Chapter 2 2

Sara dropped the bottle and rushed towards me, tears already filling her eyes.

"Yvana! Thank you so much for saving my life! I don't know how to show you my gratitude but I'll never forget your sacrifice!"

"What sacrifice? Damien, what is she talking about?"

"Come on, Yvana, don't make this hard on everyone," Jesse, his Beta said, swirling the liquor in his glass.

"Nobody is making any sense! Some men came to my room! How did they even know where I... now, Sara is thanking me? Is this.. Damien, please say something," I whispered, my voice breaking.

He got up finally, scratching his scalp with one finger.

"Look, Yvana, I just had to do the right thing. That's what an Alpha is supposed to do. The right thing. It doesn't matter how difficult it is. It hurts me so badly but you're stronger than Sara."

"I'm stronger? I don't have a wolf!"

"Exactly. You can't be a Luna without one but you can cook, clean, you know.. things that are needed at the war camps. You've been doing it since you were five; it shouldn't be hard for you."

"But our mate bond... you're supposed to.. I don't understand what is happening, Damien."

"Goddess, this bitch is fucking stupid."

"Stop it, Jesse. You'd be upset too if you were conscripted into war."

"How can you even say I've been conscripted? Who's getting the payment for my services?"

"That's the thing, Sara's father already took a loan," he sighed, touching my shoulder.

This time, it didn't bring warmth. It burned.

"I'm really sorry," Sara joined in, "My father was trying out this new farming technique? It didn't work out. That's why he wants to sell me off to Alpha Alaric. Please don't let them take me. Damien, please tell her."

"What the fuck is my business with your father's debt? Why am I paying for it? Damien, stop this joke. It's unfair!"

"Stop this nonsense, Yvana. You can't be my Luna if you can't make sacrifices for your people! Do you want the girl to die there? She can't do anything!"

His screaming made me take a step back and my eyes widened.

There was a crowd behind me and more on the other side of the door.

All were saying the same thing, I have to make sacrifices.

Me?

After being treated like shit for eighteen years?

"What if.." I tried again, "Why can't you pay off her debt? You have enough money for that, right?"

He sighed, "I'm sorry to tell you all this but... the Pack is in a bit of a fix. We have to take things slow right now. We can't afford a payment of that magnitude."

"Because you keep buying her and her family luxurious things!" I screamed, unable to stop myself.

"Oh my goodness, you were jealous?" Sara gasped, "Damien you told me she wouldn't mind. Goddess, I feel like a home wrecker now."

"You should feel like it because that's what you are! You've been making him buy these things. You don't even need all this jewellery, our Kingdom has been in a civil war for twelve years!"

"Stop yelling at her," Damien snapped, "She's weak and needs to be happy. I've said it in this Pack that status doesn't matter. Omega or beta, you deserve to be treated with decency and respect! I have to practice what I preach as the Alpha!"

"Except when it comes to your own mate," I shuddered.

"Just go, Yvana. I promise to work hard and come get you out soon."

"You will?" I lifted my eyes, hope flickering in my chest.

"Of course I will. Give me five months maximum. Our first anniversary, I'll make you Luna, okay?"

"Are you sure? Promise you won't abandon me there forever," I begged, my hands shaking with fear.

"Yes, I do. Now go before those men get angry and take more than we can offer. Let's escort her out everyone!"

As they did, I couldn't understand why it felt like I was being exiled from the Pack rather than being celebrated for my sacrifice.

"You're such a nice person, Yvana," Sara's soft voice made me turn. "I know you'll make our Pack proud out there."

Yeah, by scrubbing pots and plates for the next five months.

Pfft.

"I'll try," I forced a smile.

"Good girl," Damien smiled at me, "Enforcer Cade. Please be careful with her, she's my mate."

The large man who brought me down for an explanation nodded and grabbed my hand.

He wasn't careful as he dragged me to the back where the carriages and other slaves were waiting.

I was put at the end of the chair and two other girls huddled in, cold and sad.

They didn't look at me and I felt myself drowning in sadness.

'No,' I shook my head, 'this is just temporary. Damien will come for me in five months.'

As the carriage began moving, it drove past the front hall, and I turned to wave at them.

Only to see my mate kissing Sara.