Chapter 1 Traded to the King

POV Ayesha

Thanatos walks into the room, and my world stands still. He looks like a Greek god. I can’t catch my breath. He’s almost 7 feet tall. I need to run my fingers through his golden locks that touch his beautiful face. His dark gold eyes burn into my soul. His face is full of scars and draws me in. He is the most devilishly handsome man I have ever laid eyes on. His muscles are bulging out of his tux. He smells like a wood fire. Like he’s going to burn my entire world down. My jaw is on the floor. My wolf is howling in my head, begging me to reach out and touch him.

He pulls out a chair and sits beside my father. My sisters and I sigh in unison.

What I wouldn’t give to be his seat cushion.

“I’ve come to collect what is owed, Marcus. There will be no more extensions!” Thanatos slams his fist on the table. ”If you weren’t such good friends with my brother, it would be my guards showing up for my pound of flesh!”

My father flinches; his face goes pale. “Thanatos, I need more time. I have my family to support. I don’t have 10 million just lying around.”

“So what will it be, then? Your hand? A foot? Or perhaps something of more value you to you?”

“There must be a fair arrangement. We can come too.”

Thanatos scans the room and locks eyes on me and smiles. My heart pounds, and I forget how to breathe; his scent fills my nostrils, and I feel dizzy. I hold on to the table to steady myself.

“I will take one of your daughters. That one.” He points at me. “If in a couple of months you do not pay up, I’ll take another.”

“Please don’t take my oldest daughter, Ayesha. Being a slave or breeder will tarnish her reputation. She is of age to marry. I can offer you her hand in marriage, or the hand of one of my other daughters, but not this. Please think of something else.”

“I don’t want a wife. I want a breeder. Women are a waste of time and serve only one purpose to me. Which is to have children. I have the brothel for the rest.”

“I can talk to a friend and get you 1 million by the end of the day.”

“Fine, then I’ll take your one daughter, and if in one month you don’t pay the rest. She’ll become mine to do with what I please.”

My dad looks lost in thought. Like he has been given an impossible choice. “You promise no harm will come to her?”

“Father, please! Don’t let him take me.” I try to yell at the top of my lungs, but it comes out in barely a whisper. Tears fall down my face as I try hard to push down my feelings.

Stella, my wolf is captivated by him. She wants nothing more than to be as close to Thanatos as possible. I’m confused be her desire. Does she not see he will be the end of us?

“Shut up, Ayesha. Do you want to punish me further by letting him have your sisters too?”

“No, Father.” I look down.

“Take your sisters upstairs, Ayesha.This is an adult conversation.” My father barks.

I wave my sisters upstairs and slowly follow, listening to my father talking to Thanatos.

“No harm will come to your daughter. Now there is nothing more to talk about. Meet me at the Hotel Blue tonight at 7pm with the girl and the money. If you don’t show up and I have to come back, it will be for your head.”

I go to my room and cover my head with a pillow. It’s not fair. This is not how I wanted my life to be. I wanted to meet my mate and have children and be happy. Not spend the rest of my life being a slave to a cruel lycan.

My thoughts travel back to Thanatos. My heart flutters. I can’t believe I was in the same room as him. He is the most feared and dangerous lycan king. He doesn’t do house calls. I’m both afraid and mesmerized by him. What is wrong with me?

I pack up all my favorite things in a suitcase and call my best friend Faith.

“Hey Ayesha.”

“Dad has traded me to the lycan king.”

“Noooooooooooo. Beth’s cousin Melinda was given to the lycan king to end a feud. They found her a couple of weeks later floating down the Peace River.”

“Then I am doomed.”

“It was in the papers. She’s not the first. Please don’t give up, Ayesha.”

“There is no hope for me.” I look out the window. “His guards are circling our house.”

“Shit!”

“I have until 7pm.”

“What happens at 7pm?”

“My life ends.”

“You have Stella; she’s not a force to be reckoned with. She won’t go down without a fight.”

”Faith, don’t forget about me.”

“Never. I will find a way.”

I hear my father call me. I head downstairs with my suitcase..

“Change of plans. Thanatos wants to meet us at 4pm. We need to head to Evan’s place. He’s going to lend me a million. Let’s go.”

We drive to Evan’s house. He lives in the expensive part of Wolfwood. Evan and my dad used to be best friends. Until he had had enough of my dad borrowing money and sleeping with his girlfriends. I can see Dad arguing with Evan and pointing to the car.

    “If Evan says no, I don’t think anyone else will help us. Thanatos will come for my father’s head.”