“Okay,” she said, dazed.
And then he waved to her, walked into the house, talked to Stan on the way, and exit through the front door and out of her life.
Maybe for good.
She stared at the letter in her hand and walked slowly into the mansion, marveling at how much her life had changed in the past few days. She tore open the envelope as she reached her room and locked herself inside so she could have quiet.
When she saw his elegant, masculine handwriting, her heart started pounding again.
Stacy,
I’m sure you probably don’t want to hear from me right now. I know you assume certain things about me, and even when I explain myself, I’m not sure I’ll be fully exonerated. But when I think of losing you, I can’t convince myself to leave out any information that could potentially sway your decision to be my mate.
We were in the woods that summer. In fact, the whole reason we visited your town that way was because we had received intel that crazy purists were going to attack your village. They assumed you were weak targets, with the large amount of human blood due to many of your relatives and others bringing back human spouses. I suppose in a way they were right. But weakness isn’t all about physical strength, and in my opinion, we lost some of our strongest members of society that night to men who were comparably weak, despite being strong lion shifters.
I suppose that’s why my dad drilled into us the importance of being there to protect others, even when it was risky for us. And it took a lot to be risky for us. But that night, we took incredible losses. As you did. I’m not saying this to minimize your loss. But you’re incorrect in thinking we weren’t there that night. We didn’t publicize it because then any group of attackers would think they could draw the royals into the fight by attacking a partially human town. Plus, with the losses sustained during the fight, our political stance was weakened, and if our enemies had known, people like the ones in your village would have been in even more trouble.
But we lost our father that night. I was only fifteen when I saw it happen. He was cornered, outnumbered.
He had planned for a large contingent of men he’d brought to be able to take it on while he waited nearby with me and my brothers. He’d raised us to know every person was our responsibility. My uncle and his sons were there, too.
Anyway, the wildfire cut us off from many of our reinforcements. Despite the odds against us, my father didn’t hesitate to run into that forest when he heard the cries of civilians being harmed. He told each of us to do our duty and that he loved us, and then he charged into the flames.
I didn’t have time to watch him fight because I knew I had to save survivors. But knowing my dad, I didn’t have a lot of faith that he would come out and save himself at any time. And the odds were so stacked against us.
I think I was still doubtful about the whole thing until I saw you. You made me realize what it meant to fight for something. You were so scared, still trying to be brave, staring down the barrel of a gun. The anger I felt at the situation made me move on my own. I never meant to kill the man attacking you, but I had no choice with the way he was waving the gun.
That night taught me an important lesson. It was hard for me to run through the fire, not thinking of my family. It was hard for me to kill.
But some things are worth fighting and dying for.
My dad fought like the lion he was. He and my uncle alone were able to take on dozens of men. Me and my brothers finally finished helping civilians, only to find him and my uncle and some of my cousins dead in the middle of a burning clearing, surrounded by rising fire.
We dragged them out, but there was nothing we could do.
My mother died not long after, heartbroken over the loss of her mate. The shock of it all killed her. They were just so bonded. I’d never want something like that to happen to us. Luckily, I’ll never be king like Ace. I’ll never have to make the choices he makes. But if I’m one day called to protect my people or put my life on the line, I will one hundred percent do what my dad did.
If you still want to be with me, knowing all of that, then I’d be the most honored lion in the world.
Sincerely, with love,
Beau
Stacy’s eyes stung with tears as she crumpled the letter in her hand, furious at how deeply she’d misunderstood him. She paced back and forth, thinking about her wonderful, wounded mate and just how much alike they were.
If only she’d seen it sooner.
Maybe the oracle had known what she was doing. They were both children living in a difficult world when they had everything taken from them. And they had the potential to heal one another. They’d played pivotal roles in one another’s lives. It now made sense why they’d been paired.
But was it too late? No, it couldn’t be. The letter made it clear he still wanted her. Obviously, she’d have to grovel somewhat. Help him get over his justifiably hurt pride and get him to forgive her for getting things wrong.
He seemed to understand it had been hard for her, too. Knowing what they’d both lost, she only felt closer to him. And bad for thinking she was the only one hurting.
But what to do next?
Her phone rang, and she groaned when she saw her boss’ number. She picked up, trying not to let her mood show in her tone.
“Hello?”
“Stacy!” Angel yelled into her ear. “You did it. Beau’s coming to the auction. Do you even know what we’re going to get for him? He’s never agreed to anything like this before.”
Angel’s enthusiasm only made the rock in Stacy’s stomach feel heavier.
What had she done? The man she loved was going to be auctioned off thanks to her.
It was all for charity, yet the lioness in her wanted to roar that it was impossible. He was hers. Hers alone.
She pulled out the check he’d written that she’d shoved in her pocket.
It was for charity, so it would work.
But would it be enough to win the auction and get a chance to win back his heart?
15
Beau squirmed in his chair as he waited for the auction to begin.
