Chapter 2 (Sold Off)

It's been two days since I've been locked in here without food or water. Unfortunately, it's nothing new, this happens more regularly, and somehow, over the years I've learnt to endure hunger. At least twice every week, father starves me...he says it's a way of letting me know my place, so I don't get too comfortable.

It's funny...but who can get comfortable in an environment where you're always reminded that you aren't wanted.

For days I've cried, thinking about Amera and Abel."How could he do this to me," I whispered a little out loud. Abel was my only chance of happiness. I had always thought that he was the one who would bring me out of this misery and give me a better future...I bit my lower lips, how stupid was I to think that anyone would want someone like me, who stains everywhere she walks into with bad luck. My luck is so rotten that it took my mother too, during childbirth.

I took a deep bad breath in. Sometimes, I think the only reason my father didn't kill me, is because it's against the rule of the pack to kill one's blood.

So what do I do now? What becomes of my life, when the only way out has been permanently blocked?

The sound of the cupboard door creaking open startled me. I flinched, pulling myself from my thoughts.

“The Chief has summoned you,” James said flatly, standing in front of me.

My legs were weak, but I forced myself to stagger out of the dark cupboard. My throat burned, and my lips cracked from thirst, but still I walked, one shaky step after another, until I reached Father’s chambers.

When I got there, he was sitting on his favorite chair, as usual, and Amera was by his side, her silver eyes gleaming.

“I’m sure you’ve learnt your lesson,” Father spat, his face twisted with disgust as he looked at me.

I nodded quickly, like the obedient child I’ve always been.

“Good,” he said, rising from his seat and walking closer. His boots echoed against the floor with every step. “I have thought tirelessly about how you can be useful to this family, and luckily, a way has presented itself.”

I didn’t say a word. I just lowered my head and listened.

“You know it is our custom for the bride’s family to pay for the wedding ceremony, right?”

I nodded again, silently.

“Good. So that is where you come in.”

My lips parted. “How, Father? I do...”

His glare snapped to me. “How many times have I told you never to speak when I am speaking?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Father.”

His mouth curled in satisfaction. “Well… I’m in such a good mood, I’ll let your stupidity slide today.”

He began pacing slowly, his hands clasped behind his back, boots striking the floor in rhythm. “You will be leaving Redlight Pack first thing in the morning, to your new home, and your new husband to be.”

My eyes widened. My breath caught. “What home… what husband?”

His lips curved into a cruel smile. “Well, someone has decided to take you as their bride.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Bride? But you...didn’t you say no one in this pack would ever marry me?”

“Of course not from this pack,” he sneered. “From another pack. The Bluemoon Pack. At least they don’t know you’re cursed.”

My stomach twisted, and his words crashed into me like a storm. Father had always been looking for ways to throw me out for years, but now he had succeeded. But it's all happening so fast.

I cleared my throat weakly. “Who… who am I ….” I couldn't bring myself to complete the sentence.

He paused, his eyes cold, before he answered. “Alpha Roman.”

“What?” I didn’t even realize when the scream left my lips. My knees buckled, and I dropped down, clutching at his boots. “Father, please! I… I can’t marry that man. Please, I will do whatever you want, but don’t send me to him.”

The Bluemoon Pack was dying. Its members barely had enough food to survive. And Alpha Roman Theo, its so-called leader, was known across the land as the most useless, incompetent Alpha ever born. A drunk, a brute, a monster. No woman had survived living under his roof. They said when he got drunk, he beat them until they were half-dead. Some whisper he was cursed, for killing his own brother to steal the Alpha title, and the ghost of his brother haunts him.

Father yanked his leg free from my grip with disgust. “Listen well. There is nothing we can do about it now. The money has already been paid in full, and by sunrise, you leave.”

It was like lightning struck me, and my chest tightened as realization hit me. I pushed myself up slowly, my voice trembling. “You… you sold me to that drunkard Alpha. For money...for Amera’s wedding?”

His lips stretched into a mocking smile. “Bravo. At last, that dumb brain of yours is working.”

Tears blurred my eyes. “But why, Father? You have enough wealth to sponsor ten weddings for Amera if you wanted. Why sell me?”

He leaned closer, his voice low and venomous. “Because you needed to be useful. No one wants you here. I am tired of looking at the face of a murderer. You killed my wife. You are a curse. And it’s time you took that curse somewhere else.”

