The Lycan's Ugly Luna

Eloise POV We were just pulled out from a damp and dark room where we were locked in a cage like animals. We are the last to be auctioned. The prettiest girls are always saved for last while the least good-looking girls are auctioned first. I fall in the category of the least good-looking girls. For months I haven’t been sold, so they stopped bringing me to the auction, rather I was made work to serve the slave sellers. But today, Javier, the auctioneer decides to try something new, hence I find myself locked up in a cage with another pretty girl. Finally, it got to our turn, we are being displayed on stage... “Buy this eye candy and get this ugly one for free!” my captor, Javier the slave trader barked, shoving me forward like an animal while dozens of male starved eyes swarmed over the slaves on display. “Bidding starts from forty thousand!” “Oh, please keep the ugly one and sell the eye candy to me for half the price!” one voice yelled from the crowd. “We know the ugly one is not for free, come on!” the crowd protested. “I’ll have the ugly one, sell her to me!” A voice deep but calm voice called from the crowd. Something about that voice evokes a storm in me. Why would anyone want me? “You want this—alone?” Javiar asked in a confused tone “Why?” he struggle to keep his laughter in. “You buy this and get her for free. But if you only want one, I have other slaves you can buy,” he continued. “Ones worth your coin—bodies soft, faces beautiful, made to please both the eyes and your c**k. Do not ruin my reputation by purchasing her alone...Personally,She is a worthless investment, I wouldn’t even take her as a lowly servant.” The crowd chuckled, and chorus in desperation as they shouted for the prettier girls impatiently. “Sell the ugly one to him and give us the eye candy!” one man jeered among the crowd. “Look at this beautiful one!” He jerked forward the other girl who was at his right side, her golden hair catching what little light there was. But then the voice gets deeper. “I want only her. Name your price.” The room stilled. The laughter died, silenced under the weight of that voice. At this point, something pulled at me against my will, to look up. My head lifted slowly. My gaze climbed until it locked onto the man so determined to buy me. Yet instead of his form, I caught his gaze. His eyes are already on me, pinned like me is searching for my deepest secret. He stood tall, his presence swallowing the room. Half of his face was hidden by a black mask, but his eyes stole the air from my chest. Strands of dark hair fell across his forehead, framing eyes unlike any I’d ever seen—rare, glacial blue, sparking with lightning when they locked onto mine. His gaze burned through me, pulling me toward him, He knows too. Suddenly something happened inside me...My weak wolf, one who has been silent for years—suddenly surged, straining to break free. My legs weakened beneath me, and a single word escaped my lips in a whisper “Mate.” How was that possible? I had been called wolfless all my life, Tagged with the wolfless identity. My wolf that never spoke, never stirred, never answered so I never argued. They were right. What is the use of being a werewolf with a silent and weak wolf? But here, under this stranger’s stare, I feel alive—like a werewolf for the first time. And then came the growl. “My Alpha wants her, name your damn price or this place burns to the ground!” A man at his side rose, his voice rough, protective, like he is ready for a challenge. “Alright! You can have her but you’ll to pay full price then. But don’t blame me if she cannot satisfy your needs...” Javier murmured. At once, rough hands seized me. A guard yanked me back, dragging me from the floor and shoving me toward the holding room. After an hour, one of the guards finally pulled me out of the room and dragged me to the back where the exchange was being made. The man who had shown interest in me wasn’t there for the bargain—only the other, angrier one. But I couldn’t stop wondering why an Alpha would even show interest in me. I wasn’t sure if what I felt when I looked into his eyes was real… because I’m nothing but a slave. When the bargain was done, I was shoved into the back of an SUV with two other men who seemed like guards. Then the long ride began. I couldn’t even remember the last time I was transported like a human being. Lost in thought, I drifted into sleep while in the ride. A year ago, I was sold into slavery — but even before then, it wasn’t as though I was living on a bed of roses. My mother had an affair with an Alpha and gave birth to me, but because he already had a mate, we were forced to live as servants in his house. My stepmother and stepsiblings made our lives miserable. To top it all up, I didn't get my wolf when others were getting theirs. At a point my mother fell ill, I stole money at fifteen to pay a doctor, who examined my mother and explained that there were traces of poison-like substances in her system, slowly killing her, and he warned me to be more cautious. Yes my mother has been injecting poison and it was When my stepmother discovered the theft, I begged and promised to pay her back, but she didn’t listen. Instead, she insisted I pay for my crimes immediately. She called her three eldest children and had them hold me down. Then, without mercy, she