Chapter 3: Sold Away

Tessa’s POV

I felt my stomach churn violently, as bile rose in my throat. 

For a moment, I feared I was going to vomit up everything I’d just eaten. I pushed the plate away and sat, trying desperately to blink back my tears.

This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t real, I told myself as I sat, staring at my half-eaten plate of food in shock.

Surely, Father couldn’t be that cruel! 

Marrying me off to Alpha Charles was a fate worse than death as far as I was concerned. What had I done to deserve this?

‘You killed your mother,’ a voice inside my head said. ‘Your brother is right. You are a sinful freak.’

But even so, why couldn’t I just stay there, with my pack. I would do any chore asked of me and I wouldn’t complain. 

I would suffer the abuse and the cruel punishments without spilling even so much as a tear if it meant I didn’t have to leave and marry Alpha Charles.

I tried to take steadying breaths as I pushed down the rising bile in my throat. 

If only I had my wolf, then maybe I stood a chance of escape. 

But my wolf had not come to me so what could I do? I was defenseless.

Moments later, a group of soldiers marched into the dining room. They were led by Sandon. The soldiers surrounded me and demanded that I stand up.

“We’ve been instructed to escort you to the carriage,” one of the soldiers said, his face stoic. 

Every fiber in my being screamed ‘run’! Deep down, I knew it was futile. 

Years of experience had conditioned me not to fight, to just accept whatever came my way without protest. Struggling would only delay the inevitable.

But still…

I had to do something. 

I couldn’t just give up. 

Marrying Alpha Charles was a death sentence. 

He’d already killed sixteen wives! How could I just stand by and let them take me without a fight? 

Adrenaline coursed through my body as I suddenly sprang to my feet. I inhaled a sharp breath and then shoved the soldiers aside in a desperate attempt to escape.

The soldiers were stunned and I managed to break through them. Frantically, I tore towards the door.

“Tsk. Why do you always have to make things so difficult?” I heard Sandon mutter with an annoyed frown. 

But I was almost at the door! Just a few more steps and I’d be…

“Ahhhh!” I screamed. 

Sandon had me by my hair. In one strong move, he pulled and my head snapped back. Then he flung me to the ground. 

“I just gave you a pretty dress and a feast to enjoy! You really should learn to be more grateful!” he hissed as he glared down at me.

My neck throbbed and a sharp pain shot down my back, causing me to curl up on the cold floor. A soft whimper escaped my lips. There was no chance of escape; I’d been foolish to even try.

Sandon crouched down in front of me.

“Sandon, please,” I begged. But he reached out and grabbed me by the throat, silencing me. 

I looked into his eyes as his hand tightened around my neck.

“Don’t cause trouble for me, Tessa,” he sneered. “Alpha Charles paid a hefty price for you. If you ruin Father’s deal, you know I have a thousand ways to make your life a living hell.”

A living hell? 

But that’s already where I was going. 

What could be worse than being Alpha Charles’ wife?  

Tears streamed down my face. I tried to gulp in the air but Sandon’s hand was cutting off my air supply.

I was completely defeated and despondent at that moment. 

I’d tried so hard to endure everything, all the abuse and torture at the hands of a pack that detested me for something I hadn’t even meant to do! 

I hadn’t meant to kill my mother, but it didn’t matter. Everyone still blamed me for it, and I realized, in that moment, that my father and brother had abandoned me. 

They’d officially written me off, selling me to a depraved man who would surely murder me in exchange for money.

I was utterly, and completely, alone.   

Sandon released my throat and I sucked in a huge breath of air. He motioned for the soldiers to seize me. 

Two of them hoisted me up off the ground and dragged me outside. Then they threw me into the carriage waiting.

“You know, Tessa,” Sandon said, sidling up to the carriage. “You should feel lucky! Alpha Charles is going to give you a wedding. Even the reclusive Lycan Prince has agreed to attend on behalf of the royal family.” 

His voice was full of disdain, his eyes full of hatred.

“If I were you, I’d enjoy the wedding. For someone as sinful as you, getting to see the Lycan royal court before you die is probably the Moon Goddess’s greatest mercy.” 

Without another word, Sandon slammed the carriage door shut, sealing my fate.