Chapter 4 When You Plan to Force Yourselves On This Girl?

Adrian's POV

I never thought we'd find our mate this way - a halfblood girl in a cage.

As twin Alphas of Silver Fang Pack, our situation was very rare. Everyone expected us to find a special Luna.

We were almost thirty now - old for unmarried Alphas. But six months ago, we finally felt the connection we'd been waiting for. The Moon Goddess hadn't forgotten us; she had prepared a small Luna for us.

Rich people filled the auction room, drinking and talking quietly. This wasn't a normal auction. It was hidden under Shadow Claw Pack's hotel where rich supernatural beings bought humans.

These events made me sick, but as Alpha, I had to watch Vincent's business.

"Feeling it stronger now?" Maxim whispered, sipping champagne. The bond we'd been tracking for months was intensifying.

"Yes," I muttered. "But focus. We need to be careful."

The lights dimmed and the room went quiet. A spotlight lit the stage as the auctioneer stepped forward.

"Welcome to Shadow Claw Auctions," he said. "We have special items today."

The first "items" were humans with werewolf serum. Most died within years.

I clenched my jaw with each sale. Maxim's act dropped, his eyes hard.

"Item fifteen, a strong male. Starting at fifty thousand."

The bidding went on. Humans sold for sick prices.

Then the auctioneer's voice changed. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have something very special tonight."

The room went silent. Workers wheeled in a silver cage with a black cloth.

"Item eighteen is a rare female halfblood. She'd make a great collector's item or personal pet."

They pulled off the cloth. A small girl huddled in the cage. Short curly hair, thin dress. Eyes blindfolded, mouth gagged. She was shaking.

The moment I saw her, my chest tightened. My inner wolf roared to life. Mine. Our Luna.

"Bidding starts at one hundred thousand," the auctioneer said.

I pushed the change back. My eyes burned red.

"It's her," Maxim whispered, his eyes glowing too.

"Stay calm," I growled. "Other packs are here."

"One hundred thousand from fifteen! One-fifty?"

I raised my paddle, number thirty-three.

"One-fifty from thirty-three!"

Another paddle went up. Number twenty-two. Someone in dark clothes. I couldn't see who it was.

"Two hundred thousand from twenty-two!"

I raised my paddle again. "Two-fifty."

The room got cold. People looked at me and the mystery bidder. Everyone was quiet.

"Four hundred from thirty-three!"

"Four-fifty from twenty-two!"

"Six hundred from thirty-three!"

"Six-fifty from twenty-two!"

The girl curled up smaller, looking fragile. I felt protective.

Number twenty-two hesitated, then raised his paddle. "Seven hundred thousand."

Something broke inside me. The wolf took over. My eyes changed.

"Control yourself," Maxim whispered.

I couldn't. I growled. I stood up and walked to number twenty-two. Everyone moved away.

The man went pale. I got close to his face. "Raise your paddle again, and I'll rip your throat out."

Everyone froze. The man looked down.

The auctioneer cleared his throat. "S-sold to thirty-three for seven-fifty."

I walked to the stage. Maxim went backstage.

The girl's head fell on my shoulder. She was passing out.

"She's fainting," Maxim said. "Give her to me."

I handed her over. Maxim held her gently.

"Your fault," he said. "Your scary Alpha vibes scared her."

I raised an eyebrow. "Being kidnapped, injected, and sold might be why she's upset. But sure."

"Too skinny," he said, touching her wrist.

I grabbed my phone. "Calling Zara."

Zara was our doctor - half witch, half shapeshifter. Not a werewolf, but trustworthy.

"Who's hurt now?" Zara asked when she answered.

"No one," I said. "But come to the apartment. Someone needs help."

"What's wrong?"

"She passed out. Shock and stress."

"And?" Zara knew there was more.

"She's halfblood."

"Twenty minutes," Zara said. "Need to bring anything?"

"Just hurry."

I went back to the bedroom. Maxim sat by the girl, staring.

"She's so small," he said. "Not what I pictured for our Luna."

"Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes," I said. I was surprised too. Our mate wasn't a strong purebred - she was a fragile half-human.

But the pull I felt was real. The bond that sparked at the auction hummed under my skin. Stay close. Protect her. Claim her.

The doorbell rang twenty minutes later. I opened it to Zara with her medical bag.

"Where's she?" Zara asked.

I showed her the bedroom. She looked at the small figure on the bed.

"Out," she ordered. "No Alpha smells while I work."

Maxim started to argue. I pulled him back.

"We'll wait in the hall."

After fifteen minutes, Zara came out looking mad. She faced us with her hands on her hips.

"Who is she?" Zara asked. "Where'd you find her?"

"Auction," I said. "Halfblood. Our Luna."

Zara's eyes went wide. "You bought a girl to be your Luna?"

"Not your business," Maxim said. "Just fix her."

Zara's jaw got tight. She gave her report.

"Severe stress, chronic hunger, extreme fatigue. Needs rest and food." Her eyes narrowed. "If she's your Luna, care about her health first, not your wolf urges."

I nodded. "Understood."

Zara handed me a bag. "Vitamins for hunger. Take with food."

"Thanks."

She stopped at the door. "I'll check tomorrow. Don't scare her more."

After she left, Maxim looked lost. "I can't cook. You can't either."

"We'll order food," I said. "She needs to recover her strength before we travel."

Maxim looked surprised. "Not going to the territory tomorrow?"

I shook my head. "Look at her. Zara's right - she's too weak. A few days here will help her adjust. The pack can wait."

"Will she like the mansion?"

I thought about our family home. The huge place where Silver Fang Alphas lived for generations. Grand and imposing.

"No choice," I said. "It's her fate."

Maxim smiled. "We'll make her happy. You'll see."

We returned to Eden's room. I pulled an armchair next to her bed and sat down to watch over her. The room was quiet except for her soft breathing.

I studied her face. She looked so young and fragile. Her skin was pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Her short curly hair framed her face, making her look even smaller.

Maxim yawned. "I'm exhausted, but I don't want to leave her."

He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed next to Eden, staying on top of the covers.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Keeping her company," he said. "She shouldn't wake up alone."

"Don't crowd her," I warned.

"Being careful," he mumbled, already half-asleep.

I chuckled softly, "I don't think she'd want to wake up and see you first thing."