My Parents' Sins

Destiny's POV

Fate was a big-time bitch. Because, why on earth would it have mated me to someone who despised me? To someone who wanted nothing to do with me?

Not only that, said mate had suggested my banishment.

I let out another bitter scoff even as my wolf whimpered inside me.

The pain had eased a little when the meeting was over, and I was ordered to leave the pack grounds as soon as possible. I had slowly come to an acceptance. This had been how my life had been since the moment my parents were accused of treason.

Nobody had wanted me, and I had sucked it up. I had allowed myself to be punished for my parents' sins. I had felt guilty for the havoc they caused. I had lived with that.

But I was done with that. I was done with the guilt. It hadn't made my life better in any way. I just had to keep living the way I had been, but this time, without a pack.

I swear I could hear my heart crack as the memory of Rex's voice filled my mind while I shoved my clothes into my duffel bag.

“You're banished from the Venus Pack. You are not allowed, under any circumstances, to step even a single foot in any of these lands.”

It wasn't any hassle. I would leave with my head held high. With pleasure.

My wolf whimpered. She couldn't understand why her mate had rejected her, why her Alpha had banished her, and why her pack—where she thought she belonged—didn't want her anymore.

All of this took a huge hit to her emotions…and she slowly withdrew into her cage.

“Don't worry, we'd find a pack that wants us for us. A pack that would accept us.” Even as I said those words, I knew they weren't true. No pack would accept a banished wolf, especially one who had supposedly almost murdered the beta's sister and whose parents committed treason.

Who was I fooling?

“Mate,” my wolf called out. She didn't care about the human side of things; she just wanted to be with her mate.

I gritted my teeth. “He doesn't want us.”

The reminder sent a spike through my heart, and I almost doubled over, wincing in pain.

I spent the next hour packing the essentials I would need for my lone journey.

Where was I heading? I had no idea. I had no family or friends, no one I knew from another pack. I let out a bitter laugh. I was indeed alone in this world.

But I wasn't going to fidget. I had lived ten years being lonely, being an outcast. I could live the next ten without any problem.

Right?

****

PRESENT

The hard pebbles on the ground dug into my skin as the huge, dark-furred wolf sent his claws piercing through the skin on my back. His breath fanned my face as he growled at me to lay down.

So much for thinking I could live without any hassle.

“Why are you doing this? You banished me?” I said, my breath slowing down as I winced from the pain of the wound forming on my back.

“We have use for you,” Alpha Rex's shadow loomed over me, and my eyes widened in surprise.

What was going on? “What the fuck is this?”

He gave a wicked smile. “It's a good thing you got yourself banished. You see, Destiny, running a pack demands a lot of money. From keeping the pups well-fed to making sure protection is secured. And what better way to make a lot of money than selling a newly shifted virgin wolf.”

My heart dropped.

“Let me go, Rex. You've done enough damage.” My voice shook. “Please, let me go.”

Someone forced me to my feet from behind, and my knees almost buckled.

Under the moonlight, I could see my former Alpha's eyes roaming up and down my body in appreciation, sending my skin crawling. I wished I could pluck his eyes out.

“And a virgin wolf that looks the way you do is bound to bring in the biggest bucks.” He turned around. “Get her into the car. We leave now.”

Before I could protest or struggle, a blow landed on my head, and everything went black.

****

A slap to my face brought me out of my unconsciousness, and my eyes fluttered open. My head pounded as I squinted at the little light the moon brought that seeped into the dark room through the small window at the top of the wall.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, they focused on a scowling woman who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

Well, that made two of us.

I could smell shifter blood in her. Even though she had no wrinkles and no graying hair, I knew she was much older than I was—much stronger. There was no way I could fight my way out of this situation.

“Where am I?” My throat was hoarse as I asked. My hands were still bound behind me as I sat up.

