Chapter 2: Dressed To Be Sold

Claudia 

"So, this is what it feels like to be dressed like a lamb before slaughter," I muttered, staring at the reflection in the cracked mirror. 

For the first time in my life, I looked like a princess. A royal blue gown adorned with intricate silver embroidery hugged my figure, its hem brushing the floor like cascading waves. My hair was swept into an elegant bun, with tiny pearl pins catching the light. Even my hands, after all those years of scrubbing floors, were softened with scented oils.

It was ironic, really. I was nothing more than the Alpha’s dirty little secret—his illegitimate daughter. Yet here I was, dressed as if I belonged to the very bloodline that scorned me.

“Don’t slouch, Claudia,” came my stepmother’s shrill voice from the doorway. Her lips curled in a way that made my skin crawl. “You’ll embarrass us enough as it is.”

I straightened my posture but said nothing. I’d learned long ago that my silence was the only thing keeping me from constant punishment. Lyria and Talia, stormed into the room moments later, their faces a mask of fury. Talia, the elder of the two, folded her arms and shot me a look that could kill in an instant.

“I still don’t understand why Father would waste such an opportunity on her,” Talia hissed, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “The most powerful pack in the region, and he sends her? It should be me standing in that gown, not this half-blood mistake.”

“Agreed,” Lyria chimed in, pouting like a spoiled child denied her favorite toy. “It’s a disgrace to this family.”

I tightened my grip on the fabric of my dress, biting back the retort that burned on the tip of my tongue. They were wrong—I wasn’t a disgrace to this family because I was illegitimate. I was a disgrace because I reminded them of the Alpha’s sins. My very existence was their shame.

“Enough,” my father barked as he entered the room, his commanding presence silencing everyone. “A word, both of you.” Talia and Lyria exchanged a glance before following him out. I couldn’t hear what was said, but when they returned, their venomous glares had been replaced by unsettling smirks. 

Talia leaned close as she passed me, her voice dripping with malice. “Enjoy your moment, Claudia. It won’t last.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My heart was pounding too hard in my chest.

***

Minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited in the grand hall for our guests. The weight of the silence was almost unbearable, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards or the rustle of my gown as I shifted uncomfortably.

Then, the door swung open, and they entered.

The first thing I noticed was the aura of power that surrounded them. The Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack, a tall and imposing figure with piercing gray eyes, strode into the room with his Luna by his side. Her beauty was regal, almost otherworldly, and her gaze swept over me like I was nothing more than an object of interest. 

But it was the young man who followed them that caught my attention. He was striking, with dark hair that fell just above his eyes and a sharp jawline that could have been sculpted from stone. His confident stride and the way he carried himself screamed authority.

He must be the one. I muttered to myself. The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine.

My father stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Alpha Kael, Luna Myra, welcome to our humble home. We are honored by your presence.”

“Let’s not waste time,” Alpha Kael said, his voice deep and commanding. “You know why we’re here.”

“Yes, of course.” My father gestured toward me, and for the first time in my life, he looked proud. It was a cruel irony. “I have given the proper introduction to your Advisor, Killian when he first arrived.”

“I sent him to ensure your seriousness to this alliance. When he assured me that it was going to be worth my time, I decided to move forward with the arrangement.” Alpha Kael said lazily. His words flowed as mere whisper. His eyes cornered me as I stood before him, “ Is she the one?”

My father slightly pushed me forward, “Yes, Alpha, This is Claudia, my eldest daughter.”

I dropped into a low curtsy, the way I’d been taught just this morning. My gaze remained fixed on the ground as I murmured, “It’s an honor to meet you.”

The Luna’s voice was like silk laced with steel. “Raise your head, child.”

I obeyed, lifting my chin to meet her scrutinizing gaze. Her lips pursed slightly as if she were appraising livestock at an auction.

“She’ll do,” she finally said, and I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or insulted.

Alpha Kael nodded, and without further ceremony, he gestured toward the gifts his men had brought—crates of fine wines, bolts of luxurious fabric, and chests filled with gold and silver coins. My father’s eyes lit up at the sight, and I realized this arrangement wasn’t about me at all. It was about power and wealth, alliances and benefits. I was nothing more than a pawn in their game. The younger man—my future husband—said nothing throughout the exchange. He simply stood there, his gaze fixed somewhere above my head, as though he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge me.

My heart sank further.

***

When the formalities were over, my father pulled me aside. His expression was unreadable, but his tone was cold as ice.

“Listen to me, Claudia,” he said, his grip on my arm tightening. “You are to behave yourself when you go to the Bloodfang Pack. Do not embarrass this family, and do not think of returning here. You belong to them now.” I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. There was no affection in his voice, no trace of fatherly concern. To him, I was a burden finally offloaded.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. When I turned to leave, Talia and Lyria were waiting for me at the door.

“Don’t come crying back to us when they toss you aside,” Lyria sneered.

Talia smirked. “Though it’ll be entertaining to hear how the bastard daughter of an Alpha fared in a pack like that.” I didn’t dignify their taunts with a response. Instead, I straightened my back and walked past them, holding onto the small shred of dignity I had left.

***

As I climbed into the Limo, I chanced one last glance at my home. It wasn’t much—a crumbling estate with peeling paint and shallow windows—but it was all I had ever known.

The journey to the Bloodfang Pack felt like a slow march towards my doom. The elder sitting across from me was silent, his eyes closed as if in meditation. I wanted to ask questions, to demand answers, but fear kept my lips sealed.