Burning With Hate
1631 Words
Ariella’s POV
I turned just in time to lock eyes with Aiden.
The Alpha’s youngest son.
The only person in this entire cursed pack who didn’t look at me like I was filth. The only person who, without even realizing it, kept me from exploding and burning this whole place to the ground.
His gaze swept over me…bloodied, half-naked, trembling, ice stuck to my skin…and something snapped in him. A low growl rumbled out of his chest, deeper and darker than I’d ever heard.
“Get. Away. From. Her.”
Every single one of them moved. Not just because they respected him…but because they knew what would come next if they didn’t obey.
Aiden didn’t shift. He didn’t growl again. He didn’t need to. He snatched a thick blanket from the clothesline behind him, stormed forward, and wrapped it around me with firm, protective hands. His jaw was tight, eyes burning with a fury that wasn’t for show.
“Would you all rather work in the fields for the next six months,” he said quietly, “or get the hell out of my sight before I lose it?”
That was all it took.
They scattered. Every one of them. Boots skidding, whispers flying.
“The Alpha’s son is crazy…”
“He’s defending that thing again…”
“Why does he even care?”
None of them dared say it loud…all muttering like cowards.
“Are you okay?” Aiden asked, voice softening as he touched my shoulder.
I nodded, wiped the blood from my mouth, but my hands were shaking.
“You look like a mess, Ari. Why didn’t you call me?” he said, then froze…as if just remembering that I can’t talk. His hand went to the back of his neck, rubbing it awkwardly as a quiet “f**k” slipped out under his breath, guilt flickering in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he added, trying to smile but failing. “Come on. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
He guided me toward the infirmary, slow and careful, like he was scared I’d break. I almost laughed. Too late for that. I’ve been broken so many times that I’ve lost count.
We were halfway there when a voice called out behind us.
“Master Aiden! Ariella!”
An omega ran up, breathless, head bowed so low his chin almost touched his chest.
“The Alpha and Beta request Ariella’s presence in the grand hall. Immediately.”
My stomach dropped.
What now? What did I do this time?
And how the hell was I going to explain the dirt, the torn clothes, the destroyed writing pad?
The Beta would definitely punish me for getting “dirty,” like I’d rolled in the mud myself out of sheer pleasure.
Aiden frowned. “She needs to be treated first. At least bandaged…”
“The Alpha said immediately, young master,” the omega muttered, shrinking back.
I sighed. Fine. Of course it wouldn’t matter that I was half-dead again. Or naked. Why would it?
I looked down at my torn writing pad, ripped apart in the dirt. Perfect. Now I couldn’t even answer questions properly in that stupid hall.
I tapped Aiden’s arm twice…our signal.
He understood instantly.
Without hesitation, he reached into his jacket and pulled out something small but new…a fresh pink writing pad and a sleek pink fountain pen. Not cheap. Not used, like the things I always receive. New.
My breath stalled.
This…was probably the nicest thing anyone in this pack had ever given me.
I took it gently like it was sacred, fingers brushing the cover, and for half a second…the world didn’t feel as cruel.
‘He will be the only one I spare,’ I thought coldly. ‘When I finally destroy this place, he walks away alive.’
The grand hall doors opened with a heavy creak.
The Alpha sat at the head of the long table, relaxed like he owned the world. The Beta…Sophia’s father…sat beside him. Sophia herself lounged there in a silk dress like a queen, and next to her, Aiden’s older brother wore a smirk that made my fingers itch to snap his neck.
My heart thudded. Something was off. Something big.
Aiden took his seat with the others, but I stayed where I was…far end of the room, blanket over my shoulders, feet bare on cold floor. And bleeding. Always bleeding.
The Alpha tapped his fingers lazily on the table.
The sound got under my skin. Like claws scratching bone.
“Ariella,” he drawled. “You are leaving this pack tonight.”
Aiden shot to his feet so fast his chair screeched.
“Father—”
The Alpha raised a hand. Silence.
“You’ll be leaving with your mistress, Sophia, to her fiancé’s pack. I called you here to make sure you understand your role. You are to serve her. To die in her place if need be. To be her armor. Sophia is our precious flower and she has never been far from home. Guard her with your life.”
