Chapter 7: Mate

I patiently waited for the next woman to be presented, observing the crowd's reactions. To my surprise, none of the men placed any bids on the remaining women, and I could sense the announcer's growing worry as he scanned the crowd, searching for Madam Barbara. The women in line grew visibly impatient, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread building within me.

The host's whimsical tone cut through the air as he motioned towards the blonde woman in front, Elaine, who smiled seductively at the gentlemen in the audience. But before he could continue, a bulky man sitting in the front row interrupted, demanding my presence.

Here goes nothing.

Fear shot through my veins as his finger pointed directly at me. It seemed my time had come.

The host's face lit up with excitement as he faced me, beckoning me to step forward. His words fell on deaf ears as I fought the urge to punch him in the face. Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and walked confidently towards the front even though tension was weighing heavily in my chest. Pretending and projecting confidence was yet another skill I had honed over the years.

The announcer stood close to me, his voice ringing out, "This goddess's name is Florence, 25 years old, and it was her first time at this auction! The starting price was 3 million dollars for this goddess we have here!"

My gasp was audible as I processed the staggering amount placed on my head. Three million dollars? They were valuing me at an exorbitant price.

I caught sight of Madam Barbara in the corner, who waved at me with a knowing smile. Suddenly, everything made sense. This old woman had been grinning at me earlier because she knew what was in store for me. She made that price herself. To think that a large sum of money will just go to Austin.

The whistle and catcalls from the crowd brought me back to the present moment. I turned to face them, watching as the men eyed me hungrily, their lips moistening with anticipation.

"Seven million dollars," a man in a tuxedo declared.

"Nine," another responded.

"Twelve."

"Eighteen!" the bulky man exclaimed, a smug look on his face.

I paid little attention to the escalating bids, wishing for this ordeal to be over quickly. Just anything that can let me leave this godforsaken stage.

"Twenty-five million dollars, be mine," a man on the right, wearing a dark shirt and an elegant watch, stated.

Gasps echoed through the crowd as the bidding reached a staggering number. The man's smirk grew wider when no one else countered his bid. Recognition flickered in my mind as I remembered who he was—the second strongest Alpha, Caesar Burton. He was formidable, to say the least.

"Going once," the host announced, waiting for any further bids.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips as no one else spoke up. I was grateful that I hadn't captured the attention of the Alpha King. Perhaps now I could make my escape. I took a step forward, ready to leave the stage, when a deep, resonant voice sent shivers down my spine, freezing me in place.

"Going twice and—"

"Forty million," the voice from the speaker in the glass-tinted room proclaimed, causing everyone to freeze in their seats.

"What the hell?" Caesar seethed, his anger evident.

The sum of money became inconsequential as my heart thudded loudly in my chest. A wave of heat washed over me, and the scent of cedarwood and sandalwood enveloped the air. Confusion knitted my brows as I tried to comprehend the tantalizing aroma that overwhelmed my senses.

And then it hit me.

Mate! Mate! Mate! My wolf, Nasya, rejoiced within me.

I dismissed my wolf's ecstatic exclamation, my focus fixated on the figure a few meters away. My blood ran cold as the realization fell on me. He stood tall, well over six feet, with jet-black hair that glistened under the club's lighting. His piercing green eyes held me captive, devoid of any expression. His undone tie dangled loosely around his neck, and a surge of heat coursed through my body at the sight of him. He was magnificent.

The previously rowdy crowd fell into stunned silence as they recognized him—their Alpha King, Nicholas Gavner Acworth. His eyes remained fixed on me, an inscrutable gaze that sent shivers down my spine. For a moment, my mind seemed to halt, unable to process the situation. And then, my wolf's persistent whispers broke through my dumbfounded and shocked self.

Mate! Mate! Mate!

But I paid no heed to Nasya's joyous urging to approach the man who was destined to be mine. It felt like I had gone frozen in my place and the club vanished around me. And only the thought of having a damn mate echoed in my mind.

Within seconds, everyone straightened their posture as the announcer cleared his throat, his voice betraying his nerves as he spoke into the microphone, "Going once."

I take a lungful of air, trying to steady my heart. Anticipation hung in the air, but silence gripped the room. Some glanced at Alpha Caesar, who slumped back in his chair, clearly disappointed.

‘No. Please, anyone, throw a higher number!’ I pray desperately in my mind.

"Going twice... and sold! Florence now belongs to the Alpha King!"

The announcement shattered any remnants of the hope that had briefly enveloped me. Damn it! I was doomed. Utterly doomed. Escaping had just become ten times harder, and I had been mere inches away from starting a new life. What were the odds that I would be bought by the Alpha King, the very man who wanted me dead? What twisted plans did the Moon Goddess have in store for me?

'Our mate,' Nasya, my wolf, reminded me.

Despite my wolf's accurate observation, I refrained from reacting. Never had I imagined that a hybrid like myself, often deemed an abomination by some, would be granted a mate. And not just any mate, but the Alpha King himself.

What a surprise. A very bad surprise indeed!