Ella’s POV
We got back to the villa and the count insisted on walking me to my room.
He pulled me against the door when we got in, his eyes simmering with annoyance.
“How close are you with that guy we saw earlier?”
“I’m not close to him.” I lied. “We broke up six months ago.”
“Six months ago and he still looks at you that way? You broke up six months ago and he is still pursuing you? Why do I find that hard to believe? He was ready to fight me and my bodyguards for a lady he has broken up with six months ago?”
He scoffed. “Do you think that is possible? Do you think I’m a fool?”
I swallowed, my throat getting dry and licked my lips. “I’m telling you the truth, my lord. It’s not my fault that my ex can’t get over me.”
The Count was barely convinced. “Don’t you ever meet that werewolf again. You have to behave well and not forget that you are my slave or I will have you punished.”
I gasped. “You know he is a werewolf?”
A bitter laugh escaped his throat. “You must think that I’m a fool. I know you are a werewolf, it only makes sense that your ex is something like you.”
“He could have killed you if he fought with you. Can you see I stopped him to protect you, my lord?”
He grunted and left my room without a word. I slid to the floor when he was out, thinking of how a decision had ruined my life.
I moved to the mirror to remove my makeup and couldn’t stop thinking of Kevin. I was so glad to see him again and relieved that he was safe.
I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t see my eyes turn red even though I was sitting right now in front of the mirror.
Kevin’s POV
I paced the floor of the hotel room that I was staying in. I was going to make dents in the rug but I didn’t care. All I cared about was Ella and not some god-damned lifeless rug.
I couldn’t stop thinking of Ella. I couldn’t get the image of her caressing the count out of my head. I growled as I kicked the flower vase on the bedside stool to the ground.
I sighed, looking at the ruined vase but not fazed. I was going to pay the hotel for damages.
Liam knocked gently on the door and walked in. He glanced at the broken vase on the floor and looked away without saying anything.
“Here is the report you want.” He said, handing me a document.
“What about the apartment?”
“I’ve bought it. We are moving in tonight.”
“Good.” I nodded, flipping the file open. “It seems like we are going to be staying here for a while.”
“I expected that when you came back without the Luna yesterday night and looked angry.”
“I’m still angry.” I confessed.
I had gone to the banquet to ask information if anyone had seen Ella and knew where she was but had found her in worse state than I had imagined.
I read through the report Liam had given me on the count’s background. He had bought seven slaves before and Ella was the eighth.
Buying slaves must be an hobby for him. I growled and tore the paper in anger.
“What do you want to do?”
“What else?” I glared at Liam for asking an obvious question. “I have to get Ella back.”
“I know you will but you have to be careful. This isn’t the werewolf world and they have their own set of rules here.”
I sighed, hating that he was repeating exactly what Ella had said and making me miss her more.
I contemplated on what to do for a moment and found the answer.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To the personnel management bureau of the utopian town.”
“I need a slave.” I said the minute I saw the leader of the bureau without wasting time.
“I will tell you when another auction is taking place.”
I shook my head head. “That is not necessary. The slave I want already belongs to someone else. I need you to transfer the ownership of the slave to me.”
The middle-aged bureau leader laughed. “That is not possible. There are rules here and deals have conditions. I can’t just take someone else’s slave and give her to you even if you are the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack.”
I arched my eyebrows at him. “You can’t? Are you sure you can’t?”
“I can’t.” He insisted.
“You might want to think again before replying.” I said, pushing a document to him.
He stared at the document and then back at me. “What is this?”
“Why don’t you check it?” I urged, a smile playing on my lips.
He picked it up and gasped as he read, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief as he glanced back at me.
I knew I had him. “That is a ten-year investment contract for modern architectural facilities in the utopian town. Are you sure you still want to say no to my request?”
“Are you serious about this?”
I nodded. “Yes. You should know the Blood Moon pack has money and I wouldn’t have come here to bluff to you. All I need is a slave and you get to have all these.”
He swallowed. “Who is the slave you want?”
I smiled and shared a grin with Liam. The game had finally begun.