When the beast met Beauty

ALEXIOS

EARLIER...

"I am ready." Fiona Blossom waltzed towards me and proceeded to plant a kiss on my cheek. "How is the fit by the way?"

She was dressed in green. Her favorite. The color of earth. Something she associated with her spirituality. Witches could be the oddest. It was beautiful. It cupped her breast in all the right places and the slit that stopped at her thigh made my wolf go feral. But I was Alpha and an Alpha never renounced control.

"Beautiful as always but I do need to go remind you we are going to pick out a slave girl for your needs and not the red carpet." I teased.

Fiona sent me a look that made the sky crack in half. It might have been a coincidence but with witches, It was always wise to think otherwise. It was what I loved about them. Their unpredictable nature. Among the supernatural community, they were widely avoided because of the bad reputation that came with the power and title but Fiona was different. She was empathic. The one woman who had managed to bring me out of the darkness when it consumed me. She had shown me the light. And for what? Witches of her caliber, especially the line she descended from usually had ulterior motives when it came to act of kindness but this cherry blossom danced away too far from the tree. All Fiona wanted was my love. Looking at her now, I knew I had made the right choice. So to cheer her up, I added, "The Fiona I know and love could look stunning even in an oversized shirt."

Her innocuous smile vanished under the long scarf she knitted around her neck and we bought got into the vehicle. As the car started, Fiona placed her hands into mine and said. “I heard a majority of this batch of tributes are from the Nightshade pack. If my girl...does come from there, could you be gentle this time around?”

"Babe, I am not a rabid beast."

She tightened her hold on my hand. "Of course... That is not what I mean. But I know how you can get when they are involved and I don't want to ever see that side of you again. We both agreed that the bad days were over. When you killed Shari in front of me, I was afraid. Afraid of you. I don't like that Alexios . I don't want to be afraid of you. Ever."

I clenched to her hand and brought it to my lips. She was crying. I hated that. "I promise you, Fiona, I won't hurt the slave. Irrespective of the pack they descend from. On the bright side, I don't have to think about the Nightshade anymore. Their Alpha is dead. Their Luna was poisoned by their own people and I hear the daughter of that unholy union is nowhere to be found. I've got my justice so I have no reason to be angry."

“I worry for your mind.” Fiona chucked and the car finally came to a halt.

A valet crouched at our door and opened. "Alpha Alexios , we are honored to have you."

A mixture of emotions raged within me as I looked into the giant building known as the slave quarters. It was mostly anger but I did well hiding it for Fiona's sake. To the side, I could hear someone speaking to security about the safety of his wards, and from the whispers, I could listen to around me, a slave had tried to escape from her master after being bought. The whispers stopped once the certain someone speaking to the security noticed me. It was the epitome of bad publicity kills business and tonight I was going to be their biggest patron.

"Hello, Alpha Alexios ." The man scurried over, taking my hands and soon after the hands of Fiona for a handshake. "I'm the manager of this minor establishment and let me just tell you we are graced that you appeared this afternoon."

I withdrew my hand. I did not come here of my own volition. Establishments like these were the sort of things I hated but only those close to me knew why I despised seedy places like this and tonight was probably going to be the worst. "Your quarters were not the only open ones. A parrot that wouldn't just shut up however informed me that your slaves are sure to catch my eye." I told the man straight.

"Of course." He assured, motioning to the door.

The security slated at the spot gave a respecting bow and the butterfly glass doors were opened. We were escorted to our seats and the bids immediately kicked off. It was boring at first. None of the girls caught my eyes nor Fionna's up until she was pushed forward. Her hair was dark and under the bright light that washed over her, it looked moonlight blue. Her eyes were blue. A reminder that she was the enemy and her lips although bruised were the prettiest pink I ever laid my eyes on.

