Chapter Two

ROWENA

Something broke in me that day.

When I awoke, I found myself in a dark dungeon. I felt weak and lightheaded. I tried to move but my body ached with each attempt. Soon I realized I had been bound to the wall with a chain on my left wrist. 

The dungeon was cold and smelled of mildew and dust. As I sat in the darkness, I tried to recollect what happened. I remembered that I collapsed no sooner than I cut myself and my palm still stung from the pain of the wound.

Just then, I heard the sound of voices coming from behind the dungeon’s iron door, followed by a set of footsteps which was accompanied by the release of bolts and removal of chains. Then the door opened.

My father came in through the door holding a lit torch. He no longer smelled of alcohol but he looked at me with a face so grave I began to fear. The iron doors closed firmly behind him after he had entered, as if to prevent anyone from getting out unwantedly. I tried to stand on my feet but failed and fell back.

“Father please you have to help me…”I had begun to plead before my father cut me short.

“You should be ashamed of yourself girl, for choosing to make light of your family in this manner,” he said with a scowl. “You have humiliated us before the entire clan simply because you didn't want to help your poor father remedy his mistake,” he continued. His face turned even more stern. “You are an ungrateful child. After all I have done for you, this is how you choose to repay me.”

“Father, please listen to me…” I managed to mutter before my father slapped me across the face. The taste of iron filled my mouth from my blood. 

“Do not ever call me father again. I should have smothered you when you were born than to have you live and embarrass me this way.” Then with a harsh voice that was barely below a whisper, he said “I disown you and I have handed you over to Darius Varian to do with you as he wishes. You are no longer my concern.” 

All my fears seemed to envelope me at that moment. Tears stood in my eyes but I refused to cry. How could my father be so cruel and treat me this way? I thought to myself. I have been the most obedient daughter and this is how low he thinks of me. 

My sadness was immediately replaced with rage. My father has always been an ungrateful and useless man, always wanting what he never had and never wanted to work for. At that moment, I imagined myself picking up a jagged stone from the dungeon floor and thrusting it into his neck. But I knew I could not do such a thing, rather I just sat in silence; not lifting my head to look at him nor uttering a word in protest. 

He turned and knocked on the iron door to inform the guard that he wanted to leave. 

“Where is mother? Please I would like to speak to her, just this once,” I pleaded.

“My wife wants nothing to do with you. She doesn't even want to behold your face,” he scoffed before walking out the door.

I knew that was a lie. Father would never have allowed mother to see me. I knew she would be behind that door protesting and begging to see me but all her struggles would be to no avail.

With my free hand, I held on to the sapphire necklace my mother had given me, trying to hold on to the hope that I would see her again. 

Some moments later, I heard the sound of the dungeon door being unlocked once again. But this time, Darius Varian emerged. He stood at the door and gave me a sweeping look then came closer to me, holding a torch before him. His appearance was like that of a ghost wearing a sinister smile. He regarded me sideways, “You look so miserable,” he mocked. “You are a defective shewolf. Only a defective shewolf collapses on the night of her mating. That is why I have decided to reject you as my mate.” His eyes gleamed with hatred. 

I rolled my eyes and looked away. I'd rather be put to death than be mated to such an animal anyway. He stepped closer to where I sat, his sneer evident as he spoke. "You are a disgrace to your family and your clan." His gaze sharpened, studying me intently. "You must be hiding something.

My breath caught when he said this. Does he know? I asked myself. I lifted my head and locked eyes with him. He leaned in closer to me, his lips barely grazing my ear. “Do you think that I can not sense your lack of an inner wolf?” 

I felt all the blood drain from my face. If the whole clan knew of this truth, it would not only affect me but my entire family. My mother could be killed for knowing the truth and keeping it a secret for so long. 

He took a step back to look at me and let out a deep chuckle. “You look so pathetic, Rowena. Your father wanted to settle his debts with spoiled goods, and he thought I would not notice.”

“Please, do not hurt my mother, Darius, she has nothing to do with any of this,” I pleaded. Everyone in the clan knew that the Varian family had a reputation of cruelty and violence. They were never known to show mercy to anyone at all. They were coldblooded, conniving individuals that no one dared to ever double cross or step out of line with.

He let out another cackle, then looked at me with a sly grin on your face. “But your mother was responsible for reporting your defectiveness to the elders of the clan as soon as she knew. Yet she never did, that makes her as guilty as you.” 

I was powerless to shield my mother from what was coming. The realization hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath and sending hot tears spilling down my cheeks. All my strength, all my defiance—none of it mattered.

Darius laughed at my battered state. “You weep for your mother but I have not yet told you what fate awaits you.” I looked up. What is he talking about? Surely it wouldn't be worse than being a prisoner, I thought to myself. 

Darius knocked on the dungeon door and it was unlocked and opened. Two hefty men then entered and the door was closed again. Through the dim light of the torch, I could see that one of the men was carrying a sack and the other was holding some rope. I could see a symbol on the forearm of one of the men that could only mean one thing, slavers. No one needed to tell me this was an ambush.

Darius could read the fear on my face. “Your father still owes me and my father a lot of money, and since getting married to you didn't work—I have to find other means by which I can get our money back.” With a tilt of his head, Darius ordered the man with the rope to begin tying my feet. 

“I have decided to sell you to recover the debt your father owes. You may not be worth much but I will take anything I can get from you,” Darius said coldly. I saw the evil that ran through his bloodline personified that day. 

I struggled with my captors but it only made the whole ordeal more painful. In a swift act, Darius yanked my mother's sapphire necklace off my neck and I nearly ran mad. “This may be worth something,” he remarked as he admired the jewelry and began to walk towards the dungeon's door. I felt anger rise inside of me like a blazing fire.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and wrestled all the more. I felt something heavy hit me behind my head and then, everything went dark.