Bloodline of the billionaire Beast

Adanna’s wrists burned from the tight ropes digging into her skin. She twisted against them, her breaths ragged as the two masked men dragged her down the long, dim hallway. The air was thick with the scent of cigar smoke, expensive cologne, and something rotten—something that made her stomach churn. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. She dug her heels into the cold marble floor, thrashing against their grip. “Let me go!” she snarled, her voice hoarse. “You can’t do this!” One of the men yanked her forward roughly. “Stop struggling.” She didn’t. She couldn’t. A pair of massive double doors loomed ahead, carved with intricate designs that looked like something out of an ancient castle. The moment the guards shoved them open, Adanna’s breath caught in her throat. The auction hall was grand yet suffocating. Golden chandeliers cast flickering light over rows of powerful men seated in a semi-circle, their faces shadowed but their eyes sharp—hungry. The floor beneath her knees was polished mahogany, gleaming beneath the glow of the lights. A massive stage stretched before her, with a microphone stand at the center, where an announcer in a sleek black suit stood, waiting. But it wasn’t just the elegance of the room that sent terror crawling up her spine. It was the feeling of being watched. She could feel it—something dark lurking in the corners, unseen but very, very present. A shiver raked down her spine. “Gentlemen,” the announcer’s smooth voice echoed through the hall, “welcome to tonight’s exclusive bidding. We present to you a rare offering—unspoiled, untouched, and a beauty beyond compare.” Adanna’s breath caught as the spotlight landed on her. “Meet Lot 27.” A roar of murmurs filled the air. Some intrigued. Some indifferent. Some… eager. Adanna clenched her jaw. Lot 27? They weren’t even calling her by name? She jerked against the grip of the men holding her. “I am not for sale!” she shouted, her voice cracking. “I don’t belong here!” The announcer merely chuckled, as if she were nothing more than an amusing little pet throwing a tantrum. “Lot 27 comes with quite a tragic backstory,” he continued. “Her father, a reckless gambler, sold her to pay his debts. A shame, really. But lucky for us—” His smirk widened. “She is now available to the highest bidder.” The floor beneath her might as well have vanished. Her father. Her father did this to her. She could barely process the words before the bidding started. “One million.” “Two million.” “Five million.” Her pulse pounded violently. This was real. This was happening. The men raised their paddles, their gazes burning into her like she was nothing more than a prize to be won. “Ten million.” “Fifteen million.” A wave of nausea rolled through her. I have to get out of here. She looked around wildly for an escape, but there was nowhere to run. The moment she even tried, those masked guards would drag her back like a ragdoll. “Twenty million.” “Thirty-five million.” Her vision blurred. This is a nightmare. “Fifty million.” Silence. A heavy, almost unnatural stillness fell over the room. The tension was thick enough to suffocate. Adanna barely had the strength to lift her head, but when she did—her blood ran ice-cold. The man who had spoken hadn’t raised his voice, yet his words had commanded absolute attention. He was seated in the shadows, separated from the others. Detached. Unbothered. Powerful. Everything about him exuded danger. His frame was tall and broad, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit that seemed to absorb the dim light around him. Raven-black hair fell messily over his forehead, framing sharp cheekbones and a jawline that looked like it had been carved from stone. But it was his eyes that sent a bolt of dread through her chest. They glowed gold. Not hazel. Not brown. Gold. A predator’s gaze. A gaze that promised possession. “Fifty million! Sold to Lord Xavier Delacroix!” the announcer declared. A murmuring ripple spread through the crowd. Who was he? Why did the others look uneasy? Adanna was still in shock when the guards cut the ropes binding her wrists. She rubbed at the sore, red skin, her breath coming in shaky gasps. Then a shadow loomed over her. “Get up,” came the deep, smooth voice—one laced with something dark. Adanna slowly tilted her head up to meet his golden stare. She hated the way her breath caught. He was even more intimidating up close—tall, powerful, with an aura that sent an instinctive chill through her veins. She clenched her fists. “Go to hell.” Something flickered across his gaze—amusement. Then, before she could react, his fingers wrapped around her wrist. His touch was cold. But beneath the chill, there was a heat, as if something beneath his skin was barely restrained. “You belong to me now,” Xavier murmured, his voice velvet and steel. Adanna yanked away, her breath ragged. “I am not yours!” His lips twitched—not quite a smirk, not quite a scowl. “You will be.” A terrifying promise. Before she could lash out, Xavier turned on his heel, leading her toward a set of doors at the far end of the hall. Two men in dark suits flanked him, their faces unreadable. The moment they passed through the exit, the thick scent of cologne and expensive whiskey faded, replaced by cool night air. Adanna gasped at the sight before her. A black limousine waited at the edge of a cobblestone driveway. But beyond that—dark woods stretched endlessly under a silver moon. She tensed. If she ran now— “Don’t,” Xavier said, not even looking at her. Her pulse spiked. “Don’t what?” His head turned slightly. The golden glow in his eyes seemed brighter in the moonlight. “Run.” The word was quiet. A warning. Adanna shivered. There was something… inhuman about the way he said it. One of the men opened the limousine door, and before she could resist, Xavier placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside. His touch burned. She twisted, ready to shove him away, but the moment her palm met his chest—she froze. His heartbeat. It was… wrong. Not slow. Not fast. Just—not human. Her throat tightened. What are you? Xavier didn’t answer the question she couldn’t ask. He simply slid into the seat across from her, exuding the quiet confidence of a man who knew he already owned his prize. And as the car rolled into the darkness, Adanna knew one thing for certain. She had been sold to a beast. And now, there was no escape. End of Chapter 1