Free Web NovelChapter 78: You Don’t Want to Miss
"Oh god." Nina’s fingers tightened around Moreen’s hand as her gaze darted between the two men. The hallway suddenly felt much smaller than it had moments ago. They stood shoulder to shoulder, completely blocking the corridor, and the realization settled heavily in her chest that there was nowhere to go. Moreen was trembling beside her. Nina could feel it through their joined hands.
She forced herself to stay calm.
Panic would only make things worse.
"We don’t need to do this," she said, lifting her chin as she met the bald man’s gaze. Her voice sounded steadier than she felt. "You don’t really want to find out what happens if you hurt me."
For a moment, neither man responded.
Then they laughed.
The sound echoed down the hallway, and Nina immediately regretted speaking. They weren’t taking her seriously. Worse, they weren’t even pretending to.
"And what would that be?" the bald man asked, amusement dancing across his face.
Nina’s mouth went dry.
She had nothing.
Nothing except the desperate hope that confidence might buy them a few extra seconds.
"No one would find you here," the other man said as he started forward. "And before they even start looking, you’ll already be shipped out of the Vermont Pack."
The words sent a chill through her.
Shipped out.
She would be sold before he found out she was missing.
Goosebumps crawled up Nina’s neck. She’d made a mistake.
Nina bit her lower lip.
She needed to find him... ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
That was her only way out. But how?
This was not even the way to the auction room, and he did not know she had followed him.
If only she had her powers...
The men kept advancing towards them.
Nina’s mind raced. There was no chance of fighting them. Even if she somehow got past one, the other would catch her before she made it ten feet. They had only one advantage. None of them would expect weak-looking women like them to try to escape.
She squeezed Moreen’s hand.
"Moreen," she called in an inaudible tone.
Moreen immediately looked at her.
Nina took a slow breath.
"Run."
Before either man could react, she threw herself forward and drove her shoulder between them. One of them staggered back with a curse, creating a gap barely wide enough to squeeze through. Moreen didn’t hesitate. She darted through the opening, and Nina followed close behind.
For a brief moment, the men were caught off guard, then they regained themselves and ran after them.
"You can’t escape us," the bald-headed man’s voice resounded in the hall as laughter filled his throat.
Nina ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her heart slammed against her chest, her life flashing in front of her eyes.
Heavy footsteps pounded behind them as they sprinted through the corridor.
"Get back here!"
The other man screamed as they chased after them. Her lungs were already burning, but she forced herself to run harder. The front entrance wasn’t far. If they could reach it, if they could get outside, then they could escape.
She risked a glance over her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn’t.
The men were closing the distance.
One crashed into a side table while turning a corner, sending it tumbling across the floor. The noise echoed through the house, but it barely slowed him. Within seconds he had regained his footing and continued after them.
Fear tightened around Nina’s chest.
They weren’t going to outrun them.
The front doors appeared at the end of the hallway, sunlight spilling through the openings above it.
Hope surged through her, adrenaline propelling her forward.
"We’re almost there!" she shouted.
Moreen pushed herself harder.
The distance between them and freedom shrank with every step.
Then disaster struck.
Moreen’s foot caught on the edge of a rug.
Nina watched in horror as she pitched forward and slammed into the floor.
The sound seemed unnaturally loud.
Nina stumbled to a stop several feet ahead of her, breathing hard as she stared at the open doorway just beyond reach.
She could make it.
The realization hit her immediately.
If she ran now, she could be outside in seconds.
She could save herself.
"My lady, run!"
Moreen’s voice cracked with desperation.
Nina cursed under her breath.
The maid was struggling to push herself up, tears already filling her eyes as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder behind her.
For a single terrible moment, Nina hesitated.
Every instinct she possessed screamed at her to keep running. She could still escape. She could still get away.
Then she looked at Moreen.
Looked at the fear on her face.
And knew she couldn’t leave her behind. She’d brought her here against her will; she couldn’t save herself and leave her.
A frustrated curse escaped her lips before she spun around and ran back.
She grabbed Moreen beneath the arm and hauled her upright.
"Get up!" she screamed and dragged her forward toward the door. Her hand fumbled with the lock and she threw it open.
Warm sunlight washed over them.
Fresh air filled Nina’s lungs.
Relief swept through her so suddenly that it almost made her dizzy.
Then something yanked violently at the back of her head.
Pain exploded across her scalp.
Nina cried out as her body jerked backward.
For a second she couldn’t understand what had happened.
Then she saw the bald man.
His fist was buried in her hair.
