Chapter 2 Sold

Camilla's POV

I sat on the floor, hugging my knees as the air grew heavier around me. My tears had dried into my skin, but my chest still throbbed. All through the night, I had waited for Damon. I stood outside the Elders' quarters, whispering his name, hoping he'd look back, just once. He didn't. He left me standing there like I meant nothing.

I threw a pillow at the wall, but the ache inside me didn't budge. It wasn't the wound on my body that hurt the most. It was the silence. The absence. The fact that the one I loved shut me out. My wolf hadn't spoken since I got injured. I wanted her voice, her strength, her comfort, anything but she had fallen quiet, and so had the goddess.

Tomorrow was the official rite. Damon had to present a Luna. It was meant to be me. Before my body failed me. Before I became something he could toss aside.

"Please," I whispered into the stillness, quiet room, with a trembling voice. "Please talk to me..."

But my wolf didn't answer.

I stayed there for a while, still curled on the floor, as the weight of everything crashed over me. What had I done to deserve this? Was love truly that easy to erase? Could he really forget every moment we shared, the battles, the laughter, the promise of forever?

Then came a knock on my door.

I lifted my head and replied with a low voice. "You can come in."

The door creaked open, and one of Damon's guards stepped in with an unreadable face.

"The Alpha has summoned you to his office." He said nothing else and walked out.

I blinked slowly, my heartbeat loud in my ears. Damon had summoned me? The Damon I knew never sent for me like a stranger. He always came to me himself, always touched my hand before he spoke, always gave me a small smile, even on his worst days.

Maybe this was a good sign.

With trembling hands, I rose to my feet and left my room with slow steps as I passed through the halls like a ghost.

As I got close to his office, harsh and comical voices drifted into the air.

"She really thought she'd be Luna."

"She got what she deserved."

"Maybe he'll finally banish her."

I paused my movement and stared at them. They weren't even whispering. They wanted me to hear but I forced myself forward. I wouldn't let them see me cry. I wouldn't let them see that their words cut deep.

Damon's door stood tall before me as I reached his office. I grabbed the knob softly and his cold voice replied in an instant.

"What are you waiting for outside? Come inside."

I opened the door.

And my heart stopped.

A woman sat beside him with her head resting gently on his shoulder. His hand played slowly through her hair, and she smiled like she belonged there.

The door shut behind me, and I took a shaky step forward. My eyes clung to them as a puzzled look appeared on my face.

"What is this?" I breathed, though I could make a guess.

"You're disturbing the Luna." Damon looked up at me swiftly and said.

The woman raised her head.

And my world shattered all over again.

Noelle.

My best friend.

The one I trained beside. The one who swore she'd stand with me forever. She sat in my place, wore the smile I used to wear, touched the man I still loved. My breath hitched, my knees wobbled, but I didn't fall.

"Sit," Damon said with a sharp tone.

I sat because I needed answers. I needed to believe there was still something to hold onto.

"How's your wound?" He asked. "I heard you refused treatment."

"That's not what matters," I said with a raised voice. "What is Noelle doing over there with you?"

Noelle looked at me without flinching. She didn't speak. She didn't have to.

Damon shrugged. "You can't shift anymore. You may not be able to for years. I need to present a strong Luna to the Elders. You know I'm not a patient wolf."

My chest squeezed at his words and I moved close to him, speaking with a softened gaze. "We can still fix this. You and I...we can sort this out. I'm not...my wolf is not gone. I swear...."

He leaned back and picked up his glass. "You still carry my mark. If you accept the rejection, you'll stop feeling pain when you think of our past."

Tears blurred my vision suddenly, "You're just... letting go?"

"I'm doing what I have to do. For the pack. For myself." He didn't even look at me when he said it.

"I want to speak to the Elders," I whispered gently, wiping tears off my chin while Noelle watched in amusement.

"Speak to them for what?" Noelle finally said with a cold tone.

"You've already agreed on this?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper now.

Damon sighed like he was tired. "The Elders will remove me if I don't present a Luna tonight. And we still owe the neighboring packs a loan. So, I made a choice."

I couldn't speak. I just stared at him as I could not recognize this man anymore. How could someone flip his choice within a few seconds?

"Noelle and I spoke with two Alphas this morning. We reached an agreement. The payment is due by weekend."

"Fuck the loan!" I screamed at him and hit my fists on the wall, turning to walk out of his office in rage.

"You're still in this pack. I'm still Alpha. You'll obey," he growled. "Your new owner is already around. Get ready to leave the pack."

I blinked my eyes as my heart felt a different pain. "You're selling me?"

"You're not useful anymore. And Cassian has offered to have you in his pack. He has heard of you and your bravery," Damon said to me, his fingers still running through Noelle's hair.

My mouth fell open as I staggered back. "Cassian? The Lycan King? The one with blood on his hands?"

"Rumor has it that way, yes, but he made an offer and I have accepted. If you want to know, he's paid a million dollars for you. At least, you're worth something."

And both of them laughed again.

I turned to Noelle with a desperate voice. "He can't do this to me. Say something please..."

I wanted to rush to meet her but her words stopped me. "I wish it were different too," she said and sniffled twice.

I dropped to my knees as I clutched onto Damon's leg. "Let me stay please. This pack is my home. Please. I have nothing else but this. Please don't do this to me,"

He didn't say a word nor did he move. And then he raised his voice, "Enough!"

"The Lycan's men are here. Look behind you," he said to me suddenly and reality dawned on me.

I turned slowly, still hoping this was all a nightmare. "They're taking me away?"

Damon stood, still emotionless. "Leave before they change their minds."

A strange guard grabbed my arm but I yanked him off. Damon rushed to force me into going with him but I grabbed the guard myself as I stared at his face in agony. The guards took me away and I heard low growls and mimics fading away.

Wolves watched as I passed over to the border. Some looked away. Some looked pleased. I didn't understand how I became the villain in their eyes.

At the border, a black Jeep waited. A man leaned against the door. He didn't need an introduction. Power radiated off him. The guards kicked me forward and held me tightly in case I tried to run.

The man in all black looked at me, and asked, "Did the Alpha mention my name?"

I shook my head quickly, sniffling hard.

"My name is Cassian. Lycan King of this region."

He entered the car. The guards pushed me inside after him. And the ride started.

The car rolled into the territory slowly, and my heart beat faster with every turn. This place was nothing like Damon's pack. Everything looked bigger, quieter, more guarded. Even the air smelled cleaner. Tall buildings surrounded the large estate, standing firm like watch towers, and wolves walked around in perfect order. No one shouted. No one laughed. They all moved like trained warriors.

The gates had the name boldly carved into them. Blood Moon Pack. It was the one name I never thought I'd be tied to. The same pack we were warned never to cross. The stories came back to me. The rumors. The killings. My legs began to shake again.

The guards didn't speak as they opened the car door and helped me out. One stayed behind, while the other two led me through a long stone path. I walked in silence, my feet light, my chest tight. No one looked at me with pity. Just curious eyes and unreadable faces. Some didn't look at me at all.

The Alpha's quarters stood farther in, larger than the rest, quiet and firm like the man himself. A different guard opened the door for us and stepped aside. I walked in slowly, my eyes scanning the fine but sharp design of the room. There were no bright colors, no warmth. Everything was dark and neat.

Once I stepped in fully, the door shut behind me. I turned quickly, but the guards were gone. I was now inside the room with the Lycan King only. He hadn't even touched me yet, but somehow, I already felt owned.