Page 2 of Sold to Three Alpha Kings

Elena’s whole voice changes to pure syrup. “Of course, my darling.” She shoots her head in my direction, and her expression darkens. “Charlize, get the tea, now.”

“Yes, Stepmother,” I whisper.

“It’s high time you began to accord me some respect in this house, young lady,” Ricky says to me.

“It’s high time you stopped being such an asshole all the time,” I mumble under my breath.

“What was that?” he barks, glaring at me.

It’s obvious that neither he nor his mother had heard what I said. They would’ve pounced on me already.

I want to repeat myself more audibly this time. I want to lash out at him and finally put him in his place. But that’s not a good idea. Triggering these people isn’t in my best interest right now. It would only thwart my plan to escape from this place for good.

My throat bobbles. “I said you’re right. I should be more respectful to you. You are, of course, an Alpha.”

Pride flashes across his face, and he adjusts on the bench. The idiot is pleased by my response.

I wipe my hands on my apron and pour the pine-needle tea into his mug. His mother sits beside him, and the two start to talk about the Omega he wants to marry. Chloe.

The family is struggling to get enough money so the golden boy can settle down with the Omega of his choice. And by family, I mean me. I’m the one doing all the hard labor. I’m the one working day and night to earn some money while the others sit back and boss me around.

“You and Chloe look so good together,” Elena says to him, her lips curling into a smile. “Your father and I will stop at nothing until you marry her.”

“Then what’s taking so long?” he asks, his voice higher than hers. “Time’s running out and we still don’t have the money.” A pause. “Chloe’s father is an impatient man. He could give her out to the next Alpha with the complete money.”

Ricky is so spoiled he doesn’t even realize he’s supposed to go out there and work for his money. And they call me disgraceful. How ironic.

When I set the tea down before him, he shoves my arm—on purpose. I know it’s on purpose because he laughs when the hot liquid splashes across my wrist. I bite down on the sound that wants to come out.

“Get out of my sight, you clumsy cow.” He happily drinks what’s left of it after burning my skin.

My chest heaves quietly, and my hands tremble at my sides. Not from the pain of the hot tea, but the anger and a mix of other emotions coursing through me.

“It’s a miracle you haven’t starved us all by now,” he adds. “No wonder nobody wants you. An extra mouth, that’s all you are.”

My fingers clench into fists as I watch him laugh. His mother does the same.

“Well, if you worked half as hard as she does, we wouldn’t be staring down ruin.” My father fills the doorway, scowl already carved into his face. He looks at me the way a man looks at a bad investment.

This is the closest thing to a compliment he’s said to or about me. Even though I know he didn’t mean it as a compliment.

My father, Charles Abernathy, glares at me in a way that makes my knees buckle. He’s never liked me, never truly accepted me as his daughter. One time, he even said that I killed my mother, that I’m the reason he lost her. He still blames me for her death to this day.

“What’re you looking at?” he barks at me. “Get back to work.”

I turn away at the sound of his thunderous voice, ignoring the mother and son laughing at me.

“How are you, son?” he asks Ricky, his voice soft and gentle.

“I’m losing my mind, Father,” comes the reply.

“Is this about the Omega, Chloe?”

“Yes!” He raises his voice. “Every day that goes by and we don’t pay is a reminder that I’m slowly losing my chances of being with her.”

Hearing them talk about Chloe like she’s some piece of furniture they want to purchase makes my stomach turn. They don’t deserve her—at all.

Ricky claims he loves her and that’s why he wants to marry her. And maybe that’s true, but I still believe she deserves better.