NOTE: This book is strictly 18+ rated
'To ascend your father's throne, you need to have a mate. You're to marry him, then we'll crown you as the Luna of the pack.'Sienna's eyelids fluttered open, the elder's words echoing in her mind. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the makeup artist having done a flawless job. Clad in the most beautiful white gown she had ever seen, Arianna couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over her.
It was her wedding day.
Her parents had died two years ago, devastating both her and the pack. With no male heir, Sienna, as the eldest daughter, was destined to lead. But to be crowned, she had to marry. They believed it would strengthening the pack.
Last year, on her twenty-first birthday, the ball ceremony had been held, under the full moon. It was a grand event where wolves met their destined mates. Sienna remembered standing nervously in the corner, watching the scenes unfold.
Then, suddenly, she caught a scent—strong, intoxicating, and utterly overwhelming. It melted her completely, prompting her eyes to search the space frantically. When she spun around, her gaze locked with his.
He stood tall and handsome, his smile making her heart race. As he approached, Sienna's lips parted in awe, her wolf purring in satisfaction. He kissed the back of her hand and whispered that single, powerful word.
"Mate."
His name was Del Farmington, the son of Doris, one of her father's most trusted men who had died in battle. Doris had been known for his loyalty and skill, and Del seemed to have inherited those traits. Sienna had researched him thoroughly, and even the elders had supported the idea of him ruling by her side.
Their love grew, heart connected and all that was left was marriage.
Taking a deep breath, a smile formed on her lips, she just couldn't wait to be Del's official bride. She couldn't wait to have him by her side, as her alpha.
"Sien!" A small voice echoed through the hall. Sienna turned to see her younger sister, Lilah, rushing toward her, her face filled with concern.
"You're really going to marry him?" Lilah asked, her tone sharp. A displeasing look on her face.
Sienna sighed. "Not this again, Lilah. Del is a good man, and I love him—"
"I'm not talking about your feelings. I'm talking about you listening to the elders. They are deceivers and you knew it. It's barely a year since you knew Del, you don't need to rush this..."
Lilah, at sixteen years old, was sharp and stubborn. She had always disliked Del and hated the elders' insistence that Sienna married before ascending to the throne.
"I know the elders can be manipulative, but the Moon Goddess chose Del as my mate. He'll rule beside me," Sienna replied firmly, leaving no room for argument. She walked past her sister, heading toward the grand hall where everyone was waiting.
"Sienna, do you accept Del as your mate and husband to stand beside you as you lead the Blackwood pack to protect and cherish as long as the moon shines above?" the elder asked.
Sienna swallowed the lump in her throat. She felt Del's fingers gently caress the back of her hand, and she smiled. Her heart fluttering.
"I do," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The elder turned to Del. "Del, do you accept Sienna as your mate and wife to stand beside her as she leads the Blackwood pack to protect and cherish her as long as the moon shines above?"
Del's response was swift and steady. "I do."
They were handed chalices, and as the ritual dictated, they dipped their fingers into the sacred water, marking each other's foreheads with the crescent moon symbol.
Lilah watched in protest.
"By the light of the moon and the will of the pack, you are now bound as mates and leaders. May your bond be strong, and may your rule bring prosperity to us," Elder Roman toned.
The hall erupted into cheers and howls as Del claimed Sienna's lips in a tender kiss, a symbol of their union.
Later that night, Del gave Sienna a final thrust, their bodies slick with sweat, the scent of intimacy filling the air. As he released her, Sienna felt the cold air hit her skin, and she pulled the duvet over her body. She watched as Del stood and began to dress.
"You didn't mark me," Sienna whispered, slipping into her nightgown. Del turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"Do I have to?" he asked, his voice cold and distant. Sienna frowned, confused by the sudden change in his demeanor.
"What do you mean? You're my husband, and I've just given you my body."
Del chuckled darkly, the sound sending a chill down Sienna's spine.
"What was that?" Confusion swirling in her gaze as she watched him pulled out a cigarette.