The woman crossed her arms, her scowl deepening. “You're about to be auctioned to the highest bidder. If you know what's good for you, that'll be the only question you ask until you are sold.”

My pulse raced. “I'm not some product you can just sell. I'm a person.” My fists clenched.

The female immediately burst out laughing, the maniacal sound bouncing off the walls as if I had said the most ridiculous statement ever. “Wow, I haven't heard that in years,” she finally said when she stopped. Then she narrowed her eyes. “I bought you. You are a product whether you like it or not. And I will sell you; all you need to do is smile with that pretty mouth of yours. Who knows? You might be lucky … as long as you don't open your mouth.”

I tilted my chin up, getting to my feet and coming to eye level with the woman. “And if I'm not sold?”

An evil smirk slowly etched on her face, and shivers tiptoed down my spine.

“The House would certainly need more virgins like you.”

****

I was stripped of my clothes, scrubbed clean, and put in the sluttiest dress I'd ever laid my eyes on. 

I was one of the ten female shifters in a room that reeked of perfume, fear, and longing. It seemed some of the females actually wanted to be sold.

I glanced at the other two shifters who were in white dresses like I was. I guessed it was to identify us from the others who weren't virgins.

The dress I was in barely covered my ass and hung so low on my chest that my breasts were almost fully exposed. My dark hair was in an updo with curls that cascaded down my face.

The last thing I wanted to be right now was sold to some sick fuck to be used for his pleasure anytime he wanted. But then again, the House the frightening woman had mentioned earlier wasn't any better.

One of the people who had washed me let it slip that the females in the House were made to be prostitutes. They were forced to take in multiple men. I remembered how my stomach had churned at that.

It was how they had convinced me to put on the dress. I had no choice but to pick the lesser of two evils.

Now, my plan was simple: make sure I was bought and find a way to make my escape.

Even if that meant losing my virginity.

****

The immensely bright light that shone directly on my face made it hard to take in the people in the room. But I could smell them.

Expensive colognes and perfumes mixed with the distinct shifter smells tickled my nostrils as I stood on the stage.

I was the last person to be auctioned. Instead of fidgeting and bowing my head like I would have usually done, I stood proud, my head raised and my chest out. Even though my wolf hadn't recovered from the heartbreak we'd suffered, I wasn't going to morph around and wallow in self-pity.

I would be strong. For me and my wolf.

I could make out both male and female shifters, all dressed like money, all eyes on me. I fought the urge to bring my hands to cover my legs. I would not show any vulnerability, lest they thought I was weak.

“And our final female. She just shifted and is untouched.” The auctioneer then proceeded to start the pricing.

The audience rattled off prices, each higher than the previous. My heart picked up speed. Nervousness took over my body.

“Half a million,” a lanky suited man yelled.

My heart dropped.

That was more than half the amount the previous person said. This was it. I was finally going to be sold.

“Half a million,” the auctioneer called. “Going once, going twice, go—”

“Seven hundred thousand.”

Little gasps filled the room, and my heart raced. The voice came from the far end of the room, and for some reason, it did something to my stomach. My wolf, who had been silent all this while, perked her ears in curiosity.

The voice was deep and velvety, but even with my sharpened eyesight, I could only make out the figure it came from. The little light in the room outlined his body; I could tell he was ripped. But even though I couldn't see his face, I could feel his eyes on me, watching me, drinking in every inch of my body.

“Seven hundred thousand,” the auctioneer called. “Going once, going—”

“Eight hundred thousand,” the scrawny male objected again. He was standing directly in front of me, so I could see the entirety of him. The longing look in his eyes told me he was desperate to own me. My skin crawled at that. My wolf almost growled. She didn't like that. Not one bit.

“One million.” The deep, velvety voice called out, and the feeling in my stomach happened again. I shifted on my feet. My wolf's ears perked up again. Who was that?

The scrawny man let out a curse.

“The final female going for one million. Going once. Going twice. Gone.”

Fuck. This was it.