1. Luka

1

LUKA

I knock the back of my knuckles on the door as I push it open, without waiting to be asked inside.

On the other side, sitting behind the massive desk that once belonged to our father is my brother Jarik, the Alpha of Alphas for the east coast monster factions. Sitting in his lap is his curvy little wife, Mercy. He's currently eating her alive with lips and tongue and the way she's squirming, quite possibly impaling her with another part.

"Jesus! Don't you two have a home?" My gaze snaps to the ceiling before I see something that can't be unseen.

Jarik growls out a string of curses in Serbian, our native language. Sounds of Mercy's giggles and the rustling of their clothes has me digging my palms into my eye sockets with a groan.

"When I texted you, I didn't mean you needed to rush over right now," Jarik growls.

I peek through my fingers to make sure they are decent. He looks mad enough to come at me, but I know him better than that. Behind him, Mercy bends over one of those baby swings that sways from side to side. I didn't even notice my nephew back there. Poor kid is going to be scarred for life when he gets older if my brother and his wife don't calm down a bit.

"I was in the area," I say, watching my sister-in-law lift the tiny creature to her shoulder. He's so small. And pink. It's hard to imagine Jarik or I ever being that size. Since little Noa is half human, it remains to be seen how much of the beast gene he might inherit.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" I ask as I cross the room and toss myself into one of the chairs angled across from the desk.

Jarik's attention is still over his shoulder, where Mercy is now sitting on the overstuffed couch across the room. A rich purr saturates the air when his mate places their son at her breast.

"Jarik! Fucking Christ, can you leave her alone for a damn second?" I shout when he licks his lips.

His purr cuts off and my brother clears his throat as he focuses on shuffling through a stack of papers on his desk before pushing one across to me. "Tonight's auction line up."

"And?" I ask without bothering to look at the paper. I already know what he wants to show me.

Jarik narrows his eyes. "I was surprised to see that Isabelle is listed. Would you know anything about that?"

"Why would I?" I'm careful to keep my face expressionless and my voice even.

"So, you're telling me that after being missing for months, Isabelle has just decided to willingly put herself up for auction."

"It would appear so." My words are clipped as I refuse to admit that I have anything to do with the missing female suddenly showing up on the auction roster. Even though we both know that Izzy would never willingly auction herself.

Jarik huffs a heavy breath through his nose and takes the paper back, setting it on top of the stack it came from. "What is going on with you, brother?"

Lounging in the chair before him, my only tell that anything is amiss are my twitching fingers. Jarik glances at them then focuses on my face.

"Talk to me, Luka," he pleads.

"Don't bother with an interrogation. I have nothing to tell you."

The less I incriminate my brother, the better. Especially once the vampire faction figures out where their little darling has disappeared to. So far there haven't been any inquiries into her where-abouts, but I suspect once they get word that she turned up at auction they will stir up a shit storm.

"Bullshit," Jarik snarls quietly. "She's been missing since the night she tried to kill Mercy—the night you were last seen with her—and now she suddenly shows up on the roster for auction."

I shrug, while my mind flashes back to that night. The sight of her with her throat torn out from the blade Mercy put through the front of her neck is burned into my memory. Along with it, the stark terror my beast felt when he lifted her limp body.

I escaped with her to a witch who owed me a favor. Her magic, and my blood, was barely enough to save her. Recalling just how close I came to losing her still sours my stomach.

Time stretches as Jarik and I stare at each other from across the massive desk. It's my brother who drops his eyes and leans back in his chair first.

"If you're planning some kind of revenge?—"

"It would be my right, as her mate." I sit up in the chair and lean forward, "After everything she's put me through, I have a damned good reason to teach Isabelle some humility."

"This isn't like you, Luka," Jarik says with a long sigh.

"Well," I fall back into the chair and run my hands over my face and into my hair. "There is only so much a male can take when his mate flaunts and fucks her way through the factions."

I have been more than patient with my wayward little mate. I've tried doing things her way, hoping that she'll come to me willingly. But no more. Now, we do this my way.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Jarik concedes.

"Is this all you needed?" I ask, pushing myself up from the chair. "I have an auction to win."

Jarik watches me and then nods his chin once.

"Bye Luka," Mercy calls from the couch then adds softly, "and good luck."

I flash her a grin, "You're the one who will need all the luck keeping my asshole brother in line. Be sure to give my favorite nephew a squeeze from me."

