One

Isabella’s pov

She grabbed me by the hair, her eyes filled with resentments before she spat into my face and shoved my head down the wooden cabin floor.

My face was bruised and bleeding and I could hear her mumbling before she flung a piece of rag at me. Looking up to meet her gaze, two consecutive slaps landed on my cheeks, dulling my sight for a few minutes.

“How dare you spill water on the floor?!” She yelled while I fought back tears from the stinging slap.

Her hands shook beside her and I could tell she had much to say. She never really liked me to begin with, my aunt never liked me.

Aunt Linda, as I used to call her, was my mother’s sister. She was yet to be married and while she loved my mother, she always despised me as she accused me of being the death of her.

My mother had died, giving birth to me, and after being out in the care of my aunt, my father left and never returned. I never knew or will ever know what he looks like. There was not a single photograph of him, to remember him by.

Growing up, I was bullied a lot and hated for being weak. For being an Omega wolf. I was constantly reminded that I was nothing but a failure and would always be one.

“You would help a lot if you were sold.” My aunt said, disrupting my train of thought before she gave me one last glare and left.

As the tears fell from my eyes, I cupped my face as I sobbed. I could feel the stinging pains all over my body. I could also feel pain from the scorched mark on my back, inflicted on me by my aunt with a curling iron.

I wished I was never born. I wished I was never weak and had my parents. I hurt, I hurt everywhere and it never stops.

Eventually, I was done with the chores and while I had gone to chop the woods for fire, as the night would usually get cold, my aunt arrived.

“Here, eat this and get ready.” She said, as she handed me a loaf of stale bread and without letting me speak, she had walked away.

I wanted to protest, to at least know where she was taking me but my stomach left no room for negotiation, as it growled. I quickly feasted on my bread and soon, I was ready.

“Where are we going, Aunt?” I asked her and she glared at me without saying a word. Her eyes roamed over me and mouthing ‘Very ugly”, she tossed me a robe.

“Cover yourself with that. If you can barely heal from your wounds, what use are you then?” She insulted and I obeyed as I tossed the robe over my shoulder and hid my marks.

There was a waiting car, outside the cabin and what came as a surprise, was that it looked quite luxurious. A man stood right outside the act and as soon as we stepped out, he stared lazily at me.

My aunt nudged me, silently warning me to smile and not screw up. It made me wonder what she was up to. Was she setting me up for a marriage or wanted me killed?

I flashed a smile at the stranger but he merely stared my way, before he locked eyes with my aunt. He had a frown on his face, clearly displeased and for the first time, my aunt was nervous.

“Where is she?” he asked and my aunt flashed a smile.

“She is the one.” She replied while pointing at me, prompting him to look my way.

His eyes scanned me over and with each glance, I could see the displeasure in them. He was clearly not pleased by what his eyes were feasting him.

“This one?” He asked, as if to be sure he heard right. He raised a brow before he proceeded to ask. “What is your name?”

I swallowed as he stared daggers at me and I could feel beads of sweat breaking from my forehead. “Is—

Isabella Leilani.”

“Are you nervous?” He asked with a raised brow and I swallowed a second time before I shook my head in denial. “How is your dental hygiene? Open your mouth.”

What? I had never been so embarrassed in my entire life and staring at my Aunt for her help, my throat bobbled as I met with her icy glares before I turned back to the stranger and opened my mouth and he nodded.

“She can do.” He said and from the corner of my eyes, I could see my aunt was grinning. Just what was she planning to do?

Reaching into his car, he took out a parcel and tossed it to my aunt, who caught it. His eyes rested on me before he looked at me.

“Get in the car, we are going.” He said and from the tone of his voice, I could tell he didn’t care if I consented or not.

I wanted to ask him where we were going or at least run away but I knew I couldn’t do either of them. Firstly, he looked intimidating just by staring and his eyes felt like they were devoid of emotions. Secondly, it would be pointless to try and escape. If my aunt had set me up to die, it would be next to impossible to escape as he was a Beta.

Even if there were five Omegas put up against him, it wouldn’t still be a fair fight. A beta was superior to an Omega in everything, both speed and strength. They were almost on par with the Alpha wolves.

“Try not to sleep in my car. I wouldn’t want to find any drools,” he warned, and though his remark stung, I absorbed it in silence. Insults and ridicule had become so commonplace in my life that I had grown numb to them. I no longer cared.

My aunt didn’t bother watching me leave. Once she had her money, she retreated into the cabin, shutting the door behind her.

As I settled into the passenger’s seat of the car, an unease settled in. Driving away, a peculiar feeling gnawed at the pit of my stomach, growing more pronounced. He noticed, keeping a keen eye on me through the rearview mirror.

“You’re probably wondering what’s going on,” he broke the silence, flashing a grin. “You’ve been sold to become the Alpha’s sex worker.”

My heart tightened at the realization that my aunt had used me, selling me without my consent and without a second thought for the fact that we shared the same blood.

“Just do as you are told, and I promise you will be fine,” he added, his eyes turning cold again as he shifted his attention back to the road.