Chapter 9 - Wren

Wren had been bought. She had stood transfixed and angry while different men bid for her. She had felt like a meat being priced and sold at the butcher's. The auction for her had gone swiftly and smoothly. While others had initially bid huge amounts, one man had come in and placed an outrageous offer that nobody else could beat.

She was sold for 200 million dollars. Like a piece of property! An expensive one but property all the same. She had watched as he arrogantly proclaimed that he wanted her. It had irked her beyond words.

When he had come up the stage to be wedded to her, all she wanted was to rip his head off. She couldn't do this or say it to him. So, she had shown him in her eyes. His disgusting actions fueled all that rage.

Wren had hoped to stay unrestrained. But when the handler had taken her out of the auction room, she was blindfolded, and her hands were chained. Shortly after, the handler moved her outside from the warehouse. She could tell by the soft breeze dancing around her hair and face. Soon, her buyer will come for her.

What is his plan?!

Will I get a chance to kill him?!!

The handler kept nudging Wren to move. She could hear a vehicle's engine going on. It most likely was the vehicle of her buyer.

"I'll be putting you in a car. So, be ready to be a bride," Her handler whispered in her ear. "Be calm and careful, and maybe you just might survive this," she finished and gently pushed her inside a car.

There was no way Wren would go down without a fight. She was ready to let herself slip into full madness if it came to it. She would be stubborn and violent even if it means they kill her. And that's what she had been preparing to do, but the bond seemed to sense her thoughts and sent a shot of pain into her spine.

Wren gasped and nodded her head.

She then went about finding a spot to sit with her bound hands. She could tell that another person was in the vehicle. She sniffed the air to catch their scent and was hit by a familiar woody scent that filled her senses.

Why is it familiar?! Did my mind already register his scent when he was up on the stage with me?

Wren sat still as the vehicle started moving. She wondered where she was being taken to. She prayed it was somewhere secluded so she could go on a rampage on her buyer. Again, she envisioned ripping him open and was thrilled despite the shot of pain the bond sent up her spine.

The ride went on for a long time before the vehicle came to a stop. She heard the car door come open and shut. She was alone in the car for a few minutes until a door was opened again. She didn't catch what door.

"You won't be needing all these restraints, "A man spoke. "I want you to cooperate with me," he finished.

Wren didn't reply as she thought of why she found the voice oddly familiar. She moved her head sideways trying to locate the man with his voice. She was mentally prepared to attack him once he came into her close space. At a recorded time, he pulled off her blindfold. She squinted her eyes to get used to the light. Then she turned to the man and froze.

Why is he here?! It can't be!

Staring into her face was Articus. His eyes bore into hers. Anger and disgust burnt down her spine as she sat frozen. She thought he was a good guy with an attitude and mindset problem. But it was much more than that. What was he doing auctioning for her?

So, he was someone who bought slaves? This was the business he had mentioned coming to town from far away for.

It was buying slaves!

She had thought he had just come for information, hoped actually, she wanted him to be morally good albeit prejudiced. Wren was only now seeing that his prejudice was the least of his flaws. He is a slave owner!

Although she had stood mere feet away from the man during the stupid wedding, she had not recognized him. He had been wearing a mask and a hood. She might have recognized his beautiful eyes, but she was blinded by her anger then.

Now, she could see him. His white silky hair whipped around his face. His beautiful blue eyes blinked repeatedly while he watched her, causing his long white lashes to glide across his fine face. She hated that he was so attractive. Even in her anger, Wren couldn't help but appreciate this.

"You shouldn't be scared," He voiced. "I won't bite," he finished as he dropped the chains that held her bound.

Wren was not scared. She was shocked, disappointed, disgusted, and furious. She hated his guts and approach, but she never imagined he would involve himself in something like this. But she quickly believed that he had approached her earlier at the bar because of this. He couldn't get her there, so he plotted with those evil lunatics to get her.

But why pay such an outrageous amount?

