We move deeper into the building, passing rows of shadowy figures standing in silence. Their faces are hidden beneath cloaks or masks, but I feel their eyes on me, piercing and invasive. Whispers trail behind us, hushed and speculative, their words unintelligible but laced with anticipation.
Ahead, a raised platform comes into view. A single spotlight illuminates it, the stark white light creating harsh contrasts against the dark surroundings. The platform is surrounded by tiers of seating, filled with figures cloaked in darkness. The atmosphere feels electric, charged with something I can’t quite name.
The men roll the dolly to the base of the platform and lift the cage, grunting with effort as they carry it up the steps. The metal groans under the strain, and my heart races as I’m jostled inside. When they finally set the cage down, the platform vibrates slightly beneath me.
I glance around, my breath catching in my throat. From this vantage point, I can see the faces of some of the attendees—wolves, vampires, and other creatures I can’t identify. Their eyes gleam in the dim light, hungry and predatory, as they watch me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl.
“Don’t try to escape, Celine. It won’t work,” Alex’s voice echoes in my mind, but he’s not here now. I’m completely alone.
The room falls silent as a man steps onto the stage. He’s tall and imposing, dressed in a sharp black suit that contrasts with the pale, sickly tone of his skin. His eyes are cold and calculating, and his voice booms through the space as he addresses the crowd.
“Ladies, gentlemen, werewolves, vampires, and others,” he begins, his tone commanding. “Tonight, we present something truly extraordinary. Many of you have been warned about this one—about the secrecy required and the stakes involved.”
He gestures to the cage, and I feel the weight of the crowd’s gaze on me. My hands clench into fists behind my back, my nails biting into my palms.
“Celine Destiny,” the man continues, his lips curling into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Rare. Unique. And now, back on the market.”
A murmur ripples through the crowd, growing louder until the man raises a hand to silence them.
“A reminder,” he says sharply, “that there are rules. No questions about her abilities. Everything you need to know was provided in the description. Speak out of turn, and you’ll be removed.”
I bite my lip, trying to steady my breathing. What abilities? I don’t have anything special. I’m weak, wolfless, and pathetic. Yet his words make me sound like something dangerous, something valuable.
“To those of you who understand her worth,” he continues, “you also understand the risks. If she is not controlled, if she is not properly restrained, she could be the death of you and your entire family.”
My stomach twists. How could I be a threat to anyone?
“Let’s start the bidding at one million,” the man announces.
The room erupts into chaos as voices shout over one another, the bids climbing rapidly. I press myself into the corner of the cage, my heart pounding so loudly I can barely hear the numbers being called. The bids rise higher and higher, and I sit frozen, unable to comprehend how I could be worth so much.
“Three million!” someone shouts.
“Three and a half!” a woman counters.
“Four million,” the man says coldly, his voice cutting through the cacophony. The woman hesitates, and after a long pause, she doesn’t counter.
“Sold!” the announcer declares, slamming his hand down on the podium.
The crowd murmurs, and I hear footsteps approaching. A figure steps closer to the cage, but the harsh lighting obscures their face.
“Well, this is a rare find,” the man says, his voice smooth and chilling. “She’ll be perfect for our plans. And I’m sure my betas will enjoy her as well.”
His words send a shiver down my spine. Plans? Betas? I shrink further into the corner of the cage as he turns to someone behind him.
“Get her ready for transport,” he orders. “And make sure she’s properly secured. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
As his footsteps recede, my chest tightens. I thought Dolton would come for me, would stop this nightmare from continuing. But he didn’t.
Now, I’m being handed over to someone I don’t know, for reasons I can’t begin to understand. The weight of despair settles over me as the cage is lifted once again, carried into the unknown.
