Chapter 3

Isolde's POV

We stormed through the mansion like a vengeful hurricane – me leading the charge, Sybilla right behind me clutching a hastily thrown-on robe, Kieran stumbling to keep up while still pulling on his shirt, and my stepmother trailing behind us in her silk pajamas.

Dad's study door was slightly ajar, warm light spilling into the dark hallway. I could hear him inside, probably drowning himself in another bottle of whatever expensive liquor he hadn't sold off yet.

"Dad!" I kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

He looked up from his leather chair, a crystal tumbler halfway to his lips. His eyes were bloodshot, his usually perfect hair disheveled. When he saw all four of us standing there, his face went from confusion to terror in seconds.

"Isolde? What are you all—"

"Cut the bullshit," I interrupted, my voice cutting through the air like a knife. "We know about the harem."

The glass slipped from his fingers, whiskey splashing across his expensive desk.

"The what?" he stammered, but I could see the guilt written all over his face.

"The Moon Alliance Program," Sybilla said, her voice shaking with fury. "You sold us to a fucking harem!"

Dad's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "Girls, you don't understand—"

"Then explain it!" I stepped forward, and he actually flinched. "Explain how you signed away your daughters to be some Alpha's sex slaves!"

"It's not like that!" he protested desperately. "The Moon Alliance Program is a prestigious opportunity—"

"To be locked up and fucked whenever some werewolf Alpha feels like it?" Sybilla shrieked. "That's prestigious?"

My stepmother finally found her voice. "Alaric, tell me this isn't true. Tell me you didn't really—"

"I had no choice!" Dad exploded, jumping to his feet so fast his chair toppled backward. "The program provides luxury accommodations, education, so many opportunities—"

"While we spread our legs for the Alpha whenever he wants," I finished for him.

Dad's face crumpled. "I thought... I hoped maybe one of you would catch his attention, become his Luna. Think of the power, the status—"

"Think of the fucking humiliation!" Sybilla screamed. "You want us to compete for the chance to be some stranger's wife?"

Kieran, who had been silent throughout this exchange, finally spoke up. "Maybe... maybe we could find another way. Run away tonight, before the car comes."

We all turned to stare at him.

"Run where?" I demanded. "With what money? And you think they'll just forget about the debt?"

My stepmother was pacing now, her perfect composure completely shattered. "There has to be something we can do. Some legal recourse—"

"Against the Silver Moon?" Dad laughed bitterly. "That’s the Lycan King we’re talking about!"

"So that's it?" I turned on him, fury burning in my chest. "You just sell us and wash your hands of it?"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Dad shouted back. "Let them kill me? Let them come after you anyway?"

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by my stepmother's quiet sobbing and the tick of Dad's antique grandfather clock.

We could shift, Lyra suggested darkly. Run into the woods, live wild.

And then what? I asked her. Spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders?

Kieran cleared his throat nervously. "Look, maybe if we just talked to them, explained the situation—"

"Explained what?" Sybilla whirled on him. "That we don't want to be sex slaves? I'm sure they'll be very understanding."

"Maybe if we offered to work for Silver Moon Group in some other capacity—"

"Kieran," I said quietly, "shut the fuck up. You don't get a vote here."

Just then, car doors slammed outside. Multiple car doors.

We all froze.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Dad whispered, his face going white.

I moved to the window and peered through the curtains. Three black SUVs were parked in our circular driveway, engines still running. Men in dark suits were getting out, their movements coordinated and purposeful.

"Shit," I breathed.

"What is it?" Sybilla rushed to look over my shoulder.

The front door of the house opened without anyone knocking. Heavy footsteps echoed through the foyer, heading straight for the study.

"Mr. Blackwood," a deep, authoritative voice called out. "We need to talk."

A tall man appeared in the doorway, his presence immediately commanding the room. Behind him stood four other men, all looking like they could snap a person in half without breaking a sweat.

"Beta Nathaniel," Dad stammered, trying to stand straighter. "I wasn't expecting you until—"

"I thought it prudent to clarify a few things before tomorrow morning." Nathaniel said curtly, his cold gaze sweeping over all of us.

"Let me be crystal clear," Nathaniel continued, pulling out a thick folder from his jacket. "The contract is ironclad. Signed, witnessed, and sealed. Any attempt to breach it will result in severe consequences."

"What kind of consequences?" my stepmother asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Nathaniel's smile widened, showing just a hint of fang. "The kind that you will never want to face again."

"You can't force us," Sybilla said, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Actually, we can. But the Lycan King prefers willing compliance." Nathaniel gestured to his men. "So let me make this simple. Tomorrow morning at eight AM, a car will arrive. You will get in it willingly, or we will make sure you get in it anyway. The choice is how much dignity you retain in the process."

"So what now?" I asked, surprised by how steady my voice sounded.

"Now, you spend tonight saying your goodbyes," Nathaniel said. "Because once you leave tomorrow, there's no telling when you'll see this place again."

He turned to Dad, his voice becoming businesslike. "The final payment has been transferred to your accounts, Mr. Blackwood. Consider your debts settled."

"And if we refuse to go tomorrow?" I asked.

Nathaniel's eyes met mine, and I saw something cold and predatory there. "Then we come back. And next time, we won't be nearly so polite."

As Nathaniel's men filed out, he paused at the doorway and looked back at us.

"Eight AM sharp, ladies. Don't keep us waiting.You'll be provided with everything you need," Nathaniel said, "Silver Moon Group prides itself on... accommodating its special guests."

The front door closed with a finality that seemed to echo through the entire house.

We stood in the study, the weight of our situation settling over us like a suffocating blanket. This was really happening. Tomorrow, we were really going.