"You still don't get it, do you, Sienna? I've never met anyone as naive as you," he lit it, exhaling a plume of smoke that clouded the air between them. He glanced over his shoulder, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Easy to deceive. The moon goddess made it easier to use you as well."
Sienna's heart sank, his words cutting deep like a dagger. Her mouth hung open, unable to utter a word.
He continued. "My father, Doris, fought alongside your father, Alpha Jaime, for years. And yet, he was betrayed. I was there when your father beheaded mine for a crime he didn't commit. I watched from the woods, crying my heart out. Then Alpha Jaime lied, saying my father died in battle."
"What are you talking about?" Sienna's voice trembled, dread creeping into her heart.
Del's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You know exactly who your father was, Sienna. Should I remind you of how beastly he was?"
"My father was not a beast, and you will not speak ill of him," Sienna snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. Her father had been a strict ruler, but he had loved his people. Everything Del was saying felt like a lie.
"The pack needs a real leader, Sienna. And that's not you."
Before she could react, two hefty guards entered the room. Sienna's heart raced as she scrambled out of bed, unsure of what Del was planning.
"What are you...?" Her voice trailed off as Del spun her around and plunged a dagger into her stomach, his eyes cold and merciless.
Blood spilled from Sienna's lips, her vision blurring with tears as she gasped in pain. This wasn't the Del she had fallen in love with. This was a stranger. A monster.
"I, Del, son of Dirus, reject you, Sienna, daughter of Alpha Jamie, as my mate," he whispered, and Sienna's wolf howled in agony. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
"Accept it," he growled, his voice devoid of compassion.
No. The pain was unbearable.
Sienna a shook her head, tears streaming down her face. She cried out as Del twisted the dagger deeper into her flesh, her blood pooling on the floor. Its metallic scent filling the air.
"Accept it!" he roared, his eyes filled with hatred and disgust.
"I... accept your rejection," she gasped, the words ripping through her soul. The pain was excruciating, like a thousand needles piercing her heart. Del made it worse by yanking the dagger out.
Sienna collapsed to the floor, her body trembling. Her nightgown was soaked with blood, and she struggled to breathe. The dagger had been coated with wolfsbane, preventing her from healing.
Her wolf retreated into hibernation, unable to bear the cruelty of the rejection.
"I hope you understand, Sienna. I had no choice. The pack needs a better ruler," Del said coldly before turning to the guards. "End her and bûrn the body."
Sienna watched as the first guard approached, crouching beside her. Painful whimpers escaped her throat, soft yet filled with agony.
"End her and bûrn the body."
She couldn't believe those words had come from Del's mouth. The man she had given her heart and body to was a traitor, and she was just a pawn to his own game of stealing the throne? The thought made her heart clench even tighter.
"All my life, I've wondered what it would feel like to kill a highborn. It'll be a marvelous feeling, I suppose. Now, I finally get the chance, thanks to Alpha Del," the guard sneered, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Sienna shut her eyes, more tears streaming down her face. She was slipping into darkness, her strength fading quickly. Her breathing was labored, and she knew her condition would worsen if she didn't do something about the wound Del had inflicted.
"But today isn't the day for that," the guard added, and Sienna's eyes fluttered open in confusion.
What?
The second guard stepped forward, wearing the same twisted expression. "You've got a pretty face, eyes, lips, and body. Men would pay a fortune for you."
Sienna's heart sank. She understood now—they were going to sell her. "No, please… just end me," she tried to say, but her voice failed her, barely a whisper escaping her lips.
She needed to think of a way out, but her mind was clouded by pain and betrayal. Her wolf, Mera, was silent, gone into hibernation, offering no help.
The first guard pulled out a vial of liquid. "This will stop the bleeding and put you to sleep. Death would make you useless," he said, pouring the liquid onto her wound. She hissed in pain as it stung her skin.
They forced another vial to her lips, making her drink.
The potion worked quickly, and Arianna's world faded to black.
Her fate… sealed.
"Ladies and gentlemen… welcome to today's exclusive…"
A voice broke through Sienna's unconsciousness as she slowly emerged from the darkness. Her head throbbed, and her eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the bright lights above her.
