Buying the Slave Alpha

Chapter 3

There was a sharp knock at the door accompanied with the words, "Averil dear, can I come in?"

Averil flinched at the sudden interruption. She paused, a hand to the back of her dress, just about to take off her clothing. "Of course, Mother," She replied, dropping her hands down as her gaze moved to the door.

Duchess Riona Gaille opened the door before walking over to where her daughter stood. She was a short yet elegant looking woman, and still remained a beauty even in her early forties. She had long red hair, something Averil's older brother, Derick, had inherited from her, just like he had inherited most of her features. Averil was left with not much of a single trace of resemblance from her mother, except her brown eyes and height.

Her gait commanded authority and her face was void of emotions as always, or at least since her husband's death. That way, Averil never usually had a clue about what her mother wanted to talk about. But this time she was almost sure of what her mother would mention.

"Were you changing?" her mother asked, her hand rested on Averil's shoulder. "Should I help?"

Averil hummed in affirmation, eyes nervously searching just like her mind was for words. "Is there something you want to talk about?" She asked her mother, whose hands had moved to the straps at the back of her dress, helping her loosen them out. She couldn't see her face, as she was behind her and had little idea of what her mother was feeling. But she could sense that it wasn't good.

"You weren't home late last night," Her mother brought up loosely.

Averil gulped.

"I heard you brought a beta male to the pack house as well," her mother continued, her voice hardened. "And two hundred thousand gold also went missing from the pack's treasury."

"Yes, Mother," Averil replied, voice low.

"I understand he's a slave." Her mother's hands seemed to have reached the last few straps, and this time, she pulled harder as she neared the end.

"He is, Mother."

"I won't ask how you managed to end up at a slave auction," Riona said, voice still neutral as she tugged even harder at the last strap. "I just don't understand why two hundred thousand gold coins were used on a mere beta slave. No matter how special he is, how could he be worth up to that many gold coins?"

Averil winced.

She expected this. It was her fault for recklessly spending even when she knew her mother wouldn't be happy with it. But she wasn't willing to take a chance with fate, she knew how much it had cost her when she simply ignored it.

"I…" Averil started, her voice shaky as she looked to the floor. "I just didn't want to take any more chances. I had those dreams again and I didn't… I'm sorry, Mother."

Riona turned her daughter's face to her. "Don't just leave the house so late at night! What if something had happened to you?!"

"I'm so sorry, Mother." Averil lowered her head, not willing to meet her mother's eyes. One would think that the light brown color of her eyes made them a lot less fiercer than it could have been, but in some odd way, Riona managed to make them glow a dark red when she was filled with emotion. Everyone in and out of the pack feared her, and Averil was no exception.

"A lot more rebel alphas have escaped recently, I don't want you encountering one of them and getting hurt." Her voice had softened now, probably noting the slight c***k in Averil's voice, beginning to sound concerned, her tone seemingly like the caring mother she once was to her children. Right before her husband had wound up dead.

“I'll try my best not to wander too far from the pack house.” Averil let out, finally building up courage to look her mother in the eye. It was somewhat of an odd way to dissuade any of her mother's remaining doubts. There was no way for her mother to fully believe her until they met eyes.

Riona kept their eye contact for a few seconds before looking away and sighing. “Good. Come downstairs for breakfast, we'll all be waiting downstairs.”

She walked towards the door before pausing and turning back to Averil. “You have a blind date set up soon. Make sure you're prepared.”

“Alright, Mother.”

There's a slight, squeaky click from the locks of the aged yet reliable door, a small look from Riona in Averil's direction, another click, and her mother is gone.

Averil sighed as she moved to sit down on her bed.

If there was anything she feared, it would be her mother getting angry. She barely showed it on her face but her actions easily bared the fact that she was mad. Her mother could never stand her children going against her wishes. Plus she had quite a few guilts regarding her mother.

Back when she was of adolescent age, she noticed how her mother suddenly changed and would always try to keep her in check. It went from not letting her go visit her playmates to not letting her leave the room. And at 13, when she ran away from home for 8 whole hours out of rebellion, she had spent months locked in her room.

Probably how she had grown to be such a recluse, never leaving home unless necessary.

Averil's mind wandered to Cyan. They had followed through the moonlight and even with the eeriness of the night and the silence, except from the crickets, they had ended up just in front of the pack house. Cyan simply followed as she went through the familiar secret passage only slightly illuminated by the scarce light of the moon. After being doused by the scent concealer, of course.

He barely said a word, just like how Averil liked. Chatty people weren't the type she liked anyways.

As soon as they got in, she made her way to through to the quarters for servants and guards. Most of the rooms were unoccupied since there weren't so many servants. Riona had let go of quite a number of them, and she rarely trusted anyone, especially not her servants.

It was to their favor now though, as the first room Averil opened turned out to be empty aside from the sleeping bag.

“Here,” She whispered, gesturing into the small space. “Your new home.”

She was about to leave — which in hindsight was a pretty shitty move on her path — when she heard him call for her. “Mistress?”

The unsure tone in his voice stopped in her tracks and she turned to him once again.

“Are you not staying here as well?”

Oh.

Averil suddenly realized that Cyan had somewhat of a naivety to him considering the fact that he had spent his life locked up as a prisoner for most of his life. Just his luck, to be born an alpha in such a messed up world where alphas are treated less than humans.

He had it way worse than she did and would ever have.

Still, it was no worse than when alphas oppressed omegas back then. He just happened to be caught up in such an age and now, Averil had pretty much done her part. There was no point worrying until the time she would know his true face.

Ally or Foe.

Until then, she was done.

“I'll make sure to come see you when it's necessary. You're on your own until then.” She turned and made sure to avoid his eyes, the dejected look on his face already making her break.

“Just make sure not to get caught.”

If he had had no concealer on, she would have probably smelled the rot wood worsening.