Billionaire Alpha's Plus-Size Mate

Chapter 9: Sold

The room fell into complete silence.

For a moment, I thought I had imagined what I'd just heard.

Then someone laughed. It wasn't a joyful laugh. It was the kind people let out when something was too ridiculous to believe.

"He has to be joking."

Another Alpha shook his head. "Ten million dollars? For her? That's impossible."

The murmurs spread through the room until everyone was talking at once. Some stared openly at me, others looked at Alpha Hayes Denzel as though they were waiting for him to admit it had all been a joke.

I almost did the same.

Only a few moments ago, I had been standing on that stage praying nobody would even look at me.

Now the most feared Alpha in the kingdom had offered ten million dollars.

For me? It didn't make sense.

I slowly turned my head toward him. He was already looking at me. His face revealed nothing. No amusement. No smug satisfaction. No sign that he was mocking me.

He simply stood there with the same unreadable expression he'd worn since entering the hall.

For some reason, that frightened me even more. I kept waiting for him to laugh. To tell everyone he'd only wanted to embarrass the fat girl standing on the stage.

Instead, the presenter cleared his throat.

"Ten million dollars," he announced loudly. His eyes swept across the room. "Does anyone wish to bid higher?"

There was silence. Not one person moved.

Not one person spoke.

The same men who had fought over beautiful women only moments ago suddenly looked as though they had forgotten how to breathe.

The presenter waited another few seconds before raising the hammer. "Sold."

The sound echoed through the room.

My heart sank. This wasn't a joke. He had really bought me.

I looked around the room in disbelief before my eyes landed on my parents.

My mother stood frozen with both hands covering her mouth. Father wasn't saying a word either. For one foolish second, I thought they were shocked because they couldn't bear to lose me.

Then I saw the excitement on their faces. Their eyes weren't filled with sadness. They were shining.

My stomach twisted. Why? Why would he want me?

I was the plus-sized, wolfless and mateless girl. The very woman everyone else had dismissed without a second glance.

I wasn't the type of woman he would want to spend that much on? I had nothing, absolutely nothing to offer. So… Why me?

Before I could make sense of any of it, two women dressed in elegant black uniforms walked into the room.

Everything about them looked expensive, from their neatly tailored clothes to the silver crest of Arrowfang Pack embroidered over their chests.

They stopped in front of me and bowed politely.

"Miss Lillian."

One of them smiled gently.

"We're here to escort you."

My chest tightened.

Already? And why were they being nice to me? I had imagined there would be paperwork. Questions and maybe a little delay, something that would give me a chance to think.

Maybe… Maybe even a chance to run.

But looking around the room, I quickly realized there was nowhere to go.

Guards stood at every exit.

Even if I managed to escape the hall, where would I go after that?

The moment they guided me outside, the tears I had been fighting finally spilled over.

A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"Lillian!"

My mother hurried toward me, practically glowing with excitement.

"I can't believe it!" she exclaimed. "The most powerful Alpha in the kingdom chose you!"

Father grinned so widely I barely recognized him. "You have no idea what this means for us." His voice trembled with excitement. "This is the best thing that's ever happened to our family."

I stared at them through blurred eyes. Not once… Not once had either of them asked if I was alright. Not once had they wondered whether I was frightened. They only cared that Alpha Hayes Denzel had chosen me.

Mother cupped my face and frowned. "Oh, don't cry like that." She wiped at my tears with her thumb before clicking her tongue.

"You're already ugly enough. Don't let the Alpha see your face like this. What if he changes his mind?"

Father added quickly. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and held it toward me. "Don't worry, Lillian. The Alpha has plenty of women. He won't need you all the time."

I looked at the handkerchief. Then at him.

Slowly, I wiped my tears away with the back of my own hand instead. I didn't want anything from them. Not anymore.

While it felt like my world had just ended… Theirs had only just begun.

A deep voice interrupted the moment. "We're taking her now."

I looked up.

The handsome man standing before us was dressed entirely in black. There was nothing flashy about him, yet the quiet authority in his voice made everyone stop talking.

"So soon?" I whispered before I could stop myself. I had hoped there would be contracts to sign. More questions. Anything that would delay what came next.

The man looked at me briefly before answering. "The Alpha wastes no time."

Mother quickly smiled at him. "You don't have to worry about her. She's a very obedient child,"

Father added. "She'll do exactly as the Alpha tells her."

Mother nodded eagerly. "If she gives anyone trouble, just hit her a little. She'll behave."

"And if she tries to run away," Father continued with a laugh, "lock her in a room for a few days. She'll lose weight soon enough."

The man's jaw tightened ever so slightly. It happened so quickly I almost missed it.

"That's enough," he said quietly. His voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. "Meet the presenter and collect your payment."

My parents looked at each other, unable to hide their excitement.

"Thank you," Mother said.

"Thank you so much," Father added.

Neither of them looked at me again. Not once.

The two maids gently took my arms and began leading me away.

I didn't fight them. What was the point?

The people who had found me, raised me, and called themselves my parents had just sold me without a second thought.

As I walked away between two strangers, I realized my fate had been decided long before I eve

r stepped onto that stage.

There was nothing I could do to change it.