"Bring her in!"
Eighteen years old Raine was dragged and forced to kneel in front of a grey headed man whom she assumed was her father.
Her eyes sparkled with love as she smiled beautifully.
His eyes narrowed and hardened " You are the one?" He asked amusement raced in his tone
She nodded at the white-bearded man, wondering if she looked more like him or her mother.
She happily locked her eyes to his In order to mind-link her words to him.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously
"Papa" Raine smiled with tears in her eyes.. She finally got to say the words she had practiced all her life.
Gemma Anthony wrinkled his nose. "Ughhh. She's even mute!"
She ignored his disgusted facial expression and went to embrace her father but the hands she had hoped would wrap around her in an embrace pushed her heavily to the cold floor and grabbed her hair har, forcing her look up at him.
"Who are you calling Papa? Me? Come on Don't be delusional, little wolfless girl!. I, Gemma Anthony, have always disowned you as my daughter. "
His eyes pierced the distance between him and Katherine, he scoffed and gave her a black layered look
Raine's brows drew together in confusion. She fought through the cobwebs of nightmare.
Her heart wasn't believing what her father had just said.
All her loneliness and confusion welded together in one upsurge of devouring yearning
"Papa, please I—"
"Papa, papa, fucking papa! Would you stop using that word on me? Gosh! , you frustrate me so much! " He squinted, peering around then he stopped infront of her.
"I'm better off without a child than having one like you" he ripped out the words impatiently.
Raine's gaze left her father to look at her mother like a deceived child. Her eyes searched her face, reaching into her thoughts in dazed exasperation.
Her mother was holding back her tears with two hefty men at each side of her arms gripping her forcefully. She couldn't bear to look her daughter in the eyes.
Raine's eyes shifted from her to her father and then back to her. She hesitated, blinking with bafflement..
This isn't what her mother told her about her father. This isn't who she was hoping to meet.
She searched for an explanation.
He had no time to visit her and she had come to him herself.
Why did he look upset?
Just thinking of the fact that her father intentionally abandoned her and her mother shattered her. She searched anxiously for the meaning behind his words.
Katherine gasped panting in horror" You are so cruel Anthony. She's your child. Is it until I tell everyone that you will learn to accept her?"
"Go ahead and say what you want, Katherine. It won't change a thing. In as much as I have no child from my other mate, I still don't need an extra who's even a weakling. A useless dusk?" He gritted his teeth
" Gosh, you are kidding me. Go on, tell them she's the Gemma's illegitimate daughter? Who would believe you?"
"Fine. You have made your point clear. Let us go and we shall never disturb you anymore. She would live the rest of her life knowing I made a fucking mistake and tried pregnancy with a monster "
"It's too late, Katherine. You brought this upon your own child. Why did you bring her to Ashgard of all place. You know what goes down here"
The cynicism of the remark grated her
Raine immediately fell on her knees with her tears soaking her father's shoe.
This wasn't the kind of get-together she was expecting.
She opened her mouth to plead for a chance, but words just wouldn't come out of it. Tears welled in her eyes as she vigorously shook her head, her whole body trembling.
But she still hadn't understood how wicked the Gemma was. And how much greed he had harbored secretly in his heart while pretending to honor the values of Zephyros Isles.
He crouched at his feet and forcefully raised Raine's jaw.
"I told you, there's absolutely no need to be sad about this, girl. What would you have me do? Keep a curse in my bloodline? "
Raine's lips thinned with irritation. Her vexation was evident
"Please Gemma Anthony, don't be cruel to her" Katherine pleaded but was ignored.
"You are cursed, don't you know that? Your mother didn't hint you about that? Being born during the eclipse is a very big curse—that whoever associates with you is doomed. Don't worry, I will keep it a secret from your new owner. I'm planting you to destroy them anyways. "
"O! She's just a child," Katherine cried generally resentful of the situation..
Gemma Anthony scoffed and threw his daughter's jaw out of his grip.
"An eighteen-year-old is a child? Well, I won't argue with you since she doesn't even have the slightest capability of an adult werewolf."
He walked slowly away from Raine and stood impermissibly close to Katherine while staring at her huge boobs and kissable lips. He tried to kiss her, but Katherine threw her face away.
"Right, you wouldn't let me have you again," he said and withdrew a little.
"Katherine, think about it. Your pain started the moment you decided to go against my wish and keep her. You are doomed because you are with her. She's a cursed child, you have suffered a whole eighteen years and I'm like that savior, extending my hand to grab you out of that pit of misery. Even if you hesitate, I will still save you."
