“Get the documents ready. I will sign them,” said Hunter, his eyes assessing her profile, traveling down the length of her body. When his gaze landed on her neck, he saw red imprints of fingers over there. A growl emanated from him. “How did you get those?”
Like a deer caught in the headlights, she looked at him with doe eyes, unable to reply to his question because her father was standing right next to her and she was in no mood to get another beating. She brought her hands to her neck and slightly rubbed her skin over there, glancing at her father. “It is nothing, Sir,” she replied in a low voice.
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “Did someone try to strangle you?”
River’s eyes flung wide open and she looked at her father, terrified. Her father lifted his hand like he was about to strike her, but then checked himself immediately when Hunter whipped his head towards him. “Watch yourself, Kirk,” he spoke in a low growl. There was so much power in his command that it was vise-like on his mind. Kirk was forced to obey even though Hunter wasn’t his Alpha. It was clear that Lycans had power over the werewolves. But Hunter was the king of Lycans. He had power over all the Alpha werewolves too. Kirk was just a small fly in the community.
Hunter turned to look at Alpha Maxim and said, “I will be leaving now. I will come to collect her by evening. She looks very pale for the journey. Make sure that she has eaten well. We will start for the Veil by 5PM.”
Alpha Maxim was thrilled. The Lycan had accepted his offering. He was sure that Hunter would reject this ***girl. And in that case, he had his plan B in place. He would have offered Brianna to him. He rubbed his hands with excitement and said, “Sure! I will take good care of her till you come.”
“And make sure that she is unharmed,” Hunter added. “Because if she is, I won’t like it!” Then he muttered, “She is too thin.”
Alpha Maxim was scared that Hunter would reject River, so he quickly said, “If you like you can take Brianna with you.” He pointed at River’s younger sister.
River snapped her gaze at Alpha Maxim and then at Brianna, and for some reason, Brianna seemed… surprised but willing. Odd. Brianna looked at Hunter with expectant eyes and shifted on her toes under his gaze as a pale blush rose on her cheeks.
Hunter gave her a cursory glance and then reverted his attention back to River. Ignoring Alpha Maxim’s words, he growled, “Just get the papers ready. I will sign them when I am back, and the money will be transferred after that.”
Alpha Maxim winced. “Of course! Please don’t worry.”
Money? River was aghast. So Alpha Maxim will be receiving money from the Lycan king. And she was thinking that her father would receive the money from him for leaving Hector. The irony was not wasted on her. She was basically sold, masked under an offering.
Weird colors blasted in her vision and her head reeled so fast that her knees gave way. She thought she would fall on the floor when strong arms caught hold of her in a protective embrace and balanced her.
His cedar and mist scent enveloped her and she realized that she couldn’t move or didn’t have the energy to move. Her head tipped up as his head leaned down. Their gazes locked-his green one with her bright blue ones. Her cheeks blushed. She felt as if she was melting under his gaze. His hands traveled up to her neck where he gently caressed the imprints of fingers. River was taken by surprise, frozen in her spot.
A low growl from somewhere behind made her snap out of her reverie. She straightened herself and took a step back away. from his personal space. She sensed Hunter’s irritation and instantly lowered her gaze.
Hunter gulped audibly. With a rough exhale, he said, “I will take my leave.” Hunter left in a hurry and the werewolves seemed to relax.
As for River, her tension multiplied ten folds. She was being sold by her Alpha to the Lycan king who was considered to be ruthless and who was taking her away only for breeding purposes. Now she didn’t know what was the better of the two evils. On one hand, Alpha Maxim would throw her in dungeons if she didn’t go with him. In the dungeons her life would become a living ***. And on the other hand, Hunter would also throw her in the dungeons but, after having pups with her.
Her only chance to survive this ordeal was to escape somehow. She needed to call Lena over here and run away. She looked like a trapped bunny in the midst of wolves, all of whom were staring or glaring at her. Now knowing what to do next, she grabbed the sides of her bridal gown with clammy hands.
“Great!” Alpha Maxim announced. “Now that the sacrifi-” he checked himself. “The offering is accepted, you can take her back to your home! Get her over here before 5PM.”
“I don’t think we should let her go from here,” said Hector, staring at River. His hands were closed in tight fists. “If Alpha Hunter comes before 5PM and she is not here, it would become chaotic!”
Victoria was surprised but she didn’t speak a word against Hector. But if looks were daggers, she was throwing them at River.
Maxim mulled over what Hector just said. “Okay, she can stay here!” he said with a shrug. “But she has to stay in the guest room and Brianna will have to stay here as well with her.” He looked at Kirk and Hazel. “You both can leave. I will wire your money once Hunter transfers it to me.”
River’s ***fell to the floor as she watched her jubilant father and stepmother. They had sold her. Rather they had only gained from this deal.
Her parents left without goodbyes. River was hoping that her father would glance at her now that he would never see her again, but it remained a wishful thinking. They rushed out as if happy to offload their burden. As soon as they left, Hector came to her. He grabbed her upper arm and said, “Come!” He pulled her towards the guest rooms with Brianna and Victoria following them.
“What the ***are you doing?” Victoria snapped at him the moment they were alone in the corridor that led to the guest. wing.
