CHAPTER 1:Sold
1201 Words
"Sign it."
My father's voice echoed through the study, cold enough to make my stomach tighten.
I stared at the parchment lying on the polished desk between us. A thick wax seal held it closed.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"The last thing you'll ever receive from me."
My fingers hesitated before breaking the seal. As my eyes scanned the page, my heart nearly stopped.
Marriage Contract!!
The room spun.
"N-No..." I looked up at him, praying this was another cruel way to humiliate me.
"It has to be a joke."
Lord Vael leaned back in his chair, his expression as emotionless as stone.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" I shook my head and slowly pushed the contract back toward him.
"I won't sign it."
The sound of his hand striking my face echoed through the room.My cheek exploded with pain, forcing me to stumble sideways.
I barely caught myself before hitting the floor.
"You don't get to refuse me."
I pressed a trembling hand against my burning cheek.
"I've done everything you've ever asked of me." My voice cracked.
"I stayed out of your way. I never complained, never embarrassed this family."
His eyes narrowed with disgust.
"You've embarrassed this family from the day you were born."
The words settled like knives in my chest as It shouldn't have hurt not after years of hearing them. I had always known I was the unwanted daughter, The cursed child. The girl her Father blamed for Murdering her brother no matter how many years passed...those words never stopped hurting.
"You should have died instead of him," Father said without an ounce of hesitation.
"Edric was worth ten daughters like you."
The familiar guilt wrapped itself around my throat.
I forced the memory away before it swallowed me whole.
Mother let out a mocking laugh from beside the fireplace.
"Look at her," she sneered. "Still pretending she's part of this family." I turned toward her.
"Mother..."
"Don't call me that." Her voice was sharper than Father's slap.
"I only had one child." My breathing became uneven.
"Please..." I whispered. "I'm your daughter."
"No." She folded her arms across her chest.
"You're nothing but a curse that refuses to leave this house." Father picked up the contract again.
"The Rogue Alpha King requested a bride."
"I don't care father!!!"
"You should." His eyes met mine.
"I accepted it for the safety of the pack" My entire body froze.
"...You what?"
"I've traded you." The words hit harder than the slap.
"I am not livestock!" I shouted, years of silence finally breaking. "I'm your daughter!"
Father laughed.
"A daughter?" He stood and slowly walked toward me.
"I've never had a daughter."
Before I could react, his hand wrapped around my throat hard enough to choke me to remind me how powerless I was.
"You've done nothing but drain my wealth, shame my name, and remind me of the son I buried." His grip tightened.
"For years I've wondered if keeping you alive was the biggest mistake of my life." He shoved me backward as I crashed onto the cold marble floor.
"You've always called me cursed," I whispered, struggling to my feet. "You've spent years wishing I was dead." My eyes burned with unshed tears.
"But I'm still here." Father's jaw tightened.
"I'm still breathing."
I lifted my chin, refusing to lower my eyes this time.
"And I'll survive this too." Silence filled the study.
"I'll survive... and one day you'll regret treating me like I was nothing."
Mother burst into laughter as the sound was cruel and Almost amused. She slowly walked toward me, shaking her head.
"Have you suddenly gone deaf?" She smiled mockingly.
"Or are you simply too stupid to understand what you've been told?" I frowned.
"The Rogue Alpha King doesn't take wives." She leaned closer.
"He buries them." A chill crept down my spine as Mother's smile widened.
"Haven't you heard? That Every woman who becomes his mate..." She paused, enjoying the fear spreading across my face.
"...dies." The room fell silent For the first time since walking into the study...Fear found its way into my heart. Father calmly signed the marriage contract.
The scratch of his pen against the parchment sounded like the final nail in my coffin.
"There." He placed the quill down.
"Our deal is complete." A knock interrupted the silence.
"My Lord," a guard called from outside. "The Rogue Alpha King's envoy has arrived." Father didn't even look at me.
"Tell them their bride will be ready."
Bride?
Not a bride but a sacrifice.
- Writer
