2
"I have asked for warm milk. This is cold! " Mother spits, slapping me hard across my already bruised face.
My hands snap to the side, throbbing with pain. My eyes water slightly, but I refuse to cradle my cheek. I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of submission.
"Luna Sasha, we're going to be late for our meeting." My father checks his watch, interrupts my mother from further violence and abuse.
"Go to school." Mother rolled her eyes at me.
"Yes Luna," I whisper, averting my eyes as I scramble away from the wall. As quick as my feet will carry me, I sprint down the stairs, snatching my bag from the bottom on my way out.
I pull up my hood and keep my head down, burying my hands into my pockets as I pass through other wolves unnoticed. I didn't bump into Jackson, that is a plus because I don’t want to talk to anyone.
Only another two weeks to go. I muse with sarcasm, silently. As soon as I graduate, I am going to leave my family.
Classes fly by, and even if I wanted to remain seated in the room full of wolves it seems time isn't on my side. The more I thought about going home, dreading seeing my parents again, the faster the time flies.
By the time I get home, my parents are already back in the house, arguing about another Alpha. I pay no mind to their words, don’t want to be accused of eavesdropping.
I put my bag on the steps, take off my shoes, and head straight through to the kitchen. Like every day, I scrub my hands with hot soapy water before touching any food.
"We have a guest arriving for dinner tomorrow. He is another Alpha," Father states as he comes into the kitchen, without Mother at his side.
I turn, slowly meeting his slightly softer gaze. On occasion, my father will show some kindness.
"I'll make sure to cook extra," I quietly look elsewhere. For a moment, I want to hug him and never let go, until I remind myself that he is no better than my mother who just slapped me in the face this morning. I should never rely my hope on him.
My father hovers, a frown that deepens the longer he says in the kitchen with me. Despite it being clear something was bothering him, I didn't ask what, I didn't care to know.
"This Alpha is powerful, Katalayha, ensure not to anger him," Father said concerned.
This is rare. What Alpha could have made my father worried? Why would he need to warn me not to anger him? I'm not invited to dinner.
"Yes Sir." I nod anyway.
The second my father leaves, I begin slaving away. Even after cooking for my parents, and cleaning it all back up, I remain in the kitchen as I prepare certain dishes for tomorrow. My parents didn’t bother me again, the house is silent. All I can hear is my breathing.
Welcome to being alone.
The next morning I clean myself up and begin cooking for tonight. Alphas are treated like royalty, especially the powerful ones, so they expect to be welcomed with huge amounts of food and drinks. While our usual guests require a meal and dessert, Alphas require a full-course meal.
I spend the entire day preparing deserts, cheesecake, and chocolate treasure boxes, which I have to admit I love making. There are also starters, the main course, and the side dishes plus two other options in case he doesn't want the first. No matter the dish, it has to be perfect for an Alpha.
Just as I finish washing my hands, I hear my parents greeting someone at the door, who I presume to be the Alpha. Even though I'm not invited to the table, I'm expected to dress up decent.
After all, I am the daughter of my pack’s Alpha and Luna.
So I changed into a pair of black jeans with a light blue knitted jumper, pairing the simple outfit with white leather Converse. Figuring I look presentable, I head back downstairs and begin plating up the starter.
Balancing the dishes in my hands, I carry them through to the dining room where my parents are.
"Chilli prawn bruschetta." I murmur to my father, knowing he prefers to know what I'm feeding the guests.
Ignoring the guest’s eyes on me, I fill their glasses with wine and exit the room. They're silent as they eat. I listen for the chatter to start again, while pace back and forth slowly. Even with my own stomach aching from hunger, I didn't dare take a bite, because I could be late with the next serving and my parents wouldn't be happy. They intend to impress tonight's dinner guests, two large men, one being another Alpha.
"The amount is to be paid in full, as agreed months ago."
When I place the next course on the table and top up their wine glasses. I hear one of the large men said with a deep voice.
"Our funds are currently limited, surely we have something that you might consider instead?" My mother offers.
"We didn't come to negotiate, Mrs Slovak." The second voice is rough, dark, and eerily calm.
While I knew I shouldn't be listening, I couldn't help myself. Since when do my parents owe money to others? I don't recall a moment in my life when I've ever heard of my parents admitting such personal issues.
Grabbing the final two plates, I quickly take them through to the dining room, eyes cast down as I enter the room. I approach the two men. They smelled dangerous, I felt my skin crawling.
"My Beta informed me, that your firstborn is a girl." The same voice speaks.
My parents are stunned into silence, almost frozen up.
"Kataleyha is not worth such a price, allow us to offer something in exchange." My mother said, shoulders tensing.
My chest aches with familiar pain, although I know my own mother doesn't see me as worthy of anything but a slave of this family. It still doesn’t feel good. However, I said to myself, at least they are not giving me to the Alpha.
"I want to meet her." The Alpha demands calmly.
The silence was deafening, I could feel my mother's eyes flickering to me, daring me not to say a word. I didn't, too frightened to get involved in what could be such a violent, bloody war.
"Our daughter will be back in a few days, perhaps then." My father tells him.
I begin to move slowing away from the table, hoping to god that none of them care enough to notice me. My parents will be angry I'm still here, and the Alpha won't be happy knowing my parents are lying.
My hope is short-lived when someone grabs my wrist, grip like iron, warm and rough.
Instinctively I yank away, not fond of being grabbed, but the beast of a man doesn't even waver. With wide eyes full of panic, I make the mistake of staring right at my mother, begging her for help.
"Your deceit has only bought you time, no money. I will take your daughter, and you will have three months to repay the debt in exchange." The Alpha's dominating voice is lethal, sharp with refrained anger.
My heart races upon hearing his words, palms are sweaty with instant panic. The fact that my parents don't even have the guts to argue, only proves how little they care. I've always known they disliked me, but I never thought they'd allow a powerful Alpha to simply take me as his slave.
"Are you sure this is our daughter?" Finally, Mother challenges the Alpha, her sharp green eyes amused.
The Alpha’s grip tightened slightly, and my face turned red because of pain.
"Luna, a title any common wolf is worthy of, has no place in Alpha’s conversation. Your daughter, however, is a different matter."
My mother is shocked. No one has ever disregarded my mother's title. Even still, she didn't argue wit the Alpha because she knew the Alpha was right. No matter how they belittle me, Alpha Slovak’s blood is running in my veins.
"You can take her. We never much liked her anyways." My father jumped in before my mother said another word to irritate the Alpha.
"Three months." The Alpha warns them both.
I don’t know what to think right now. My parent sold their child to a stranger just to cover their debt. If I consistently convince myself, that although they hate me, they are still my parent, bonded by blood, at least my father has some kinship for me. But at this moment, I realize they will never love me, never did, and never will.
After my heart froze with desperate, I suddenly wanted to laugh. I even want to open my mouth and tell the Alpha that my parents have another child to give away if they can’t make the deadline.
I'm not given the option to say goodbye to my friends and bother, them or even grab any personal belongings from my room. The Alpha drags me along behind him, gripping my wrist tightly, forcing me to walk.
I've literally been sold by my parents, to a man I know nothing about, just a few months before my graduation.
My thoughts start to shatter. My brain becomes hollow like my heart. I stiffly follow behind the Alpha, his companion so close being me that I could feel him standing on the backs of my heels occasionally. The Alpha stops walking at the end of the busy road, right next to a huge black Bentley with tinted windows.
They toss me in the backseat, slamming the door behind me.
In that day, I was only two months from my 18th birthday.