Sold to Shadows

Elira

I kneel on the cold stone of the empty chamber, my scar itching under the faint moonlight spilling through the cracked window.

Veyra’s cruel words echo in my mind: After tonight, you will be gone from this pack forever.

My heart pounds violently, fear mixing with the mate bond’s brutal tug toward Kael, a bond he has furiously rejected but which I cannot escape. What exactly were they planning for me? Why do I feel that this situation was much worse than a mere nightmare?

I look up at my stepmother, her silk robes gleaming like she is already a queen. “What are you truly planning for me?” I say, my voice hoarse but steady.

“Are you now going to kill me, like you killed my father and the king? Are you going to finally end my life because that is what you have been planning to do for so long.”

Her hand cracks sharply across my face, the sting immediate and hot. “You have no right to speak to me like that,” she snaps, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Accusing me of committing murder? It truly does not matter if I kill you right now, Elira. I would simply be doing the whole pack a favor, ridding them of your cursed, worthless face.”

I laugh, the sound bitter and completely raw, my cheek burning with pain. “All my life, I have seen utterly disgusting people,” I say, fiercely meeting her gaze.

“But I never thought my own family would become the absolute worst of them all.”

Veyra’s face instantly twists with consuming fury, and she grabs my arm, violently yanking me to my feet.

“You still have a mouth to talk back to me,” she says, her voice low and utterly venomous. “Do not worry yourself—after this night ends, you will be silent for good.”

I laugh again, defiance masking my mounting fear. “I honestly do not care anymore,” I say. “Death would be significantly better than living in this hell you have actively made for me.”

She smiles slowly, a cold, cruel curve of her lips. “Who said anything at all about simply killing you?” she says. “Oh, no, Elira. I have a much better plan—one that will actually make you beg for instant death instead.”

My stomach violently twists inside me. “What exactly are you planning to do now?” I say, my voice severely shaking. “Do not do something truly stupid, Veyra.”

Liora steps forward, her crown glinting brightly, her mocking laugh sharp. “Stupid?” she says. “You are the only one who is truly clueless here.

The wicked place you are going to? It is exactly where pathetic slaves like you belong. They will welcome your type with wide, open arms.”

I glare intensely at her, my scar throbbing. “You and your mother are both completely insane,” I say. “What kind of terrible people are you even? And what kind of wicked place are you actually talking about now?”

“Shut up right now,” Liora snaps, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You will find out all soon enough. Keep talking, and you will only make it worse for yourself.”

“Worse?” I say, my voice rising sharply. “You have already taken absolutely everything from me—my home, my true freedom, my very name. What more terrible things can you possibly do now?”

Veyra laughs, taking a step closer to my face. “Oh, you will most certainly see soon enough,” she says.

“You still think you are clever, throwing out crazy accusations about your father and the king? No one will ever believe a cursed slave.”

“The truth does not care about your petty lies,” I say, my voice completely raw. “The mate bond chose me for him, not Liora. Kael feels it, even if he firmly denies it. One day, he will absolutely know what horrible things you have done.”

Liora’s face twists with rage, and she grabs my hair, yanking my head back painfully. “Kael?” she hisses into my ear. “You honestly think he will save you from this? He only pities you, nothing more than that. You are nothing at all to him.”

“Then I will keep saying it over and over again—why has he still not rejected me?” I shoot back, my wolf stirring faintly, gathering defiance. “If I am nothing, why does the moon bond still burn?”

“Enough speaking!” Veyra says, her voice cutting through the space. “You think you can successfully seduce Kael with your pathetic little bond? He absolutely belongs to Liora now, and you are nothing but a permanent stain on this pack.”

I laugh, weak but still defiant. “You successfully stole my place,” I say. “You lied to the pack, lied to Kael, lied to everyone here. But the moon goddess knows the true story. You will surely pay for all your terrible crimes.”

Veyra grabs my chin, her nails digging in. “No one will ever believe your words,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “You are known as a cursed killer, officially blamed for the king’s tragic death. And after this night is over, you will be entirely gone forever.”

“What do you even mean by gone? If you are not killing me, then what awful fate?” I say, fear violently clawing at my heart. “Why are you truly doing this to my life?”

She smirks, finally releasing me. “You will definitely see for yourself,” she says. “Your time and usefulness here is finished.”

Footsteps echo loudly behind me, heavy and deliberate now. Two large men step into the dark chamber, their faces shadowy and menacing, their eyes cold and empty. One, tall with a scar across his cheek, looks directly at Veyra. “Is this the one you promised?” he asks, his voice rough and low.

I turn to Veyra, my heart racing violently. “What is truly happening now?” I say, my voice trembling. “Who are these strange men?”

She smiles, calmly folding her arms across her chest. “Stop talking now,” she says. “Enjoy your absolute last moments in this pack territory.”

I look desperately at Liora, rising fear in my chest. “Does Kael know about this terrible scheme?” I ask. “Does he know what horrible thing you are doing to me?”

Liora smirks widely, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. “Of course he knows everything,” she says. “Why would he not know? You are nothing at all to him, Elira.”

My chest tightens agonizingly, the mate bond twisting painfully inside me. Kael knows this truth? Is he genuinely selling me off, casting me out like I am totally worthless? I feel completely speechless, my last bit of hope crumbling to dust.

The scarred man steps closer to my face, his cold eyes raking over my whole body. “She will definitely do the job,” he says, glancing at Veyra. “Our boss greatly likes young, slim girls like this one. She will certainly fetch a very good price for us.”

I instantly freeze completely, fear turning my blood icy cold. “A price?” I say, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “You are seriously selling my life?”

Veyra laughs sharply, her voice cold and final. “She is all yours now,” she says, nodding curtly to the men. “You can do whatever you all want with her body.”

I grit my teeth tightly, glaring fiercely at her. “One day soon, you will fully suffer for this crime,” I say, my voice raw with pure hatred. “You and Liora—you will both surely pay for what you have finally done to me.”

Liora laughs again, stepping closer to gloat. “Oh, I absolutely cannot wait to see that imagined day,” she says, her voice dripping with cruel mockery. “Keep dreaming, cursed one.”

The men violently grab my arms, their strong grips bruising my skin, and push me roughly forward toward the exit. I stumble weakly, my heart pounding, my mind completely racing with fear and pure anger.

I did not even know what single word to say in protest. I look back one last time as I make a silent wish: I will make them both pay for this betrayal.