AURELIA’S POV
Regaining consciousness was realizing that my life had taken a sudden turn and this unforeseen twist had not only cost me my summer trip.
It has cost me my best friend. My brother… My everything was gone.
At this point, I was simply a walking dead or a shell if that is more befitting and the rage within me was out of this world. However, there was nothing I could do other than sit through a molesting session where three unknown men undressed me, fondled my body, and made sick jokes about me as they dressed me up like a cheap doll.
“I’ll have so much fun with this one immediately after the show is over.” One of the men laughed hysterically.
Rather than ask questions about the show, anger burned and my heart ached yet I couldn't move a limp as all of these unfolded before my open and unfortunately conscious eyes.
Regaining consciousness was also realizing that I had been fed drugs that paralyzed my entire body which I presumed was to prevent me from moving around while the twisted men did their thing.
Ironically, I would rather stay here and kill them all slowly and painfully instead of escaping…
As if he could hear my thoughts, the man knitting the black corset dress behind me suddenly pulled the corset which in turn snatched my waist and stomach. I winced in pain but that didn't stop him or the one who was brushing my hair from almost brushing my scalp off.
Finally, the three men in the unfamiliar room took their hands off me, obviously pleased with what they had done with me.
Although I hated them all, I was glad they got one thing right– the black dress.
At least they dressed me in the color of my bleeding heart and mourning soul. At least they did that.
I let my gaze travel between the men, drinking them in for the sole purpose of vengeance. It was a pity that the leader who had wounded my soul was nowhere in sight but there was no way he would escape dying by my hands.
I would make sure of that.
“It’s time. Grab her.” The man who mentioned the show earlier voiced as his hazel eyes flickered. “We have a King to please.”
His last words got me gasping but it came out as a sound of protest.
The man who brushed and styled my hair chuckled darkly, “There’s no escape, girl. Your fate has been decided let's see how well you will do at the show or how bad your life will become if you aren't selected.”
The other two men laughed with him. They were talking about unknown fates but little did they know that I had chosen my path and was simply wondering who the so-called king was. After all, their leader who ruined my life and brought me here also mentioned A King before I blacked out last night.
A King To Please…
Who was the King?
“I bet my life she won't be among the chosen ones.” The man who fastened the corset, grumbled, and again, they all laughed, cutting my chain of deadly thoughts.
Before I knew it, I was grabbed and dragged roughly out of the room. Unable to walk on my own, I was supported by two of the men while the third one simply walked before us. Soon, we entered a corridor and I realized that I wasn't the only female who was dressed up like a cheap doll and getting dragged to what I assumed was the show.
We were, let's say, more than I could count.
And from the look of things, I wasn't the only one that has been drugged.
Two men were on each side of the females as we walked through a wide corridor. Soon enough, the line of silent females was stopped in front of a huge glinting silver door. I didn't need to have good werewolf ears to hear the loud chatter and merry behind the door.
“We have been ordered to administer the antidotes and lead them in.” A man on the far end of the line shouted out commands.
“Understood.” The other men chorused as if answering to a superior.
I tried to turn my neck, hoping that would be the masked leader who murdered my spirit but my efforts were futile.
“It doesn't sound like him.” I thought to myself.
Without delay, my lips were roughly parted, and a tasteless powdery substance hit my tongue. From the corner of my eyes, I watched as the same was done to other females before me and one after the other, the men let go of the females, leaving them to hold their weights. Some fell and without mercy, they were yanked to their feet.
“I guess I will see your fat ass later.” Chills ran down my spine as the hazel-eyed man uttered.
The tight hold of the other two men loosened. I began to feel my weight once again but my legs were weak, buckling under my weight. I clenched my fists, resisting the need to reduce the stiffness of my legs by sitting or falling flat on my butt.
“The door will open soon and there is only one law you must obey if you want to walk out with your head on your neck.” The man on the far end spoke again, sounding authoritative and dangerous. He announced the so-called law as he walked past me without sparing me a glance, “Thou shall not speak unless spoken to by the King.”
Before I could wonder about the so-called King again, He continued, “Do I make myself clear!”
A couple of responses came in, shakily and fearfully.
But I didn't bother.
I had better things to do and I wouldn't let fear take that from me.
Satisfied by the response he got, the man whose name and position I still didn't know walked up to the door and knocked. The loud voices behind the door didn't seize even for a second but the door opened immediately.
Just as immediate, an order from a very familiar voice, a voice I detested so much and a voice that had etched in my brain resonated as it hit my eardrums, “Bring them in. The King awaits his presents.”
It was him. My worst nightmare.
My breath hitched, eyes searching frantically to find the masked bastard whose voice just helped unfreeze my legs. I found myself taking steps forward even though there were many females in line before me.
“Stay in line!” one of the many unknown men barked at me as I rushed past him but I didn't stop.
I broke into a sprint, slipping past the sliver door with wide teary yet angry eyes.
“Stop her!” Someone shouted behind me.
