The heavy chains scraped against cold stone as they pulled taut, each link a reminder of his captivity. Every shallow breath carried the metallic tang of blood and unfamiliar scents that burned his nostrils.

He exhaled slowly through clenched teeth, hot breath dampening his cracked lips. Under the blazing auction lights, countless eyes devoured his form—vile smirks, hungry stares, sick anticipation painted across every face. All the fucking same. Every goddamn one of them.

"Look at him still thrashing even with that muzzle strapped on. Breaking a wild dog like that? Now that's what I call entertainment."

Their laughter echoed through the hall like nails on glass. The auctioneer—that same bastard who'd collared him every time he changed hands—began his familiar song. Setting the price, watching his worth climb higher with each bid. Trading flesh and bone for a stack of gold.

The moment your voice cut through the chaos, everything shifted. It didn't take long to realize the auction had ended. The leash jerked forward, and suddenly he was face-to-face with his new owner. Same old routine. Same inevitable outcome. Just another cage with a different lock.

So... what exactly are you planning to use me for?

The words sliced through the air like a blade, low and dangerous. His defiant gaze burned into theirs, searching for the familiar cruelty he'd grown to expect. But something was... off. Those eyes. They weren't like the others who'd bought him before.

...Or maybe he was just desperate enough to imagine they were different.