Chapter Three

I felt like an item up for auction, waiting to be sold to the highest bidder. The room fell silent when Marc made his declaration, and no one dared to make another offer. "Then Marc shall have her," Alpha broke the sudden silence.

This news brought a smile to Marc's face, but I was too horrified to speak. How could my own father do this to me? It was one thing that he neglected me for half of my life, but now he was selling me off to a stranger in exchange for livestock and land. I should have realized something was amiss when he introduced me to everyone as his daughter.

"What are you waiting for?" Alpha's voice snapped me back to reality. "Won't you go and greet your husband?"

"We never discussed this, Alpha," I mustered up sudden courage.

Alpha was shocked by my sudden challenge, but anger quickly replaced his expression. "Since when do I need your permission to make a decision?"

But I was the one getting married. If anything, he should have informed me beforehand. I could only bring myself to say one thing, "Mom would be disappointed." The anger on his face vanished momentarily, and he seemed taken aback for a moment before regaining his composure.

"Your mother is dead, Harlow. Her opinion holds no significance now. Go and greet your husband before I force you to," he said in a cold, emotionless tone. I knew better than to argue any further. I walked over and knelt before Marc, as tradition demanded.

We departed in a carriage soon after, and Marc insisted that I leave behind all of my old belongings. He accepted me just as I was. Although I felt nervous, I tried to find some positivity in the situation. At least now I was free from Aida and her daughter. And I could keep my promise of never showing up before her. I wasn't sure what life would be like in Marc's home, but I knew it couldn't be worse than what I had endured here.

Suddenly, Marc's husky voice interrupted my thoughts. He was sitting on the other side of the carriage, and I had made sure to keep a distance between us. He asked me if I was truly a virgin. My head nodded in response. Without warning, Marc grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, then lifted me onto his lap. I squirmed uncomfortably, but his smile indicated that he was enjoying this.

"Why did you wait so long? Were you waiting for me?" he inquired, and I remained silent. Marc lifted a finger to my face, forcing me to look at him. The world seemed to stand still as I met his icy blue gaze. I found myself unable to look away, captivated by his beauty. Out of all the men in the room, he was the most handsome. I felt relieved that my father had sold me to him, rather than the bald-headed man. If that had been the case, I would be plotting my escape right now.

"You seem so innocent and naive, Harlow. I can't wait to have you," he said with a smirk.

"Have me where?" I wondered aloud. "Aren't we heading to your pack, or is there somewhere else you would like us to go?" I asked, and he burst into laughter.

"You'll see," was all he said.

During the entire journey, I remained seated on his lap, which was initially uncomfortable, but I eventually relaxed and fell asleep on his chest. When we arrived, Marc didn't bother to wake me up; instead, he carried me out in his arms. In that moment, I started to warm up to him, thinking that maybe this marriage wasn't such a bad thing, as we entered the mansion.

"Welcome home, darling."

As soon as I heard a female voice, my eyes snapped open. A blonde woman approached us, wearing shorts and heavy makeup on her face. As she bounced, her ample breasts moved as well. I noticed Marc's eyes briefly settle on them, and jealousy overwhelmed me.

"You're awake, right?" He whispered, sensing my movements. Without waiting for a response, he dropped me to the ground and opened his arms wide to catch the woman, who eagerly threw herself at him.

Breaking from the hug, she kissed him passionately, and he didn't resist. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. Feeling confused and unsure of what to make of the situation, I immediately looked away.

"I thought you wouldn't be home today," a shorter woman entered the scene. She was the complete opposite of the blonde woman. Marc pushed the blonde aside and embraced the shorter woman in his arms. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting, I didn't mean to."

She turned her gaze away, clearly unsatisfied with his response. "How can I make it up to you, my dear Jade?" he asked, gently cupping her face. Finally, she looked at him and her hands sensually trailed up his neck. "How about I be the one to keep you warm tonight?"

"Don't you even think about it, Jade!" A plus-sized woman entered the room, her glare enough to kill Jade on the spot. "You know very well that tonight is my turn. I've had to wait for weeks because you keep sneaking into his room when it's supposed to be my time. But let me warn you, if you try this again, I won't let you off easily." With a single push, Jade was sent flying across the room, and the woman embraced Marc instead.

"Rona," Marc said, running his hand through her hair as she purred in his arms, like she did not just attempt murder. "I've told you to stop being so aggressive."

"Honey, it's not my fault. She's the one who keeps stealing my place," Rona defended herself. "I can't wait to finally be yours tonight."

"I'm afraid that won't be happening," he replied. "What?" Rona snapped.

He gently pushed her away and took my hand, making the other women aware of my presence. They all stared at me with questioning eyes.

"Harlow, meet my wives, Blair, Rona, and Jade. From today onwards, Harlow will be my fourth wife, and to celebrate this occasion, she will be the one spending the night in my bed. Any questions?"