Page 9 of Auctioned to the Alpha

The deep bass of the voice was cool, cultured, but implacable all at once. “I choose… her.”

Karen seemed to freeze. Stacy was so terrified she couldn’t quite believe what she’d just heard.

And that he’d looked at her the entire time he’d said the words.

It can’t be. This cannot be happening!

But it was true.

Fortunately, her boss was havingnoneof it. The volume of Karen’s voice raised pointedly as she stood slightly in front of Stacy. “You know the rules, gentlemen. The subject at hand is on the stage up there.” She nodded in Lola’s direction. “No one else.”

Stacy wanted to hug her team lead—and friend—at that moment. But it wasn’t going to be that simple.

Dmitri rose to his full height and strode directly toward them, completely ignoring the bound and trembling young woman locked to the stanchion atop the dais.

Moving preternaturally fast, and yet looking completely at ease, in but a heartbeat he stood before them, his great height even more intimidating at such close quarters. The scent of him, a combination of sandalwood, a hint of sweat, and pure male essence had her mouth watering immediately.

What are you, a rabid fucking dog now?

“I wanther, agent. And I will have her. My choice, is my choice.” His cold gray gaze slid to Karen for just a moment, but it was plenty long enough for the message to be received. “And I will have my choice honored here today.”

Karen cleared her throat, flipping open one side of her jacket to expose her sidearm, her fingers resting upon the butt. “Andyouknow our laws. No agents, no exceptions. You know this, I know this. So, today you’renotgoing to have your choice honored. Because Stacy is not on the table to be chosen.She’snot an option.”

Stacy couldn’t help smiling at the tiniest bit of steel in her supervisor’s voice. Karen was a tough bitch. And Stacy was so very glad that bitch was on her side.

Dmitri took a half step closer to Karen, a muscle ticking at the corner of his jaw as he regarded her. His scent grew even stronger.

She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to eat him or lick every single inch of him, taste his essence, take it into her deep down inside, where it could be one with her. Where she could feel complete.

And yet, it was all sowrong.

You’ve got to get out of here. Right now.

Stacy was up in a flash, Dmitri’s gaze flicking right back to her.

“Don’t move.”

Three of the suited men back at the seating area were up on their feet and moving toward them, two of them drawing pistols, though the barrels were still pointed at the ground. Stacy drew her own sidearm leveling it at Dmitri, Karen doing the same a split second later.

“Whoa whoa, wait a minute here, guys.”

Fuck. Jim.

He interposed himself in front of her and Stacy, holding up his hands, facing the two of them rather than Dmitri, the alpha’s imposing figure almost a head taller than the male agent’s.

“What’s the problem here?” Jim’s eyes were focused on Karen, rather than on Stacy. “Put your guns down.”

“They go first,” Karen muttered. Her cool gaze flicked to Jim. “I’m takingheroutside. This is a protocol violation, and you know it. There’s no way inhellwe’re continuing with this today.”

“The boss man is not gonna like this. He doesn’t like… messes.” Jim frowned, glancing at the hulking men behind him. “I’ll try and talk to them…”

Stacy lowered her weapon but couldn’t help but watch Dmitri even as Karen drew her away by a firm grip on her upper arm. As the two of them backed away, her supervisor kept her firearm aimed at the menacing alpha and his bodyguards.

Dmitri’s voice was deep and booming, his words following them out as Karen dragged her through the double doors. “Running won’t do anything. She can’t escape who she is.Whatshe is.”

Oh no. How does he…?

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Stacy forced the question, her voice high, reedy, the strain making it almost break.

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