📍Shannon📍
I stood frozen at the gate, my breath hitching as I took in the scene before me. I was both dumbfounded and embarrassed as my eyes stayed glued to the spot.
Before I could react, strong hands clamped down on my shoulders, pushing me forward. A startled gasp escaped my lips as I stumbled, barely catching my balance. They didn’t care. Not one bit. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and frustration burning inside me.
Just then, someone else joined us. I felt it before I saw him—the shift in the air, the way the men around me straightened, lowering their heads in respect. And when I finally looked up, I understood why.
The man standing before me was clearly in charge. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, and he carried himself with a quiet authority that made my stomach twist.
He let out a smirk which sent my mind spinning in thoughts. I was almost getting lost in his calm hazel eyes when I felt his rough grip on my shoulder.
His grip was firm but not painful, yet it sent a violent shiver through me.
“Shannon, right?” He asked, facing the men who had brought me. They nodded in return, their heads still bowed in silent submission.
The man nodded in satisfaction, accessing me like I was some piece of furniture. When he was done, he cupped my chin slightly, tilting my face up.
“You have just the right qualities I need.” He said, his smile mischievous. “I bet our clients will be thrilled to have you on board.”
The blood drained from my face, my eyes reeling in curiosity.
Clients?
My mind raced in thoughts, searching for anything that wasn't the horrifying truth forming in my head.
No, no, no.
It can't be.
I couldn't even imagine myself being in the same shoes with those women I had seen earlier. They looked lost and helpless as they were tossed around by the watchmen, and I couldn't imagine myself being treated that way.
I flinched as the man's fingers crept toward my neck, trailing up to my face with a sickening slowness. My breath hitched, panic coursing through my veins. I raised my hand to stop him, but before I could even think of it, he seized me, his grip unyielding as he pressed me hard against the wall.
I gasped, my pulse echoing in my ear. His fingers dug into my sides, his body blocking any chance of escape.
He shoved my hair aside and leaned forward, his breath warm against my face.
His dark gaze bore into me, his eyes trailing at me in a possessive glare. “Listen to me, woman,” he hissed, his voice laced with authority and warning. “You belong to me now, and the sooner you realize that, the better for you.”
He turned sharply to his guards, his tone cold and merciless. “Seize her and take her into one of the rooms.”
Without hesitation, the guards lowered their heads in obedience before grabbing both my arms, their grip tight around my wrists.
Panic surged through me as they dragged me toward the massive building ahead. My heart pounded violently against my chest, and I struggled, but their hold was too strong.
Then, suddenly—
A voice rang out, bold and commanding, slicing through the air like a blade.
“Stop.”
The guards stopped immediately, their bodies stiffening as though a force had jerked them back. Their hands trembled as they loosened their grip and released me, stepping away as if afraid to be near me any longer.
Confused, I sucked in a shaky breath and turned towards the direction of the voice.
To my utter surprise, the once-dominant man—the same one who had spoken to me with such boldness just moments ago—was now trembling on his feet. His once-powerful stance had crumbled, his head bowed in total submission.
Then, in unison, the guards fell to their knees, their foreheads nearly touching the ground, fear etched across their faces.
My heart pounded even harder. Who could command such fear and respect?
The man who had claimed ownership over me earlier struggled to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. “M-My king… what brings you here?”
His voice cracked under the weight of his fear, and the silence that followed was overwhelming.
The man behind the voice stepped forward, his large frame towering over us like a mountain against tiny grains of sand.
“Let her go.” His deep voice carried a weight that sent shivers down my spine. Without hesitation, he marched straight toward me, his piercing green eyes locked onto mine. Then, to my utter confusion, he reached for my hand, his grip firm yet oddly gentle.
A soft, reassuring smile flashed across his lips before he turned to the man in charge of the building.
“I think I’ve found exactly what I’m looking for.”
The words sent a jolt through me.
My jaw dropped, my mind reeling with thoughts.
What?
He nodded, as if confirming everyone’s unspoken questions. Then, in a voice that left no room for doubt, he said, “I would like to have her.”
The shock hit me like a slap.
Me? Of all people? In this miserable state?
As I searched his face, something about the way he spoke sent a chill running down my spine. There was something else beneath his words—something dark.
But he wasn’t done yet.
Before I could pull my hand away, his grip tightened—firm and possessive. His cold eyes bore into me, rendering me completely restless. I felt stripped bare under the weight of his intense gaze.
“I have chosen her…” he continued, his voice slow. “Not as a hooker, but as a breeder—my personal breeder.”
My stomach twisted.
No.
A cold sweat broke out on my skin as his words settled in. This couldn't be real. It had to be some sick joke.
The boss, the one who had been running this whole operation, looked just as stunned as I was. His mouth hung open, his brows furrowed in disbelief. He sucked in a sharp breath before shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, my king, but I think you might be making a mistake. I don’t think—”
“This is no mistake.” The man cut him off, his tone sharper now. “I want her, and I mean every bit of it.”
My breath caught.
He was serious. Dead serious.
The sheer confidence in his words left me frozen, unable to turn my gaze away. Who’s he? And what does he want from me?
Just then, he said something else that made my blood run cold.
“Name your price.”