Chapter 2 Two

Aria

Darius's words followed me long after the guards dragged me away from the ceremonial grounds.

I couldn't stop thinking about them.

A personal offering.

What did he mean by that? And why had he looked at me when he said it?

My chest still hurt from the rejection. Every step reminded me of what I had lost, but the pain wasn't the worst part. It was the way Darius had looked at me, as if I were nothing more than a problem he wanted to get rid of.

I had spent years hoping someone would finally see me as more than a wolfless girl.

Instead, the Moon Goddess had chosen the one man who made me feel even more worthless.

"Keep moving," one of the guards ordered.

I stumbled as he pushed me through the packhouse doors.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"Your room."

"My room?"

He gave me a look. "You heard me."

I wanted to ask more questions, but the guard behind me grabbed my arm and forced me up the stairs. By the time we reached my bedroom, my legs were shaking.

The moment the door opened, I stopped.

My clothes were gone.

The old dresses I had kept in the wooden wardrobe, my shoes, the few books I owned, and even the blanket my mother had left me were missing.

I stared at the empty room.

"What happened to my things?"

The guard shrugged. "Orders from the Alpha."

"But where are they?"

"Ask him yourself."

He pushed me inside and shut the door.

I rushed to it and grabbed the handle, but it wouldn't turn.

"Open the door!"

No one answered.

I hit the door with my palm.

"Please! I need to speak to my father!"

My voice echoed through the hallway before fading into silence.

I stood there for a moment, waiting for someone to respond. When no one came, I slowly stepped away.

They had locked me inside my own room.

I sank onto the edge of the bed and covered my face with my hands. I wanted to cry, but I was tired of giving these people the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Darius had rejected me.

Selena had betrayed me.

And now my own pack was treating me like a prisoner.

What else could they possibly take from me?

My fingers brushed against the silver pendant hanging around my neck.

Mother.

I pulled it out and stared at the small crescent carved into its surface. It was the only thing I had left from her, the only piece of my childhood that hadn't been taken away.

The pendant was cold now, but I could still remember how it had burned against my skin during the ceremony.

The Bloodmoon heir lives.

The strange voice returned to my thoughts.

I shook my head.

I had no idea what a Bloodmoon heir was. Perhaps the pain of the rejection had made me imagine things.

Still, I tucked the pendant beneath my dress.

Whatever happened next, I wouldn't let anyone take it from me.

A knock sounded at the door.

I jumped to my feet.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

My father's voice.

Relief rushed through me. I hurried to the door and grabbed the handle.

"Dad! Please, open the door. I need to talk to you."

I heard keys turning, and the door opened a moment later.

Garrick Vale stood outside, dressed in his usual dark suit. He looked at me briefly before glancing down the hallway.

"Dad, what is happening? Why did they lock me inside?"

"Keep your voice down."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"You're making things difficult for everyone, Aria."

For a moment, I couldn't believe what I had heard.

"Difficult? Darius rejected me in front of the entire pack. Selena knew what he planned to do, and now my belongings are gone. How am I the one making things difficult?"

My father rubbed his forehead.

"Your rejection has caused enough embarrassment. You need to accept what happened and stop drawing attention to yourself."

I felt something tighten in my chest.

"He's my fated mate."

"Was your fated mate," he corrected. "He has rejected you. The bond is broken, and there is nothing you can do about it."

I looked at him, waiting for him to say something else.

He didn't.

Not once did he ask whether I was all right. He didn't even try to comfort me.

"Dad, please," I whispered. "I have nowhere else to go."

His expression hardened.

"You should have thought about that before making yourself a burden to this family."

The words silenced me.

He turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked quickly.

"To handle the situation with the Alpha."

"Can you tell him to let me stay? I won't cause any trouble. I can leave the pack if he wants, but please don't let them lock me away."

My father paused.

For one brief moment, I thought he might agree.

Then he looked back at me.

"Do as you're told, Aria. It will be easier for everyone."

He left before I could answer.

The lock clicked into place.

I stood in the middle of the room, staring at the closed door.

My father had abandoned me.

The same man who had promised to protect me after my mother disappeared had just walked away while I begged him for help.

I wiped my face and forced myself to move.

I couldn't stay there.

If Darius wanted me gone, I would leave on my own terms. I didn't have much money, but I could find work in another territory. I could survive without this pack.

I had to.

