His possession: Claimed by the Lycan king

Aria POV "Where am I?" The words slipped from my lips as my eyes fluttered open, the dim light of the underground room blurring into view. My head throbbed, my body felt bruised, and the stench of dirt and rot filled my lungs, making me gag. The cold bite of metal against my wrists and ankles told me I was bound, chained like an animal. I tried to move, tugging against the restraints, but they held firm. The rough texture of the stone floor scraped against my skin as I struggled to sit up. Every movement sent sharp pangs through my body, and when I finally managed to lift myself slightly, I collapsed back down, panting. A wave of nausea rolled over me, and tears stung my eyes. I racked my memory for answers, but everything was hazy, like a dream slipping through my fingers. What happened to me? Why was I here? My thoughts were shattered by the echo of approaching footsteps. My body stiffened, fear flooding through me like ice in my veins. The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. He wore a black robe, his face obscured by a mask that revealed only cold, calculating eyes. He moved toward me with predatory ease, crouching just inches away. "Awake, finally," he said, his voice smooth but brimming with malice. He reached out, gripping my chin and tilting my face upward. "Let go of me!" I snapped, jerking my head away, but his grip was unrelenting. "Such fire," he murmured, his tone mocking. "But that will fade soon enough." Rage surged through me, and before I could think, I spat at him. It landed on his mask, and for a moment, he froze. Then, with a sharp movement, he backhanded me across the face. The impact sent me sprawling onto the floor, pain exploding across my cheek. I tasted blood on my lips as I struggled to push myself up. "You filthy little thing," he snarled, pulling a leather whip from beneath his robe. "Perhaps I need to remind you of your place." The whip cracked through the air, the first strike searing across my back. I screamed, the pain white-hot and agonizing. "Stop!" I cried, my voice breaking. "Please....." Another lash. "Let’s not disfigure that pretty face of yours," he said darkly, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "But the rest of you? Fair game." The third strike made me collapse, trembling and sobbing on the cold ground. "Are we done with the dramatics, missy?" he asked, crouching beside me again. His gloved hand stroked my hair, sending a fresh wave of disgust through me. I clenched my teeth, refusing to answer. "Good. Now behave," he said, yanking me to my feet. I stumbled, nearly falling, but his grip kept me upright as he dragged me toward the door. The hall we entered was massive, filled with opulence that seemed grotesque compared to the nightmare I was living. Chandeliers cast a golden glow over a crowd of sharply dressed men and women, their eyes gleaming with greed as they turned to look at me. "Let the bidding begin!" the man announced, throwing his arms wide. The voices started immediately. "Five thousand dollars!" "Twenty thousand!" "Fifty thousand!" The numbers climbed higher, each shout making my stomach churn. I tried to resist, pulling against the man’s grip, but he only tightened his hold, his nails digging into my arm. "You’re going to fetch me a fortune, little girl," he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. Then a deep voice cut through the chaos, silencing the room. "Ten million dollars." The air seemed to be still as everyone turned to the man who had spoken. He was tall, dressed in a pristine black suit that screamed power. His eyes, an icy blue, locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart stutter. He moved through the crowd like a wolf among sheep, every step deliberate, every movement exuding dominance. "Sold!" the auctioneer finally declared, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear. The man approached, handing over a briefcase without sparing a glance at anyone else. He stopped in front of me, his gaze piercing. "Untie her," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. The guards hesitated, glancing at my captor for approval, but a single look from them made them scramble to obey. The chains fell away, and my knees buckled. Before I could hit the ground, his arms caught me, pulling me against his chest. "You belong to me now," he said, his voice low and dangerous. I glared up at him, anger and fear warring within me. "I don’t belong to anyone," I spat. His lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. "We’ll see about that." "Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. The stranger turned to me, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You'll find out soon enough," he said, his smile growing wider. The room spun as exhaustion and pain overwhelmed me. His voice was the last thing I heard before darkness claimed me. "Welcome to your new life, my dear. "My eyes fluttered open slowly as they tried getting accustomed to the poorly lit room. I winced lowly due to the harsh migraine I felt. I could hardly see since the moon was the only source of light, but I could tell I was in a richly furnished room. Of course, he was rich. No poor man would be able to afford the amount of cash he used to buy me. Buying me. I had been bought like some sort of commodity and as much as I hated to admit that fact, it was true. I was lying on a soft, posh bed that somehow soothed my skin. It made reality a little less harsher. It was surrounded by opulent furnishings, similar to those in luxurious hotels made for kings and queens. I could see the servants who were decently dressed assigned to me looking at me with curiosity as if they were going to be at my beck and call. I attempted to get up, but approaching footsteps had me freezing. It was him. My buyer. He was dressed flamboyantly in a silk robe with splendid designs. The embroidery carved on the robe was that of a dragon. The dragon implies strength and power. Deep inside me, I knew my buyer wielded a kind of power that was not ordinary. He emerged from the shadows, holding a glass of water. My sight darted between the water and him. He walked magnificently with his servants trailing behind him. His scent was hallucinating as he smelled like spices and emitted the aura of a Devil. I wasn't expected to drink it....was I? "You're awake," he gave a smile that didn't touch his eyes. I gazed into his fiery eyes wondering what he might have laced with the drink he was bringing towards me. My head throbbed in pain as he got nearer. My heart raced with several thoughts in mind as he moved closer towards me. "I'm pretty sure your throat's latched. Here. Drink," he moved closer, trying to pass me the cup. He was looking at me with a killing intent Was it poisoned? What if I drank it and died instantly? No. He wouldn't have bought me if he wanted to kill me. I looked up at him, suspicion dancing in my eyes. " Drink this" he urged in a gentle tone with softness in his voice. My heart thumped harder as he handed the cup to me. My hands were trembling as I took the cup from him with his eyes observing my every movement. His eyes were fixated on me like a predator observing his prey. " You need to regain your strength and energy to be able to move around, but with your current state, I'm afraid you can't do that," he growled, trying to show sympathy toward my current condition. I looked at him as he was tendering care towards me and showering me with everything I needed at that crucial moment. I pressed the cup over my lips observing the contents as I gulped the soothing liquid. I drank the liquid emptying the contents and wiping my mouth leaving no traces behind. "I can walk around, and there's nothing wrong with me, " I snapped at him after a few minutes shooting him a hard glare. " You are beautiful, and I like it when you do that wild cat," he chuckled, stroking my hair with his fingers. "I am not a wild cat," I protested, though my voice moved slowly,y, lacking the usual pace. His hand reached out brushing through my hair in a way that sent cold chills down my spine. My heart was spinning faster as I wanted him to leave because he was giving me a hard time already. "Stay still" he commanded in a cold tone while giving me a devilish smile. "Damn it, "I cursed inwardly under my breath, realizing that he was not ready to leave. " You are weak, and don't try to force yourself to do anything," he murmured and winked a cold smile at me. Before I could retort, heavy footsteps were heard outside the room. A guard stormed in with blood dripping from his mouth. " There are _ " the man managed to say barely breathing before he finally dropped dead. The guard collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a heavy thud. His lifeless body stared at the ceiling. The room was overflowing with a deadly silence, tension quizzing through the air. " What the f**k happened just here" the man growled with his voice mixed with sadness and fury piercing like a thunderbolt. Everyone remained stiff in their various positions unsure of what to do knowing no lives would be spared as his voice rose and he growled furiously pacing back and forth in the room . The guard's blood was still dripping soiling the opulent rug beneath him. The man pulled out icy stares which were strong enough to reach me. His expression wavered sending cold chills down my spine. " Things are about to get interesting" he muttered almost to himself.