I belong to the Lycan Alpha

Elena’s POV

"Sixty thousand dollars, Elena. Do you understand what that means?" Elaine's voice echoed from the hallway. "Elder Ambrose is offering sixty thousand for you. For you! A pathetic human girl with nothing special about her."

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the reality of my situation. At eighteen, I was being sold like cattle to a vampire elder. A blood bank. A living, breathing food source until he drained me dry.

"I won't go," I whispered to my reflection.

The bathroom door flew open, Elaine's perfectly manicured nails digging into the wood as she glared at me.

"You don't have a choice. Your father's medical bills are piling up, and this house needs repairs. Elder Ambrose's offer solves everything."

I turned to face her, my hands gripping the edge of the sink behind me. "I'm not merchandise. I'm a person."

Elaine's laugh was cold. "You're human. In this world, you are the lowest form of existence. At least as Ambrose's blood bank, you'll serve a purpose." Her eyes narrowed. "Besides, you should be grateful. Some humans are sold for far less."

" I’m not yours to sell!"

"If you refuse," Elaine continued, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "I'll sell every single thing your mother left behind. And I'll stop paying for your father's treatment."

My chest tightened. "You wouldn't."

"Try me." Her smile was venomous. "The doctors say he might wake up any day now. Wouldn't it be a shame if he didn't receive proper care? All because his daughter was too selfish."

Three years ago, when my father had married Elaine after my mother's death, I'd been desperate to believe we could be a family. Elaine and her daughter Chloe had seemed so welcoming, so kind. But after my father's car accident six months ago, the masks had dropped completely.

I pushed past her into the hallway, desperate for air that wasn't tainted by her expensive perfume. "If Elder Ambrose wants a blood bank so badly, why not sell Chloe?"

She slapped my hard across the face.

"Chloe is meant for an Alpha or at least a strong Beta warrior," Elaine snarled, grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking my face close to hers. "She has potential, connections. You? You're nothing but a burden we've been carrying."

I winced at the pain but forced myself to meet her gaze. "I won't be that vampire's blood bag. I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged," she spat, releasing my hair with a shove that sent me stumbling back against the wall. "You have until tomorrow morning to reconsider. After that, I'll let Elder Ambrose know he can collect his property. And believe me, Elena, he's not a patient man. Nor a gentle one."

The front door slammed as , shaking rainwater from her designer coat. Her eyes—so similar to Elaine's in their calculated coldness—lit up at the sight of my distress.

"What's wrong, sis?" Chloe heard the commotion and burst in, she asked with mock concern, her gaze to her mother.  "Did you tell her about Elder Ambrose?"

"She's being difficult," Elaine replied, smoothing her blouse. "Apparently, she thinks she has options."

Chloe snickered,  "You should be honored, Elena. Elder Ambrose usually prefers younger blood sources. You're practically ancient for his taste."

I felt bile rising in my throat immediately. I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door, desperate to escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" Elaine demanded.

"Out," I replied, yanking open the door. "To see Ethan."

Chloe's smirk widened. "On a night like this? Good luck with that."