Chapter 3

Sinclaire’s Point of View

I stared at nowhere, my mind remained empty. I could feel the people around me walking around, talking to each other. Whether it was about me or not, I don’t know. I felt oddly disoriented and out of my body.

It feels like my soul left my body the moment I learned where Alpha Dior planned to give me. It was the first time I asked him after a long time, and yet I wished I hadn't asked. I feel so empty inside, emptier than the one I felt when Dirk and my parents died.

I will be auctioned off like an animal on display. Alpha Dior said the reason he didn’t let anyone touch me is because he wants me to remain pure, so when the time comes I reach the legal age and I presented, I will be auctioned off higher. Because fresh and pure women get higher bidders than those who were not.

Which is why he always sends a maid to give me a healing salve which is quick to heal my bruises and not leave any marks behind.

Because he was preserving me. For this moment.

My heart did not ache. I did not feel anger either. I just felt... empty.

Because what difference would it be if I got sold off to some other people? My life will remain the same. Caged. Chained. Miserable. Whether in this pack or not, I will never be free and happy.

“Done. Look at yourself, mutt. I didn’t know you were hiding something behind that wild hair of yours,” Yanna— the girl assigned to doll me up— said in a sneering tone.

I ignored the insult, but followed what she said. I let my eyes focus on the girl in the mirror. It had the same hazel eyes as mine, thick brows that were curved elegantly, lips painted in pink, a small but pointed nose contoured perfectly, small red blotches peppering the high cheekbones, and the usual wild brown locks tied into a clean and elegant bun.

I almost did not recognise myself. It took me more minutes to realise I was actually staring at myself.

Did I really look like that? I certainly looked... pretty, if I’m being honest. I’ve never looked at myself in the mirror ever since I’ve been orphaned. I can only look at myself in my reflection in the water. Even then, it wasn’t as clear as looking in the mirror.

I grew out of my baby fat. The most prominent feature on my face is probably the high cheekbones and thick eyebrows. If I remember correctly, my brows had always been naturally thick and curved. Even my eyelashes are naturally long, so I don’t think Yanna puts mascara on me. Because I knew for sure it would get ruined once I arrived there. I don’t doubt I would prevent myself from crying.

My lips are pale and chapped. Every time I look at my reflection in the water, mostly at the pond in the forest, my lips have always been dry. Probably because of not putting proper care on it. My hair had not been properly cared for as well, which must be the reason why it became so wild. They only gave me a small amount of shampoo that I had to ration it if I wanted to clean my hair every day. Thankfully, there’s no lice or what that grew there. They cleaned it thoroughly earlier when they actually bathed me in an expensive bath soap.

“See how surprised she is? She didn’t believe she’d look like this as well,” Yanna said to one of her friends who was arranging the dress I’d wear. They laughed mockingly.

“Come on, mutt. Get over yourself and wear this,” Aliyah said, holding the fitted black dress that Alpha Dior personally gave earlier.

I stood up and removed the robe I was wearing. She helped me put it on. Once it was on, I felt so uncomfortable. It was a black, sleeveless dress that stopped just above my knees. It emphasizes the curves of my body, which I didn’t know I had. The dress was so tight that my chest was being pressed, making my cleavage very noticeable through the V-shaped neckline.

“Hmm. You actually look delectable, mutt. You looked fresh,” Aliyah said after assessing me for a few minutes. “Alpha Dior would actually earn a big amount from you, for sure.”

“As he should. He spent so much money on her. It’s the least she could do,” Yanna said.

I didn’t deign a reply. I wasn’t allowed to talk when no one was prompting me to. Even if they were talking about me right in front of me, as long as I wasn’t told to speak, I am not allowed to say anything.

“Next, wear this! It’s not high, so you’d be fine with it. We didn’t need you tripping around and falling flat on your face. It would embarrass our Alpha,” Aliyah said, and gave me a pair of pumps.

I shakily wore it, but thankfully did not trip as I got used to it.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“The Alpha asked if everything’s done? He’s waiting in the living room.”

“Right on time, Alec! We just finished! The mutt is ready,” Aliyah exclaimed. She gave me a slight push, motioning for me to follow the guy outside.

I opened the door and saw a muscular man twice as large as I was waiting outside. His eyes roamed across my whole body, making me feel a slight churning in my stomach. His gaze was predatory and uncomfortable. I didn’t like it.

I silently followed him, my eyes trained down on the floor. I did not notice when he slowed down to match my pace. I only noticed when I felt something squeezing my butt. I stiffened, yet I didn’t stop my pace.

“Damn, why didn’t the Alpha let us take turns on you before he auctioned you off? I didn’t know you actually looked delectable, mutt,” the guy, Alec, whispered in my ears.

I felt chills spread across my skin. My mind was screaming for me to slap his hand away from creeping up inside my dress, but he’s too large. One hit from him and I might be rendered unconscious. I want to avoid pain as much as possible.

