Chapter 1

Elena’s POV

"Sixty thousand dollars, Elena. Do you understand what that means?" Elaine's voice echoed from the hallway. "Elder Ambrose is offering sixty thousand for you. For you! A pathetic human girl with nothing special about her."

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the reality of my situation. At eighteen, I was being sold like cattle to a vampire elder. A blood bank. A living, breathing food source until he drained me dry.

"I won't go," I whispered to my reflection.

The bathroom door flew open, Elaine's perfectly manicured nails digging into the wood as she glared at me.

"You don't have a choice. Your father's medical bills are piling up, and this house needs repairs. Elder Ambrose's offer solves everything."

I turned to face her, my hands gripping the edge of the sink behind me. "I'm not merchandise. I'm a person."

Elaine's laugh was cold. "You're human. In this world, you are the lowest form of existence. At least as Ambrose's blood bank, you'll serve a purpose." Her eyes narrowed. "Besides, you should be grateful. Some humans are sold for far less."

" I’m not yours to sell!"

"If you refuse," Elaine continued, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "I'll sell every single thing your mother left behind. And I'll stop paying for your father's treatment."

My chest tightened. "You wouldn't."

"Try me." Her smile was venomous. "The doctors say he might wake up any day now. Wouldn't it be a shame if he didn't receive proper care? All because his daughter was too selfish."

Three years ago, when my father had married Elaine after my mother's death, I'd been desperate to believe we could be a family. Elaine and her daughter Chloe had seemed so welcoming, so kind. But after my father's car accident six months ago, the masks had dropped completely.

I pushed past her into the hallway, desperate for air that wasn't tainted by her expensive perfume. "If Elder Ambrose wants a blood bank so badly, why not sell Chloe?"

She slapped my hard across the face.

"Chloe is meant for an Alpha or at least a strong Beta warrior," Elaine snarled, grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking my face close to hers. "She has potential, connections. You? You're nothing but a burden we've been carrying."

I winced at the pain but forced myself to meet her gaze. "I won't be that vampire's blood bag. I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged," she spat, releasing my hair with a shove that sent me stumbling back against the wall. "You have until tomorrow morning to reconsider. After that, I'll let Elder Ambrose know he can collect his property. And believe me, Elena, he's not a patient man. Nor a gentle one."

The front door slammed as , shaking rainwater from her designer coat. Her eyes—so similar to Elaine's in their calculated coldness—lit up at the sight of my distress.

"What's wrong, sis?" Chloe heard the commotion and burst in, she asked with mock concern, her gaze to her mother.  "Did you tell her about Elder Ambrose?"

"She's being difficult," Elaine replied, smoothing her blouse. "Apparently, she thinks she has options."

Chloe snickered,  "You should be honored, Elena. Elder Ambrose usually prefers younger blood sources. You're practically ancient for his taste."

I felt bile rising in my throat immediately. I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door, desperate to escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" Elaine demanded.

"Out," I replied, yanking open the door. "To see Ethan."

Chloe's smirk widened. "On a night like this? Good luck with that."

I ignored her and stepped out into the rain, which immediately soaked through my thin jacket. The cold water was almost a relief against my burning skin.

Ethan will help me, I thought desperately as I jogged down the darkened street. He loves me. He promised he'd always be there.

I thought it meant that in a world where werewolves, vampires, and humans are strictly categorized, there are actually people who care about my life and death.

The campus was mostly deserted, Ethan's dormitory loomed ahead. I hurried inside,  knocked on his door.

The door cracked open, revealing his roommate Jake's uncertain face.

"Elena... hey," he said, not opening the door fully. "Ethan's... not here."

I frowned, peering past him into the room. "His car's outside. I saw it."

"He, uh, went for a walk."

"In this weather?" I asked, my suspicion growing at Jake's obvious discomfort.

"He likes the rain," Jake offered lamely. "Said something about meeting a study group at the library."

A lie. Ethan hated studying with others.

"Can I wait for him?" I asked, already pushing against the door.

Jake blocked me. "Not a good idea. We've got... a bit of a mess in there. You know, guys being guys."

I stepped back, pretending to accept his excuse. "Okay. When he gets back, tell him I need to talk to him. It's important."

"Sure thing. I'll tell him you stopped by."

I walked away slowly, turning the corner into the stairwell. Then I counted to twenty before doubling back, my footsteps silent on the carpeted hallway. Jake had left the door slightly ajar, probably planning to text Ethan a warning immediately.

Without hesitation, I shoved the door open, sending Jake stumbling backward with a surprised curse.

"Elena, wait—"

I pushed past him, following the sound that had already reached my ears—a breathy, feminine giggle coming from Ethan's bedroom.

"Oh God, yes! Right there!" she moaned, her head thrown back. "Harder, baby. Show me how a real wolf fucks."

"You like that?" Ethan growled, his hips slamming forward. "Tell me who you belong to."

"You! Only you!" She gasped, arching her back. "Oh no, Ethan, too deep," she moaned,  "You're fucking me too deep!"