ARKISHA
My head felt like it was going to explode; the pounding was relentless, and rattling noise only intensified the pain. I attempted to open my eyes, feeling my body shake, while a strong scent overwhelmed my senses.
A groan then escaped me, and when I finally managed to pry my eyes open, I nearly shut them again in disbelief at finding myself inside a cage.
No matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, it was undeniable—I was in a cage draped with red cloth, blocking any view of the outside. The shaking sensation now made sense; I was being transported somewhere.
I sat up, wincing as pain shot through my wrist due to the tight restraints. My mouth was also bound, leaving me unable to call for help.
"Damn," I thought, staring at my now clean body adorned with black off-shoulder lace dress I didn't remember wearing.
The last thing I recalled was Rudwig visiting me in the dungeon and injecting me with a syringe. Beyond that, my memory was a blank slate, and each attempt to remember only worsened my headache.
The rattling noise heightened my anxiety, especially when it suddenly stopped, and I heard numerous voices outside. Though I couldn't see them, I was certain there was a whole crowd out there.
At that moment, a chill coursed through me as I realized my situation.
There was no way…
"Our last and most special item for tonight!" a man announced, his voice booming through a microphone. I clenched my teeth, hoping my suspicion was wrong, but the confirmation crushed that hope.
"The Fallen Luna!"
Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut as the cloth covering the cage was yanked away and the spotlight blinded me momentarily. Gradually, I opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the harsh light and the masked figures seated before the stage.
Once my vision cleared, I realized the entire audience was staring at me like I was some sort of sideshow. It was revolting, especially seeing the smug grins on those men's faces.
"We'll start the bidding for the Fallen Luna at 50 gold!" announced the auctioneer, drawing my attention to him.
Fallen Luna? Was that supposed to be me?
I frowned, but then I started to wonder who would be crazy enough to spend 50 gold on me when that sum could already buy a mansion. Surely, no one in their right mind would—
"55 gold!" shouted a man from the audience, raising his number as if he were purchasing a mere trinket. My eyes widened in shock. The way that old man leered at me made my skin crawl.
I was only hearing about this underground auction, but never had I imagined I'd be sold here one day. Though I hadn't killed Damien, this punishment felt worse than death.
"60 gold!" Another bid came in, with the price climbing higher and higher. Some women were among the bidders, but only men seemed eager to outbid each other to buy me.
It was disgusting, making my stomach churn and leaving me feeling utterly defiled.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, another bidder raised the amount, causing a wave of whispers to ripple through the crowd. I even snapped out of a daze and scanned the audience to see who that senile man was.
"1,000 gold!" I swallowed hard, my gaze locked onto the man willing to spend such a fortune on me. I was expecting an old man, but looking at him, he didn't seem that old.
What could he possibly want from me? After the incident with Damien, I was certain there were already rumors about it, and my reputation had plummeted. Wasn't that why the auctioneer referred to me as a Fallen Luna?
"Going once, going twice!"
I squinted to get a better look at the man. Though he sat alone on the back, and his face was obscured by a mask, his hairstyle and voice were unmistakable. I might be disoriented from whatever drug Rudwig had given me, but I was sure the man I was staring at was none other than the Alpha King.
I could hardly believe it. The Alpha King himself was bidding on me, and for such a hefty sum of gold. My heart raced in my chest, a mixture of fear and confusion swirling inside my gut.
What did His Majesty want with someone like me, a Fallen Luna with a tarnished reputation?
The auctioneer's voice droned on, counting down the final moments of the bidding war. Each second felt like an eternity as I waited for the inevitable outcome.
"SOLD!"
I clenched my fist, unsure of what to feel. As much as I wanted to scream and demand to know what the fuck was going on, my body refused to obey me. All I managed was to stare at the Alpha king, who had already stood up.
The cage I was in then was covered again before they moved me to another location. Soon, it felt like I was isolated in a room. The overwhelming silence filled me with unease, making me wonder what would become of me.
