CLAUDE

THE COOL AIR against my warm skin was a blissful invitation. I tucked my hands into the pocket of my jeans as I walked down a silent path. I noticed a stone chair in front of me and quickly made my way towards it.

From a distance, a couple was approaching my way. He had his nose pressed into the woman's neck, scent-marking her. I frowned watching them and my heart clenched for what I knew I couldn't have. My phone dinged, and I had half expected a message from my father, but was surprised when it was from an unknown number.

"Dear Tate Frank, your application has been well received and we are glad to let you know that you have been selected to join the Luxemar Yatch as a pet. Click the button below to confirm and the time and location for your pickup will be shown. Link expires in fourty eight hours."

I blinked in confusion, reread the message, and looked at the button to see that the timer was counting down.

Clearly, the message wasn't meant for me since my name wasn't state. My thumb hovered over the green button, curious to see what it would reveal, but the sound of something crashing made me give up. I locked my phone and stood up to see that a man had tripped over a trash can. I shook my head and glanced back at the direction I came from and prayed to God that she was no longer in my room. To my luck, when I did get there, she was no longer in my room, save for the lingering smell of her heat.

---

I laid on my bed and slowly began to drift to sleep, but with a lingering thought at the back of my mind about the weird message I received.

At the first light of the sun, I was already on the road back to the Rising Sun pack, and after five hours of driving, I was seated in front of my father briefing him about the meeting with the Green Tree pack.

The sun was already setting when I entered my room and I took off the black button down shirt I was wearing and undid the button of my grey slacks. My phone dinged and I turned to take it from where I placed it on the bed. It was a notification reminding me that I only had twenty thee more hours before the invitation expires.

---

I stared at the button and I mean I really stared at it. It was like I could hear... As crazy as it may sound, it was like I could hear the whispering into my ears to check what was behind its green walls.

"Oh, fuck it," I muttered and quickly pressed it before I could back out.

"Congratulations! You have been accepted and marked as a human pet," I read and frowned at the word "Pet" again. [This is the information below.]

I scrolled down, reading the information about who this Tate Frank was. When I got to his picture, I had to take a double look because he looked like me. His blonde hair was almost the same shade as mine. His eyes were the only difference between us, and that I was two years older than from the information I was looking at I went back to read the notification. My eyes lingered on two words: Human Pet.

I ran my hand through my hair as the realization hit me. This message was supposed to be for this human Tate. Somehow, and unintended, it got to me and we looked so much alike.

I scoffed at the scam. This was probably a plot to get to my father, just like before-just like five years ago. I closed my eyes as memories of that day began to flood in.

I was on patrol with a few scouts and I had heard something. I could have told them... told the three other scouts with me, but for some reason, I decided to go alone, to prove that I could do things without the drug my father had been giving me for the past nine years... No, I hadn't taken them for the past two weeks and Instead, I trained my body in the gym that I would be a strong beta without it.

As soon as the others were out of sight, I went behind the bushes. I heard a twig and before I could turn, a fist collided with the side of my head...

The last thing I heard was, "Boss, we have him," and everything went black.

I dropped my phone and pressed my hands at the back of my neck trying to get the memory out of my head. He was dead. Alan was. I picked up the... and gritted my teeth. "It can't be him," I mumbled to myself. "And I swear to the gods, if it was..."

I typed in the location where I would be picked up. Address confirmed. It showed, and I moved my eyes from the phone to the wall opposite me where my full-length mirror hung. I stared at my reflection, my eyes bloodshot.

"I will kill him."

CLAUDE

I SAT ACROSS from my father, the room thick with the silence of the lies I was about to spin. He leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he studied me.

"So, you're saying Alpha Landon wants you at this meeting with the Federal werewolves... government officials?" His voice carried doubt, his fingers tapping the edge of the table.

"Yes," I replied, gripping my phone a little tighter.

"And he didn't think to tell me first?" His brow furrowed deeply.

I met his gaze without flinching. "No."

He rubbed his beard-a beard I couldn't seem to grow no matter how hard I tried. "It sounds suspicious."