pressed a hot iron rod against my face, leaving me scarred for the rest of my life. My mother and I had no choice but to leave. My father never cared, so we walked away with nothing and nowhere to go, we ended up in Rogueville, a notorious rogue camp run by Rueben, rogue leader with a reputation for dirty dealings inside and outside the camp. At first, we didn’t care. We had food and a place to sleep, and that was enough. After a while the camp grew crowded, more rogues kept pouring in. Just when we thought we were finally safe, everything fell apart. I will never forget that day. They stormed the camp like soldiers invading us, we tried to run, but we were already surrounded. That’s when I learned the truth—Rueben had been using the camp as a front, selling rogues, especially teenagers, to a powerful man. And then I saw him. The man who haunts me still. Covered in tattoos of snakes and scorpions, his grin was pure evil. He chose who would go with him, pointing out boys and girls like cattle. They tried to take my mother, and when I fought back… they killed her. I was dragged away with the rest, but I will never forget the face of the man who gave the orders. The man who murdered my mother. A strange shift in the air woke me after a long ride. Blinking groggily, I realized we were approaching a massive gate. The security there looked powerful, their stance rigid, like men trained to serve someone mighty. The convoy rolled forward, and as we drove through, a wave of fresh vegetation filled my lungs. Once parked, I am urged to come out of the car. The moment I step out and take in the exotic air of this fortress I feel like I’m in heaven, I feel like a Luna who would seat by the side of her Alpha and make decrees even with my damn scarred face. I have never been glanced at twice by any man or woman in admiration before and even if I were, it is to confirm the horror smeared across my face. I can’t lie—it has saved me from a lot of unnecessary s****l harassment that other girls get once sold as rogues or slaves. But today… today I am chosen by my mate. I have a good feeling about this. We are mates, my life is about to turn around for good. Two ladies approach me and urge me to follow. I obey, my eyes darting around, trying to take in the magnitude of the fortress as I walk inside. I pass a water fountain crowned with the statue of a werewolf, its snarl frozen as water gushes from its mouth. Then I am led into another wing of the mansion and into a room, where I am told to clean up. They dress me, feed me, and let me rest. For the first time in years, I lay on a soft, smooth bed, and before I know it, I drift into sleep. “Wake up!” The voice commands me out of the dream. Deep, not even loud, but powerful enough to drag me awake. “Our Mate! He is here! Wake up!” my wolf Kira more alive than eyer leaped for joy. My eyes fly open, and I see him standing over me. I see his full face without a mask for the first time, and it feels like I’m spellbound by him. His gaze pins me in place, making me feel exposed and yet desperate for his touch. It’s as if he was sculpted by the gods themselves. His height towers over me, his body built with raw strength, and those arms—thick with muscle—make me imagine what it would feel like to be lifted, held, or pinned by his hands. He radiates power without even speaking. His face is striking, not in the polished, perfect way of storybook princes, but in a raw way— a strong jaw dusted with stubble, lips shaped firm yet tempting, and eyes dark enough to drown in. Is he here to mark me? I stare at those blue eyes long enough to get lost in them. I could have sworn that he too a long look around my body and got lost too. Even though my face is repulsive, my curves develop quite nicely, though I have always tried to hide them and baggy and lose slave clothes but this damn sleep ware accentuates them pretty nicely. “What’s your name?” he asks. Quickly, I sit up and bow my head as he voice snap back to reality. “Eloise.” “Eloise…” he growls low, then takes a long look me over from head to toe. I think he’s admiring me. “Do what Gloria tells you to do, Eloise,” he says, and walks out of the room, leaving me standing there, confused, my heartbeat unsteady simply from being in his presence. No man has ever looked at me like that. I know I am to be his Luna — something like my weak wolf says so. After a few seconds a middle-aged woman enters. She wears a black gown, perfectly ironed, the kind of uniform a disciplinarian would wear. Her hair is pulled into a tight, glossy bun; not a single strand escapes the sleek press. “You must be Gloria!” I put on a smile. “She is—” she begins, then tosses a branded nylon bag containing a fabric at me. “Put that on, Eloise. You’ll be joining me outside so I can assign you your chores.” “Chores?” I repeat, confused. “Yes — chores. Are you expecting something better?” Gloria snaps, irritation plain in her voice. “Oh no,” I stammer. “You do not speak unless spoken to. You do not wander with your eyes or your legs; otherwise, there will be consequences,” she continues. “You will be serving the needs of the Alpha and his Luna. Get dressed and meet me outside.” His Luna! At the words, it feels as if my wolf drops into a hollow pit as gloria walks out the room. A servant? To him and his Luna? How can he be my mate when he already has one?