Katherine shot her a penetrating look as she spat in his face.
His men tried to fight back but he lifted his hands, signalling them to let her be.
He glared at her, frowning.
"interesting" He gave her a brutal and unfriendly stare.
They stared at each other across a sudden ringing silence.
"Take care of her," he said to his men before he forcefully dragged Raine like a stubborn dog into the auction hall.
The entire crowd erupted in cheers at his presence.
Raine's stomach twisted as she glanced around, her heart hammering in her chest.
The faces before her were those of powerful Alphas, their Betas, and wealthy bidders.
They all gathered for the most anticipated event of the year:
The Werewolf Gathering Auction.
This was the third time such an event had ever been held in Ashgard, drawing in some of the most ruthless and influential figures from both werewolf and the human world.
Here, money held absolute power, and there was nothing—absolutely nothing that couldn't be bought for the right price.
Sex slaves? Gold? Relics? Estates? Luxury cars? Weapons? Even living, breathing creatures were bartered away like mere objects. Humans and werewolves alike were sold without hesitation.
Raine's blood ran cold as she processed what was happening. She felt the screams of frustration at the back if her throat her spirit was in chaos.
Her father, the esteemed and merciless Gemma Anthony, stood proudly at the podium, his voice echoing through the vast hall with authority.
He had been the orchestrator of these auctions for years, and he ensured that the most valuable commodity fetched the highest price.
Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought against the rising panic. She wanted to hurt him and snap his head at that moment but she knew she can't.
How could he do this? Humiliate and reject her like this? And without batting an eye, sell her off.
Raine swallowed hard, her pulse becoming erratic as she met the hungry gazes of the bidders, each of them assessing her like old perverts. She knew exactly that they would turn her into their sex slave.
"We have a special one today. Petite, shy and sinfully beautiful!"
"600 dollars," someone declared.
"She's still breathing! That price can't even get you any dead human!" he snapped without an ounce of guilt.
"She looks fragile. She could die on me any minute. I'm offering so much because of how pretty she looks. And tender. And her unique hair suits her. I could cut that and sell. I won't promise to go easy down there though." Beta Mark's voice echoed from the audience..
She heard sounds, muted and sharp at the same time
People laughed at his comments and he waited till everyone calmed before he continued.
"I'd only promise to give her a grand burial."
The laughter continued until another familiar voice interrupted.
"60,000 dollars!" A voice spoke in an odd. Yet gentle tone.
Raine looked down at the far end but she couldn't fully see his face. But his voice was soothing, deep and commanding.
She immediately became calm as he started whistling softly. It was as if he was casting a spell on everyone.
No one dared to gamble price with the Revenant Alphas. Especially not Alpha Gabriel. he is known to get everything he wanted no matter what it would cost him.. he could make you pay so high that you would go bankrupt and later on— steal the prize from you.
Kieran had heard that Gemma Anthony was conducting another auction and he buys every living creature he sells. Just incase one of them ends up being the so called mate he had searched in every pack, towns the whole of both human and werewolf cities and haven't found her yet.
Now he's going underworld. Attending evey auctions and sexual trafficking events.
Raine's heart pounded in her chest as she processed the number. 60,000 dollars.
Was she really worth that much?
Her father smirked in satisfaction, clapping his hands once.
"Well, well… looks like we have a winner," he snarled.
"No one else dares to challenge Alpha Kieran?"
The room remained still. No one would dare.
Slamming his palm on the podium, "Sold," he declared with a satisfying smirk .
"Free her then" his voice deep and sensual sent a ripple of awareness through her.
Her fate was already horrible in her father's hands; what awaited her with a stranger could be even worse.
Her gaze darted to the guards flanking her, their attention momentarily focused on Gabriel as he stepped forward to claim his prize with the grace of a king.
A sudden loud crash rang through the hall. The chandelier overhead swayed dangerously, glass shattering as it slammed into the ground, scattering debris and plunging part of the hall into darkness.
She resisted with every means in her power and stiffened at the sudden change of event
Raine didn't hesitate. She twisted her wrists, using the distraction to yank free from the loosened rope, ignoring the sting on her skin.
Then she lunged toward the nearest exit.
"Get her!" a furious voice rasped out.
"Oh wow. Did she do that?" Gabriel's voice held a rasp of excitement..