Chapter 1

Ryler’s POV

“Hi, Ryler!” a woman’s high-pitched voice echoed in my ears. My brows instinctively furrowed. I glance at my beta, Roman, who is standing behind me and avoiding my eyes.

I sigh with my closed lips. This is why I hate going to this kind of event.

The pointed heels of her footsteps started approaching my direction. A soft hand seductively rested on my shoulder before it crawled down my chest. I can sense her face nearing the back of my neck.

“I’m Vesha—”

“Not interested,” I coldly answered without looking at her.

Roman chuckled. In my peripheral vision, I saw him covering his mouth with his hand when the girl threw a glare at her.

“Remove your hands off me,” I added.

The girl quickly removed her hands and stomped away. I even heard her hissing while marching back to her seat.

I rest my elbows in the armchair and massaged my temples with my fingers.

“Alpha, that girl is a 10/10. Did you see her curves? Her bottom cheeks and her big round boo—”

“Why exactly did you bring me here?” I asked in controlled anger.

We are in the front seat of the dark and cold room. Earlier, Roman forced me to attend an auction in which I was never interested.

This is not just a normal auction. This is more like a gathering of the top strongest and most influential packs around the globe.

“Uhm, to socialize? I know our pack can live without the other packs, but it won’t hurt if we make some alliances. We never know when we might need one.”

I pushed my tongue on my left inside cheek. He’s right. Our pack can do it on its own, but we still need to make alliances—especially since I can sense there would be wars among the packs.

There was a subtle disagreement between the two neighboring packs last week. I don’t remember their pack name or Roman probably forgot to mention their packs to me. All I know is they had a disagreement when one of them claimed that they first occupied the vacant land.

The said vacant land was previously occupied by the rogues. I heard the items that will be auctioned for today are the rogues caught on that land.

This is why I do not want to be here. I have no plans of buying a rogue and making them my slave.

“But that’s not what you told me earlier,” I answered.

I shift my position on my seat and secretly roam my eyes around the dark room. It is a big hall, but the seats are all occupied. The spotlight that is placed on the very back part of the hall gives light to the podium in front.

“Sir, I can really sense that your mate is here—”

“Where?” I impatiently said.

It’s been an hour since I stepped into this room, yet, I can’t still find my mate. That’s the only reason why I’m here. I do not like attending this kind of event wherein slaves and rogues are being sold. What am I supposed to do with them if I already have servants in the pack?

“My instincts were never wrong, Alpha. You know that,” he confidently answers.

“And if it happens that this is the first time your instinct has gone wrong, I’m going to rip your throat open,” I coldly replied.

He made an action as if he was zipping his mouth close, but the dimples on his cheeks show how much he’s suppressing his laughter.

I mentally shake my head. To all the people that surround and know me, he’s the only one who can mock and make fun of me. Probably because he is my cousin and he knows no matter what stupidity he’ll do, I won’t harm him. He exactly knows how much I value my family.

My family…

Out of a sudden, negative emotions run through my system. I can feel my teeth gritting at each other as my jaw clenches.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to remove the scenery out of my head.

“Father, no!” the 15-year-old me screamed.

I watch my father’s body slowly fall lifeless on the floor. My hand was left hanging as I tried to reach him. His head banged on the concrete floor with blood dripping down from the side of his head.

“F-Father…” I whispered.

Blood started covering the floor area, with his body bathing on it.

“Ha! Serves him right!”

I lift my head. My eyes landed on the big old man with a diagonal scar on his face. He is holding a knife that he used to slit my father’s throat.

Beside him is an unknown man with long hair that is probably my age. He is holding a rope and pulling it with his best effort.

“When can I drop this wh*re, father?” he asked while his eyes are glued to the ceiling.

“Go on. She’s obviously lifeless,” the scarred-face man replied while wiping his knife on the hem of his shirt.

The boy smirked. He darted his eyes at me. Our eyes locked. Slowly, I can feel my insides burning in anger.  

I watch him withdraw his grip from the rope. In front of me, my mother’s lifeless body fell just beside my father’s body.

