Chapter 2

Kimble

Brute chuckled as he gripped my neck and shoved me away. “I’ve never witnessed such an interesting auction here.”

I stumbled forward with anxiety swirling like a raging storm inside me. Who was my buyer? Was he going to cut me open to see my innards? There would be no one to save me.

A whimper escaped my lips as Brute forced me to walk to the office and pushed me into a room. “Stay here until the deal’s done!” he snarled. He handed me my shorts. “That’s your bonus for making us so much money.”

One by one, the girls started to leave until I was alone.

I had cried so much out of feelings of despair over the last few hours. I was left with nothing but numbness as I sat here thinking about the absurdity of my existence. Was this my fate?

The wrong sperm fertilized the egg in my mom’s womb.

Focusing intensely on why my mother couldn’t be like other mothers, my emotions burned so hard that they pushed me to the void, making me reflect on the nature of my suffering. My inner wound was shielded by layers of hardened shell.

And a layer just cut open, exposing me to the wolves. Waves of doubt crashed relentlessly against my mind. Was I born out of love?

“Kimble!” Brute’s gruff voice pulled me out of my reverie. “The money’s gone through. Madam Nella wants you in the office.” He threw a robe toward me. “The buyer wants you to wear this.”

With shaky hands, I took the robe and put it on. I followed Brute to where Madam Nella was waiting. “You did good,” she chuckled, leaning forward on her desk.

I nodded lightly and said, “My mother owed you a million dollars, but by selling me, you’ve covered that loss thrice over. Why don’t you set me free and keep everything you made tonight? I’ll disappear in the night and never come back.”

She raised an eyebrow to study me for a second, tipped her head back, and barked a laugh. She shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes as if she was amused by my words. “If I set you free, those wolves will come after me. What will I give them instead? You know what—keep that stupid idea to yourself!” She jerked her chin toward the door. “Just get lost!”

Brute gripped my upper arm and pulled me to the door. He took me out of the building to a black SUV with tinted windows in the parking lot, where three tall ruthless-looking men were standing like they were ready to kill.

A beautiful man with warm brown eyes got out of the car and opened the passenger-side door for me. “Get in,” his voice rumbled. He addressed Brute. “Thanks Brute, I’ll take over from here.” When Brute saluted him with a grin and left, he smiled, revealing a dimple. His chestnut hair was shoulder length, only adding to his appeal. Tattoos snaked over his arms, disappearing under his sleeves. He truly was a beautiful man, and I felt like there was no other man who could be this attractive. Or warm.

His demeanor made me relax a bit. I tightened my robe and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Hi, I’m Kenzie Simmons.” He brought his hand forward for me to shake.

“Leash her with a collar,” the same dark and deep throaty voice that had bid for me barked from behind me, making me jump. I whipped my head back only to see a dark-tinted window separating us from the rear seat. Chills ran down my spine. I clenched my jaw as my eyes widened trying to see through the glass.

“Yes, Alpha,” Kenzie replied and retracted his hand.

I gulped as Kenzie picked up a leather collar from the dashboard and opened its buckle. “Are you insane?” I squeaked. “I won’t wear it!” Who in their right mind makes someone wear a collar?

“Do it!” the voice commanded.

Kenzie took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Kimble. You have to do what Alpha orders. He’s your owner now.”

When he went to put the collar on, I slapped his hand away. “Stop it!” I snapped.

The door opened and one of the guards standing outside grabbed my hands. Kenzie tightened his lips and forced the collar around my neck. He buckled it and fastened it with a lock, sliding the key through the screen to my “owner.” Fear like I’d never experienced before coursed through my body, paralyzing my will and chilling my bones.

The guard left, closing the door behind me. Kenzie gave me the leash and secured the locks of the car. My eyes went to the leash in my lap. It was as if my owner was putting me on a rein, showing he had absolute control over me and could pull my leash any time. I clenched my fists around the leather, anxiety swarming inside me like a hive of angry bees.

The car rolled out of the parking lot and sped toward the highway. From the side-view mirror, I noticed that two more black sedans were following.

Darkness settled around me as the SUV sped along the lonely highway. The road cut through a forest with dense, towering trees, which stood like sentinels guarding the secrets of the wilderness. The headlights pierced the darkness, casting long shadows that danced amongst the trunks and foliage. Distant animal calls, wolves howling, would sound occasionally, cutting through the hum of the engine.

In order to break the silence, Kenzie put on soft classical music, which I didn’t recognize but I wish I had, because it brought tears to my eyes. “I have a small request,” I said meekly, glancing at him.

He hadn’t spoken a word since we set off about three hours back. “Sure!” he said, sounding surprised.

“Can you—” I contemplated whether I should ask, but went ahead with my question, nonetheless. “I had my bag packed at home.” I fidgeted with the leash in my lap. “Can you get that for me?”

“Your home?” he asked with amusement in his voice.

I nodded. “Yes, I can give you the address. It contains my books and…” I swallowed the remaining words. The bag contained the money I saved to run away with. It had about $2000 in a hidden pocket.

“And what?” he pushed.

“My clothes and photos,” I lied… partially. Other than a passport-size photo of me, there was nothing else in it. I intended to get my passport because I planned on escaping this country.

“I can’t promise, but we’ll see,” he replied, his shoulder tensing as he took a rough breath.

“Thanks.” I looked out the window and wondered if I could escape before my owner completely destroyed me. An hour later, a plan formed in my head. “How long before we get there?”

“Another two hours.”

“I need to pee.”

Kenzie jerked his head to look at me.

“Urgently,” I added.

He pursed his lips and looked forward, his eyes going weirdly blank for a moment. Several minutes later, he nodded and breathed, “Okay, I’ll stop, but you can’t go very far inside the forest. This place is full of dangerous beasts, especially wolves, who can attack you anytime.”

“I won’t,” I said.

I would. And I would run away.

He pulled the car to the side, and as soon as I opened the door, I was shocked to see him and two other guards already outside it. How did they get round the car in the flash of a second?

“You have five minutes,” Kenzie said.

Five minutes were more than enough. “Please stay here and don’t follow me.”

He chuckled. “Of course, I’ll follow you. But I’ll keep my distance.”

Shit. If he stayed close, how would I carry out my plan?

The two guards next to him gave me fierce looks, sniffing the air as I walked behind a tree. I took the blade out of my shorts, thanking Josh.