Page 51 of Dark Auctioned Mate

“There is a medical facility in The Shadowridge Pack, remember?”

“Oh, yes.” Rael turned to Alanis. “They are our friends. They will assist. August, call and tell them what is happening. They should prepare them to take ten or more women who are drugged and traumatized.” Rael glanced at Alanis. “You are sure you are up to this?”

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

“This is a dangerous mission, Alanis. If anything goes wrong—”

“Then we improvise. That’s how rescuing works, right?”

“Right,” he inhaled deeply. “Now, let’s go free

some women and hopefully not ruin our whole mission in the process.”

“That’s the spirit. They have waited long enough.”

Chapter 16 - Alanis

The warehouse was exactly what Venn had claimed it would be—an old textile mill on the east side of town, so close to the river that the screams of anyone would be drowned out by the rushing water. Its structure was dark and ominous, towering over the night sky, with broken windows and rusted metal siding.

Alanis stood behind a dumpster on the opposite side of the street, watching the lone guard at the front door. He was bored, smoking, and clearly not expecting trouble.

“One guard in sight,” she said to Rael, who stood pressed up against the wall beside her. “Probably more inside.”

“Two more,” his wolf senses detected what she was unable to. One was on the perimeter, while the other one was inside, where they were holding the women.

“Three guards for ten women?” Alanis frowned. “That’s sloppy.”

“Venn is overconfident. He believes that his operation is too advanced to be found out.” Rael let his eyes roam over the building. “Have you seen the weakest part of this structure?”

Alanis had intensely reviewed the satellite photos and the maps of the building that August had obtained at the city office before they came. “There,” she nodded in the direction. “The north wall, just over where the loading docks were. The foundation is not solid. There was a little flood three years ago that wrecked the support structure. The wall itself is solid, but the door frame is bent. If we push in the right way…”

“It will look like the girls had forced it open inside,” Rael finished. “Smart.”

They waited until the perimeter guard had gone through his round, and then they moved. Rael’s shifter speed enabled him to cross the open street within seconds, taking Alanis along.

The north wall was just as the plans showed; it was a warped metal door with rusty hinges and a frame that had shifted just enough to create a gap. Alanis pulled out the small pry bar she’d brought and wedged it into the gap.

“When I pop this,” she whispered, “it’s going to make noise. You need to create a distraction.”

Rael nodded. “On three.”

She started to count, then pressed down on the pry bar. The door creaked, metal rubbing against metal. At that moment, Rael hurled a rock at the other side of the building. It fell with a bang on the metal siding, reverberating into the silent night.

“The fuck was that?!” She heard one of the guards shout.

“Most likely a cat,” another replied. “Go check it out.”

They heard some footsteps fade away. Alanis tried the door a second time, and this time it yielded, swinging inward with a screech that made her wince.

They quickly crept in and closed the door behind them. It was dark inside, and there were a few bare bulbs on the ceiling. The smell of rust, piss, and fear hit her all at once.

Rael walked through old machines and storage bins, with the silent grace of a predator. Alanis followed quietly as well.

They found the women in what seemed like it used to be a storage room. The bolt cutters quickly sliced through the heavy padlock, revealing ten women inside. Some were lying or sitting on bare mattresses, while others sat on the concrete floor. Their eyes looked glazed, and their movements were slow. They were drugged. Just like Venn said.

Smoldering rage bubbled within Alanis. These were daughters, sisters, and friends of someone. Here, they were inventory, merchandise to be sold.

She crouched beside the nearest woman, with dark, curly hair, green eyes and pale skin. “I’m here to help,” she said softly. “We’re going to get you out of here.”