Prologue
Welcome to the Sanctuary. Here, once a year, the Black-Market Auction takes place.
At the Sanctuary, anything and everything is available, for the right price. But the most prized items are the omegas.
It’s a way for some of them to make money and better their lives, while for others it’s an escape. A way to be with a feared Alpha in the safety of the Sanctuary. But there are rules attached to the purchase of an omega.
All purchases must be settled in full before you are allowed access to the omega.
No one is allowed to permanently mark an omega.
No one is allowed to claim an omega.
You are only permitted twelve hours with your omega.
Chapter One
Jonah
Tonight is the night.
I have been planning this night for more than a year. I have been saving every dime of my money to ensure that once I get to The Sanctuary for the annual auction I can’t be outbid. I have a special omega in mind, and I will be the one to claim her.
I happen to know she will be there tonight, auctioning herself off to get out of the life she is living.
Autumn.
My beautiful Autumn.
Her father all but holds her hostage in their house, pretending to protect her. In reality, he is hoping to sell her off to the highest bidder. I know he is planning to use her to further his own status as an Elite Alpha and he doesn’t give a flying fuck what that means for her. He only cares about what it will do for him.
Marrying Autumn off to the right Elite Alpha will not only net him a lot of money but once she is married and has children, the two families will be bound to each other and will help elevate his status. Money and social elevation are the only things that matter to men like him.
How do I know this?
I worked for her father as a personal bodyguard. For two long years I protected him, I put my life in danger for him, did everything he wanted. Hell, I’ve even taken a bullet for that bastard. I’ve seen him in action and he will happily walk over others to get what he wants, no matter what happens to anyone else.
But then his daughter came home from boarding school. I never even knew he had any children and suddenly, there she was. A vision that nearly brought me to my knees. A beauty thatshould never be allowed anywhere near the likes of someone like me. Pure and untainted by the kind of life I have lived.
It was lust at first sight. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, and I couldn’t stop my mind from slipping down the gutter. I did my best to fight it, but it was always there in the background. So, I decided to talk to her father. Biggest mistake of my fucking life. He lost his mind when I asked if she was available for marriage. He cursed and shouted before firing me on the spot.
Even though I couldn’t be around her daily, I still had eyes on her. A friend of mine is part of her father’s protection detail and he passes me information I would otherwise be unable to access. Making sure she is safe and happy has always been my highest priority.