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Chapter 2: Dressed To Be Sold

ผู้เขียน: Nova Ink
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-01-09 07:55:14

Claudia 

"So, this is what it feels like to be dressed like a lamb before slaughter," I muttered, staring at the reflection in the cracked mirror. 

For the first time in my life, I looked like a princess. A royal blue gown adorned with intricate silver embroidery hugged my figure, its hem brushing the floor like cascading waves. My hair was swept into an elegant bun, with tiny pearl pins catching the light. Even my hands, after all those years of scrubbing floors, were softened with scented oils.

It was ironic, really. I was nothing more than the Alpha’s dirty little secret—his illegitimate daughter. Yet here I was, dressed as if I belonged to the very bloodline that scorned me.

“Don’t slouch, Claudia,” came my stepmother’s shrill voice from the doorway. Her lips curled in a way that made my skin crawl. “You’ll embarrass us enough as it is.”

I straightened my posture but said nothing. I’d learned long ago that my silence was the only thing keeping me from constant punishment. Lyria and Talia, stormed into the room moments later, their faces a mask of fury. Talia, the elder of the two, folded her arms and shot me a look that could kill in an instant.

“I still don’t understand why Father would waste such an opportunity on her,” Talia hissed, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “The most powerful pack in the region, and he sends her? It should be me standing in that gown, not this half-blood mistake.”

“Agreed,” Lyria chimed in, pouting like a spoiled child denied her favorite toy. “It’s a disgrace to this family.”

I tightened my grip on the fabric of my dress, biting back the retort that burned on the tip of my tongue. They were wrong—I wasn’t a disgrace to this family because I was illegitimate. I was a disgrace because I reminded them of the Alpha’s sins. My very existence was their shame.

“Enough,” my father barked as he entered the room, his commanding presence silencing everyone. “A word, both of you.” Talia and Lyria exchanged a glance before following him out. I couldn’t hear what was said, but when they returned, their venomous glares had been replaced by unsettling smirks. 

Talia leaned close as she passed me, her voice dripping with malice. “Enjoy your moment, Claudia. It won’t last.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My heart was pounding too hard in my chest.

***

Minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited in the grand hall for our guests. The weight of the silence was almost unbearable, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards or the rustle of my gown as I shifted uncomfortably.

Then, the door swung open, and they entered.

The first thing I noticed was the aura of power that surrounded them. The Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack, a tall and imposing figure with piercing gray eyes, strode into the room with his Luna by his side. Her beauty was regal, almost otherworldly, and her gaze swept over me like I was nothing more than an object of interest. 

But it was the young man who followed them that caught my attention. He was striking, with dark hair that fell just above his eyes and a sharp jawline that could have been sculpted from stone. His confident stride and the way he carried himself screamed authority.

He must be the one. I muttered to myself. The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine.

My father stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Alpha Kael, Luna Myra, welcome to our humble home. We are honored by your presence.”

“Let’s not waste time,” Alpha Kael said, his voice deep and commanding. “You know why we’re here.”

“Yes, of course.” My father gestured toward me, and for the first time in my life, he looked proud. It was a cruel irony. “I have given the proper introduction to your Advisor, Killian when he first arrived.”

“I sent him to ensure your seriousness to this alliance. When he assured me that it was going to be worth my time, I decided to move forward with the arrangement.” Alpha Kael said lazily. His words flowed as mere whisper. His eyes cornered me as I stood before him, “ Is she the one?”

My father slightly pushed me forward, “Yes, Alpha, This is Claudia, my eldest daughter.”

I dropped into a low curtsy, the way I’d been taught just this morning. My gaze remained fixed on the ground as I murmured, “It’s an honor to meet you.”

The Luna’s voice was like silk laced with steel. “Raise your head, child.”

I obeyed, lifting my chin to meet her scrutinizing gaze. Her lips pursed slightly as if she were appraising livestock at an auction.

“She’ll do,” she finally said, and I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or insulted.

