Rejected Mate: Between Love and Hate

"Mom." In her red and teary eyes, there was a bundle of hope as she looked at her mother.

Seeing her gaze, Seraphine naturally avoided her gaze. Her heart was filled with guilt as well as regret. However, she could not do anything about it either. "I'm sorry, dear."

Her voice sounded choked. She was trying her best to keep her voice down.

"It's all for you. I did this for you." Then Seraphine carefully tied Callista's wrists.

She believed that what she was doing was right. For the past three years, she had always said to herself, encouraging herself not to let her guard down or give up. Even though Callista would later hate her for her attitude of locking her up in the warehouse every full moon night, she was doing this for her future. No mother wants to hurt her child, let alone plunge her into the abyss of darkness.

Seraphine was willing to accept her child's hatred so Callista would not change. No! It was enough that the bastard who was Callista's father was like that, Callista was not!

"Mom, can't tonight be an exception? Let's do it like this again the next night, okay?" Callista's pleading voice was heard again. Her beautiful face looked desperate after seeing her hands tied.

However, Seraphine did not care. Her resolve was so strong that it did not waver easily.

"No, no. Tonight is very important, you can't stay with me. Be patient for tonight only. Tomorrow morning, I'll come to you right away, okay?" This time, Seraphine's gaze was stern, piercing Callista's withering gaze.

Upon hearing this, Callista no longer knew what to say. All her pleas had been in vain.

Seraphine stared at her for a moment before turning and walking away.

"I'm sorry, dear," Seraphine murmured as she closed the creaking door of the old barn and locked it.

Inside the warehouse, Callista stared blankly at the old door that was firmly closed. It wasn't long before a sad sigh escaped her mouth. She looked down, and a drop of tears fell, which gradually became a river.

Even though she begged, her mother kept her locked up. In truth, she was beginning to have doubts. What had gone wrong? Was she her mother's biological child? 

Treating her like this without a clear explanation made anger fill her heart.

Callista's gaze instantly turned sharp as she looked up. "Mom really wants me to stay here, so what if I want to go out?"

With that, she looked down at her bound hands. Her eyes blinked as she realized the bonds were not that tight.

At that moment, the full moon was shining brightly. Callista's brow furrowed slightly as her body suddenly felt hot. Unbeknownst to her, her earrings gave off a faint glow, which then returned to normal.

"Why am I feeling like this again?" However, she did not think much about it and immediately tugged at her clenched hands.

With just a little effort, the ropes were released.

Callista slowly stood up and stared at the warehouse door. She swallowed with reddened eyes. "It's better that we never meet again. Mom is too selfish and won't listen to me. After begging you tonight, I feel... I hate you. In the future, I will never again repeat the same thing, which is to beg you."

After that, Callista turned around and walked toward the right side of the warehouse.

She pushed aside the items and boxes piled up there and tried to open the dust-filled window. It was old, so as soon as it opened, the hinges came off.

Callista did not care much about it and jumped up without hesitation.

The only place to go in these circumstances was her best friend's house. And since this was a forest-filled suburb, she chose to take the safest and fastest way.

Along the way, Callista's eyes couldn't stop staring at her surroundings. She clenched her hands and steeled her heart to keep going.

Before, she had never passed through this forest, even if it was during the day. But now, the forest was so quiet and dark it made her skin crawl with fear.

"No, there's nothing. This forest is safe, not as rumored. Let's keep going, Callista! You can't go back," muttered Callista, who unconsciously held her breath as a gentle breeze caressed her beautiful face.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the left, making Callista jump in surprise and immediately turn her head. Her round eyes opened wide in alarm.

Seeing nothing, she slowly resumed her journey. This time, at a faster pace.

Just as she passed a large tree, two men suddenly jumped out of the bushes and blocked in front of Callista, making the girl stop her steps abruptly until she staggered back slightly.

Suppressing her fear, Callista said calmly. "Uncle, you surprised me."

Then she walked to the left, about to pass the two men with large bodies and fierce faces.

