Chapter 2 Auction

Arianna watched as the first guard approached, crouching beside her. Painful whimpers escaped her throat, soft yet filled with agony.

"End her and bûrn the body."

She couldn't believe those words had come from Kael's mouth. The man she had given her heart and body to was a traitor, and she was just a pawn to his own game of stealing the throne? The thought made her heart clench even tighter.

"All my life, I've wondered what it would feel like to kill a highborn. It'll be a marvelous feeling, I suppose. Now, I finally get the chance, thanks to Alpha Kael," the guard sneered, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Arianna shut her eyes, more tears streaming down her face. She was slipping into darkness, her strength fading quickly. Her breathing was labored, and she knew her condition would worsen if she didn't do something about the wound Kael had inflicted.

"But today isn't the day for that," the guard added, and Arianna's eyes fluttered open in confusion.

What?

The second guard stepped forward, wearing the same twisted expression. "You've got a pretty face, eyes, lips, and body. Men would pay a fortune for you."

Arianna's heart sank. She understood now-they were going to sell her. "No... no don't," she tried to say, but her voice failed her, barely a whisper escaping her lips.

She needed to think of a way out, but her mind was clouded by pain and betrayal. Her wolf, Lily, was silent, gone into hibernation, offering no help.

The first guard pulled out a vial of liquid. "Antidote for the poison, this will stop the bleeding and put you to sleep. Death would make you useless," he said, pouring the liquid onto her wound. She hissed in pain as it stung her skin.

They forced another vial to her lips, making her drink.

The potion worked quickly, and Arianna's world faded to black.

Her fate... sealed.

**********

"Ladies and gentlemen... welcome to today's exclusive..."

A voice broke through Arianna's unconsciousness as she slowly emerged from the darkness. Her head throbbed, and her eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the bright lights above her.

The voice continued. "It is a pleasure to have you all out here..."

Arianna's vision cleared, and she saw the crowd around her, dressed in extravagant clothing, all eyes fixed on her. Many of the men's gazes were filled with lust.

Where am I?

Memories flooded back-Kael's betrayal, right after she had given herself to him. The same mate who had looked her in the eyes, rejected her, and ordered the guards to kill her and burn her body.

Arianna's eyes widened as she tried to move, but she was chained to a metal chair. Panic surged through her, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

A hand settled on her shoulder. "Easy, Alpha's daughter..." The voice was mocking, and Arianna looked up to see a stranger giving her a condescending squeeze.

What was happening? Were they going to kill her in front of all these people?

"Tonight's auction is a special one. Our item here is Arianna, the first daughter of the late Alpha Thane."

An auction?

Right. The guards hadn't killed her. They had brought her here to be sold like livestock.

Her heart raced rapidly, pounding against her ribcage like a caged animal. Why was this happening? She was supposed to be the next ruler of the Ravenhood pack, and now she was about to be sold.

This is disgusting... this is truly disgusting!

Her thoughts drifted to her younger sister, Lylah. Was she safe? What if Kael decided to hurt her too?

She had to escape.

"Let me go!" she struggled against the chain, glaring at the man, who only smirked. "Let me go, you bastard, or I'll end you!"

The man laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. "End me? Oh, please," he said, grabbing her hair and yanking her head back. Arianna yelped at the pain that spread through her scalp.

His eyes blazed with anger. "Your father is dead. You're no one now-an exiled wolf with no title. Your pack revealed how you betrayed them by conspiring with the enemy for your own selfish desires... Traitor..."

What?!

Arianna's brow furrowed. Was that the lie the guard had spread? That she was a Traitor?

"They caught you and decided to punish you by bringing you here. The new and true Alpha of the Ravenhood pack is now Alpha Kael Ryder."

"That's not true! I'm not a traitor!" Arianna shouted, her voice filled with desperation. None of this made sense.

The man ignored her and turned to the audience. "She has the blood of an Alpha running through her veins. She's special and will have many uses."

The way he emphasized "many uses" sent a chill down Arianna's spine. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Please, let me go," she whispered, her voice breaking. Her wound still throbbed, and she remembered how Lily had gone into hibernation after Kael's cruel betrayal. The memory reignited her anger. She would make them pay.

All of them.

"Let's see what's underneath!" one of the men in the crowd suddenly shouted, and Arianna's eyes widened in horror, almost popping out of its socket.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and her eyes darted around the room frantically. Are they insane?!

As the demand hung in the air, the host stepped forward, standing in front of her.

"Please..." Arianna shook her head, her voice trembling. The chains seemed to tighten around her, cutting into her skin. "Don't... don't do this... please."

The host smirked, reaching for the hem of her dress. "Shush now, sweetheart. Let's see what a highborn looks like underneath," he sneered, and with a sudden jerk, he ripped her dress open, exposing her.

"You can't do this!" she screamed, her face burning with shame and rage. As if it wasn't enough, the man ripped it further to her abdomen, then knowingly brushed his finger on her cleavage.

"Nooo!" she roared, struggling against the chains. Laughter echoed through the hall, and Arianna lowered her head, unable to bear the humiliation.

Why? Why was the Moon Goddess so cruel? The shame was unbearable, and her anger boiled over, her cries barely audible.

"Do you like what you see?" the host's voice boomed, and the crowd cheered again. "Let's start the bidding at five million," he announced, and immediately, several hands shot up.

Arianna knew these people were dangerous-high society, rogues, outcasts. She could even sense vampires among them.

"Six million."

"Six and a half."

"Seven million."

The numbers climbed, and Arianna watched, horrified, as the devious men and women placed their bids. It still felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake from.

"30 million!" A voice sounded across, and Arianna's eyes fluttered open wide. She raised her head and spotted an old man who had just seemed to have won the bid...

As their eyes locked, Ariana's felt irritated. She was sold, a fate she could never change.

Her life now belonged to another.