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Episode 1.

Elena lay on the bed, exhausted from a long day's work. She had just finished her tasks moments ago and finally had a chance to rest her weary bones.

Living in a family where she felt unwanted was the hardest part of her daily life.

A victim of her circumstances, Elena had lost her mother at the tender age of three. Since then, she has been enduring a difficult existence in the household with her stepmother. Though she's now at the age of 17,.

"Elena!"

"Elena!!!"

Her stepmother's voice pierced through the quiet, calling for her once more. Despite the toil and stress Elena had endured throughout the day, she still wouldn't allow her to have her rest.

Without hesitation, Elena leaped off the bed and hurried downstairs; failure to respond promptly would only invite trouble.

As she reached the bottom of the staircase, her stepmother, Myra, met her with a stern gaze.

Minerva, her stepsister, lounged nearby, engrossed in a movie and munching on popcorn, her leg draped casually over their father's lap.

Minerva rarely lifted a finger to do any house chores, as her Myra preferred to task Elena with all the chores.

What made matters worse was Elena's father's passive stance, allowing Myra to maintain control of the household.

"Elena, why do you always need to be called multiple times before you come?" Myra's voice was sharp, but Elena chose to remain silent, a tactic she had learned to avoid her stepmother's wrath.

"Elena, fetch me some water for my bath; it's chilly in here, so make it warm," Minerva commanded, catching Elena off guard with the audacity of her request. Minerva is her agemate, meaning she's also 17; she's certainly capable of getting warm water herself.

So, Elena stood in stunned silence, her gaze fixed on Minerva in disbelief. "Why are you still staring at me? Mom!" Minerva's shrill voice sliced through the tension, summoning her mother, who swiftly redirected her piercing gaze to Elena.

"You heard her, right?!" Myra's voice boomed, prompting Elena to suppress her tears and comply as she made her way to the bathroom. She fought back the urge to cry; this was a familiar scenario, but not the first time.

Myra's protectiveness of Minerva, at the expense of Elena's well-being, was glaringly evident. Myra's favoritism stemmed from her desire to put her daughter first in the family instead of Elena, who was there before them.

So, after she was done preparing the water, she returned to the living room and informed Minerva. She then proceeded to her bath.

Then Elena turned to leave for her room, but her father interjected.

"Have you reconsidered what we discussed last night?" he inquired, perplexing her as they had already addressed this matter, and she had made her stance clear: she would not accept to be Alpha Dean's mate.

"Dad, we have talked about this and I have made my decision clear." She responded and Myra interjected forcefully.

"He's your dad, and I believe he knows what's good for you!" She yelled at her, then turned to her husband.

"Mark!" She called on him and he widened his eyes, not bothering about the way she directed his name, It's normal for him and she usually call him on his name.

"You shouldn't be seeking her permission in such cases; I've told you several times that she's just a kid." Myra said and Elena sensed an ominous shift in the situation as she realized something was amiss, The way Myra spoke clearly shows that they have already discussed this case behind her.

"Yes, Elena, your mother is right," her father affirmed, nodding in agreement as he approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"As your father, I believe I know what is best for you. I have made the decision that you will marry Alpha Dean, and unfortunately, you will not have a say in this matter," he stated firmly. Elena immediately pushed his hand off her shoulder, looking at him in disbelief. she couldn't believe that he would offer her up like a sacrifice.

"Dad! I can't believe you're forcing me against my will!" She yelled, and tears immediately stalled in her eyeballs.

This was not the father she once knew. It's no doubt that it was the influence of Myra that changed him.

She vividly recalled how her dad married a new wife three years after her mother's passing. He felt that he wouldn't do well as a stand-alone parent and subsequently promised to find a new wife to care for her.

Of course, she was young and naive, so she agreed, unaware of the implications. However, to her surprise, her father ended up marrying a woman, Myra, who already had a daughter of her age named Minerva. So Myra and her daughter, Minerva, came to that house because of her.

Though she still harbors doubts about Myra's true relationship to her father, she suspects so much that Minerva could be her dad's real daughter. It's obvious that her dad had been having a prior affair with Myra while her mom was still alive.

Though her dad had tried so hard to make it look like he adopted Minerva, Myra is making it obvious now that she no longer wants her daughter to be under Elena's shadow anymore.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I will never marry Dean, not over my dead body!" Elena added in sorrow.

"We are talking about the Alpha who had the history of many Lunas and all of them met their tragic end in his hands. Do you want me to join the count too?" She exclaimed in frustration, her voice filled with emotion as tears continued to flow.

Adding to her distress was the fact that Dean was not even her true mate; he only desired her the same way he desired the rest of his past Lunas.

Her dad is fully aware that Alpha Dean carries a notorious reputation, being known as the most feared Alpha but Myra is the one deceiving him into this.

"I know, but you will have the chance to alter that future, Elena. You can be the one to change his legacy, to make him better," her father urged, reaching out to touch her, but she always pushes his hand away, breathing heavily.

"Stay away from me! If the others couldn't change him, I certainly won't be the one to do so." Elena shouted.

Although her Dad could be right because Alpha Dean had previously approached her, only to be rejected, prompting him to track her down and involve her family,. Perhaps there was a genuine affection behind his actions, considering his history of tragic outcomes of those ladies who had rejected him; she's the only girl who had rejected him and still lives. But she still don't want to consider that; she believes Dean was only pretending.

"Excuse me, both of you," Myra interjected, finally locking eyes with Elena.

"What's the long argument...? Alpha Dean might probably be on his way to this place to get you, so you should be better preparing yourself, or maybe kill your self instead; that's over your dead body." She said this to her with a stern look on her face.

"And that's the only way to escape it! Some necessary payments have already been made, there is nothing you can do now, you are his," Myra declared to her before leaving the room.

Elena was left stunned by Myra's words, her eyes reflecting deep concern as she watched her exit.

Turning her gaze towards her father, Elena's heart shattered, tears streaming down her face like a river.

"What necessary payment is she talking about, Dad? What did you do?... sold me?!" She exclaimed loudly, her body trembling.

Overwhelmed by emotions, Elena felt her wolf within her, echoing her distress. The mention of Alpha Dean struck fear within the both of them; now, the fact that they have been sold is the worst; they have effectively become his slaves already.

"You know what he's capable of, Elena! We're under his pack; he's feared," her father replied as Elena began to strike his chest in despair.

"How could you use that as an excuse?! Did you even try to protect me?! He offered you money and you collected it!! You fucking idiot sold me!" She accused, her voice filled with anguish.

Exhausted from hitting him, she stepped back, falling to her knees. She sobbed uncontrollably.

"You're the worst father! This isn't what you promised me! I hate you!" She screamed, her emotions raw and painful.

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