The Alpha's Winning Bid

Claiming What’s Mine

Jacob's POV

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "What's this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Austin as he handed me a black eye mask.

"Alpha, your aura is too strong and easy to recognize. We need to hide our identities properly for this mission," he said.

Austin was right. He was smart and careful, a beta any alpha could rely on. I took the mask, and we drove to the central part of Cherry Woods, to Marcus Cromwell’s castle. He called himself the Rogue King and ran his illegal operations from the deepest parts of the castle.

Marcus had once been a warrior of the Black Fang Pack, but he was exiled after being caught smuggling and killing without permission. After that, he gathered a group of rogue wolves who had been cast out or had no pack.

Slowly, he became their leader, claiming the title of Rogue King. From that position, he built his criminal empire, running auctions, illegal trades, and other dark activities far from the eyes of law-abiding packs.

Every weekend, he held auctions for lonely and defenseless she-wolves he had captured. As I looked at the large crowd, I noticed how excited they were, leering at the girls forced onto the stage and treated with complete humiliation.

I sat in the auction hall, my hands tightening into fists. Anger bubbled up as my eyes locked on the stage. A small, fragile-looking girl in a tattered black outfit stepped out, and I couldn’t look away.

"Look, Jacob. It's our destined Luna," Dylan, my inner wolf, said as soon as I saw her.

She was tall, with a pale face and fearful hazel eyes. As she stepped onto the stage, a surge ran through me, and I felt the pull of my water element.

The sound of waves crashing from the nearby river roared in my ears, confirming it had awakened.

I had been searching for my mate for a long time to break my curse and unlock my powers. I never expected to find her here, in this illegal auction house.

My fists clenched and my teeth ground together. Seeing her treated this way made my anger at Marcus Cromwell boil over, making it impossible to stay calm.

I pressed my jaw and tightened my fingers on the armrest. I was here to stop the Rogue King’s illegal activities and free the she-wolves locked in his cold cells. Now that I had found my mate, I didn’t know how to get her out of this auction. I rubbed my forehead, trying to figure out what to do.

“This stunning beauty is available for one night only at fifty thousand dollars. Who will be the fortunate buyer?”

The host’s announcement pulled me out of my thoughts. I noticed a quick glance between him and Marcus Cromwell. Marcus knew the buyers were interested in my mate, and his greed had made him decide to rent her for the night instead of selling her. My fists tightened with anger. I wanted to strike, but I forced myself to stay calm.

"Rogue King, why set such a high price for a rejected she-wolf, just for one night?"

A smug voice came from behind me, insulting my Luna. My veins throbbed, and heat raced through me, making it hard to stay calm.

Others joined in, laughing and mocking the helpless girl, not knowing she was my Luna. My hands shook, but I pressed them against my sides, keeping my body still to stop myself from striking them. They had no idea their cruel words were only making things worse for themselves.

"Who was so reckless?" I muttered into Austin's ear, holding back my anger and planning to deal with them later.

"You'll get all the details soon..." Austin replied calmly.

Unsatisfied with Austin's response, I issued, "No need, just give them the punishment they're seeking."

I had to stop talking to Austin when Marcus shouted, his cruel and insulting words about my Luna sending a rush of anger through me, my veins standing out with tension.

When he suddenly yanked the stole from her, making her flinch, I almost jumped from my seat to confront him. Austin pressed his hand against mine, stopping me, reminding me not to act without thinking.

The sight of tears welling in those pure and innocent eyes pierced my heart. If I was not on the mission and bound with duty or under different circumstances, by now I would have ripped Marcus and his henchmen with these lecherous bidders apart for disrespecting my Luna.

In an instant, I made my decision and jumped into the bidding war alongside the others. There was no way I could let them win.

This was a matter of pride. Allowing anyone to claim what was rightfully mine, especially my mate, was unthinkable. I had to ensure that no one else could lay a hand on her.

"Half a million dollars..."

Without a pause, I swiftly multiplied the bid by ten, eliciting an uproar from other buyers. Throughout the bidding war, my eyes never averted from her innocent and enthralling eyes.

"Alpha, stop bidding. Remember why we are here." Austin, sitting beside me, spoke, trying to remind me of our main goal in this auction. I barely listened.

"She’s my mate. I won’t let anyone else take her." I said, my voice steady, but anger was boiling inside me.

"What? Is she from the Crescent bloodline?" Austin asked, clearly surprised.

Austin’s question didn’t surprise me. Everyone knew I was an alpha who hadn’t found his mate, even at my age. Most werewolves find their mates at nineteen or twenty. My long wait for a mate from the Crescent bloodline, the purest lineage as foretold by the Moon Goddess, was well known.

“How did she end up here?” Austin asked again, echoing the thoughts already racing through my mind and reigniting the anger that clenched my fist tighter.

“I wish I knew,” I muttered through gritted teeth, rage pulsing through my veins as I cast a pitying glance at her frightened expression.

"Five million dollars."

Frustrated by how slowly the bidding was moving, I decided to end it then and there by raising the price to an absurd level. Enough of this nonsense. I had to make them understand no one would claim her.

I pushed my paddle up and placed the exorbitant bid. Her hazel eyes widened in shock. That’s right, I told myself silently. Let her see I meant it. A small smile touched my mouth. This would be over soon, and I would make sure she never had to go through this again.

I noticed her expression change as the bidding ended and she was declared mine for the night. The look in her eyes shifted to pure disdain, and I could almost feel her anger. She probably thought I was just another monster in this filthy place. But she’d understand the truth soon enough—once she knew she was my mate.

“Brace yourself…” I whispered to Austin.

I stood up, grabbed my trench coat from the back of the chair, and signaled him to get ready. But before I could take a step, I saw her blink rapidly, her body swaying as if she was fighting to stay conscious.

Without thinking, I rushed onto the stage and caught her before she fell. I held her tightly, my chest burning with fear and anger.