Chapter 2 002

Claire's pov

I couldn't get a wink of sleep all through the night. Not sure if it was as a result of what Silas said, or because of what awaits me in the morning, but by dawn, mother walked into my room, a smile on her face.

But even with the facade, I could see how pale her face was and her eyes redden to the brim, it was obvious that she had cried her heart out all through the night as her wrinkles had appeared even better.

I badly wanted to tell her to stop crying, but my words choked in my throat as I watched my mother age in just a few days.

“Good morning!” She widened her lips, stretching out the ivy blue printed gown that she was holding.

“I had rushed over to Johnson's store yesterday and had him made you this pretty dress, go on and have your bath so you can try it on”

A smile was plastered on her pale face, like she hadn't been crying all through the night.

I grabbed the dress and as my fingers trail through the stitches, I knew this was my mother's signature stitch. She had spent the entire night making this dress for me but couldn't even give herself credit for it.

“Sure” I smiled back at her, knowing that if I broke down, it would only effect her more. Once I had freshen up and changed into the dress, I return to the room and as soon as she noticed me walked in, she immediately wiped the strain of tears from her eyes.

“Look at you, isn't my daughter so gorgeous!” She smiled but I walked up closer to her and held her hands.

“Mother. You have nothing to worry about, I am a fighter and I promise to fight so hard to stay alive. I will send letters to you just so you can be certain that I am alive”

She shook her head before cupping my cheek into her tender palm. Even as she smiled at me, it was obvious that it took everything in her to fight back the tears.

“You don't have to. Just fight to stay alive, that is all that matters” I nodded my head and took a deep breath.

As the old wooden door swung open and I stepped out, Father, Daisy and Silas were all outside, but it was the Avid men that caught my attention.

They were dressed in black uniforms which had their batch by the left side of their breast, their black boots and imposing height only sent shivers down my spine.

They had been in charge of the village since the wolves took over, mostly there to assure that we do not try anything stupid and as expected, they were there to take me to the auction.

Father walked over to me, not saying a word to me as he wrapped his arms around me, he clutched so tight to me, that was as close as I had ever been to him.

Once he pulled away, Daisy came forward but avoided my eyes, her embrace so brief before she pulled away and lingered at father's side.

As Silas stepped forward, there was a smile on his face, his green orb eyes piercing at me before he tucked me into a hug.

“I know others have gone there and lost their lives and you think same fate awaits you, but somehow, I feel that you are going to survive this one. You are stronger than you think”

He whispered into my ear before he pulled away from me. Even though I knew those words were only meant to make me feel better, it did worked. I felt some ounce of relief in me.

But as I turned around and my gaze met mother, she finally broke down in tears. All those pain she had been hiding, it came pouring out, her pale face couldn't meet mine.

I badly wanted to go back and give her a hug, but it wouldn't make a difference. The Avid, they directed me to the car.

I couldn't help but wonder if there would ever come a time when a parent didn't have to raise a child knowing she would end up being devoured by a wolf and the girl doesn't have to worry about being sold to the wolves.

But all of this was just my fantasy, my life and as going to end soon and I don't think that I am in the position to wish for anything.

As I walked towards it, my legs trembled, this had been my fate since birth. I thought that I would be able to handle it better, but it never gets any easier.

I

It was the first time that I was getting inside a car. I sat at the back and I then realize that Audrey and Jenny who were also from my neighborhood were already in the car.

As expected, their eyes were red, we didn't say a word to each other knowing that it was death that awaits us while the car drove off.

We arrived at a large hall, it was fenced with electric protective geers, and the walls were just beyond anything that I had ever seen.

Inside was an open field, a large amount of people were there, they were all men making it hard for me to comprehend why they were there.

A woman dressed in a yellow Blum gown that seemed to radiate under the sun walked up to us. A thick makeup was fur around her face and her expression was anything but polite.

“What took you so long, the buyers have all been waiting!” She was referring to the Avid who stood next to us but didn't say a word.

“Come on girls, come with me, as you can see, your buyers are all here” as she announced, I turn to stare at the crowd and realized that all the men seated there were all werewolves who had come to claim us.

She took us to a room where she each handed us a dress and instructed us to get dressed soon. My fingers trail through the silk dress.

Its fabric was so raw, probably the best dress that I would ever wear my entire life with straps and beadings that enhanced its beauty.

I had no idea which of the girls went first, but I could hear the sound outside and knew the bidding had begun.

It went on until the lady came in again, her well polished nails pointed at me and I heard my heart almost jump out of my chest.

“It's your turn!” That was all she barely said with her disgustful gaze at me beneath those long lashes.

I clasped on the edges of my dress and followed behind. Standing in front of the men, I lowered my head, fighting the feral and tension deep inside of me.

What was so special about humans that they all gathered here every full moon to have us sold to them.

“This is Claire Hazel, she is eighteen years old and as you all can already smell, she is untouched, the starting price if fifty wand”

The lady in yellow dresses spoke, her tiny voice seemed to command authority even in the midst of powerful wolves.

“Fifty-five wands!” One of the men from the crowd spoke, raising the stake that he was holding but another countered his words just immediately.

“Sixty wands!”

“Sixty-two wands!”

“Seventy wands!”

They continue to wager their prices on me. Prices they thought were worth my life, but just when I thought that it was going to stop at Seventy wands, a deep and intimidating voice came through.

“Hundred and fifty wands!” His voice echoed through the crowd, I hadn't seen his face but I could tell that this voice commanded so much authority and despite how shy I had been all this while, I was forced to raise my head up.

Every gaze scampered to the back where the voice came from and as soon as they had put a face to the voice, their eyes widened, some of them gasp.

I couldn't tell if it was as a result of fear or surprise until his name was mentioned.

“It's Lucien Draco, The devil's Son!” That was all I needed to hear to be certain that I was definitely meeting my death today.