Chapter 3 Sold by My Dad to a Stranger

Rachel's POV

With Daniel's eyes gleaming, the revelation that I was being sold to the Alpha of the Ironjaw Pack made me think that nothing could make me feel worse.

I was wrong...

"They say Alpha Nathan is quite the beast," Daniel smirked, stepping closer to me. "He'll tear you apart, little Rachel. But don't worry, I can show you what to expect."

My heart hammered against my ribs as he moved behind me, burying his nose in my hair and inhaling deeply. The sound he made—a low, appreciative growl—sent shivers of disgust down my spine.

"Please, don't," I whispered, my voice trembling. "You'll get in trouble. We don't need to bring more trouble here."

"Trouble?" Daniel chuckled, his breath hot against my neck. "I'm not afraid of him, Rachel."

Despite his words, I could sense his fear—the slight tremble in his hands, the way his eyes darted to the door. He was terrified of Alpha Nathan and his Beta, but too proud to admit it.

With a sudden movement, Daniel shoved me away. "Hurry up and pack your stuff."

I nodded, moving to my small closet where I gathered my meager possessions: a few work uniforms from the diner, a pair of leggings, and some plain t-shirts.

It was pathetic how my entire life fit into one small suitcase, barely filled at that.

"I'm ready," I said softly, glancing around the room.

My eyes darted to the window. Could I escape? Jump out and run? But Daniel was watching me like a hawk, and I knew he'd catch me before I made it to the treeline. Besides, where would I go? An unmated female wolf without a pack was as good as dead.

As I walked past Daniel toward the stairs, he suddenly slapped my backside. The unexpected contact made me jump and I instinctively broke into a run.

"Why are you running?" he called after me. "So eager to meet your new master, you bitch? Slow down!"

I could hear him behind me, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. Then his hand was on my shoulder, fingers digging painfully into my skin.

"Daniel... please don't," I begged, turning to face him.

His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I was certain he was going to hit me. My body tensed, preparing for the blow.

"You fucking telling me what to do?!" he shouted, his face reddening with rage.

I flinched, raising my arms to shield myself, but the expected blow never came.

Daniel froze, his attention drawn to something below. Our shouting had attracted notice from downstairs.

As I descended the final steps, my eyes adjusted to the dim light of the entryway. Henry stood with his arms crossed, looking impatient. Beside him was Isabel, her lips curved in a satisfied smile.

But it was the tall stranger who drew my attention—Beta Tyler of the Ironjaw Pack, flanked by two warriors who remained partially hidden in the shadows.

"Doesn't she look beautiful?" Isabel chirped, her voice sickly sweet. "She took extra time to make herself perfect for your arrival, Beta Tyler."

I fought the urge to scoff at her obvious lie. I'd been given barely any time to dress, let alone make myself "perfect."

But the Beta's eyes never left me, studying my every movement as if evaluating a purchase. Which, I supposed bitterly, was exactly what I was.

The Beta's gaze lingered on my neck, where I knew bruises from my father's fingers were visible despite my attempts to hide them with my hair.

"Why does she have bruises?" he asked coolly.

I was utterly shocked that anyone would care about my injuries. In my darkest moments, I had become so accustomed to being overlooked and alone that the thought of someone showing concern for my battered body and bruised soul seemed like an impossibility.

Isabel laughed nervously. "Oh, she fell down the stairs earlier wearing those cute new heels, didn't you, Rachel?"

Under the harsh stares of my father and Isabel, I nodded meekly. "Yes, the stairs. Sorry..."

"The stairs?" Tyler repeated, skepticism evident in his tone.

Henry cleared his throat. "Please, have a seat. We can discuss the arrangements further."

"No," Tyler replied firmly. "We don't need further discussion. We've already discussed everything on the phone."

"I've prepared dinner," Isabel offered, her smile never reaching her eyes.

"No," Tyler said again. "We won't be eating."

Tyler gestured for me to approach him. When I hesitated, Daniel growled behind me.

"Move," he ordered, shoving me forward.

I stumbled, and when I didn't move quickly enough, Daniel slapped my backside again, harder this time. The force nearly sent me tumbling down the remaining stairs.

