Heart Broken, Bartered, But Loved

Chapter 1

Alexandra’s POV-

It has been six months since Kayley went missing. In three weeks, it will be my nineteenth birthday. I was eager to celebrate my birthday far away from here, especially after what Eric and I discovered. One night, when I was working at the packhouse, I was able to get a memory stick for all the files. They were encrypted. We managed to get paper copies of the files too. Eric and I were home alone, it was sunset. With everything we had gathered together, it was time for me to leave. I wanted Eric to come with me, but he wouldn’t. He wanted to stay and cover for me.

“I still want you to come with me,” I said.

“I know, Lexi, but I want to stay behind and cover for you. It would be safer if someone you can trust covered for you,” he replied.

“Fine, but you have to watch your back. Keith and Theodore work with vampires. That is dangerous for them, let alone their families,” I whispered.

“I know. But their dealings with the vampires are all over what we found. We even know that they were making sure you stayed pure, so that they could give you to vampires when you turned twenty. You need to leave, your nineteen in a few weeks, hopefully you can find your mate far away from here.” Eric whispered.

“It still disgusts me. I hate this. I hate having to leave you.” I said, wrapping my arms around my brother for a hug.

He hugged me back, and said, “I know, but you need to do this. You can’t stay here; it is not safe anymore.”

“Well, what do I take?” I asked.

He grabbed my duffle bag, and said, “Put some clothes in this.”

Before he gave it to me, he stuffed the paperwork and memory stick inside a shirt of mine, before putting it at the bottom of the bag. I passed him clothes to put inside the bag. We were quiet while we packed my bag, so much had happened in the past few months. After Kayley and her family disappeared, the disappearances increased. Almost half the girls in my class at school had disappeared, along with their families. None of the houses were burned down, but they had disappeared. We found paperwork and transactions of sales on she-wolves and werewolves. What they were being sold for was still a mystery. We did have drop of locations, though. Almost all males go to one location. But some were taken to another location. All the females were taken to a single location. We had emails and letters between Theodore Raven and an Ivan Craven. I guess he was a vampire. Eric thought he might be a vampire, most likely some high-ranking vampire. We found out that Mum was right that Theodore and Keith, my own father, were going to sell me when I turned twenty to that Ivan. Sell me as a breeder to this vampire. There were plans to overthrow Blood Moon and the Lycan Council. Their plans seemed to be on schedule with the fact that two weeks ago vampires began attacking the Lycan Council. So, it was now or never for me to leave and get to the Lycan Council for help, show them what Theodore and Keith were up to with those vampires.

Just as we finished packing the bag, the war howl sounded. The war howl was a howl that only the Alpha could do. It could only be heard by those in that Alpha’s pack. We have to listen to the howl, there is no way around it. We had no choice but to go to the packhouse. I hated that he was making that howl now.

“Why is he sounding the war howl?” I asked Eric.

“James mindlinked me, we are under attack. Apparently, Blood Moon attacked our i***t father, and he retaliated, so now they are coming to attack us. We need to get down there.” he replied.

I nodded; this isn’t exactly how I saw this evening going. I buried the duffle bag under the bed, made sure it was well hidden. We left and headed towards the packhouse. All two thousand of the pack members were there. We headed straight to the front, where Tristan was waiting. Tristan looked worried, and asked, “Do you know what is going on?”

“Yes, we do…” I replied.

But before I could continue, a very pissed off Alpha Raven came out of the pack house. Our father was right beside him. Eric and I exchanged looks. We were waiting to see what lies he would spout to everyone. Eric and I have to make our plan based on what Alpha's next move is.

“We are under attack. A Blood Moon member crossed our pack lands, and attacked our Beta Blake, while we patrolled our lands. The Blood Moon member ran off wounded. We are now under attack from them. So, all the elderly, women and children must remain in the basement of the packhouse, until us men, anyone over the age of sixteen, will go to war. We will win, and take over Blood Moon. Our pack will become the biggest in America. We could call all the packs. I want all the women and children to go down to the basement now. Any male over the age of sixteen prepare to go to war.” Alpha Raven yelled out to us all.

The women and children began saying their goodbyes to their mates, fathers, brothers, and sons. Our father approached us, and I immediately said, “Dad, I want to join the battle. I have completed my training. I am one of your best warriors, and you know it.”

“NO! You will stay here,” he replied.

“With the women and children, you still think I am that weak,” I scoffed.

