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***Josiah's POV***

"I don't appreciate having to be here." I tap my foot impatiently on the forest floor. Looking around me, I am surrounded by people who I tried desperately to escape from. I never dreamed of being in their presence as a willing participant.

"There is no need to be rude. We don't especially want to be near your chosen lot any more than you want us to be here." My mother looks around me acknowledging my friends and my creator.

"You seem to have wanted to be around them recently. How else were you going to extort money from others? That is what this is about, after all. You continuously prove that you are nothing more than blood running through my veins. You see me a bargaining chip. It is okay. I never expected anything more. Let's get this over with." I cringe at the admission that this group of feral cats is related to me in any way. Had I been blessed with the genes, I may have used my claws to rip out their hearts by now. Unfortunately, the gene seems to have passed by me somehow.

"A bargaining chip you are, cash in we must." My aunt snickers in the hideous way that I recall from my youth. I swear if I could dispose of their DNA from my bones, that would be the greatest of all gifts.

My back becomes ramrod straight as a vicious hiss leaves my lips. I ought to bleed them all dry and dance amongst their corpses.

"Love, there is no need to get upset. The sooner we end this, the sooner it will be just us once again." Tony bends low to whisper his promise into my ear. The seal of his kiss upon my throat sends waves of calming sensations throughout my system. I silently nod in obedience.

"Gross. It is almost not worth the purse to watch this disgusting display of affection." My aunt hacks up a fur ball onto the forest floor. How I do wish she would have just choked upon it.

"Fifty Thousand." Christian cuts in. My best vampire friend clears his throat, trying to calm the storm long enough by mentioning the bounty. All is well if they would just take it and run. As a matter of fact, it would do my heart warm if they would run off the cliff, tumble down the treacherous rocks and make a hideous cry for help as their limbs fell from their bodies one by one.

"There has been a, may I say complication." My mother whispers softly, almost innocently.

"Pray tell." Tony lets the irritation leach through his voice as his deep bass tone crawls up his throat.

"Seems we have a bit of snag." My aunt holds up her hand, allowing her pointer finger and thumb to move slowly into a small alligator stance.

"Cough it up. We haven't the time nor patience for this charade." Leah's fists lay clenched at her side. All of her knuckles show obvious signs of resistance as the skin is marked with an angry white blush.

"Given the, um." My aunt looks to her left, commanding attention from each of my coven. We direct our eyes to the direction of the field in which she prompts. My eyes must be deceiving me. I begin to feel a moment of panic quicken the pace of my heart. How?

A tiny kitten shakes as she slowly follows a large human man towards our standing point in the field. It is not merely the hulking man who would tower over each of us that disturbs me. Not even the emaciated physical features of the small feline bring me to a point of weakness. It is the heavy, rusty chain links that connect the handler to the mammal that make me feel as if I may vomit. I simultaneously feel as if there is hot tar boiling beneath my flesh. The apparatus of bondage has this minute animal practically being dragged by her tiny neck. Her front paws digging into the softened ground has dirt piling up around her body which is much too close to the ground.

"A trade." The man wickedly grins towards me. His eyes are locked to my own. I feel as though I should know this tiny creature. I do not. I feel no bond. I am unaware of why they would wish me to trade anything to them for the defenseless animal. Maybe, they are depending on my empathy to pull me towards the deal. It would be a safe bet. The way my insides are turning, twisting and building guilt towards the little kitten make their play a remarkable one. Why do I feel such a pull without a connection?

"Ryder?" Leah calls out a name that causes the angry ogre's head to snap towards her. A vicious grin adorns his face at the sound of Leah's call. I immediately feel that intense need to protect engulf me. Quickly, I make my way to Leah's side.

"Stay calm." Leah whispers softly to me. Her hand make's it's way to my hip. She draws a small circle with her thumb against my waist. I accept the calming wave while attempting to give Leah a silent promise that I will try.

"Ah Leah, I see you have, indeed, learned to play nice. Judging by the death glare, your purchaser must have grown a liking to you. Pity." Ryder sucks his teeth before turning his attention to the prisoner at his feet.

"I see you have another captive. You have not changed at all." The hiss that comes through Leah's lips is hateful and fucking scary.

"Just a small kitten. Won't bring much to the table. I figured, why not hold a private auction for the little thing. She must be valuable to someone." Ryder takes his foot and nudges the trembling kitten without pause. I want to remove his foot from his ankle. That is a living being there and should be treated as such. Violence is not warranted.

"Josiah." Tony calls my name softly. I look to my Sire. His hands beckon me to return to his side. I shake my head in denial. I am exactly where I need to be. I will not return to comfort when so much is at stake.

"Does she have a name?" Christian steps forward. He holds a passive stance. His eyes attempt to convey pacification while his voice drips with compassion. I am not fooled by Christian's act. If we shall allow him, he will find an alternative method to end this confrontation. We are best to keep our eyes on him. He can be cunning when faced with a dirty situation. I would know. How do you think I got here?

