Can The Caged Bird Sing?

Chapter 6 Done Deal

---Evelyn's POV---

So since that scarring day I haven't gone out of my way too much just to find a mate. I'm honestly scared to find my second one if he is even out there.. What if he is anything like my first one? That's a scary thought in itself..

Two things happened that day on my 16th birthday.. First thing, I found out not all that you see on the surface is what's underneath.. with my mate not being anything like he had portrayed to everyone else.. completely fooling me into something I will regret for the rest of my life.. and Second, I found out that not all the pack hates me.. just most. That situation gave me something that I never knew I needed in life and that's a friend.

Sandy has been talking to me almost every day since.. she doesn't hang out with me all the time or anything, because she is still friends with Cassandra and spends a good amount of time with her little click of girlfriends and her mate.. but she always comes either, up to my room, or down to the laundry room to hang out with me.

I hear the stairs with descending footsteps upon them, making their way down to me.. But I know the sound of her shoes from anywhere.

"Hey sweets! How's your day?" She sweetly asks me going to the pile of clean clothes and helping me seperate them automatically just wanting to help.

"Hey Dee.. it's been alright, the day is dragging on today and I feel like everyone went through

more clothes then normally." I exclaim to her as she chuckles at that then replying. "Well I bet it has to do with that mate gathering tomorrow night."

"Mate gathering?" I ask curiously because I'm not sure what that is but I have had the pleasure of attending multiple mate get-togethers. "It's just another get together trying to help everyone find their mates.. you know like the BBQ I got you to attend last month.. same thing." She states to me as I just nod.

Sandy knows how much I hate being here and she hates seeing me tormented so she tries to help me get out just so I can try to find my mate to leave this place. But obviously no luck so far.

"Did you want to go to this one? I have the perfect dress for you to wear if you want to?" She suggests to me as I just smile and nod. I will do anything just to have a night away from the stresses created by everyone here. In hopes that maybe, just maybe I'll find my second chance at happiness... but no such luck so far over these years, sadly enough. But a girl can hope.

"Ok perfect, so tomorrow I will help you get ready when your done in here ok? Just the usual thing." She explains to me as I smile and nod responding, "Sounds like a fun plan.. thanks Dee."

Pup.. get to my office now.

My father demands from me in our mindlink. I groan out loud before responding back.

Yes Alpha

I drop the clothes in my hands back into the basket. Sandy looks at me curiously as I explain to her. "My father is demanding me to come to him in his office now.. So I'll be back.. I just hope this doesn't take long."

"Ok see you soon.. if you need me call me." She states as I nod at her, ascending the stairs but once I get to the top, I hear.

Hurry up Pup!

My father demands with his thoughtless nickname. I think he calls me that so he wouldn't get attached to me, very well knowing that he is just going to get rid of me eventually when I find my mate anyways.

I quickly run across the pack house just trying to get to his office fast enough, so I don't get yelled at again.. because if I keep him waiting any longer he will beat me for it. I get to his big office doors, just knocking softly on the outside of it as I hear his booming baritone voice shake the doors.

"Come in!" I quickly open the door and enter shutting the door behind me as I don't even glance around the room. I can tell someone is in here besides him and his Beta but I know if I look up I will get in trouble.

"This is her.. she cooks and cleans.. a little rough around the edges, but pretty enough." My father explains to someone, but obviously not me, just to the other person in the room.

"Who is he talking to?" Myra asks me as I just smell and try to figure that question out, but this person doesn't smell familure. "I don't know." I reply back to her because that thought scares the hell out of me.

I hear someone walking towards me and by the unfamilure smell I know it's the stranger. He puts his hand under my chin and lifting it up to get a better look at me. I watch his old and dull brown eyes inspect all of my features as he asks me. "How old are you?"

My eyes pan over to my father to make sure I'm allowed to answer. He nods my way as I softly state. "22."

