SOLD.

VESPERA.

She suddenly stopped, probably noticing the bolt from the door missing, my heart did a hefty race against my chest as Celestia suddenly yelled out.

“She is gone”. I was stuck, breathing heavily and feeling sweaty.

“Run now,” Dawn yelled in my head, and I dashed for the woods, using all my strength and energy to run. 

I didn’t care if I was going into the wild bush, nor did I care about the thorns and sticks tearing at my gown.

I just had to get out of here. Each twig snapping underfoot felt like a thunderclap, urgency sparking in me.

Not too long, I heard footsteps behind me and looked back to see the huge, terrifying men right behind me and almost catching up to me.

I let out a gasp, and increased my pace, holding the rim of my gown in my hand to enable me to run faster. I mustn’t get caught, I couldn’t be a breeder to those men.

‘No, no, no.’ I cried in my head and heard footsteps right behind me, before someone grabbed me aggressively by my arm, their sharp nails piercing into my skin and probably drawing blood, but I didn’t care and just struggled wildly, screaming in the process.

“Let me go, let me go, let me go.” 

“Shut up, you bitch!” He cursed before turning me harshly to face him; his face tightened into a scowl, probably annoyed I tried to run from them. 

I was terrified but knew if I let them take me, I would go through hell so I kept struggling.

“Help” I screamed at the top of my lungs, despite knowing no one was around or could probably hear me because we were near the woods, but I still had a little glimmer of hope.

I scratched, kicked, and yelled but all to no avail.

“Alright, that’s it, David, the stuff” The guy holding me yelled, and my heart did a flip.

‘Stuff, what stuff?’ Before I could process my thoughts, something clamped my nose, I fought but was no match for the strength of the man holding me. I suddenly grew weak and stopped fighting.

My eyelids were closing on their own, I tried stopping it but failed. 

The man holding me released me, probably realizing I was too weak to make a move now and I collapsed right into the floor, Darkness consuming me with just one thought.

‘Someone, please save me’.

..............

..............

I jolted out of the bed and looked around frantically realizing I was in an unknown bedroom, in an unknown bed. 

“Vera, Vera” Dawn called quickly in my head, before inquiring, worry laced in her tone.

“You alright?” I didn’t answer and just sat there in realization. I was successfully sold.

“She seems to have woken up, your highness” I heard, a low, deep voice say and turned, jerking back in shock from seeing a not, too, old man whom I guessed was the physician due to his ancient, clock looking right at me, and next to him, with white, curly hair, dressed in an elegant, overflowing gown was the…..

“Luna Queen?” I gasped, calling out in disbelief. She just stood there, looking down at me strangely, with no form of emotion in her expression. 

She stared down at me for so long, I began to feel so uncomfortable.

“Good to see you are awake,” She commented and made to leave; when it hit me then, I blurted out without thinking.

“But why am I here?” I questioned and she froze in her steps, her back still turned to me.

“Weren’t you briefed?” She questioned, and I shook my head sideways, forgetting she couldn’t see me.

“You speak when the Luna Queen questions you,” The physician suddenly yelled at me, making me jump backward in fright.

“Easy on the poor lass will you, Cedric?” The Luna Queen scolded, but in a soft tone and the physician bowed in acknowledgement.

“So young lass, you don’t know what you are here to do?” The Luna Queen questioned again, turning to face me this time around, her sparking, golden orbs meeting me.

I immediately looked downwards towards the sheets, not finding myself worthy of looking at her in the eyes.

“N-n-not t-that, y-y-your Majesty” I stuttered, suddenly feeling hot for an unknown reason. 

‘I was taken away by two huge, scary men, but how come I am facing the Luna Queen now?’ I pondered, millions of unanswered questions running through my head.

“Then what?” She asked and I gulped before replying.

“I was just suddenly grabbed away,” I explained and she chuckled.

I was amused and raised my head a little to peek at her. Her flawless, face was beaming.

“My dear, have you heard about the royal family, looking for a young maiden to be a breeder for my two sons?” She inquired, and then, like a whirlpool, it hit me.

That was what my parents were whispering amongst themselves yesterday. They volunteered me to be the breeder and probably didn’t let me know, because they feared I would run away like I tried doing.

“I always knew your parents were gold-digging, unfortunate bastards,” Dawn yelled in my head, but I was just too speechless and numb to say anything in response.

My entire body shook, color draining from my face. The Luna Queen, probably noticing the look of shock on my face, just said.

“I guess you have realized what you are here to do now. Prepare yourself for tomorrow night is the full moon festival and you shall begin your duty to my sons”.

I was too frozen to say anything in response and just kept my head still bent downwards, but I could hear the Luna Queen telling the physician to have me thoroughly checked and prepared before departing without looking back.

The tears came slowly, first a drop, then another before they gushed out silently. I still can’t believe my parents were so heartless to do this to me, without even consulting me.

I know most people would expect me to be happy, saying this was an opportunity or privilege for me but it was damn well not. 

No maiden in their right senses would offer to be a breeder for the Lycan twins, because they were terrors.

Stories of their cruelty were told all across the realm. 

They were rumored to be hideous, horrible monsters who treated women with contempt; some also said their eyes glowed like that of the devil; thereby, no maiden wanted to end up in their arms.

The royal family offered a lot of money, over 50 thousand pieces of gold, to whomever family could offer their daughter.

My parents, of course, couldn’t offer their beloved Celestia, so they offered me instead.

'Aren't they my parents? Why were they just so cruel to me? Was it because I was just an omega?’ I wondered, weeping as I could feel my heart-shattering.

I did everything for them. I tried my best to make them happy, but it was just not enough. 

I always dreamed of falling in love, getting married to my mate, and having a family, but I doubt any of that would come through now; I was about to become a baby-making machine.

“Enough with the tears and caution yourself.” The royal physician roared at me, irritation obvious in his tone, but I didn’t care and continued whimpering.

Seeing I wasn’t listening to him, he let out a weary sigh before exiting the room and leaving me all alone. I was grateful for the privacy and cried my heart out.

A few minutes later, the door burst open, and in came an old woman with gray hair and three young girls trailing behind her, dressed in maid's uniform.

The young girls were carrying dresses and accessories which I knew were for me. 

The old woman stopped to assess me, and I think I saw something like pity flash through her green orbs, but when I blinked, it was gone.

“I am Madam Garcia, head maid and head of the servant Quarters” she introduced, her expression stern but warming.

‘Madam Garcia, Was she Spanish?’. I looked at her for a while, before replying weakly.

“Vespera”. Her eyes widened at the mention of my name.

“Vespera? As in evening star?” She questioned and I nodded briskly, stunned she knew the meaning of my name because not many did.

She went silent for a while like she was doing some thinking in her head before she gestured to the girls behind her to do their Jobs. I was suddenly grabbed and taken to the bathroom where I was thoroughly washed.

I was bathed with warm, petal water; my hair was washed with shampoo and other treatments, making it natural and bringing out its curls.

“Whoa! I love how curly your hair is,” One of the maids commented, and I thanked her in appreciation. Afterward, I was dressed in a thin, free nightdress with a linen Jacket.

“Would you love to have dinner here privately or with the royal family?” Madam Garcia asked, observing me.

My chest tightened as I realized Dinner with the royal family meant facing them. The Lycan twins. I felt my hands trembling in my lap as I wondered;

‘Was I ready?’.