Alpha Kael nodded, and without further ceremony, he gestured toward the gifts his men had brought—crates of fine wines, bolts of luxurious fabric, and chests filled with gold and silver coins. My father’s eyes lit up at the sight, and I realized this arrangement wasn’t about me at all. It was about power and wealth, alliances and benefits. I was nothing more than a pawn in their game. The younger man—my future husband—said nothing throughout the exchange. He simply stood there, his gaze fixed somewhere above my head, as though he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge me.

My heart sank further.

***

When the formalities were over, my father pulled me aside. His expression was unreadable, but his tone was cold as ice.

“Listen to me, Claudia,” he said, his grip on my arm tightening. “You are to behave yourself when you go to the Bloodfang Pack. Do not embarrass this family, and do not think of returning here. You belong to them now.” I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. There was no affection in his voice, no trace of fatherly concern. To him, I was a burden finally offloaded.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. When I turned to leave, Talia and Lyria were waiting for me at the door.

“Don’t come crying back to us when they toss you aside,” Lyria sneered.

Talia smirked. “Though it’ll be entertaining to hear how the bastard daughter of an Alpha fared in a pack like that.” I didn’t dignify their taunts with a response. Instead, I straightened my back and walked past them, holding onto the small shred of dignity I had left.

***

As I climbed into the Limo, I chanced one last glance at my home. It wasn’t much—a crumbling estate with peeling paint and shallow windows—but it was all I had ever known.

The journey to the Bloodfang Pack felt like a slow march towards my doom. The elder sitting across from me was silent, his eyes closed as if in meditation. I wanted to ask questions, to demand answers, but fear kept my lips sealed.

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  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 3: Whispers In The Dark

    Claudia "This isn’t what I agreed to," I muttered under my breath as the car rumbled over the uneven road. Towering the gates of the Bloodfang estate loomed before us, massive and foreboding. I swallowed hard, steeling myself for what awaited me inside. I have never known anything outside the walls of my father's pack. I longed to see what it looked like, I yearned to be free. For years, I dreamed of leaving everything behind. It wasn’t a home—it was a cage, a place where I was constantly reminded of what I wasn’t: a daughter, a sister, a pack member. Now, I had finally escaped, but the freedom I craved felt like a distant illusion.I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, stealing a glance at the elder who had accompanied me. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his eyes fixed ahead. Not a word had been spoken between us since we departed.The Limo came to a halt, and I stepped out, my legs trembling beneath the weight of my gown. The Bloodfang estate was massive, its stone walls ca

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-01-09
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 4: A Living Corpse

    Claudia “Stay back,” I warned, though my voice betrayed my fear. The rustling grew closer, and I backed up until I hit the door. My fingers fumbled for the handle, desperate to escape, but it wouldn’t budge. “Who’s there?” I asked again My voice trembled, betraying the confidence I tried to muster.“You should know,” he said, the edge in his tone sharp and cutting. “Or are you just as clueless as they said you’d be?” The voice was deep and raspy, slicing through the silence like a blade. I froze, my fist still midair. I hadn’t expected an answer—certainly not from inside the room. My breathing hitched as I turned, pressing my back against the door for support.I squinted into the suffocating darkness, but all I could see were shadows stretching endlessly. The faint rustle of movement echoed in the room, but it was impossible to pinpoint where it came from.“Are you... my husband?” I asked hesitantly, the words foreign and heavy on my tongue.A low chuckle emerged from the shadows, co

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-01-09
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 5: The Darkness Of My Fate

    Claudia “In two weeks, I’ll be dead.”I blinked, the weight of his words rendering me momentarily speechless. My hands clenched the fabric of my dress, and I stared into the pitch-black room as if doing so would help me see him.“What did you just say?” I whispered, hoping I’d misheard.“You heard me,” he said, his voice void of emotion. “In two weeks, this sickness will claim me. That’s why they sent you here—to bide their time until I’m gone.”My chest tightened as I tried to comprehend his meaning. “But... why?”“Because when I die,” he continued, “you’ll be passed along to one of the elders as their concubine, that's if you prove to be useless afterwards. A fitting end for a pawn like you, don’t you think?”A cold wave of nausea washed over me. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, and I struggled to catch my breath. My father’s cold dismissal, my sisters’ pitiful glances—it all made sense now. None of them had dared to marry into this family because they had known. They had kn

