CHAPTER 4

"Dad, where are you taking her to?" Angela asked her father as she got up from where she was sitting.

"To the pack's council," her father replied, his voice firm and unyielding.

Angela's eyes widened in alarm as she realized the severity of the situation. "But dad, they could kill her for that," she said, her voice trembling with concern. "Getting pregnant before having a mate, especially before the mating ceremony, is an abomination. And such a person will be stoned to death or taken to the forest and tied up for a rogue to eat her up."

Damon's expression remained unyielding, but Angela could see a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. She knew that her father was a just and fair leader, but she also knew that he was bound by the pack's laws and traditions.

"Dad, no! Please," Angela pleaded, grabbing her father's arm and trying to pull him back. "You can't let them kill her. She's family, and she doesn't deserve to die for one mistake."

"I know, Angela," he said. "But the pack's laws are clear. If Aria is found guilty, she will have to face the consequences. She brought this upon herself and I won't let her ridicule me in my own house, no."

Angela's eyes filled with tears as she realized the gravity of the situation. She knew that her father was trying to do the right thing, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing her cousin.

Angela's words hung in the air, a desperate attempt to save her cousin's life. "Then let us sell her off to the merchants," she suggested, her voice laced with a mix of desperation and resignation. "It's the time of the year and they would be around by now. At least we can trade her for some money rather than having her killed."

Damon's expression remained stoic, but Angela could see the faintest glimmer of consideration in his eyes. Selling Aria off to the merchants was a viable option, one that would spare her life while also ridding the pack of the shame and embarrassment she had brought upon them.

Aria, still weak and disoriented from the beating, was oblivious to the fate that was being decided for her. She lay there, her body battered and bruised, her mind foggy and unclear. She was unaware of the desperate plea that Angela had made on her behalf, or the fact that her life was being bartered for a sum of money.

As Angela waited for her father's response, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Selling Aria off to the merchants would save her life, but it would also condemn her to a life of slavery and servitude. Angela knew that the merchants were ruthless and cunning, and that they would stop at nothing to exploit and abuse those in their power.

Despite her reservations, Angela knew that it was the only way to save Aria's life. She could only hope that her father would agree, and that Aria would somehow find a way to survive the trials and tribulations that lay ahead.

“Then get her ready. We're going there right away!”

As Damon gave the order, Angela felt a mix of emotions: relief that Aria's life had been spared, but also sadness and guilt for the fate that awaited her cousin. She knew that being sold into slavery would be a harsh and brutal existence, and she couldn't bear the thought of Aria being subjected to such treatment.

But she had no choice. She helped her father and the other pack members drag Aria to the borders of the pack, where the exchange for slaves was made. The journey was short, but it felt like an eternity to Angela. She couldn't help but think about the life Aria would be leaving behind, and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

As they approached the border, Angela could see a group of rough-looking men gathered near the edge of the forest. They were dressed in tattered clothing, and their faces were weathered and worn. They looked like they had been traveling for days, and their eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and cunning.

Angela's father approached the men, and they began to negotiate the terms of the sale. Angela couldn't bear to listen, and she turned away, trying to block out the sound of her father's voice as he haggled over the price of her cousin's freedom.

Aria, still weak and disoriented, was dragged forward, and the men began to inspect her like a piece of merchandise. They poked and prodded her, checking for any signs of injury or defect. Angela felt a wave of revulsion wash over her, and she knew that she would never forget this moment, this feeling of helplessness and despair.

The negotiation between Damon and the slave traders was a brutal and heartless affair. They haggled over the price of Aria's freedom, treating her like a mere commodity rather than a human being. Damon's face was a mask of indifference, but Angela could see the faintest glimmer of regret in his eyes.

The traders, on the other hand, were ruthless and cunning. They knew that Damon was desperate to get rid of Aria, and they took full advantage of his vulnerability. They offered him a paltry sum of 1,000 shekels of silver, which Damon promptly rejected.

The haggling continued, with the traders slowly increasing their offer. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they settled on a price of 3,000 shekels of silver. Damon nodded curtly, and the traders handed over the money.

As the transaction was completed, Aria was dragged away, her eyes fixed on Angela's face. For a moment, their gazes locked, and Angela saw a deep sadness and regret in her cousin's eyes. And then, Aria was gone, taken away into the unknown, leaving Angela with a heart heavy with sorrow and regret. As Angela watched her cousin disappear into the distance, she felt a single tear roll down her cheek, and she whispered a silent goodbye

to the cousin she might never see again.