LUNA ASTERBELLE’S POV
Lights were getting my vision blocked. The room was occupied by lots of women who I hadn’t met before. All of them seemed to have no idea what this auction would bring them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be showing such a bright smile, as if their future would be better after being sold and bought by those they’re not acquainted with.
Most of the buyers would probably be scum—low-life wolves who are yearning for the satisfaction of their heating phases.
"How can I get out of this place?" I murmured to myself while I continued to observe the others as they were getting themselves ready.
"There’s no way out of here, Miss Asterbelle," a lady from my right side said, answering my query.
I turned around to face her and was immediately amazed by her dazzling beauty. Her simplicity stood out, unlike mine, which had numerous products applied to my face. Her lips curled upward, which made me stop staring at her.
"Sorry… You looked so elegant, I couldn’t even blink for a few seconds," I commented with a chuckle. "What did you mean that there’s no way out? Are we trapped in this pack house for eternity even after the auction?"
She nodded her head twice. "You’re quick to notice the small details. And yes, we’re held captive here. The auction was just an excuse to make us believe that we’d gain freedom if someone out there bought one of us," she answered, though she had to pause for a while to check her surroundings. "In the end, we would all end up being bought by the members of the Crimson Moon Pack; they had no intention to release us right from the start."
My mind went blank, trying to process and digest what I just heard.
"Are you being serious?"
Before I got to hear her reply, another woman joined in our conversation. Though she wasn’t interested in our topic, she was one of the maids in this pack. "Miss Asterbelle, the Alpha is looking for you," she informed me, which led me to bid my farewell to the other lady, whom I forgot to ask what her name was.
I followed the maid to the other side of the room, and she left me as soon as she opened the door for me.
"Alpha Holmes, I’m here as per your request." My voice echoed all throughout the small space I was in. It was completely darker here compared to earlier.
"Have you finally returned to your senses? I apologize if there’s too much lighting back there; I needed to make sure that everyone would be in sight," he spoke.
I have no clue how he noticed I was having a hard time, but this dim room was too much. "Why bother with the auction if I’ll… we’ll all end up in the same place?" I questioned, eager to feed my curiosity.
"So you already heard the truth from them, huh?" Alpha Holmes was displeased. "Should I just get rid of them once and for all? They’re such a nuisance for the newcomers," he added, then clicked his tongue on his way out.
I held the Alpha’s wrist unintentionally, which made him stop in his tracks. "What do you want, Luna?" he asked.
I couldn’t help but notice something weird in the tone of his question, and I instantly let go of his wrist when he faced me with that luscious smirk on his lips, as if he were aroused by the simple touch of my hand that reached his skin.
I moved back to avoid getting caught up in his weird thoughts. "Don’t hurt them, Alpha Holmes."
"Oh, yes, I will. Not unless you drop the formality, Luna," he said.
The tip of my thumb reached my mouth, and then I bit it as I tried to resist the urge to call him casually as he liked.
"You won’t? Alright then. Don’t come to me with tears on your face when you witness how I slaughter those women on stage, okay?" Alpha Holmes threatened me with his provocative words.
"S-Shin!" I called out his name loudly, which made his grin wider. "Damn you and your threats. What else do you want for the auction to be revoked?"
Shin shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing. I don’t have the authority to cancel or even postpone the auction to a later date even if I wanted to, since I wasn’t the host—it’s your father, Alpha Brian," he seriously responded. "You should go talk to Alpha Brian if you refuse to be sold. I’m sure that the price would either be your whole life or just your blood."
Everything started to crumble in my life. I could no longer determine any other reason why I was brought to this world other than fulfilling the purpose of carrying this wicked blood.
"Will you take proper care of me, Shin?" I asked with a blank expression. I felt like I was being cornered into his trap and that no matter which option I chose, I would still end up coming back to Shin’s side.
"Of course, Luna. You can mark my words that I’ll treasure you more than I love my life."
Despite his direct answer, I couldn’t feel the sincerity of his words. Even his aura stated otherwise, but I had no choice right now other than to have faith in him.
It’s not like I have any means of communication to seek the assistance of anyone from the Dark Shadow Clan, or at least Jerome’s aid.
"Let’s go, Luna. The auction is about to commence; they can’t miss the star of the show," Shin invited me as he stretched out his arm to lend me his hand, which I grasped.
Along the way to the back stage of the venue, I could already hear the audience’s applause as the rest of my companions were being introduced one by one. All of their distinct features as well as their historical backgrounds were discussed; it was their way to figure out whether someone should be sold at either a low or high price.
All of them had different preferences, but I can already assume how many of them would be dying to claim me for their own possession.
"You don’t have to do or say anything. Just stand there firmly until they finish your intro, understood?" Butler Zen muttered as he was giving me some final retouches to my attire. "It’s your turn now. Don’t mess things up unless you don’t want to see the sun rise up for another day," he added before he gently pushed me out of the back stage.
Silence was supposed to be the first to greet me, but instead, the deafening screams of several men were the ones filling the entire place.
"It seems like everyone here already has their eyes set on tonight’s bounty! I believe there’s no more need to tell you all who she is, but, for the sake of being fair, let’s all welcome Miss Luna Asterbelle—the woman who holds the blood to the world’s peace and catastrophe!"
The lights turned off all of a sudden, which brought a loud commotion to the surface. It’s not part of the auction since everyone was in a state of panic.
I could sense a familiar scent within the vicinity as well as the huge amount of aura that was coming from the women, who all had similar intentions to head out of the venue.
I made sure that I wouldn’t trample on anyone as I struggled to find my own escape route.
"Where do you think you are going, Luna?" Shin’s ferocious voice got stuck in my brain.
I can no longer tell whether Shin was really speaking to me, or was I only imagining it due to the fear of losing my life once I got out of their pack house?