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-01-09
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 6: Breakfast

    Marcellus I heard her yesterday and I can only imagine what that meant. I felt the bond when she arrived but due to my illness, I was able to not feel the imprint I had on her. An Alpha imprinting on a mere wolf like her goes beyond screaming ‘mate’ like she did. It was deeper than just recognizing your mate. It is a flame. A soul tie. Bond for pain and release. Laughter and sadness. Unlucky for her, my sadness ran deep. For me, it doesn't come easy, how do I control the hunger for her when I will soon be locked away in the past. Everyone has finally avoided me and made sure that I had nothing left to do and she wasn't just scared. I was more scared of the soul ties I had with her. If she passes out of my gaze for a second, panic arises in me. Since I am weak, it is only going to take an army to pin me down into spiraling into anger. How can I manage this illness and my need for her?I knew I had been sent to my early grave when she arrived. She was more doomed than I am. The pain ins

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-01-27
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 7: Poison

    Marcellus Still holding on to my cane, the repressed anger mixed with pain was tough to handle as my head began to explode. Everything was blurry and filled with red. Nate was still talking but I couldn't make out the words. “Nate, shut it!” I yelled at him. “These things are for you to handle. We cannot risk another attack not when we are at the brink of a strange transition. When I am gone, my brother would take charge of everything and do you think he would let you lead with what is best of the pack and the realm? How come we still don't know about the assassins that have been terrorizing the realm?!”“Alpha, we are looking into it.” He said quietly. “Looking into it?! How come anyone isn't capable around here? Are you all waiting for me to die?! So you can do what the hell you want?” My raged fueled faster. The pain became unbearable and this was the episode and it was only a matter of time before the seizures finally took place. It was bad enough that I could control my anger a

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-01-27
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 8: Threats And Conversations

    ClaudiaI didn't trust him. I knew my life was doomed with him and there was nothing that could change that. Yet, I felt a sense of knowing when I am close to him. Always feels familiar and I could tell that he was someone that I knew or probably had a close or short contact with. Then, who am I kidding? I haven't met him and it seemed this curse had been with him for the longest time. I didn't know how to help him, I did the little I could. With the portion and all but to see that someone was trying to poison him, it was beyond me. We moved into a bigger bedroom, two bedrooms conjoined as one. It has proper ventilation and was better for his health. I knew there was no way out of this but I was hoping that would have a slight change. Why am I bothering myself for someone who is going to die soon? Who is cold, authoritative and distant? Why do I care so much? I want to think it is the mate bond but If I was feeling this kind of devotion toward him, then it ran deeper than that. Besid

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-02-02
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 9: The Real Truth

    Claudia “What the hell are you waiting for?! Go ahead.” I yelled at him. “Just reject me and leave me the hell alone. At least you'd know you're dying alone without a care in the world.” He brushed his dark wavy hair backwards in frustration. There was this secret that was added to his soul and each time he tried to reach for it, he brushed it off almost immediately. Close enough for me to see what his impressions are.“I cannot reject you!” He blurted out. “Like I said, the mate bond is different for Alpha's. When an alpha feels a deep connection with his said mate. Their souls are tied through an imprint. It is uncontrollable, we cannot choose whom we imprint on. Finding your mate is just the first step, imprinting takes time, for some years. Others, like us, the minute we find out. When an imprint is done on your mate, there isn't any going back. I can't just flip the switch. I cannot reject you.”“Mates reject each other. It is normal.”“Not for Alpha blood. Our souls are linked

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-02-03
  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 10: Fear

