Chapter 2

• Kyra sat in the cold, dark cell, her body trembling with fear and sorrow. The image of her father's severed head haunted her every waking moment. She clung to her belly, whispering soothing words to her unborn child.
• Suddenly, the sound of a key turning in the lock jolted her to attention. The door creaked open, and a black figure stepped inside. It wasn’t a guard.
• "Kyra," the figure whispered, "I’m here to help you. But we have very little time." Her pulse quickened. Was this a trap, or her last chance at freedom?
• “The auction is set for tomorrow. All the alphas have been invited. On the way here, I heard Tristan's guards say that they would change shifts at night. If you want to escape, this is the only opportunity. "
• “Who are you? Why do you want to help me?”
• The figure paused and then left quickly, leaving Kyra alone again with questions.
• ‘Should I take a chance and believe what he or she said?’ Kyra had never felt so hopeless before. Maybe she should wait and see…
• Night fell, and the palace was eerily quiet. Kyra knew maybe this was the time.
• She could hear the guards outside the cell left. The gate of the cell was ajar! They were shifting!
• Kyra decided to run, if she was lucky enough, she may get freedom again.
• She quickly slipped through the corridors, her heart racing. She avoided the guards, her every sense on high alert. As she neared the stables, she heard voices and ducked behind a pillar.
• "It's only a matter of time before she's auctioned off," one guard said. "Who will fuck her next?"
• “Maybe some perverted Alphas who like to fuck pregnant women?” The other one laughed out loud.
• Anger devoured her, but she could do nothing but run.
• Kyra immediately raced for the woods which for the first time ever, appeared to be very far from the palace. When she got into the woods without getting caught, she still did not breathe in relief because now, she would have to avoid all the hundreds of guards that were positioned all over the woods.
• On a normal day, it wouldn't be hard but today every little sound she heard from birds and insects made her jump in fear. Everything sounded like approaching footsteps to her ears and she nearly ran into the middle of four guards.
• Just when she thought that she had run far from the guards and was now free to move the way she wanted because she was close to the pack's border, she ran into a guard who had moved away from the others to urinate.
• Kyra quickly turned around and made to run back when she hit her foot against a tree trunk and released a wild scream of pain before she could stop herself. Her hand slapped against her mouth but it was already too late.
• She had been found already.
• “Stop there, don't even think of running." The guard's voice was cold behind her as he stopped urinating and began to walk to where she was standing.
• She shouldn't listen to him, she should run but Kyra knew that he would chase her. She was not as fast or as strong as her father's other children, she would be caught before she took a step so she stood still.
• “Raise your hands up and turn around, slowly”
• Kyra did as she was told, she slowly raised her hand up and began to turn around
• “Well, well, well…" The guard was surprised to see her, “You were trying to run away, huh?" He asked as he took in the bag she was carrying behind her.
• “No," Kyra shook her head, “I was not trying to run away."
• “Could have fooled me but you have a bag behind you so, of course, you were trying to run away. Come here.” he waved at her to go to him.
• Kyra remained where she was as her eyes darted around, looking for a way to escape. She did not like the dark glint in this guard's eyes. It was evil and…
• The guard jumped and grabbed her by the hand to yank her into his arms. She tried to scream but his hand slammed over her mouth, locking the scream in.
• “Were you trying to run away from me? You are nothing but a weak little and there is no one here to save you. Now that you are in my arms, if you promise to not scream, I might allow you to leave after doing what I want with you. I know you are wise, you don't want to be sold to all those alphas so pick wisely. Me or them?”
• Kyra cringed back and nearly vomited when the stench of alcohol from his mouth filled her nostrils as he spoke in her face. He grabbed her hips with one hand to press her closer and bile rose up in her throat when she felt that hot hard length of him pressing against her.
• He wanted her to sleep with him in exchange for her freedom. She couldn't do it. She would die first but she did not need to let him know that. Her eyes were wide with fear as she pleaded with him to use it. She knew that if she struggled, he would rape her.
• “What? You don't want to do it?” The guard sneered at her, "It's not like you are a virgin or something. I will not be the first to go in there. I would just take it by force if you don't agree. No one would hear your screams anyway and thinking about it, it would be more fun that way. Hearing your lovely scream while I… Arghhh” The guard jumped away from her and screamed when she bit his hand and kicked him in the groin at the same time.
• “Well done. Thought you would be raped already.” Tristan’s cold voice rang out, making Kyra freeze in terror.
• Tristan stepped out from the shadows, his eyes burning with furious mockery. He approached the guard, who was writhing in pain on the ground, and drew his sword. With a swift, brutal stroke, he severed the guard’s head.
• Blood sprayed across Kyra's face as the head rolled to her feet. The pungent smell of blood filled her nostrils, and she couldn’t help but vomit.
• Tristan grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Do you know why you can escape? It’s my trap! You idiot bitch! Try to run again, and your brothers and sisters will be the next,” he said viciously.
• Kyra's eyes widened, unable to understand why Tristan would torture her in this way.
• But all she could do is to beg for mercy.
• Her voice shaking with fear. “No! No… please. I will never run away again, please, please don't kill them.”
• Tristan’s grip tightened painfully before he finally released her. “Good luck to your auction tomorrow!” he snarled before letting the maids take her away.
• ‘Why would I love a devil who wants others to rape me?’ Kyra felt as if the world was plunging into an endless abyss of darkness. She couldn’t fathom what lay ahead for her and her baby. Which ruthless Alpha would win this dreadful auction?
• At the auction.
• Kyra stood on the raised platform, her heart pounding in her chest. The auction room was filled with murmurs of anticipation, a sea of hungry eyes fixated on her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and closed her eyes for a moment.
• "Stay calm, Kyra," her wolf’s voice echoed in her mind. "We need to remain strong. Show no fear."
• "I’m trying," Kyra replied inwardly, her mental voice trembling. "But it’s so hard. I can feel their eyes, their intentions..."
• "Focus on me," her wolf urged gently. "Breathe. We’ve faced worse. For the sake of our child, we must endure this."
• Kyra nodded subtly, grounding herself in her wolf’s steady presence. She opened her eyes, trying to project a facade of calm despite the terror gnawing at her insides.
• The auctioneer’s voice rang out, listing her attributes in a cold, detached manner. Kyra’s mind drifted, but she forced herself to listen, to be present. This was her reality now, and she needed to face it head-on.
• “Ten thousand dollars,” a commanding voice suddenly announced, cutting through the murmur of the crowd like a knife.
• Kyra’s entire body seemed to jolt with electricity. She turned her head sharply towards the source of the voice, her eyes locking onto an Alpha. His presence was imposing, his eyes sharp and assessing.
• The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. Kyra’s heart raced as she stared at the Alpha, feeling a strange mix of fear and curiosity. She knew that her fate, and the fate of her unborn child, hung in the balance of this moment.