Sold Like Property

"Who is she?" Rowland asked.

The servant bowed his head. "The girl with the red hair, sire?"

"Yes. The one in the gray dress."

"Her name is Rina. She’s a servant. A slave, actually."

Rowland frowned. "Why does she look so… different?"

The servant hesitated. "There are stories. Some say she has powers. Others call her cursed. The rumours about the powers are because of the hair. It grows more rapidly than the hairs of other werewolves. But she's weak, sure.”

Rowland’s eyes narrowed. "Cursed?"

“She was born during a pack invasion. Her mother died that night. Her father was hanged for treason later.”

Rowland folded his arms. “So she’s alone.”

“Yes, sire.”

Meanwhile, Kendrick stood by the window of his room. He watched Rina from a distance as she swept the courtyard. They had come to discuss things regarding pack alliances. But this girl was taking his mind off the main reason he was in the Sauna pack.

Her movements were slow. Her back slightly bent. Her dress still stained. He wondered why she was wearing the same dress he had first seen her in, the moment he had gotten to the royal pack house.

But her face…

Kendrick couldn’t look away from her face.

There was pain in her eyes, but also something else—something soft. Something strong. She was more beautiful than most of the beautiful women he had set eyes on. She was unkempt, yet, her beauty shone through. He didn't understand why she was treated the way she was..he hadn't exactly seen someone maltreat her, but from her eyes and with the kind of work she was doing, he could tell that she wasn't like everyone else at the pack house. In the midst of the servants, she seemed to be the lowest of them all.

He turned from the window and muttered, “Why is she treated like this?”

That afternoon, Rowland decided he'd take Rina back with him to the Crystal pack. He had made all the findings that was neccessary. He knew the girl was like a piece of property to the royal house and alpha Glint will not hesitate to let him have her.

The Crystal pack was more powerful than the Sauna pack in a lot of ways and in the past, they had been the protectors of the Sauna pack.

“Something you own caught my eye,” Rowland said after the meeting.

Alpha Glint frowned. “Prince Rowland, is everything all right?”

“I’ve made a decision,” Rowland said. “I want the red-haired girl. Give her to me as a gift.”

Glint blinked. “Rina?”

“Yes. I’ll take her.”

“As what, sire?”

“As property. And later… as a breeding mate.”

There was a short silence.

Glint nodded slowly. “If that is your wish, she’s yours.”

“She belongs to no one else, is that right?” Rowland asked.

Glint smiled. “No. She’s been living here as a servant. No family.”

“I want her ready to leave by morning.”

“As you command.”

The news spread fast.

By sunset, everyone knew.

“She’s being taken?”

“As a mate?”

“No. As a slave.”

“I heard he wants her for pups.”

“Maybe to test her powers.”

“She always brings trouble…”

Rina sat alone in the corner of the kitchen when two guards walked in.

“You. Stand up.”

She stood slowly. “Why?”

“You’re to come with us. Alpha Glint asked for you.”

Her heart sank. She wiped her hands and followed them.

They led her to the open yard, where the whole pack had gathered to bid the Alpha princes farewell.

Alpha Glint stood beside the two princes.

Rowland’s eyes met hers and didn’t move.

Glint raised a hand. “This girl has been chosen.”

People turned to look.

“She has served us for years. Now, she will serve a greater purpose. Prince Rowland of the Crystal Pack will take her with him as a gift from me to him.”

Rina froze.

“What?”

Glint continued, “She will leave tonight. She now belongs to the prince.”

“No…” Rina whispered. “No, please.”

She stepped forward. “Please, Alpha. Don’t do this. I don’t want to go.”

Glint’s face was hard. “You don’t have a choice. You've served your purpose here, cursed daughter of a traitor.”

“I’m not a thing!” she cried. “I’m a person!”

The crowd watched. Some whispered. Some laughed.

Rina turned to Rowland. “Please… don’t take me sire!”

Rowland didn’t smile. “You’ll be treated better. Your living conditions will improve. You should be grateful.”

“I don’t want to go with you, please!”

Rowland gave a short sigh. “You’ll get used to it.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, but when she turned, her eyes met with Kendrick's.

Kendrick stepped forward. “This is not right,” He said in tight whisper to his brother.

Rowland narrowed his eyes. “Stay out of this, brother.”

“She’s not a prize to carry off!”

“She’s a servant,” Rowland snapped. “And she's been given to me.”

Kendrick clenched his jaw. “She’s still a person and maybe you should consider how she feels about this too.”

Rowland ignored him.

Rina dropped to her knees. “Please, I beg you,” she sobbed. “Don’t take me.”

Glint gave a signal.

Two guards walked toward her with iron cuffs.

Rina tried to crawl away, but they grabbed her arms.

“No! No, please! Please, don’t do this!”

The cold cuffs closed around her wrists.

The crowd stayed silent.

“She’s crying,” someone whispered.

“She was born to suffer,” another voice said.

Kendrick stepped forward again. “Rowland, enough!”

Rowland raised a hand. “I will not be challenged over a slave.”

“She’s not yours to claim!”

“She is now,” Rowland said flatly. “Unless you plan to fight me for her.”

Kendrick looked at Rina, her eyes full of tears, her lips shaking.

He looked away, fists clenched.

“You’re wrong for this, I assume you have a heart.” he whispered.

Rowland gave no answer.

The chains rattled as the guards led Rina to the carriage.

She stumbled. Her knees were weak. Her dress dragged in the dirt.

“Please…” she kept whispering. “Please…”

Rowland climbed into the carriage first.

Rina was pushed up next.

She turned her head back.

Kendrick stood alone on the steps of the hall, watching her go. He wouldn't get into the same carriage where he would hear her pleadings and feel too helpless to help her.