I shut my eyes, contemplating the various possibilities. Should I risk an escape attempt, or should I wait to uncover why His Majesty had purchased me?
After several minutes, the sound of the door opening jolted me. The same intense presence I had sensed three months ago filled the room, confirming that I had been sold to Alpha King Eros.
A shiver ran down my spine, and my palms began to sweat. Unlike when I first saw him at the palace, where he was distant, his proximity now made his aura overwhelmingly suffocating.
I couldn't tell if it was because he was so powerful or because I was feeling weak at the moment. Regardless of the reason, a deep sense of dread washed over me, and my whole body started shivering.
As he yanked the cloth away, I couldn't help but flinch, my throat drying up as his intense stare bore down on me. It felt like his gaze alone could kill, and to think that I found his eyes mesmerizing before, just because they were different in color, made me realize how naive I had been, viewing everything through rose-colored glasses.
"What are you staring at? Greet me." The Alpha King's voice was a low, raspy growl, sending chills down my spine.
Instinctively, I composed myself within the large cage, kneeling with as much grace as I could muster. The chains binding my wrists clinked as I placed my hands on top of my thighs, and despite the pounding pain in my head and body, I managed a slight bow.
"Do you recognize me?" he asked, and I could only nod because my mouth was still restrained. He hummed, removing his mask. I already knew his identity, yet it still surprised me.
"Free her." He instructed, and the man behind him quickly followed.
As he opened the cage and freed my wrists and mouth from their restraints, I felt like I could breathe properly again.
"Why..." Was the first word that came out of my mouth as soon as I could finally speak. "Why did you buy me, Your Majesty?"
"Are we going to have this conversation while you're still inside?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows as we were now alone in the room. I shook my head, lips pressed together.
"I'm sorry," I said, my voice barely audible as I slowly got out of the cage. My body was so frail that I couldn't stand without support, causing me to stumble and cling to the cage as soon as I stepped out.
"What? Did they sell a defective item?" Alpha King Eros remarked, frowning and looking down at me, making me bite the inside of my cheek.
I already had heard various rumors about him—his reputation for violence, cruelty, and lack of empathy, but hearing his words right now, treating me like an object, confirmed that those weren't just rumors… It was a fact.
"I endured physical and mental suffering for weeks because of my mate's infidelity. I was imprisoned in my pack's dungeon for three months after being falsely accused of his murder, and my brother-in-law drugged me before I ended up being sold here. I'm not defective, just currently weakened," I defended myself, looking up at him with the pride of Alpha blood flowing through me.
I expected him to feel disrespected by my response, to find me arrogant, but instead, he appeared amused, leaving me to wonder what thoughts were running through his mind right now.
"Feisty, aren't we?" He smirked, still looking down at me. "Well then, are you claiming to be innocent? That you didn't murder your husband?"
"Yes," I replied almost instantly, "His mistress set me up; he was already dead when I got to his study."
"Hmm." The Alpha King hummed again, giving me the impression he didn't believe my words. The silence that followed was heavy, making me shift uncomfortably under his penetrating gaze.
I looked away, concentrating on trying to stand again. After all, it wasn't a nice feeling to be looked down on.
"If you think I killed my husband, why did you buy me then, Your Majesty?" I questioned as I finally managed to stand up. However, my knees buckled again after seconds, causing me to fall.
I shut my eyes as my head collided with the floor, causing a sharp pain. Blood trickled on my forehead as I opened my eyes, and I gritted my teeth when I saw his shoes directly in front of my face. I knew he wouldn't help me, yet it still left me feeling upset.
"Let's get married," he said out of nowhere, prompting me to look up at him. My mouth fell open, and I tried to speak, wanting to ask if he was insane, but no words came out, fortunately.
The Alpha King then sighed, looking at me as if I were a pathetic being. "I bought you to make you my wife; does that answer your question?"