The Barter Novel Sierra and Xavier

“Do you, Sierra Winters take Xavier Hunt as your lawfully wedded mate and husband?”

The person speaks and my body shivers like a leaf shuddering in a freezing winter.

My hands and feet were ice cold and all I wanted to do was run and never look back.

Tears sting my eyes but I keep them in.

No.

I won’t cry in front of everyone.

I am not weak.

Clenching the white wedding dress in my sweaty palms, I try to keep on my nerves.

To fail miserably.

I had my dreams.

I wanted to be a herb doctor.

To help heal thousands of people.

But marriage? It was not a part of it.

Especially not to a man like him.

Looking up through the diaphanous veil, I stared at my future husband’s handsome face, to have my soul shudder in fear.

My eyes drop down back instantly.

He had a deadly look plastered on his face, those cold grey eyes were fixated on me, simmering with nothing except hatred.

And I shrink under it.

His hatred was justified.

If there was any other man in his place, I bet he would detest even looking at me, let alone agree to

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make me his wife.

But this was the royal decree.

The barter.

And none could go against it.

Neither him, nor me.

No matter how much we were against it.

My gaze stopped at my parents who were looking at us with apprehension.

And the desire to say no to this.

Becomes.

stronger.

This was my father’s doing.

I shouldn’t be the one.

paying for it.

But then my gaze drifts to the thousands of my pack members behind them.

And my clenched fists, unclench.

How can I see all these innocent people die? If I go back now, Silver Moon warriors will turn this place into a blood pool.

And my blood will be the first one to shed.

Closing my eyes, I let out the words.

“I do”

Cheers and claps echoed in the room and the first teardrop leaves my eyes.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Great, Celebrate my doom.

“Do you Xavier Hunt take Sierra Winters as your mate and second wife?”

The word second wife rooted a dagger into my chest.

A replacement.

Is all my life has become.

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How did it come down to this?

What sin did I even do in my life to deserve this?

“I do.

”

His cold detached voice made the temperature in the room dip lower.

And I lift my palms to rub my arms.

Avoiding looking up.

“Congratulation.

I now pronounce you as husband and wife! You

may-”

Before I knew it, he was already walking down the stage.

Not bothering for the ceremony to complete.

People gasped in surprise but no one said anything.

They wouldn’t dare go against him.

Because he wasn’t just a beast.

But rather a wounded one right now, who lost his dear wife and mate just 2 days back.

He has killed 200 men in the last 24 hours, without an ounce of

remorse.

Blood is what feeds his regret of not being able to save her.

And my blood is going to be his favorite.

Because it belonged to the very daughter of the man who killed his mate.

Great.

Cheers to a loveless marriage and a long life!

Because I have a feeling I am not going to live long.

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Until I am bound to him.

And that was forever.

If only there was an eternity in real life.

The car jolts as it crosses a bumpy road and I adjust myself on the seat.

I sneak a peek at the man sitting beside and I find his face morphed in stone–like coldness.

Eyes closed, jaw firm, and nose scrunched in disgust.

Was something stinking here?

I wondered and next I knew he lowered his window to inhale fresh air.

A few more minutes pass and the creases on his forehead don’t soften.

He was still disgusted by something.

Deciding to mind my own business, I look down to play with the hem of my dress.

When his heavy voice cuts through the silence of the car.

“Pull over”

I

The driver abides and the car comes to a halt.

I look at him in confusion.

Wondering what business could he have on a deserted road.

“Get out.

”

I blink.

I looked at him in confusion to find his eyes closed and head leaning back on the backrest.

Who is he talking to?

When neither the driver nor I move.

He opens his eyes to look at me and I gulp.

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“Are you hard of hearing? Get out

I open my lips to protest when he beats me to it.

“Your scent is making me nauseous.

Will you do it yourself or do you want me to drag you down?”

The tone of his voice stays neutral, but the threat weighs a ton.

Gulping.

Deciding to protect the little self–respect I had.

I push open the door and get out

He leaves without bothering me a glance and I hug myself as freezing winds hit me like pointed spikes.

My mind goes blank as I stare at his retreating car, driving down the road.

So the disgusted thing was me huh?

Why am I surprised? I should get used to this.

Walking down the empty road at 11 o’clock at night.

I try to rub my palms to generate some heat, to no avail.

The veiled net dress wasn’t helping either.

Distant howls pierced the silence of the forest and I shivered.

My heart thumped and I tried to fasten my pace.

There were a few times I wished I was like other werewolves.

And today was one of them.

If only I could shift.

I would reach the mansion within minutes.

An hour passed and the moon goddess was not showing any mercy.

It started raining cats and dogs.

By the time I reach the huge gates of the gigantic mansion.

I was drenched and numb.

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My breathing was rugged, my lungs protested and my fingers.

pale white.

My sore legs stumbled as I gripped the iron door to support myself.

Looking up at the mansion.

I feel my throat turn dry.

It was huge, this looked nothing less than a castle.

I am going to live here?

My gaze stops at the silhouette of a man standing and staring down at me from the window.

And I hear my heart thud again.

Those eyes.

I can identify them among millions.

The coldness in them is distinguishable.

“Reveal your identity!”

I hear a man shout behind me and I turn around to look at him, when a heaviness settles in my head.

He was a guard, pointing a sword at me.

Struggling to keep my heavy eyelids open, I battle to speak.

My pale lips shivered.

“I…I.

.

am Sierra Win….

Hunt.

Wi…fe of Alpha-”

Disbelief becomes evident in his eyes.

He looks at me from top to bottom.

And then lowers his sword.

Bowing.

“Luna.

I am so sorry.

I didn’t realize-”

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I could no longer hear what he was saying.

All the strength in my body seemed to leave on its own.

And next, I know my grip on the railing loosens and my body slumps down to fall with a thud.

“Luna! Luna!”

The guard’s terror–stricken cries follow and I lift my closing eyes to see the silhouette still standing at the window.

Starting blankly.

Doing nothing.

His cold grey eyes were the last thing I saw before darkness.

engulfed me in its embrace and my unconscious body fell on the cold pavement right outside his castle.