Wren's mind was buzzing with different reasons he would have gone through with this. The only thing she could come up with was that he was a mindless, heartless fuck that wanted to ruin her life the moment he saw her. Her rage knew no bounds.

"You know those people. You worked with them. You bought me," Wren screamed at him after coming to her conclusion.

“I did no such thing. I just saved you.” His face contorted into a frown. He took a step back and growled at her, "You should be thanking me."

"Thanking you for ruining my life?" She growled back. "Is this what you do to get thanks?"

Articus stepped back from the car and held his hands up. "Let's get inside, and you can argue all you want."

"And why do I have to do that? To listen to a man who bought me?" She screeched.

"You will listen to me. Whether you like it or not," he growled as his eyes shone in anger.

He was tired of arguing with her. But Wren was just starting. She knew he was an Alpha and could easily snap her neck. But she wasn't scared of that.

"I don't care what you want. I refuse to listen to you," She shot back. “So this was the business you came here for? To buy a virgin bride?”

He eyed her, then so swiftly, he captured her by the waist and dragged her out of the car. Wren had not expected this. She struggled and beat at his chest as he picked her up and flung her over his shoulders.

"Put me down! Put me down this minute!" She commanded as he started walking toward a mansion.

She beat at his back, but he never bulged. Articus succeeded in taking her into the mansion. He walked through a hallway and climbed stairs leading to the second floor of the mansion. He walked past some doors and came to the last door.

He pushed the door open and got in. Through all this, Wren was screaming and beating at him back. Unceremoniously, he dropped her on the bed. Wren landed on her butt.

"You pervert, you evil man, you lunatic. Are you doing this for fun? Do you enjoy ruining a little werewolf girl's life?" She rushed at him.

He gave no response.

"You are enjoying yourself, aren't you?" She screamed again at him as she pushed herself up. She loathed him so much. How dare he treat her this way?

Articuslet out a heavy sigh and sat on a chair facing the bed. For a few seconds, he sat unmoving. Wren stood some feet away from him and watched him, disgusted. He started messaging his temple as he met her eyes.

Again, Wren was mesmerized by how beautiful and intense they were. They were whitish-blue, almost as white as his hair, and seemed to look into her soul.

"Do you remember telling me your name?" He asked coolly

Wren was caught off guard by this. She automatically answered, "Yes."

“Good,,” he gave an appreciative small smile and continued. "Wren, I am not your enemy."

God!

The sound of her name in his mouth was so sexy to Wren, and she hated herself for feeling this way. Why does he have to be so attractive?

“Is it as intoxicating as your company?" she remembered him asking at the bar. She had to build up her defense and not lose her guard anymore. She wanted to say something ugly to him, but he spoke first.

"Please, listen to me, Wren. I didn't do this because I am whatever you think I am. I did this because it was the only way I could save you."

His eyes pleaded with her to believe him. But Wren's mind was stuck on what she had concluded. "Oh! A big, strong Alpha like yourself couldn't find other ways to save me, right?"

He groaned and threw his hands up in frustration. "Unbelievable," He mouthed.

Wren rolled her eyes. Was he frustrated? He hadn't seen the half of it. She was not done with him yet. He should be thankful she was not running feral in his home or trying to kill him. Although, she wondered why she wasn't.

She stalked forward and asked, "How did you even know I needed saving if you weren't part of the whole ploy? And why bother saving me? You don’t even know me."

He stood up and they were facing each other. He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. She bushed and held her breath.

Fuck.

She cursed herself for having the urge to touch his face. It was so pale, yet so smooth and calling. She folded her arms.

"After you left the bar. I wanted to talk to you. To apologize for the manner I spoke to you. I got outside to see you being stuffed inside a truck." He paused for a second like the next part was hard to say.

He massaged his temple and went on, "For some reason, I don't understand fully; I couldn't watch you go like that. I followed the truck and got there. All I wanted to do was save you without causing an all-out war. And that is what I did, Wren! I saved you, Wren! It could have been much worse. It could have been someone worse who bought you," he sighed.

