Page 32 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

The stories she'd heard as a child came flooding back. Tales of the original packs, of their arrogance and cruelty. They thought themselves better than the rogues, purer somehow. They were the ones who had cast out her ancestors, condemning them to a life of hardship on the Dark Side.

And now, here she was, in the clutches of one of them. Anger bubbled up inside her, hot and fierce. She turned to Articus, her eyes blazing.

"So this is where you're from," she spat. "The great and mighty light side. Tell me, do all of you make a habit of buying people, or are you just special?"

Articus's expression hardened. "It's not like that."

"Oh really?" Wren laughed bitterly. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks exactly like that. The perfect Mr. Articus White, Alpha of the White Moon pack, stooping to buy himself a virgin bride.How noble of you?."

"You don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly," Wren cut him off. "You light-siders think you're so much better than us. But look at you. You're just as corrupt as the rest of them."

Articus's eyes flashed dangerously. "That's enough."

But Wren was beyond caring. All the fear, anger, and helplessness of the past day came pouring out of her in a torrent of words.

"What's the matter,Alpha? Can't handle the truth? Did you think I'd be grateful? That I'd fall at your feet and thank you for buying me like a piece of meat?"

"I saved your life!" Articus roared, his composure finally cracking.

The helicopter fell silent, save for the whir of the blades. Wren stared at Articus, her chest heaving.

"What?" she whispered.

Articus ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking tired. "I saved your life," he repeated, quieter this time.

"If I hadn't bought you, someone else would have. Someone who wouldn't have cared about your well-being. You know I am telling the truth."

Wren's mind reeled. "But... why?"

"Because it was the right thing to do," Articus said simply. "I couldn't leave you there, knowing what would happen to you."

Maybe because the adrenaline had died down or the sleep she sorely needed. They were the same words he had said yesterday or similar. But looking at him now and hearing them again, the anger drained out of Wren, leaving her feeling hollow.

"So what now? Am I supposed to be your slave? Yourwife?" she asked.

Articus shook his head. "No. I'm going to help you break the brand, and then you'll be free to go wherever you want."

Wren blinked, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You... you'd do that?"

"Of course," Articus said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

For a moment, Wren didn't know what to say. She'd been so ready to hate him, to fight him at every turn. But now...

"I... I'm sorry," she said finally, the words feeling strange on her tongue. "For what I said. I shouldn't have assumed..."

Articus's expression softened. "And I'm sorry for not explaining sooner. I should have known how it would look to you."

They lapsed into silence, but it was different now. Less tense, more... contemplative.

As the helicopter began its descent toward a sprawling estate nestled in the hills, Wren found herself stealing glancesat Articus. He wasn't at all what she'd expected. Maybe... maybe she'd been too quick to judge.

Maybe I'm just as close-minded as I accused him of being.

The thought was uncomfortable, but Wren forced herself to consider it. If Articus was telling the truth and something in her gut told her he was, then she owed him a chance. At the very least, she could try to keep an open mind.

As they touched down on a private helipad, Wren took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came next.

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