"You haven't found your mate huh?" He asks me as I just shake my head. "Still pure?" I swallow hard at that thought as my eyes water up almost ready to pour. I suck in a sharp breathe, then letting it out as I just shake my head at that question too. He stares at me for a moment.

"She's beautiful and nice body type.. very voluptuous. I'll be in contact with you." He states as he turns around and leaving the office abruptly.

I'm so confused about this, as I look over at my father just hoping he will help explain something to me. "Are you going to the mate gathering tomorrow?" He asks me as I nod at him but not giving an outright answer.

"Ok good.. so here's the deal.. you did a great job here and impressed the Trader.. I bet he is going to want you." He states to me as I'm now more confused then before. "What do you mean?" I abruptly ask him as my eyes go wide just hoping I don't get in trouble for my outburst.

"So I have given you plenty of chances to find your mate and it hasn't happened.. I'm tired of waiting for my reward when it comes to you.. so if you do not find your mate tomorrow night then the Trader is going to come back with a yes or no to the price I have asked for you.. Either way you're getting the hell out of here in a day and I couldn't be happier." He explains to me feeling so proud of himself as if he is so smart for this deal.

"What?! Are you kidding me?! Do I not get a say in my own life?! What if he doesn't accept the offer and I don't find my mate? What then?" I yell at him in a panicked mode, as he storms over to me so quickly, slapping me so hard that I'm sent straight to the ground, groaning in pain.. that's going to leave a mark.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that! Who the hell do you think you are?! You have ABSOLUTELY no say at all in this! I can do what I want with you and I have been waiting far too long to get rid of you.. I'm tired of seeing you around here." He exclaims at me as I say under my breathe. "You're just mad at seeing me because I look just like mother." I have seen the pictures around the house when I'm cleaning.. I'm like a younger replica of her down to the last detail.

He slaps me again as my face now hits the ground for the second time. "Don't you dare talk about her! You don't deserve to talk about her!.. She was the most beautiful woman in the world and you're nothing like her and you will never be anything like her.. now get back to work and let's just hope you find your mate because if not then bye-bye anyways pup.. I'll make sure it happens either way." He states to me as if it's obvious and that sentiment along with the malice filled look, sends chills up my spine.

I stand up with my head hung low as I make my way out of the office and back to the laundry room.

I stomp down the stairs showing my dislike of what just occurred. "What happened?" Sandy asks with so much worry in her voice. I let out a shaky breath as I feel my eyes watering up. Sandy sits me down on the stool as she squats down in front of me to get my attention as she asks sympathetically. "What happened Evelyn?" I look up at her, sucking in a deep breath, then letting it out before I explain to her.

"My father called me in so this man called the Trader could check me out. He left in a haste and I asked my father what that was about.. he said if I don't find my mate at the mate gathering tomorrow night.. that he is going to let the Trader buy me for a good price to finally get rid of me." Sandy gasps at that comment with her hand now over her mouth in shock.

"I can't believe he would just do that to you!" She exclaims to me pacing around the room now.

"Yeah he says he has waited to long for me to find my mate and wants me out of here because he is tired of seeing me." I explain to her as she just scoffs and retorts, "That's because you look exactly like your mother the older you get.. he just hates that realization because he misses her but he won't admit it."

"That's what I said and that's when he did this." I say pointing at my cheek as she gently touches it and nods sadly at me.

"Well the plus side about this is that you won't have to deal with the torment here anymore.. that's good but if it's not by your mate then I don't know who you will go to and that's scary.. we will have to pack a bag for you before the mate gathering either way and hopefully we will be allowed to keep in contact." She says to me trying to stay positive about this shitty situation.

"I just hate how I have no say on any of this.. I just wish someone would ask me what I wanted in life." I say to her as she gets sadder just nodding because she knows how unfair this situation is so I don't have to explain it. I guess I better just hope that I find my mate tomorrow or I might be doomed. If that's not pressure I don't know what is.