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Chapter 2
As I make my way through the streets, every noise has me jumping as I navigate my way through the snow-covered city. Abandoned houses and burned-out cars line the sidewalk through this side of the city, setting me more on edge whenever I hear a noise. This is a hunting territory for the humans foolish enough to be caught in the streets at night. And tonight, I am one of them.
At this time of night, most humans ensure they’re indoors, tucked safely in their beds, with their roller shutters down and their doors locked. While here I am, smelling like dinner or a blood bag walking the streets like some moron on a suicide walk. If I can just get to my only friend Tasha’s place, I just need to pray I am n ot eaten alive, gang raped by werewolves, seeing as those bastards are pack creatures, or left dead on the sidewalk drained of my blood because some bl oodsu cker decides to make me his personal juice box.
Nearing the end This book had been added on your bookshelf. clear of rubbish, and street lights come into view. I look toward the huge sky-rise buildings where Tasha lives, gulping down the dread, knowing I am going to have to try to pass through the city that comes alive at night with the most sinister monsters.
Keeping my head down, I pick up my pace, cutting through the next alleyway and coming out behind the main drag. Noise surrounds me, and I focus on my breathing, needing to keep my heartbeat low to ensure I don’t entice a vamp to feast on me.
Bright lights cover all the shop windows, billowing smoke pours from the restaurants, and the cloying scent of death fills the air, along with the screams of those inside the darker establishments. The clubs and bars go from family-friendly during the day to dark and sinister at night to cater to those that prowled and hunted.
Alcohol is potent in the air, along with the smell of old blood when I
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Hg over a man’s body lying in
the street. His throat is ripped out, and I don’t dare to raise my eyes, recognizing the bite marks on his neck for what he is. A feeder, which is a human that voluntarily becomes a juice box for the vamps to slurp on since their bites are addictive.
Panic sets in as I draw closer to where I work, knowing it is one of the most sinister places in the city besides Mal’s. During the day, it is a normal family welcoming club and gambling establishment, but at night, it becomes so much more than that. It’s an auction house. And not the sort where you buy antiques. It’s the place that sells lives and skin and sex slaves.
It sometimes makes me wonder how my uncle survives out here amongst these monsters when h e ga m bles, how he hasn’t been killed for his so-called bad luck on the tables.
Moving closer to the edge of the footpath, I try getting around the massive crowd lined up out front, only to be stopped by a hand that grabs hold of my jacket and jerks me back.
“Mm, I smell fresh meat.” a voice sneers beside me, and my feet falter. Looking up, I peer into the eyes of a man who sends my blood cold. Werewolf. His leering gaze roams over me, and I suck in a breath.
“What’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here? Want to meet my pack? I know they’d love to play with you,” he purrs, and I gasp, stumbling back. His eyes sparkle and flicker at the movement as he stalks me.
“Oh please, run. There is nothing I love more than a good chase,” he threatens when a hand grips my arm, and I am pulled away from the man and turned to face another. Only this man, I recognize. Toby! My boss.
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Toby is in his mid-twenties and drop-dead gorgeous. I’ve always secretly had a crush on him, not that I ever let that be known or would dare to. He glares at me with his pale blue eyes lined with thick long lashes, his blonde hair falling into his eyes when he jabs me in the chest with his finger.
“Sienna, what the fuck are you doing here?” he growls at me. He is
a Lycan, which is vastly different from a werewolf. They’re stronger, faster, and deadlier, but for the most part, Tob y i s actually a decent guy; considering what he does for a living, you wouldn’t suspect he is an auctioneer.
“I was trying to get to Tasha’s,” I tell him as he moves to pull me inside the club.
“You shouldn’t be out after dark!” he growls at me angrily when the werewolf man grips my arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He purrs, and Toby spins around. A threatening growl leaves him, and the man backs up with his hands raised.
“Touch one of my employees again, and I will fucking skin you alive,” Toby tells him.
“Woah, sorry, bro. Didn’t realize,” the man stammers. Toby drapes his arm across my shoulders, tugging me inside. Many eyes are cast our way as he leads me inside the dark club lit only by small lamps at the tables making the room feel ee r ier than it is of a day. He leads me toward his office. And those watching drop their gazes quickly after one growl from Toby. When we reach the back of the club, the music slowly begins to drown out, and I glance over my shoulder when we stop. He stuffs me inside his office, and I back up when he growls menacingly. The door slams loudly behind us, and he twists the lock into place.
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“Are you trying to get yourself killed? You know better than to be on the main drag, Sienna!” he booms loudly. I cringe, I was hardly ever in trouble with my boss, but I’ve definitely found his angry side tonight.
“Stay here, don’t leave this fucking room while I go find a Taxi to send you home that doesn’t have someone that will God damn eat you! What were you thinking? You know better, especially with who your parents were!” he snarls angrily while shaking his head.
I cringe at the reminder. My fa m ily is famous for being traitors to the King, and I was lucky to find this place to hire me. A s so o n as anyone saw my ID, it was a no! Unless I wanted to sell myself. No one wants to hire the child of the man and woman responsible for killing the Queen’s sister. If it weren’t for my uncle, I’d be dead along with them. Luckily enough for me, he was babysitting at the time.
Yet what they did has forever tarnished my name and is exactly why I need to get out of this city. Toby growls when I don’t answer and snatches his mobile phone off his desk. He points to the sofa, and I chew my lip and take my seat.
“Can you ring Tasha, please? I can’t go ho me.” I explain. He eyes me for a few seconds, then tilts his head to the side.
“Why not?” he demands, but I shake my head.
“Fine, don’t tell me. I’m sending you ho m e then,” he tells me, and I lean back on the sofa and groan, folding my arms across my chest. His eyes flick to me briefly before he starts dialing the number for a Taxi when a knock sounds on the door.
Toby glances at the door and then at his watch. “Crap, he’s early!”
“Who is?” I sit up in alarm, my eyes staring at the door.
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“Just Mal. He owns the blood bar across the roa d. H e’s meant to be dropping supplies off and picking up the invoice. I hate dealing with him, but my supplier is out,” he says, stalking toward the door. My eyes widen, remembering what my uncle said earlier. Racing toward him, I grip his arm, and he looks down at me, giving me a questioning look.
“I need to hide,” I whisper, and he seems taken aback by my words. He points to the door, and I nod.
“How much does your uncle owe him now?” Toby growls angrily; I shrug because I have no idea. I just know he owes him. Toby grits his teeth, and the muscle in his jaw twitches.
“Sofa now! I’ll handle it!” he snaps at me, and I stare at the heavy wooden door nervously when Toby gives me a shove toward the sofa and then points at it. I drop my gaze and walk back over to sit down, wondering how much trouble I’ll be in.
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