From Slave To Mate

[Pandora’s POV]

“Get up!” The voice rings out around me, startling me from the light doze that I’ve just managed to obtain. “Get up, now!”

Gasping, I feel my collar being yanked and then I’m crashing to the ground. My eyes fly open and when I look up, I find Geoffrey, my guard staring down at me with a look of amusement.

“About damn time.” He growls, tugging my chain again. “Get your ass up.”

“I’m up,” I hiss, lifting my hands and taking in the scrapes on them. “Was all of this even necessary?”

As I speak, I slowly stand so that he can see the injuries on my skin. To no one’s surprise, he smirks and a look of pride flashes in his dark eyes that causes a grimace to rush through me.

“If you got up the first time this wouldn’t have happened.” He points out, unhooking my chain. “Come on.”

He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he begins to pull me forward, leading me out of my cell and into the hall that is already lined with others like me.

They stand stiffly, their faces expressionless, their eyes hollow. It’s the norm here in this place, but everytime I see it it unnerves me.

I’ve lived here for the past seven years, waiting, and hoping that I would be able to become free, but no amount of hope ever brought my wish to fruition. By this point, I was beginning to think that maybe it would never happen since no one wanted to buy me.

You see, I’m cursed, at least, that is what they say about me. With my white hair and golden eyes, I stand out too much. And even though you would think that someone would buy me because of these features, they avoided me.

Maybe it was because of the rumors that surrounded me. That I was a demon in wolves clothing waiting for my chance to destroy whoever bought me. That I was the reason my entire pack was destroyed. That I brought bad luck to anyone I crossed.

You see, I wasn’t always a prisoner of this place. I was once the proud daughter of the Crimson Moon pack. My father and mother were the alpha and luna of said pack and because of that I was next in line to take over. At least, that was what was supposed to happen, but in the end, I never got the chance.

One horrible night my pack was attacked. Everyone I knew and loved was killed and I was taken.

Even now, I remember that day like it was just yesterday, no amount of years that passed made it disappear from my memory and honestly, I didn’t want it to disappear anyway. It was a night that I should remember since everyone died while I was unable to do anything to stop it.

I’m sorry. I think silently, my heart squeezing painfully, my breath hitching. I’m so sorry.

“Move it,” Geoffrey huffs, tugging me out of my reverie. “Stop dragging your feet.”

“Sorry,” I huff, trying to not fall. “Maybe if you didn’t go so fast, I could…AH!”

I don’t get to finish my words before I’m crashing forward, my body hitting the ground, and my head bouncing against the cement.

“Shit,” I hiss, attempting to get up only to be dragged.

“I told you to keep up.”

It’s all Geoffrey says, before continuing to move while I work myself back to my feet and when we finally reach our destination, the bath maids are already waiting.

“Wait,” I hiss as I’m led to the tubs that are meant for those who will be up for auction. “Why am I being brought here?”

Since I never sold, the madam tended not to bother with bathing me. Instead, she would just keep me chained to the side so that I could watch the others be sold off while I remained.

“This is your lucky night.” A smooth, sweet voice purrs and when I turn I see the madam. “You’re the star of the evening.”

Star? What was she talking about? What was happening?

With each passing minute I could feel my fear growing.

“I don’t understand,” I say. “Why would I…”

“Make sure that she is extra clean.” The madam orders, ignoring me completely. “Otherwise, it will be your head.”

“Of course,” Geoffrey chuckles. “We will make sure that she pleases our guest and returns everything to us that she owes.”

“What?” I gasp, still not understanding what was going on. “What does that mean?”

Of course, I knew what it meant. I knew what happened at these auctions, but for them to being saying such things about me just didn’t make sense.

“Come along, mutt,” Geoffrey orders, tugging me again. “Stop dilly-dallying. If you think you’re going to get out of being auctioned if you waste enough time, you’re wrong.”

“No!” I gasp, beginning to fight. “No! I don’t want to!”

Even though I knew that fighting wouldn’t get me anywhere, I still couldn’t stop myself from trying to stop Geoffrey from taking me any further.

“Be obedient.” Geoffrey growls, pulling my chain roughly so I crash to my knees in front of him. “You don’t want your buyer to see you covered in injuries, do you?”

“Would it mean that my value is lessened?” I challenge and immediately regret it as the madam’s fingers twist into my hair and pull.

“Listen here, you vile little creature.” She growls, lifting me so that we are eye to eye. “I’ve wasted a lot of time and money on you and it’s time that you return all that to me.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” I growl.

Instantly, the madams free hand finds my cheek and my head is snapping to the side while my ear rings and the taste of blood fills my mouth.

“Ungrateful, wretch!” She snarls, her eyes flashing dangerously. “I do hope that your new owner properly beats you into submission because if you were sticking around here, I would do it myself.”

“I won’t have a buyer,” I tell her, my lips twitching into a sneer of amusement. “No one ever buys me! That’s why I’m still here.”

"Not this evening." The madam's smile is all triumph now, cold and razor-edged and absolutely certain. "This evening, you will be bought. Your buyer made very specific arrangements to ensure you become his tonight." She shoves me toward the tubs with casual violence. "Now get your ass moving."

And just like that, the world tilts again.

Someone wants me.

Someone has arranged to buy me specifically.

The question isn't whether I'll be sold anymore.

The question is: why?