Stunned, I don’t know how to react. This morning, we were still a happy and complete family. We decided to go here to our rest house for a camping trip to relax when suddenly, we were attacked by these two rogues. They hit my father’s head, making him unconscious. I watched them wrap my mother’s neck with a rope and hang them on the ceiling.

Everything happened so fast. They killed both my parents… in front of me.

“What are we going to do with him?” the guy asked while pointing his short samurai at me.

The scarred-face man shrugged. He looked at me and tilt his head. In this kind of situation, I learned that it is normal for my age to get frightened, but I couldn’t feel that emotion. All I can feel is rage. The thirst for revenge.

The man walked in my direction. He even stepped on my father’s head since it was on his way.

I stayed still on the floor while looking up at him. The man bent forward to level our faces. He tilts his head while looking at me. The side of his lips rises for a smirk.

“We will let him go…”

“What, why?!” the guy hisses. He stood beside his father while looking down at me.

The scarred face man fixes his stance and pulls out his knife. He then pointed it out to me. “It’s not exciting to kill someone who could not even draw a sword at you,” he uttered. His smile grew wider, while my teeth gritted in anger. “See you soon, Adair.”

I watch him swing it on me. The sharp tip of the knife cut me on the shoulder. I did not dare make an expression. The cut sting, but what he did to my family hurt more. It was painful to the point that I could not even feel the pain of my wound.

I can feel the thick and sticky blood dripping out of my shoulder as I watch the two turn their backs on me and walked through the door.

Unconsciously, my fist curled into a ball.

“See you soon, scarred face…”

I snapped back to reality when I heard the applause from the crowd. I turn my head in Beta’s direction. He excitedly calp his hand while watching the scene in front and cheering.

“Woooh!” he yelled.

I shake my head. My eyes darted in front. There is a guy being dragged by the two guards to stand in front of the podium. He is wearing a rag-like cloth. Obviously, he’s a rogue.

“Let me go!” he screamed. He tried to free himself from the hold, but his hands are chained behind his back.

One of the guards kicked the back of his leg, making him kneel. He grunts.

The guards made sure he could not shift or escape. With his raging eyes, he looked at everyone in the hall. But I bet he can see anything. The hall is dark and the only light there is the spotlight that is pointed at the podium where he is standing.

“Our first item! Bid for $500—”

“$1000.”

The crowd cheered.

Some of the audience turned to the man who spoke. He’s only a few seats away from me. Just by hearing his voice, I do not have to check who it was.

Kenny… the man who owns two large alligators in his house. There are saying that he never missed an auction to buy a rogue and feed them to his pets.

“I wish we could watch him feed his gators,” Roman whispered.

I mentally shake my head.  This auction bores me. As I’ve said, I have no interest in this kind of event.

“No, please… Don’t!” The rogue screamed.

I guess they are aware of what kind of man Kenny is.

“I hope you’ll capture a video of your gators eating, Kenny!” A man in the crowd yelled.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Kenny motioning for two of his bodyguards to grab the man in front. The man tried to struggle, but obviously, he was easily dragged by Kenny’s men.

“No! Somebody help me, please!”

Kenny stand on the seat and fixed his long black coat and hat. Our eyes met for a second before he walked through the door. Behind him are his guards along with the man he bought.

“Let me go, please! I’ll do whatever you want!” The man’s scream faded in the background as they exit the hall.

Kenny was once my father’s friend. After he died, Kenny started his own pack and became the Alpha. I thought he was one of my father’s friends who will take care of me after I became an orphan. I was too young and dumb to think that people will stay loyal to me despite your position.

The auction continued. There were three rogue girls who were auctioned. All of them were sold to Bruce.

“You’re all mine!” Bruce yelled. The crowd supported him by cheering while the three girls quiver in fear.

Bruce, in his tucked-in long sleeves and a tight belt wrapped around his trousers, welcomed the three girls with open arms. The girls hesitated, but the guards pushed them towards Bruce.

Here in the neighboring pack, Bruce is known as the manwh*re. I wonder if he still hasn’t got sick due to the random girls he slept with. Not to mention that they were all slaves.

