wasn’t outright cruel either.

She leaned closer, whispering in a mocking tone. "Talia, Damon asked me to give you a special gift."

Before I could react, she swiftly forced a bitter pill into my mouth.

I tried to spit it, but she clamped her hand over my mouth. I had no option but to swallow, and a wave of heat surged through my body.

"What... what was that pill for?” I stammered.

"Just helping you enjoy the party!" she sneered and winked at me.

My jaws clenched, bitterness filling my chest.

Damon ordered to drug me. The man who once held me close can hate me and stoop to this level.

Just four months ago, he told me I was the most precious thing in his world, and today, he handed me to other men. How could he?

Soon, the men in the audience began approaching me, and Damon, standing in the distance, watched the scene unfolding.

At that moment, whatever love I had for him dissolved into utter hatred.

Suddenly, an unbearable pain rippled through my abdomen, and my consciousness began to fade. Strangely, I felt a sliver of relief.

Perhaps dying would be a better option at this moment.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils.

I blinked to find myself in the hospital, and my hands instinctively moved to my stomach.

Oh, thank god, my baby is safe.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Muffled voices reached me through the blue curtain surrounding my bed.

"Stay here and watch her. When she wakes up, bring her over."

"Yes, Alpha Damon."

I froze.

Damon and Abby are here. They have no plan to spare me.

Moments later, I heard Damon’s footsteps fading, and Abby slid the curtain aside. I quickly shut my eyes, feigning sleep.

"When you wake up, I’ll send you back to that place. You think playing dead will help you escape?" Abby leaned down and patted my face mockingly.

That place? My heart sank.

Damon wanted to send me back to the auction. So he still wanted to punish me. He didn’t save me out of love or pity.

Damon, how can you be this heartless?

I forced back my tears, determined not to let Abby notice anything.

"Nurse, didn’t you say she’d wake up soon? It’s been over an hour, and she’s still unconscious. What’s going on?" Abby demanded.

"Her vitals are normal. We already checked, but it’s probably because of her pregnancy. Don’t worry, she’ll wake up soon. "

Abby sighed in frustration as the nurse adjusted my IV and left.

"Humans are so fragile," Abby muttered before her phone chimed. She answered it and walked out of the room.

The second she left, I ripped the needle out of my palm and slipped out of the bed barefoot.

Peeking out, I saw Abby still engaged in a call, her back facing me.

This is my only chance. I couldn’t let them send me back! I have to save myself and my child.

I gathered my courage and bolted for the elevator.

Each step felt like walking on blades and my heartbeats thudding in my chest, but I succeeded.

I ducked into a narrow alley as soon as I got out of the hospital.

Werewolves have a hundred times stronger sense of smell than mine. s I had to get as far as I could before they tracked me down.

A taxi approached, and I stumbled into the street, flagging it down.

"Take me out of the city!"

The driver alternated his eyes between my hospital gown and swollen belly, "Are you okay?"

I removed the pink crystal necklace from my neck and handed it to him.

"Please, do as I say!” I begged.

This necklace was Damon’s birthday gift to me six months ago. I continued to wear it even after I rejected him, but now it meant nothing.