Nobody had ever come to Wren's aid before. So, she struggled to believe this. He couldn't just have gone through all of that to save her. Could he?!

"It could have been someone worse? Like you are a saint!" She fired and moved away from him.

She took in the room and appreciated what she saw. It was lavishly furnished with a queen-sized bed, a wardrobe, and a reading table. It looked like a typical princess room. Why did he have this room in his mansion? Did he already know he would be getting her here and prepared for it?

Wren was distrusting, and she believed she had every reason to be. She had never had any close shaves with snatchers or any of the sort before she met him.

He sighed, frustrated. "I never said I was!"

"Oh! Yes, you did! You meant you are better than the others who wanted me," she argued.

"Mr. Articus? You are back! I heard screaming and wondered what was happening." a female voice called from outside the room, interrupting their argument. A beautiful olive-skinned middle-aged woman came into view as she stepped into the room.

Articus turned to her and gave his warmest smile. "Abigail, I just got in."

I didn’t get that smile.

"I am glad you did; you came at the right time. I just finished preparing your meal." She beamed at him. “Cassius asked me to feed you immediately after you got back,” she added.

"Oh really, let's get to it then," he chuckled. “I don’t know why he stresses you with all unnecessary tasks.” He smiled at her.

“I am his housekeeper, Mr. Articus, and feeding you is not an unnecessary task,” she informed him, and they both smiled.

Wren watched this little interaction and marveled. This man, Articus , seemed like a different person. He was warmer and sweet. Could she have been wrong in thinking he was evil? Could he have saved her from the worst possible fate?

Articus turned back to Wren. His expression went cold. He appeared to have exhausted his energy trying to get her to believe him. "I am tired of the back and forth. I'd leave you to yourself. Get showered and relax."

Then he turned back to Abigail. "Come, let’s go, what did you make?"

Abigail chuckled at this. "You'd find out." They had walked into the hallway when she curiously asked, "Who is the woman? Have you found a mate?"

It was Articus's turn to chuckle and reply with a vague answer, "Who knows?" Their footsteps receded as they descended the stairs.

Wren overheard their little conversation and it irked her the more. Why the fuck did he answer with a "Who knows?".

Who knows what? That she was his mate? Or his little rogue bride?

Fuck him!

She slammed the door shut and locked it.

Alone at last.

She thought of escaping, but she figured he would have tight security. She just might be wasting her energy. She looked around the room again, appreciating what she saw. It was fancy.

She was blindfolded on the way here. But she figured he had brought her back to his pack since he was an Alpha. Not only was he an Alpha of a reputable pack. He was also quite wealthy. The house and the amount he paid for her said it all.

Wren's body ached from being brutally handled all day. She eyed the four-poster bed with its dusty rose velvet bedding. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep on it. But she knew better. She was dirty and bloody. For her to enjoy her sleep, she needed to wash up.

Sluggishly, she walked to the bathroom. Once she was in, she wasted no time in ridding herself of the filthy gown she wore. She hated the fact that she was doing exactly what he asked her to do. But the feeling quickly dissipated once the shower rained down cold water on her skin.

Wren couldn't believe how bizarre the day had gone. She had left home for work, hoping to get better tips, only for her to meet Articus and then get kidnapped. She still couldn't believe that she was put up for auction and bought by the very man she had met the same day.

She wasn't just sold as a regular person. She was sold as a bride. Mr. High and Mighty was her owner. She was just another possession to him now.

After she had cleaned herself up, Wren changed into an oversized shirt she found in the wardrobe. A plate of quinoa and turkey with broccoli had been placed on the reading table in the room, and despite her desire not to touch it, her rumbling stomach forced her to sit and eat.

My, they eat well.

After Wren finished the meal, she realized that he most likely would come for his possession. He would want to get every penny he spent on her.

Wren was scared for what was to come. So, she was determined to stay up all night waiting for him and do her best to prevent whatever he wanted to do to her. However, her tired body soon gave in to sleep after only a few minutes on the soft sheets.