Chapter 3: Fate

Brenna

Even though the sirens grew louder, the car didn’t stop. In fact, the driver started accelerating. Suddenly, blue lights were bright through the taillight hole directly behind me. I pushed my fingers through and wiggled them, hoping the police officer would see. Suddenly, the police car whipped around us as the blue lights shone sideways through the hole and disappeared completely, but the sirens were blaring. Finally, the car started to slow as more sirens resonated in the distance. All of a sudden, the car whipped off to the side of the road and stopped.

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I would be saved. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything in front of the humans.

“Slowly get out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them!” a man’s voice ordered... the police officer. “Now!”

I heard the crunching of gravel under heavy feet. “What seems to be the problem, officer?” A car door opened and closed. 

“You! Put your hands on the hood and keep them there!”

A male sighed. “Really, Boss? You’re going to go along with this?” That voice came from the right... the passenger side. 

“Again, what seems to be the problem, officer?” the man on the left said... the driver. It was the Alpha... I recognized his voice.

“Open the trunk! Now!”

“As you wish.” Sarcasm filled his voice, but at least I was going to be rescued. Just another minute more....

Suddenly, the trunk lid went up and the police officer gasped when he saw me naked, lying inside.

The Alpha with white hair smirked as he pulled out a gun... and everything seemed to happen in slow motion as he pointed his weapon at the back of the officer’s head.

“Look out!” I screamed, trying to push him out of the way, but it was too late. 

The Alpha pulled the trigger, and his face and blood splattered all over me as his limp, lifeless body fell to the ground. Smiling, he leaned in close. “You have no one to blame but yourself. You may as well have pulled the trigger yourself, Princess.”

“No!” I screamed, pushing past him.

But he grabbed me by the arm and shoved me at the other man, who was smiling, clearly enjoying the show. “Put her back in the trunk and make sure she stays pure. Don’t get any ideas.”

The man nodded as his sadistic eyes raked over my body. “You’re lucky he didn’t give you to me.” Then he shoved me into the trunk and slammed the lid shut before I could do anything more.

We drove for a long while, but I didn’t dare try to signal anyone else for help. Humans were no match for this Alpha’s insane strength, even in his human form. 

The night wore on. Soon, the orange and red streaks across the sky gave way to midnight blue, almost black. It used to be a favorite color of mine... until now. Now, the color will always be a reminder of this moment. Of this horrific day. Instinctively, I knew my parents were dead, and so was my brother. If they were alive, I would be able to hear them in my mind in my wolf form. But I wasn’t in my wolf form, and I couldn’t morph. But they had to be dead, or else they would have tracked me down and rescued me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of my family, wishing I could have done something more to save them.

Holding the bracelet up in front of my face, I tried peeling it off but stopped as searing pain ripped through my arm and body. I bit my lower lip and pulled, trying again. Blood seeped around the silver band, but it wouldn’t come off. The only way I could take it off was to peel my skin off with it. But if that was the only way to remove it, then so be it. I braced myself and began pulling... but then the trunk opened. The car had stopped, and I was so enthralled with getting it off that I hadn’t noticed. 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” the Alpha’s henchman yelled, grabbing me out of the car. “You’ll take your arm off before you remove that thing!” He slammed the trunk closed and pulled me toward a warehouse. 

“Let me go, you animal!” I screamed, trying to pry his hand away, but it was no use. He was much too strong. Then I quickly sank my teeth into his wrist as he yelled out in pain, letting me go. I ran across the parking lot in my human form, but then six armed men dressed in black suits and white shirts stepped in front of me, blocking my way. 

Loud footsteps resonated behind me, growing closer. “That was really stupid of you!” The Alpha grabbed my arm and flipped me around, grabbing my shoulders with both hands. “If you weren’t going to fetch such a high price, I’d let my men have their way with you, then I’d skin your alive... or boil you in oil for what you did!”

“No, you won’t.” A man with black hair walked up fast. “I’ll give you twenty percent of what she brings.”

The Alpha laughed. “You have got to be kidding me!” He stared into his eyes. “Seventy percent.”

He shook his head. “Fifty percent, and that’s my final offer.” He shrugged. “If you don’t like it, take her to another auction house.” 

The Alpha growled, holding onto me. 

“Let me go!”

The man with black hair shrugged. “Very well, then. Take her elsewhere.” He started to walk away.

“Please! You have to help me!” I yelled, my words coming out quickly before he could cut me off. “He slaughtered my Pack, and I’m the only one left!”

“Shut up!” the Alpha raised his arm and slapped across the face with the back of his hand. 

The man stopped and turned around, and smiled. “So, she seems like she’s caused you a lot of trouble. Shall I take her off your hands, or are you going to take her to another auction house?”

A sinister smile curled the Alpha’s lips. “What if I just kill her here?”

The brunette man shrugged. “It makes no difference to me.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Do as you wish. It’ll save me the time cleaning her up.” He looked over my body, covered in blood and dirt, and then started to walk away again.

“Fine!” the Alpha growled, shoving me to him. “Take her! I’ll be back to collect after the auction.”

He shrugged. “No need. I’ll meet you at the usual place.”

The Alpha clenched his jaw, staring daggers into his eyes. “Don’t be late.” Then he headed back to the white car and drove away, leaving me at the mercy of this man. 

“Who are you, and what are you going to do to me?” I yelled, not really wanting to know the answer. 

He laughed without humor as he started pulling me toward the warehouse. “Oh, I’m not going to do anything to you, and neither will anyone else. But I can’t speak for your buyer.”

“My buyer?” I couldn’t believe what was happening. This morning, I woke up a princess of the High Claw Pack. Tonight, I’ll be turned into a common whore.

He nodded as a sinister smile lit his lips. “But don’t worry. The men who attend these auctions are rich... so you’ll have the lifestyle of your dreams.”

“I already had the lifestyle of my dreams,” I murmured, knowing that my fate rested in the hands of men I didn’t even know. But I started planning my escape... for I was going to run the first chance I got.