“How could they hug him with that big f*cking stomach,” Roman whispered.

I tilt my head and quietly chuckle. Bruce is a small man, probably 4’11, with a big stomach and a continuously growing beard.

“I do not know what’s running through his pack members’ minds, but why the hell would they agree to alpha with that kind of physique? What would he do if they’ll get attacked? Bounce out with his big-ass stomach?”

I shake my head. Roman had beef with Bruce, they once fought over a slave because Roman wanted to buy the slave in an auction, but Bruce kept bidding. Roman got angry and called him a pig for wanting to have the ‘dirty wh*res’ all for himself.

“The only reason Bruce is buying slaves is because he knows no one will have s*x with him,” Roman commented.

A small smirk flashes on my lips but I quickly hid them.

“Shut your mouth, Roman. We don’t need a scene here,” I scolded him.

The last time Roman mocked Bruce, they had a fistfight. Roman is only a Beta but he came from my pack. No one in our pack is weak. He can even fight against an Alpha.

I thought, like Kenny, Bruce will also exit the hall and enjoy the rest of the night with his newly bought slaves. But unfortunately, he stayed. He ordered one of the girls to sit on his lap, while the other two sits on the floor, beside his feet.

“And for our next item…” The host stand on the stage, introducing the new rogue slave.

Suddenly, my browsed furrowed. My hand instinctively caresses my chest. I do not understand but my heart started racing.

I tried to take a deep breath to somehow calm my insides, but it feels like y heart has it’s own mind. Instead of beating slower and calmer, it went wild.

A realization suddenly hit me. I mentally shake my head.

‘It’s impossible…’

“Let me introduce to all of you… 18-year-old female!”

My heart started beating along with the crowd’s cheer. It feels like it wanted to jump out of my f*cking ribcage.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat as my eyes landed on the girl standing in the middle of the podium.

I can’t believe this…

“Ezra…” I uttered under my breath.

“S-Sir…?” Roman asked in hesitation.

I know he can sense it too. Roman is good at his senses. He can sense everything… including who my mate is.

“Are you sure she’s my f*cking mate?” I asked with gritted teeth.

I already know the answer, but I still do not want to believe it. Of all the people, why does it have to be her?!

I gulp the saliva forming in my mouth. My jaw clenches as I stare coldly at the girl in the middle of the podium. Her body is shivering in fear while the audience roar in cheers.

“A-Alpha…”

“Not a word,” I replied to Roman, my Beta. I can feel the friction while my gaze is glued to the woman in front.

I stared at her pair of soft brown eyes. Scared of what might happen to her, she started roaming her eyes around, non-verbally asking for help.

“Alpha, if no one will buy her, she’s going to get eaten alive.”

I shut my eyes tightly, trying my very best to not answer my Beta’s remarks. Of course, I know what will f*cking happen if no one will buy her!

I stared at her, weighing the circumstances. Her shirt is a rag and it showed too much of her skin. From this distance, I can even see her cuts and bruises. Her long black hair is all tangled and covers half her face.

Hundreds of people were inside the room, but she managed to catch my sight. Our eyes locked. With her gaze glittering with shining tears, she mouthed… “P-Please… help me.”

‘F*ck, she felt it!’  

My jaw clenched. I couldn’t help myself but look coldly at her. I can see in her face the man who stole everything from me. Her mere presence reminds me of how my whole family was taken by her f*cking father.

I can’t believe the moon goddess is doing this to me…

My heart started racing—the common feeling when your mate is near.

I wanted to punch my chest for the heartbeat to stop.

I shouldn’t feel this. I cannot accept this!

“The bidding starts at $100!” The announcer said which made the crowd roar.

What the hell? $100? That’s too low! One of the f*cking guys rogue earlier was sold for $1000!

The round of applause echoed in the enclosed hall. That bid is like saying that she’s better to be thrown at the f*cking tiger!

“Sir, your mate is being sold—”

“She won’t,” I answered with gritting teeth.

No one’s going to buy her. With her old worn-out clothes and messy hair, I doubt someone would want to buy her as a Slave.