Moreen stopped dead.
The color drained from her face.
"My lady!"
Nina clawed at his wrist as tears sprang to her eyes from the pain.
"Run!" she shouted. "Find help!"
The man’s hand struck her before she could say anything else.
The slap cracked through the air.
Pain exploded across her cheek.
Nina’s vision blurred.
For a moment the world tilted sideways and she tasted blood.
Somewhere through the ringing in her ears, she heard Moreen screaming.
"My lady!"
"Stupid girl," the bald man cursed. The other man made to chase after Moreen, but the bald man nodded to him.
’’You can let her go, this is the one we want.’’
Moreen was standing frozen in the doorway, horror written across her face as the bald man dragged Nina back toward the shadows of the house.
’’Go, find help!’’ Nina screamed as she struggled against the men as they dragged her deeper.
A tear slipped from Moreen’s eyes and she gritted her teeth and turned dashing out into the streets.
...
Rodrigo sat in the private balcony overlooking the auction hall below, his expression unreadable as he watched another round of bidding unfold on the stage. The grand chamber was crowded with dignitaries from different packs, wealthy merchants, Alphas, nobles, and collectors who had traveled from every corner of the continent to attend the annual auction.
Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over the gathering, illuminating rows of occupied seats and private tables arranged around the central podium.
Above them, secluded balconies circled the hall like watchtowers, reserved for individuals whose influence outweighed their desire for public attention. Rodrigo wasn’t the only powerful figure occupying the upper level. Several balconies remained concealed behind heavy curtains and tinted screens, their occupants hidden from view. Judging by the turnout alone, competition for the Earthstone would be fierce.
The auctioneer stood beneath the spotlight with a practiced smile, presenting an ancient relic to the crowd while assistants carried it through the aisles for inspection. Bidding began almost immediately. Paddles rose. Voices called out numbers. The auctioneer repeated each offer with growing enthusiasm as the price climbed higher and higher.
Rodrigo paid little attention.
Five hours.
The auction had been underway for nearly five hours.
His fingers tapped once against the armrest before stilling.
The Earthstone had yet to appear.
His jaw tightened.
The delay was becoming ridiculous.
A burst of applause erupted from the floor as another lot was sold. The auctioneer’s gavel struck the podium, sealing the deal. Rodrigo barely registered what had been purchased.
His attention had drifted elsewhere, a strange and uneasy feeling bubbling in his chest.
Beside him, Seven and Caleb stood silently. Their attention remained fixed on the auction below while Rodrigo leaned back in his chair and attempted once more to concentrate on what was before him.
It lasted all of a minute.
His gaze shifted toward the entrance of the balcony.
The corridor beyond was empty.
A servant passed carrying a silver tray before disappearing around the corner.
Nothing unusual.
Rodrigo looked away.
A faint frown settled on his face.
The movement had been unconscious.
He wasn’t waiting for anyone.
There was no reason to keep looking toward the corridor.
Yet moments later he found himself doing it again.
Below, another item sold.
More applause followed.
The noise seemed strangely distant.
Something was wrong.
The certainty arrived without explanation.
Rodrigo stilled.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed the hall once more.
Nothing appeared out of place.
The crowd appeared relaxed.
The auctioneer continued his work without interruption.
Everything looked exactly as it should.
Yet the unease in his chest only deepened.
Unwelcome.
Persistent.
His fingers resumed tapping against the armrest before he caught himself and stopped again.
"Have the men been positioned?" he asked.
Seven immediately turned toward him.
"Yes, Alpha. They’ll be here if anything happens."
Rodrigo gave a short nod.
The answer should have reassured him.
Instead, the feeling only worsened.
For the briefest moment, an image of her that morning flashed through his mind, and the hairs on his arms suddenly stood on end.
Rodrigo’s frown deepened.
The auctioneer’s voice rang out across the hall as another lot concluded. The gavel struck once more, drawing applause from the crowd. As assistants moved to clear the stage, a man in formal attire hurried toward the podium and leaned close to whisper something into the auctioneer’s ear.
The exchange lasted only a few seconds.
Then the auctioneer’s eyebrows rose.
A slow smile spread across his face.
The reaction immediately drew the attention of the room.
Conversations died down, and the auctioneer waited until the hall was quiet before he continued:
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "Before we proceed to the most anticipated lot of the evening, we have received a very special addition to tonight’s auction."
A ripple of low murmurs swept through the audience. Rodrigo’s brows knit together as he straightened.
The auctioneer’s smile widened.
"And I assure you, you don’t want to miss."
