ALPHA LUCIAN'S MARKED SLAVE

YOUR FATHER SOLD YOU TO ME

CHAPTER 5: YOUR FATHER SOLD YOU TO ME.

SELENE:

I woke up in the dead of the night, the room pitch black except for the faint moonlight filtering through the balcony glass. My body felt stiff, and the heavy fabric of the wedding dress was twisted around my legs. As I shifted, I realized I wasn't alone anymore.

Lucian was in bed with me.

He was lying on his side, facing the complete opposite direction and keeping a huge distance between us. Even asleep, his presence was massive, but he stayed all the way on his edge of the king-sized mattress, like he couldn't stand the thought of accidentally brushing against me.

I gave a silent, heavy sigh, staring up at the dark ceiling. I wondered what kind of prison I had actually found myself in. But then, a strange, reckless thought crept into my mind. We had been declared husband and wife today. We were officially mated. Would it be wrong if I made the first move? Maybe if I showed him I wasn't a threat, things could be different.

I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was just the sheer loneliness screaming inside me, but I slowly slid across the mattress, closing the gap between us. I moved closer to Lucian and curled up next to his back. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around his broad torso, pressing myself against him and feeling the intense warmth radiating from his body.

Man, it felt so good. His body was pure, solid muscle, yet his skin felt incredibly soft. For a second, the coldness of this place melted away. And before I could stop myself, letting my emotions override my brain, I leaned up and planted a soft kiss on his bare shoulder.

That was the exact moment everything went to hell.

Lucian stirred instantly. In a fraction of a second, he slapped the bedside lamp on, flooding the room with a harsh, dim yellow light. He whirled around, and the moment he saw me nestled right next to him, with my arms still curled around his waist, his face contorted into pure rage.

Lucian growled, a deep, feral sound that sounded like an earthquake, and literally jumped out of the bed like I was a poisonous snake.

"What the f**k!" he growled, his voice a lethal, vibrating weapon in the quiet room. He stood by the edge of the bed, towering over me, his grey eyes flashing with dangerous heat. "Keep your filthy hands off me!"

I froze, my hands dropping to the sheets as my face burned. I felt so incredibly embarrassed. The rejection hit me like a physical punch to the gut, making it hard to breathe. But somewhere deep down, I mustered up the courage to look up at him and speak.

"Alpha, I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling but trying to hold its ground. "I just... I thought we could cuddle as mates. We're bonded now."

Even in the dimness of the bedroom, I could see him scowling down at me, his jaw clenched so tight the bone looked like it would snap.

"Mates?" he spat, his laugh completely dry and mocking. "We're mates on paper, Selene. Your father sold you to me, and I did you a favor by marking you. So know your damn place."

I just stared at him in absolute disbelief. My breath hitched in my throat. Sold me? My father had said he was marrying me off to save face. I didn't know he had actually put a price tag on my head. He sold his own daughter like property.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," I choked out, the words tasting like ash. “I'll keep my hands off you from now on.”

I quickly turned the other way, pulling the blanket tight around my shoulders and facing the wall. I clamped my eyes shut, but this time, I couldn't stop the silent tears that spilled over and started flowing down my face. I buried my face in the pillow to muffle my hitches. Oh Moon Goddess, why? Why was I always rejected like this? Why was I never enough for anybody?

Behind me, Lucian didn't come back to bed. I heard his heavy footsteps move across the floor as he headed straight into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. A minute later, the sound of the running shower started. The realization cut through me like a knife—he probably wanted to wash off the filth from my body. He couldn't even stand the smell of me on his skin.

After he showered, I heard the bathroom door open. He didn't say a word. He just threw on some robe and walked right out of the main bedroom doors. He didn't come back for the rest of the night.

I didn't sleep a wink after that. I just lay there in that massive, empty bed, watching the dark sky slowly turn to a dull grey, and then to gold.

As the sun finally filtered through the windows, I woke up from my daze and sat up on the bed. I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my chin in my palm, staring blankly at the floor. The words kept looping in my head. “Your father sold you to me.” I wasn't just an unwanted daughter anymore. I was a slave.

And strangely, in a twisted, messed-up way, I suddenly felt a wave of gratitude toward Lucian. If I was just a slave my father traded off, then Lucian had actually done me an honor by marking me and letting me share his room instead of tossing me into the pack dungeons. He didn't owe me anything, yet he gave me a title on paper.

"Sitting here is gonna drive me crazy," I muttered to myself.

I got out of bed, my joints aching, and stepped into the bathroom. I took a long, hot shower, washing away the remnants of the wedding day and the tears from the night before. When I walked into the massive walk-in closet, I noticed one entire section was filled with brand-new female clothes in exactly my size. I assumed they were mine. I bypassed the fancy stuff, found a simple, casual day dress, and put it on.

I decided I needed to explore the mansion. Sitting alone in that bedroom with nothing but my dark thoughts was beginning to feel completely suffocating.

I opened the heavy double doors and stepped out. The mansion seemed endless. Every single hallway looked exactly like the last one—polished wood, expensive rugs, and massive portraits. I walked aimlessly for a while, trying to get a feel for the place, my footsteps making zero sound on the marble floor.

As I turned down a quiet hallway on the second level, I noticed a particular door at the very end that was left slightly open.

I paused when I heard voices coming from inside the room. It was a male and a female voice, talking in low tones. Out of pure curiosity, I took a few quiet steps closer and glanced through the crack in the direction of the voices.

And then, I completely froze.

The room looked like a private study, filled with rows of books and a heavy desk. But I wasn't looking at the decor. Inside the room was my new mate, Lucian. He was sitting back in his large leather office chair, but he wasn't alone. A stunning blond girl was straddling his lap, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

As I watched, paralyzed, Lucian pulled her closer by her waist, and their lips locked together in a deep, passionate kiss.