Chapter 2
1794 Words
Alisa
"Make way for Alpha Derrick Clayborne," a voice commands, deep and commanding.
I’ve heard his name. Everyone has. He’s the Alpha of Rosewood, owner of this orphanage, and the blood god’s favourite son. Or so they say anyway.
A wolf so powerful that the Lycans themselves won’t even touch him. He tore through the kingdom, conquering pack after pack, killing Alpha upon Alpha.
And they say he’s not done yet. They say he won’t stop until he kills Prince Gabriel himself.
The Alpha towers over everyone in the room. His sharp blue eyes lazily take in their surroundings. His Beta, an equally imposing man with soft brown eyes, is just a step behind him, with the Gamma and Delta flanking them both.
They’re dressed in similar, black, tailored suits. Only the Alpha stands out, with his dark navy suit and crisp white shirt.
The blue eyes find me and linger on me.
My insides lock up, making it even more difficult to breathe.
Alpha Derrick shouldn’t be here. Why would an Alpha like him need to visit the auction to find a she-wolf? He has his pick – he doesn’t need to buy someone.
And why the hell is he even looking at me?
Something is wrong.
Next to me, Tanya lets out a small yip of excitement and smooth her hands over her magnificent red gown. It’s as if she doesn’t even feel the Alpha’s dangerous aura, doesn’t sense the change in the air. She’s too busy preening.
She thinks this is her moment. It makes sense. The most powerful Alpha in the room must want the most beautiful girl here.
Ah. I was wrong. Alpha Derrick is not looking at me. He’s looking at Tanya.
I let out a shaky little breath, and take a half step back, getting the hell out of the way. I don’t want to be anywhere near that terrifying Alpha. He can have Tanya. I’ll take the van.
Mistress Katrina catches my movement and pins me in place with her glare. Her normally composed face is pale, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress in a rare show of nerves. Then, just as quickly, she shakes herself, pastes on a massive, false smile, and steps forward.
“An unexpected honour,” she announces, voice trembling. “Alpha Clayborne. Welcome.”
I turn my head slightly, just enough to catch the Beta standing ahead of the Alpha’s entourage. He narrows his brown eyes at me, and then tilts his head to the left, as if he’s listening to a command from the Alpha.
The Beta steps aside, and I make the mistake of lifting my gaze - straight into Alpha Derrick’s piercing eyes.
My stomach twists and my mouth runs dry.
I shouldn’t even be looking at him. He’s the kind of man who could fold me in half with a flick of his wrist.
He moves slowly, deliberately, like a predator stalking his prey. The air crackles around him, thick with power.
I swallow hard and drop my gaze to the floor.
The room is silent. Wolves who were laughing and sipping champagne moments ago now hold their breath. Alphas – Alphas - stand frozen, submissive in his presence.
What kind of wolf is this? I’ve never seen anything like it.
To my horror, Tanya edges closer to me, barely containing her excitement. "I knew only the best Alpha would choose me," she murmurs, voice breathless. “What do you think? Will I be a good match for him?”
I cannot process her words. Does she think this is a fairytale? Does she have no idea what’s coming? There’s just no chance in hell that Alpha Derrick came here to find himself a mate.
And yet, Tanya can’t see that.
“Alisa.” Mistress Katrina’s hiss cuts through my thoughts like a whip. “How dare you look at Alpha Derrick?”
My heart slams into my ribs. I didn’t even notice that I was staring at the Alpha. Everyone else is practically kneeling in front of him, and I’m just here, looking at him like we’re equals.
I quickly lower my eyes, frozen in place, but I feel him move.
Closer.
A shadow falls over me.
A strong finger hooks under my chin, sending a ripple of fear and excitement down my spine.
My breath catches as he forces my head up and stares at me.
Icy, emotionless eyes. A cruel, unreadable mouth. A face carved from stone.
His voice is quiet. But I feel it. In my bones. “She’ll do,” he murmurs.
What the hell?
The world tilts on its axis, and I start to grope around for something, anything, to keep me standing. It comes in the form of the Beta who grips my upper arm and starts to pull me away.
Tanya lets out a strangled noise. “Her?”
It’s not shock. It’s pure rage.
The Beta freezes and the Alpha turns around to look at Tanya.
She glares at Derrick, her hands clenched into fists. “What do you see in her?”
His head turns toward her, slow and deliberate.
Tanya flinches.
“I- I just mean…” she stammers, backpedaling hard. “I’m better than she is. Why would you want a frightened, useless little mouse like her? She’s- she’s worse than the dirt on the bottom of your shoe.”
