Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One

Hailee's POV

We didn't know where they were taking us. The truck rattled and groaned with every bump in the road, the stench of oil and rust suffocating the air. Chains clanged against the metal floor, penning us in like caged animals. My heart hammered with every lurch, but all I could do was cling to my boys. Oscar and Ozzy pressed close, their small bodies stiff. I could feel their courage even through their fear—the way they sat upright, jaws tight like little soldiers. They weren't crying like the others. They weren't begging or whimpering. They stayed silent, watching, listening, their small hands gripping my dress like anchors.

Pride and sorrow tangled in my chest. They shouldn't have to be this strong. They should be home, laughing, chasing each other in the yard—not trapped here, treated like goods to be traded. My fingers threaded through Oscar's fiery hair, my lips brushing the crown of his head. "Stay strong, baby. Just a little longer."

His chin lifted, green eyes glowing even in the shadows. "I'm not scared, Mama. Not if we're together."

Ozzy nodded, calm and steady. "Oliver will find us. He's smart. He'll bring help."

Tears stung my eyes at their faith. They still had hope, even as mine shattered. I forced myself to nod, to smile faintly despite the burn in my throat. "Yes," I whispered. "He will."

The truck jolted violently, throwing us all against the wall. Gasps and cries burst from the captives, but I pulled my boys tighter, shielding them with my body. Then the truck screeched to a stop, so suddenly everyone inside lurched forward. A heavy clang followed as the back doors swung open. Blinding light cut through the darkness, and the silhouettes of armed vampires filled the frame.

"Out," one barked, his tone sharp and merciless. "Move!"

Chains clinked as we shuffled out in clusters. Oscar and Ozzy clung to my hands, trembling but unyielding. The night air was cold and heavy, thick with blood and smoke. My stomach twisted.

They drove us into a low, stone building. Damp walls, floors slick with grime. They shoved us into a room—a holding cell. Rusted bars covered a high, narrow window, and the door clanged shut behind us. I pressed the boys into me, their small hearts pounding against my ribs.

"What do they want with us?" a captive whispered to our guards.

One of them smirked, his fangs flashing. "You'll see soon enough."

The words curdled in my gut.

Minutes dragged like hours. The room was stifling, breaths shallow, broken only by muffled sobs. Then—suddenly—the door creaked open.

"You," a guard barked, pointing at a girl no older than sixteen. Her mother tried to hold her back, but the guards ripped her away, ignoring the woman's screams. The door slammed shut, sealing the silence.

We waited. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would tear itself apart.

Then the door opened again. Another captive dragged out.

And again.

One by one, they disappeared. The room grew emptier, the silence heavier, suffocating. My boys didn't cry. They didn't speak. Oscar's jaw was set, his green eyes blazing, while Ozzy's calm gaze never wavered from the guards.

Finally, the door opened once more—but this time, instead of taking, they threw a man back inside. He crumpled to the floor, skin gray, eyes hollow.

"What happened?" someone demanded.

The man raised his head slowly, lips quivering. "They're… they're auctioning us," he rasped. "One by one. Dragged onto a stage. Men shouting prices. Whoever pays the most—owns you."

Gasps broke the silence. Someone sobbed; others began whispering prayers.

The man's hands shook as he buried his face. "No one bid for me. So they sent me back."

The truth sliced through me like a blade. My stomach dropped, bile clawing at my throat.

Auctioned. Like cattle.

I pulled Oscar and Ozzy tighter, arms trembling. My brave boys stayed silent, but I felt the stiffness in their little bodies—the awful understanding. It wouldn't be long before the door opened again. For us.

Moments later, the iron door screeched open. My stomach fell. This time, I knew it was me.

"You," the guard barked, his red eyes gleaming as he pointed at me.

I clutched my boys, shaking my head. "No. Not without my sons."

The guard sneered. "Then they come too." He wrenched my arm, while another ripped my boys from my sides. They kicked and screamed, their small voices echoing, but the vampires only laughed.

We were dragged down a narrow hall, chains scraping against stone. My heart thundered, every step heavier than the last.

When the door ahead burst open, the sound hit me like a tidal wave—cheers, laughter, greedy shouts rising in a frenzy.

The stage.

They shoved us forward. I stumbled into the center, Oscar gripping my left hand, Ozzy my right. Blinding lights burned my skin, and beyond them, rows of wolves, humans, and vampires stared back, eyes gleaming with hunger.

The auctioneer, a tall vampire draped in crimson, raised his hand. His voice slid through the air, smooth and venomous. "Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on this one. A beauty. No wolf, but look at that skin, that form. Strong, healthy. And with not one"—he gestured to Oscar, then Ozzy—"but two sons. A rare package indeed. Who will start the bidding at five hundred thousand?"

The crowd erupted. Numbers flew, hands shot up, greed filling the air. My blood ran cold.

My knees threatened to give out. I pulled the boys closer, my heart crashing against my ribs, terror searing through me. What have I done? Why did I ever leave? Why did I think I could protect them better than behind Frederick's walls?

I whispered so softly only they could hear. "Moon Goddess, please. Not for me… for them. Protect my sons. Please."

I bowed my head, squeezed my eyes shut, and prayed harder than I had in years.

And then—

A shift in the air. A presence.

The crowd hushed as footsteps echoed from the back doors, steady and commanding. My eyes snapped open, and when I turned, my breath caught.

It was him.

Nathan.

Our eyes locked across the distance. His gaze burned into me, sharp and fierce, as if the room had vanished and there was only us.