CHAPTER 3

　　ERSA'S POV:-

　　A splash of water woke me up. Gasping loudly in surprise, I say up on the ground. Unlike usual, I woke up on the warm and cosy carpeted floor instead of the dusty ground of the dungeons. I looked around and found myself in a room that was too dark for my eyes to get adjusted within a few minutes. The bright light coming from the door made it almost impossible for me to get adjusted to the darkness around me.

　　A tall man was standing in front of me. There was something in his hands that he was clutching tightly. A moment later, he threw a long dress on me. And the shopping bag he was holding in his other hand, was thrown on the ground.

　　"You have fifteen minutes to get ready and come downstairs. A second over and I will rip your throat out." I heard my father's threatening voice and my insides started to tremble.

　　I looked at the dress under the light and my eyes widened. It was actually a revealing dress. "Father! Why would you want me to dress up like a whore?" I asked my father out of confusion. I kept my gaze on the ground to avoid his gaze.

　　A menacing chuckle made my soul tremble. "Because you have been sold to an Alpha as his breeder. For the sake of my pack and its people, I should sacrifice you." My father answered my question and my eyes widened in horror.

　　It was always like this. I was the only one who had to be sacrificed. As if they got me just for the sacrifices. Something snapped into me for the very first time. I felt this ultimate burning rage inside me. I stood up, clutching tightly onto the dress. "No more! Not any more. If you want anyone to be sacrificed for your pack, it will not be me. I have sacrificed enough. But this, I won't allow anyone to take that decision from me." I howled angrily at my father, fuming in anger.

　　I was not sure from where I got the strength to defy him so boldly. I didn't even tremble while telling him off. Growling angrily, my father walked towards me slowly. I could feel anger imitating him but I held my ground so strongly.

　　A sharp slap collided with my cheek, making me fall on the ground. "You worthless piece of trash! Did you really think I was asking for your permission? I was telling you my fucking decision." My father hissed at me angrily.

　　Instead of backing down, I stood in front of him bravely. "And I am telling you mine. If any man can touch me, that will only be Beta Jamie. No one else. I will not do it. Ask your precious daughter to do it." I told him my decision, holding my ground as firmly as I could. The fear of getting murdered mercilessly was hanging on top of my head but I didn't back down.

　　My father suddenly started laughing as he heard me. He pulled his phone out and went through his phone. Then he turned the screen towards me. I frowned in confusion as I saw Jamie on the screen. "This is a live video. And the people following him are carrying a silver bullet. One signal from me and they will blow Jamie's head off. Now tell me, what is it going to be? Your sacrifice? Or Jamie's?" My father asked me in a menacing tone that shook my soul.

　　Tears welled up in my eyes as I knew that my father was not bluffing. That three day visit was giving me creeps when Jamie told me about it.

　　I fell on the ground and grabbed my father's leg. "I will do exactly what you asked me. Please, I beg you. Don't hurt Jamie. He is the only one I have." Crying crazily, I begged my father to spare Jamie's life.

　　Laughing menacingly, my father kicked me off. "You only have ten minutes now. Get ready and get your ass downstairs. A second up and you will hear Jamie's head be blown off." My father threatened me as he turned around and walked away. As he left, I fell on the ground and started crying.

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　　I wrapped up the paper that I wrote for Jamie. No matter what happened to me, I needed him to know why I had to leave. I explained everything in that small letter. I had planned to leave it at Jamie's home along with the key he left me.

　　Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs. The letter and the key to Jamie's door were stuck in my bra so I could leave it. My father smiled softly for the very first time in my life as he opened one of his arms for me.

　　I couldn't believe he would put up a show for whoever he sold me to. My soul was trembling with fear for my future. "Alpha Renard, meet my precious youngest child, Ersa Laurent. I raised her like a princess." My father spoke and I almost laughed out loud.

　　"Raised me like a princess! He never even asked me if I ate throughout the day." I thought to myself but remained silent.

　　"Ersa sweetheart, bow before your new Alpha. Alpha Renard LaBête." My father ordered me. As I heard the name of the alpha, my soul left my body.

　　I pulled away from my father, staring at the alpha's face with utter horror. "No! Not him! You didn't say it was the Beast. You can't do this." I tried to get away from the beast while begging my father to have some mercy on me.

　　I might have lived my life within four walls of the alpha's villa. But every corner of the world, even the creatures buried deep in the ground were aware of what kind of merciless beast Alpha Renard was. "You said your daughter was aware of everything and she is ready to go." Alpha Renard asked my father angrily.

　　His voice and the anger in his tone made me lose my balance on the ground. I fell on the ground, trembling in fear. "No! Not the demon wolf. Please, father." I grabbed my father's foot and begged him not to do this. Maybe I was still hopeful that my father could actually have a little mercy on me.

　　"What is all this, Alpha Canis? I made it clear that I…" Alpha Renard asked my father angrily. But my father didn't let him complete his sentence.

　　"Everything is under control, Alpha Renard. Let me talk to her in private for a minute. That's all I need." My father interrupted Alpha Renard as he grabbed my arm a little too tightly. I winced in pain but my father didn't care. He forced me up on my feet again and pulled me to the corner.

　　He was trying to keep up with the show in front of Alpha Renard for some reason. I didn't understand why he had to lie to Alpha Renard. As soon as we were out of Alpha Renard's sight, my father pulled his phone out and showed me the live stream yet again.

　　My heart clenched at the sight. I saw Jamie lying on a bed, all bruised up and his clothes were covered in blood. "I made it happen just in case you would create a fuss. Now if you utter another word, you will see your precious Jamie losing his life." My father whispered in my ear as I watched Jamie wincing in pain.

　　Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at my father. "Please, don't hurt Jamie. I will do whatever you ask me. Just don't hurt him. He did nothing wrong." I begged my father as the fear squeezed my heart. Fear of Jamie getting hurt because of me.

　　It was going to be the deepest pain in my heart that he got beaten up because of me. I didn't want to have any more burdens on my shoulders. My father smiled slightly as he placed one of his hands on my head. "Good girl. Now you will do as you are asked. Or your precious Jamie will suffer. Keep that in your mind." My father threatened me again as he wiped my tears.

　　Gulping hard, I bowed my head. I had no other choice. My father pulled me back to the main hall where Alpha Renard was. Holding my breath, I walked in front Alpha Renard and bowed my head. "I submit to my new Alpha, Alpha Renard LaBête." I whispered softly, trying to keep my head down so no one would see my tears.

　　"It's settled then. I should get going now. We are good to go." Alpha Renard said and two of his men grabbed me by my arms. I was pulled out of the Alpha's villa. While my father and Alpha Renard were talking.