Chapter Text
"You've been sold."
Jared stared in disbelief at his mother as she uttered those three words coldly and without any inflection in her voice.
"What do you mean I've been sold? Why would you sell me? I'm supposed to be bonded in 3 months!" Jared's voice broke on the last word as the horror at what his mother had done washed through him.
His bonding to Lord Jensen Ackles was to take place during the Autumn Equinox. Jensen was a devout follower of the Old Rites, even though it had fallen out of favor with modern society as too provincial, and had chosen that date, a day that shared equality with night, in hopes of granting that same favor to their bonding. Despite the pall of mourning that had cast itself on House Padalecki after the death of his father the previous month, Jared's father had made him promise that he would follow through with the bonding. Jared was looking forward to that day with a bittersweet joy.
Jared and Jensen had had an instantaneous connection from first time they had met. His older brother, Geoff, had brought Jensen home on one of the rare breaks in schooling during the summertime four years ago. Geoff and Jensen had been roommates at the exclusive South Point Military Academy and had become fast friends, despite their different social circumstances.
Jensen was the second son of the Duke of Richardson, House Ackles, one of the largest duchies in the Free State Alliance, who held a seat on the Council of Nine in the House, an inherited position. Geoff, in comparison, was in line to inherit the title and entailed estate of House Padalecki, but the estate was minor compared to the lands that were held under House Ackles and the best position he could aspire to in the government was a seat in the Second Tier of the House.
Even though Jared had been just shy of his thirteenth birthday and Jensen already nineteen, they had just clicked personality wise, which had relieved Jared to no end as he adored Geoff and had no small amount of hero worship for his brother. He had feared that when Geoff left to further his education at the Academy he would be left behind and forgotten in favor of new friends and potential future alliances. That fear had proven unfounded, thankfully, as Geoff had taken care to com-link Jared weekly, sharing tales of his roommate and new friend, Jensen, who had ensured Geoff's acceptance into his circle of friends and acquaintances, amongst news of his studies and other minutiae of his daily life at the Academy.
Jared had felt he had known Jensen before he had even arrived, due to Geoff, and Jensen, for his part, had fit seamlessly into place as if he had always been there. Jared was even more relieved to find that Jensen did not mind having Geoff's little brother tag along with them and even encouraged it. Geoff had confided to Jared that family was important to Jensen, as he enjoyed a close relationship with his older brother and only sibling, Wentworth, who had graduated from the Academy the previous year, as well as his cousin, Josh, who had been raised with the both of them and was in their school year. Geoff had also let Jared know that he had told Jensen of Jared's progenitor status and that Jared was safe with him. When Jensen and Geoff had returned to the Academy, Jared had been surprised but pleased to receive com-links from Jensen on a regular basis.
It wasn't until his Coming of Age ceremony earlier this year on the Vernal Equinox that Jared had realized that he felt more for Jensen than just friendship. Even though Jared's birthday was in July, he had celebrated his birthday on March 20th that year along with all of his other yearmates, including his sister Meghan who was four months younger than him. Jensen had been invited by Geoff for the week long celebration, an invitation that Jared had requested Geoff to make feeling unaccountably reticent about asking Jensen himself. Jared had been pleased when Geoff had let him know that Jensen was more than happy to come and bear witness to Jared becoming an adult.
It was during the party that night, held on the Padalecki Estate instead of on the town commons due to Jared and Meghan being a part of the ceremony, that Jared had suddenly realized he harbored feelings that were more than friendship for Jensen. It had been while he was watching Jensen laugh at something Meghan had said when dancing with her that Jared had been suddenly struck with jealousy that it was Meghan who had made him laugh and not Jared. Chiding himself at feeling such a negative emotion, Jared had turned away and tried to distract himself while talking to his friends. Jared and Meghan had never enjoyed a close relationship but this was the first time that Jared had ever felt that she was threatening what should have been his and his alone.
When Jensen had asked Jared to dance, Jared had nearly begged off. It was only at the insistence of his friends that he had agreed, hesitantly offering his hand and being drawn into the middle of the dance floor. Jared had barely been able to resist throwing a smug smile Meghan's way, content that Jensen had asked him for one of the slower dances as opposed to the quadrille he had partnered her for.
After Jensen had taken him into his arms, Jared had been unable to meet his eyes for the intense shyness that had suddenly overtaken him. He had recently grown several inches and was nearly the same height as Jensen's 6 feet 1 inch but definitely not as muscular. All the height he had gained had made him feel distinctly ungainly and awkward, even more so when confronted with Jensen's naturally graceful movements. Flushing red with embarrassment, Jared had finally lifted his head and met Jensen's warm eyes and was suddenly trapped by that emerald gaze. Remembering his manners, Jared tried to stutter out a comment about the weather or something equally inane but was almost instantly distracted by the feel of Jensen's hard muscles and tender smile. The silence between them grew, taut with a rising tension that had been heretofore lacking in their relationship, as the orchestral music had faded into the background.
At the end of the dance, Jensen had asked him to walk with him through the dim and inviting gardens where the gathering was being held. The familiar environs of his family's land became unfamiliar and strangely exciting as he strolled along paths lit by torchlights every few feet. Sneaking glances at his partner, Jared paid no attention where he was walking and managed to trip over a loose stone. Before he hit the ground and ruined his only set of dress clothes, Jensen caught hold of him and pulled him into an embrace. Without Jared being aware, Jensen had maneuvered them into a secluded part of the garden that was barely illuminated by a torchlight several feet away. The sounds of the party felt very far away as Jared drowned himself in the green pools of Jensen's eyes and felt Jensen's full lips close on his. The brief touch led to another and then another before Jensen tightened his hold and sought entrance into Jared's mouth, his tongue sweeping into Jared's mouth and coaxing him into returning the favor. Jared had never been kissed before, had never felt the need to do so with anyone else despite several offers. It was more than he could have ever imagined as they shared breath and passion. Whispered words of love and adoration had flowed between them in between fevered kisses. When Jensen had asked him to bond, Jared had nearly knocked Jensen over with his exuberant agreement. The marriage contracts had been signed the next day and the bonding date had been set for six months hence.
