Chapter 8: I'm No Longer Your Daughter

Tori’s POV

A few days had gone by since I had been brought to my room.

I had thought that what was waiting for me would be a dilapidated space filled with a decaying smell. However, the sight in front of me made me pause for a moment. The walls inside the room were painted as white as snow, without a single stain or crack. In the corner of the room, there was an old-fashioned yet solid wooden table. The tabletop was wiped spotlessly clean and reflected the soft light.

The window was large, and the glass was bright and clean. The sunlight poured in unobstructed, making the whole room warm and cozy. There was a floral-patterned carpet on the floor, and I felt really warm and comfortable.

The days during these past few days had been unusually peaceful. I no longer had to do those heavy chores, nor did I need to worry about being beaten or scolded. I didn't have to eat spoiled food anymore, either. 

I had never had such a good rest like this before.

The Black Shadow pack was even larger than I had imagined, and they also had a private library. Kas was afraid that I would be bored, so she brought me some books to relieve my boredom. I thought that reading in bed would be a nice choice.

I found a book that told the story of this mysterious breeder. It was said that a breeder would be born every 500 years. He possessed miraculous and awe-inspiring abilities and could give birth to pure-blooded werewolves who were much more powerful than ordinary ones.

Yes, Alpha Cayden needed a powerful heir with pure blood.

When the face of the ruthless Alpha Cayden came to my mind, I couldn't help trembling all over. I wanted to see his charming eyes again, but I was also afraid of him...

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

The door was pushed open gently, and Kas walked in. There was a gentle smile on her face, breaking the silence in the room.

"Hi, I've brought you some things," Kas said as she put a bag on the table. "It's getting cold. I've found a thick sweater and a warm pair of pants for you. You'll feel more comfortable wearing them. And here is some food. There are some Kraft biscuits. I hope you'll like them. And there's chocolate to give you some energy."

Looking at those clothes and food, I said gratefully, "Kas, thank you for taking such good care of me."

"Don't mention it. We'll be friends from now on." Kas walked over and patted me gently on the shoulder.

Friend? 

She was worried about me, I could tell. Not because I was the breeder, but because she truly treated me as her friend.

“Oh, Beta Jace will be by soon to fetch you. Not sure why, but he said just to let you know he was coming.”

I nodded.

Jace had been checking on me almost every day, and I had gotten used to his visits. He normally stayed far enough away for me to feel comfortable. It was hard to believe that the second-in-command of the Black Shadow pack was a well-mannered gentleman.

"I know. I'll take a shower first," I said. "Am I allowed to take a shower?"

"Of course," Kas said.

I gently closed the bathroom door, my shoulders slumping down weakly. Then I quickly kicked the door shut and locked it, as if only this tightly closed door could give me a sense of security.

Leaning against the door, I was in a mess, thinking about what had happened in the past few days. First, I was sold to the Black Shadow pack by my father, and then I was told that I was going to be the Alpha's breeder.

The hot water from the shower head sprayed out, instantly filling the whole room with thick steam. The mirror was also covered with a layer of mist, and everything became foggy.

I numbly took off my dirty clothes that smelled of sweat and exhaustion and threw them casually on the floor, letting the warm water wash over my body.

When I turned off the water heater, I dried my body with a towel and blew my hair dry.

"I'll do a simple makeup for you later," Kas said.

Kas was excited about dressing me up, but I was a bit confused and curious at the moment. When Jace came to visit, he didn't need to inform me in advance. I was always in my room. So why did Kas come to dress me up... unless they wanted me to meet someone...?

...Cayden?

Thinking about Cayden made my heart skip a beat. The touch of his finger, his beautiful eyes...

But then a chill ran down my spine when I remembered the way he had been watching me. Yes, I was under his scrutiny—like a prey being watched by its predator, and like goods being inspected by their new owner. 

I put on my clothes and walked out of the bathroom. Kas was already waiting for me.

"Come on, let me do your makeup for you," Kas said with a smile. She gently applied foundation on my face, and her movements were really gentle.

"Wow, look, even with just a simple layer of foundation on, you're so pretty." Kas praised me.

I looked at myself in the mirror, appearing a bit haggard yet having regained some vitality. I had mixed feelings in my heart. I was weak now, and there were werewolves all around. They possessed such powerful strength that it would be as easy as pie for them to kill me.

I just couldn't figure out why they were being nice to me.

I knew that Kas was just trying to make me feel better, but it didn't work. It wasn't what I wanted in my life. I wanted to be free.

"Relax," Kas said. "The Beta will be here soon. I'll go and get busy now. Don't worry."

Nodding my head, I watched as she gave me a reassuring smile and then disappeared from the room. 

I paced the floor of my lavish room and admired the beautiful view of the outside world from my window. Pack Black Shadow was located at the edge of the forest. The vast green surrounding us would bring peace to any anxious soul.

Would there ever be a day I could run free and feel the soft grass under my feet?

“Tori...”

Jace’s voice from behind me made my breath hitch. Slowly turning around I saw him standing in the open doorway.

“Are you ready?”

No. I didn’t know what was happening, so how could I be ready?

“Um, yes...” My feet moved forward.

I was bought by the Black Shadow pack, but, so far, they hadn’t done anything but nurse me back to health. Ava and Kas tried their best to make me feel at home, and even Jace, stern as he was, respected me and gave me as much personal space as possible.

I followed him down the corridors until we arrived in front of two large white wooden doors. As he pulled the door open, I came face to face with someone I thought I would never see again.

