Page 29 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

Articus inhaled, bracing himself. “I saw her being kidnapped. I couldn’t fight everyone there; it would have started a war. So, I bought her to rescue her from the slavers. I thought it was the only way to ensure her freedom.”

Rowan’s response was slow and carefully measured. “Wow, that’s… complicated. We’ve all had our share of complicated love stories, but yours is by far the worst I’ve heard. But hey, look on the bright side, you are married now.”

“This isn’t a joke, Rowan. I need help. She’s bound with magic, and I was hoping Juniper might be able to help lift it. Can she?”

“Sure,” Rowan said, his tone softening. “When you have brought her here, Juniper will take a look and see what she can do.”

“Thank you, Man. I really appreciate this.”

“What are best friends for?” Rowan said and hung up on the call.

Articus made his way to the bed in the corner of the room. As he lay down, he tried to push away the nagging thoughts plaguing his mind. He told himself that this wasn’t a real marriage, that it was merely the only way he could have helped Wren.

The world was a harsh place, and emotions were luxuries he couldn’t afford.

He closed his eyes, attempting to sleep, but all he could see were a pair of hazel eyes filled with so much anger, hate, and distrust.

Chapter 11 - Wren

The morning light filtered through the gauzy curtains, barely illuminating the opulent room. Wren's eyes fluttered open, her mind still foggy with sleep. For a moment, she forgot where she was, the unfamiliar surroundings disorienting her.

Her pulse quickened with a mix of anxiety and anger when, like a tidal wave, the memories of the previous day crashed over her.

The auction. The marriage.

Articus.

Her body tensed, every muscle coiled tight as she sat up abruptly, her gaze darting around the room. She half-expected to see him there, looming over her with that infuriatingly handsome face of his. But the room was empty, save for her.

He didn't come.

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She'd spent the night tossing and turning, her mind conjuring up increasingly horrific scenarios of what Articus might do to her. After all, wasn't that what men did when they bought virgin brides at auction?

What twisted game is he playing?

She had anticipated Articus’s arrival, expecting him to come to claim what he had purchased. The thought of his imposing figure entering the room, of him taking what she had been dreading and yet preparing herself for, had been a source of nervous tension all night.

But the night had passed, and he hadn't appeared. Wren's fingers curled into the silken sheets, her knuckles turning white.She looked around the room that had been too dark to make out the previous night.

She saw that her dinner plates had been cleared off the reading table. It surprised her that someone was in and out without her noticing.

I must have been more tired than I thought.

The bed was enormous, easily big enough for four people, let alone one. It was a stark contrast to the threadbare cot she was used to back home.

Home. As if I have one of those anymore.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. The room was larger than her entire shack, decorated in shades of cream and gold. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

It was beautiful. And it made her sick.

Wren stood, her legs shaky beneath her. She caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror across the room and froze. She looked... different. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes wide and wary. But it was more than that. She looked like a stranger in her own skin.

Is this what being owned does to a person?

She turned away from her reflection, unable to bear the sight any longer. Her gaze fell on the bathroom door and she decided to shower before Articus most likely came looking for her.

The bathroom was as luxurious as the bedroom, all marble and gold fixtures. Wren stripped off the clothes she'd been wearing and stepped into the shower, turning the water as hot as she could stand it.

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