Chapter 9

Celine’s feet stung from running around barefoot, her eyes fixed on the massive gates from the dark corner she hid in. She managed to remain undiscovered because the guards were less focused on the mansion and more focused on the exterior and the people coming in, and while that was beneficial in getting her this far, she had no idea how she would get past them.

After further inspection, she noticed that there were smaller gates off to the side, maybe she could somehow slip through. Because it was only a matter of time before she was found out if she remained where she was so it was better for her to take the risk than do nothing.

Her luck was yet to run out because a guard opened one of the side gates for someone to get in and was immediately called over by someone else positioned at the main gates, leaving it open long enough for Celine to dash for it like there was a tiger at her heels.

She was only out the gate for a split second and before she could regain her bearings, an unfamiliar Alpha was standing in front of her…

Asher had hesitated to head inside his mansion although he had hurried things so that he could return early, stepping out of the car outside the gates so he could go on a midnight walk to clear his head. His home was deep in his territory so walking around without protection was something he did often. Just as he began his walk, a flash of white caught his attention and he moved before his brain could process who or what he saw.

There was no chance for Celine to even even scream, one moment, she was finally getting her freedom and the next she was getting snatched up by a dangerous looking Alpha, his hazel gold eyes glowing as he stared predatorily down at her.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?”

Celine’s eyes widened in horror, her hands up against the Alpha’s chest even as his powerful arms wrapped around her waist. *He had been the one to buy her! This dangerous Alpha had thrown away so much money for her sake.*

The scent of smoke and spices washed over her, doing nothing to ease her panic. Behind her, she could hear men gathering around.

“We’re really sorry about letting her out of our sight. boss.”

“We’ll take our punishment with honor-”

“Shut it for a moment,” The Alpha they had been referring to silenced them and Celine felt her legs getting swept out from underneath her.

Her hands sank into the soft fur coat the Alpha wore, a soft sound of surprise leaving her. Celine had been stunned speechless when he spoke to her, and she found that she couldn’t protest when he took her right back inside the walls of the mansion she had worked so hard to escape from.

He strode through the front doors this time, long legs eating up the stairs. Celine closed her eyes in despair, opening them when the Alpha slowed to a stop to find them back in the bedroom she had woken up in.

She backed away into the headboard of the bed when he placed her down, unsettled by the tense silence between them. She winced when he walked over to a wall to flip a switch, sending bright but warm light spilling into the room.

She had avoided looking at him while he carried her but now he was all she could see. Celine was the last person to stereotype but the fact with the way the Alpha was dressed and how his guards had referred to him all pointed him out to be a Mafia King.

His slightly long dark red hair was finger combed and he took off the heavy fur coat he had been wearing with ease, revealing the maroon dress shirt he wore underneath. The buttons were mostly unbuttoned and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms.

Celine’s breath caught in her throat when he started taking out weapons, wanting to put even more distance between them but also too scared to even move. “You’re a Mafia King.” She blurted out, the one stunned the most by her own words.

This caught Asher’s attention, a slanted smile breaking out on his face, teeth sharp. “So you talk?”

Celine clamped her lips shut again, crawling backwards when the Alpha started for the bed. He hadn’t denied her allegations so she had to be right - *how much bad luck could she possible have?* There was no way she could convince a Mafia King to let her go, nor was there a way to try to escape him, especially after her first failed attempt.

She grasped the sheets tightly in both hands, closed her eyes tight and shrank away when he just followed right after her.

Asher studied the Omega up close with unabashed interest. The more he learned about her, the more his curiosity was piqued. He could tell at first glance that she wasn’t like the usual Omegas who signed up to be auctioned off and now she hadn’t even know who he was.

Asher wasn’t the type to buy an Omega, that was more down Nolan’s alley but he was yet to see a bad side to buying her. Her reactions were as delicate as her features - he would thoroughly enjoy his purchase.

“What’s your name?”

Celine pried open one eye when a long moment of silence had passed and the Alpha still hadn’t done a thing, her breath stuttering at how close he was. At this distance, she could make out the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, his striking eyes were like smoldering embers and they were fixed intently on her.

“Celine,” She whispered, looking away.

She was surprised when the Alpha just straightened up and walked over to the floor to ceiling wardrobe to reach into it, whiplashed by how natural he was being. As an Omega bought at an auction by a Mafia King, should she be in his master bedroom? What were even her required duties?

The Mafia King languidly walked back to her side, an object held up by his long fingers. Celine couldn’t make out what it was until he caught her wrist and slipped it around her wrist, the fur tickling her skin.

“Call me Asher,” He murmured, the cuff clicking shut.