The voice continued. "It is a pleasure to have you all out here…"
Sienna's vision cleared, and she saw the crowd around her, dressed in extravagant clothing, all eyes fixed on her. Many of the men's gazes were filled with lust.
Where am I?
Memories flooded back—Del's betrayal, right after she had given herself to him. The same mate who had looked her in the eyes, rejected her, and ordered the guards to kill her and burn her body.
Sienna's eyes widened as she tried to move, but she was chained to a metal chair. Panic surged through her, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.
A hand settled on her shoulder. "Easy, Alpha's daughter…" The voice was mocking, and Sienna looked up to see a stranger giving her a condescending squeeze.
What was happening? Were they going to kill her in front of all these people?
"Tonight's auction is a special one. Our item here is Sienna, the first daughter of the late Alpha Thane."
An auction?
Right. The guards hadn't killed her. They had brought her here to be sold like livestock.
Her heart raced rapidly, pounding against her ribcage like a caged animal. Why was this happening? She was supposed to be the next ruler of the Blackwood pack, and now she was about to be sold.
This is disgusting… this is truly disgusting!
Her thoughts drifted to her younger sister, Lilah. Was she safe? What if Del decided to hurt her too?
She had to escape.
"Let me go!" she struggled against the chain, glaring at the man, who only smirked. "Let me go, you bastard, or I'll end you!"
The man laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. "End me? Oh, please," he said, grabbing her hair and yanking her head back. Sienna yelped at the pain that spread through her scalp.
His eyes blazed with anger. "Your father is dead. You're no one now—an exiled wolf with no title. Your pack revealed how you betrayed them by conspiring with the enemy for your own selfish desires… Traitor..."
What?!
Sienna's brow furrowed. Was that the lie the guard had spread? That she was a Traitor?
"They caught you and decided to punish you by bringing you here. The new and true Alpha of the Blackwood pack is now Alpha Del Farmington."
"That's not true! I'm not a traitor!" Sienna shouted, her voice filled with desperation. None of this made sense.
The man ignored her and turned to the audience. "She has the blood of an Alpha running through her veins. She's special and will have many uses."
The way he emphasized "many uses" sent a chill down Sienna's spine. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Please, let me go," she whispered, her voice breaking. Her wound still throbbed, and she remembered how Mera had gone into hibernation after Del's cruel betrayal. The memory reignited her anger. She would make them pay.
All of them.
"Let's see what's underneath!" one of the men in the crowd suddenly shouted, and Sienna's eyes widened in horror, almost popping out of its socket.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and her eyes darted around the room frantically. Are they insane?!
As the demand hung in the air, the host stepped forward, standing in front of her.
"Please…" Sienna shook her head, her voice trembling. The chains seemed to tighten around her, cutting into her skin. "Don't… don't do this… please."
The host smirked, reaching for the hem of her dress. "Shush now, sweetheart. Let's see what a highborn looks like underneath," he sneered, and with a sudden jerk, he ripped her dress open, exposing her.
"You can't do this!" she screamed, her face burning with shame and rage. As if it wasn't enough, the man ripped it further to her abdomen, then knowingly brushed his finger on her cleavage.
"You'll pay for this! All of you!" she roared, struggling against the chains. Laughter echoed through the hall, and Sienna lowered her head, unable to bear the humiliation.
Why? Why was the Moon Goddess so cruel? The shame was unbearable, and her anger boiled over, her cries barely audible.
"Do you like what you see?" the host's voice boomed, and the crowd cheered again. "Let's start the bidding at five million," he announced, and immediately, several hands shot up.
Sienna knew these people were dangerous—high society, rogues, outcasts. She could even sense vampires among them.
"Six million."
"Six and a half."
"Seven million."
The numbers climbed, and Sienna watched, horrified, as the devious men and women placed their bids. It still felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake from.
"30 million!" A voice sounded across, and Sienna's eyes fluttered open wide. She raised her head and spotted an old man who had just seemed to have won the bid...
As their eyes locked, Sienna felt irritated. She was sold, a fate she could never change.
Her life now belonged to another.