CHAPTER FOUR – PUNISHMENT FOR DEFIANCE

ORA

This isn’t happening. This cannot be happening.

I was counting on the fact that if I were to be sold, it would be to the arrogant, proud Lycan in front of me. Now he’s planning on auctioning me off to someone else?

“Presenting to you, Ora of North Colorado.” Jake says into the mic.

The audience is silent for a while. All are eyes on me and I feel my cheeks redden in painful embarrassment.

Jake tosses another disgusted look my way. I inwardly cringe.

“I’m not sure she possesses any…visible qualities, but I know she will be wonderful for cooking and cleaning.”

I almost choke on my own saliva. Cooking and cleaning? What the heck?

He narrows his gaze at me and I give him a horrified look. For a moment, the patrons are silent. I heave a sign of relief, thanking the goddess that I refused to clean up.

Surely no one would want to buy a dirty looking, sharp mouthed girl like me.

I’m already giving Alpha Jake a smug raise of my brows when the first patron calls out a price, knocking every trace of smugness clean from my face.

“I will take her for a hundred dollars!”

I throw a disgusted glare at the well dressed, suited man who calls out the miserly amount. A hundred dollars? Seriously, do I really look like I’m worth just a hundred dollars?

“One hundred and fifty dollars!” This comes from a woman this time.

I roll my eyes. What on earth happened to women supporting their fellow women?

To my greatest surprise, one by one, almost half the patrons in the room begin calling out competing prices. I break out in cold sweat, running my fingers over my power amulet.

Do they know that I’m the prophesied child? Why on earth would they struggle to purchase me then?

My gaze finds Alpha Jake once more. He’s looking out at the crowd, his face set in harsh, hard lines.

Uh-oh, he looks upset.

“I thought you said I belonged to you.” I whisper frantically to him. “Why would you want to sell off what is yours?”

I don’t know why, but something tells me I would be better off with him than with any other Lycan in this room.

He turns to me slowly. When those green orbs meet mine, I feel my stomach tighten just like it always does at the full sight of this man.

“You wish to be owned by me?”

His words are barely a whisper, yet they hold so much dark promise, I feel tingles run up my spine.

I turn my gaze to the crowd. Prices are still flying. Shit! Now or never.

I nod frantically at Aloha Jake.

“Yes! Yes, I do.”

His lips are drawn in a straight line and he tilts his head to the side, seemingly considering my sudden acceptance.

Then something cold and dark flashes in his eyes once more, and in that moment, I realize that I’m doomed.

“My offer has been revoked, Ora.” He looks me up and down once more.

“Unfortunately, you do not meet up with my requirements. You are lagging behind terribly in the respect, fashion and cleanliness department. I do not harbor pigs in my home and I do not intend to start now.”

Stunned, I move back a step, hoping the hurtful effects of those harshly uttered words do not show on my face.

Jake turns away, completely dismissing me once more. I feel a painful pang in my chest.

“I am not a pig.” I hiss, anger and pain churning deep in my guts.

He looks at my dirty clothing once more. Shit! I should have had a bath at least.

“Whatever you say, Ora.” He drawls non-convincingly

Jake turns away and lifts one hand, immediately silencing the crowd.

Just as he’s about to speak, a voice rings through the room.

“I am willing to purchase the girl for twenty thousand dollars!”

My breath hitches. Twenty thousand dollars? Now, that’s just absurd.

The patrons look around in search of the strange bidder. No one sights him until Jake says.

“Richard Petersen. Do us all a favour and come up to the stage.”

I watch, my heart beating wildly and my breath caught in my throat, as a tall, middle aged man vacates his seat and makes his way slowly but surely to the stage.

He is accompanied by four men in suit and dark glasses. He gives off the aura of the head of some dangerous gang of rogue Lycans.

Even behind his glasses, I can feel his cold, leery gaze slide through my skin. His half smirk tells me that this is one man I need to stay far, far away from.

Why the hell would he want to buy me for twenty thousand dollars?

He arrives at the stage and looks up at Jake’s unsmiling face.

“You called?”

Jake says nothing. Both of them engage in some silent eye contact war, the older man seeming laid back and relax, while Jake’s muscles are right with tension and ready to attack. There’s obviously history here.

“What use would you have of a dirty, talentless girl?” Jake growls.

Richard shrugs.

“I do not see how that is any of your business, your highness, but if you must know, I am in need of a young girl like her to warm my bed. I would love for her to be my mistress.”

My stomach drops to the bottom of my shoes. No! Please, no!

