Chapter One

Chapter One.

                    Jaslyn 

“Sexy,” the unpleasant looking man said, his hand moving up and down my bare legs, while I pushed down the feeling of revulsion which crept up my throat. 

“You’ll fetch a lot of money. At least enough to recover the money I lost from your godforsaken father.” He spat, disgust dripping from his voice.

It was a line I'd heard so many times, and one I loathed.

“If you behave well, with any luck you'll end up with a rich Alpha who's willing to make you his toy,” he continued, moving around only to stop behind me. “Bring the black cuffs.” He ordered his underling.

My body was weak to even protest as he changed my handcuffs and locked it. I hadn't eaten for days now, and though I didn't really need food, I needed blood. 

A were-vamp was a taboo in the werewolf race, and my father had detested me for it. Maybe that was why he hadn't hesitated to sell me out to slave traders in order to save his pack. I wasn't sure any of the slave traders knew I was a hybrid, seeing that they hadn't killed me yet.

Other than the measly food they'd served me when I'd first been brought here, they hadn't even bothered about feeding me at all.

“Get up, bitch.” Gavlin, the head trader ordered, his whip landing on my bare thighs. I flinched.

Making a mental note to bury my fangs and claws in his throat whenever I got the opportunity to, I staggered to my feet.

My body itched, and I felt dirty.

“You’ll turn twenty-four in a few days, right?” He asked, and I kept mute.

A swift slap on my face made me change my resolve however, and I found myself nodding.

“Good. You're the perfect candidate.” He nodded in satisfaction, looking my body over.

Revulsion, and raw anger coursed through me, as I spotted the desire in his eyes.

I was more or less naked, if the iron-like lingerie I was putting on could be considered as clothing at all. My breasts were pushed up in an uncomfortable manner, and my ass cheeks were on display. My blonde hair lay down in sheets around my shoulder, as Gavlin had ordered.

Gavlin turned to the other slaves, perusing them carefully. As he did so, my mind went over my plans again.

There was no way I was going to allow myself to get sold out for the second time. A smirk teased the sides of my lips at the thought of the sharp knife that was buried below my breasts. The lingerie obscured it from view. 

I'd taken it from one of Gavlin’s underlings when none of them was paying attention. It'd remain there until the time was ripe to attack. And then I'd escape from this slave nest into freedom.

I doubted if I had enough strength to get far before I got caught again. But I had to try.

I could control the mind of a taxi driver and order him to give me all the cash he had, if I got lucky. Or maybe…

My thoughts were brought into a standstill, as Gavlin pushed me and the other slaves into the large auction ring. I squinted my eyes, as lights poured down on us from all angles.

Before Gavlin left, he leaned down close to my ears and growled, “Don’t even think of escaping or messing things up, bitch. If you do, I'll chase you down to the end of the Earth, drag you back here, fuck you so hard, and then kill you.” He said, his stinky breath making me wince.

Once he left, my eyes flashed around the masked men sitting in the audience. Some were domineering, even with their masks on, while others were just…mediocre. My skin tingled however, when I suddenly felt an intense stare on my body. 

A sensation which I'd never felt before began spreading around my body, starting from my core. I looked around warily.

“The auction is starting!” A loud voice boomed from the loud speaker, and I glanced briefly at the auctioneer.

I tuned out the rest of his words, as the audience began placing their bid for the rest of the slaves. 

Until I was the only one left.

“Item 344, going for six million dollars!” The auctioneer began.

Anger burned through my body. Of course, to slave traders, humans were nothing more than items to be sold. 

“Seven million dollars.” A scratchy voice called out. The one who'd spoken was a chubby man who looked uncomfortable on his seat, from the way he sat.

My nose crept up. 

Nofuckingway.

“Eight million dollars!” A woman's voice called out, and my brows knitted together. I hadn't noticed that a woman was present. 

“Nine million dollars.” Someone called out again. 

I glanced around, seeking an entrance or opening to escape if the need arose. 

“Fifty million dollars.” A confident voice suddenly said, and the hall went silent. I froze, quite sure I had misheard.

“Fifty million? Are you sure about that, Bidder 12?” The auctioneer obviously knew who the bidder was, and from the slight tremor in his voice, I knew it had to be someone powerful.

A tall figure rose from the audience, and began wheeling someone towards the ring. He didn't stop until the crippled man was right beside me. Then he moved and stood a few distance away. 

The cripple was definitely the one who'd spoken, and I confirmed it when he spoke again.

“Fifty million dollars. Who dares to raise the bid?” He asked in a domineering voice. It was the voice of someone who was used to destroying without worrying about the consequences.

The weird sensation began spreading around my body again, and I felt myself go immobile. All my plans about escaping vanished like a wisp of smoke. Instead, I focused on the mysterious cripple with spiky short blue hair. I'd never seen blue hair worn so perfectly, and suddenly I couldn’t move my eyes away.

