Chapter 3 (Part II)

Ezra's POV

Two guards are dragging me side by side. I am blindfolded and the only thing I am certain of is we are heading into a dark place. Earlier, I can still see the light from the sky, but when we started entering this air-conditioned place, my closed eyes sensed the darkness.

My whole body quivers in fear as I heard the crowd cheer. 

"Ready, rogue?" The guard on my left side asked. 

I did not answer him, but I do not think he mind. 

"And for our next item... Let me introduce to all of you... 18-year-old female!" 

My brows furrowed. Before I can even react, I felt the cloth covering my eyes loosened. My eyes adjusted to the dark as they remove my blindfold. Before I can react, one of the guards pushed me from behind, forcing me to advance.

"Walk or we're going to kill you here," one of them whispered. He pulled out a small knife from his back and pointed it at my side. 

I bite my lower lip. My hands are shivering in fear, but I tried to not let it show. 

Being left with no choice, I started walking toward the center of the podium where the only light is directed. 

Since my eyes were blindfolded and I still haven't completely adjusted, it became a little bit hard for me to see what was in front of me.

I roam my eyes around me. I know I am being surrounded by a crowd. I can hear their cheers and screams, but they all looked like shadows from my point of view.

Out of a sudden, my heart started pounding loudly. I thought it is because I am nervous, but the way my heart pounds screams differently. It feels happy... and excited. 

My eyes travel among the crowd, looking for someone. Out of the hundred people around me, I thought i wouldn't find him. However, my gaze landed on the man wearing a dark suit. 

He's sitting in the front row. This is my first time in this kind of place, but I know what this is. According to my brother, and also to some of the rogues who managed to escape their faith, those who are sitting on the front row are all Alphas. 

My heart beat even faster. 

Does this mean... my mate is an Alpha?

I shake my head mentally. This can't be! I am a rogue. And moon goddess would never let a rogue be an Alpha's mate. 

I look at him with a worried expression crossing all over my face. 

What did he do that made the moon goddess partner him with a rogue slave? And what did I do to be a mate of an Alpha?

I glued my eyes to him only to realize that he is staring back at me. 

His gazes are cold. He is sitting comfortably in his soft seat while resting his back against the chair. His elbows are resting on the armchair while one of his hands is up and his fingers are leaning against his temple. 

Just by looking at him, I know he has no plans of accepting me as his mate or even saving me from this auction. 

He looked like a stone-hearted man. 

However, I know he felt it too. The intensity of his stares and the way his jaw clenched as if he knew that I am his mate yet he doesn't want me shows that he is aware of who I am in his life. 

"P-Please... help me," I mouthed. 

We are surrounded by hundreds of crowds. Even with his ability, I doubt he heard it. But I am certain that he knew what I was saying. He can read it on my lips... he just knows how to make him shut up. 

Also, he shifted in his seat when our eyes locked. It means that just like me, he felt it too. 

"The bidding starts at $100!" 

The crowd screamed. I shut my eye tightly, trying to make the noise bearable for me. 

A hot tingling sensation started to blur my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but there are new tears being formed, making t hard for me to see everyone's faces. 

"A $100, huh..." I murmured to myself. 

When can I experience being treated right, hmm? 

I do not think this is a good thing, but after that bankruptcy, their family reaches rock bottom. He started breaking down and crying in front of us. 

Maybe I'll consider these as one of my happy moments. If my family would be the one to sell me, I doubt they'll set the price at $100. 

Maybe they would even give me for free just to get rid of me. 

"For $100, anyone?" asked the announcer. He is standing beside me but unlike him, I am chained from the back and wearing ragged-like clothes.

"I'd rather see her as a food!" 

My eyes widen. I tried to look for the owner of the voice, but my heart is beating way faster that I can't even focus my eyes on where I should be staring. 

"Going once?" 

The countdown started and my heart begins to beat loudly. I do not want to cry in front of these people, but I could not help it. Tears started pooling on my lower lid, waiting for me to let them run free.

"If no one will claim her for a hundred dollars, we all know what will happen. Right, everyone?" the announcer added. 

I take a deep breath to help calm my insides, but it didn't help at all. 

I once again look at my alpha... my supposed mate. He is looking directly at me with a straight face.

The double doors on my left opened. I instinctively look in its direction. My eyes widens when I saw what it was. 

'The Terminator'

I gulp. My tied hands started quivering. I wanted to run away from here, but I couldn't find the strength to get up. 

I started crying. My shoulders shudder as tears continue crawling down my cheeks. 

A kick from the back of my leg made me kneel. My face almost hit the floor but I use my tied arm to dodge the fall. I saved my face but my arm hurts. 

I lift my head and darted my eyes to him. I do not know his name but his aura screams power. He can save me from here, but the problem is, he doesn't want to. 

It's obvious. If he wanted to save me and be my mate, he should have bought me sooner. I bet he'll be grateful when I was eaten alive.

I am not even surprised. Why would I be? Everyone dislikes me... even my parents.

"Going twice?" 

I shut my eyes tightly. 'Lord... please, if he won't save me, give me someone who will,' I prayed silently.

"Mine for $100!" a man's voice shouted. 

I excitedly open my blurry eyes and darted my eyes to the one who yelled. My joyful heart did not last when I saw the man already has three slaves on him. One is on his lap while the two are sitting on his feet. 

"Oh, come on Bruce! You already got three. Let that rogue be our entertainment for tonight!" someone said in the crowds.

"What? She's hot. A hot mess I would love to mess more!" he excitedly uttered. 

I lowered my head and let my tears fall directly on the floor. Their conversation continued, but their voices faded in my background. 

When I was caught last time, I said that I'm already done... that I am exhausted and tired of fighting and running and asking for help. But just now, I found myself reaching for a hand and begging for someone to help me. Even my own mate doesn't want me. 

Am I a curse? What did I do in my past life to deserve this?

I shut my eyes as tight as I could. I can hear the bidding from the background continuing. I do not want to look at any of them. 

I am already exhausted. I know I probably said this a hundred times already, but this time, I mean it.

Just when I am about to give up and let whatever happens, happen, I heard an unfamiliar but familiar voice. This is the first time I hear his voice, but I feel like my heart knows him too well.

"$100 000."