Page 13 of Secured By the Buyer

“No time for a pedicure and manicure,” one woman mutters under her breath. “At least he’s clean.”

When the other lifts a syringe, I flinch back and the guard clears his throat in threat. She shoves the thick needle into my arm and depresses the plunger. It stings, but otherwise, I don’t feel any different.

Panic rises in my chest. “What was that?”

She doesn’t answer as she tosses the used syringe into a trash can and puts a sticker on a piece of paper.

“All done.” She hands the document over, and the guard grabs me once more.

The cold floor chills my bare feet as I’m dragged into another room, and I squint against the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. This area resembles the back of a theatre stage, with heavy red drapes to the left. It reminds me of the showroom, and the memory of all those Alphas in fancy clothes takes on new meaning.

Had they come to the casino for this slave auction? Right under everyone’s noses?

A quiet murmur drifts through from the other side of the curtain, making my blood run cold.

This is happeningnow. There won’t be any chance of escape before I’m sold.

My guard deposits me in front of an older man with a clipboard. Wisps of dark hair curve over the top of his head in a vain attempt to hide his bald spot, and a small paunch tests the button on his suit jacket. An impatient expression twists his features as he sizes me up dispassionately.

“You’re cutting it close to get this one in on time.” He grabs a marker from his pocket, uncaps it, and writes a number across my chest. “There you go.”

Fear gnaws at my insides. “What’s that for?”

“It’s your starting bid.” He smirks at me. “You’ll fetch a good price.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and the bile I’ve been holding back surges up my throat. Bending, I puke on his shiny black shoes. A sour taste fills my mouth, but at least it washes away the bitterness left by the chloroform.

“Fucking hell!” He shakes his foot before yanking a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe at the mess. “You’re lucky you’re the first one on the auction block, or else I’d take the cost of these out of your hide.”

Fear shivers through me. Everything is moving so fast that I have no time to process what’s happening.

Another figure enters the room. This man wears amask with filters on the sides, obscuring the bottom half of his face. My heart races as I realize its purpose.

The casino pumps a mild Alpha suppressant through the vents to prevent Alphas from using Command to cheat, but the special mask protects this man from the drug.

“Walk through the curtain and down the stage, stopping at the end to do a turn,” the masked man Commands, his voice seizing control of my free will. “Then wait for further instructions.”

I want to resist, but my body moves on its own. The cold air of the room brushes against my bare skin as I walk forward, each step a betrayal as I scream inside.

Panic races through me. What happens once I reach the end of the stage?

Unable to stop my feet, I pass through the curtains.

5

The glaring spotlights blind me, and I squint as I walk forward, my body like a marionette under another’s control, moving against my will.

As my eyes adjust, I recognize the smaller of the casino’s ballrooms, which has been converted with an elevated walkway down the center and small, round tables positioned on all sides. Men and women stare at me with masks over the top half of their faces, their very presence exuding the unmistakable power of Alphas.

I reach the end of the stage and stop before turning in a slow circle, giving everyone in the room a three-sixty view of my naked body.

Murmurs rise around the room, some leaningcloser for a better look at my exposed form, and my breathing quickens, my lungs filling with the heady mix of Alpha pheromones in the air.

“Behold our first lot!” the auctioneer announces, joining me. “A rare gem—a redhead! And let me draw your attention to his unique birthmark.” He points at the heart-shaped mark near my hip bone. “This one was born for the bedroom, don’t you agree?”

The comment earns him a few chuckles and nods.

He turns to address both sides of the room. “Science shows redheads have a higher pain tolerance than most, too. Perfect for meeting your darker desires.”

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