Jared brought himself back to the present as his mother continued to shred his life apart. She stared at him, her hazel eyes so much like his own, the same eyes Jared's progenitor had possessed, showing no leniency. Jared had always been confused by the way she acted towards him because he had loved her absolutely and without qualm as his mother. He had thought she had loved him as her son, even though technically he was the son of her brother. An illegitimate son but still, he was her nephew by all rights of blood. Jared's Gen had died giving birth to him and he had been placed with his aunt and uncle, adopted as one of their own.
"The Duke and Duchess of Richardson have decided on Meghan as a more appropriate choice for their second son. She will be able to bear Jensen children, children that will not be tainted by being conceived in the womb of a Gen or by the blood of whomever violated my brother. You are a bastard Jared and will be a detriment to Jensen politically and socially. He is meant for great things and you- you are simply not appropriate, to say the least. My husband was wrong to allow this marriage between you and Jensen and I am merely rectifying his mistake. It should have been Meghan from the beginning, and if it hadn't been for you- you! Seducing Jensen away from Meghan during that ill-fated and provincial Coming of Age ceremony-", Lady Padalecki paused in her tirade, before continuing, her voice impossibly more vicious than it had been. "I took you into this family, treated you like a son against my better judgment and this is how you repay us. You are a Gen. You are disgusting. Do you even care that you broke Meghan's heart? I wish daily that you had died instead of my beloved brother."
Jared began to openly sob at the at the mention of his beloved father. Geoff and Jensen had both attended the funeral and it was perhaps the only time that Jared felt no physical desire for his bondmate beyond the urge for comfort when he had been held in his arms. Jared longed for that comfort now. Jared watched fearfully as his mother sighed and turned to look through the window that overlooked the front gardens of the manor. He couldn't think and wished that Jensen was here and not out of communication due to some training exercise at the Academy. She had been acting oddly ever since Papa died, she had even had his manservant arrested on charges of theft, but he had never expected something like this.
Lady Padalecki looked at the gardens with a sneer on her face. They were a prime example of how one's garden must be diligently tended and ridden of pests and weeds before its beauty was corrupted beyond repair. She should have done this long ago.
Jared let out a choked whimper at her words. "Mama, what did I do?"
"You tried to take away Meghan's chance at love and happiness. You killed my brother. You are a progenitor. For those crimes you will never be forgiven by me. Indentured servitude will be your penance and punishment as you will no doubt die in service," his mother addressed the rest of her words to the land outside as he heard the doors to the study open. He turned around to see two men, both taller and more muscular than he was, come inside and move to flank him. Despite the fact that he grown even taller since last year and now was taller than Jensen, a fact that had caused some discomfiture on his part while Jensen had remained nonplussed, Jared was still reed thin. Jensen had just laughed at him and said that when he stopped growing taller then he would be able to gain some muscles and until then he would just have to be patient. With a desperate moan, he sought to evade their hold, intent on escape, but they were able to easily subdue him. Jared shuddered as he felt the unmistakable feel of a hypo shot against the back of his neck from the third man that had entered during the struggle. Jared felt a languor spread through his limbs as his eyes began to close involuntarily. He saw the reflection of his mother's face in the window and couldn't help another whimper at the look of satisfaction in her eyes.
"You will not be allowed to be an impediment to their happiness and you will be if you are here. Jensen will transfer his misplaced affections to Meghan, especially after she bears him his heir. As of today, you are no longer a Padalecki. I have ensured that no one will remember you or care that you are gone."
With those words, the guards dragged the stunned teenager from the study. He couldn't comprehend the venom that had been present in her voice when talking to him, he had loved her like his own mother despite her occasional coldness. With his world in turmoil, Jared finally succumbed to the sedative and let darkness take him away.
Lady Padalecki was still staring out the window when Megan stepped into the study a while later, setting her shopping bags down onto the leather chair next to the door.
"Is it done, Mama? Is he finally gone?" Meghan's voice was full of excitement. She had always been jealous of the attention paid Jared. Ever since they were young everyone had always been full of praise for how nice he was and how Meghan should be more like him. Meghan's nanny had always enforced the idea that Meghan was better than others and that others should emulate her. He wasn't even her brother, but a bastard cousin! Meghan had been full of vindictive pleasure when Jared had been discovered to be a progenitor, an abomination that had led to her Uncle's death. Although it hadn't seemed to faze Papa and Geoff, Mama had realized the evil she had been harboring in her household this entire time and had finally taken her daughter's side. Meghan had never forgiven her though, the only one who had ever loved or understood her was Nanny. When Jared had stolen Jensen from her, destroying her chance of happiness with his slutty Gen ways, Meghan had realized that she would have to take matters into her own hands.
"Yes, my lovely daughter. The marriage contracts have been signed and you should be married to Jensen by the end of the year." Lady Padalecki turned away from the view, taking in the sight of Meghan and her unknown male companion.
"Mama, I'd introduce you to my friend but you won't remember meeting him anyway as he's a Memory Stealer. Nanny helped me find him. I can't have Jensen knowing that I was fully complicit in your plan, now can I? You won't even remember Jared, which should make you happy."
The man stepped forward in a smooth move and injected a hypo into Lady Padalecki's arm.
"When you wake up, you'll only remember what I want you to remember," Meghan whispered as Lady Padalecki collapsed into the man's arms.