CHAPTER 33: A BILLION GOLD.

"I love her skin. She’s so fair."

"I want her. I’ll pay a million....just give me one night with her first."

"I want to watch her perform."

Those were the lewd voices that tore through the haze of Victoria’s unconsciousness, dragging her back to reality. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, only to be met with a sight that made her blood run cold.

Seated before her were a group of men. Alphas and Betas alike dressed in everything from exquisite tailored suits to expensive casual wear. Their faces gleamed with barely-concealed lust, eyes locked on her like she was prey.

Panic surged through her chest as she attempted to sit up, only to realize that her limbs were bound tightly. Her wrists and ankles were tied with thick rope, and a cloth gag was stuffed between her lips, stifling any scream she might have made. Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage as her eyes darted around the room, taking in her surroundings.

It didn’t take a genius to realize she was in a brothel.

She glanced down at herself and swallowed hard. She was dressed or rather, exposed in a thin blouse that clung to her body and revealed a scandalous amount of cleavage. Her skirt was so short it barely covered anything at all, her long legs fully on display. It was clear she wasn’t dressed, she was presented. Like a product.

How did I get here?! Victoria’s mind screamed, but she forced herself to remain calm. Struggling blindly wouldn’t help..not yet.

"I want her for a million gold!" one man barked from the crowd.

"One hundred million," another countered, his voice heavy with arrogance. "She’s clearly an Omega, though I can’t detect a scent. Maybe she’s a human, but who cares? I want her virginity. She’ll be my private whore at my estate."

"A billion gold," another voice interrupted, cutting through the others.

Heads turned toward the man who had just spoken. He was middle-aged, with a bloated stomach that strained against the fabric of his designer blue tee. Streaks of gray lined his greasy hair and thick beard. He wore baggy jeans and an expression of utter entitlement.

"A billion gold, going once..."

"A billion gold, going twice..."

"A billion gold, going three times! Sold! The prostitute is now property of Master Philip!" the announcer declared with forced enthusiasm. "Master Philip, please proceed to the VIP room for product inspection. You may take her with you afterward."

Product?! Victoria screamed internally. The word felt like a slap to her soul but she had no time to dwell on it. She had to focus.

Master Philip walked toward her, grinning like a man who had just claimed a prized trophy. Without a hint of effort, he scooped her up and carried her past thick curtains that served as a door. They entered a dimly lit room adorned with a single bed, a golden chandelier, and the stench of perfume and sweat.

He dropped her unceremoniously onto the mattress, then reached to remove the gag from her mouth. Victoria coughed and gasped as the foul-tasting cloth fell from her lips.

"I’m always rough, just so you know," Philip warned, his voice low and smug. "A billion gold isn’t pocket change. So you’d better make it worth it. Whether you live or die tonight depends entirely on your performance."

He started pulling off his shirt, revealing his sagging belly and hairy chest. Then, with practiced ease, he undid his pants, the bulge beneath his shorts already visible.

Victoria’s stomach twisted with nausea and horror, but her expression remained controlled. She couldn’t afford to flinch. Not yet.

Beneath her blouse, cleverly stitched into the hem, was a hidden weapon, her hairpin, sharpened to a deadly point. But to use it, she had to get her hands and feet free.

"Let me show you my skills, Alpha," she purred, her voice suddenly syrupy and seductive. "You said my life depends on my performance, right? And you bought me for such a high price... It’s only fair that I serve you wholeheartedly."

Philip blinked, stunned by the sudden change in her tone. Then he smirked, licking his lips. "Of course. Let’s see what you can do."

He leaned forward to untie the ropes around her wrists and ankles, muttering impatiently. "Hurry up. Start with a dance, then you can suck my dragon."

"As you wish, Alpha Philip," Victoria replied smoothly, rising slowly from the bed. Her limbs were sore, her skin red from the tight ropes, but she pushed past the pain.

She stepped between his legs, her movements fluid and teasing, locking eyes with him as she let her fingers trace the air suggestively. Her voice dripped with false adoration.

