Bought and Bound

The Wolf King sat beside me, his presence imposing, his gaze sharp and unwavering, like a blade cutting through the silence in his home. I could feel his eyes on me, hard as stone, and it sent a chill down my spine, stirring a quiet panic within. Then, without a word, he reached behind him. My pulse quickened, my mind racing with whispers of the wild rumors I’d heard. I closed my eyes and silently took a deep breath. I needed to keep my head no matter what. 

He rose and moved to the table, his movements precise, commanding. When he returned, he held out a paper, his voice clipped and cold. "Sign this," Duncan said, his tone brooking no argument.

My hand trembled as I reached for the paper. I couldn’t read. My father never let me learn. As a girl, he’d deemed it pointless for me to have any skills beyond keeping a home. The thought of him finding out made my skin crawl. If the Wolf King knew… Would he cast me out? I could already imagine the fury my father would be in if he had to return the money that the wolf king gave him. My father would surely kill me. 

I took the pen, determined. Whatever this paper held, it had to be better than the life I’d leave behind. Without a second thought, I drew something as my signature. I couldn't write my name and I didn't have a stamp either. 

“What is this?” Duncan demanded, eyes fixed on my sketch of the moon on the paper. His tone was sharp, and I recoiled slightly at the anger in his gaze. "Is this some kind of joke?”

“I...I’m sorry. I don’t know how to sign properly, and I don’t have a stamp,” I stammered, clasping my shaking hands together to hide my fear. “I thought this would be alright.”

Duncan fell silent, his eyes boring into me as if searching for something. Was he furious? The silence stretched before he abruptly stood.

“Fine. I’ll take you to the hospital. Your father claims you're a virgin, but I need to confirm you’re healthy.”

“Healthy? I’m not sick,” I replied, blinking in confusion. “Why would I need to go to the hospital?”

He gave me a cold, measured stare, his brow furrowing. “I have to make sure your womb is in good condition.”

Womb?

“But why do you…”

“For heaven’s sake, woman, can’t you read?” Duncan snapped, cutting me off. “Do you even realize what you signed? You’ve just agreed to be my surrogate.” His words hit me like a shockwave, and I stared at him, my eyes wide with disbelief.

My mind went blank as the word "surrogate" echoed in my thoughts. I didn’t fully grasp what it meant, though I had a vague idea. My father had hired people to teach me about pleasing men, so I had picked up bits and pieces, but the concept felt distant and unclear.

“Your…surrogate?” I whispered, my voice barely audible as my stomach churned. “Duncan, I didn’t… I didn’t realize…”

He sighed, his gaze narrowing. “That’s your fault, not mine. You should have understood what you were agreeing 

to.”

I felt anger bubbling beneath my fear, mingling with helplessness as I met his unyielding stare. “And what if I refuse? You can’t just make decisions about my body without asking me.”

A dark, mocking smile tugged at his lips. “Tell me. What choices do you think you have?” His voice was chillingly calm. “You're here because I bought you. Your father sold you to me, and if you value your safety and any future you might have with me, you’ll remember that.” Duncan’s brow arched, catching the spark of rebellion in my gaze. “Good. Seems you understand.” He gestured sharply to the door, his tone brooking no argument. “We’re going to the hospital. Now.”

The drive to the hospital was stifling, the silence weighted with an oppressive tension that wrapped around us like a shroud. Reality settled in, sharp and undeniable. Duncan held my future in his hands now. The realization sent a dull ache through me, and tears began slipping down my cheeks, breaking the stillness with quiet sobs. When Duncan noticed, his gaze darkened, intense, and cutting. I shivered, instinctively shrinking away, though I couldn't hide the flicker of fear in my eyes. But Duncan remained unmoved.

"The results will be ready in a few days. You may need to wait, Mr. Blackwood," the doctor said to Duncan after my blood was drawn for testing.

Duncan's phone sat close by, and I glanced at it, noticing he was absorbed in conversation. Taking a chance, I snatched it and tried to call my father, but the call wouldn’t connect. Just as I expected, my father wasn’t answering. Thoughts of running flitted through my mind, yet I had nowhere to go. Suddenly, Duncan’s gaze locked onto me, and I froze, a cold spike of fear settling in my chest. Did he already suspect my intentions?

After we left the hospital, we returned to his house. I could only stare, speechless, at the sheer size of the place. Following Duncan upstairs, I was led into another room. Clutching my small bag of belongings, I felt the sharp reminder of everything I lacked. My father had never allowed me to work, to earn, to own much of anything.

"Is this where I'll be staying? I thought... I thought we would share a room," I murmured, my voice wavering as I looked up at him. Duncan’s gaze turned steely, laced with contempt.

"You thought wrong. Your only purpose is to carry a child. In return, I’ll give you ten million dollars and your freedom once the child is born. Since you clearly don’t understand the contract you signed, feel free to use the computer. Your father told me you were a virgin, he didn’t mention you were clueless, too," Duncan said, his words sharp as ice. I clenched my fists, swallowing the sting as his words hit deep. 

As he brushed past me, anger and betrayal surged within me. My hand found the lamp on the table, my grip tight as my mind swirled with a single thought. Revenge. Against my father, against those men from the auction, and most of all, against Duncan. I raised the lamp, ready to strike but in a flash, Duncan’s hand caught mine, pinning me against the door. His eyes blazed with anger, but I was too far gone to care.

“Duncan, who is this?” a voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. I looked up to find a breathtakingly beautiful woman, her slender figure draped in the most exquisite clothes I had ever seen. Her eyes narrowed as they swept over me, filled with disdain. “Is this our surrogate?”

A chill ran down my spine as I turned to Duncan, my breath catching in my throat. I watched in shock as he approached the alluring woman, leaning in to kiss her. My heart sank as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Yes, Melissa,” Duncan replied, his voice steady and calm. “This is April. She will be our surrogate.”