The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 13

The auctioneer drags the young boy out of the cage and demands he stands. The boy is so exhausted and weary that he falls over into the dirt. I'm disgusted but must know the fate of this poor boy.

After lunging at the crowd of spectators, the auctioneer punches him hard in his stomach, winding him, and knocking him over. I make eye contact with this young soul—defeat and grief blaze in his eyes.

"A real genuine wolf pup! Not just an ordinary wolf pup! This one has Alpha blood. He'll be the strongest farmhand you've ever had," the auctioneer announces loudly. "The bidding will start at eight gold!"

"NINE GOLD!" Someone amongst the crowd yells.

"TEN GOLD!" Another man yells.

"ELEVEN GOLD! Final offer," the first man says.

Annoyed, the second man recounts the coins in his hand to see if he can bid more.

"FIFTEEN GOLD, and I will take him now!" I yell, disgusted by this barbaric scene playing out. The crowd are shocked, and they step aside as I push through them and throw a bag of gold coins into the auctioneer's outstretched hand.

The man holding the boy tells me he comes with the chain.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary," I say, scooping the boy up and carrying him away.

"Excuse me," I say, spotting a middle-aged woman digging in a garden.

"Hello," she says warmly and smiles.

"Is there a river or bathhouse nearby?" I ask.

"Yes, near Bramblemore. You can get to it through the forest border," she says kindly, eyeing the boy and going back to her digging.

Reaching the river, I put the boy gently on the ground and swing my backpack down off my back, handing him the bread and the cheese I have brought. He takes it gratefully and scoffs it down. I dunk my drinking pouch under the water and let it fill before taking it back over to him so he can have a drink.

"Thank you," he whispers, sculling the water, clearly dehydrated.

"I'm Troy. You're safe with me, and I will not harm you. You can wash in the river if you want to. Or rest and regain your energy." I tell him, smiling. He yawns, and his eyelids close. He rests his head on my lap before he falls asleep. I throw my travelling blanket over him and let him sleep.

"Are you feeling better?" I ask him when he wakes. He nods. He looks better than earlier, not as pale or as forlorn.

"What's your name? I'm Troy, the Alpha King's Beta," I say, holding out my hand to him.