C3 Taken

As the lady Aaliyah lined us up for the new patron to come to take his pick, my heart curled within itself.

I didn't want to be sold. I wished I could hide away in a corner till the torture was over.

The world had turned upside down.

The Lycans took back power and my parents —humans were overthrown. We were reduced to an even worse fate than before.

Even at a young age, I hated the way my parents treated the werewolves they captured. As I grew older I realised that humans were just selfish.

We had a perfect agreement before the revolution. During the times of King Talon and his beautiful Queen. There was peace and harmony until humans thought they could take it all.

We did it all, but it was only for a limited time. The lycans rose again and we were thrown even deeper than our ancestors.

My parents were captured by the new Lycan King and I was here as a product on display but I couldn't complain.

The owner of the enterprise was slightly better than a few I have heard of from the other girls.

But I knew that I couldn't stay with her forever. One day, I would be bought but I didn't want it to be today.

As we lined up waiting for the patron to get to our side of the room, I dropped my head to the floor, wishing my hair could somehow become a dull color that would make them move over to the next girl and leave me the hell alone.

But the closer they got, I felt a tug in my heart.

The hair at the back of my neck stood erect and I felt my heart shift in its cage. It was a feeling I couldn't comprehend but the moment I raised my eyes, I knew why I was feeling this way.

It was Axel.

My heart fluttered with joy as I squared my shoulders and stood taller than I have ever done before.

I wanted him to take me.

Fifteen years ago, he was captured by my parents and I helped him. I considered him my friend and I held on to the belief that he felt the same way.

He would save me.

Our eyes met in a brief second but at that moment, I saw the young Axel I brought meals to most nights. He recognized me.

He was now more manly than the last time I saw him. I could outline the mass of muscles beneath his clothes but his dark hair and green eyes didn't change. He was the same, Axel.

He would save me.

A smile slowly played on my lips as he came to stand a few steps away from me.

"So, you have always seen all the handpicked girls. Who is it going to be my King?" The matron asked him.

A small gasp escaped from my lips.

He was the new King. The Lycan King.

Now I understood why my parents were extremely hard on him compared to the others. He was King Talon's son.

My excitement increased. Since Axel was now their king, he could grant me my freedom.

My heart was beating so fast, I had to try hard to calm myself to be able to hear him call me by my name.

"The red hair and the green-eyed one by the right," he said.

I took a step forward in excitement and then an explosion went off in my head as I realised that he didn't pick me.

My heart dropped to the floor as I watched in horror as the matron signaled to the girls he had actually picked to step out of the line.

"Violet, get back in line, you weren't picked!" She growled as she moved after Axel.

Why did he... how could he?

The thoughts were even overwhelming to think of. We were friends. He should have saved me... I was so certain...

"Axel..." I whispered as my legs started losing their strength.

I had to do something. The only way I could survive was to go with Axel. He wouldn't hurt me. We had history.

"Axel!" I broke the rules and stepped out of line.

"Violet!" The matron hissed moving menacingly towards me.

I cowered in fear at her advances, covering my face from the battering I was most definitely going to get.

"Let her be!" Axel's voice suddenly filled the air.

I pried my eyes open and I saw the matron breathing down on my face with fire in her eyes.

"Do you realise who you just disrespected?"

I had to bite my tongue back to stop myself from increasing my punishment.

I dropped my head to the ground refusing to say a word.

Footsteps drew closer and the smell of freshly cultivated leaves filled my nostrils.

"I will take her..." Axel's voice reached my ears and I looked up at him with excitement.

As our eyes met though, fear clutched my chest at the sight before me.

Axel had a strange smirk on his face. He was looking at me but it seemed like he wasn't seeing me.

"Greg, take her to a different vehicle. She will join the slaves in the palace!" He hissed and walked away to his car.

My heart dropped but I didn't let it get to me. At least he took me. Maybe he just didn't want to say it publicly that he knew me.

"Move," An older man said to me.

He was also dressed just as well as Axel. He was probably a member of his court, I thought.

I wiped the fear off my face and marched behind the man to the vehicle, Axel had designated me to.

There were two soldiers in the back seat and they made room for me, between them.

"Do not touch a hair on her head. She is property of the Lycan King," the man growled and the soldiers grunted in response.

I let out a soft sigh and settled between them as the vehicles started and I said goodbye to the matron and the rest of the girls in my mind.

Soon, I would be free. All I had to do was find time to speak to Axel. I had to remind him that I wasn't his enemy. He would free me.

"We heard the matron whisper something about her being their princess," the soldier driving said, turning to glare at me.

The one beside me let out soft chuckles as they turned to look at me as well.

I suddenly felt self-conscious around them. The old man had asked them to let me be but what if they had a plan of their own...

"You are Violet?" The one on the right side.

I blinked and turned to him with a stern look. "Yes, and I am the human princess. I will ask that you focus on your task now because I am a guest to your King," I said.

They corked their heads at the same time as if they were practising a dance. Then they burst into laughter.

The car rocked with the sound of their laughter and I felt the tiny confidence I had built begin to deflate.

"Did you hear that?" One of them asked as the rest laughed at me.

"I like her energy," The one who had questioned me said with a smile dancing on his lips.

"I would like to see how the king breaks this one up..." Another said and they laughed again.

Goosebumps emerged on my skin and I fought the urge to hug myself and hide away from them.

My lips twitched as I fought away their words.

Thankfully, the vehicle came to a stop and the first soldier got down.

"Welcome to the pack's mansion," he motioned to the building ahead and the one who was on my right stepped forward.

"Nope, she won't be living there. She is a slave, her place is behind the house," he bellowed and grabbed at my hand.

I snatched my hand out of his grip at once. "I can walk on my own just fine!" I hissed.

Again they paused and laughed even harder. "Okay, princess. I am in a good mood. Let me humour you!" He said and gave a mock bow. "This way, your highness," he said.

And the other almost broke down in laughter.

My cheeks heated in shame at what they were doing but I kept my head high, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me cower.

I followed behind the guard. I could see the SUVs that were behind us, moving to the mansion.

The other girls were going to be in the house with him... Was he ever going to come to me?

"Don't worry princess, the slave quarters are much better than the dungeons, or Aaliyah's little hole. You will be fine here," he said as we got close to a little bungalow, on the right side of the mansion.

It was painted white with flowers lining the entrance. Truly, it already looked better than where I was coming from but I didn't come here for this.

I had risked my life to be bought by Axel because I knew that with him there was a chance for me to be free.

How was I going to do that if he never even came here?

We got into the house. It opened into a large living space, more like a common room.

A few people were sitting around, some bowed their heads as the guards passed while others looked at me with pity in their eyes.

They stopped in front of a door and pulled it open. "Welcome home princess," they said before I got pushed into the room.

It was neat, which I was grateful for. A small bed sat on the right with a wardrobe. There was even a reading table and a chair.

Another door stared back at me and I couldn't believe my luck when I opened it and found a toilet.

A small smile tugged at my lips. I have taken the first leap of fate and it worked, now I had to do the second.

Slowly, I moved to the bed and sat down. I had to think of a plan.

Something to lead me to Axel.