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I am NOT going to be an auction item.
My parents will kill me. If this is what Wolf intends, to auction off the only daughter of Beast, Gaeton, and Isabelle Belmonte, the heir to the Belmonte territory . . . there’s no way people won’t find out. That everyone won’t find out. My shame will be on full display, and if I do it wearing this dress?
No. Absolutely not.
I glare at my phone, but other than the notification under my message changing to read, nothing happens. He doesn’t even try to text back.
I’m serious, Wolf. I’m not doing this. It’s too far.
Thirty seconds later, a picture comes in, and my heart drops into my stomach. It’s of Luke. He’s sitting at his favorite coffee shop, bent over his laptop with a look of concentration on his face. When he works, he’s completely oblivious to the world around him. Wolf could slit his throat, and he’d never see the man coming.
Wolf doesn’t reiterate his threat, but he doesn’t have to. He’s close enough to take this picture, so he’s close enough to follow through on his threat.
I swallow hard, feeling sick.
I hate you.
Wolf
See you soon, baby.
I lie and tell my family that I’m not feeling well, ignore their pointed questions about why the fuck I’m not home, and dodge some well-meaning texts from Michelle and Zayne. Then I’m at the airport and boarding a plane. Wolf booked me first class, but I can’t bring myself to appreciate it. Or the driver and car waiting for me when I land. He’s thought of every detail . . . and I’ve done nothing but think.
I may feel seen by Wolf in a way I’ve never experienced before, but that doesn’t mean I know him. I don’t know what he looks like. He says he wants me, but it’s easy to lie. It’s not like I’ve challenged him in any meaningful way. I let him fuck me bare, for gods’ sake.
The city shifts around me as we leave its limits and head into the countryside. The longer I go without hearing from him, the worse I feel. Even as I tell myself not to be so weak, I can’t help reaching for my phone. This time, I don’t bother to text. I call him.
He doesn’t make me wait long before he answers. “You’re making good time.”
I look around, even though I know there’s nothing to see. “Who are you, Wolf?”
He’s silent for a beat. “You’ll find out at the auction.”
My heart skips a beat. “What?”
“Come on, baby. You didn’t think I’d send you to the auction and let someone else take you, did you?”
Honestly, I hadn’t been sure what to think. I settle back in the seat, telling myself I’m seven different kinds of foolish for being comforted by his words. He hasn’t given me anything. Trusting him is downright suicidal. “And here I thought you were serving me up to whoever you work for.”
“You’re mine, Ruby.”
I jolt at him saying my name again. Not baby. Not Red. Ruby. I clear my throat. “Why all the song and dance? You already had me. Thoroughly.” I don’t know why I ask. He’s held his information close from the first moment we started interacting. There’s no reason for him to be explicit now.
“Because you’re mine,” he repeats. “And it’s time everyone knows it.”
Oh. Oh. “So this is you pissing on my foot.”
“No, baby. This is a declaration of intention. After I take you in the auction, everyone who’s worth a damn in our world will know who you belong to. No more sneaking around. No more games. No pretending you’re just a good girl who’s been forced into being bad.”
My chest feels too tight. “My parents are going to find out. You know that, right? It doesn’t matter what you intend. They’ll string you up and skin you alive.”
Wolf, the bastard, chuckles. “Then I guess I better make you fall in love with me so you’ll intervene on my behalf.”
The rushing in my head almost convinces me that I misheard him. Lust, yes. But he’s asking for love? Maybe I should have seen the writing on the wall with how possessive he is, how jealous. This was only going to end one of two ways—with one of us dead or with us together.
It’s still outrageous that he’s just saying this shit. “I haven’t even seen your face. We’ve barely had a single conversation. You can’t honestly expect me to fall in love just because you’re good at getting me off.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, baby. We don’t need all the pussyfooting and small talk. We see each other.” There’s a sound in the background, and he clears his throat. “Don’t fuck with the Concierge. They won’t find your mouthing off as cute as I do.”
“Wolf—”
“See you soon.” He hangs up, leaving me spi
The car turns off the main road, and I stare at the sprawling estate. We have money, but this opulence is on a different level. The place is obviously a private residence, but it’s easily two or three times the size of my aunt’s estate, and the grounds seem to stretch forever. I even catch sight of a boathouse in the distance, perched on the edge of a large lake.
We bypass the main entrance and circle around to the side, just like Wolf instructed. The driver doesn’t speak a word as they hold the door open for me and set my bag on the ground next to the door with the skeleton key knocker. I’m still deciding if I’m supposed to thank them when they get back in the car and drive off without looking back.
“Well, I guess that answers that.” There’s no going back now. I march to the door and knock.