Chapter 2 Sold Off

Chapter One: Sold Off

The icy air cut through Ayla's skin like a knife, and the haunting howls of wolves made her heart pound in her chest. "Let me go!" she screamed, feeling the piercing grip of her stepmother's warriors digging into her flesh.

Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to break free from the clutches of the Nightwalker pack. But they were too strong, dragging her deeper into the forest as she kicked and screamed. The trees seemed to close in around her, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch her.

Ayla wished she could already shift into her wolf form, but she was only nineteen and most she-wolves shift at the age of twenty.

"Bring her here", From a distance, she heard her stepmother's voice.

"No! Please!", she begged. Ayla's plan to escape had failed. They dragged her back, her feet scraping against the damp ground.

Luna Sage Woolfsbane, her stepmother and the leader of the Nightwalker pack was standing in front of her. Her eyes glinting in the moonlight, Ayla's stepbrother stood beside her.

Ayla's body trembled as she broke down in tears, kneeling before her. "Please, Sage, do not give me away".

Wasn't it enough that she became a mere servant in her father's house? Her father's death during the rogue attack marked the beginning of her nightmare. For five years, Ayla had endured the cruelty of her stepmother and her stepbrother, forced to cook, clean, and suffer their beatings.

Now the worst thing is her stepmother offering her to the ruthless King of Aldergrove. A man ten times older than her. Ayla's dreams of finding her mate were crushed.

"I'm doing you a favor, Ayla," Sage replied her eyes cold. "You are going to become his queen".

"I don't want to become his queen,"

"What did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much" she asked, her voice quivering.

"Why?"Sage replied in a mocking tone. "Your sight irritates me. You are nothing but a burden to me".

Ayla's head dropped to the ground, her chest aching.

"Take her, lock her up in the room". Sage summoned the two warriors.

She was thrown into an attic, which had become her room for the past five years. She bawled out her eyes for some minutes before falling asleep.

..................

Ayla's eyes fluttered open, and the sunlight seeped through the window. As she sat up, she saw her step-brother, Thane, staring at her lustfully.

"What..... what are you doing here?" she asked stuttering.

"I just wanted to wish my step-sister farewell," He replied his hand in between her thighs.

This wasn't the first time Thane had tried to touch her. The last time, she told Sage, but Sage slapped her and accused her of lying.

"Get your hands off me". She said pushing his hand away.

His expression darkened, He punched her face causing her ears to ring. He dragged Ayla and then grabbed her throat, choking her.

"I'll get whatever I want, even if it means taking it by force,". He replied.

Tears welled in her eyes, her lips trembling. She gave up, knowing there was nothing she could do.

Just then, Sage entered the attic. As soon as his gaze met hers, he quickly shifted away from Ayla.

"What are you doing?", Sage asked Thane.

Ayla let out a deep breath, thinking that she was finally going to stand up for her.

"You can't afford to get a burden pregnant", She said.

As soon as she said that Ayla felt a crushing weight on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Today, You will be taken to Aldergrove, in five days you will marry the King ", Sage concluded.

She slammed the door shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room.

Ayla pressed her fists against her chest. Her vision blurred from crying. She felt soreness in my throat "Moon goddess, why have you forsaken me? Why are you delivering me to a man who I do not love? Is this my fate?".

..................

"Ayla, Are you ready?", Sage asked standing at the door. "Well, my dress looks good on you".

Ayla looked down at the dress, she could not deny its elegance. For the first time in five years, she wore an elegant gown. On the very day, she was to be sold off.

"The carriage is waiting for you, hurry up!". Sage declared. Ayla's body felt cold, her eyes red and puffy, The world seemed to slow down. She took a deep breath before stepping outside.

She looked at her stepmother, Sage, one last time. Sage had a poker face, her eyes showed no remorse. Next to her was Thane, her stepbrother. He clenched his Jaws in frustration because she hadn't surrendered to his desires. She felt relief knowing that at least she was safe.

"Goodbye Ayla. We will try to attend your wedding, but as you may know, I might be busy", Sage said with a mocking grin on her face, She meant to say she wouldn't be attending.

"Goodbye". Ayla replied before entering the carriage.

Why was she sold off to the King of Aldergrove? She had no clue.

...............

After two days of traveling, she finally reached Aldergrove, a place of wonder, where mysteries are woven into the fabric of everyday life. Compared to her previous home, Aldergrove appeared to be ten times bigger.

She had heard many stories about Aldergrove. How the king had killed the mad vampire and seized the throne of Aldergrove ruling the four clans. About how he ruled the throne with an iron fist. How he had taken many lives of his enemies. All the warriors were strong, emotionless, and fearless.

Moments later, Ayla was escorted into a dimly lit chamber, the flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the wall of the two guards.

As she stood there trying to process her surroundings, the two guards approached her their gazes fixed intently on her "You are gorgeous, perhaps we could get a taste before the king does".