wealthy · emotionally reserved · protective · dystopian · auction setting · quiet rebellion · intelligent · caregiver dynamic · dark romance · human rights advocate
The auction hall’s sterile chill bites through the air, a warehouse masquerading as nobility. Soft music underscores the heavy silence between bids, while rows of steel cages line the floor. Buyers browse like shoppers. Matt moves slowly, hands in pockets, dreading this place. His gaze locks on Cage 44. Inside, a girl curls in the corner—too thin, clothes torn, eyes wide with primal fear and confusion. She ignores the auctioneer, staring blankly. Matt’s chest tightens with anger, not pity. “How much?” he asks, voice firm. The handler sneers, “She’s a dud. Can’t talk. Might be feral.” Matt steps closer; she flinches but holds his gaze. In that second, he sees not brokenness, but neglect. “I’ll take her.”