He hadn’t been at any of these things before, so he couldn’t say for sure, but he thought maybe the organizer here, Angel or whatever her name was, was taking things a bit far.
He was sitting in a throne-like chair in the middle of the stage, and she’d tied each of his hands to an arm of the chair with a silken handkerchief. He wore a typical white graphic tee, tight over his muscles, and dark designer jeans with his favorite boots. But looking out at the audience, he felt totally naked.
Maybe this had been a big mistake. Oh well. He’d given his word, and now he’d go along with it. Even if he did find the position vaguely humiliating. He was aware of his status as a sex symbol, but he hadn’t expected them to be this exploitative of it.
Well, it was all for a good cause.
It was a little ironic that he was sitting on a throne, given that now he would probably never have a chance at one. Stacy had disappeared from his life, and as soon as the auction was over and his debt was paid, he’d have to go tell his brother what had happened.
He’d failed.
He wondered if it would have been different if he could have been a little more patient, a little less sensitive to rejection. If he’d stayed after the fight and explained things in person rather than in a letter. His brain was full of what-ifs.
When he was able to calm down after the fight, he remembered the way she was looking at him was completely different. Almost hopeful. So why the hell had he just walked away?
He looked out at the sea of faces and didn’t see her there. Even if she was, he knew she would never be able to match the bids that were coming. In the couple days leading up to the auction, it had been heavily publicized. Some of the richest women in the world were here.
He tugged at his bonds slightly, testing them. He hoped the women realized a date with him was just that. A date. But given the hungry, glowing loo
k in a lot of the eyes in the audience, he wasn’t sure they got the picture.
In the past, maybe he would have been excited by the prospect. Maybe a long time ago. But now that he was in love with Stacy, all of that had changed.
All he wanted was her.
Where was she?
His lion was distraught, pacing and roaring. What if she was still considering him and saw him being part of the auction as a betrayal?
A part of him was still angry she’d thought so little of him without giving him a chance to share his side of the story about that night in the forest.
But he realized she was younger than him and had been terrified and lost nearly everything that night.
That’s why he wanted to spend the rest of his life making it up to her.
He absentmindedly wondered if he could just pay off his date so he didn’t have to go on it. If Stacy was still considering him, he didn’t want her to see him going out with another woman as cheating. Sure, nothing was happening, but when someone was your mate, all bets were off.
But that was just wishful thinking. She wasn’t even here.
Lights flashed over the stage, focusing in on him, and he squinted up through the hair that had fallen over his face.
Angel was standing at the podium, her hand stretched out in his direction. “And now for the main event. What you’ve all been waiting for. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so open those wallets, and remember, it’s all for the children!” She looked out over the audience, and Beau suppressed a shudder of distaste at the situation. “What will you bid for a night with Beau Hunt?”
“Hey,” he growled because that sounded totally wrong.
Angel glared over at him and gestured to a security guard to come forward with a handkerchief, gagging him.
The audience tittered, girls giggling, and Beau raised an eyebrow.
This was sort of messed up.
He rolled his eyes. It was still for a good cause, and no matter how helpless they made him seem, with his lion build and strength, no one was going to be able to take advantage of him. So he decided to just go along with it, sending the audience a calm smile over his gag.
It would all be over soon, hopefully.
“Ten thousand,” a woman in red called out.
“Fifty thousand,” countered a woman in black.
“One hundred thousand.”
“Two hundred.”
The bids quickly climbed, and Beau stirred uncomfortably in his chair. He couldn’t keep track of all the bidding. Too many faces in the crowd. His heart sank as he realized Stacy really wasn’t coming.
Why should she?
He’d pushed her around since he’d met her, ignoring how she felt about him. Ignoring her misgivings and just thinking he could press through everything and win her with charm. But there were some things charm couldn’t fix.
“One million dollars,” a deep voice called out.
Beau squinted into the crowd, trying to see, but all the light was on him, making the audience dark.
But wait, a dude was bidding on him? Maybe he was bidding for a woman on the phone.
Titters traveled through the crowd, and then the woman in the red dress, visible only because she was dripping in diamonds, answered, “Two million.”
There was a pause, and he held his breath. Was that it?
Angel raised her gavel. “Two million going once, going—”
“Three million,” the male voice shouted.
Grumbling and whispers erupted over the audience, then shouts of protest.
The woman in red folded her arms and backed down.
“Sold! For three million dollars,” Angel said, fanning herself as if even she couldn’t believe how high it had gone.
Beau couldn’t be mad. At least it would go to help a lot of sick kids with their medical care.
But it wasn’t Stacy. Disappointment ran through him, but he told himself to buck up as the security guard came up with the guy who’d won and started to remove his gag.
The man was wearing a basic black suit and had an earpiece in his ear and seemed to be listening through it. “Keep the gag on.”
“Excuse me?” Beau tried to say, but it came out muffled.
