The Strength to Love

The Auction

Jessica’s POV

               Once I got to the bar, I scanned the place for Mel. If memory serves me right, he was the one I had overheard taking about the auction site. Mel was always blathering about how he was going to off his wife and buy a new younger version. I am assuming he’s all talk and no action, as every night his wife comes to haul his drunken a** out.

I smiled as I was thinking back to when Jake and I were happy and in love. We would both come to the bar and relax after a long day. I even got him to sing karaoke once. He was horribly crooning “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” by Nine Days. Then the brat came, and we could not go out. ‘Someone has to watch Brookie.’ He would argue. It is not like I did not love her. I just wanted my husband to pay attention to me. Is that so much to ask? And I mean it did not have to be every day, like it could have been 4 or 5 days a week. But he wanted to be around to watch her grow up. Slowly but surely, we grew apart. She stole the only joy of my life away, and somehow turned him against me to the point where he was about to file for divorce!

At first, I could just take it all out on her using the belt or my backhand, however eventually beating her just lost its vigor. I would try different things to try and make myself feel a bit better. I would make her train with the pack trainer for hours until he left us for another pack. That did nothing except make her slender, agile, and pretty lethal. I would hold back food from her thinking that would make her weak and pathetic, but somehow, she remained trim and healthy. I think it was that damn cook sneaking her food.

“Hoooo-weeeee! Would ya look at this one?!” a familiar voice catcalled from across the bar breaking my train of thought. It was Mel, looking at his phone showing the guys the latest b*tch for sale. “Just think of the things I could do to her!”

“You’re sick, Mel,” one guy said.

“I’m gonna tell Maggie on you!” Another taunted.

Well, it’s now or never. “Hey Mel,” I cooed. “Let me see this chick.”

He froze in place. I am sure he was assuming I’m into chicks now and coming up with erotic fantasies.

“Today, Mel.” I was trying to play my cards just right and not give anything away. He walked over and handed me the phone. I glanced down at the girl on the screen. “Damn, she’s hot.”

“Uh, uh yes Luna.” He stammered.

“What’s this site called? Maybe I’ll look for some toys to occupy my time.” I coyly smiled.

“Uh, it is called WolfHunt, Luna.”

“Thanks, Mel,” I said handing his phone back.

He stammered something but I was too preoccupied looking up the app. WolfHunt turned out to be pretty straight forward. Do you wish to buy or sell? Sell. Are you selling a boy or girl? Girl. Is she pure or mated? Pure. How long do you want the auction to last? 5 days What do you want to start the bidding at? $2million. No, I cannot start it out so high. No one will ever go for it. $1 million. Please select pictures in human and wolf form to submit with your auction posting. Well F*ck. I do not have any pictures of that little sh*t. Well, she should be home so it’s not like I can’t get any. I guess I will have to head home and snap some shots. The sooner I get this posted the better.

               When I got back to the house the lights were on in the kitchen, but no one was there. I assumed the twit was out having her first change so I might as well go outside and see if I can snap a picture of her wolf. After 20 minutes, I was ready to go back to the bar and was just about to when I heard some shuffling in the back of the house. There she is! Even her wolf was beautiful. How can the goddess bless this stupid sh*t of a child with literally EVERYTHING?!?!?! It was supposed to be me with all the glory. Me, me, me! I quickly snapped a photo, but I forgot my flash was on and caught her attention. I froze hoping she would not come over to investigate. She did not so I was able to sneak off and complete my post.

               I laughed to myself thinking this time next week I will have absolutely zero cares in the world. I will have the money I need to pay off that prick, I will be rid of that leech of a daughter, and with my debt paid off, there will be no reason for Allister to continue to harass me. This calls for a celebratory drink, or 10.

Dean’s POV

               “I WILL NOT GIVE HIM SH*T!!!” Father roared at mother. I wanted to run in there, but I knew she could handle her own against him. “WHETHER IT’S MY TIME TO STEP DOWN OR NOT!”

               “What your tone with me, dear,” mother scolded. “Don’t you want free time to spend with me? We could take a trip. You have always wanted to take me to Hawaii where we can f*ck like rabbits on the beach. How does that sound?”

               “Mmmmmm, tempting, my love, tempting.” He calmed down. “But you know how he can be. He’s a wild card, and I’m supposed to entrust him with my pack?”

               “Our pack,” mother corrected. “Yes, I expect you to entrust our son with our pack.”

               “Ok fine,” father conceded. “BUT on one condition. He needs to be married.”

               “Fine,” mother stated, “I will let him know, and you better go book that flight to Hawaii.”

               The door to their room opened and she looked up at me pretending to be interested in the painting on the wall. “And I half expected you to be holding a glass to the door.”

               I blushed. Mother knew me better than anyone. “I’m not finding a bride.” I flatly spit out. Mates and marriage are just for the weak except for mother and father. They were bada**es.

               “Those are your father’s terms, Dean. You will do as he has asked or you won’t get this pack, and I won’t get my trip, you better get on it.”

               “Well, where the hell am I going to find a bride?”

               Mother rolled her eyes. “Throw a dart in a phone book. The way girls throw themselves at your feet you can have your pick.”

               “I’ve had these girls already, mom.” She again rolled her eyes and fake gagged. “I want someone that no one from this pack knows.”

               She raised her eyebrows with surprise. “So, you want some new fresh blood? I am surprised. Maybe you will find your mate, and you can give me all the pups, and make me a grammie?”

               “Please,” I scoffed. “The only way you’ll be a ‘Grammie’ is if she gets knocked up by someone else. I have one hell of a pull-out game or you already would be one.”

               She handed me her phone with some app pulled up, “Give this a shot. I’ve heard of some guys that have met their match on here.”

               “LovePursuit?!?! C’mon mom!” I put her phone down on the table. “if I have to find someone, I won’t be using something with love in the title!”

               “Well, you better use something, Dean,” she stated. “I left out you need to have someone by next Saturday.”

               “F*ck!” Jarred laughed so hard he fell off his chair. “How are you going to find someone to marry in a week?”

               I slugged him in the arm, “Stop laughing. I could ask any of the girls from our pack to marry and they would agree at the drop of a hat.”

               “Ow,” he clutched his arm. “So, go take your pick then. Oh wait, Mr. F*cked-all-the-available-females-in-the-pack.”

               “Even some of those that weren’t available,” I smirked.

               “I remember having to hide you from Tony after you f*cked his daughter and then his wife,” he burst out laughing again. “If you want to meet someone outside of this pack and have her marry you by next week you would have to buy somebody.”

               “That’s it!” I exclaimed. “Will was talking about how this one site was ‘absolutely horrid’ for selling people. Ugh, what was it called?”

               Jarred’s face sobered up pretty quick, “Dude, you can’t be serious. You want the buy someone?! This isn’t the 1800s.”

               “Ah, here it is! WolfHunt.” Jarred slowly looked over my shoulder as I began swiping.