My mind drifted.
Guard her?
Die for her?
This rotten flower of a girl?
I could murder all of them right now and no one would ever know how it happened.
“Ariella!” the Beta barked, snapping me back. “Are you even listening, or are you suddenly deaf too?”
I wrote quickly on the new pad and held it up:
‘I heard everything, Alpha. I’ll do as you say.’
Aiden turned to his father, voice cracking. “But we talked about this. You said you’d consider my request.”
The Alpha scoffed. “The only reason I have tolerated your obsession with this worthless slave is because you are my son. But now? Now you will be leaving for Alaska. At dawn.”
Silence.
Aiden froze. His face went pale.
“Alaska? Father…why? Why are you doing this?”
“To remind you what it means to be Alpha blood,” his father said coldly. “You’ve corrupted yourself by associating with this filth. You will train again…far away from her.”
Aiden spoke, begged, argued, but no one heard him. Not really.
And then he broke.
“Father, I told you…I love her!”
The entire hall went dead silent.
I didn’t gasp. I didn’t even flinch.
Because of course I already knew.
He didn’t fall in love by accident.
I made him fall. Because I needed at least one person on my side.
He was my shield. My backup plan. And he played the role perfectly.
The Alpha stood slowly, eyes blazing.
“Guards. Bring the cane,” he thundered in his Alpha voice.
Two men ran out and returned with thick leather canes.
Aiden froze, his whole body tense. My stomach dropped. Were they going to beat him? For a second, I almost lost it…maybe if I fell to the floor and started shaking, pretending to foam at the mouth, they’d focus on me instead of him. Anything to stop them from hurting him.
But, I was wrong.
“Lay her on the table,” the Alpha ordered.
Hands grabbed me, dragged me forward. I didn’t fight. Just smirked softly.
Oh. So the cane was for me.
How charming.
“For every time Aiden refuses to sign this oath and cut ties with you,” the Alpha growled, “you will be whipped.”
Aiden’s older brother placed the paper in front of him.
Aiden’s voice cracked. “Father, please—”
CRACK.
The first blow landed on my back. Fire tore through my skin, splitting flesh already damaged. The blanket fell. The room watched.
I didn’t cry.
But Aiden did.
“Father, she has nothing to do with this! Please stop—”
CRACK
CRACK
CRACK
Each one landed harder than the previous one. I grunted through gritted teeth, but my face stayed cold. I’d felt worse. I’d survived worse.
But I just wanted them to stop. My body hadn’t even healed from the last beating, and now this?! For the moon’s sake, why couldn’t he just sign the damn papers? I can’t take it anymore.
“I love her!” Aiden screamed, voice breaking into raw pain. “Please!”
More lashes. More blood. But I stayed silent. No tears.
Because I don’t cry anymore.
The cane lifted again.
Aiden’s hand shook as he screamed in pain. His eyes locked with mine…red, shattered, hopeless.
Then he gave in.
He pressed his thumb into the seal pot and signed the document.
And just like that…everything in him collapsed. He dropped into the chair, head in his hands, shoulders shaking.
“That’s done,” the Alpha muttered. “Good. Now I don’t have to worry about him chasing after her.”
The table erupted into laughter.
I stood, pulled the blanket around my bloody back, and stepped back, head still bowed.
Pain throbbed everywhere. But I didn’t cry. I just walked to the end of the hall.
“The vehicles are waiting,” the Alpha announced. “The entourage leaves now.”
Now?
Covered in blood?
Barefoot?
Half-naked under a blanket?
Aiden lifted his head. “At least let her change…”
“No delays,” the Alpha said. “Who would even bat an eye at this piece of dirt,” he spat and they all laughed.
Of course. No belongings. No dignity. No choice.
Just obedience. Or death.
I looked at Sophia, who grinned like this was all entertainment.
Then I looked at Aiden. Broken. Betrayed. And still staring at me like I was something worth fighting for.
But I didn’t look away. I let him see it. The promise in my eyes. The hatred.
I will burn this entire pack to ashes one day.
- Writer