"We've grown closer since our last meeting at his pack. He said he sees great potential in me as a future Alpha." I spread my hands across the table, forcing myself to relax, or at least appear relaxed. "Don't you think I have potential?"

My father cleared his throat, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Of course, son. This could be a big opportunity for our pack." His tone was clipped, but I took the compliment for what it was. "You've done well."

I nodded, standing up and grabbing my bag. "I'll be off now."

I'd made it halfway to the door when his voice stopped me cold. "Claude-did you remember your medicine? You know what happened last time."

My hand clenched the strap of my bag as I paused. Glancing over my shoulder, I gave him a stiff nod. "How could I forget?"

Three days.

That's how long it had been since I was taken. Chained in this dungeon, my wrists rubbed raw, the cold stone walls pressing against me. Water dripped from the ceiling, echoing in the small space, but the sound of the door unlocking cut through the steady rhythm.

A man, no older than thirty, entered, flanked by two others. His green eyes swept over me, and he strode forward, gripping my chin between rough fingers.

"This is him?" he asked the men behind him, never breaking eye contact with me.

"Yes," one of them confirmed.

As his eyes roamed over me, something shifted deep inside me. I felt different-like something was about to change in ways I couldn't control. And what terrified me most wasn't that change was coming, but that I would be the one to change.

The border loomed ahead of me, a familiar checkpoint between werewolf and human territory. I stepped out of the car, gun tucked into the waistband of my jeans, the weight of my bag heavy on my shoulder. The officers guarding the border nodded after checking my letter of passage, allowing me through without question.

An hour later, I arrived at the spot I'd marked on the map. A white van approached from the distance, and I could feel my pulse quicken, my instincts sharpening. I wasn't sure what I'd expected, but when the van stopped and the door slid open, the stench of humans hit me like a slap.

"Tate?" The man who stepped out squinted at me, glancing down at the tablet in his hand before meeting my eyes. "Tate Frank?"

I forced a smile, lowering my hand away from the gun. "Yeah. That's me."

The man eyed me for a moment before stepping aside to let me in. Four humans were already inside-three women, eyes sharp and curious, and one man who seemed determined to ignore everything around him. I slid into the seat beside a blonde girl who couldn't have been more than twenty.

The door slammed shut behind me, and I could feel the eyes of the others burning into me. The blonde was already staring, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Um... hey. Do you know where they're taking us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Her smirk widened, and she let out a small giggle. "Oh, a first-timer."

The others all turned to me, their eyes dancing with something that made my stomach tighten. Heat crept up my neck, and I realized just how little I knew about what was coming next.

She grabbed my arm and leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear. "They don't reveal the location of the yacht for security reasons, but I heard..." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "It's headed for New York. And lucky for us, we're not that far off."

I nodded, trying to resist the urge to pull away from her touch. Diana seemed nice enough, but being touched by strangers wasn't exactly my favorite thing.

"Anyway, my name's Amelia. What's yours?" She looked at me expectantly, her curiosity genuine. I managed a smile, reminding myself of the fake identity I'd need to use for the next two weeks-assuming this wasn't some elaborate prank. "Tate."

---

Well, fuck me-it was real.

I stood at the loading docks, staring up at the biggest, most expensive-looking yacht I'd ever laid eyes on. It was a sleek, towering hull, its polished white exterior gleaming in the sunlight, with elegant balconies and soft lights accentuating its luxurious design.

"Impressive, huh?" Amelia's voice snapped me back to reality. She smiled, gesturing toward the gleaming vessel. "Wait until you see the inside."

The van that had brought us here was already pulling away. I pulled out my phone, checking the time: just past four.

"How long have you been doing this... pet thing?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

Amelia grinned. "This is my third time. The pay's good. I make over fifty grand each trip."

Her eyes flicked to the phone in my hand. "Just a heads up-they don't allow phones onboard. And you'll be frisked by security, so..." She leaned in, placed her hand on my back and her voice lowering. "If you've got any weapons, now's the time to get rid of them."