“No, I don’t think you are weak, but I will not let you fight. You need to stay here. You can be the last line of defense for the elderly, women and children. None of them can fight, they need protection,” he said.

“Fine, I will stay behind.” I sighed.

My biological father is a sexist criminal who is supposed to be a Beta. He will never deserve that title. Eric pulled me in for a hug at that moment, as he mindlinked me, “I know you want to fight, but take this opportunity to run. Once we are no longer in sight, run home to get the bag, then leave, and don’t look back.”

Zira was pacing inside my mind; she was sensing something. She shook her head, “We can’t leave yet, but we can’t stay behind.”

“What do you mean?” I asked her.

“It is just a feeling,” she said, before lying down.

“I can’t leave, not until this battle is over. I have to know that you are alive. Zira won’t let me go, she feels like we should be in the battle.” I told Eric, in the mindlink.

“Alright, but you must stay here, until we are gone, and then follow, stay in the trees. Hidden from everyone, if you join the battle. Dad and the Alpha know exactly what color your wolf is. They will be mad. I also know that they don’t want any other pack to know that you are a white wolf.” Eric replied, in the mindlink.

“I don’t care. But I will hide away in the trees, the entire battle, unless you or Tristan need my help.” I said.

“Fine, but be careful,” he smiled.

Tristan came over to us at that point, and he smiled, opening his arms, offering me a hug. I wrapped my arms around him, and squeezed him. He did the same. He leaned down close to my ear, and whispered, “We need to talk after this battle. I need to tell you something important.”

Oh, God. I nodded at him, before letting him go. I had suspected for some time that he had feelings for me. But he does know that I am waiting for my mate. I guess he is hoping that if he wins this battle, then I might see him in a new light. I couldn’t love him. He just wasn’t my type. My type was tall, muscular, and dark. Dark eyes and hair. A guy with a god-like build. Tristan was sweet, tall and a good-looking guy, but I only ever saw him as a brother. I don’t think I could ever see him in that way. I wanted to wait for my mate, whoever that may be. Zira always believed our mate would be someone of importance. Either way, I didn’t care if he was or not, I wanted to find my fated mate.

A voice came from behind me, almost making me jump out of my skin, but in truthful the voice made me cringe, “Lexi, could I speak to you in private a minute?”

We are around to find the one person, I hate more than anything else right now. James. The cheating, lying swine himself.

“No, you really can’t.” Tristan responded, trying to step between us.

“Tristan, it is okay. I can handle his cheating arse.” I replied.

James led me to the side of the packhouse to speak to me. He came to a sudden stop, turned around and slammed his lips against mine. For a split second, all my feelings for him came rushing back, but my hatred for him prevailed. I shoved him as hard as I could away from me. He stumbled backwards; I was so furious that I slapped him.

“How f*****g dare you! You cheated on me. Now you kiss me.” I spat, before turning on my heels and beginning to walk away.

He grabbed my wrist, and said, “Lexi, please wait. If you ever once felt anything for me, then just listen to what I have to say.”

“Fine, but make it quick.” I growled, glaring at him.

“I am sorry for kissing you. I just wanted to feel your lips again. I still love you. You mean everything to me. I want you to know, that if I survive this, I will never stop trying to make up for what I did. I tried to help before but this time I will do better, I promise.” he said, his voice low.

Was he seriously trying to woo me back to him? It won’t work. I can’t be with a guy who cheats and then lies to me about it. I growled, “What do you mean you tried to help before?”

“I found out what my father was doing after you broke up with me. I tried to warn Kayley and her family, told them to run. But my father got there first,” he whispered.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you texted me to come over, and when I get there, I find you screwing another girl.” I growled.

“I never texted you. I wouldn’t have had s*x with her or anyone, for that matter. But the girl was in heat, I was powerless against that,” he said.

Why the hell would I believe a word that came out of his mouth, seriously? He is a cheating jerk. I wouldn’t trust him, ever again.

“I wouldn’t have been there if you didn’t. Maybe you just forgot. Either way, what makes you think I would believe a word that comes out of your mouth? Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get back to the people who actually do care about me.” I retorted, yanking my wrist from his grip.

“Lexi, please, I really did try to save your best friend. I still love you.” he said.

“I don’t love you, and I will never believe you. One day soon I will find my mate, and you will be but a distant memory,” I replied, walking away.

