Chapter 5 The blank check

Auren’s pov

“You want my slave as your wife? The girl is wolf less, useless and cursed!”

My uncle’s voice thundered through the room. Each word hit me like a stone and I stood frozen, my eyes lowered to the floor. I had long learned not to speak when the alphas were talking. It never ended well when I did.

“If you want a wife,” my uncle continued, his tone suddenly slick with greed, “I will give you a perfect Luna, my daughter, Seris.”

I didn’t need to look up to feel the hunger in his words. He was dreaming again, dreaming of power, of marrying into strength. I could almost see it in my mind his fat hands clutching at that fantasy of being the father of a powerful alpha queen, his name whispered in fear across the lands.

“I don’t want your daughter. I want her.” Dravik growled.

My stomach turned. Can’t he see that he was getting me in trouble? My uncle was so going to kill me for this insult.

“I’m not giving away my slave,” my uncle snapped.

Dravik leaned back in his chair.

“Alright then. I guess I have a few things to think about.”

He rose, his two men that looks a bit like him following him like shadows. Panic flashed in my uncle’s eyes.

“Wait—the contract has been agreed upon!”

“Nothing has been signed yet. I’ll give you a few minutes to think on it.”

Then he walked out followed by his men and the council member. My uncle’s hand hit me across the face so fast I didn’t even see it coming. I stumbled backward, my breath knocked out.

“What did you say to him?” His voice shook the walls. “What the fuck did you say or do to him?”

He slammed his fist into my stomach. Pain burned through me, white and blinding. I doubled over, clutching my side.

“I didn’t—nothing,” my voice was barely audible.

“Nothing? He just decides he wants a useless bitch like you for no reason?”

“He just asked why I smelled strange,” I said before I could stop myself.

He froze. “Did you tell him?”

“Yes—but I didn’t say it was you!”

His fist came again, hitting my side. I fell, gasping.

“I gave you one task. Get information from him, not give ours away, you stupid thing!” He grabbed my hair, jerking my head back until I cried out.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for this opportunity? What marriage between Seris and him would’ve done for this pack? You selfish girl!”

“Please, Uncle—Alpha,” I gasped. “He asked, and he’s an Alpha. I had to answer.”

His hand tightened in my hair. “Just because he got between your legs you couldn’t keep your mouth shut? I’ll teach you—”

A deep growl tore through the room. My uncle froze, still gripping me. I turned my head slightly and saw Dravik leaning against the doorframe, his two men behind him. The council member was nowhere to be found…..had he left?

“Alpha Dravik,” my uncle’s voice shifted fast. “You said a few minutes. I was just getting everything in order”

“In order?” he stepped in, his gaze never leaving my uncle. “The girl has wounds all over her body but yet here you are inflicting more. She’s your niece. Is this how you treat your family?”

“She killed my brother and sister-in-law. So yes, this is what she deserves. You should keep your nose out of my business.”

“She is going to be my wife and once she is, all your business becomes mine.” He took a step forward. “Now get your hands off her, or I’ll break it.”

“This is my pack,” my uncle hissed. “You don’t give commands here and I haven’t agreed to give her away yet”

He sighed, visibly trying to control himself.

“Fine. Then I have a new proposition.”

My uncle frowned. “What?”

“Whatever you want for her. Name your price”

My uncle blinked, confusion flickering into greed. The door creaked open before he could speak and Seris entered like a queen who believed the room existed for her alone. Every step she took was deliberate. Her red gown shimmered with each move, clinging to her curves. Her perfume strong enough to burn the nose.

“Alpha Dravik,” she purred, completely ignoring the tension in the room. “You honor us with your presence.”

Every man’s gaze was on her. One of Dravik’s men gave a low whistle.

“You sure you don’t want to reconsider, brother?” the younger one grinned, his eyes roaming over Seris like she was something to unwrap.

Dravik turned sharply, his glare silencing him. Seris smiled sweetly, stepping closer, her eyes locked on him.

“You’re even more handsome than they say,” her voice drops lower. “I can see why so many call you the Demon King.”

He ignored her, his gaze stayed on my uncle, his face unreadable. Seris’s smile deepened. She was used to men watching her. When they didn’t, she found a way to make them. Her hand lifted toward his chest. I watched, my breath stuck in my throat as her fingers brushed against the fabric of his coat, tracing the line of his collar.

He caught her wrist before her touch could go further. Not roughly, not gently, just enough to stop her.

“Do you always touch Alphas without their consent?”

She laughed softly. “I meant no offense. It was only a greeting.”

He let go of her hand.

“Then learn to greet from a distance.”

Color drained from her face for a moment, though she tried to hide it behind a tight smile.

“You wound me, Alpha,” she said lightly. “Perhaps you prefer your women quiet. I can be that.”

“I prefer honesty,” he said simply his eyes catching mine.

Seris’s eyes followed his, her expression shifting when she noticed who he was referring to.

“Her?” she asked, disbelief dripping from her voice. “You want her?”

She gave a short laugh. “She’s no one. She can’t even shift. You would choose a cursed girl over a Luna born?”

“I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

Her eyes flared and she moved closer again.

“You could have power, alliance, beauty…..me.” Her hand slid once more toward his arm. “What does she have that I don’t?”

“Dignity.”

Her lips parted, no sound coming out. Dravik turned towards my uncle pulling a checkbook from his pocket, laid it on the table, and pushed a pen forward.

“Any amount you want.”

My uncle grabbed the pen and wrote a figure. Dravik glanced at the paper, gave a curt nod.

“It’s agreed then. A new contract will be drawn up. I’ll return tomorrow to collect her.”

“All that for her?” Seris spat. “You think she’s worth that much? She is nothing but a slave. A fucking slave!”

Her hand shot towards me, ready to strike but Dravik caught it mid-air, his grip tightening just enough to make her flinch.

“It seems your daughter doesn’t know what a contract is. Teach her, Alpha Magnus. I would really hate to deform her pretty face.”

Seris froze. The confidence drained out of her and fear flickered across her expression. She stumbled back, her eyes wide. Then he turned towards me, his hand cupping my face, his thumb brushing my lower lip. My heart stopped.

“Make sure you have everything packed by tomorrow. I don’t like waiting.”

He stepped towards the door and then stopped turning towards my uncle.

“If I come back tomorrow and see a single bruise on her apart from the one she already has, then consider me your enemy.”

The door slammed behind them.

“Get out of my sight,” my uncle growled grabbing Seris, who was already crying like a wounded child. “You’ve ruined everything!”

I didn’t wait to be told twice. I left the room, my body trembling. The basement was colder than usual. I had only a thin blanket, a few clothes folded neatly, nothing else. It would take less than a minute to pack.

By morning, I still hadn’t slept. I sat on the floor, my knees drawn up to my chest, staring at the empty bag beside me. Why did he want me? What did he see that made him spend so much? No one had ever wanted me before not even my own blood. Why me?