Chapter 6: Abandoned Twice

“What’s going on?” I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

The man in the suit gave me a quick, appraising look before turning back to my father. I stood there barefoot in my wrinkled dress, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“What’s going on?” I asked again, my voice trembling.

My father cleared his throat and exchanged a glance with my mother. She still had a tight grip on my wrist, as though she was afraid I might run.

“Lillian,” Dad began, his tone unusually calm, “things are... bad. Worse than we let on. The company is on the verge of collapse. Creditors are circling. We've lost almost everything because of what happened with Jake.”

Mom immediately stepped in, her voice soft and filled with forced sadness.

“We're doomed, sweetheart. All of us.” Tears welled in her eyes. “We're going to lose the little we have. We'll be out on the streets, humiliated and homeless.” She sniffled dramatically. “What will happen to Abigail? Think about what people will say to her? Her rich friends? What if she gets bullied?”

A knot formed in my stomach.

“So... what does that have to do with me?” I asked quietly. “I... I mean... what am I supposed to do?”

Dad gestured toward the man sitting on the couch.

“There is an auction tomorrow night. A private gathering attended by wealthy, high-ranking Alphas looking for wives. Families in difficult situations sometimes use it to secure powerful alliances.”

The room suddenly felt too small. My blood turned to ice. I knew about that auction. Everyone did but never spoke about it openly. The women taken there weren't cherished wives. They were bought as sex slaves. Passed from one Alpha to another. Used until they were no longer wanted.”

My breathing became uneven. “You...” My voice barely came out. “You can't do this to me.” Tears blurred my vision. “Please... you can't.”

Mom's expression hardened, though she continued speaking as if she were comforting me. “You don't have a mate, Lillian. You don't even have a wolf.” She sighed. “Our family is bankrupt. It's time you thought about someone besides yourself. Think about your sister.”

She looked me up and down before shaking her head. “Just look at you. After what happened with Jake, who's going to want you now?” Her eyes lingered on my body. “Nobody.”

“These Alphas...” she continued, “if you're lucky, one of them won't be too cruel. All you have to do is satisfy him.” Her voice became colder. “Be useful for once.”

“But Mom...” I sobbed.

“Don't 'But Mom' me!” she snapped. Her sudden shout made me jump. “Do this for us, Lillian! Do this for your family!”

She pointed toward Abigail's bedroom upstairs. “For your sister! She deserves a chance at a good future, doesn't she?”

Her voice softened again, almost pleading.

“It'll only be for a little while. You owe us this much after everything you've put this family through.”

A broken sob escaped my lips. I knew she was lying. There was no "little while." Once an Alpha bought me, I would belong to him forever.

I felt sick. What had I done to deserve this? Why had fate been so cruel?

I had loved Jake with everything I had. I had starved myself trying to lose weight. I had cried myself to sleep more nights than I could count.

And none of it had been enough. Now my own family was throwing me away just to save themselves.

I felt hollow. Worthless. Like I had never mattered at all.

I wiped my tears with shaking hands and slowly backed away. “No.” My voice was barely a whisper. “No... I'm not going to do this.” Both of my parents stared at me. “If I go there...” I shook my head desperately. “There isn't a coming back.”

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “I could lose my life. I don't want to do this.”

“Just shut up!” my mother screamed, making me flinch. “You're acting like a stubborn child! You have no idea what this family has done for you!”

Anger burned through my fear. “What have you done for me?” I shouted back, tears streaming freely down my face. “What could possibly be so great that you don't even see me as your daughter anymore?”

My chest rose and fell with each ragged breath. “You're willing to sell me to strangers!”

“You ungrateful cow!” my mother barked. “You want to know the truth?”

My father's face changed instantly. He shook his head, silently begging her to stop. His eyes told her not to say another word.

She pulled her arm away from him. “No.” She pointed a finger directly at me. “Let me talk!” She laughed bitterly. “I'm sick and tired of this girl thinking she ever meant anything to us.”

The words made my heart skip.

“You have always been nothing but a burden!” she shouted. “A constant pain in my chest!”

I stared at her, unable to breathe.

“Why...” My voice cracked. “Why would you say that?”

She looked me straight in the eyes. “Because you're not our real child.”

Everything around me stopped. My mind went completely blank. “What...?”

“You heard me.” She folded her arms. “We adopted you.”

I stumbled backward. “No.” My head shook on its own. “No... that's not true.”

“Yes, it is.” Her voice was cold. “You were nothing but a sick little girl abandoned at an orphanage. We pitied you so we took you in.”

My entire body went numb.

“We spent years paying for your treatments, your medicine, your hospital bills until you finally became healthy.” Her expression twisted with disgust. “And then you gained all that weight.” She let out an irritated sigh. “Lillian, we are sick of you.”

My vision blurred completely. The people I had loved my entire life… The people I had called Mom and Dad… They weren't my parents.

Everything I believed about my life had just fallen apart. Then, as suddenly as her anger had appeared, my mother burst into tears.

She covered her face, her shoulders shaking with loud sobs..“This is all we're asking,” she cried pitifully. “One thing.”

She reached for my hands. “Please, Lillian. This is how you repay us. We gave you a home. We kept you alive. Please... save this family.”

I simply stared at them. I couldn't speak. It felt as though something inside my chest had been ripped away.

Jake had rejected me..My future had been stolen from me. And now… I had just learned that the only family I had ever known had never truly been mine.