Sold to the Alpha Who Ruined Me

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Poison in Paradise

ARIA

I woke to pain.

My wrist throbbed and when I lifted it into the thin morning light streaming through the barred window, I saw them. Bruises. Dark purple marks in the exact shape of fingers.

Lucien's fingers.

I traced them with my other hand and hated the way my skin still felt warm where he had touched me. Like his heat had burned through layers of flesh and bone and settled somewhere deep inside.

A sharp knock on the door made me jump.

"Get up," a voice barked. "You have work to do."

I pushed myself off the mattress and opened the door. A woman stood there with her hair pulled back in a tight bun and eyes that looked like they cared too little.

"I'm Helen," she said. "Head of household staff. You answer to me now."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Tonight there's a pack gathering. You will serve drinks, keep your mouth shut and you will not speak unless spoken to. Understood?"

I nodded.

"Good. Be in the main hall by seven. Don't be late."

She turned and walked away before I could ask anything else.

The main hall was already crowded by the time I arrived. Wolves filled every corner and their voices rose and fell like waves crashing against rocks. The air smelled like wine and roasted meat. All I could see were dominance, competition, and power.

I wore a plain black dress that Helen had shoved into my hands an hour ago. It was too tight across the chest and too loose at the waist but it would have to do.

"Start with the Alpha's table," Helen said and thrust a tray of wine glasses into my hands. "And don't drop anything."

I made my way through the crowd and kept my head down. No one paid attention to me. I was invisible. A shadow. Exactly what they wanted me to be.

Until I reached the Alpha's table.

Lucien sat at the head with Katherine on his right. She wore red tonight and the color made her skin glow. Her hand rested on his arm and she leaned close to whisper something that made him smile.

I hated that smile. I hated the way she touched him like he belonged to her. I hated that I even noticed.

"Wine," I said and my voice came out flat.

Lucien looked up and his eyes locked onto mine. For a moment neither of us moved. Then his gaze dropped to my wrist and something flickered across his face.

Katherine noticed too. Her smile widened.

"How clumsy of you," she said. "To bruise so easily."

I did not respond. I just set the glass down in front of Lucien and moved to the next seat.

"Wait," Katherine said. "Pour it for him."

I stopped.

"You heard me. Pour."

My hands shook as I lifted the bottle and tipped it over Lucien's glass. The wine splashed against the crystal and filled it halfway before Katherine spoke again.

"Higher."

I poured more.

"Higher."

The glass was nearly full now and still she did not tell me to stop. I kept pouring until the wine reached the rim and one more drop would send it spilling over.

"That's enough," Lucien said.

His voice cut through the tension like a blade and Katherine's smile faltered for just a second before returning.

I pulled the bottle back and moved away as fast as I could without running.

The rest of the evening blurred together. I poured drinks. I cleared plates. I stayed invisible.

Until I was not.

A wolf near the back of the hall grabbed my arm as I passed. He was drunk and his fingers dug into my skin hard enough to make me wince.

"Hey," he said and his breath reeked of alcohol. "Come here."

I tried to pull away but his grip tightened.

"Let go."

"Why? You're just a servant. You do what you're told."

He yanked me closer and his other hand reached for my waist.

Then someone stepped between us.

"I think the lady asked you to let go."

The voice was smooth and warm and carried the kind of authority that made the drunk wolf release me immediately.

I looked up.

The man standing in front of me was tall with sandy blonde hair and green eyes that sparkled with amusement. He wore a dark suit that fit him perfectly and he smiled at me like we were old friends.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

I nodded.

He turned to the drunk wolf who had already started backing away.

"Get out of here," the man said and though his tone stayed light, there was steel underneath.

The wolf left.

The man turned back to me and extended his hand.

"Theo Hartley," he said. "Alpha of the Western Ridge Pack."

I stared at his hand but did not take it.

"Aria," I said finally.

"Aria." He repeated my name like he was tasting it. "Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Heat crept up my neck. "Thank you," I said. "For helping."

"Of course." He glanced toward the Alpha's table where Lucien sat watching us. "Is this how you treat all your guests, or just the beautiful ones?"

The question was not directed at me.

Lucien stood and the room went quiet.

"She's not a guest," Lucien said and his voice was cold enough to freeze blood. "She's paying her family's debt."

Theo's smile did not waver. "Debt or not, no one touches what's under another Alpha's protection without consequence."

The air between them crackled.

Katherine stood too and slipped her hand into Lucien's. "Theo, darling, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. Why don't you sit down and enjoy the evening?"

But Theo was not looking at her. He was looking at Lucien.

"Just making sure we're all clear on the rules," Theo said.

Lucien's jaw tightened but he said nothing.

Theo turned back to me and his smile returned. "If you need anything, Aria, you let me know."

Then he walked away.

An hour later I escaped to the kitchen with a tray of empty glasses. My hands were still shaking and I did not know if it was from fear or something else.

I set the tray down on the counter and leaned against it. I just needed a moment. Just one moment to breathe.

"You're making quite the impression."

I spun around.

Beta Logan stood in the doorway. He moved into the kitchen and closed the door behind him. His footsteps were silent as he approached and his eyes never left mine.

"I don't know what you mean," I said.

"Don't you?" He stopped inches away. Too close. "First you catch the Alpha's attention. Then you catch Theo Hartley's. You're either very clever or very stupid."

"I'm not trying to catch anyone's attention."

"No?" He leaned in and sniffed the air near my neck. "You smell like you don't belong here. Like secrets."

My heart pounded against my ribs.

"Get away from me."

"Or what?"

I brought my knee up hard and fast. It connected with his groin and he doubled over with a grunt.

I ran out of the kitchen, down the hall then through a side door that led to the gardens.

I did not stop until I was hidden behind a row of hedges and my lungs burned from the effort.

That was when I heard them. Voices, low and hushed.

I crept closer and peered through the branches.

Logan stood there holding his side and facing Katherine. The moonlight made her red dress look black.

"She'll figure it out if she stays," Logan said.

Katherine's expression was cold. "Then we make sure she doesn't stay long enough. Lucien's already half-convinced she's as guilty as her father. One more incident, and he'll..."

My foot came down on a twig. The crack echoed through the garden like a gunshot.

Both of them turned and looked straight at me.