CHAPTER FOUR IVORY’S POV

“Very well then,” Edward said with a greedy smile. “She is all yours now.”

I sat there frozen in shock, staring at the tall stranger. My brain stopped working for a moment, trying to understand the man before me.

He had just bought me, like I was a piece of furniture or a goat at the market. My heart started beating so loud that I could hear it in my ears.

No. Not again.

I pushed myself up from the stump on shaky legs. The dress on my body felt cold and disgusting, but I didn’t care. I started backing away slowly.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said weakly.

Zion turned to Edward, completely ignoring my statement. “Prepare the papers. The debt agreement and the marriage contract with Elder Harkin. Bring them now.”

Edward nodded quickly like an obedient dog and shouted at one of the warriors standing nearby. The man ran off toward the pack house.

Then Zion turned back to me. He took one step closer. He was so tall I had to tilt my head all the way back just to look at his face. His eyes were dark and calm, but there was something in them that made me uneasy.

“What is your name?” he asked quietly.

I laughed bitterly. “You just bought me and you don’t even know my name? How nice.”

He showed no emotion, not even the expected, being anger. He just stood there, staring at me asif he still awaited my response. 

“Ivory,” I finally said. “Ivory Ashwood. And you just wasted your money. I’m cursed, useless, and I can’t even shift. Everyone knows that.”

Edward tried to step forward. “Your Majesty, you don’t have to waste your time with her. She’s just—”

“Be quiet,” Zion said, he didn’t even raise his voice, but Edward shut his mouth immediately and stepped back like someone had slapped him.

I almost smiled, I had never seen Edward look so small before. Zion looked at me again. “Do you have anything you want to take with you?”

I thought about the small bag I dropped near the entrance and Mira’s notebook hidden inside it. “Yes. My things.”

He nodded once. “Go and get them. One of my men will follow you.”

I walked away quickly with one of Zion’s guards behind me. When I got close to the side gate, Mira was already there, like she had been waiting. The moment she saw me, her face fell.

“Oh child…” she whispered.

I ran into her arms and hugged her tightly, the tears I had been holding back all night finally came down.

“I’m leaving, Ma Mira. He bought me. The Lycan King just…bought me.”

Mira held my face with both hands. “Then go, my child. This might be the best thing that has ever happened to you. Don’t be afraid. And remember what I told you.” She pressed the small ancient looking notebook deeper into my bag. “Keep this close, only open it when you’re far away.”

I nodded, crying silently. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll always be with you,” she whispered and kissed my forehead like she did the day I was born.

The guard cleared his throat, which signified I had to go.

When I returned, the papers were already there. Edward was signing them very quickly, as if he was scared Zion would change his mind. Zion signed without even reading everything. He didn’t even say a word about the huge amount.

Edward looked relieved, almost happy.

Zion took off his long black coat and placed it over my shoulders. It was warm and smelled like him. I wanted to take it off immediately, but the cold was seeping into my skin.

“We are leaving for Valdris tonight,” he said.

I stood there, numb, as two of his men led me toward the biggest car. I climbed into the back seat without fighting. What was the use?

As the car started moving, I looked through the window and watched Silverstone Pack House grow smaller behind us. The place that had been my own personal hell for eighteen years.

I was finally leaving.

But I wasn’t free.

I had simply been sold to a different monster.