Chapter 4

Reid’s POV

A faint scent of fresh roses somewhat mixed with fresh strawberries streamed through my nostrils as soon as I walked through the huge wooden doors, heading to the hall. The scent grew stronger as I strode into the crowded hall, making my wolf stir. “You smell that?”

“Yes.” He replied with a small groan. “Let’s find it.”

“No.” I stopped walking immediately and took a deep breath, trying to retract my claws which stretched out when Raiden tried to take control.

“Alpha?” I heard my Beta, Logan, call from behind.

“I’m fine.” I began walking again, into the hall. Soon we were seated in the middle of the large hall room, waiting for the bidding to start. In a few minutes, some ladies stepped onto the stage and that was when I noticed her. She was dressed in a tight-fitting mini-gown and her long dark hair looked like it needed brushing, but still, she looked quite beautiful with it.

"Alpha," Logan called, staring at me questioningly.

Then the intoxicating scent hit my nose, making me take a sharp breath, and that was when I noticed it. "MATE." I tried to keep the growl that escaped my lips low. Raiden also growled, repeating the words. Liam looked at me, a knowing look on his face.

Mate is a rogue?

I wanted to climb up the stage and grab her, to let them know she's not to be bid, but that would cause a lot of chaos here, seeing the other alphas had eyes on her already.

Raiden growled, annoyed that other men had eyes on her. She belongs to us and no one else. They shouldn't ogle her with their lustful eyes or else they want to die.

But I felt a bit of pride rise in me. My mate was the most beautiful among the other females standing there. She had an hourglass figure and long sexy legs; she had the eyes of all men on her.

Raiden growled in disapproval. He didn’t like the idea of other men having eyes on her, not even one bit, or for the sake of pride. I couldn’t stop my lips from stretching into a smile when she stepped up to the front of the stage, her head held up high. She was a brave one, I knew immediately; with a perfect savage look. Raiden also agreed with this, happy that she wasn’t a weak one.

“Twenty million dollars.” I waited for just the right time to place my bidding, knowing they couldn’t go any further unless they wanted to go bankrupt. Her eyes went through the crowd before landing on me. I couldn’t decipher the look on her face, her brows were slightly raised. I could sense something more like mockery.

I clenched my fist tightly, as I could feel Raiden just beneath the surface. He wanted to show dominance, but mate was stubborn. She kept her eyes on me, not looking away. Not even the slightest glint of fear in her eyes. Then she rolled her eyes and shook her head before looking away.

Is she finding this funny in any way?

She’s supposed to succumb to us. Look down at her feet or somewhere else and not keep eye contact with me. She’s very brave and quite daring.

Yes, I like her bravery, but I prefer her weak to just me. My eyes were fixed on her long legs as she walked back into the backstage.

“We’re leaving,” I informed Logan and stood up immediately, walking out of the hall. I met some men outside the hall who led me to a room, obviously to get her and leave this place.

We walked into the room, just in time to see her throw a punch at a man’s face, sending him flying across the room. My brows rose in amusement when she grabbed a gun from the table and pointed it at us, to defend herself. “Stay back or I’ll blow your brains. Don’t you fucking dare me.” Her voice held all the seriousness she could muster. Her hair was scattered around her face as she glared at us.

“Drop the gun rogue, I’m not gonna warn you again.” I just stood and watched as the men brought out guns, pointing them at her. “Drop the gun and fucking surrender bitch!” Raiden growled in anger, wanting to snap at the man that said those words. But I stopped him knowing this would be risky, they would find out she was my mate and I don’t want that to happen as it would turn out messy. Secondly, she’s a rogue and can never be trusted, despite the fact she’s my mate, I couldn’t fully trust her. I’ve dealt with a lot of rogues and I know perfectly well how devious and unpredictable they can be. Besides, she has a lot of nerve and it’s quite surprising she still hasn’t felt the mate pull.

“Well, fuck you.” She spat out, eyeing them disdainfully, and immediately cocked the gun. I half expected to hear the sound of gunshots, but none. Just a click and a disappointed look on her face. The gun was out of bullets.

Such a wasted show.

They moved to her and before I could react, they injected her with something, I could guess was… Wolfsbane. Raiden growled in pure fury, fighting to take control and kill them.

They hurt mate! He kept chanting, fighting hard, but I managed to keep him away. Watching as her hands flew to her neck where she was injected and she winced, her face contorted in pain. Just as I saw her legs go weak and her eyes glazed over, Raiden took control and rushed to her, catching her before she could fall to the ground. Her long eyelashes rested on her upper cheeks, a slight whimpering escaping her lips even as she was unconscious.

Then a sudden wave of sympathy gushed over me, watching as her soft features settled into unconsciousness. She was just trying to survive; I know how hard it might be, to stay in the hands of these people. My heart clenched in pity, hearing her soft breathing.

“Alpha.” Logan cleared his throat behind me and I looked around to see the guards staring at me with brows raised, and Chase, alpha of the Blackhaw pack, standing by the door, I looked back at the sleeping petite figure in my hands, knowing there was no other option, I handed her over to Logan and turned to Chase, raising my brows at him.

He walked over to the table after exchanging a business handshake with me, bringing out some files. “We investigated her like we usually do for all rogues we find.”

“She’s Lyla Falon Orhena. Her former pack is The RedMoon pack. I think you should be more careful around her. She has a well-doing family, her father is close friends with The RedMoon pack’s alpha. We have no idea why she left, which could only mean she has a plan, a devious one at that. Be careful.” He handed some files to me and brought out a paper which I signed.

“It’s nice doing business with you.” I stretched out my hands to him for a shake and glanced at him one last time, before exiting the room.

She rejected her pack while she had a family there. I couldn’t help but glance at her, wondering what exactly she was up to. But I will find out. I guess there’s something else to focus on now.