Page 69 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

Yet there was a coldness in his gaze that sent a chill down Articus' spine. This, he realized, was the true face of evil—not some monstrous creature, but a man who could orchestrate such suffering while looking utterly ordinary.

Linus rose, a practiced smile spreading across his face. "Ah, the esteemed Alpha from across the mountains. To what do I owe this pleasure?" His voice was smooth, cultured, and at odds with the brutality of his business.

Articus stepped forward, barely containing his growl. His wolf clawed at his insides, demanding release, demanding blood. "You know damn well why I'm here," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "Where is she?"

The slaver's smile didn't waver, his composure infuriatingly intact. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific, Alpha. We deal with many... acquisitions here." He spread his hands in a gesture of false helplessness, his eyes glinting with amusement.

In a flash, Articus had Linus by the throat, lifting him off his feet. The slaver's eyes widened in surprise and fear, his mask of confidence finally cracking. "Don't play games with me," Articus snarled, his eyes flashing dangerously, a hint of wolf gold bleeding into them.

"Where. Is. Wren?"

Cassius quickly intervened, placing a firm hand on Articus' arm. "Cousin," he said urgently, his voice low but firm. "Remember what we discussed. Let's handle this civilly." His grip tightened, a silent reminder of what was at stake.

Damn the war!

For a moment, Articus considered ignoring his cousin's plea. The wolf inside him howled for blood, demanding retribution for the fear and pain Wren must have endured. He could feel his canines lengthening, the urge to sink them into the slaver's throat nearly overwhelming.

But the rational part of his mind knew that violence would only make things worse. With a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the room, he released Linus, who stumbled back, gasping for air and clutching at his throat.

"My apologies for my cousin's... enthusiasm," Cassius said smoothly, though his eyes remained hard, chips of ice in his otherwise calm expression. "We're here about the young woman who was recently... reacquired by your organization. Wren Knight. I believe there's been a misunderstanding."

Linus straightened his jacket, his composure quickly returning despite the red marks blooming on his neck. "Ah, yes," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. "The rogue bride. Quite the popular item, that one. It's not often we get a chance to resell such high-profile merchandise."

Articus's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his claws finally emerging to dig into his palms. The pain helped him focus, kept him from losing control completely. The casual way this man spoke about Wren as if she were nothing more than a piece of property made his blood boil.

"She is not merchandise," Articus growled, each word dripping with barely contained fury. "She is my mate and the mother of my heir. And you will return her to me immediately." The declaration hung in the air, heavy with implication.

The slaver's eyebrows rose at this declaration, genuine surprise flickering across his features. "Your mate? Well, thisis an interesting development." Linus leaned back against his desk, studying Articus with newfound interest. "I was under the impression that the marriage was... shall we say, a business transaction?"

"Things change," Articus bit out, struggling to keep his voice even. The urge to tear this man apart was growing stronger by the second. "Now, I'll ask one more time. Where is she?"

Linus held up his hands in a placating gesture, though the calculating look never left his eyes. "Now, now, there's no need for hostility. We're all businessmen here." He smiled, all teeth and no warmth. "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement that satisfies everyone."

Cassius stepped forward, his tone diplomatic but firm. Years of pack politics had honed his negotiation skills, and Articus was grateful for his cousin's steady presence.

"What my cousin means to say is that we're prepared to compensate you for any... inconvenience this situation may have caused. We simply want to resolve this matter quickly and quietly."

Linus’ eyes gleamed with interest, the prospect of profit overriding any lingering fear from Articus' earlier outburst. "Compensation, you say? Well, that certainly changes things." He moved back behind his desk, settling into his chair with the air of a man who knew he held all the cards. "Perhaps we can discuss terms?"

The two men began to negotiate, their voices a low murmur as they haggled over prices and conditions. Articus fought to keep his composure, every muscle in his body tense with the need to act. Every second that passed was another second Wren was in danger, another second his child was at risk.

He wanted nothing more than to tear this place apart until he found her, consequences be damned. The wolf inside him paced restlessly, snarling at the delay, demanding immediate action. Images of Wren, scared and alone, flashed through his mind, fueling his anger and fear.

But he knew that wasn't an option. Not if he wanted to keep the peace between the territories, not if he wanted to ensure Wren's long-term safety.

So he forced himself to stay still, to listen as Cassius and the slaver haggled over the price of his mate's freedom. The idea of having to buy Wren back, as if she were property, made him sick to his stomach.

After what felt like an eternity but was likely only a few minutes, they seemed to reach an agreement. Linus turned to Articus with a shark-like grin, satisfaction oozing from every pore. "Well, Alpha," he said, leaning back in his chair. "It seems today is your lucky day. We've come to a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Articus' eyes narrowed, his patience wearing dangerously thin. "Meaning?" he growled, the single word heavy with threat.

"Meaning," Linus continued, seemingly oblivious to the danger he was in, "that in light of this... unexpected development, and in the interest of maintaining good relations between our respective communities, we're willing to release the girl back into your custody." His smile widened, showing too many teeth. "For a reasonable fee, of course."

"Of course," Articus echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The urge to wipe that smug smile off the slaver's face was almost overwhelming. "And I'm sure that 'reasonable fee' just happens to be significantly more than what I paid initially?"

The slaver's grin widened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Consider it a finder's fee. After all, we did go through the trouble of locating and retrieving your... wayward bride." He spread his hands in a gesture of false helplessness. "Expenses were incurred, you understand."

Articus bit back a snarl, his entire body vibrating with barely contained rage. Every instinct screamed at him to rip this smug bastard's throat out, to make him pay for daring to lay hands on what was his. The wolf inside him howled for blood, for vengeance.

---