Page 8 of Auctioned Mate

Lights lined the front of the stage as a spotlight swung in my direction. Percy gave me a light shove as Rick said, “Knock ’em dead, tiger.”

What had I just gotten myself into with this club?Mosssounded like a character from a television show, not a place where creatures got off to live performances. Would someone be joining me, or would I have to use this pole in the center of the stage by myself? Crap, I hadn’t practiced stripping. I’d never done it in my life.

Silence stung my ears. Was there supposed to be music? As disorienting as it was to be barraged with lights, I didn’t want to disappoint the crowd—even though I had zero idea what I was supposed to be doing. The other women hadn’t come back from the stage. I assumed they had stepped into the crowd or gone off to a dancer booth or something.

Right foot first, Macy, I reminded myself while following my mental directions.Left foot. Keep moving. Chin up. Smile.

Sultry music curled around me, seeming to follow my every movement. A gruff and husky voice that reminded me of Tennessee whiskey came through the speakers. “Friends and foes, I have the pleasure of introducing the most darling little werewolf bombshell from the very heart of our fine town—Miss Macy.”

Well,thatwas an interesting introduction, and it didn’t sound like Percy or Rick either. The voice sounded totally disembodied, almost coming from nowhere. I held the pole in the center of the stage loosely, trying to circle it gracefully without making a fool of myself. All I wanted was one complete spin for the show, and that would be more than enough.

Or so I hoped.

When I paused, my attention hooked on the left side of the bar. It felt like there was something there I needed to pay attention to, but I could barely see anything with the lights so bright. Without squinting, I kept glancing in that direction, trying to listen to the words of the announcer, trying to keep my heart from exploding right out of my chest.

Macy.

I blinked while stepping toward the line of lights, feeling called to step out into the audience. Was there a staircase I could use? Maybe Percy had set something up. Maybe it was Percy himself who had called my name under the soft touch of rhythm and blues. I glanced over my shoulder to check the hallway next to the stage. Nobody was standing there.

But still, I heard a voice. I heardsomethingcall out to me.

Whistles drew my attention back to the left, closer to the front of the stage. Somebody hooted from the right. I propped my right hand on my hip and posed, giving my best model face to the crowd. Light applause erupted, inspiring a satisfied smirk.

Alright, so they didn’t need anything super fancy. They just wanted to see me act sexy. Whatever would get me off this stage faster was what I was going to do.

“She’s strong in her human and wolf form,” the announcer explained. “Luscious in her hips and tits. Gorgeous in her glory.”

More whistles came to my ears, granting me a confidence I hadn’t ever felt. Was this what it felt like to be celebrated? While this place was likely reserved for naughtier things, it actually feltgoodto be seen as a plus-sized woman wearing a tight dress without getting booed off the stage.

Chin up, I thought as I walked in front of the lights.Tits out.

“She hails from the Baneridge pack and comes with a feisty attitude,” the announcer added. “However, don’t let her troublesome ways confuse you. She’s committed to labor and protection, as is reported by her alpha.”

I stiffened while focusing again on that left-most point of the bar. Some of the lights had cleared a bit, giving me a view of the sleek counter where a few figures sat. One of them was glowing. Were those wings?

More blinking. More rearranging of my position so I could get a break from the lights. Had the announcer just said something about me being committed to labor? Internal snorting proceeded while I thought of Percy and the things he had me do as tasks around the compound. Dirty chores.Busychores. Sure, I was committed to labor—as much as I was committed to my liberation.

“You might have to put a leash on this one!”

My heart nearly stopped.

I didn’t like the way the announcer just said that. I didn’t like how the crowd grew rowdier in response.

“Just look at those hips,” the announcer added. He smacked his lips before continuing, “The bidding starts at one hundred thousand dollars—”

I nearly screeched.

Bidding? One hundredthousanddollars?

Dear goddess, Percy wasn’t having me do a quick striptease. He wasn’t selling me for a night.

He was selling me for the rest of mylife.

Chapter 4 - Macy

Panic strangled me. Nobody could have been the wiser with their bickering and hollering, numbers flying from the crowd as the announcer spoke quickly into the microphone. The sultry music had dissipated and left me stranded near the stripper pole, disco lights cutting through the hazy fog of white.

That glowing person—thatangelI swore was at the bar was becoming clearer by the second. Short white hair and pale honey eyes materialized on a body of rippling muscle. He was tall too, tall like a skyscraper even while seated. He didn’t have wings, and he certainly couldn’t have been an angel.

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