Auctioned off To The Ice Hockey King

Chapter3

Serena Vale.

I let out a bitter chuckle, understanding him perfectly.

Of course, it is always about my mother. The Pack's w***e, a drug addict, a chronic gambler, and heavily drunk even before the sun comes up.

“Your mother… Everyone knows what she is. Claiming you as my mate might ruin everything for me.”

I nod frantically. “I get it… but you should have spoken to me about it instead of being a coward by proposing to another woman while you are still with me.”

He runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. He does not say anything.

“I thought you were going to announce our relationship to the public when you sent me a text earlier. So, the change you meant earlier was that we were going to become strangers, isn't it?”

“No… we don't have to become strangers.” He tries to hold me but I take a step back. “I love you, Serena and I know you still love me too.”

“So what are you implying?”

He hesitates. “I mean… our love doesn't have to end here, Rena. Let's get married. Secretly. And once I become Alpha and establish myself in the NHL, I will claim you publicly.”

I stare at him for a long moment, wondering if this is the same selfish bastard I have loved for two whole years.

“You are insane, Kaden,” I spit through gritted teeth. “You think you are the prize, huh? No, you're not. I would rather die than be your little secret, okay?”

“Try to understand me, Rena. You are not my little secret. You are everything to me and I swear my wolf won't be able to survive without his mate. Your scent, your p***y—” he pauses when he realizes that his tongue slips.

I stare at him head-on. “Of course, it is always about the s*x, isn't it?”

He does not respond and his silence says everything.

“I don't give a f**k about you, your wolf or s****l needs. I'm done with you.” There is an awkward silence between us before my voice rises higher. “I, Serena Vale, reject you, Kaden Varkov, as my mate and future Alpha.”

My weak wolf whimpers inside, the bond igniting and ready to snap off—

He scoffs like I am nothing but a joke. “You can't reject me, Rena.” His eyes blaze now as he steps closer. “Never. Ever.”

I part my lips to speak but his phone beeps in his hand and when we look down at the screen, it is a message from Thalassa.

“Where the hell are you?”

He waves the phone. “My fiancée needs me.” He presses his lips to my forehead before I know what is happening. “See you at the arena tomorrow, kitten.” He winks and walks away.

“Bastard!” I murmur, wiping my forehead with more force than necessary. “f**k you, bastard!!” I scream behind him and without looking back, he replies to me with a wave.

I let out a sigh and make my way out of the palace. Outside, as I stand behind the mansion waiting for a taxi to take me home, I feel the hair at the back of my neck rise.

Staring up, I see him. Even though it is dark, he stands out.

Alpha King Daron Varkov. My best friend and ex-mate's father is standing in the corridor. Shirtless. One hand on the railing while the other swirls his glass of wine.

His silver eyes fix on me like he can see past me… my past, present, and future.

His gaze burns, heat exploding inside me. I swallow past the thick lump in my throat. I keep staring at him even though a mere Omega like me shouldn't; I could lose my head.

God… how is he so beautiful for a man who should be in his mid-forties?

A loud beep pulls me out of my thoughts. “Are you going, Miss?”

I stare forward to see a taxi driver parked in front of me. I hesitate, then stare back but the king is no longer there.

“Yes,” I answer and slide into the backseat. “Allen Avenue,” I choke out my home address.

The driver pulls away.

—————

The smell of cigar, alcohol, and stale food hits my nostrils the moment I step into the living room that looks like a battlefield. I could have sworn that I cleaned this house just this morning before I left for work.

My eyes dart around the living room and my so-called mother is nowhere to be found.

“Mother!” I call, stepping further into the room and picking up clothes, shoes, and bottles of alcohol as I make my way to the room.

“Mother!”

No response. Inside the room is empty too.

Where could she have gone to?

Maybe she is still at the gambling den or f*****g one of her clients somewhere in the kingdom.

I go back into the living room, slip off my coat and lower myself onto the couch, staring up at the rain-soaked ceiling.

I heave deeply as I remember all the events that happen tonight. Tears sting my eyes again, but I quickly blink them away.

I just stay in the quietness like that for what seems like an hour, until the door suddenly slams open with a force that seems like it is going to pull out of its hinges.

I shriek with fear and spring to my feet when I see three men dressed in black storming into the room.

“What do you want?” I ask, trying to hide the horror inside me.

They do not respond.

Instead, one of them who seems like the boss flicks his hand and the two other men storm toward the room.

Instinct takes over and I try to block them. “You can't just walk in here and try to—”

They push me away, not hard enough to make me stumble.

They go in and come out seconds later. The men shake their heads at the boss. “She is not here.”

“Who the hell are you looking for?” I spit, my patience wearing thin. I have had a long eventful day and Goddess knows I just want quietness and peace now.

“Your mother,” the boss replies, his voice deep and chilling. “Where is she?”

“Well… she is not here as you can see for yourself,” I answer, my mind already figuring out why they are here. “Why are you looking for her?”

“She owes some gambling debt and we are here to get the money.”

My head throbs. “Gambling debt?!” It is just like I expected. This isn't the first time men have stormed in here looking for her. “How much is that?” I have always cleared her debt. It is one of the reasons why I am poor despite how hard I work.

“Fifty—”

“Fifty dollars,” I cut him off sharply, already reaching into my jeans pocket and retrieving the hundred-dollar note. “You're making a fuss just because of fifty dollars?” I extend the note to him. “You can have this hundred dollars. Use the change to get you and your guys drinks.” I just want them out of my space as soon as possible.

His gaze flicks from my face to the note, his nose flaring. “Not fifty dollars,” he says harshly. “Fifty thousand dollars.”

The amount slams into me like a sledgehammer.

My lips tremble. “Fif—ty thou—sand?”

“Yes.”

He hands me a legal paperwork with Emilia's—I can't even bear to call her mother right now—name and signature. She is indeed owing fifty thousand dollars. Her debts, which have accumulated over the years, and she dares to add my name as her guarantor.

My body becomes numb, the paper slipping from my hand. I stumble, but thankfully there is a couch behind me and I collapse weakly into it.

I place my hands on my head. Emilia has finally killed me.

The guy continues. “Since we can't find her, we will have to take you along with us.”

I snap my head up. “Why? I'm not even the one owing you.”

“Yes, you are not,” he agrees. “But you are her daughter and guarantor. We can get our money by auctioning you off.”

“Auction?” I scream in terror. My heartbeat stops as it feels like my entire world has just crumbled before my eyes.

“Of course, you can't do that. Please… I will pay up no matter how long it takes.” It is going to take forever though.

He isn't listening to me. “Guys!” He flicks his fingers. “Grab her!”