However, both of them shifted to the left until they faced Callista again.

"Pretty girl, where are you going this time of night through the forest? Oh, are you going to a brothel?" The first man, who wore a black earring in his right ear, asked with his naughty eyes, looking at Callista's body. A lewd smile adorned his fierce face when he saw how beautiful and beautiful the girl in front of him was.

Callista unconsciously shivered in fear. Her eyes trembled softly, and she stepped back slowly.

"Hey, don't be afraid. We won't mess with you. Incidentally, we're going there too. How about we go together?" The other man wearing a chain necklace walked up to Callista with a crooked smile.

Callista swallowed and looked at them in turn. The tremor of fear in her body did not disappear. But she clenched both hands and called out boldly. "Uncle, don't be presumptuous! Don't you know who I am? I am the daughter of Seraphine! You can't possibly not know, right? So, step aside before I call my mother!"

The two men's faces instantly changed upon hearing Seraphine's name.

"Oh, so you're Seraphine's child? That arrogant former model who said she had a lot of weapons?" The first man immediately approached Callista and took her hand.

"Yes. I'm her child," Callista replied boldly.

The second man approached, smoothed the hair on Callista's temple, and said in a low voice. "Then... you have no more reason to refuse us!"

Immediately, he grabbed Calista's arm and held it firmly.

Callista was terrified and looked at them in turn while rebelling. "What are you guys doing? Let go of me!"

"Let you go? Impossible! What do you think if Seraphine finds out that her favorite child is being auctioned off? With your pretty face and beautiful body, you'll be able to get an unbelievably high price." When the first man finished speaking, both of them burst out laughing.

Callista's beautiful face immediately turned pale. Auction?

"I wonder, what will she do with those weapons? Hahaha, a golden opportunity is at hand. We'll soon be rich!" the second man exclaimed with satisfaction.

"No! Don't! I never offended you, you can't treat me like this. Let go of me! Please!" Callista screamed at the top of her lungs. Her loud voice trembled slightly with a tone full of fear.

Seeing Callista, who kept moving, trying to break free, the second man was impatient and immediately hit her on the back of the neck.

Callista's voice slowly diminished and disappeared as her eyes closed and her body drooped weakly.

Before her beautiful body fell to the ground, the first man caught her and carried her like a sack. Carried her to the brothel through the back door and tied her up in one of the empty rooms.

"What next?" asked the second man as he looked at the unconscious Callista.

"Just leave her alone for now. Tomorrow morning, there is an auction at the border, and all kinds of humans are there. At that time, we take her there and then auction her off at a high price," replied the first man, who then walked out, followed by the second man. "Go and call the chambermaid, ask her to come and check whether this girl is a virgin or not."

"Okay." Immediately, the second man left and returned a short time later with an older woman dressed in shabby clothes and hair in a simple bun.

Without asking any more questions, the woman entered Callista's room.

The two men waited quietly at the door.

Finally, the door opened, and the woman came out with a beaming face. "She's still a virgin!"

Happiness instantly filled their faces upon hearing this. Wealth would really come!

After that, the first man sent the woman back inside to guard Callista. He also arranged for some men to stand guard outside if Callista woke up and tried to escape.

The next day, it was just as the first man had said last night. This morning, before sunrise, Callista, who had changed her clothes, was taken to the border to auction off her virginity.

On the border.

The atmosphere is so festive. So many people were present, and all sorts of people. There was a group of people carrying shabby bags that could certainly contain money. There were also some fat men with big jewelry hanging from their necks and wrists. And there were also flashy-looking people with heavy makeup.

However, the vast majority of those present were men!

Their faces did not look good, with their eyes twinkling mischievously. It was certain that they were regular customers of this auction.

Some of the trees were removed, making the area they occupied very large. At the front, two large trees had been knocked down to make a simple stage.

Several large men stood at each corner of the area, monitoring and maintaining the smooth running of the event.

Then, one tall and thin man walked onto the simple stage. His face was thin, and he kept pulling the corners of his lips into a wide smile