Sold To My Fated Alpha

Chapter 2: Five Billion

Sheena

I had never once believed in fated pairs or mates. But feeling that terrifying pull with a single glance, I understood for sure that it was true.

“Who’ll start me off at one million?”

The boisterous voice of the auctioneer caught my attention momentarily. When I blinked and looked back toward the dark corner, the blonde man was gone. The spot where he had been standing was empty, leaving me wondering if I had imagined him entirely.

“One hundred fifty million!”

I almost jumped at the way the buyer barked out the numbers. To them, it was just a number they could throw away like it meant nothing at all.

Why? Was my life really just a game to them?

“300 million!”

“I’ve got three hundred million in the front! Do I hear 400? This is an omega we are talking about, everyone. Addictive scent, intense arousal. I think we can do much higher than that!”

“Five hundred million!”

I stared down at the cold metal cuffs biting into my wrists. Somehow, being branded an omega sounded almost valuable when it was up for trade. Helaena’s debts weren’t even a quarter of what was being offered right now, and that in itself was a painful truth to swallow.

The crowd started arguing among themselves, shouting over one another to figure out ways to up the bid.

‘We can share her.’

‘You can have her on weekends if you let me borrow 250 million.’

I bit my bottom lip so hard I felt the skin break, the warm taste of blood spreading over my tongue. I didn't mind the sting at all. I welcomed it. Pain meant I was still alive. It meant I could still keep going somehow. For my mother. For Helaena.

“Five billion.”

The voice was deep, and had this calm, heavy authority that instantly shut everyone up.

The whole room went completely silent.

Slowly, I looked up across the hall. My eyes landed straight on him, and I froze. He had the most incredible blue eyes I had ever seen.

It was him.

A confident smirk touched his lips while his gaze stayed locked on mine, refusing to look away for even a second.

“Five billion! I don’t think anyone could go higher than that!” The auctioneer clapped his hands together, practically bouncing on the platform in excitement.

He didn’t even bother saying ‘going once’ or calling for other bids. He just shouted, “SOLD! For five billion to bidder number 96! You may claim the product by the lounge.”

“Why wait? I’d much rather take what’s mine right now.”

He walked forward, stopping right at the bottom of the stage, and extended a hand up to me. “Shall we?”

I just stared in awe, completely unable to take my eyes off him.

He smirked, a handsome, effortless thing that made my breath hitch. “It’d make my night a whole lot better if you say yes.”

“Oh.” I looked toward the auctioneer, asking for permission with my eyes. He just shrugged, completely unbothered now that the money was secured.

“I guess that’s a yes,” the man uttered softly, still keeping his hand offered to me.

When I stepped over to accept it, my fingers brushing against his, a sudden shiver ran straight through my body. His skin was warm, almost burning. He placed his other hand around my waist to help me step down from the high platform, and my hand landed on his broad shoulder to balance myself.

Before I could feel too exposed in the thin white dress, he let go and immediately slipped off his coat, wrapping it around my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I whispered, burying myself in the fabric.

He gave me a short nod before turning to lead me outside.

“Handle the numbers for me, Aeron. We’re heading out.” he called out without stopping.

“Yes, sir,” a stern man behind him replied before heading back toward the side doors.

A black car was already waiting right by the exit of the auction house. The man opened the backseat door, ushering me inside first. I slid across the leather seat, and he followed right after, closing the door behind us and settling in beside me.

“Roll down the windows, Garett,” he ordered the driver as the car started moving.

Then he leaned over toward me slightly. “Excuse me.” He reached into the inner pocket of the coat draped over my shoulders, taking out a gold lighter and a cigarette.

“You wouldn’t mind, would you?” He positioned the cigarette in the middle of his lips, holding the lighter ready while he waited for my permission.

I shook my head quickly. I had never been a fan of the smell of smoke, but the way it mixed with his natural scent felt completely different. It felt comforting. Safe, almost.

“Good.”

He flicked the lighter, the small flame catching the sharp angles of his jaw before he took a drag and blew the smoke out the open window.

“Your name?”

“Sheena, sir.”

“Sheena?” He paused, his voice softening. “And please, drop the ‘sir.”

He watched me, expecting me to finish with my family name, but I didn’t have a surname to give him. My mother didn’t have one either.

“Just… Sheena.”

“Ah, I see.”

I sat completely still, holding my breath as I waited for him to say something else. But he just watched me, his blue eyes studying my face like he was trying to figure me out. The quiet inside the car started making me nervous, and I had to swallow hard to find my voice.

“What about yours? Your name.”

A faint, amused smile touched his lips. “And here I almost thought you weren’t interested.”

“That’s not it!” The words came out way too fast. Feeling my face heat up, I quickly looked down at my hands in my lap. “I just… I feel overwhelmed. Why would you spend billions on someone like me?”

Before I could pull away, his fingers gently reached out and gently caught my chin, tilting my head up until I was forced to look straight into those deep blue eyes. He leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against my skin.

"I'm not in the habit of letting other men touch what belongs to me, Sheena."

I wanted to pull back, terrified that he would hear the erratic pounding of my heart or notice the way my body was naturally trying to lean into his touch, already craving his heat.

“Your name…” I whispered instead, looking away from his eyes.

He let go of my chin, giving me space. “Aiden.”

“Aiden?” I looked back at him, immediately catching the playful glint in his eyes.

“Just… Aiden,” he repeated smoothly, copying the exact way I had said it earlier.

I couldn't help the small frown that pulled at my lips.

When he caught the slight twist of my lips, his expression softened and he spoke. “Ryder. It’s Aiden Ryder.”

I stared at him in shock. That was a name known by everyone in this city. A name whispered with fear and respect.

Aiden Ryder.

My fated pair… was the Alpha of the Trayton Pack.