    Claudia I stomped the bedroom in anger as Marcellus was trying to eat his lunch and take his drug fur that afternoon. "Why do you have to kill her?" I yelled at him. He didn't look up at him, I could feel the depth of his pain as he ate slowly. "I am not talking to myself Marcel. Was I wrong to tell you your life was in danger?" "No you were not, Claudia. But you should get use to this by now. Not everyone wants me alive, and it is only a matter of time before death finally catches up with me until then, I need to send out a warning." There was this peace that enveloped me when he spoke of himself. It was very clear that he doesn't want to die but the sins of those before him has caused this for him. I really want to sympathize with him but there was so little I can do when he took rash decisions without thinking. "I understand you want to give a statement. Don't you think you should spend your last days, trying to ease the life of your pack other than terrifying then with new bod

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-01

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  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 20: The Citadel

    Claudia "I am not going to leave you." My voice cracked, I felt my lower lips trembled. He had no right to demand that from me not after the night that we had. Not after everything that we have fought through to get here. I didn't want to leave him alone to die, to give in. I could see how tired he was, and he might want peace but the pain coming from the bond was entirely much. My lips parted, about to speak. I heard footsteps as they stopped at the entrance. It was Nate and Cassius. "Take her out of here. I don't want to see her." Marcellus ordered them, the shock in their eyes meant nothing to Marcellus. His expression was stern, looking away. Their legs were still fixed in one place. Marcellus glared at them, his eyes turned bloodshot, the small dark veins under his eyes were like tattooed under his eyes. "I said take her out of here!" He growled. I bet anyone outside the estate could hear him, the thunderous growl sent chills up in my spine. I wanted nothing more than to be wit

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 19: Towards The End

    Claudia.I was still hung up on the night we had together. Every time I thought about it., I smile. My grin was so big that it would reach my ears. There was no amount of happiness that felt like this. My eyes were still very much closed but when I opened it, Marcellus was still sleeping. I kept caring About his it was going to affect him, he didn't show any sign of weakness even in his state. Marcellus was very commanding and through everything that occurred since I got here, he was the strongest person I know. I watched him take one breath after another like he was struggling to breathe. I was about to move my body to the other side of the bed when my hand was wrapped around his. I tried dragging my wrist, but it felt stuck for a reason. I lifted my wrist up to see a shiny red thread, wrapping our wrists together as one. "What the hell?"I heard him chuckle. "I knew you'd freak out.""Let me guess, you were not sleeping all this while." He opened his eyes as his lips stretched into

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 18: Reminiscing Pain

    Claudia.Now, I know the reason why you don't dig up old ghosts. It comes back to haunt you. Just as it was haunting Marcellus, I was hurting too. I am a romantic, my mother told me I give my heart away too easily, and I might get hurt. To see him shattered like this only made things worse for me. I didn't know how to console him? How do you console a man who hasn't met anything true for a long time? Just pain. I think the question should be what was really haunting him? The fact he killed her or the fact he loved her, and he ended up in her bad books as much as she did? I began to direct every thought towards myself. What if he was quick to kill me too if something happens? Maybe I was framed because I knew I would not intentionally commit a crime against him. The mate bond between us was becoming stronger, and it was difficult to resist him, the heat was going to set us ablaze soon."Maybe she didn't want to kill you. Maybe something else happened?" The sadness in his eyes were only

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 17:The Missing Truth

    Claudia Silence should be his middle name but this time he was shocked. Embarrassed and curious all at once. Was the name so forbidden that I have committed a sin by mentioning it? "Where the fuck did you hear that from?""It doesn't matter, and that isn't the answer to my question." I held my ground. Despite being close to Marcel, the authority he claimed to have been what feared me. I began to question if I should have asked. It was in the way he looked at me, like I just conjured some old demons. We were at the balcony and the chills from the cold air made things worse. I couldn't imagine what it meant to him but from what I saw, it was pure pain. Pain I had never seen before. He shifted in his seat; "Inessa." A sigh followed, his shoulders stiffened and jaws remained clenched. Marcellus was the kind of person that reacted to the frustration he felt, staring at him intently, it might not be long before he transferred his aggression towards him. I blinked, turned off the assumptio

