Page 26 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

She cursed herself for having the urge to touch his face. It was so pale, yet so smooth and calling. She folded her arms.

"After you left the bar. I wanted to talk to you. To apologize for the manner I spoke to you. I got outside to see you being stuffed inside a truck." He paused for a second like the next part was hard to say.

He massaged his temple and went on, "For some reason, I don't understand fully; I couldn't watch you go like that. I followed the truck and got there. All I wanted to do was save you without causing an all-out war. And that is what I did, Wren! I saved you, Wren! It could have been much worse. It could have been someone worse who bought you," he sighed.

Nobody had ever come to Wren's aid before. So, she struggled to believe this. He couldn't just have gone through all of that to save her. Could he?!

"It could have been someone worse? Like you are a saint!" She fired and moved away from him.

She took in the room and appreciated what she saw. It was lavishly furnished with a queen-sized bed, a wardrobe, and a reading table. It looked like a typical princess room. Why did he have this room in his mansion? Did he already know he would be getting her here and prepared for it?

Wren was distrusting, and she believed she had every reason to be. She had never had any close shaves with snatchers or any of the sort before she met him.

He sighed, frustrated. "I never said I was!"

"Oh! Yes, you did! You meant you are better than the others who wanted me," she argued.

"Mr. Articus? You are back! I heard screaming and wondered what was happening." a female voice called fromoutside the room, interrupting their argument. A beautiful olive-skinned middle-aged woman came into view as she stepped into the room.

Articus turned to her and gave his warmest smile. "Abigail, I just got in."

I didn’t get that smile.

"I am glad you did; you came at the right time. I just finished preparing your meal." She beamed at him. “Cassius asked me to feed you immediately after you got back,” she added.

"Oh really, let's get to it then," he chuckled. “I don’t know why he stresses you with all unnecessary tasks.” He smiled at her.

“I am his housekeeper, Mr. Articus, and feeding you is not an unnecessary task,” she informed him, and they both smiled.

Wren watched this little interaction and marveled. This man,Articus, seemed like a different person. He was warmer and sweet. Could she have been wrong in thinking he was evil? Could he have saved her from the worst possible fate?

Articus turned back to Wren. His expression went cold. He appeared to have exhausted his energy trying to get her to believe him. "I am tired of the back and forth. I'd leave you to yourself. Get showered and relax."

Then he turned back to Abigail. "Come, let’s go, what did you make?"

Abigail chuckled at this. "You'd find out." They had walked into the hallway when she curiously asked, "Who is the woman? Have you found a mate?"

It was Articus's turn to chuckle and reply with a vague answer, "Who knows?" Their footsteps receded as they descended the stairs.

Wren overheard their little conversation and it irked her the more. Why the fuck did he answer with a "Who knows?".

Who knows what? That she was his mate? Or his little rogue bride?

Fuck him!

She slammed the door shut and locked it.

Alone at last.

She thought of escaping, but she figured he would have tight security. She just might be wasting her energy. She looked around the room again, appreciating what she saw. It was fancy.

She was blindfolded on the way here. But she figured he had brought her back to his pack since he was an Alpha. Not only was he an Alpha of a reputable pack. He was also quite wealthy. The house and the amount he paid for her said it all.

Wren's body ached from being brutally handled all day. She eyed the four-poster bed with its dusty rose velvet bedding. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep on it. But she knew better. She was dirty and bloody. For her to enjoy her sleep, she needed to wash up.

Sluggishly, she walked to the bathroom. Once she was in, she wasted no time in ridding herself of the filthy gown she wore. She hated the fact that she was doing exactly what he asked her to do. But the feeling quickly dissipated once the shower rained down cold water on her skin.

Wren couldn't believe how bizarre the day had gone. She had left home for work, hoping to get better tips, only for her to meet Articus and then get kidnapped. She still couldn't believethat she was put up for auction and bought by the very man she had met the same day.

---