“For $100, anyone?!” the announcer once again asked.

The crowd’s voice enveloped the place, but I hear no one try to bid. I shifted my position in my seat.

“I’d rather see her as a food!” One from the audience yelled which made the crowd wild.

“Going once?” The announcer once again said. “If no one will claim her for a hundred dollars, we all know what will happen. Right, everyone?!”

The double door on the right side of the hall opened. The huge white tiger entered the hall. The thick chains are wrapped around its neck while two men are holding the wild big cat.

The crowd’s roar doubled. I feel like the hall will collapse at any moment.

“Sir…” Roman called.

“No…” I answered.

As firm as I sound, I can feel deep down in me the hesitation of my beating heart.

Tears started pooling her eyes until they run down her cheeks. One of the guards kicked her leg, making her kneel. Her face almost hit the cold floor, thanks to her arms, she didn’t.

She lifts her chin. Her eyes roamed until they landed in my direction. When our eyes locked, she bites her lower lip.

I gulp with my lips closed. I do not dare try to make an expression on my face.

The spotlight hitting her face showed her soft-brown eyes covered in hot tears. Amidst the wild crowd, we are both staring at each other.

She shut her eyes tight when the tiger roared. The clanking of its chains echoed throughout the whole venue.

“Going twice?!”

Ezra looked at me. Panic is written all over her face.

“Mine for $100!”

I jolt in y seat and look in the direction of the voice. The crowd booed.

‘Bruce.’

“Oh, come one Bruce! You already got three. Let that rogue be our entertainment for tonight!” Someone from the crowd yelled.

“What? She’s hot. A hot mess I would love to mess more!” Bruce answered.

The argument continued in the background, but their voices fades while I am looking at Ezra.

“Sir, you need to move,” Roman advised. When I look at him, he is already staring at Bruce.

He is caressing the girl’s thigh who is sitting on his lap. “I would love to have another one. Plus, why would I let that kind of face be eaten by a tiger? That’s a huge waste!” he added.

I look back at Ezra. Tears are racing down her face. She bites her lower lip while staring at me.

“No,” I uttered.

I watch her lips quivered before she lowered her head—as if she already understands that I won’t help her.

I gritted my teeth and bite my inner cheek to stop myself from making any expression.

Why would I help her? Her family is the reason why I do not have a family! Her f*cking scarred-face father and assh*le brother killed my parents!

“$100 for Mr. Bruce! Any bids?”

Ezra started traveling her eyes among the crowd, trying to ask for help. Unlike the guy earlier, she isn’t chained. Maybe because they understand that her petite body couldn’t do anything here in the hall full of guards and filled with Alphas from other packs.

She fixed her stance and knelt properly. As if I am the only audience in the crowd, she pierced her eyes on me. She then clasped her fingers together, pleading with me to take her.

“Going once…”

She bites her lips and her tears double.

“Going twice—"

“$1000!”

The crowd cheered. I look at the guy who bid. My brow furrowed. He is wearing a formal suit and he doesn’t look like someone who would buy a rogue. He looked decent.

His face looked familiar, but I could not remember where I saw him. I guess I saw him at some social events. If I am not mistaken, he is a former Alpha and his son is currently inheriting his position.

“$2000!” Someone in the crowd cheered. “$2000 so we can see her get eaten by the tiger!” The crowd went wilder, but it was quickly replaced by the boos when the man in the suite bid again.

“$5000,” he seriously stated.

The crowd’s screams are now mixed. Some were amazed while others are still throwing boos at him. Obviously, they want Ezra to get eaten alive.

I sit back. I rarely go to auctions, but no one dared to bid that high for a rogue slave. He also looked older than most of us here. I doubt he would want to use Ezra as… I could not even say it.

I look at the man. He did not even flinch with the mixed screams of the crowd around us. He looked stoic and cold. Not even bothered by the chaos.

My jaw clenched. I do not know what I am doing, but I turn my head to Roman who is sitting beside me.

With a flat expression, I said, “Roman, bid for $100 000.”