From Bait to Queen: The Rejected Mate's Destiny

Hayley POV:

The auction house was a sea of black ties. I stood behind Dean and Karina, my high-collared dress hiding the bandages, the fabric rubbing against raw skin.

"Lot 45. A rare, antique Moonstone pendant."

My head snapped up. My mother's necklace. Dean had donated it for a tax write-off.

"Opening bid at five thousand."

Dean, I reached out through the mind-link. Please. That's Mom's. You promised.

Dean stiffened but didn't turn. He swirled his champagne.

I'll do anything. I'll sleep in the kennel. Just please.

"Twenty thousand," Dean said smoothly.

Hope bloomed in my chest.

"Thirty thousand!" Karina chirped, raising her paddle. She looked back at me, a wicked glint in her eyes.

"One hundred thousand," Dean finished it.

"Sold! To Alpha Dean Lee!"

Dean collected the velvet box. I took a small step forward, hand trembling. "Thank you, Dean."

He opened the box. The moonstone glowed.

"Beautiful," Dean said. "Here, darling. For you."

He bypassed me and fastened the necklace around Karina's ankle.

"An anklet?" Karina laughed. "You spoil me."

She stood up, took a step, and brought her stiletto heel down hard.

Crunch.

"Oh no!" Karina gasped, looking at the shattered dust. "I'm so clumsy! Dean, look, I broke your gift."

"It's fine," Dean said, his eyes glassy. "It was just a cheap rock. I'll buy you diamonds."

I stared at the white powder. That was my mother. That was my sanity.

I woke up on the cold tiles of the servant's quarters.

"Here," Karina's voice came from the doorway. She held a bowl. "Dean said you need to eat."

She placed the bowl on the floor like I was a dog.

"Where is Patches?" I asked, my voice trembling. The stray cat I'd been hiding was my only friend.

Karina smiled, leaning against the doorframe. "That shedding beast? I had the groundskeeper take care of it. Put it in a sack and tossed it in the river. Or maybe the incinerator? I forget."

I froze.

"Dean gave permission," she continued. "He said, 'Get rid of the pest.' So we did."

My stomach convulsed. They had taken my mother's memory. They had taken my dignity. Now, they had killed the only living thing that loved me.

I closed my eyes. I didn't pray for Dean to love me anymore. I prayed for him to suffer.