The Alpha's Queen

Chapter 7: The Auction

Beckett

The Black Fang pack had never hosted an auction before. It was the only way we could express our distaste for the practice without risk. Distaste curled my lip as I surveyed the curtained booths and tables weighed down with food. My frown only deepened when I spied the brightly lit platform in the center of the dim room.

"Ah, Beckett. I didn't expect to see you here."

I screwed on the diplomatic smile I'd been practicing since the day I stepped into the role of Alpha and turned to face Alpha James and Alpha Thorne. Both were busy filling their plates full of various meats that bled so much I wondered if they'd even touched a grill.

Thorne sucked blood from his thumb and grinned. "Come on now, James. There are several Alphas here that are mated. Doesn't stop them from enjoying the show."

"True enough. I hear we have some real beauties on display this evening. Might tempt me enough to start breeding," James said, eying me critically. "But that's not what surprises me. What made you decide to host? Rumor has it you're not a fan of the auction, and now you're hosting and attending."

"Gentleman. Enjoy the festivities. My mother, Leann, put in a lot of effort. I would hate for it to go to waste."

I had to shove every syllable between gritted teeth as I clapped them on the shoulder and headed to the booth reserved for me. Along the way, my sensitive ears picked up threads of gossip, most wondering about the packless she-wolf, but it was a familiar voice that froze me in place mid-step.

"You know what that silver hair means," Jack said to a crowd, tipping back his beer to allow them to process his words. "I bet I can get three pups on her before she gives out."

He yelped when I snatched him by the collar. His companions, all Alphas, fled faster than the lowest omegas when they saw the rage in my expression. Even among the leaders there was an acknowledged pecking order, and outside the Council wolves, I was a top dog.

"What are you doing here, Jack? Last I checked, you were a Beta."

Fur sprouted through his skin and fell away as he fought to control his shift. For all the power he had, he still had less control than a child. Beta was too high for him.

"Haven't you heard? The Blue Mountain Alpha named me as his heir since we don't have a Blood Alpha in our pack, and if you gave a fuck about our rules and customs, you would know Alpha Heirs can attend the auction."

Horror raced through me as I watched him walk away. I'd spent the last week devising a plan to ensure Devany's future Alpha was someone kind and fair. That also meant I spent the last week in a constant temper, always one misstep from the edge every time I so much as imagined another man putting his hands on her. Now all of that energy was wasted because Jack would not stop tonight until he went home with her.

Ignoring everyone, I raced to my booth and dragged my hand through my hair. This was a mistake. Maybe there was enough time to free her before this thing started. I had more than enough money to give her a fresh start somewhere, maybe even to hire a witch to obscure her scent from the hunters. Of course, if anyone ever found out, my entire pack would pay for my crimes.

But before I could decide if it was worth the risk, the auction began. Music, heavy on the bass, blared from the speakers, and Rachel, the woman who had been put in charge of the girls in the auction, stepped onto the platform. Rachel led a petite blonde wearing a green corset and a g-string that looked appropriate for a strip club.

A tall, blonde wolf I didn't recognize joined the women on stage, and he let loose a long whistle before raising a microphone to his lips. "Gentleman. The moment you've all been waiting on is here, and we are starting this auction off with a bang! I mean, look at this prime piece of flesh. Honey, turn around and touch your toes so everyone can see how round that ass is."