My stomach tightened. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching before slipping the gun from my waistband. With a quick flick of my wrist, I tossed it into the water and hurried to catch up with Amelia, gripping the railing of the boarding ramp.

"How did you know?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She threw a look over her shoulder, eyes gleaming with amusement. "When you got off the bus, your shirt rode up a little." She smirked. "I saw it."

I exhaled sharply, cursing myself for not being more careful.

"Thank you, Amelia," I said, just as she stopped and placed her palm against my chest.

"You don't have to thank me." She leaned in closer, her eyes darkening slightly. "You're a sweet boy... I'd hate to see you go to waste."

Her words made me frown, my mind catching on something unspoken.

With only one person left between us and security, I grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving forward. "What do you mean by that?"

"Just be careful, Tate," she cut me off with a warm smile. "This place can be a fucking dangerous one."

I loosened my grip, and she easily slipped her arm away, moving ahead to stand before the security guard.

"Name?" the guard asked.

"Amelia Reed," she responded smoothly.

It was my turn next. I tightened my hold on my bag as I stepped forward.

"Name?" the man asked, his gaze drifting over me.

"Tate Frank," I said, keeping my voice even.

The guard glanced down at his tablet, then back up at me, his eyes squinting. "It says here you've got brown eyes and glasses," he said, clearing his throat.

I forced a smile. "I'm wearing contacts now."

The guard grunted, glancing at the tablet again before muttering, "Shame. You looked better with the glasses."

I bit back a retort, watching as he took my bag. "You'll get it back after we search it," he said flatly.

Once the check was complete and my phone confiscated, I followed the same path Diana had taken. Her voice drifted to me before I could fully catch sight of her.

"I'm glad you made it, Tate," she said, smiling as she stepped closer. For once, I didn't mind seeing her again.

I took in our surroundings-there were around thirty of us now, gathered on the deck-before turning back to Amelia. "What happens now?"

She raised her left hand, showing me a small block of chains, her smile becoming sharper. "Now, when the clock strikes six and the yacht sets sail... we meet our buyers through that door."

CLAUDE

THE YACHT JOLTED to life the moment the clock hit six, and I felt it in my bones. Turning to my side, I caught Amelia's gaze already locked on me.

"Come on, Tate, get that chain around your neck," she grinned, slipping out of the short black dress she'd been wearing, leaving only the barest pair of matching black underwear.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, my eyes widening, glancing around. Everyone else? Half-naked.

Amelia laughed softly, pulling my attention back to her. "Oh, you didn't know what you were getting into?" She gave me a light pat on the arm, her gaze turning almost sympathetic. "Relax, it's just for show. No one's asking you to strip completely. Just the shirt." I exhaled hard, fingers gripping the cool metal chain in my hand. There was no reason to panic. No one here knew me, and if something went south, I could easily take any one of these humans. I was stronger. Better.

"Oh, God, you're like a lost puppy," Amelia's voice pulled me back, her hands on my shoulders now. I hated how much I craved that touch, how her lack of arousal was oddly comforting in a room full of lust.

"Did you seriously not look into this at all before signing up?" She shook her head, exasperated, like a mom about to give her kid a life lesson. "Okay, listen. First, we walk out those doors-" Her words were cut off by the sound of the sliding doors opening and low murmurs filling the room. "Shit. Okay, no time. You put that chain on and stay in the moment. You can reject up to three people, but after the third one, they'll throw you off the yacht. Got it?"

She gave me a once-over, then added, "Now, get your shirt off and chain up."

I watched as she fell in line with the others, giving me one last glance before disappearing out the door.

My heart was racing now. What the hell was I doing here? Was I, Claude Adams, the son of an Alpha, really about to sell myself for two weeks to be some human's pet?

The uncomfortable answer was a yes.

I wouldn't even think twice about diving into the water, swimming all the way back to my pack if I had to. With one quick motion, I tugged the shirt off, clipped the chain around my neck, and bolted out as the last person left the room.

