Rejected Human

CHAPTER ONE

The rain hammered against the window as I sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, clutching the edge of my chair. My heart thudded in my chest, louder than the howling wind outside. I wasn’t supposed to be here. This wasn’t supposed to be my life.

“Don’t look at me like that, Sarah,” my stepfather, Greg, slurred, his whiskey glass trembling in his hand. “This is for the best.”

“The best?” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You sold me, Greg! To some stranger—like I’m a piece of property!”

His bloodshot eyes glared at me, his lips curling into a bitter smirk. “You think your precious dreams of being an artist are going to pay off these debts? Huh? This is your chance to do something useful for once.”

My fists clenched on my lap, my nails digging into my palms. “You gambled our money away, not me. I’m not the one who owes anyone anything!”

Greg leaned closer, the stench of alcohol burning my nostrils. “And yet here we are. You’re going, Sarah, end of story. Victor already took care of the arrangements.”

Victor, the man who’d shown up at our doorstep just hours ago, his cold, calculating eyes scanning me like I was some object he could trade. He hadn’t even bothered to introduce himself properly, just handed Greg an envelope stuffed with cash and nodded toward me.

I didn’t get a say. I never did.

“Where am I even going?” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay strong.

Greg shrugged, his indifference like a slap in the face. “Does it matter? You’ll do as you’re told.”

“Does it matter?” I shot up from the chair, my voice rising. “I have a right to know!”

The door creaked open, and my breath hitched. Victor stepped into the room, his presence suffocating. Dressed in a tailored black coat, his sharp features were illuminated by the flickering lightbulb above. His dark eyes settled on me with a look of disdain, as though he’d already judged me and found me lacking.

“It’s time,” he said curtly.

I swallowed hard, panic clawing at my throat. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Victor tilted his head, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have a choice, little one. Your stepfather already signed you over.”

I turned to Greg, desperation filling my voice. “Greg, please… you can’t do this!”

Greg avoided my gaze, swirling his whiskey like the coward he was. “You’ll thank me someday, Sarah.”

Victor’s patience wore thin. He stepped forward, grabbing my arm in a grip that was firm but not painful. “Let’s not make this harder than it needs to be.”

I tried to yank my arm away, but he didn’t budge. My throat tightened as I felt the reality of my situation sink in. “Where are you taking me?”

“To someone who can actually handle you,” he said with a sneer.

I was dragged outside, the rain soaking through my thin sweater instantly. A sleek black SUV waited at the curb, its engine humming ominously. Victor opened the back door and shoved me inside before slamming it shut.

“Don’t bother trying to run,” he said as he slid into the driver’s seat. “There’s nowhere to go.”

I didn’t reply. My hands trembled as I stared out the window, watching my miserable little house fade into the distance. I’d never felt so powerless, so completely trapped.

Hours passed in silence, the tension in the car thick enough to suffocate me. Finally, we pulled up to a massive iron gate. Beyond it loomed a sprawling mansion surrounded by dense forest, its silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.

Victor pressed a button, and the gates creaked open. My stomach twisted as we drove up the long, winding driveway. This wasn’t just a house—it was a fortress.

Victor parked the car and turned to me. “Stay quiet. Don’t speak unless spoken to.”

I glared at him, but my defiance felt hollow. I was out of my depth, and I knew it.

He dragged me out of the car and led me up the stone steps to the front door. Before he could knock, the door swung open, revealing a tall man with piercing gray eyes and an aura so cold it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Alpha Lucian,” Victor said, bowing his head slightly.

Alpha? What the hell had I been dragged into?

Lucian’s gaze landed on me, and for a moment, the air seemed to shift. His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as though he were suppressing some deep, unspoken emotion.

“This is the human?” he asked, his voice low and smooth but filled with contempt.

“Yes,” Victor replied. “As promised.”

Lucian stepped closer, his imposing figure towering over me. I shrank back instinctively, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.

“What’s your name?” he demanded.

“Sarah,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. “Pathetic.”

Anger flared in my chest, momentarily overpowering my fear. “Excuse me?”

Lucian’s eyes narrowed, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. “You will speak to me with respect, human.”

Victor smirked from behind him. “She’s a bit of a wild card. I’m sure you’ll tame her in no time.”

Lucian ignored him, his gaze still fixed on me. “Do you have any idea what you’ve been brought here for?”

“No,” I said, my voice trembling. “And I’d really like to know.”

He let out a humorless laugh. “You’re here because of your stepfather’s incompetence. Consider this your new home, though I doubt you’ll enjoy it.”

“I don’t want to be here,” I said, my voice firmer this time.

Lucian’s eyes flashed with something I couldn’t place—annoyance? Amusement? It was gone as quickly as it appeared. “That’s irrelevant. You belong to me now.”

“Belong to you?” I repeated, my voice rising. “I’m not some object you can claim!”

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “In my world, Sarah, you are whatever I say you are.”

I wanted to scream, to fight back, but the weight of his words crushed me. This wasn’t a negotiation. This was my reality now.

Lucian straightened, turning to Victor. “Take her to the servant quarters. She’ll start there.”

“Servant quarters?” I blurted out.

Lucian glanced at me over his shoulder, his expression icy. “Unless you’d prefer the dungeons.”

My blood ran cold, and I clamped my mouth shut.

Victor grabbed my arm and began dragging me down a long hallway, leaving Lucian behind. As we descended a narrow staircase, I couldn’t stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks.

“Welcome to your new life,” Victor said mockingly.

I didn’t reply. For now, I would endure this nightmare. But deep down, I made a silent vow—I would find a way out of this, no matter what it took.