(This novel is a mix of 1st and 3d POV)
ELITH
What could be worse than the life of a breeder slave? When the slave is a wolfless runt––a human with no wolf, a powerless creature whose only fate is to suffer, no matter the blood running in her veins.
I was the only daughter of my parents––the Alpha and Luna of the Silver Fang Pack. Though I was born weak and without a wolf, my life had never been difficult. Until my parents were killed during a hunt, and my uncle took over as the alpha of the pack.
Blood is thicker than water––I used to hear that saying quite often. For my uncle, blood meant nothing until it was spilt.
***
"The decision is final," Bill Wayne, my uncle and the Alpha of our pack, said in a cold voice as his brows furrowed with disgust. "What do I need a useless runt for? I can't even marry you off to anyone because no alpha heir would ever want a human as their mate!"
I stood speechless, my heartbeat drumming in my ears, my stomach tied in knots.
Yes, I was a wolfless runt, utterly useless to the pack or my uncle personally. I had been living my life quietly, never asking or demanding anything, never showing any signs of wanting a title or inheritance, so why..?
"... why does it have to be like this?"
He almost burst into laughter as he heard my weak voice, his dark eyes glistening with cruel mockery.
"The slave traders have offered me good money for you. You might be wolfless, but you are still the alpha's heir. Whatever they have in store for you, I guess your lineage was of some interest to them."
I felt my blood run cold. The fear began to freeze me from the inside, threatening to tear me apart if I was as much as to take another shallow breath.
My own uncle, the man who swore to protect me, has sold me into slavery. Just like that. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about that.
"Uncle, I––"
He didn't let me finish. Rising to his feet, he let his beast take over just long enough to nearly bring me to my knees, and once again, I was reminded of my own powerlessness.
"Don't make me do it the hard way, Elith," he growled, baring his fangs at me. "I can't hurt you simply because it will take you too long to heal, and there is no fucking way I'm giving this money back."
With that, the darkness surrounding him faded, and he sat back in his chair, his narrowed eyes firmly fixed on my trembling form.
"Go to your room and wait. The traders will arrive at midnight, and I want them in and out of here, understood? Now scram."
I couldn't even tell how I got back to my room, but when I finally got back to my senses, it was already dark, and I had spent almost five hours sitting in the corner like a frightened mouse.
I was sold. I was about to become a slave. What was waiting for me out there? I knew all about it, yet I couldn't bring myself to admit it.
A sudden, light knock made me flinch and snap my head towards the door. My body tensed, every muscle tightening with fear, but as I heard the voice of the person standing outside my room, an instant wave of relief washed over me, and I nearly melted onto the floor.
"Miss Elith, it's Amy. May I come in?"
"Y-yes, come in."
Amy was my personal maid and the only friend I had in this pack. I was a timid and awkward child, so making friends was never easy for me, especially since not many wolves were thrilled to be friends with a wolfless girl like me.
Amy was just an omega servant, a few years older than me, yet once she was assigned to be my maid, she showed me nothing but kindness, always acting like an older sister.
It was thanks to her that I learned that there was kindness in this world, and I was always grateful to her for that.
"Miss Elith, are you alright?" Amy asked as she rushed to my side, flicking her fingers over the switch that turned my bedside lamp on. "You didn't ask for dinner, so I was worried you were sick!"
Seeing Amy's worried face and hearing her sweet voice finally broke me. Tears rolled down my cheeks––heavy and hot––and I felt like I was about to choke on every single emotion I had kept bottled up until this very moment.
"Goddess, Miss Elith! What happened?" She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into her warm embrace.
I wanted to tell her everything, but I feared I had lost my ability to speak as my shoulders and chest kept shuddering, making it hard for me to even think.
"Please, talk to me, Miss Elith!" Amy's voice grew more concerned, so I summoned all the strength I had left in me, and finally managed, "I'm sold... He sold me... to be a slave."
"What..?"
Amy's grip around my shoulders tightened, and I could feel her body mirroring my fright.
"It's alright," she whispered after a long pause, and although her voice was trembling, something in her tone was firm and strangely decisive.
"It's alright, Miss Elith," she reassured me again, offering me a light pat on the head. Then, she gently pushed me away so that our eyes could meet, and declared, "This won't happen, Miss Elith. I have a plan."