MIRA'S POV
Three weeks pass since Kael announced Lyssa as his second Luna.
Three weeks of walking through the Silverwood pack house like a ghost. Three weeks of trying to disappear into the walls so nobody has to look at her broken face. Three weeks of pretending that her entire life has not collapsed into nothing.
The other Lunas laugh openly now. Lyssa walks past her in the hallways with that fake smile and sometimes she reaches out like they are friends, her hand touching Mira's arm while her eyes cold and empty. The mockery is worse than the rejection because at least the rejection was honest.
The warriors are brutal in training.
They corner her deliberately. Challenge her just to watch her fail. Record videos of her getting knocked down repeatedly and laugh while they watch the footage at dinner. One warrior named Torrin actually cheers when he pins her to the ground. The whole dining hall erupts in laughter.
By the third week Mira stops going to training altogether.
Her parents have not spoken to her since the gathering. When she passes them in the halls they look through her like she is transparent. At pack dinners they sit far away. When her mother sees her, she actually flinches like Mira's weakness might be contagious.
Mira eats alone now. Sleeps alone. Exists in the spaces between other people's lives.
She tells herself this is temporary. Tells herself something will change. Tells herself that eventually she will matter again to someone.
It is a lie she barely believes anymore.
That night her parents come to her quarters after dark. She is not expecting them. They have not spoken to her in weeks so when the knock comes, she knows immediately that something terrible is happening.
They come inside without waiting for permission. Her father looks uncomfortable like he is about to do something he knows is wrong. Her mother looks cold and sharp, like a knife.
Mira stands up from where she was sitting by the window.
"What is wrong," she asks, though she already feels it. The wrongness in the air. The finality in their expressions.
"We need to talk about your future," her father says carefully.
They take seats on her couch like this is a normal conversation. Like they are not about to destroy her.
"We have had some difficulties," her father continues, choosing each word slowly. "Financial difficulties that have become very serious."
Mira's stomach drops. She knows exactly where this is heading.
Her mother speaks before Mira can ask what she means. Her voice is sharp and cold.
"Your father has a gambling problem. It has been going on for years. We hid it from everyone but now the debts have grown so large that there is no hiding anymore."
Mira stares at her father. He will not meet her eyes.
"How much," Mira whispers.
"More than we can ever repay," her father says. "The people we owe money to are not the kind of people who accept excuses or payment plans. They want to be paid in full. Now. And we do not have that money."
Her mother leans forward like this is a business transaction she is explaining.
"We have spent the last week trying to find solutions," her mother says flatly. "Talking to pack members. Asking for loans. Trying to find some way out of this. There is no way. We have explored every option."
"What are you saying," Mira asks, though she knows. God help her, she already knows.
"We found someone willing to take the debt," her father says quietly.
Mira's hands clench into fists. Her nails dig into her palms.
"We found someone willing to forgive what we owe in exchange for something they want," her mother continues, her voice carrying no emotion at all. "They are willing to wipe away our entire debt if we give them what they are asking for."
"What are they asking for," Mira says but the words come out like ice.
Her parents exchange a look. Some silent communication passes between them.
"You," her father says.
The word hangs in the air between them like a poisoned knife.
Mira starts to laugh but it comes out broken and wrong. She stands up because sitting feels impossible. She needs to move. Needs to do something with the panic flooding through her body.
"You are joking," she says. "Tell me you are joking."
"We are not joking," her mother says flatly.
"You cannot sell me," Mira says, and even as she speaks the words she knows they are useless. Of course they can. They are doing it right now.
"We already have," her father says quietly. "The contract was signed three days ago. The debt is forgiven. The money is handled. Everything is settled."
Mira's vision starts to blur.
"What contract," she demands. "Who did you sell me to."
"The Shadow Pack," her mother says with no inflection whatsoever. Like she is reading from a list of groceries. "They control rogue territories outside the pack system. They have resources and they have indicated interest in acquiring certain assets. You qualify as an asset they are willing to pay for."
The words do not make sense. Asset. Acquiring. These are not words used to describe a person. These are words used to describe property.
"They are sending someone to collect you tomorrow at dawn," her father continues. "You need to be ready. Do not make this difficult."
Mira moves toward the door. She cannot breathe in this room anymore. She cannot stand to look at these people who created her and are now trading her away like she is worthless.
"Where are you going," her mother asks, not like she cares but like she is making sure Mira understands the situation.
"Away from you," Mira says.
"You will be ready at dawn," her mother calls after her, no warmth in her voice at all. "The Shadow Pack does not appreciate being kept waiting."
Mira leaves her quarters and moves through the dark pack house corridors like a hunted animal. Her heart is pounding. Her hands are shaking. Everything feels unreal and terrible and impossible.
By tomorrow she will belong to someone else.
By tomorrow she will be property instead of a person.
She moves outside into the cold night air. The garden where she used to walk with Kael is empty and dark. She stands in the middle of it and realizes with terrible clarity that no one is coming to save her. Kael is with Lyssa. Her parents have sold her. No one has ever actually wanted her.
This is her life now. This is what she deserves.
Mira hears a vehicle pull up to the pack house. Heavy. Powerful. The sound of the Shadow Pack coming to collect what they have purchased.
She should run. Should try to escape or hide or fight.
Instead she just stands there in the darkness, waiting for her new owners to come and claim her.
She does not have the strength to run anymore.
Within an hour she is in the back of a transport vehicle, her hands bound with zip ties, her body numb with shock. The guards do not speak to her. Do not acknowledge her except to push her into the vehicle.
The last thing she sees of Silverwood is the pack house disappearing into darkness behind her.
She will never see it again.