When I finally glanced around, most of the... Pets-Goddess, that word still felt so strange, even in my own head-were kneeling, eyes downcast, careful not to meet the buyers' gaze. I found a spot off to the side and sank down, letting my eyes sweep over the scene.

Men and women, dressed like they had walked off the cover of some high-end magazine, moved through the room, assessing the merchandise. Us. My senses went on high alert when a woman, older than most here, paused in front of me. She wore a long green dress, the fabric parting at both sides. Her face was powdered to perfection, her hair styled in careful, curling waves.

"Well, aren't you a handsome young man?" Her voice was thick with amusement, and before I could prepare myself, the thick scent of her arousal hit me hard. It was everywhere in the room, but hers felt suffocating.

"I know the starting bid is forty grand, but I'm willing to go up to seventy if it means having you all to myself." She leaned in, and her cleavage was front and center, leaving nothing to the imagination.

I swallowed, eyes darting around, looking for an out, but I was trapped. Not trying to be rude, I managed a, "I'll pass. I'm still... weighing my options." Even I wasn't convinced by my answer, but I had to say something. The truth was, no one in this room interested me. They hadn't for the last five years.

"A shame, baby. I would've taken good care of you."

As she strutted away, relief washed over me, but not for long. A man, probably not much older than me, appeared in her place. His tailored black pants left little to the imagination as he openly showed off his arousal, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I saw you turn down Madam Fiona over there," he chuckled, "and as much as that's a surprise, I can't say I'm unhappy about it." His eyes raked over my body like I was something to eat. I shuddered, trying to hide the disgust crawling up my spine. He shamelessly palmed himself, lips parted in what he probably thought was a seductive grin.

"Just seeing you on your knees in front of me... if it's money you want, I can give you that. I'll give you whatever you want." His voice was thick with confidence, and it took everything not to roll my eyes. Money? That was the last thing I needed. Hell, I could buy out this entire yacht and every pet here without even putting a dent in my fortune.

"Come on, boy. Speak up."

I felt the weight of someone's gaze on me and tilted my head slightly, catching sight of a man leaning against the far wall. His legs were casually crossed, a drink in one hand, the other shoved into his pocket. But his eyes-they never left mine, even when I looked back at him. The energy between us crackled, and as he pushed off the wall and walked toward me, I couldn't tear my eyes away.

He stopped beside the old man-whoever the hell he was-but his focus was all on me.

"Mr. Vlad," he said smoothly, "I didn't realize men were your thing."

Vlad let out a grunt, his eyes still on me. "They're not. But this one... He calls out to me."

I studied him more carefully now. His hair was neatly styled to one side, thick and perfectly groomed. Those gray eyes-sharp, almost predatory-seemed to cut through me, right into my soul. And his lips... full and soft. Too soft. I had the sudden, insane urge to taste them.

The old man-still don't know his name-grinned. "Shame, because he was just about to accept my offer."

But I didn't even glance at him. I was locked in a stare with the man in front of me, and the world felt like it had shrunk down to just the two of us.

He chuckled, then leaned down, his free hand coming up to grip my chin, tilting my face up just enough so I couldn't look away. "Tell me..." he paused, waiting for me to fill in the blank.

"Tate," I finally said, giving him the name from my fake ID. His brow furrowed, but he didn't let go.

"Well, Tate... would you like to be mine?"

For the first time in years, I felt my body respond. My cock stirred, a rush of heat pulsing through me, and I knew in that moment, I wasn't going to say no. Not to him. Not when he made me feel like we were the only two people in the room.

"Yes," I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips. A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face as he released my chin and stood to his full height.

"You heard him, Antonio. He's mine."

The old man-Antonio-grumbled under his breath, shooting me one last glare before he stalked off, muttering, "Didn't even fucking name a price."

I didn't care. My eyes were already back on the man in front of me. He downed the rest of his drink, then held out his hand, and I realized I was still kneeling. I took his hand, standing on unsteady legs, trying to breathe as he stepped in closer, one hand coming back to my chin. His thumb stroked my bottom lip, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Now," he said in a low murmur, "why don't we finish this conversation in our room... Tate."