Auction Novels & Stories

The only cost being patience. “I mean, how could you be so stupid? Chasing the very thing that you should be running away from! Hah!” Ivan, with his self sprawled against the chair a lot less elegantly, commented at a previous remark which I wasn't quite following at all. The plates and dishes were all cleared off the table now. What remained now were crystal tumblers for two and a bottle of a whisky which looked nothing but costly with intricate indents of designs and a name carved in gold colour which was not easy to read in its cursive script and especially in the dim light of the candles it was way harder to do so.

"Ready, Vee. The bidding is live now." Down on the stage, the tall auctioneer in a white mask adjusted his suit. He pointed to the silver briefcase. "We are now at our final item of the night," the auctioneer announced, his voice echoing through the speakers. "Lot Three. A rare piece of military tech designed by a formidable person who wishes to be invisible. A high-yield electromagnetic pulse prototype. The Apex Trigger." The auctioneer raised a gold gavel. "The bidding starts at fifty million euros. Each bid must go up by at least ten million. The floor is open."

“There are others like me, but when they catch that you’re different, they sell you.” The corner of her mouth twitches with the urge to smile, and I shake my head, still coming to grips with this realization. I bite my tongue, trying to make sense of everything: “Is there a private auction? One that only the council and maybe other highly ranked groups know about? This auction has beings that are younger than 18.” Sweat beads on her forehead and her head twitches in a small nod, confirming my suspicion. “Fuck,” I murmur.

The auctioneer raised the microphone, his voice sharp, controlled, and commanding echoing through the grand hall with a precision that left no room for doubt. “Twenty million dollars, bid by Mr. De Luca. Do I hear any higher bid?… No? Then it is confirmed. Sold! Twenty million dollars, from Mr. De Luca. The transaction is complete, and that is officially secured. Mr. De Luca, the responsibility of this acquisition is now yours.”

"One billion." The auction hall went graveyard silent. Madison didn't look back at the rows of stunned Alphas. She kept her eyes on the digital board where the Cain Pack’s ancestral hunting grounds—Lot 402—flashed in glowing red numbers. Beside her, Victoria Cain’s face looked like it had been dipped in bleach. Gregory Cain was vibrating, his hands clutching the velvet armrests so hard the seams groaned. "One billion and one dollar," a voice rumbled from the back.

Underneath, the feed had been hijacked by the familiar Tribunal’s and crest. The text bar at the bottom screamed: **HIGH HOWL TRIBUNAL CONFIRMS AUCTION—SPECIAL LIVE LOT ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW.**

I whimpered softly. “Forty-two million,” a final chime, then silence. My pulse hammered at 138. The plug was merciless now, thrusting in tiny mechanical thrusts synced to my own heartbeat. Ahmed’s laugh was dark. “Auction closed. Sold to the only bidder who matters, me.”

“Whenever you’re ready.” Her breath hitched. I held her a moment longer, just holding, not pushing, until her heartbeat steadied. My apartment felt too cold after the warmth of her mother’s place. To clarify, there were two distinct feelings of warmth there. I set my keys down, loosened my collar, and tried to breathe. Ping. A new notification flashed on my secure screen. Halstrom sent me a message. I opened it to see a scarlet-flagged file. ‘High-level underground auction 3 weeks from today.

she murmured, more to herself. "What is it?" Rayden asked, slightly annoyed by the interruption. "Nothing much, just a strange report from one of my little spies in the black market district," Alesia said with a shrug. She looked at her tablet screen with curiosity. "They're saying there's a secret, exclusive underground auction being held tomorrow night. And one of the main items…" She paused, squinting her eyes to read the smaller text. Rayden and Kara, who had been paying little attention, now both turned to her in unison.

She would have at least discussed it with me first. I shoved the thoughts down and moved to my home office after my shower. Adrian was already there. He scanned my face while waiting for me to speak. “Tell me there’s a way to undo this fuckup,” I said, letting my voice carry the murderous mood I was in. “The auction is irrevocable once set. The sale final to the highest qualified bidder meeting or exceeding the reserve.”