Chapter 5

Donna’s POV

The stench of sweat, fear and rot clung to the air like a curse. Body pushing bodies, chains rattled as another slave was dragged forward, her cries echoing like the wail of a broken soul.

“Twenty thousand. Going….. going….gone” 

An old man, skin sagging like leather left too long in the sun, moved forward, his eyes glinting with malice. 

He smirked as his crooked fingers grazed the trembling girl's face. She whimpered, thrashing weakly in her binds but no one helped her. 

His rasping laugh followed me as she was dragged away into darkness— sold.

“Thank you for your purchase” the megaphone sounded. 

“Next” the megaphone sounded again.

My stomach clenched so tightly it hurt. My ribs throbbed against my chest, throat dry and my tears flowing freely. I had thought rejection was the cruelest fate….but this? This was too low.

My turn came. Hands gripped me roughly that I froze, pulling me forward and yanked the hood that concealed my face. The light blinded me for a moment. 

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Too many stares followed at once. 

“By the Goddess…” someone muttered. “She's beautiful” 

“Why is she here?” 

Then came the mocking laughter.

“That's the Queen? The Luna of Ironclad? So this was Lucien's special surprise?” 

“She's here? At the slave block?” 

“Five years and no child … of course Lucien would throw her away. Had enough of her madness”

“And just a single touch from another woman produced an heir for him.”

“Nothing but just a pretty face…… I see why he kept her for years”

“She knows her way with herbs, helped him recover from his illness and blessed a lot of omega from barrenness. Sadly. Couldn't help herself” 

Laughter from the crowd followed. 

“But she will be a good tool for my manhood” 

Laughter sounded. “I hope so too” 

Each word was a dagger slicing through my heart. My lips trembled as I stared at them– faces I had once smiled upon as their Luna. 

Their eyes, once filled with respect, now filled with lust. My chest ached so badly it felt as though my heart was cracking open.

I saw her, Selene, standing in the shadows, her lips curved in a smile. She blew me a kiss, and her eyes sparked with victory. I couldn't stop the tears from falling down my cheeks as I locked gazes with her. 

She only tilted her head and smiled once again.

“Let's start the bidding!” The auctioneer shouted over the megaphone.

My body shook, each bone trembling with the grief I carry.

Numbers flew through the air. Voices rose in excitement 

“One thousand” 

“Five thousand” 

“Ten!” 

“Fifteen” 

One spat. “Isn't she too low for that? Twenty!” He said, earning a laugh from the crowd.

It was madness. My stomach twisted as I paraded like cattle. My nails dug into my palms, trying to ground myself in the humiliation. I wanted to scream but no sound came out.

Then a young alpha, barely older than I had been when Lucien first came into my life, stood tall in the front row with hunger in his eyes.

“Fifty thousand!” He declared proudly 

The crowd roared.

Selene's smirk widened and then she turned, her cloak swirling around her as she left, satisfied. She had achieved what she came for; reducing me to nothing. 

Lucien must have told her about my hatred for younger alphas. They don't satisfy the hunger I craved during sex. 

I lowered my head, sobbing silently, praying to the moon goddess for a second chance.

And then it happened, from the back, a cold, steady voice cut through the chaos.

“One million” 

The entire hall fell silent. Heads turned around to see who had spoken. The bidding stopped instantly. My breath hitched, my eyes lifting slowly, searching for the source 

A man stood cloaked in black, hidden in the shadows. His presence filled the air with weight. He moved with grace, each step echoing with authority as he approached the stage.

The auctioneer stammered, his voice trembling. “O– one million….. going once” 

The man stopped in front of me. My breath froze in my chest as his dark eyes locked with mine beneath the hood.

“What is your name?” His voice was deep, breaking through my storming mind like a breeze.

I swallowed hard, my lips trembling. “D…Donna” 

His head tilted, the faintest curve tugging at his mouth. “Donna. Not a usual name… for a queen. Interesting”.

“And why do you say so?” I responded– I didn't know why I asked. 

“At least a thank you for saving your life?”

I hissed through my teeth. “It is all the same. I am better off dead "I answered.

He smirked. “Sassy? Well…..a true nature for my queen.” 

The crowd murmured uneasily 

“Are you buying or wasting our time?” One man shouted angrily. “If not, sit down and let others bid”.

The cloaked figure chucked. It was slow, not loud, enough to carry the aura. He raised his hands and pushed the hood back 

Gasps tore through the air and the room stiffened. Every head bowed, every knee touched the ground. Even the arrogant alpha who had shouted at him went pale, dropping his gaze instantly. 

The old man who glared at me earlier stumbled backward, trembling so badly he fell.  

I stood frozen, staring at him. His face was striking, every bone set perfectly to create a goddess shape. His aura wrapped around me like fire, burning through my skin. 

“Who are you?” I managed to ask in what seemed like a whisper.

The auctioneer shuttered, sweat dripping down his face. “Y- your Majesty, forgive me! I…i didn't know”.

He gestured with his fingers and servants rushed forward to carry me away. Their hands reached for me but before they touched me, the man's voice cut sharp as a blade. 

“Do not lay a single hand on her”. 

Everybody froze.

His eyes never left mine as his words echoed. “She is mine. My

mate”.

The bond flared inside me, a rush of heat and emotions flooding my veins so much that tears poured from my face. 

I fainted.