Auctioned at 18 | Claimed by Two Alphas

Chapter 11 | Get Settled

Elyria

Time is a weird thing.

The time I spent with Gamma Price felt like I was stretching into an eternity. It seemed endless and full of terrors that I didn’t want to be a part of.

Then I get with Beta Evans, and it seems to be fast. Too fast. One moment we’re getting in a car, then in a plane, back in a car, and then suddenly, we’re pulling up to a pack house.

I have never seen one before.

I had no idea what to expect, but given how many people were purchased and how he spoke about the pack, I expected something huge.

Yet, it seemed normal.

From the front view, it’s a two-story building that doesn’t span too long a distance. Definitely larger than a normal household, but not as humongous as I would’ve expected.

Beta Evans steps out of the car and walks around to open my door as he says, “Ms. Trainer, welcome to the Eclipse Pack.”

He holds out his arm for me, and I take it as he guides me into the pack house. The inside is nicer than the outside, and my jaw drops in awe as I take in what I guess I can only call my new home.

A man is standing at the bottom of a staircase, his eyes staring deeply at us. I wonder if we surprised him because he does not move, just observes intensely. Beta Evans smiles brightly as he walks towards the man and says, “Alpha Bennett, this is Ms. Elyria Trainer. She was at the auction yesterday.”

Has it been a whole day since my life was officially sold to this pack?

It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.

Yet, it also feels like I haven’t seen my sister in years.

Goddess, I hope Raina is doing better than I’ve been.

The Beta continues to speak, “Gamma Price purchased 4 women, I purchased Ms. Trainer, and we purchased 10 men that will be good to add to our patrol team.”

Alpha Bennett nods, his eyes flickering to me once before saying, “Once they arrive, we’ll proceed with initiation. I want everyone to be an official member as soon as possible.”

He pauses for a moment before adding, “I’m surprised you bought a girl, Beta. It’s unlike you. What would your mate have to say about that?”

Beta Evans surprises me by rolling his eyes, “Considering I don’t have one yet, I don’t think she’d say much. Besides, Ms. Trainer isn’t here for me, sir.”

Beta Evans pauses for a dramatic moment, waiting for the Alpha to meet his eyes before adding, “She is here for you.”

Now, Alpha Bennett looks at me, and the intensity of the gaze causes heat to flood through my body. But when he looks back at his Beta, his voice is low, with a hint of a growl laced into it. “Why?”

“Well, I thought-” Alpha Bennett raises his hand, stopping Beta Evans from continuing as he shakes his head, “It doesn’t matter. Ms. Trainer, you may follow me. I’m sure I can find… something for you.”

I bow my head, “Yes, Alpha.”

He c***s his head to the side, like I’ve confused him, as he says, “She shows respect; most of the girls don’t seem to know basics like that.”

Beta Evans chuckles, “She’s different from the others, Alpha. I’m sure you’ll be pleased.”

Alpha Bennett nods, “Find a place for her things. Come along, Ms. Trainer.”

The Alpha walks away, and I feel frozen in place. Beta Evans pushes me softly, making me stumble slightly as he mouths, “Go!”

I scurry off to follow the Alpha. I don’t know how I’ll please him, but all I know is… him looking at me causes me to feel a way I never have before, and I’m not sure what to do with that.

Alpha Bennett does not wait for me, even though he knows I didn’t follow instantly. He’s much taller than me so his strides are long. I have to put in the effort to keep up with his pace. He shows me around the pack house; we tour the kitchen, his office, and the room he’s giving me, and he points in the direction of his quarters.

He opens the door to my room, and he asks, “Will this suffice?”

Without even looking at the room, I say, “Of course, Alpha. Thank you for your generosity.”

His eyes flicker to me, they’re a deep brown with flecks of amber in them and… I want to stare at them. I want to memorize the way they look.

He says, “Someone will come retrieve you when it’s time for initiation. Please, get settled.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” I say again, my voice sounding breathy and nervous.

Goddess, I don’t have a backbone. I need to be confident and… seductive! I’m sure that’s what he wants. I need to be perfect. I need to be everything he could want in a woman.

Alpha Bennett turns and leaves, and I go into my new room, shutting the door behind me. The room is roughly the size of the one I had at Crucible Academy, only this time I don’t have to share it with my sister.

At the thought of Raina, my chest hurts. I hope she’s okay. I never learned where she ended up. But surely, she’s better off than I am.

Now that I’m alone, all I can think of is getting clean. I want to wash yesterday's events off me. I can still hear the men's voices and the things they were doing, and it makes my skin crawl. I feel worse for the women and the predicament they are stuck in, but I would be a fool not to take the out while I can.

My skin still burns from the heat as I step out of the shower. Wrapped in a towel, I walk back to my room and find a simple sleep outfit lying on the bed. Someone must’ve realized that I would need it.

It’s just a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, but that’s good enough for me. Once I finally collapse in bed, everything goes black. It has been exhausting and unnerving today, and I welcome the escape of sleep.