My father.

It took me a few seconds to realize that I wasn’t dreaming. It had only been two weeks, but he seemed to have aged a lot.

I immediately looked at Dad with expectant eyes, hoping that he would open his mouth and plead for me.

Did he change his mind about selling me? Did he come to bring me home?

“Father…”

I stood there. It was the least I had expected, and I didn’t know what else to say or do.

“Tori...”

At first glance, my father looked calmer than I had ever seen him. Yet behind his eyes was something else. “I got word that you are unsure about being a breeder…”

His words shattered my heart. That was the first thing he wanted to say to me. Not to check on how I was doing, not to tell me that he missed me, not to ask me whether I wanted to go home… He only wanted to know whether I had done enough to please my new master.

My heart gradually grew cold. If Dad couldn't protect me, then what was the point of everything? For so many years, Dad had always been like this. He would only lose his temper with the people closest to him. He was so selfish that he could sacrifice his own biological daughter just for money.

Tori, wake up. Your loving father vanished long ago.

Over the past two weeks, I had been combing through my memories of my life since my mother passed away. I had started to accept that the home I used to call home wasn’t the place for me to be.

Yet, when I saw my father again, I immediately tried to fool myself into believing that he still wanted me back and that he still loved me as his daughter. But even though I so wished to believe the lie— reality always brought me back to the truth.

I looked at my father, the one whom I had loved, feared, and tried to take care of for years. I always told myself that it was all the drugs’ fault that he behaved the way he did. Now he was standing in front of me sober, but in his eyes, there wasn’t sorrow or sadness. 

Only frustration and anger just like usual.

If I was back home, I would’ve been on my knees begging for his forgiveness, and then most likely would have received some beating before being released to my room. But for some reason, I didn't feel like there was any reason for me to do that today.

“Father...” I looked him in the eyes. “You told me I was to be a maid, was that true?”

I wasn’t sure where my courage came from, but I was so tired of being lied to. I just want to hear the truth from my family. Just this once.

“You are to be what he wants you to be!” my father yelled at me, causing me to shake in fear.

The shadow of Jace came to stand next to me, and I saw how the fear flooded my father. Jace wasn’t going to allow him to hurt me.

As my father’s expression quickly changed, he softened his voice.

“Look, Tori... If you don’t do this, then our family will be ruined. Alpha Cayden wants a breeder, and I must have got things mixed up...” my father began to say until Jace cleared his throat. “Okay—I lied, okay... but only because I knew you wouldn’t agree.”

As he looked at me for what felt like the first time in years, I realized that I was not afraid of him anymore. I was just bitterly disappointed.

“I’m sorry,” he added unwillingly, glancing over at Jace.

Shock and anger coursed through me.

My father lied to me and sold me. I didn’t have a say in anything, and yet here he was trying to act normal, but only because Jace was here keeping a watchful eye.

“I don’t want to be a breeder...” I whispered, my eyes full of tears. I just wanted to be free.

“Tori... Please.”

My father got to his knees in front of me, begging me to agree.

The action surprised and terrified me. I took a step back.

That was my father, the Alpha of our pack. He was supposed to be all of our strongest protector. He was to be loved and respected at all times.

But, at that moment, I only saw a pitiful old man, someone who would plead with his daughter to exchange herself for money.

What happened to him…? Was he still my beloved father?

Deep, deep sorrow ran through me. It was time for me to wake up, face the truth, and accept who this pitiful old man really was. But I didn’t have the heart to ignore his pleas, no matter how much he had hurt me over the years. They were the pleas of my pack.

What should I do?

It was only a few months… right? Pregnant for a few months, and then I would be free to leave. I could go to a small town and start over, become someone new.

The idea of taking this on broke my heart because I wanted to save myself for my mate. But did I have a choice?

I turned to look at Jace. “What happens if I don’t do this?”

“If you don't, your father doesn’t receive the rest of the payment, and the debt doesn’t go away. Most likely, your father will be killed, and the pack taken over by someone else.”

Wide-eyed, I stared at him in disbelief.

As I looked at my father, I saw a defeated look on his face, and it broke my heart.

My mother’s words ran through my mind. My mate would forgive me one day. It was a sacrifice for my people.

After a moment, I sighed. “If I do this, Father, we are even. My debt to you is paid in full, and this will be my last repayment of family affection.”

His teary eyes looked up at me, almost shocked. “Tori…”

“You’ll no longer have a daughter,” I said firmly, trying to find any courage I had left in me.

I've had enough! A family like this is truly so despairing.

“I understand. Will you do it?” he asked.

My heart broke at that moment.

This was all he cared about... Money.

“I wish you hadn’t come today. That way, I at least…” I murmured to myself.

My father tried to come closer to hear what I said but was stopped by Jace.

“I will do it,” I announced. “I will be the Alpha’s Breeder.”

My words were soft but held great weight.

Joy filled my father's face. My eyes slowly left his as I turned to Jace.

“May I please go back to my room?” I asked him, no longer wanting to be in my father’s presence.

“Yes, of course, Miss Tori.”

Jace turned with me and walked me toward the door that led back to my room. 

I couldn’t help but stop in the doorway, though, and look back at my father, who was now on the phone smiling and talking to someone. Probably Nancy.

He was happy, and it killed me.

My father… was supposed to think about me before himself, and he never did.

Did he ever even love me?

My cruel father... It would be the last time I see him.

After this, I would no longer have any family.