Page 43 of Hunt

BELLA

My heart poundsbeneath the silken ivory dress as I stand in line with the other omegas, waiting to be paraded before the leering alphas. The air is thick with a dizzying cocktail of pheromones—ripe omega sweetness mingling with the potent musk of virile alphas.

I clench my jaw, determined not to let them smell my weakness. My fear. A lace mask conceals my face, but I know my scent gives me away. I can only pray the perfume holds, muffling my scent enough to keep the alphas from knowing I’ve already been claimed.

One by one, the other omegas are led onto the stage, tottering on high heels, fragrant slick already glistening on their thighs. I watch them go, these poor broken creatures, so lost to their base instincts. So willing to submit, to be owned, mounted, bred. Bile rises in my throat.

I'm the last in line. The grand finale. The De Luca's most precious offering, sure to secure an alliance with whicheverpowerful pack places the winning bid. My fathers spared no expense primping me for this humiliation.

My hair has been styled in glossy waves, lips painted blood red.

My heart races as I hear the auctioneer's voice boom through the hall, announcing the final omega to be presented. "And now, the crown jewel of tonight's auction, the exquisite Belladonna Lucille De Luca!"

The attendant roughly yanks my arm, practically dragging me up the steps and onto the stage. The bright lights momentarily blind me before my vision adjusts, revealing the sea of hungry alpha eyes devouring me. Their pheromones crash over me like a tsunami, threatening to pull me under and drown me in their desire.

I lift my chin, determined to cling to my pride even as I feel their gazes raking over my curves, barely concealed by the sheer ivory silk. The dress clings to me like a second skin, putting every inch of my body on display for their leering appraisal.

As I'm forced to turn in a slow circle, I catch a glimpse of the last person I ever expected to see, and it catches me so off guard, that I come to a complete stop, my heart lurching into my throat, tears springing to my eyes.

Rosa…

She sits in an alpha’s lap off to the side of the main stage, staring up at me with wide eyes. Her skin is paler than it should be, her black hair stringy and her makeup is stark on her once gorgeous face. She sways on the alpha’s lap and clearly she’s not in her right mind, but I see the recognition in her green eyes all he same.

Ten years. It’s been ten years since I’ve looked into my sister’s eyes. Since the day she told me to be strong and take care of Mama. When she told me she had to leave me. She wassupposed to be mated off, not sold and re sold. She was a person for fuck’s sake!

The attendant gestures for me to walk to the front of the stage and back so that the alphas can get a good look at the whole package. I tear my eyes away from my sister. I wonder if Sarah ever made it to the club in Oregon.

I force myself to take measured steps, each one feeling like a mile. The eyes of the alphas bore into me, their whispers and low chuckles sending shivers down my spine. I can practically feel their hands on me already, groping, claiming, violating.

As I reach the end of the stage, I risk another glance at Rosa. She's still staring at me, her eyes glazed but filled with a deep sorrow that pierces my heart. What horrors has she endured these past ten years? The thought makes me want to scream, to tear this whole place down with my bare hands.

But I can't. Not yet. I have to play their game, bide my time until I can find a way to get us both out of here.

The auctioneer's voice booms out again, startling me back to the present. "We'll start the bidding at one million dollars. Do I hear one million?"

A paddle shoots up immediately, followed by another and another. The numbers climb higher and higher, each one feeling like a noose tightening around my neck.

Five million. Ten million. Fifteen.

I keep my eyes forward, refusing to look at the alphas clamoring to own me. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing my fear.

My gaze is drawn to the back of the room, where four figures sit in the shadows, exuding an aura of quiet menace. The Carbone brothers, and their newest pack member, Sam. The tight knot in my chest eases just a fraction.

Their dark eyes are fixed on me, glittering with a kind of predatory fascination that sends a shiver down my spine. Theydon't raise their paddles or join in the frenzy of bidding. They simply watch, like lions eyeing a particularly enticing gazelle. A gazelle that they’ve already chased down and caught, feasted on and claimed as their own.

As the bidding climbs to a dizzying crescendo, I find myself unable to look away from my men.

Dante's gaze is the most unnerving, filled with a dark hunger that promises both pleasure and pain. I remember the feel of his hands on my skin, the way he marked me with his teeth and tongue, claiming every inch of me as his own.

Silas watches me with a cool, assessing stare, his brilliant mind no doubt already calculating how he can turn this situation to his advantage. He's always been the strategist, the one who sees ten steps ahead. I can practically hear the gears turning behind those piercing golden eyes.

Hector's expression is stoic as ever, but I catch the faintest flicker of something in his gaze—crazed rage and the hunger for carnage.

And then there's Sam. My Sam. The bodyguard who betrayed his alphas because he fell in love with an omega. He came. He walked right into the pit of vipers, knowing that the De Lucas probably wanted the traitor dead. But my alphas wouldn’t let that happen.

We were about to fuck shit up in the best way.

With the most subtle nod of my head, the four men don’t bother glancing at one another before slowly leaving the booth and dispersing through the dark club. They headed in all different directions as casually as they could without attracting attention.

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