“No one? Item 344 is sold out!” The auctioneer called out, the excitement in his voice evident.

Once my previous reaction died down, my brain began functioning again.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I said, injecting the right amount of steel into my voice. I could feel my body swaying as my hunger became overbearing. I needed to feed.

The masked man barely spared me a glance. “Wrap her up.” He ordered.

I backed away, suddenly pulling out the knife and flashing it at the man's guard who was advancing towards me without stopping.

“Stay away from me. I won't hesitate to snap off your necks if I have to.” I warned, not quite sure I'd do it.

My legs threatened to give way if I exerted more force than usual, and a sudden ache overcame my head. The man was still advancing towards me.

My vision blurred, and I felt my consciousness slipping away.

Holy Blood.

Not now.

The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the sight of the masked man hovering above me. But I was quite sure I'd imagined it.

                        ★★

I woke up in a luxurious car which I noted immediately from how elegant and comfy the seats were. The cuffs were still binding my wrists, and the hunger had lessened to a numb but panging pain.

“This is abduction,” I called out weakly, glancing at the figure beside me. He was no longer putting on a mask. Boy, did he look handsome.

He was cleanly shaven, his luscious lips set in a prim line. As if knowing that broad shoulders wouldn't suit him, his creator had blessed him with an average one instead. Nothing about him was mediocre, though. From his designer suit to the expensive-looking wrist watch which wrapped beautifully around his veiny wrists. 

Sneering at myself in disgust for lusting after my “abductor” rather than lashing out at him, I turned my face towards the window. We were driving fast.

“Who are you?” I finally mustered enough courage to ask. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd seen him before.

“Your new master.” He promptly replied. 

“You wish.” I muttered beneath my breath.

I didn't see him move, even with my abilities. His hand wrapped around my neck the next moment, as easily as a knife cut through butter.

“You seem to be forgetting the fact that I'm your new master, and that you now answer to me. Say one more thing that pisses me off, and I can't guarantee that I'll leave your head on your neck.” His voice wrapped around me, keeping me frozen as his lethal voice said.

I stared into his almost emotionless eyes, feeling as if I was drowning in them.

“I won't.” I finally said.

I looked down to notice I was no longer in that cursed lingerie. I was, but it was covered by a thick material which I didn't bother to move away.

“I can't sense your inner wolf. Do you have one?” He asked after a while.

I hesitated. It was a sore topic. The night when I'd tried to awaken my wolf was the dreariest day of my life. 

The night I'd turned 18.

Rather than awaken my wolf, I'd sprouted fangs and scared away most of the people who'd gathered to watch. 

My father had turned me into an Omega after that, calling me an abomination and treating me as much as he would a slave.

“I don't have one.” I replied in a small voice. 

“A werewolf without a wolf?” His lips curved as he glanced at me once more.

At that moment, I felt like I'd been stripped bare. I felt like he could see through me, and could tell who I was.

“It’s not something unusual, is it?” I retorted.

He didn't respond, instead staring hard at me until I squirmed.

“We’re here, Alpha Zeeland.” His driver announced just then, and I breathed out in relief. 

A hybrid was an abomination. A taboo. An offense that warranted being beheaded. 

If anyone ever found out who I was, I was as good as dead. 

A thought occurred to me at that moment, and it was all I could do to stop myself from smiling. I would control his thoughts and wipe off his memory of me. And then I'd turn my plans of escape into reality.

I looked at him without appearing to do so, and tried to slip into his thoughts. I met a hard resistance, and a frown marred my face.

I'd found out I could control minds a year ago, though it had its repercussions. And it was a secret which I didn't dare reveal to anyone.

I glanced at Alpha Zeeland, and tried again. This time, a sharp pain tore through my back.

Fuck.

This wasn't good. 

Dread pooled in my belly as realization dawned on me.

I couldn't read him.

“Let’s go.” He ordered, and I almost jumped.

I was still shaking slightly, as the guard led me over to the private jet which was waiting. Alpha Zeeland had to either come from a rich pack, or was rich himself to own such a jet. 

I slipped into the mind of the guard who was leading me to the jet, and a grim expression tightened my facial features.

I could read the minds of everyone else, except Alpha Zeeland.

“Where to, Alpha?” I heard someone ask above the noise.

“Greece.” A voice which was unmistakably Alpha Z

eeland's replied.

My steps were robotic as I walked behind the air hostess who led me to my seat. My heart was pounding furiously. How the hell was I going to escape if the only weapon I had was useless against Alpha Zeeland?

Real untainted fear filled me at the thought of what was coming. As if I'd just realized that I’d been bought and about to be taken away to a foreign country. 

“Don’t even think about escaping.” Alpha Zeeland whispered close to my ears, as his guard helped him sit across from me.