The Cursed Lycan's Beloved

Chapter 19

ARIANA’S POV
Just as Luke got hold of the six-leaf clover, men from nowhere surrounded us, and held me down while they blew a huge amount of wolfsbane at him.
“Help! Help! Let me go!” I yelled out, but no one was around to save me.
I watched as Luke fell to the ground, looking so weak, and my heart couldn’t help but feel heavy. What was going to happen to him?
Before I knew it, I felt something hit me at my head, and I fell unconscious.
~
The next time I woke up, I was in the midst of a few girls who were dressed in white. They all seemed so scared, and anxious, and it made me feel even more worried.
“Please, where are we?” I asked, out of curiosity, and fear.
“Can’t really say. But we’re about to be auctioned.” One of the girls managed to answer me, even as she was looking left and right, like she was scared that someone would take her away.
“What!” I exclaimed, under my breath, and then the door opened, and a man walked in.
“Hey, it’s your turn. Come on, outside.”
That word made nervousness, flow in my veins. Right here, my freedom was going to be gone, forever. I walked up to the stage, and stood, fiddling with my hands, and my hands were shaking.
I was back to having zero confidence, especially as Luke wasn’t by my side. Only the moon goddess knew if he was dead or alive. It was more like I had been transported to another city.
In the crowd, there were ordinary people, and those who seemed classic and wealthy. The wealthy ones obviously ruled the people, because they were feared, and they had more power, and influence.
“Now, we start our bidding from 1 million dollars.” The auctioneer announced.
Then it dawned on me, that this was really happening. I was really going to be sold to anyone who had the highest amount to bid. Why would I be sold, like I am some commodity? Fear gripped me, seeing the stares and glares, around me.
I clung to my gown, which was rippled, and a bit transparent. Then the atmosphere changed. The crowd seemed excited.
“$2 million.” I heard a woman, announce.
“$5 million.” A man shouted.
“$5.5 million.” Another, said.
I gasped in fear. My eyes were certainly giving out how scared I was, to be auctioned. Sweats broke out from every part of my body, and I could barely look into the eyes of anyone. It seemed my fear, excited everyone.
“50” I heard a cold voice.
Silence reigned as everyone’s head, turned in the direction of the voice.
“Oh my. Drake Phillips.” I heard someone speak with fear, among the crowd.
“S…sir, you mean $50 million?” The auctioneer asked, looking shocked.
“$50 million.” Lord Vincenzo responded.
The crowd exclaimed in amusement. And I was shocked. I had never imagined that anyone would bid for a woman, with an amount that high. Judging from the way people looked at him, and spoke with him, it was evident that he was in a high rank.
“Anyone else?” The auctioneer asked, in discomfort, scared that the man could burst out in anger, asking why he was still calling bids again.
There was silence. No one spoke out. There was no one who would dare bid higher than someone of this authority. He was the ultimate leader, and the most feared, out of all the wealthy people I could see.
“Going once, Going twice. Sold! The winner of this bid, is Drake Phillips!” The auctioneer, announced.
Right there, I was sold out to someone who could be my doom. My world, turned dark, and fear gripped me. Why did I have to be so unlucky? His right-hand man, whose name I had heard was Landon, and was known to be fierce, came over to take me away. I stared at the auctioneer as I was led, out. He had sent me to a dark world, where I didn’t know what would become of me.
I was driven to Lord Drake Phillips’ mansion, and was led to a room.
“This is your room. If you act rash, you will have yourself to blame for it. And change into any of the clothes in the wardrobe. When the boss is around, he will see you.” He said, then went out of the room.
Just as people had said, he was uptight, scary, stern, and always stared, with no expression on his face. I dreaded seeing Drake Phillips, more. The thought of him, calling me out, made me shiver. And I hoped that I would never have to see him. I looked around the room, it was small, but manageable.
Then I sighed. “Moon goddess.” I said, with tears in my eyes.
~
I heard a knock on my door, and it was hard for me to gulp down my saliva.
“Who’s there?” I managed to ask.
“It’s me, Layla.”
I felt relief, fill my heart, and my tensed bones, were relieved as well. Then I stood up to open the door.
“Good evening. First and foremost, I will advise you, never to lock your door. The boss hates it when you do that, in his mansion. He likes to come in, and go out, whenever.”
“Oh, I see. Th…thank you.” I muttered.
“By the way, I am Layla. I am a maid, in this mansion, and I am here to tell you that dinner is served.” She informed, with a slight smile.
I felt relieved a bit, seeing someone who could smile, in the mansion, and I didn’t feel alone, seeing the potential of a friend, in her. Probably we would get close enough for her to be able to help me out. I followed her to the dining table, and sat down, unable to eat.
“The boss doesn’t like when one wastes food. You can’t do as you like, here. So, it’s best if you eat up, so you do not get on his nerves, so soon.” She advised me.
I nodded my head, and dipped the spoon into the soup. I had no appetite, but then, with one taste of the soup, I wanted to keep eating, and I felt better, while eating.
“One more tip. I’ll advise that you take a look around the mansion, before you are told, who you are, and what purpose you will be serving, in this mansion. If you are going to be a maid like I am, you won’t have that freedom to lurk around. So, take advantage of the boss’ absence, right now. Bye, I have to go.” Layla said, then left.
It felt as if she was programmed to tell me my do’s and don’ts’ s, because just right after she was done telling me all she needed to tell me, she left.
I wished she wouldn’t leave. Her presence made me feel better, and relieved, and now that she was gone, I was filled with fear. The mansion was quiet, and a single pin could be heard if it fell.
After I managed to eat up the food, I walked around the quiet mansion as Layla had advised me to. There was a pool, a large TV, in the sitting room, and a room which seemed like it was used for meetings. I was truly in a billionaire’s mansion, and everything in here, spelt huge money.
I got to a part of the mansion, and looked down at the stairs. It probably led to the basement, and I didn’t need to go there. Just as I turned to move, I tripped, and my phone fell down the stairs. I quickly ran downstairs to take it, before anyone would find out that I had been gone for too long.
I picked up my phone, but then, I heard muffled sounds, coming from the basement, so out of curiosity, I opened the door, and to my shock, I saw a lady, tied up. She was covered in blood. I gasped, in fear, and then I walked towards her.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
But she made muffled sounds, and I reached out my hand, slowly, to remove the gag in her mouth, and she gasped for breath, after I removed it. Then I waited until she calmed down.
After she caught her breath, she chuckled, staring at me, from head to toe.
“I guess you are new.” She scoffed.
“Yes. I am.”
“You look too innocent. Why would Drake want you?”
I wondered who she was to him, for her to call him by his name, but I could not ask her.
“Ahh…I see. He probably wants to use you to execute his plan, perfectly.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“He is planning a war, against the other high-ranked men, and that is a rough game, my dear. And you will lose your life, because you aren’t tough enough.” She smirked.
I tried to understand what she had just said. Was she trying to say I was going to get torn apart in a game of politics, or what?