Chapter 12

Twelve

VANESSA

I woke up freezing the next morning.

Stretching on the top bunk, I rubbed my cold feet. The thin, scratchy blanket did nothing to help with the cold. I was sleeping in a place that looked like a freaking warehouse with a bunch of other omegas in bunk beds.

I hated every second of being here.

It reminded me of my past life- before the leaders of Howl's Edge courted me. This was a nightmare on repeat, and like I was living my past life all over again. The giant clock on the wall said 8:30 am.

I was damn well familiar with this place since my uncle tried to sell me numerous times, but I'd sabotage every attempt or run away. All my aunt and uncle saw were dollar signs when I was around them. I was nothing more to them.

Rubbing my eyes, I saw a couple of omegas silently walking around and picking out dresses from the long rack on the other end of the large warehouse. Yawning, I contemplated running away from here, but years ago, security was lax. Everything looked different now. Sure enough, there was an alpha guard at the door, watching our every move with his nostrils flared at our omega scents mingling about.

I climbed down the bunk bed and grabbed the backpack that I still had, which was full of my essentials. The omega on the bottom bunk was still sleeping, wrapped in two thin blankets. Where the hell did she find another blanket? I could only see wisps of her hair sticking out from the top.

Locating a bathroom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth, thankful I packed some things.

When I walked out of the bathroom, a bald man was running around and clapping his hands- waking up the rest of the omegas. There were about ten of us in the room today.

"Chop chop! Get ready, ladies. The auction's at nine," he announced, panicking.

What? No, Jack was supposed to be here at eleven.

"It was supposed to be at eleven," I said.

"You're going to the nine o'clock, young lady," he said, rushing over to me and picking at my too-big sweater. He was a beta and smelled strongly of cologne, making my head spin.

"Please let me do the eleven o'clock one," I said. "I'm not feeling well right now."

"Get changed into a dress before our makeup artists get here," he scolded me, completely ignoring my request. Figured. "There's nothing special about you, my dear."

With that, he left the room, and I was forced to sift through the number of hideous dresses on the rack. If Jack came at eleven, I was screwed one hundred percent.

My only hope was that no one would want me.

As I walked with the omegas to the front of the dreary warehouse- I noticed the morning crowd of alphas waiting for our arrival. My heart rate increased, and my palms grew sweaty as I climbed up the steps onto the stage. The sunlight beat down on us, causing several people to shade their faces with their hands.

Once we were on the stage, I listened as the auctioneer began his opening speech:

"Welcome to the Omega Auctions! Where all your mating dreams come true. Here, you will see twelve stunning omegas, ripe for the picking and ready to bear you all the babies you desire."

He began with the first girl down the line, and my heart raced in my chest as I scanned the crowd of alphas shouting out numbers. My eyes stopped on the biggest and tallest alpha there, standing with his arms crossed. He had bright red hair that hung straight down to his shoulders and piercing green eyes. His strong jawline showed off his alpha masculinity and strength. Even the basic blue shirt he wore looked sexy as fuck on him.

He was observing the line of omegas. When his eyes met mine, it was like fate happened. A string of emotions pulled through me, wanting to bond with him. To cuddle into his muscular chest.

I quickly looked down, my heart beating like crazy. I remembered that I wore the ugliest dress I could find. It was a short purple dress that stopped just above my knees with strands of thread hanging off the bottom. To top it off, it was full of glitter on the sleeves that went down to my elbow.

I tried not to make eye contact with any of the alphas after that.

I didn't want to be sold off. Not until Jack got here. I had to make it through this. Before I knew it, the time came when the auctioneer screamed out my name.

He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to the front with him on the stage. When he spoke into the microphone, I cringed when I saw droplets of his spit flying all over it.

"Here we have Vanessa!" he said, lifting my arm up. "This fiery redheaded beauty is just waiting for an alpha to sink into her. Any takers?"

The bids began rolling in, and I was surprised. In the past, no one wanted a scrawny nineteen-year-old. But, after giving birth, I was more voluptuous, with my boobs not even fitting into the dress I picked.

"$500."

"$1000."

My heart sank as I watched the alphas bid over me. I was going to be sold for sure. I looked everywhere for Jack, but I didn't see any sign of him. None at all. This was it. I didn't see any way out of it.

"$10,000!"

I gasped at the offer and quickly looked to see who roared such an atrocious amount. Even the omegas behind me in line gasped at the huge price increase. It was the redheaded alpha, and he was smirking when the crowd of alphas grew silent. His stark eyes were on me as I looked at him. His gaze lingered on my face in a predatory way, ready to take what was his.

I gulped as my pulse raced.

That was the last and final offer.

"Going once, going twice," shouted the auctioneer. "Sold!"

Fuck it.

My life was completely over now.