But that simply made me run faster. My pain fueled fury within me and I became oblivious to the fact that I had run into a big hall— bigger than any hall I have ever been. Even the Alpha’s hall back home was nothing compared to this hall. Yet I didn't stop to check out the hall or pay attention to the people in it.
I could feel eyes on me as I went deeper into the hall. I could tell those men were behind me but they weren't pursuing me like I thought they would. It was as if they were being careful so as not to annoy someone. Someone important.
But I didn't care.
I kept going deeper into the hall, as fast as my legs could go until I heard that voice again.
“Where do you think you are going?” The creator of my doom asked, his voice creating a spark of outrage. I let my eyes work hand in hand with my ears to find the bastard. When my eyes settled on the owner of the voice, I discovered he wasn't wearing a mask.
The person I was searching for hid his face behind a mask the last time I saw him.
Or could it be that I was mistaken?
Did my brain register the voice wrongly?
I took a step back, stammering, “You a-are…”
“I almost didn't recognize you, Fatty. Look at you.” The man smirked while I gasped as realization hit me.
It was him.
Him without a mask.
Ignoring the logical part of me that knew that there was no way I could hurt this man in a hall full of people who must be working with him, I let my legs run free as I boiled with untamable anger.
“You!” I cried ferociously.
I suddenly felt the need to rip off the tight dress I was wearing because it was restricting me and damn was it uncomfortable.
“It's you, right?” I asked stupidly but quickly caught myself. “You are the heartless monster that raided my pack and killed everyone. What did we ever do to you!” I lamented just as strong hands grabbed me, stopping me from reaching him.
His eyes flared and I was able to see how his ugly face twisted without a mask to hide his true look. “You will not raise your voice at me, Fatty and you will get in line and pay respect to the Lycan King If—”
I scoffed, my eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill but I held them in. This wasn't the time to be a weak crybaby. “Do I look like I give a f*ck about you and your damned King!”
Loud gasps echoed through the hall. Murmurs of utter disbelief spread as well before I took a moment to think back to what I said and who was mentioned.
“The Lycan King?” I whispered to myself, feeling the crowd's disbelief too.
The Lycan King was the King they had been referring to.
As in, the well-known ruthless last Lycan who has been ruling the werewolves for decades? The same one that has been used to scare many of us when we were younger and still has the same effect on adults?
The fear that I had cast and bound returned with full force and for a few seconds I let it drown me because why not? However, I recalled that I had nothing to lose except my life which had ended the second Lyon was killed brutally.
I was already dead so dying wasn't scary anymore.
“You insolent piece of s**t!” My maskless enemy lashed out at me, dashing towards me, obviously to hit me.
But I didn't back down. Instead, I glared at him and yelled, “You bastard!” ignoring the eyes on me and acting like I wasn't in the presence of the Lycan King.
I just couldn't care.
My hate for the man dashing towards me has also extended to the Lycan King. If his men could invade a small pack and kill werewolves, he was supposed to protect, perhaps it was time to make it known that he was an unworthy King- A shame to his ancestors.
As my nameless and unmasked enemy got closer, I prepared myself for the impact of his attacks that were sure to come. I also struggled to be freed by his men, but he reached me and raised his hand to deliver a slap or perhaps a blow that would send me flying to my grave.
My eyes stayed glued to his but they soon shifted when a sharp voice declared, “Enough, Alpha King Seth.”
I would be lying if I claimed I couldn't tell that the voice belonged to no one else but the Lycan King whom I had insulted and who I hated even more than I hated the man whose hand froze in the air while he glared at me.
Alpha King Seth?
Really?
The one that ruined my pack was an Alpha King? How could he use his power to kill a lot of people without getting reprimanded by the Lycan King?
I wondered if this was how things worked.
“Permit me to punish this useless b***h for insulting you and disrupting the annual tribute festival.” Alpha King Seth growled.
I growled right back even though my eyes had found and connected with a pair of bizarre onyx orbs that had me swallowing my saliva… His look made me thirsty. He was oddly attractive yet repelling. His eyes drew me in yet I felt the sudden need to run far away from him.
However, his eyes held me in place like he was controlling my soul without moving a finger.
“I'll decide what kind of punishment she deserves, how it will be carried out, and where.” The Lycan King uttered without detaching his eyes from mine. I could have sworn I saw the flame of lust burning subtly in his orbs and it intrigued me until he added, “Punishing what’s mine will be my duty.”
I barked, breaking out of the spell and control he had on me, “I belong to no one!”
The audience gasped again but the Lycan King added with an emotionless face, “Let's hear what you have to say when I claim you… tonight.”
Was he kidding me!
No, he wasn't.
He made that clear when he announced, “Take the chosen one to the breeder's quarters and prepare her for my pleasure, Rafael.”
A hefty man walked out of the crowd to carry out the Lycan King’s order. Clearly, I've been chosen as his plaything.
But I made a vow to myself while holding his gaze. “I, Aurelia Wixx, devote my life to ruining y'all.”
Just like that, I became one of the numerous breeders of the last Lycan. He would come to me for pleasure, but death was all I had to offer.
“Look forward to vengeance as cold as ice,” I whispered as I was dragged away like a bag of grain.