"Master looks so handsome... I can’t wait for you to claim me...roughly, brutally like the pretty little whore you want me to be."

He leaned back on the bed, eyes glazed over, completely entranced.

Victoria began to sway her hips, her long legs moving in rhythm, her silver hair cascading over one shoulder as she danced. She didn’t break eye contact. She didn’t blink.

"Oh yeah... swing that waist for me, baby," he groaned, pulling out his swollen erection from his shorts. The sight made Victoria’s stomach turn, but she didn’t falter.

She cleared her throat and kept dancing, her mind calculating every move. She had watched this scene play out before...countless Omegas dragged into prostitution, sold off by their own families or hunted down like animals. Males and females alike, treated like tools, valued only for their bodies.

She had survived the streets by pretending to be broken...covering herself in fake wounds, smearing filth on her skin, doing anything to avoid notice.

She moved closer to the man, her frail hands resting lightly on his shoulders. He sighed, closing his eyes, clearly savoring the moment...mistaking her touch for submission, for seduction.

Big mistake.

In one swift, precise motion, Victoria drew the sharpened hairpin from beneath her blouse and drove it into the side of his neck. The blade sank deep, and blood gushed from the wound like a burst pipe.

"Aarrgh! You bitch!" the man howled, clutching at the side of his neck as he stumbled backward, his eyes wide in shock and pain.

Victoria didn’t wait for him to recover. She bolted toward the exit, her bare feet slapping against the cold, grimy floor. She ran headlong into a crowd of half-naked girls and brothel staff. No one paid her any attention as they were all too busy entertaining or avoiding the chaos. This was a place where suffering was background noise.

"Grab that wench for me!" the Alpha bellowed, still pressing his hand to the gushing wound, his voice hoarse and trembling with fury.

Victoria’s pulse thundered in her ears. She knew she could have ended him...her aim was deadly but killing an Alpha in a public, regulated brothel was suicide. Even if she managed to slip away, someone would remember. Someone always remembered. No one wanted to go down with the ship, and they’d sell her out to save their own skin.

No, this had to be clean. Quick. Painful but not fatal.

She darted down the hallway, weaving between stumbling dancers and drunken clients. Her sharp gaze scanned her surroundings, hunting for an escape route. That’s when she saw it...the dancers’ dressing room.

There. If I can just make it inside and blend in...

She pivoted sharply toward the door, but before she could reach it, a strong hand seized her arm. The grip was brutal, so tight she thought her bones might snap.

"Let go!" she gasped, twisting and kicking in reflex.

The scent hit her before the sight did....familiar, unmistakable. Musky, dominant, spiced with power.

No. It couldn’t be. Not him.

Her gaze slowly rose, dreading what she already knew.

It was Alpha Zephyr.

Of all the damn people to run into.

His piercing amber eyes met hers, one brow cocked in recognition, though his expression was unreadable. The same Alpha she had caught tangled in a wild threesome the first time they met....arrogant, reckless, and far too pretty for his own good.

Damn it! Victoria screamed internally. Why him?! Anyone but him!

Her face twisted with frustration as she yanked at her arm, but his grip didn’t loosen.

"Let me go please !" she spat in her head, too breathless to say it aloud.

"Struggling only makes it worse, sweetheart," Zephyr murmured, his tone smooth but sharp. His grip remained firm.

Victoria didn’t respond. She was too busy calculating. And just as her gaze drifted backwards where she saw Alpha Philip still running after her, she delivered a heavy kick towards Zephyr dragon allowing him to since in pain but then he didn’t let go of her hands.

"Thank you Alpha Zephyr. Now hand over that wench to me. I’ll teach her a lesson she’ll never forget." Alpha Philip who had finally gotten over voiced out with anger and terror etched in his voice.

"Five billion gold." Zephyr voiced out with seriousness etched in his tone.

’Huh? Is he pricing me too now?!’ Victoria thought to herself as she continue to struggle with Zephyr grip.