But before I could fall, strong hands steadied me. Tyler had moved with incredible speed, catching me and setting me upright before stepping back.

"Th-thank you!" I stammered.

"No worries," he responded politely.

A sudden crash interrupted us, followed by Daniel's scream. I whirled around to see one of Tyler's warriors slamming my stepbrother against the wall, his fist connecting with Daniel's face repeatedly. Blood splattered across the hardwood floor.

"Please! Beta Tyler, make it stop!" Isabel shrieked, her composure completely shattered.

Tyler remained unmoved as Daniel's screams grew weaker. I felt no love for my stepbrother after his years of harassment, but watching him being beaten to death was horrifying.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Tyler raised his hand. "Stop."

The warrior paused mid-punch, still holding Daniel by the throat.

"Take his hand," Tyler commanded, his voice eerily calm.

Isabel fell to her knees. "No—!! Please! Don't do this to him. He'll never touch her again. I swear!"

A blood-curdling scream tore through the room as the warrior's claws extended, slicing through Daniel's wrist. His severed hand fell to the floor with a sickening thud, blood pooling rapidly around it.

I staggered backward, terror washing over me. If they would do this to Daniel, what would they do to me?

Isabel collapsed, wailing in anguish before suddenly lunging toward me. "This is all your fault, you whore!! I'll kill you!!!"

Tyler stepped between us, blocking her attack, but she continued to scream. "You bitch! If you hadn't seduced my son, none of this would have happened!!"

"Control your Luna, Alpha," Tyler said to my father, his tone indicating this was not a request.

"Isabel, take him to the pack hospital," my father ordered, his voice surprisingly steady.

"Daniel is your son," Isabel sobbed, clutching at my father's shirt. "Do something... Henry, you can't let them treat him like this!!"

"Enough!" Henry roared. "Take him to the pack hospital. Don't make me say it a third time."

Isabel stared at him in disbelief before gathering Daniel's unconscious body and his severed hand. As she left, the look she gave me promised death if she ever saw me again.

"I apologize for the disturbance," my father said to Tyler, his demeanor completely changed. "As you can see, Tyler, she's beautiful and obedient. It's almost painful to see my precious daughter leave, but she wants this so much."

The blatant lie made my heart ache. My own father, pretending to care when he had sold me like cattle.

"Very well," Tyler replied. "We need to go. The payment will arrive in a few days, after Alpha Nathan has seen her."

My father's face clouded with confusion. "I apologize... I thought we would receive it upon your arrival?"

"Yes, to my pack," Tyler said, his eyes narrowing. "Are you attempting to renegotiate with the Alpha Nathan?"

"No, no," my father backpedaled quickly. "Just a misunderstanding in communication."

Tyler's voice hardened. "Just a reminder, Henry... she is now Alpha Nathan's property. She no longer belongs to you, and never will again. She will never return here, alive or dead. She belongs to our pack now."

"No problem," my father agreed without hesitation.

With those two simple words, my last hope shattered. My own father had just confirmed that I meant nothing to him beyond the money I would bring.

"Do you need anything else, or is this all your luggage?" Tyler asked, gesturing to my small suitcase.

I could only manage a weak, trembling nod, my body rigid with fear. Every fiber of my being was consumed by dread, and my voice seemed to have been snatched away, leaving me mute and paralyzed in the face of what lay ahead.

"Good. Let's go. We have a long journey ahead."

The two warriors positioned themselves on either side of me as I walked toward the waiting car. Each step felt heavier than the last, my future growing darker with every inch of distance from the only home I'd ever known.

At the door, I paused to look back one last time. This wasn't just the house where I had suffered; it was also where my mother, Marie, had once lived and loved me.

Silently, I followed Tyler to his car, the realization sinking in that my life was no longer my own. I was about to become Alpha Nathan Blackwood's breeder, a tool to be used and then discarded once I had served my purpose.

The car door closed behind me with a final, fateful click.

After I was taken, my head spun violently. A thick fog clouded my mind, awareness slipping away fast, until then, nothing.