I returned to the front of the packhouse, some of the women were beginning to filter inside, and down to the basement. Many of the women were crying, and a lot of the children were wailing with tears streaming down their plump little faces. Eric came straight over to me, and placed his hands on my shoulders, crouching down to my level. I am five feet seven inches tall, but Eric is six feet four inches tall. So, there was a bit of a size different. He asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am fine.” I replied.

“What did he do?” he pressed me.

“He kissed me. I shoved him away, and slapped him. We talked. He lied some more. I will tell you later,” I said.

He nodded, “Alright, you say the word, and I will knock him out.”

“It is fine. I can handle him and his bullshit.” I smiled.

“We need to get you and the rest of the women and children into the basement in a moment, or Dad will drag you down there.” Eric said.

“What did that asshole have to say to you?” Tristan asked, as he walked over to Eric and me.

“Short version, he was sorry and that he still loves me, and a bunch of other things, which I think are lies,” I replied.

“Well, if a man truly loves you, then he would never cheat on you,” Eric said.

“Not to mention, that your sister is the most beautiful girl in the pack,” Tristan smiled.

I shook my head, before saying, “Honestly, I am fine. I am waiting for my fated mate now. No one will change it.”

“Lexi, a word.” Dad called out.

I nodded, and headed over to him. Eric hovered nearby. When I reached Dad, he said, “You know that your mate isn’t in this pack. I forbid you from leaving to look for him.”

“Well, Dad, you don’t know what the outcome of this battle will be. Plus, you can’t tell what the future will hold for any of us. Things may not go your way, especially if I have anything to say about it.” I smiled at him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he growled, grabbing me.

“Oh, nothing, daddy.” I smiled sweetly.

His eyes narrowed, glaring at me. I was trying so hard to be all sweet and innocent towards him, even though it made me want to vomit. I hate my father. But just to keep him from knowing that I knew his plans. He was about to open and say something, but Alpha Raven called out, “We need to move. So, everyone staying behind get into the basement now. You too, Alexandra.”

“Yes, Sir.” I mocked saluted him.

I do like to push their buttons. I hate them both, so any chance to mock them I would jump at the chance. I ran off, and started helping get all the women, children, and elderly. Eric and Tristan came over to give me a final hug. I could feel James’ eyes on me. I waved goodbye to them, and went inside. Everyone was downstairs, taking seats, huddling together, some were even praying to the moon goddess, Selene.

“How long should we wait?” I asked Zira, in my mind.

“I reckon we should wait five minutes just to be safe, then we should run after them,” she replied.

“I agree, but we shouldn’t shift, until we have to,” I said.

I hadn’t realized that I was pacing the entrance to the basement. The female doctor, Alice, came over to me, and whispered, “Lexi, your pacing is scaring some of the kids. Come and sit down.”

“I can’t sit down. I need to be out there.” I whispered.

“You can’t. You are a woman. Women shouldn’t fight.” she said.

“If they are pregnant, yes, I agree, but I am not pregnant. I am a warrior. I am a fighter. I should be out there fighting alongside my brother,” I replied.

“But these women can’t fight, they need your protection,” she responded.

“Their mates should protect them. The best thing for them to do, is learn to defend themselves. The only way we will prove to those bonehead males out there that we can be warriors, is if one of us goes out there and proves we can fight as well as them.” I said.

“You need to stay,” she commanded.

“Don’t you try to stop me. I am the Beta’s daughter.” I warned her.

Before turning on my heels, and headed for the door. I hated some of these women, they shunned me when I became a warrior. I wasn’t seen as one of the ladies anymore. My mother was a warrior. Kayley’s mother is a warrior, she was my only female role model growing up. I am a warrior; it is in my blood. The people in the basement called out to me. But I really didn’t care what they said. I wanted to make sure my brother was okay. I also had this feeling like it was important for me to be there for another reason. A reason I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I was so angry that they were trying to make me stay behind.

I slammed the basement door behind me, and headed for the front of the packhouse. There was no one insight, everyone had gone. Zira smirked, inside my mind, “We can do this. We can stay in the trees hidden, until we need to move.”

“I know we can do this, but we should hurry,” I replied.

I sniffled the air, and picked up their scent. I began to run in the direction the warriors had gone. Running through the woods was amazing, it was completely freeing to run through the woods like this. Soon enough, I could hear them, so I began to move slower, more quietly. I knew there was a clearing up ahead, that would be where they had chosen for the battle. I would have to go around and stay in the trees to watch the fight.