Chapter 1
For an ordinary human, I broke with my werewolf stepfather.
That human kissed the back of my neck and whispered a promise:
“Even if we don’t have the Moon Goddess’s mate bond, I’ll love you forever.”
However, the promise he made to me came true when he threw me publicly at my stepfather’s feet; I hemorrhaged after childbirth, my blood pooling on the floor.
“Henry, didn’t you say humans are low creatures and don’t deserve to be saved?”
That was when I found out my husband, Avery Brown, had a wife and she’d died in a border clash.
And in that clash, his wife could’ve been saved. But Henry saved a werewolf who was farther away instead.
Avery looked down at me from above, I was shaking because of fear and pain yet he kept going at my stepfather:
“Now your unbonded daughter is pregnant with my kid. She’s even filthier than a human whore. Will you save her?”
After that, he didn’t hesitate. He turned and walked away, didn’t bother to shot me one look.
Ten years later, we met again.
He was Eric Jones, an influential man people sucked up to.
And I’d been kicked out of the Pack, reduced to Rory, a whore being auctioned off in an underground casino.
I was up on stage, doing a pole dance to entertain the casino’s guests. Drunk, my clothes were torn off one by one by the guests under the stage, who cheered and screamed.
Avery walked into the bar surrounded by people, and the second our eyes met.
My heart seemed to skip. The familiar steps under my feet faltered, the rhythm slipping out of my control.
The man beside him was a regular here—Ryan.
He caught the way Avery was looking at me.
“That girl’s Rory.” Ryan’s voice wasn’t loud but enough for me to hear clearly. “Don’t let that innocent, goddess-like face fool you. As long as you pay enough, she’s as slutty as you want.”
For the first time, I hated how sharp a werewolf’s hearing was.
“It is said she’s got a unique skill that’ll make a man feel like he’s in heaven. Want me to buy her night for you, you can taste it for yourself?”
The man laughed, his grin sleazy.
Avery’s face stayed stiff. He only shot me a sideways look, contempt dripping from his eyes.
“Ryan, don’t send me that kind of trash. I don’t do dirty.”
I never imagined we’d meet again like this.
He looked radiant now, sharp suit, steady gaze, nothing like the man who used to drag me from place to place while we were on the run.
I told myself ten years was long enough for wounds to scar over.
But the moment he said, “I don’t do dirty,” my heart was once again cut to a bloody mess.
Didn’t he know I’d become this filthy because of him?
I swallowed my anger and forced my body to steady, then put the signature fake smile back onto my face.
Ryan froze for a beat, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Yeah… my bad. Come on, come on. I heard they’ve got a new game tonight.”
Avery’s expression darkened. I watched him holding his drink and pouring one after another down his throat.
His gaze no longer fell on me.
Soon, it was time for the casino’s auction.
The manager shoved me forward with a smarmy smile.
“Gentlemen, whoever pays the most tonight gets to sleep with her for the night.”
He patted my hand and I turned around voluntarily.
He pried open the clothes at the back of my neck, revealing the werewolf mark hidden beneath them.
“Take a look. Rare werewolf bloodline. Don’t miss your chance. Bidding starts now.”
“One hundred dollars.”
“Two hundred.”
……
The room erupted, bids rising in a noisy wave.
“One thousand.”
A man spoke up, I couldn't help but gasp, this was the highest price in my history.
In an instant, every other voice died.
I saw Avery slam his glass onto the table, stand up, and walk straight out.
The manager crowed, thrilled. “One thousand. Anyone else? Going once, going twice… No more bids? Then tonight belongs to Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller, please wait in the private room upstairs. Rory will change and come up shortly.”
Outside the bar, the manager shoved three hundred bucks into my hand.
“Mr. Miller’s got money and generous. One thousand in one shot, way better than those guys throwing a few hundred.”
“And honestly, it’s only because you’re got werewolf blood and you’re pretty. At your age, most girls can’t sell for that. You better hold on tight to this chance.”
I clenched the bills and carefully slipped them into the inner pocket of my jacket.
Then I pulled out a few more and pressed them into the manager’s palm, smiling like I was grateful.
“I will. And thanks for looking out for me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to make money like this.”
He weighing it with his fingers, and smiled.
“I’m telling you cash in while you’ve still got a face people want. Once you’re old, you won’t be able to earn even if you try.”
I nodded. “I know.”
Three hundred dollars meant I didn’t need to take more clients tonight. That alone was enough to make me feel… relieved.
After changing, I headed up to Miller’s private room.
Right then, a dark shadow closed in on me.
A smile of satisfaction tugged at my lips, then it vanished into the dark.