I nod to Jarik and then spin on my heel and head for the door to the sound of Mercy's sweet laughter and my brother's growls.

As soon as the door closes behind me, my smile slides from my face and my steps become quick and purposeful. I don't often lie to my brother, but there is no help for it. What I'm about to do goes against just about every faction law, and quite a few human ones.

I slide my phone from my pocket and lift it to my ear. Listening as it rings once…twice. There is a soft click when the call is answered, "Is everything ready?" I ask without waiting for a greeting.

"Damnit Luka," Yesenia hisses. She and I have been friends since childhood and since I had her back when she took over her faction from her corrupt father, I called in a favor for her to help me with Isabelle. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this. Yes . Everything is ready."

"Good." Without needing to hear anything else, I hang up.

There is nothing left to do now but wait and see how this plays out.

The Den's theater is packed for tonight's auction, more so than usual. Many are here because it's expected of them to pay their dues. Some are looking for a female for a night of no strings sex. I suspect quite a few are hoping to find their fated mate. It seems word got out that the last several auctions have ended with some of the couples recognizing each other as mates. As such, a new clause was written into the rules. Stating if a fated bond is made, the couple won't be forced to have their memories wiped and they will be allowed to court one another after the auction night.

The fated mate clause is the main reason I'm here tonight. According to our laws, an auctioned female is ours for a single night, to do with whatever we please. At the end the female is given an amnesic and paid half of her auction price. By auctioning Isabelle, who I already know is my mate, I'm forcing her to give me a chance to bond her to me without worrying about her faction stepping in and taking her from me.

Sitting back in my seat at the back of the theater, with my feet propped on the banister in front of me, I watch as female after female is paraded across the stage. Some strut like they are on a catwalk while others shuffle nervously. One poor female has to be practically dragged from the stage. Her fear scent fills the entire theater, and I hope that the shifter who won her goes easy on the frightened thing.

Finally, there is one last female.

I drop my feet and lean forward as Isabelle is guided across the stage to stand at the center. The moment she comes out, the entire place falls silent. My breath catches, as it always does when I see my mate. Fuck, she's beautiful. Her blood red hair falls in a curtain of soft curls to the center of her back. The gown they put her in is the same bloody shade and fits her lithe figure like it was painted on.

Her eyes, which I know are a rich chocolate brown, are glossy under the bright lights. Thanks to the drugs I've been giving her to keep her compliant, her pupils are blown as they move sluggishly over the audience.

"And finally, we have… Isabelle," Bethany, a member of a small elvish faction, has her arm hooked around Isabelle but she looks like she's prepared for her to attack at any moment. "Let's, uh, start the bidding at one million."

Stunned silence fills the theater.

Occasionally one of our own will auction themselves, but Isabelle is literally the last female anyone would expect to see up on the stage like this. A smile ghosts my lips at the slightly unfocused look on my female's face. Tonight, the fierce vampiress that she's known for is nowhere to be seen.

"Come on now. We can't go lower…" Bethany says, scanning the crowd.

I can't help but smirk as the whispers begin.

"Who do you think she finally pissed off?"

"Looks like Isabelle is finally getting what she deserves."

"Do you think she's being punished by her own faction?"

I let the silence stretch a bit longer before I lean forward in my seat, "One million."

The theater is so quiet I don't even have to raise my voice to be heard.

Bethany glances up at me and a relieved smile brightens her face. Whether she's relieved that someone finally bid, or she's just glad to finally be rid of Isabelle, I can only guess.

"One million. What about two?" she looks around hopefully.

I stay quiet, waiting to see if anyone would dare try to outbid me. I've made it no secret that I have recognized Isabelle as mine.

Someone coughs, but no one offers a counter bid.

I let out a relieved breath. Isabelle has made herself enough enemies throughout the factions that I worried someone might take this opportunity to get their revenge. To take her from me. Not that I would let that happen.

On the stage, Isabelle slowly scans the audience in front of her. Despite the bright lights, I know she can see clearly through the shadows. She stops abruptly when she spots me and her eyes narrow. I can't hold back my grin. That's right, Sweetheart. You're mine now.

"Alright. The winning bid is one million for Isabelle." Bethany nudges her off the other side of the stage as the house lights come up and everyone begins to file out.

I adjust my suit jacket as I make my way to collect my mate.