Ella’s POV
If this is a nightmare, I hope I can wake up as soon as possible.
However, the cold touch on my wrist shattered my imagination and reminded me that everything that happened was real.
I was injected with tranquilizers and was put in a car while I was drowsy.
“Mr. Ronald, this is her physical information. As you know, we no longer allow returns after the goods are sold.” A man said.
“I understand.” The other man replied with a smile.
Through the fog in my brain, I could feel anger at the words even as I hoped that it was a dream. Was I the one being likened to a good sold? They must be crazy. I was too conscious of the mess that I was in that I didn’t have time to think of the death of the coachman as I had for the past few days.
I sniffled, trying to breathe but it was hard. My throat felt constricted and my muscles were weaker than it had ever been. I was an omega wolf, usually weaker than the others but this was a new low, even for me. I felt like a bunch of vegetables would be stronger than I was at this rate.
I scoffed, wondering why I had to think of vegetables at this moment. I can’t believe I’m still a pharmacist even as a captured animal. I guess being a pharmacist was ingrained in my blood and I couldn’t escape my destiny.
I missed herbs and potions as the car drove off and I felt sorry for myself. How had my life gone down a hill this much? One minute, I was on my way to the blood moon pack to find Kevin and some answers about who my father was. The next minute, I was captured and sold off like a porcelain doll on an auction.
What was it that the guy had called me? Slave? I snorted. All of them were bastards and I wanted to knock them all out. I wanted to rip their insides out with my claws. This wasn’t me but the emotions I was feeling were welcome.
I let out a sigh as the car bumped against the road and wondered where we were moving to. I couldn’t even hear Lucy and groaned at how weak I was. The bastard must have knocked me with a very strong dose of the tranquilizer.
Of course, he would have. They all knew what I was while I was out there like a treasure waiting for the highest bidder to save me from the embarrassment curling through me on that stage.
That damn rogue. I cursed inwardly.
“Get out, bitch.” I heard a voice say as the car was parked and I was dragged out by two men, each holding me by the arm.
I saw that the car was a Porsche but I didn’t give a dam. Of what use was a Porsche to a slave which was what I was here as?
I wanted to give him a perfect response but was too weak to speak. Later, I made a vow to myself as I was being dragged off like a lifeless doll. I would definitely get back at them all.
I looked at the villa as I was pulled in, taking in all the conversations around me. They dropped me unceremoniously on a bed and left. Half squinting, I looked out the window at the surroundings and saw skyscrapers, modern buildings and I was amazed.
The traffic lights, orderly pedestrians, and cars on the street made me feel very curious. There wasn’t much activity like this in the pack and I wondered if I was dreaming. If it was a dream, I didn’t want to wake up and wanted to explore more of this world. I remembered that I would have to be a slave and sneered.
This dream wasn’t worth it.
Two hours later, someone entered my room.
“The count would like to see you.”
I raised my head slowly at him and bit my lower lip in annoyance. There was no greeting but only an announcement that the count would like to see me and I was being pulled up. I realized the guy was dressed as a butler and my annoyance increased.
I sighed as reality began to sink in. I guessed I was a slave now.
“Let’s go faster.” He growled at me. “The count doesn’t like being kept waiting.”
I wanted to hit the back of his head and remind him that I was drugged. If I could walk faster, I would have run out of here.
We got to an exquisite pink room and I finally saw the count. He was dressed in a pink suit and I snorted at how ridiculous he was. What was with all the pink?
He looked me over, nodding in satisfaction. He had a smile on his face and I wondered if that was to make me feel safe to stay in the castle and want to become his slave. I rolled my eyes at his delusion.
The effects of the tranquilizer wore off and I could move and speak.
“What you are doing isn’t right.” I said the moment I opened my mouth, proud at how clear my voice was. “It’s illegal. You can’t be trafficking werewolves.”
He snorted. “I didn’t ask you to talk. There are rules here and you have to follow them.”
“What if I don’t?” I asked, squaring my shoulder.
He laughed, the tone sounding harsh to my ears and I had no doubt that he was mocking me. “You have no choice. In case you didn’t realize it, you have been marked with the ‘slave’ imprint and destined to be a lifelong slave in the utopian town. You are my slave, my property and you will do exactly as I say.”
I felt humiliated at his words and washed with anger. If that was what he wanted, then he had succeeded.
“Any questions? Of course not. Slaves don’t get to ask questions here.” He laughed at his own jokes.
I narrowed my eyes at him and scowled. The bastard.
He noticed my expression and his scowl mirrored mine. “This won’t do. You seem like trouble if your wings aren’t clipped.”
I scoffed at him. “I’m a wolf not a bird. I have furs. I thought you knew that.” I pretended to gasp. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten my identity so soon. That is bad. I think you just bought with your money what will kill you.” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
He rubbed the back of his neck, a slightly amused look on his face. I hated that. I wanted to wipe it off. How dare he look down on me? It was bad enough that werewolves in my pack did that, I felt disgusted with myself that humans dared to do that too.
“You will learn. You aren’t the first fierce werewolf to be stubborn but they all learnt eventually.” He smiled and walked out of the room.
After the Count left, the butler came back to walk me to my room. We walked in silence and he didn’t ask me to move faster. I didn’t know if it was because the drug had worn off and I moved faster than before or because the count wasn’t waiting.
I got to the room that I was allocated to, thinking of what the count had said. The room wasn’t exactly great but I was proud to have my own space in this crazy world that I was plunged into.
“Aren’t you leaving?” I arched my eyebrows at the butler when I saw that he didn’t make any move to leave.
He cleared his throat in response and brought out a rolled list from his pocket. I sighed at the sight of the thick paper. That must be the rules the count had been yapping about.
“Listen carefully to this, slave, as I won’t be repeating myself.”
“I have a name. My name is…” I paused, deliberating on which name I was going to use. “My name is Ella.” I said finally, deciding to go with my real identity. After all, I had been on my way back home when this happened.
He ignored me as if I hadn’t spoken and continued talking. “The rules for the slaves here are simple. You have to run when the master summons you. You don’t speak or act until you are asked to by the master. You must behave well at all times. You are to obey everything the master says.” He glanced at me. “I believe you know who the master is.”
I snorted and didn’t reply him. I wanted to tell him I could also be a snob. Simple rules? What if they were to be complicated?
He continued, obviously not done yet. “The master hates sick people so you must never skip a meal. You must never frown when he is around. You must-”
I couldn’t deal with the curiosity anymore. “How many are here asides from me?”
He seemed exasperated, his shoulders sagging in defeat but he responded. He must have sensed that I wouldn’t give up until I found the answer. “There are seven slave girls here.”
I winced. This was bad.