So I let him knead my butt and whisper sensual and uncomfortable words in my ears until we reached the first floor where Alpha Dior was waiting for me. He immediately pulled his hands away from me and stood a meter away. I immediately felt relieved. Having his large, callous hands directly kneading the skin of my ass makes me feel so dirty. The dress was so short that it was so easy for him to slip his hands beneath it and touch me as much as he wanted.

The Alpha was lounging comfortably on the couch. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a once over when I stood in front of him.

“Good,” he said and stood up. “Follow me.”

He led me outside the mansion, where a limousine was waiting for us. My jaw almost dropped. I will get to actually ride one?

I almost rejoice in happiness, if not for the sudden reminder of what I will face once we reach our destination. My shoulders immediately slumped.

The first time I actually had something nice, it would lead me to my doom.

“Come on. I don’t want to be late,” Alpha Dior impatiently said and beckoned me to enter first.

I stared in awe at the interior of the limousine. I did not get to have the chance to admire it more when we suddenly heard several gunshots thundering across the village. When I looked at the window, only then did I notice that there were a lot of people outside, probably to see us off. Or more like, to see me finally leaving their village.

However, amidst the crowd of people, screams and cries resonated, as well as the continued gunshots firing everywhere. I had to press my hands tightly on my ears to stop myself from crying out loud.

“What the fuck is happening?!” Alpha Dior exclaimed furiously, though a hint of nervousness could be detected in it as well.

“Our village is under attack, Alpha! Several civilians have died and most are injured!” One of the Generals ran in our direction, his stoic expression in a full state of panic as he held a gun in his hand.

“Fuck. Why now of all days?!” Alpha Dior growled in anger. He turned his attention to me, and I immediately sat straight, lowering my gaze. “You! Stay right here! If I return and you’re not where I left you, I will personally skin you alive. Understand?”

“Y-yes, Alpha,” I stuttered.

He shut the door close and ran towards where the gunshots were heard. I didn’t know what to do inside. I feel so restless. I feel so vulnerable being alone here.

But I was ordered not to leave, so I won’t. Instead, I remained silent from where I was seated.

I flinched every time I heard gunshots and explosions. I flinched at every scream and cry I could hear. I flinched every time someone ran past where I was.

It was devastating. The village I grew up in is in ruins. There were bodies on the ground, some were alive, some were dead. Some houses were on fire, cars had been shot in the tires. It was full-blown chaos.

I didn’t know how long I remained inside the limousine. I didn’t know what else was happening. I didn’t try to look around anymore, lest I feel more devastated. I remained staring in my lap, waiting for Alpha Dior to return.

But then someone knocked on the door. I backed away from it. It was a man, a rather tall and muscled man. I shook my head as he continued to knock. I can’t open it. I can’t leave where I am safely hiding. Alpha Dior told me to stay here, so I will.

I let out a loud scream when the door was yanked open. Someone grabbed my wrist tightly. I nearly stumbled on the ground, but a large hand quickly snaked around my waist before I hit the ground.

I tried to struggle out of his tight hold, but he just tightened his grip on my body, pulling me close to his large and strong build. I froze, knowing fully well that I stood no chance against a body like this.

“Alpha Dior,” the man holding me spoke, his voice cold and deep, reverberating across the loud street.

I looked around to find Alpha Dior, only to gasp when I saw him lying down on the floor, bloodied and bruised.

“A-Alpha Dior!” I exclaimed in horror. “Alph—”

“I have a proposition to you, Alpha Dior,” the man spoke again, cutting me off.

Alpha Dior looked up through his bruised eyes, the vicious glare he sent towards the man made me squirm in the hold. “What... do you want?” He asked, coughing out blood afterward. I let out a sob at the sight.

“I will let you live, as well as your remaining pack members, if you give this girl to me.”

My eyes went wide, my heart racing. I shook my head, looking at Alpha Dior with pleading eyes.

“N-no. I won’t give h-her to you,” Alpha Dior responded. I almost let out a relieved sigh, until the man spoke again.

“No? Then would you rather I killed all of you then?”

My blood went cold when he pointed his gun at Luna Zeah who was kneeling on the ground a few feet away from Alpha Dior, clutching her injured feet. She whimpered in fear when she saw the gun pointed at her.

Alpha Dior’s eyes hardened, his jaw clenching. “Why are you doing this, you fucking bastard?”

“I don’t need to explain to you, Dior. Just know that you are at my mercy right now, so better decide quickly if you will agree to my proposition or not,” his deep, cool voice immediately turned cold and threatening as he continued to speak.

I didn’t dare to move, my eyes remained on Alpha Dior. He was staring back at me. From the look in his eyes, I immediately knew his decision.

I am of no importance to him. He just kept me safe and alive for years because he could earn a large amount from auctioning me off to the underground society. But now that our pack had been threatened— his pack, to be specific — I knew he would choose them no matter what.

So, when he slowly stood up and threw away his gun, I lowered my gaze and resigned myself to Alpha Dior’s decision.

“Fine,” Alpha Dior spat. “Take her away, and leave us alone.”

My heart shattered into pieces.