Page 9
Story: Mated to Ruin
He turns and takes the microphone, one arm still protectively around Aelina, making sure everyone can hear him clearly. “Everyone, from tonight forward, Seraphina has nothing to do with me whatsoever.”
His voice rings out across the silent arena, and every werewolf freezes.
“I will file an application with the Alpha Council to dissolve our mate bond as soon as possible.” Once approved, she will no longer be my mate or Ashfern Pack’s Beta female.
The audience erupts in shocked whispers.
“He is really doing it!”
“In front of everybody!””
“I’ve never witnessed a public rejection like this!”
Talon raises his hand, requesting silence.
“I invite everyone to witness this declaration. Let it be known that any previous obligations or protections she had under our bond are hereby terminated.”
As soon as he finishes speaking, a man in an expensive suit rushes through the door, looking agitated.
“Alpha, this is urgent news. Miss Aelina’s favourite pigeon blood ruby from last week’s preview will be auctioned off tonight at Whitmore’s.
“Oh?”
Talon raises an eyebrow, his tone veering towards irritation.
“Just buy whatever Miss Aelina prefers outright. Why are you bothering to inform me about something so trivial?”
“Yes, Sir!”
The man quickly turns to leave.
His peripheral vision catches sight of me, blood still dripping from the corner of my mouth, my face swollen and bruised; his eyes widen slightly in surprise.
But he’s professional enough to pretend not to notice anything.
“Wait.”
Talon’s voice stops him cold.
“Buy out the entire auction instead.”
The man spins around, his face turning pale.
“Mr. Talon… There are 138 auction items total. The estimated value is more than $50 million. Do you want them all?”
The arena falls silent, and even the werewolves who were attempting to flee pause to listen.
Talon is well-known for his extravagant spending habits, and purchasing specific items outright is nothing new for him.
But buying out an entire Whitmore’s auction is unheard of; this assistant has been with him for eight years and has never seen such an insane display of wealth.
“Miss Aelina was slapped by someone blind and ungrateful today.”
Talon speaks carelessly, as if he were discussing the weather.
“I’m giving her a gift to calm her nerves and demonstrate that she’s worth more than some people could ever dream of being.”
His eyes flick to me with disdain.
The man swallows hard, his hands shaking as he takes out his phone.
“I’ll… I’ll call the auction house immediately, sir.”
He looks at me again with a complicated expression that could be pity.
He nods quickly and rushes out, already dialling.
Aelina exhales, pressing her hands to her chest.
“Talon, that’s too much! You don’t have to-”
“Nothing is too much for you.”
He cuts her off and presses a kiss on her forehead.
“You deserve the world, and I intend to give it to you.”
The sickening display makes my stomach turn.
“Talon.”
I struggle to my feet, spitting out another mouthful of blood onto the concrete.
“I was wrong about you.”
His voice rings out across the silent arena, and every werewolf freezes.
“I will file an application with the Alpha Council to dissolve our mate bond as soon as possible.” Once approved, she will no longer be my mate or Ashfern Pack’s Beta female.
The audience erupts in shocked whispers.
“He is really doing it!”
“In front of everybody!””
“I’ve never witnessed a public rejection like this!”
Talon raises his hand, requesting silence.
“I invite everyone to witness this declaration. Let it be known that any previous obligations or protections she had under our bond are hereby terminated.”
As soon as he finishes speaking, a man in an expensive suit rushes through the door, looking agitated.
“Alpha, this is urgent news. Miss Aelina’s favourite pigeon blood ruby from last week’s preview will be auctioned off tonight at Whitmore’s.
“Oh?”
Talon raises an eyebrow, his tone veering towards irritation.
“Just buy whatever Miss Aelina prefers outright. Why are you bothering to inform me about something so trivial?”
“Yes, Sir!”
The man quickly turns to leave.
His peripheral vision catches sight of me, blood still dripping from the corner of my mouth, my face swollen and bruised; his eyes widen slightly in surprise.
But he’s professional enough to pretend not to notice anything.
“Wait.”
Talon’s voice stops him cold.
“Buy out the entire auction instead.”
The man spins around, his face turning pale.
“Mr. Talon… There are 138 auction items total. The estimated value is more than $50 million. Do you want them all?”
The arena falls silent, and even the werewolves who were attempting to flee pause to listen.
Talon is well-known for his extravagant spending habits, and purchasing specific items outright is nothing new for him.
But buying out an entire Whitmore’s auction is unheard of; this assistant has been with him for eight years and has never seen such an insane display of wealth.
“Miss Aelina was slapped by someone blind and ungrateful today.”
Talon speaks carelessly, as if he were discussing the weather.
“I’m giving her a gift to calm her nerves and demonstrate that she’s worth more than some people could ever dream of being.”
His eyes flick to me with disdain.
The man swallows hard, his hands shaking as he takes out his phone.
“I’ll… I’ll call the auction house immediately, sir.”
He looks at me again with a complicated expression that could be pity.
He nods quickly and rushes out, already dialling.
Aelina exhales, pressing her hands to her chest.
“Talon, that’s too much! You don’t have to-”
“Nothing is too much for you.”
He cuts her off and presses a kiss on her forehead.
“You deserve the world, and I intend to give it to you.”
The sickening display makes my stomach turn.
“Talon.”
I struggle to my feet, spitting out another mouthful of blood onto the concrete.
“I was wrong about you.”