Chapter 1 The Auction
920 Words
"Ladies and gentlemen, the next item up for auction is a she-wolf..."
Zoey was woken up by a lot of noise. She slowly opened her eyes, only to find herself in an iron cage, completely naked!
A pang of humiliation washed over her, causing her to hug herself instinctively. However, her wrists were tied by an iron chain, making her unable to move.
The host's passionate voice continued to fill the hall.
"What a stunning young she-wolf! Her appearance and shape are definitely top-notch, a rare find you won't see every day!"
The crowd raised their paddles and cheered loudly, their excited faces all turning towards Zoey. Rage and shame filled her heart.
She vaguely remembered that before she lost consciousness, her father was throwing her a birthday party. It was the first time since her parents' divorce that her father had shown her any warmth. She was deeply moved by the long-awaited paternal love, but she never expected her father to drug her with the cake.
When she woke up, she had arrived in hell. Her own father had sold her to an auction house, where she was being sold like a piece of property!
"But this beautiful lady has a small flaw. She can't complete the shift!" the auctioneer continued to say from the stage.
After the initial excitement, people began to murmur and sneer when they learned she couldn't shift.
"Bring out the next item! This one's defective!" someone said openly, their disdain clear.
Defective...
This word stung Zoey deeply, all too familiar yet painfully resonant.
Indeed, in a world where most werewolves shift for the first time between the ages of 15 and 16, the 22-year-old Zoey, who had yet to undergo this transformation, was naturally seen as "defective" by others.
They instinctively questioned her completeness as a werewolf, even denying her worth as merchandise.
After a few pitiful bids, the auctioneer announced the result, "Sold! Three hundred grand to Mr. Tonde! Please proceed to the back to claim your auction item!"
Zoey followed the host's gaze to see a portly old man rise from the crowd.
His eyes gleamed with a lascivious light, scanning her like she was something to devour. Zoey felt indescribably embarrassed and frightened.
Zoey was slowly moved down from the auction block and released from her cage.
She knew what awaited her, and her heart kept racing.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she scanned her surroundings. Guards were everywhere, and she was shackled, making escape nearly impossible.
"Wait for the enemy to let their guard down, then one fatal blow." This was the lesson she had learned through countless wounds and scars.
So, she allowed him to take her away.
"You're quite special, young lady," the chubby old man named Tonde remarked while eyeing her with satisfaction.
Zoey lowered her head and looked around the room she'd been brought into. The stench of s*x made her nauseous.
She hid her disgust, trying to appear more submissive. "Mr. Tonde, from the moment I was put on that auction stage, I understood my irreversible fate. I just hope... you'll unchain my hands and be gentle with me in bed."
Her inability to shift became an advantage, making Tonde let his guard down.
"Oh, darling, don't worry. I'll make sure you enjoy yourself..." Tonde unchained her hands, eagerly pushing her onto the bed.
His bulk pressed down on her, making Zoey want to vomit. She endured the discomfort, and as Tonde buried his face in her, she quickly grabbed the heavy vase from the bedside and smashed it over his head with all her strength.
Blood spurted from his head, and Tonde screamed, cursing, "You b***h!"
Without hesitation, Zoey bolted for the door, but she underestimated the speed and strength of an adult werewolf.
Just as she reached the door, he grabbed her foot, causing her to fall hard. His fists rained down on her, the pain so intense she could hardly breathe.
Her vision began to blur, but she refused to let her life end like this.
Just as Tonde's fist came down again, Zoey found a surge of strength from somewhere deep inside. She grabbed his arm and bit down hard with all her might!
Her mouth filled with the warm, metallic taste of Tonde's blood.
Taken by surprise, he covered his bleeding arm and fell to the side. Zoey scrambled to her feet and fled the room.
Tonde's curses echoed behind her, while his footsteps grew closer. Her heart pounded as she ran fast, but she crashed into a man in the hallway corner.
Driven by instinct, she clung to the man's leg, desperate to escape. "Please, help me! I'm begging you, sir!"
The man didn't speak, but Tonde hesitated, clearly afraid of him.
Zoey slowly looked up. The moment her eyes locked onto his face, she froze in shock.
The man was strong and good-looking. She'd never seen anyone as stunning as him.
Zoey had never seen such a man before.
His deep blue eyes were piercing and bright, exuding a power that was impossible to ignore.
This kind of power instinctively reminded her of the strongest ones in the werewolf world - he must be an Alpha.
To her surprise, the man's stern expression softened with a hint of shock, as if he recognized her.
However, the pain in her body and the lingering effects of the drug made her collapse into unconsciousness.
Just before losing consciousness, she thought she heard the man's voice.
"I'll pay double for her."
- Writer