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 16: A Burden

    Claudia I kept thinking about what Nyx had said and the way to help him. I had no power left inside me to fight this curse on my own. There was an itch that I am doing this for myself and there is an iota if that that were true. I didn't want to be driven under the shelter of darkness and madness just because the curse had taken hold of Marcel. I don't even want to imagine what it was going to be like hanging on to the thread of sanity. Everything Nyx had said kept restructuring itself into me like, there was something I could do. Well there was, but I couldn't imagine how to summon the moon goddess and pleaser case to her. I don't know how to do that, knowing my lineage. I am the illegitimate daughter of Alpha Gideon and as a weak wolf there was no fight left in me to summon the moon goddess they have to be another way. I sighed, already having a slight headache thinking about this too much. On one hand I was fearful for his life, and I was scared for the bond we share. I couldn't

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 15: A Chaotic Dinner

    Claudia The whole staff heard our voices as soon as we got home. Marcellus didn't want to let go because my refusal to speak was a slap on his face. I didn't get why he was hell bent on finding out what Nyx had said. I didn't want him to know anything else, seemed he had a tendency to pick a fight with anything he didn't agree with. I was stressed and my head was banging from the excessive words I have managed to use these few hours just sitting with him. We finally landed in our room and Marcellus pulled me close to him as I tried to move away from him. "Is there anything I need to know that she might have said?" I sighed, not knowing what else to say. "Whatever Elder Nyx might have said to me is none of your business. You weren't there when she was speaking. I don't see why I should tell you." I said in a low voice. "Marcellus, please I am tired. I need to rest." "You were the one that talked about lying to you and yet here you are trying to do that to me. You may not regard me

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 14: Giving Commands

    Claudia Nyx reminded time and time again that I would not be able to do anything about giving Marcel more time. I knew my efforts might be in vain but I didn't want to stop trying. I was still shocked for the fact that I was imprinted up on without my knowledge and despite being mates out soul was bound together. It was still a shock. Maybe I am trying to save my own head from the doom of madness... But I couldn't stand and watch him die. I opted to go into the woods in Nyx's estate to clear my head. She assured me that it was safe. After the experience I just had, you would think that I wouldn't be able move but someone with Nyx's assurance closely knitted in my heart, I have nothing to fear. I guess. As I wandered into the woods I heard footsteps, quiet but abrupt, before I turned to see who it was,my name hung on the air in a soft whisper. "Claudia." Marcellus. I turned and saw the concern written on his face. That's the height of emotion I have seen on him other than excruciatin

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 13: Two Stories

    ClaudiaElder Nyx has not said anything. I had a feeling, whatever she might want to say was something I shouldn't know and shouldn't be even be asking. But I was helpless, my soul is bound to a man that is a living corpse. Something I never even used was going to happen. I didn't know how to react. I felt something sinister was going on underneath, and I owed it to myself to find out what it was truly. Marcellus would not tell me anything, and yet I was living in an estate where everyone harbored secrets and made plans on how to finish him off and kill me in the process. I was too relaxed before now but after this incident, my eyes were opened to the possibility that Darius was behind these and if care was not taken, whatever he has planned would prevail."You are not saying anything Nyx." I prompted her as her fingers held tightly to the cane she was holding. "I don't know why everyone is after Marcel...but I need to know what I am up against.""I know. It is just too heavy seeing h

  • Fated For The Alpha's Redemption    Chapter 12: Brother's Quarrel

    MarcellusThe weight of my illness pressed against my bones, each movement a test of my will. I had returned from the patrol with Nate, exhaustion settling deep in my chest, but there was no relief to be found. Claudia was still missing. It had been over a day since our argument, her absence gnawed at me like a wound refusing to heal. I did not know if she had left out of anger or if something more sinister had taken her away. I leaned heavily against the chair in my chambers, my breath shallow. Nate stood before me, his face lined with worry. "The maids swear they saw her last with Darius," he said, his voice low. "He was scolding her."The mention of my brother filled my mouth with bitterness. Darius had always been a thorn in my side, the embodiment of everything I was not. Healthy, strong, ruthless, he carried the power of our family name without the burden of sickness. I forced myself upright, gripping the armrests with trembling hands. "And she has not been seen since?"Nate sho

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