I searched the room for anything I could use. There was a small window near the bed, and beyond it lay the gardens that stretched toward the outer wall.

The drop wasn't too high.

I pulled the curtains aside and pushed the window open.

Cold air rushed into my face.

I climbed onto the ledge and looked down. The ground was several feet below, but there was a narrow stone ledge I could use to lower myself.

I took a deep breath and began climbing out.

My hands gripped the stone as I lowered one foot.

Then a voice sounded behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I froze.

A guard stood inside the room, staring at me.

Before I could move, he grabbed the back of my dress and pulled me inside. I landed hard on the floor, pain shooting through my knee.

"Let go of me!"

"You're not leaving this room without the Alpha's permission."

"I haven't done anything wrong!"

"That's not for me to decide."

He dragged me to the bed and forced me to sit.

"Stay here. If you try that again, I'll have to tie you up."

I stared at him in disbelief.

He walked out and locked the door again.

I pressed my hands against my knees, struggling to control my breathing.

They weren't going to let me leave.

But why?

I was no longer Darius's mate. He had made that clear in front of everyone. There was no reason to keep me here unless he wanted something from me.

A chill ran down my spine.

The personal offering.

I remembered the messenger's words about the Lycan King's debt. I remembered Darius asking his Beta to find out whether the king would accept someone in place of payment.

And I remembered the way Darius had looked at me.

My stomach turned.

"No," I whispered.

He wouldn't do that.

He might hate me, but I had never harmed him. I had never asked to be his mate or demanded that he make me his Luna.

Surely, he wouldn't sell me to another man.

A key turned in the lock.

I jumped to my feet as Darius entered the room.

He was alone.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. His eyes moved over my face, then dropped to the pendant at my neck.

I instinctively covered it with my hand.

"What do you want?" I asked.

He closed the door behind him.

"We need to talk."

"About what? Your new Luna?"

His jaw tightened.

"Don't start."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Don't start? You rejected me in front of the entire pack, Darius. You humiliated me, and now you've locked me in my room. What exactly do you expect me to say?"

He walked closer.

"I expect you to listen."

"Why should I?"

"Because your future depends on it."

I stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

He took a folded document from his jacket and placed it on the table.

"The Blackthorn Pack owes the Lycan King a considerable amount of money. Our lands, our warriors, and our protection agreements are all at risk if the debt isn't settled."

I folded my arms.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Everything."

My heart began to pound.

Darius watched me without emotion.

"The Lycan King has agreed to accept a personal offering in exchange for settling the debt."

I took a step backward.

"No."

"You haven't even heard the rest."

"I don't need to."

His eyes narrowed.

"Aria, you are no longer my mate. You have no place in this pack, and I have no obligation to keep you here."

I shook my head.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"You want to send me to the Lycan King?"

"I've already made the arrangements."

My mouth fell open.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. I stared at the man before me, searching his face for any sign that this was some cruel joke.

There was none.

"You are selling me?" My voice broke. "You're selling me to pay your debt?"

"Don't make it sound worse than it is."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"Worse than it is? You're treating me like I'm something you can trade!"

His expression remained cold.

"You're getting a roof over your head and a chance to serve a greater Alpha. Some women would consider that an opportunity."

I slapped him.

The sound cracked through the room.

Darius's head turned slightly.

I stood frozen, my palm burning. I had never struck anyone before, but I couldn't stop myself.

"You bastard," I whispered.

He slowly turned back to me.

His eyes had gone dark.

"Watch your mouth."

"Or what? You'll reject me again? You've already taken everything from me!"

He grabbed my wrist.

Pain shot up my arm as his fingers tightened.

"You have until sunrise to prepare yourself. The king's carriage will arrive tomorrow morning."

I tried to pull free.

"Darius, please. Don't do this."

For the first time, my pride meant nothing. I didn't care if he thought I was weak. I didn't care if he laughed at me.

I just wanted him to stop.

"I'll leave the pack. I'll never come back. You won't have to see me again."

He released my wrist.

"The decision has been made."

He turned toward the door.

"Wait!"

He stopped but didn't look back.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Why are you doing this to me?"

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he answered.

"Because the king has agreed to take you."

The door opened.

Darius walked out, leaving me alone with the truth.

I had thought his rejection was the worst thing he could do to me.

I had been wrong.

He wasn't simply throwing me away.

He was handing me over to the most feared man in the kingdom.

And tomorrow morning, I would belong to the Lycan King.