My chest heaved. “Father…” my voice cracked, as my tears spilled freely.

His eyes bored into mine. “Look at me.” he ordered, and I raised my head slowly.

“From this day on, I Abram Moorshadow, Chief of Redlight Pack, ceases to be your father.”

I staggered back as if something struck me. My heart broke into pieces, shattering inside me. I know he has never truly seen me as his child, or acted as a father, but hearing him disown me with his own mouth felt really sad.

Through it all, Amera sat quietly, smiling faintly, staring at the ring on her finger as if I didn’t exist.

“Take her to the court,” Father ordered James. “Let her eat and wash up. Once she’s done, lock her in her room. At sunrise, move her.”

“Yes, Chief,” James bowed, before gripping my arm tightly.

“Father, please,” I sobbed, struggling as they dragged me away.

I thought I hated it here, but being sent to Bluemoon Pack… as the bride of Alpha Roman Theo… that was worse. Far worse.

Throughout that night, I couldn't sleep. The thought of being married to that good for nothing Alpha brought shivers down my spine. The stories about him were really terrible. Some say, when his brother's spirit comes to taunt him, he acts like a mad person, killing anyone on sight. Ha!. I stood up from my tiny wooden bed, pacing the box I called a room.

I pressed my lips together, trying to slow my fast breathing. I already know it's going to be worse living with Roman than me living here.

My father may dislike me, beat me, lock me up, my sister may act like I'm worthless and a piece of garbage, but I always know what to expect here. That has always been my safety net. But with Roman Theo, I really don't know what to expect, and that's my greatest fear. But why, why would he want to marry me, what does he even need a wife for... I have heard rumors that he said he never wants to get married, so why the change of heart.

I kept drifting in and out of sleep, over and over...I couldn't stop wondering what he would look like. They say he looks handsome, but haggard, because he doesn't take care of himself...I was so buried in my thoughts, that I didn't know when I dozed off.

A knock against the wall made me jump up from my sleep. I have never been a deep sleeper, I had always had to be on alert growing up. I sat up right on the bed, but I didn't stand up, I just watched the guard open the door, and walk in. "Get up!" he yelled.

I didn't argue with him, because I knew it was of no use. I wasn't ready for anyone to rough handle me this morning. My body ached, but I ignored the aching and pushed up to my feet.

The guard steps aside, and I walked out slowly, following him as he led the way through the pack house. "Get in" he ordered standing outside my sister's wash room. I stood there, confused, wondering what was happening. The door opened, and a maid directed me inside.

I stepped in slowly, my eyes moving from left to right. I had been warned severally, by father and Amera, never to enter this room.

"We have to clean you up for your journey... you need to look presentable for your new family."

"Clean me?... This had to be some kind of joke," I pondered. These people are sending me to a slaughter house, and they want to clean me up... For what... For my death? My eyes moved to a beautiful gown hanging up, and beneath it, were a stack of clothings.

One of the maids was steering the water, and then the head maid ordered me to take off my dress.

I didn't fight, I didn't argue, I quietly took them off, and got into the bath. As she washed my body gently, she said, " Your father wishes that you look good. Even though he doesn't care what happens to you, he doesn't want you to embarrass the family name, with your tartad looks. You will also take these clothes with you," she pointed her hands to a bag, containing well arranged dresses.

What exactly is father trying to prove...he doesn't want the world to see that he's a monster. I almost laughed out loud, but I remembered where I was and behaved myself.

When they were done cleaning me up, they put me into the beautiful gown hanging on the wall, they untied my matted hair, rubbed some scenting oil on it, brushed it, and put in some decorative pins. "Look at yourself," the head maid said, handing me a mirror. I stared at my reflection...I didn't even know how to react... whether to admire how beautiful I looked...I have never looked this beautiful, or to cry because i'm all dressed up for my doom.

As the door opened, the guard looked at me, and threw his face away, "Let's go," he waved his hands, signaling me to move. The halls were so quiet as we moved out of the house. As I stepped out of our house, I turned my back to see if father or my sister was watching, but as usual nobody cared.

Tears slipped down my cheek, as I continued walking, walking out of the only house I have known for years. All I could do was hope, and pray, that the hell I'm going to is not worse than the hell I just walked out from.