Claiming What’s Mine

Jacob's POV

"What's this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Austin as he handed me a black eye mask, my face creasing into a frown.

"Alpha, your aura is too powerful and easily recognizable. We need to conceal our identities properly to ensure this mission."

Austin was right. His foresight and strategic thinking made him a competent and reliable beta any alpha could wish for in the entire States. I took the mask and we drove to the central region of Cherry Woods, where Marcus Cromwell, the self-proclaimed rogue king, resided in his imposing castle. From its deepest dungeon, he conducted his illegal operations.

Every weekend, he hosted extravagant auctions of lonely and defenseless she-wolves that he had captured. As I surveyed the enormous crowd, I saw their depraved excitement as they leered at the poor souls paraded on the stage in the most humiliating fashion.

I had been seething with anger for a long time sitting in the auction hall, struggling to keep my composure, when suddenly a fragile looking girl, barely covered in a tattered black outfit, stepped onto the stage, immediately drawing all my attention.

"Look, Jacob. It's our destined Luna," Dylan, my inner wolf, exclaimed with excitement the moment I laid eyes on the figure. She was quite tall, with a pale yet attractive face and fearful hazel eyes. As she stepped onto the stage my heart fluttered. In that instant, I felt a whirlwind of energy enveloping inside me, a clear sign that my air element was unlocking.

I had been on the hunt for my mate for a considerable time, aiming to break my curse and unleash all my latent powers. Never did I imagine that I would find her here, in this despicable illegal auction house. This discovery intensified my resentment towards Marcus Cromwell to levels I hadn't known before.

I'm here to shut down the Rouge King's illegal activities and free the unfortunate werewolves confined in the frigid cells of his castle. Now that I've found my mate, I'm torn. How should I rescue her from this auction? I wondered anxiously, rubbing my forehead with my forefinger.

"This stunning beauty is available for one night only at fifty thousand dollars. Who will be the fortunate buyer?"

The host's announcement snapped me out of my thoughts. I observed a subtle exchange of glances between him and Marcus Cromwell. It seemed Marcus, aware of the buyers' uprising interest in my mate or her irresisting allure arouse his greed, which is why he had decided not to sell her permanently but to rent her out for a night. My fists clenched in anger, ready to make a strike, but I forced myself to hold back.

"Rouge king, why insist on such an inflated price for a mere rejected she-wolf, merely for one night's company?"

A smug voice sounded from behind me, and his disparaging comments about my Luna sent a surge of anger through me, boiling my blood.

Several others joined in, taking cruel delight in hurling insults at the helpless girl before them, at their mercy, completely unaware that she was my Luna. I tried my best to control myself from kicking them at this point. They had no idea that their reckless mockery was sealing their own fate.

"Who the hell was so unscrupulous?" I mumbled into Austin's ear, using all my patience to endure and deal with those haughty voices later.

"You'll get all the details soon..."

Unsatisfied with Austin's response, I issued, "No need, just give them the punishment they're seeking."

I had to stop my conversation with Austin when Marcus raised his voice to answer and his contemptible and degrading remarks about my Luna ignited a fire of anger within me, causing every vein to bulge. However, when he callously yanked the stole from over her, causing her to flinch, I nearly leapt from my seat to confront him. But Austin restrained me, tapping my hand to remind me not to act impulsively.

The sight of tears welling in those pure and innocent eyes pierced my heart. If I was not on the mission and bound with duty or under different circumstances, by now I would have ripped Marcus and his henchmen with these lecherous bidders apart for disrespecting my Luna.

In an instant, I made my decision and jumped into the bidding war alongside the others. There was no way I could let them win. This was a matter of pride. Allowing anyone to claim what was rightfully mine, especially my mate, was unthinkable. I had to ensure that no one else could lay a hand on her.

"Half a million dollars..."

Without a pause, I swiftly multiplied the bid by ten, eliciting an uproar from other buyers. Throughout the bidding war, my eyes never averted from her innocent and enthralling eyes.

"Alpha, cease bidding. Remember our mission." Austin, seated beside me, urged me, reminding me of our primary objective in infiltrating this corrupt auction. However, I paid his words little heed.

"She's my mate. I won't allow her to be claimed by anyone else." I responded calmly, but I had to admit I was furiously induced.

"What? Is she from the Cresent bloodline?"

Austin's inquiry came as no surprise, given my reputation as an infamous alpha who had yet to find his mate despite reaching a mature age. In a world where most werewolves find their mates at 19 or 20, my prolonged wait for a mate from the Cresent lineage, the purest bloodline, as foretold by the Moon Goddess, was widely known.

"How did she end up here?"

Austin's other question echoed the thoughts swirling in my mind, reigniting the anger that clenched my fist tighter.

"I damn well wish I knew," I muttered through gritted teeth, rage pulsing through my veins as I cast a pitying glance at her frightened expression.

"Five million dollars."

Frustrated with the sluggish pace of the bidding war, I decided to bring an end to this disgusting event by skyrocketing the price once and for all. Enough of this nonsense, I thought, my irritation mounting. As I placed the exorbitant bid, I noticed her beautiful hazel eyes widen in shock. Good, I mused, at least now she'll know I'm serious. My lips curled into a smile. This will be over soon, and I'll make sure she never has to endure this again.

I noticed a change in her demeanor as the bidding came to an end and she was declared mine for the night. Disdain flickered in her eyes as she looked at me, her inner turmoil palpable. She may have seen me as just another villain in this place, but I knew she would grasp the truth once she realized she was my mate.

"Brace yourself..."

As I rose from my seat, retrieving my trench coat from the back of the chair, I signaled to my beta to prepare for action. However, I was taken aback when my Luna blinked rapidly, clearly struggling to keep her eyes open as she stumbled.

Wasting no time, I leapt onto the stage and caught her before she could hit the floor.