Chapter 11 Are We Mates?

Angela POV

I awake to Aspen holding me and kissing the back of my neck. Being in his arms makes me smile. I roll over in the bed, facing him. I kiss his lips. We begin to roll in the bed, playing and laughing. I land on top of Aspen and then lean down to kiss him. I can feel him beneath. I want him inside me. I have never wanted someone the way my body longs for him.

As my lips touch him, the bedroom door flies open. "We really do not have time for you two to be mating. The auction is up on the website. So, if the two of you can keep your hands off each other long enough, I would love to get my sister back, okay," Draco says.

As the words escape his mouth, he looks at the two of us. He stares at us for a moment. The stare from Draco is highly uncomfortable. Draco's gaze makes me feel like my brother just caught me in bed with my boyfriend. He shakes his head at us. What the hell is he thinking?

"Are you two mates? We do not have time for the two of you to be in heat; if the two of you are mates, put it on hold for at least tonight. Can you do that, please?" Draco asks, puzzled. Aspen looks equally puzzled.

"We could very well be. You do intrigue me and set me on fire, but I have not really thought about it," Aspen says. He kisses me and looks into my eyes. As our eyes meet, he smiles.

"You said you loved me. Did you think about that? What if I am your mate, wolf?" I ask him.

Draco backs out of the door. "I will leave you two to discuss this quickly, but I need you both downstairs, pronto. We do not have time for a wolf soap opera. Remember, my sister is in an auction, and that should be our focus. It is not mating season, so come on," he hollers as he goes down the stairs, huffing, and stomping.

I look into Aspen's eyes, trying to figure out what he is thinking. "So, what is it, wolf?" I ask him.

"Look, I have not been around a lot of women that I would want as my mate, at least not until you. I do love you, Angela. I think about you every second. We can discuss our future later. For now, let's figure out a way to help your friend, okay," Aspen says.

"Okay, I can live with that, wolf," I say.

I get off of Aspen. I get out of the bed and slip into my shoes. I follow Aspen out of the bedroom and down to see what the hell Draco has going on with the auction. We go into the kitchen holding hands. Draco is glued to a computer.

"Do the two of you have to touch each other every second?" Draco snaps at me. I let go of Aspen's hand.

"What is all of this?" I ask him.

"Well, this is a computer," Draco says.

"I know that smart ass. What are all of those numbers on the screen?" I ask.

"It is bidding. You asked how I was involved. I bid on the women and help them get back to their families," Draco says.

"How in the hell do you afford all of this?" I ask him.

"I am a vampire and a damn wealthy one at that, love," Draco says.

"Well, okay then, so you bid on the women, and then you help them back to their families, I can get that. What if you do not win the bid?" I ask.

Draco rolls his eyes at me. That annoys me, and he knows it. "Then we go to plan B," Draco says.

"What is plan B?" I ask.

Aspen moves in closer to the computer. He watches the numbers on the screen. "There she is, right there, that is Deanne," Aspen says.

"Are you sure?" Draco asks.

"Yes, that is her code number," Aspen says.

The two keep watching the numbers and the bidders. "No worries, either way, we will get her back to us," Draco says confidently.

"How? I mean, what is plan B?" I ask.

"Well, this is what I do. If someone asks me to locate their loved one, I watch the auction. Sometimes I bid, and sometimes I wait until someone else gets the prize, then I go in and steal their prize possession," Draco says.

"Sounds risky. What if you cannot steal their prize? " I ask.

"Well, it can be, but sometimes, you have to do what you have to do. Sometimes it is easy, and sometimes it takes a little persuasion," Draco says.

"How did Deanne get involved in all of this?" I ask.

"She was talking to Archie to get some information on the auction. See, Deanne went in willingly, and then you went in there trying to fuck shit up. I told you to leave it alone, but you could not stay out of it. You have always been so damn nosey. You never know when to back down," Draco says.

"I figured the Alpha paid your parents to leave it alone. I just wanted her to be found, Draco," I say.

"Oh, he did. He was very generous. He really wanted Deanne, but now it is time for her to come home. I want my sister back tonight, and I am going to get her. One way or another, Deanne comes home tonight," Draco says.

I look at Aspen. "And how did you get involved in all of this?" I ask him.

"That is an even longer story that I will tell you later. Right now, we need to watch these bidders," Aspen says.

"Yeah, okay, well, if you two don't need me, then I am going to go back up the stairs and let the two of you work. This is making me uneasy. Just let me know what you need me to do," I say to them.

"No, we need you to stay right here because your name is on the list, Angela," Draco says.

"What do you mean? How am I on the list?" I ask.

Draco pulls up the list of women to bid on, and my name is right under Deanne. "Holy shit, what does this mean? He does not have me. How can he sell me if he does not have me?" I ask.

Aspen grabs me by the upper arm. "Do not worry. We are going to handle this. Just remain calm," Aspen says.

"But the Alpha does not have me; I ran away. How will he auction me if I am not there?" I ask.

"You will be a scavenger hunt. Whoever owns you will hunt you down for their prize. It is a way the Alpha can make money off of you, and the wolf or vampire that buys you has a nice little hunting trip to locate you. It happens all the time," Draco says.

"What!" I scream.

"I said do not worry, Angela. Please, calm down. I would never let anyone hurt you," Aspen says again.

"Easy for you to say. You are not about to be a prize for a horny vampire or wolf. Just what I need. I will have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life, " I say.

"No, I do not think it will be vampires. Since you are so special, you will probably be bought by a wolf," Aspen says.

"Just fucking great!" I scream.

"Angela, I am going to buy you, so calm the fuck down," Aspen says.

"What! So now you are going to be my master! Is this what this is, sell Angela to Aspen night?" I ask him.

Aspen pulls me close to him. "I said to please calm down. I will take care of you. You have to trust me, okay," Aspen says softly.

I look at Draco and back to Aspen. "I do not want to be owned by anyone. Not you, not anybody," I say.

"It is like this, either I buy you, and you are safe, or some psychopath that wants to strap you to a breeding box will buy you and hunt you for the rest of your life," Aspen says.

"Well, when you put it like that. You will not own me, Aspen. I am my own person, got it," I say to him.

The thought of another person or wolf having ownership over me makes me sick, but if it keeps me safe, then I have to trust him with my life. I do love him. I think I can trust him. I can trust him. I have to stop doubting both of them. Draco would not harm me, and neither would Aspen. If they think they can keep me safe, I have to believe them.