Auctioned to the Rogue Alpha

5 - The First Bid

“No,” Maya gasped.

I sat in the chair in front of my mirror. My face was blotchy from anger, but thankfully, I didn’t shed any more tears. I was honestly unsure if I had any left to shed at this point; my entire being felt empty. The pool of grief I woke up with was dried by my burning rage.

“You said it yourself. It’s still binding,” I told her.

“But you won’t know…”

“Anything is better than Alpha Perry,” I admitted, savoring this small bit of autonomy even though I knew that I was still playing his game.

I was trading one prison for another.

But this was my choice, even though it felt like my only option.

“Plus, I can choose between the top two, maybe three if they’re close.” I mused, frowning; I had to double-check.

“Kat.” She waited until I met her eyes. The look on her face would have made me break down even minutes earlier. “Let’s just go, the world is big. There is somewhere else for you,” she pleaded.

“I can’t-” I shook my head. “This is my pack.”

“You’re leaving either way.” Her voice was soft.

“Staying close," I added. "I will not let him get away with this. Do I have your support?” I asked, determination settling.

She jutted her chin. “Yes.” She nodded. “Always.” I smiled at her. “Let’s get ready for battle; hand me the dark red lipstick.” Her eyes twinkled, but I saw the fierce determination in the set of her jaw.

“After I need your help with something, it won’t take long.”

“Anything, Alpha.”

It would be a long journey, but I would not run. I would not leave, not for long. I was what was best for this pack, and I had to save them.

____

Maya returned quickly, her face almost flushed. I took a few moments before I was more confident than ever.

The warriors surrounding my door stood straight as we came out.

“We’re going to dinner,” I announced. “Or am I to starve?”

They glanced at each other. Maya wrapped her arm in mine, but they followed close behind us.

A swarm of Omegas almost bumped into us at the end of the hall, stopping when they saw me. Grace was amongst them and stepped forward. “We were instructed to pack your things,” she said; I knew she wanted to say more, but we had an audience.

“Good.” I nodded. “Make sure nothing is left behind. Especially my books.” I looked only at Grace, and she bowed her head.

I whisked past them, and with each step toward the dining hall, adrenaline lit through me.

“Ready?” Maya asked.

“Yes.” And I was.

The doors opened, and warmth and laughter filled the air. Maya dropped my arm so I could walk in alone after promising to find a seat close and that she was ready for her role.

It only took a few moments for the entire room to quiet as I made my way toward the head table. There wasn’t a chair for me, but I focused on Cletus sitting to my Uncle’s right. By the time I made it to the table, his chair was vacated, and Cletus pulled it out for me. I looked up at him; my face was passive, but my eyes held my promise to him. He cowered away, pulling up another chair awkwardly.

My uncle leaned down to me. “I wasn’t expecting you here,” he whispered, but his grip on his fork was lethal.

“I thought I would join the festivities, or is this something else you wanted to do behind my back?” I asked sweetly.

His eyes flickered, and he grabbed his wine glass. I was surprised he didn't break it in his clear rage. Instead, he tapped the side with his knife. The room was already quiet, but the last murmurs died down as he stood.

“Thank you all for attending; I’m glad my niece, Katrina, is feeling better.” He looked down at me with sympathy, and it made my blood boil. “There is another reason for celebration.” His smile was wide and wicked. “I have an exciting announcement about the betrothal-”

I stood so fast my chair toppled behind me, hitting the stone floor with a thud that reverberated through the high stone ceilings.

“Not now, dear.” My uncle chastised me with a hollow laugh, but no one joined in.

I stood tall, my chin raised, not breaking eye contact with anyone who would dare meet mine. “I invoke Actus Sponsa as my right as an Alpha’s daughter.” My voice rang out hard and clear, and the room was entirely silent, as if sucking in a breath before it erupted.

“You can’t.” My uncle spat, grabbing my arm. “You are betrothed to Alpha Perry,” he explained with an oily smile.

“Not officially.” I smiled back. “It is my right.”

Another ancient tradition, unmated daughters of an Alpha, could auction themselves to other Alphas. But unlike the arranged marriages, this had to be of a daughter's initiative, and they had to be taken by another Alpha, not any other ranked member.

Apparently, it started when a powerful Alpha's daughter was being chased by almost all the Alphas in her territory and beyond. Her pack wasn’t as well off as everyone thought, and she saw an opportunity to save it.

She sacrificed her choice, and it was told that she gained ten times the benefits she would have by pitting the Alphas against each other, forcing them to pledge more and more for her hand. It became a challenge, and it was said she saved her pack singlehandedly and ended up possibly loving the man who won her.

It had only been done only once since it was first invoked, but the effect wasn’t as grand. I was hoping this time it would be better. I was bringing a rumor, an old fairytale, to life.

But as I stood there silent against the storm, I was worried for the first time that no one would bid on me, that I would be alone here, utterly embarrassed, throwing a tantrum like my uncle expected. But that thought had barely time to formulate.

“I forbid it-” my uncle shouted, his hands shaking.

“One million dollars.” A voice like thunder rumbling over glass silenced the room.

I didn’t have to look to know who it belonged to. I internally smiled as anger rolled off my uncle.