The Alpha's Bargain Bride

Elara's pov I stood in the kitchen, scrubbing until my hands were raw. The sound of the rain hitting the window above me was the only noise that kept me company. I kept silent, as it was the only way to keep myself safe. I could hear voices coming from the room next door. Marina said, "She has to leave. Lord Darien is from the Ironpeak Pack. He will be here shortly." I stopped scrubbing and listened closely. Gareth said, "Once he takes her with him, all of our debts will be forgiven. Gold will fill our pockets." Marina said, "Even for a girl with no wolf in her?" "She knows. He agreed to the price," Gareth replied. My heart raced as I realized what they were talking about. I was the price. I was to be sold to pay off Gareth's debts. My hands shook as I gripped the scrub brush tighter. A shadow loomed over me as Kael stood in the doorway. "She was listening." Lira chuckled as she came to stand next to him. Kael grabbed me by the arm, and he, along with Lira, dragged me into the hallway. Marina was waiting for me, and she slapped me across the face, sending me to my knees. "You belong here in the kitchen," she said. I didn't argue as I knew it was pointless. Gareth entered the room and I braced myself for the whip that was sure to come across my backside. He was about to bring it down when he stopped suddenly. "Do not mark her," he said. "He has to have her whole, not half. A bruised and battered girl will not bring him as much gold." I realized then that I was not his daughter. I was his property that he had to keep until he sold me to someone else. Gareth turned around and left the room. "Make sure she is fed and clean. Do not spoil what belongs to another." Marina tossed me a simple dress. "Wash and put it on. Do not shame us." I looked at the dress in my hands and thought of my mother. She was always so gentle with me, but she was gone now. Gareth had taken her from us, and she had not fought for herself or for me. She had simply given up and left us. I put the dress on and stood in front of the small glass, looking at my reflection. I looked pale and thin with a mark on my cheek. I thought of the day I turned eighteen, the day I was supposed to find my mate. I waited all day, but nothing happened. I was supposed to feel something, but I did not. Now, I was about to be sold to someone else. I looked at the piece of cloth in my hand, and I felt my cheek. Lord Darien travels from the Ironpeak Pack. And I am the price. I stood next to the warm water as the dress Marina gave me hung from me. It did not look right, and I felt like a servant. Lira came up behind me and grabbed my wrist. "Come." "Where?" I asked. She did not answer as she pulled me towards the hallway. I followed her without a word. We stopped when we reached the hall, and I looked around. Everyone was dressed nicely in fine clothes. Kael stood tall and proud as he always did. Marina looked beautiful, and Gareth's head was held high. They all looked like a family, but I did not belong there. The door opened, and Lord Darien stepped inside. He was tall and handsome, dressed in a black coat. He looked powerful as he walked into the room, and he took it all in. He looked at us all, and then his eyes landed on me. I felt my heart stop as he stared at me. Marina turned around and saw him looking at me. Her face twisted in anger as she pulled me into a small room. "Look at yourself," she said. I looked at the glass and saw the pale skin and messy hair. I saw the mark on my cheek. She wiped my face, and she fixed my hair. "Stand tall. Do not look at him. Do not speak. Do not shame us," she said. I looked at my reflection and thought of my eighteenth birthday. All the other girls talked about it, saying that it was the day they found their mates. I thought of how I had nothing, and I had never felt anything. I had never felt the pull of a mate. Marina led me back out and pushed me into the shadows. "Stay there and say nothing." Gareth stepped forward and smiled as he greeted Lord Darien. "Welcome to our humble home, Lord Darien. Times are tough, but I am honored to have you here." Lord Darien said, "I did not come here for your hospitality. I came for the bargain that was struck." Marina said, "It is an honor to have you here in our home. The Ironpeak Pack is highly regarded." Lord Darien did not change his expression. Lira came forward and bowed deeply before Lord Darien. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, my lord. We have heard many wonderful things about you." Lord Darien said, "I do not care for pleasantries. Why are we wasting time?" Lira stepped back, and her smile disappeared. Lord Darien took a step forward and looked past everyone to me. Gareth stepped in front of me and said, "Let us speak in private. This way, my lord." Lord Darien looked at me one last time before following Gareth into the room. The door shut, and I was left alone. I knew what they were talking about. They were discussing the price, the gold, and me. Lord Darien did not come to visit; he came to take me. He looked at them all, and then he looked at me. He knew. He came to take me. I waited in the dark as I heard voices coming from the other room. Gareth was pouring wine, but his hands were shaking. Lord Darien said, "We borrowed from you, so we cannot pay back what is owed. Our lands and goods are not nearly enough." "Then take her," Gareth said. "She is worthless to us. She has no wolf in her, and she has no skills. If the Alpha wants her, take her, and our debts will be forgiven." Lord Darien said, "Do not insult the Alpha's choice. The bargain must be honored." Lord Darien said, "Bring her forward." Marina led me into the room and smoothed out my dress. "She is careless. She is always rushing and running around. She is always thin." Lord Darien looked at me, and he saw the mark on my cheek. He saw the thinness of my body, and he did not believe her. He did not say a word as he turned to Gareth. "Your payment has been received and your debts are forgiven," he said. Gareth let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, my lord. May she serve you well, and may we be free of the debts that kept us shackled." Marina said, "And may we be free of her." Burden. That is what I was to them. Kael and Lira stood back, watching everything that happened. They looked happy as they saw me being sold. Marina shoved me towards the carriage that was waiting for me. "Go." I climbed into the carriage, and Lord Darien sat across from me. The horses moved, and we were soon on our way. I heard voices coming from the house. Gareth said, "Good. She is gone. One less burden to worry about." Marina said, "Let the Alpha take care of her." I sat in silence as Lord Darien watched me. He did not speak or try to comfort me. After a while, I asked, "Where are we going?" "To Ironpeak," he said. "Why?" "You will know when we get there," he replied. I looked out the window as we traveled down the road. I had hoped that something would change, but it would not. I was not being rescued or saved. I was being sold and shipped off to another pack. I was being handed over to the Alpha who had bought me, and I would soon be in a place I did not know. I would soon be living a life that was not mine. I was not free, and I did not belong to myself anymore.