Page 29 of Dark Revolution

“Outbid me,” I murmur, angling my body closer to the omega. “And I’ll show you. Your bid.” I didn’t miss the uptick in fear as this pompous ass storms closer. He’s the one she’s been terrified of. I’d be stupid if I didn’t think some part of her feared me too, but that will be remedied once I get her home.

“No. The bid ends here. She’s mine.”

“Do you prefer I go higher?” I jeer, crouching down into a defensive stance. “Half a million and a thousand. I can go all night. Can you?”

Caulder steps forward, fingers outstretched, eyes solid black. No doubt the killing rage is filling him right now. Good. I’d love to rid the world of this festering pimple once and for all.

“Hold him.” The High Echelon Alpha steps down, his growl reverberating through the room. Many Alphas shrink under the onslaught, but I hold firm. I owe this jackass nothing. “You will bid, or you will cede. Those are the rules. You will not make a fool of me or these proceedings.”

“She. Is. Mine,” he bellows, lunging forward. Langston springs into action, grabbing one arm as another Alpha grabs the other. For a moment, I’m even more grateful to Langston than I can formulate words for. This young pest would be nothing for me to get rid of, but he’s not important right now.

My world narrows down to one thing, the whimpering abused omega behind me. If she can hold herself together despite all the atrocities thrown at her, I can be a bigger Alpha and squelch the urge to maim this pup…for now. After the auction, if he makes any move against her, he will taste my wrath.

“Do you wish to bid higher, Lord Alpha?” The auctioneer looks between us, brows furrowed. He’s caught in the middle of this battle and has no choice but to see it through.

“Seven hundred and fifty thousand,” Caulder shouts out, spittle flying from his mouth. “And back the fuck off of her. She’s not yours yet, cunt.”

My lips curl up into a snarl. “One. Million. Cunt.”

Rage flows from his body, washing over the crowd. If he goes higher, I’m done for. Glancing behind me, I vow then and there that I will go get her. Even if this Alpha wins tonight, I’ll be there to rescue her, to pick up the pieces. His howl spills out, and he throws himself at me, breaking free from the Alpha’s grasp, fingers curled like talons.

The two other Alphas grab his arms, holding him immobile as Langston takes his place by my side. Caulder looks up at the High Echelon Alpha, lips curling up into a fierce snarl. “You said I could have her. You know she’s mine.” Again, pulling free from one of the Alphas, Caulder lunges forward, grabbing the High Echelon Alphas cloak in his shaking fist.

“If you win her, boy,” He hisses back, wrenching his cloak from Caulder’s iron grip. “Do you wish to bid higher?”

“I cannot, High Echelon Alpha Varnack. I have nothing left.”

“Then she is not yours. Guardians, take him away.” Turning to me, the High Echelon Alpha’s lips curl up into a feral grin. “That’s quite a lot of money. May I inquire as to where you procured it all? No one who works in Stanlion is privy to that much wealth.”

Holding out my bag, I begin to count out the credits, noting the salivating of the other Alphas around me. “Long ago, my family started to put away money. I merely discovered where they hid it. I never imagined it would buy me something as precious as my very own omega.”

The other Alphas and betas grant me a wide berth as the credits keep piling up. The omega stares at them, eyes getting even wider. No doubt she’s never seen even half of this. I’ve touched the credits enough by now to know them by the feel, so I don’t even look down as I pull them out.

I keep my eyes on her and purr loud and strong. I don’t give two shits if it makes me appear weak; my mate is in distress, and it’s my job to soothe her, something these assholes cannot even begin to comprehend. When the pile in front of me is massively larger than the pile in my bag, I pull away and look at the High Echelon Alpha.

“If everything is in order, I will take my omega now.”

A grin slithers up his lips as he pulls my arm in his. Nodding to two Alphas on either side, he examines my mark, peering at it in the light. He pulls out a scanner, and I hold my breath. Now is the moment of truth. A soft beep interrupts the silence, and everyone leans forwards as he reads the report.

Langston shuffles behind me, a faint whiff of nervous energy wafting off of him. Should I be concerned? Or would he be like this regardless? If the High Echelon is even worse now than they were back then, I could see why there would be fear, but I don’t care. Even if something goes wrong, I’ll fight to the death to keep her safe.

“Jaxxon. It seems you live in the high levels, but you have no occupation. Why is that? Everyone in Stanlion works. Why not you?”

Before I can answer, Langston steps up and clears his throat. “My Lord High Echelon Alpha, he does have an occupation, but not one listed. Same as me.” Holding out his wrist, his lips thin into a grim line. “I believe you’re familiar with Hungry Desires?”

Recognition flares up in his eyes. “I have heard of such an establishment. And he works there with you?”

“Ask our Lady Alpha Marlana. She will vouch for him and me. Or you could just come down yourself and watch us work.”

I glance between the two, trying to discern the hidden story there. Instead of responding, the High Echelon Alpha merely nods and gestures towards the omega. “She’s yours then. Good luck in all your mating endeavors. May Ilaria smile down upon your union.” With a flamboyant whip of his cloak, he turns and walks away, the two other Alphas in tow.

The omega trembles as she stares up at me, eyes too wide for her face. Now that she’s mine officially, I drink her in, studying everything about her. I don’t know what they did to her in there, but she wears the horrors on her skin. Though her hair is clean and gleams in the light, it’s brittle, fragile, just like her. They must not have given her proper nourishment.

Red tinges my vision once more as I drift down to her body, still bared for anyone to see. She’s skin and bones, nothing like the pampered omegas I’m used to seeing. Yes, she’s pristine, as they say, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t mark the rest of her body. Bruises and puncture marks litter almost every available surface, and though her scent of fear rises the closer I get, I can’t help but touch her.

Peering back into her eyes, my heart clenches. She’s so like Annalise, right down to that permanent glare of defiance notching her eyebrows. She reeks of fear, and yet, she stares me down like an Alpha in her own right. Chuckling, I nod to Langston, and we both climb up the dais to unstrap her.

Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a cloak, similar to the one I wore when coming into the city. Does he just have heaps of these on hand? I don’t question it much further because I’m beyond grateful to have her covered up. She winces as the rough fabric abrades her skin, and I resume purring, angry at myself for stopping.