"But this beauty here isn't just any tribute." The auctioneer began, looking my way. I was certain he did. Almost like he wanted to send a message my way. I watched with undiluted attention as the auctioneer's hands slid down her back. Fiona's hands tightened on mine as the inevitable transpired. A tearing noise followed and the robe of flimsy white that the girl had been wearing flowed to the bottom. The crowd gasped and as my eyes wandered over her beautiful body. I got to know why. Sure her breasts were full and natural. They went with the rest of her luscious curves. But that wasn't what caused the uproar amidst the lot. Just beneath the slave girl's breasts was a birthmark. It was shaped like the crescent moon and I knew exactly what it was. The kiss of the moon goddess they had called it and it was unique and only slated to werewolf royalty. I had one at the nape of my neck. That could only mean this girl was the missing offspring of Duncan Nightshade. The bastard that murdered my father!

"This is the daughter of the famed tyrant. The seed of the one that caused us nothing but chaos. Lydia Nightshade, daughter of Duncan Nightshade." The auctioneer confirmed. All of a sudden, the room seemed to shrink. It felt as if it was just me and this girl in the room. One of the stage lights traveled from her direction and stooped right above me. Her frightened eyes wandered over to my direction. I felt my mouth clench. I didn't need to know more. I hated this bitch.

"Come on guys, which one of you really wants the chance to show this lovely lady what kind of a man they are. For our fallen sentinels. For the father of our beloved Alpha.” The auctioneer continued.

"Are you alright?" Fiona asked me.

"Of course." But that was far from the truth. I had just gotten so much better at masking how I truly felt. I didn't know why and I couldn't care less as to why the sight of this stranger who had no hand in all that had befallen my family in time past angered me but it did. I wanted revenge. Suddenly, killing Duncan was not enough. Ordering the tribute act didn't seem to cut it either. I wanted this girl.

Five thousand!" Someone bid before I could.

"We have five thousand! Any contenders?"

"Seven thousand!" Another yelled.

"Any more contenders?" The auctioneer asked again. I was tempted to speak but I knew what Fiona would think. I had to be level-headed. I had promised Fiona I would let go of my hate. My words had to mean something to her if we were ever going to be mates.

“There are no more contenders." A harsh voice asserted from the crowd. It was the muddled Lycan who had bid seven hundred thousand. "Now I would like to have a closer look, and touch." He continued.

Let it go, Alexios , I told myself but that was the easy part. Letting go of my inhibitions was something else. I watched with great difficulty as the man made his way forward. The crowds dispersed making his access to her only easier. As he etched closer, the hair on my skin sprung up and a growl left my throat.

“Five million!"

There was a gasp from the herd.

"Alexios , what are you doing?" Fiona jabbed me and in all honesty, I had no idea. It wasn't every time I lost control of my wolf. In fact, it had never happened until today.

“Five million?” The auctioneer repeated, his teeth jittering with disbelief.

There it was. An opportunity to take it all back and blame it on something random. But one look at the muddled blooded Alpha who was intent on having the girl cemented my choice.

“Yes. Five million, if no one touches her.” At that point, it sounded more like possessive jealousy. It almost frightened me. Almost. She looked at me again. This time, there was fear laced in between. As demented as it sounded, I liked it.

I want my assessment,” the balding man cut in, not minding the rules of the auction and he continued forward. While it would be painfully easy to end him, as Alpha, Power resided in the words of my mouth so I chose that in stead of my fists.

“If you want to touch her," I simply said. "You must be able to match my bid, or else she is mine.”

My statement made the muddled blood curse and he turned to face me. The arrogance that clouded his face before was almost immediately replaced by teaic when he realized who I was. I watched him throw himself to the ground as he stuttered. "Alpha Alexios . I...had no idea...it was you..."

He was irrelevant so I ignored him. Rising to my feet, I moved towards the girl. It was a slow, sinuous walk. Similar to a predator stalking his prey. She was rooted to the spot. As I eyed her tenaciously, musk and pine filled my senses, the scent of the forest saturated with strong, petite female. It was thick and heavy, sparking jolts of heat and a pooling fire deep inside. My skin prickled as I realized what was happening. I instantaneously stepped back, filled with repulse and absolute dread. It couldn't be.

Mate.