A low, dangerous rumble erupts in Derrick’s throat. The power of his wolf nearly brings me to my knees, but Tanya stays standing.
Is she just completely immune, or simply that delusional?
“She doesn’t mean it, Alpha,” Mistress Katrina interrupts, her voice high and desperate. “She’s just disappointed. Who wouldn’t want to be your concubine?”
I do not want to be his concubine. I do not want to be anyone’s concubine.
“My Alpha wishes to inform you that he will have this girl,” the Beta states.
My stomach drops. For a moment there, I thought I was imagining things.
Everyone in the room gasps. No one can quite believe what they’re hearing.
I don't even blame them. I can't believe it either.
Mistress Katrina’s tight smile twitches. “An excellent choice, Alpha Derrick. You can bid on her-”
“No.” The Beta's voice is flat. Final.
I glance at Derrick. His face is expressionless. Completely unreadable. He just stands there, he’s legs wide apart, hands clasped in front of him.
A ripple of unease moves through the room.
Tanya steps forward again, clinging to her arrogance like it will save her. “Surely, the Alpha is mistaken. We stood very close to each other-”
The Beta turns to her, his face as expressionless as Derrick’s. “It would be to your advantage if you stop talking. Now.”
The warning doesn't land.
Tanya shuts up, but she is not done with me yet. She will have Derrick, whether he wants her or not.
With a roar, she turns on me, and before I can react, her nails tear through my arm, ripping the delicate fabric of my dress. I hear it before I feel it.
The bodice rips away, and the whole dress comes apart, pooling at my feet.
People stare at me in shocked silence. No one has ever paid this much attention to me, and I want the floor to open up and swallow me.
This can’t be happening.
Slowly, as if in a daze, I bring my arms up in an attempt to cover my bare chest. Humiliation scorches through me, tears prickle in the corner of my eyes.
Tanya smirks. “There. Now everyone can see how worthless you really are.” She turns to Derrick. “This is what you’re buying. Look at her.”
The moment hangs, stretches thin.
Then Derrick moves.
He shrugs off his jacket and hands it to his Beta. A slow, measured motion. Dangerous.
Without a word, the Beta takes the jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. The jacket is so big that I can fold it around myself twice – and have room to spare.
Once I’m covered up, Derrick turns to Tanya. “For the sake of the other guests,” he says in a calm voice. “I will not punish you.”
A shudder rolls through the room.
Tanya’s confidence cracks. “Punish me? For what?” she demands, gesturing at me like I’m trash. “She’s nothing. Barely even worthy of an Omega’s sacrifice.”
Derrick ignores her.
His gaze flicks to Mistress Katrina. “Is this what my money pays for?”
His voice is like a warm knife slicing through butter.
The mistress flinches.
“I-”
“Is this how you repay me?” His voice grows louder, heavier. “By raising entitled brats who think they can speak to me like I am their f*****g body slave?”
The room shakes.
A few wolves let out soft, broken noises and start to mill around, looking for the exit.
Mistress Katrina slaps Tanya. Hard.
The sound cracks through the hall.
“You will apologize to Alpha Derrick,” she hisses. “Right now.”
Tanya trembles. “I- I’m sorry,” she mumbles.
Derrick doesn’t even look at her.
“You’re not worth it,” he states flatly. “You are destined for the blood god’s altar anyway.”
A sob rips from Tanya’s throat.
I watch her crumble, her once-perfect curls disheveled, makeup streaked with tears.
Mistress Katrina moves fast, trying to salvage the moment, her voice honey-sweet. “Alpha Derrick, let us discuss the price of the girl-”
The sound that leaves Derrick is not human. A deep, guttural snarl, a sound that makes every tiny hair on my body stand on end.
Mistress Katrina shuts up instantly.
Derrick pulls out a billfold, and flips through the cash as if he’s rifling through pages in a book. He throws the money at Katrina’s feet.
“Here,” he says. “That’s all you care about, isn’t it?”
I should be terrified. I should feel something.
But I don’t.
I’m just… numb.
The Beta takes my arm and starts to steer me in the direction of the double doors. “Come now, little miss,” he says, voice unreadable. “Time to go.”
I glance back.
Tanya is sobbing.
Mistress Katrina is fixing her hair, whispering comforts in her ear, while the other Alphas rush over to console the girl.
Even now, after everything, Tanya is still the favourite.
They never cared about me.
Not once.
“My name is Egbert,” the Beta says, and gently squeezes my elbow. “Look forward, girl. They are not worth your tears.”
- Writer