Jake stares at him for a while, his face hard and unyielding, while I silently pray that he does not agree to sell me to that old pedophile.

After what seems like a lifetime of holding my breath and counting my thundering heartbeats, Jake finally speaks.

His next words however, leave me ice cold.

“Have you made the payment?” He says quietly.

A muffled cry resounds through the room. It takes me two seconds to realize that the cry came from me.

Jake freezes at the sound, his fingers clenching into fists. Richard on the other hand has a foolish grin on his face.

I suddenly can’t breathe properly.

“Just wired the Pack’s account. Awaiting confirmation.”

A nerdy looking man with glasses rises from the audience, tablet in hand.

“Sir,” he calls to Jake, “the Pack has received the payment.”

I feel my heart plummet and hold my breath, waiting for his next words.

My pulse tumbles and crashes when he steps back, giving Richard and his men free access to me.The old fool looks me up and down, his gaze pausing suggestively on my breasts while he licks his lips. Gross.

He steps aside and motions to his men.

“Bring her to me.”

I do not realize that tears are already streaming down my cheeks, until I feel a stray drop land on my arm.

Richard’s men advance and I stumble backwards, landing hard on my arse.

“No! Don’t touch me! Stay away.”

The menacing looking men do not pay me any heed.

I look around frantically for help, but all I find are the patrons and patronesses staring at me with open interest.

I turn to Jake. Sure enough, he’s staring at me, those smoldering green orbs burning into me, tracing my tears.

“Is this why you chased me all the way from my dreams?” I ask him, my voice filled with hate. “Is this why you plagued even my nightmares? So you would sell me off like a worthless piece of trash later?”

He doesn’t reply, but his eyes darken with anger, or is it hated? I honestly do not care anymore. I hate him. I hate him so much.

Richard’s men grab my arms and I consider letting my amulet loose. I banish the thought immediately. I’m in a room full of Lycans. If they realize that I’m the prophesied child, I could be lynched within seconds.

I stop struggling. Instead, I numb it all out. The pain, the hate, the sorrow…I just let it all go. By the time they take me to Richard and his rough hands grab me, I am blessedly numb.

“I would love to check out my goods if you do not mind.” He says, looking at me with greedy eyes.

Then he grabs my left breast so hard, I’m sure the tender skin will bruise later. My eyes screw up in pain, but no sounds escape me. I do not want to feel anything at the moment. Crying and struggling will only mean I care. I don’t.

Then Jake’s voice breaks through my haze, strong and sure. He calls my name, lifting me from the rapidly suffocating realm of my unconscious. I stare at him through dazed eyes.

“Step away.”

Huh? Didn’t he just sell me off? What right does he have to be giving orders?

Jake’s expression hardens further.

“I said step away from him, Ora.”

Beside me, Richard looks close to throwing a fit.

“ What the hell, Jacob? She’s already bought and paid for.”

Jake gives me a harsh look and I immediately step back. Whatever is about to happen next does not bode well for anyone of us.

I hear the gunshot before I even see Jake whip out his gun. My heart lurches in fear and I scramble backwards, watching in horror as Richard falls to the ground, clutching his rapidly bleeding hand.

His pained moans fill the room as he writhes on the marble floors.

The ballroom erupts in a flurry of noise and deafening uproar. Richard’s men pull their guns but the MC stops them in their tracks.

“You dare pull a gun on the crown prince? Do you realize that that is an offense punishable by death?”

They lower their guns silently, rushing to help their still grunting boss.

Jake doesn’t spare me a glance, but his frosty stare roves over the crowd.

“And on this decree, let it be known that whomever lays a violent hand on what is mine, in my presence or in secret, will suffer a much worse fate than Richard Petersen.”

I am pretty sure my heart has stopped beating. I stare at him in awe, watching as he lays claim over me right before the seven Blood Moon Clans.

“Ora Devereaux is mine. My property. No body beneath the goddess’ moon will lay a finger on her. Take that message back to your various packs.”

The entire room is completely silent. Jake steps down from the stage and pauses in front of me, still not sparing me a glance.

“You will let the matron clean you up and find you something better to wear, then meet me so we get out of here. That’s an order.”

I want to inform him that I do not belong to him or anybody else. I want to tell him that most importantly, I do not follow orders. But my stupid tongue remains glued to the roof of my mouth and he passes me by, going forth to sit on his throne amidst all the blood and noise

He looks so cold, so dangerous and so fucking sure of himself. He looks like a king.

The question is, am I interested in being the king’s pawn?

Strangely, I feel like I already know the answer to that.