“And tie his hands,” the man said, tone completely flat.
The security guard looked confused, but Beau just shrugged. What did it matter now anyway? They could put the silk around his wrists, but he could tear out of it anytime he wanted. He’d play along for now.
He still had no idea who’d bought him. Security and the guy who’d bid on him walked him outside to a waiting limo, ignoring the hordes of women following him. Damn, that looked like a dangerous crowd.
He balked at getting into the long, black car but then realized it was better than taking his chances with the hungry crowd already screaming and trying to push past security to get to him.
Reporters were already filming about the record-breaking bid.
Ugh, why had he ever agreed to this?
When he was shoved into the limo and the door slammed behind him, he looked up to see a familiar face as his eyes adjusted in the darkness.
“Ace?” he asked in disbelief after his brother had leaned over to pull the gag out of his mouth.
Ace raised an eyebrow at Beau’s bonds, and a slight grin quirked his lips. “Interesting look for you, brother.”
Beau pulled at the ties unsuccessfully for a second and then stared at his brother with open-mouthed shock. “What the hell are you doing here? Someone just bid on me. I have to—”
“I bid on you, stupid,” Ace said flatly.
“You did?”
“Well, I sent someone in by proxy.”
“Why?” Beau asked. It didn’t make any sense for Ace to suddenly interfere in his business.
“How’s the mate thing going?” Ace asked.
“Awful,” Beau admitted. “Everything got messed up.”
“Well, at least you didn’t try to lie to me about it. Anyway, I already knew.”
“So why’d you come save me?” Beau asked.
Ace cocked his head. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He gave the driver directions, and they headed out.
“Where are you taking me?” Beau asked nervously. He didn’t know what his brother would do now that he’d messed up the mate thing. He didn’t like that Ace looked deadly calm either.
“It’s a surprise,” Ace said dryly.
Ugh.
Beau leaned back against the leather, letting stress pour out of him.
“Look,” Ace said. “I know I haven’t always been the best brother. I had to take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. I haven’t been around as much as I’d like. But I still care for you. You get that?”
Beau nodded, warmth going through him.
“So no matter what happens, we’ll work it out, right?” Ace said.
Beau nodded. “Thanks for bidding, then.”
“If you want to thank me, stop calling me Ace. My name is Axel.”
Beau wrinkled his nose. “I like Ace.”
Ace just rolled his eyes. “Incorrigible.”
“So what are we going to do, then?” Beau asked.
“I don’t know,” Ace said. “Right now, I’m taking you somewhere to settle a debt, and we’ll figure out where to go from there.”
Beau sat up straight, prickles of unease going through him. “What?” He tugged at the silk again because it wasn’t funny anymore. “Look, I know you’re pissed at me for screwing up the mate thing, but you can’t just—”
Ace leaned over and put the gag back up. “And don’t try to break out of those. That’s special material right there. Enchanted. My bidder switched out the scarves just in case I needed to detain you. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Beau’s eyes went wide. His brother was a psycho. He pulled on his bonds, but Ace was right; there was nothing he could do.
They pulled up in front of a beautiful hotel, a five-star luxury joint, and Beau gav
e his brother a disbelieving stare as two men from up front came back and pulled him bodily out of the car.
“Have a good night, brother,” Ace said calmly. “We’ll talk when you’re free in the morning.”
Beau gritted his teeth together at his brother’s audacity, but then the limo door was shut and the men were escorting him into the lobby, keeping him between them and moving quickly before anyone could ask questions.
One of them pulled out a room key and showed it to the bellhop as they walked to the end of a row of elevators and went up in the last one.
Nearly to the top floor. Penthouse.
Beau let out a growl as they shoved him out of the elevator. He was so getting Ace back for this. The men rang the doorbell of the suite, and someone hit a buzzer that unlocked the door. They pushed it open and brought him in, and he took in the sights around him.
A beautiful living room with designer furnishings in navy and white and a huge window spanning the wall.
They deposited him on a couch, tossing him down, and then one grinned and told him to be good.
He yelled a muffled curse at them as they walked out of the room and shut the door behind them.
Then a door on the other side of the living room, probably the bedroom door, started to open. Beau held his breath, waiting to see who came through.
When he saw who it was, his jaw dropped.
“Stacy?”
16
She walked forward, a slight grin on her face as she looked him over. Then her expression tightened as her eyes found his bonds.
“He didn’t have to go so far,” she said, pulling at the handkerchief that held his wrists. She got it loose, and he rubbed the skin there, though it wasn’t damaged.
She pulled down the gag as well. He cleared his throat. “Knowing Ace, he enjoyed it.”
She laughed. “Hey, he was actually really helpful, so be nice.”
“Yeah, well, he didn’t have to be so weird about it. That was torture,” he said. “Do you have any idea what I went through?” He gave a playful shudder. “All those women looking at me like I was meat.”
King of Rock (Lions of Pride Island Book 1) Page 12