He led me out of the palace to a waiting limo.
I didn’t see anything but a blur. I said nothing.
The drive to the airport was short. We boarded a private jet and took off.
As I looked out the window at the countryside shrinking away, it became official in my mind. I was sold and on my way to a strange land all within less than an hour. I told myself any place would be better now than the oppressive wolf country where my father ruled. But there was no guarantee.
The jet was more luxurious than the one Rohan owned. Everything was white, including the soft leather seats.
Once we were in the air, my mind cleared a little. I had a thousand questions swarming my mind. The first that burst free was: “Will I live with you?”
“So, you do have a voice. My name is Tane. And yes, you will live on my estate but you won’t be mine.”
A flash of panic cut across my sternum. “I won’t?”
“You are for my son.”
Something didn’t feel quite right about that. Tane had signed the contract. I wasn’t sure of the details, but was he allowed to sell me immediately upon winning the bid? Did Rohan know? He had told me my owner must give monthly updates. But how would Rohan ever know if my owner told the truth?
This could be a major flaw in Rohan’s plan.
My mindset had to be rewound. I had been preparing myself for an older owner. This alpha. Tane. Not someone much younger and possibly less refined. Tane had been planted in my vision and my thoughts. For the past hour, I’d been wrestling with anger and denial and that still far off concept of acceptance. Now a gaping unknown spread before me wider than ever.
“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” I whispered.
Tane’s clear, tan forehead wrinkled. I scented no lust from him, and barely anything alpha-wise. Clearly, the concept ofchoice for me hadn’t crossed his mind. Nor had owning me himself. He seemed the sort of man who focused on a single track until the job was done. Maybe he was already married. Of course. That had to be it since he had a son….
More questions piled up. Was I walking into a family unit? Would they be accepting or would I be the lonely pregnant omega locked in a tower room to produce child after child alone? Unwanted? No identity but my womb to keep me there? There were certainly endless gothic novels written on just that theme.
Tane had stated I would not be harmed. But did his son feel the same? If so, why hadn’t his son come to the auction?
Tane was hiding something.
After everything I’d been through, what little trust I still had in anyone or anything disappeared.
About an hour into the flight, a chef came out and set covered dishes on the table in front of us. Filet mignon. Broccoli. Loaded baked potatoes.
I had made a deal with myself that I wouldn’t eat anything until I was settled in my new reality. But my stomach betrayed me. I also did not refuse the wine, knowing it would make things mentally easier for me.
The food and wine were excellent.
As we ate, I waited for Tane to make conversation. He asked me only one question. “Is your food okay?”
Not looking at him, I nodded once. I ate every bite, ashamed of myself for my non-existent will power. Worse, after we ate, despite forcing myself not to look him in the eye, I caught myself staring at his hands, the long fingers strong but graceful, both tanned wrists ringed in gold. I noted his jacket and the way his shoulders filled it out.
I tried to make myself stare out the window and not think about how it might have been if he’d bought me for himself.Maybe not so bad? He was handsome. I had always been drawn to older guys more than alphas my own age.
It was ridiculous… the way I was thinking. I was a captive. I wasn’t in any sort of situation that could begin to be pleasant. Sure, I’d been prepared for this for years. I’d always known past my eighteenth birthday Rohan would sell me when he was ready. But no amount of time could help me get used to the idea or could force me to like it.
After about three hours Tane, who’d disappeared for a while, returned to the table.
“We’re going to land in about fifteen minutes. The drive home is ten minutes.”
I cast a quick glance toward him. His hair gleamed in several shades of dark brown. His brown eyes held a strange light, almost wistful. He had everything, money, an estate, a son he obviously loved enough to spend a lot of money on. His world was at his fingertips. So, I wondered. Why so wistful?
It confused me. So far, Tane behaved completely opposite from Rohan. Aside from wealth and obvious power, they were as unalike as night and day.
His son was lucky, I decided. Born an alpha with every privilege.
