Chapter 7 Only Regret

"Stay here. Move an inch, and I'll make you dance like a headless chicken," Demon said, his voice cold and detached. Before I could say anything, he banged the door shut, making me flinch in my seat.

My eyes lingered outside the window, freedom whispering sweet tales in my ears. I shut my eyes. If I escaped now, I might get caught.

The best strategy is to lie low for now.

…

(Third POV)

"Alpha, your attention is needed urgently," came his beta's annoyed voice over the mind link.

His face turned grim, irritation flickering through his eyes. "Stay here, move an inch, and I'll make you dance like a headless chicken," he said before stepping out of the car.

He strode across the open field, making his way to Alpha Caelen's main mansion.

When he entered the room, he intentionally let his oppressive aura creep into every corner of the walls.

His beta walked towards him, standing by his side. "I tried to tell him the message you sent, but he is not willing to believe me."

Damon stared at his Beta, annoyed that he could not handle the old stubborn man.

"Alpha Damon, what do you mean by your message? Are you not going to pay the money you bid?" Caelen's eyes squinted, fury dancing in it.

Damon's lips curved up into a mischievous smirk. "Of course I'll pay," he said tauntingly as he walked towards him. He stopped a few steps away from Alpha Caelen.

He tilted his head, frowning in displeasure. "It's just that I realized my slave has been inflicted with several injuries. So she isn't worth that amount of money."

Alpha Caelen muttered curses under his breath. "Since the damage is done, how much are you willing to pay now?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Hmm…" Damon raised his head, squinting his eyes as if he was in deep thought. "Five hundred thousand silver coins," he shamelessly said.

Alpha Caelen's skin shifted, his beast right on its edge, ready to pounce on him. He took a deep breath. "That's too low."

"Take it or leave it," Damon snapped at him, his dark eyes turning cold. He was already done playing the cat-and-mouse game.

Alpha Caelen growled at him.

Damon scoffed. "You wouldn't want to do that," he warned, using his Alpha voice.

This made Alpha Caelen keep his wolf in check. "Fine," he said angrily. It was best to send her away, so it didn't matter how much she was sold for.

Damon waved his hand to his Beta, signaling him to bring the money.

His Beta, Alaric, brought a bag of coins, handing it over to Alpha Caelen.

"It was nice doing business with you," Damon said, his lips tugging slightly up.

With that said, Damon and Alaric made their way to the car.

"You're a genius, Damon. I can't believe you were able to pay so little for her," Alaric said, his eyes gleaming with awe.

"It is the rule of business. I can't pay the full amount for broken goods. And besides, Alpha Caelen seemed desperate to sell his daughter off." He hummed.

"Why? If he wants to get rid of her that desperately, why did you buy her?"

"Too many questions," he growled.

Alaric only smiled at his annoyance. "So why did you buy her then? She might be trouble."

"Because I'm in need of a pet," he drawled.

Alaric rolled his eyes inwardly at him. 'Liar.'

When they reached their car, Damon scoffed when he perceived her scent. He was a little surprised that she had been obedient.

…

(Ember Pov)

As I sat in the car waiting for my new master… I mean for Alpha Damon, my mind wandered to everything that I had been through lately.

I felt a tug of pain in my chest as the thoughts of my parents crossed my mind. I knew they would be very broken when they learned of my death.

Tears trickled down my eyes. I wished I had been a good daughter to them. I shouldn't have been a stubborn brat, now I have made them worried.

My heart clenched with pain. I just wished I could go back and right every wrong I had made. My only regret is not being filial enough to my parents.

My shoulders trembled from the grief that was burning in my soul.

Now I've been given a second chance, and I don't know why. Was this supposed to be a chance for redemption?

But I see no path of redemption in front of me. The memories of the former owner of the body flashed through my mind again.

Ember Salvatore, she would be turning 18 in two months. She had lived a life of slavery even though her father was the Alpha of the pack.

She had been bullied several times by her family and every other pack member.

The beta's son, Charles, had been bullying her since she was young.

She saw how submissive she was, scared to utter a word of defense, afraid to annoy her father, and she would rather bury herself in the wall than see the hate in her father's gaze.

When she learned that she was to be auctioned as a breeder to the Alphas, she decided to escape. But unfortunately, she was caught.

She was beaten up so badly that she died in the prison, and that was how I came to possess her body.

More tears flowed down my eyes, snot dripping from my nose. These memories were so painful, and now I can feel everything she felt in those moments.

I was the only one who could carry her memories, the only one who remembered that she once lived.

I jumped in my seat when the door suddenly swung open, my swollen, shocked eyes staring directly into Damon's dark eyes.

The displeasure in his eyes made me quickly look away. 'What a mess.' I was never the one to cry, but the burden I was carrying was too heavy for me to keep it all in.