"It is not pertinent. But, if you must know, Callie is the flee bag's name." Ryder rolls his eyes in disgust as he looks down at his prisoner.

"Unnecessary!" Tony barks loudly, causing the ground beneath us to tremble beneath his growl.

"So, Ryder. What are the intentions of bringing the small animal to this meeting?" Leah steps forward, bending down to press her slender fingertips into the neck of the female kitten.

"She has been sold to me. I am merely giving your purchaser the opportunity for a deal. Buy one, get one free? Two for one? Either or. It is merely a purse to me."

Ryder shows no compassion as he ignores the frightened kitten at his feet. I continue wondering why this has any hand in our card game.

"You did not need to join forces with Josiah's lot. You could have just approached separately." Christian narrows his eyes at Ryder.

What are we missing?

"Ah, the connection. Yes, I knew we were missing something." My aunt cackles as she rubs her hands together in pleasure.

"She is neither important nor necessary. It is either you buy her at this private auction, or we sell her to the highest bidder, publicly." Ryder stares at Christian with a promise of demise for the week misfit at his heels.

"No need." I hold my hand up in agreement. I am unaware of why I would care, but I do. So, now that we have established that, I will take up terms of payment with the auctioneer. I honestly just want to go home. This is fucking exhausting.

"Fifty Thousand for both my eternal freedom and that of the small kitten, Callie?" I repeat what I have gathered from this complicated conversation.

"That won't work. My mother steps up as my sister follows behind her. I feel a wave of betrayal from my sibling. Why has she gathered with the scum of the earth? How could she feel so little towards me. I am just a pawn to each of them. The only value I hold is monetary. I feel so worthless.

"Give a damn price. This is annoying?" Leah heaves out her aggravated demand.

"One Hundred Thousand. Your freedom and one mangey cat. That is the cost." My sister picks up the chain, from the middle, allowing the kitten to be lifted off of the ground by her neck.

I dash over, grabbing the kitten from midair. I hold the shivering feline against my chest. The emerald eyes of the quivering soul search mine before cuddling against my chest. Her slow heartbeat gives me an inclination that she is ready to fold into nothingness. I quickly graze my jaw against the crown of her head, purring softly to soothe the endangered animal.

"Done." Tony walks forward, pulling money from the bag that we brought. It does not surprise me when he counts out the extra fifty thousand. Tony is nothing if not prepared.

"That was easy." My sister jumps around, pirouetting as she bounds towards the lock being held into place by our new pet's neck.

"A contract." Leah growls out, as she demands the paper that will ensure we have seen the last of this pack of feral cats.

"Of course." Ryder pulls a stack of papers from his jacket pocket. He came ready. Shock.

"Christian or Tony, whichever, sign here, here and here." Ryder props the papers against my sister's back. She looks at me hatefully. I do not care. She is nothing to me now. My sibling has made her place in this world. She is disgusting.

I hurry to Tony's side, watching as he puts his signature on each page. I make sure that the buyer's contract satisfies the conditions of our trade. Seeing nothing that could be misconstrued, I nod along with Tony as he finishes up the deal.

"Now, we must be on our way. Seventy-Five Thousand dollars richer, we are." My aunt claps her hands in gratitude for their profit. If only money were all that made the world go round, I am glad I am not so shallow.

"Let's get home. We can car shop later." I announce. Suddenly, I have more important things to do aside from purchasing a mode of transportation. We need to access this baby. Her needs must be met.

As if we did not just meet for a private collusion, the meadow empties quietly. We make our way back to the truck with the newly released prisoner in tow. I hold her tightly to my chest while finding my pace with my coven. The kitten sleeps comfortably in the crook of my arm as I let my fingers intertwine with Tony's.

"We will have to call a vet." Christian proclaims as we march towards the getaway vehicle.

" I am so very sorry." Leah mumbles beneath her breath as if the words are necessary.

"For what are you apologizing for?" Tony turns towards Christian's beloved with a look of confusion.

"I thought I was helping. I think I am a jynx. All I do is cost you guys money." Leah lets out a helpless sigh before reaching the car.

"You were helping. You freed a child from Ryder's paws. I do not think this could have gone any better, love." Christian wraps his arm around Leah, bringing her forehead to his lips. As Leah's eyes close, I see the tension melt away.

Leah spends far too much time worrying and not enough time accepting the love that we have for her.

"You do not cost us money. We are a family. We do what is necessary. It's the bond. We must make sure that no one is tied up in bondage. This is how we make our footprint on this world. We help each other when we can." Tony opens the door for me and our new kitten as Christian helps his beloved into the truck.

"Go straight into town. Head to Dr. Walker's. I already sent a text." Christian gives the order. I am positive Dr. Walker will be able to access the health of our little friend. He is the best hybrid vet we know. Dr. Walker, himself, is a Wereman. His father is full blooded werewolf while his mother is merely human.

"Alright. Let's see if Callie is stable. Then, we will head to the farm supply to grab her some food." Tony agrees while backing out of the field, allowing the tires to come into contact with the dirt road that will take us straight to our favorite vet.