AGONY OF A FATED MATE

CHAPTER FIVE

Aurora’s POV

The maid's words echoed in my mind:

"You are pregnant." I couldn't believe it. How could this have happened? I thought back to the night with Orion, but it was all so fuzzy.

The sound of footsteps echoed outside my cell, and I stood up, my heart racing. The door creaked open, and a figure entered. It was the maid again, this time with a small bag in her hand.

"I brought you some food and water," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You need to keep your strength up, especially now."

I took the bag from her, my hands shaking with gratitude. "Thank you," I said, my voice cracking.

The maid smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll do what I can to help you, Aurora. But you need to be careful. There are those who would love to see you suffer."

I nodded, feeling a surge of fear. Who could I trust?

As the maid left, I opened the bag and found a small loaf of bread, some cheese, and a flask of water. I ate and drank, feeling a little better.

But as the hours passed, the darkness began to close in around me. I thought about Orion and how he had rejected me. I thought about the baby growing inside me. And I thought about Alicia, who seemed to be behind it all.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps again. This time, it was Orion who entered my cell. His face was twisted in anger, and his eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

"Aurora, I know you're pregnant," he said, his voice low and menacing. "And I know it's mine."

I stood up, my heart racing. "Orion, please listen to me. I didn't kill your father. I swear it."

But Orion just laughed. "You're a liar, Aurora. And now, you're going to pay for what you've done."

I backed away from him, fear rising up in my throat. What was he going to do to me?

And then, everything went blank.

Waking up to a thunderous slap on my cheek, my eyes fell on an evil smile—it was Alicia.

"Why do you think you are getting pregnant for the alpha?" she sneered, gripping my cheek tightly. "Huh?"

"Let go of me," I pleaded, feeling weak. "No, I won't stop, Aurora, until those children in your womb die," she screamed, snapping her fingers as some guards walked in.

"Yes, Luna," they uttered. My eyes widened in shock—she was the new Luna. Everything became clear to me. "No!" I screamed as the guards pulled me out.

Taken to Alicia's room, I saw the reflection of light for the first time in a long while.

"Now wash my feet, Aurora," she demanded, stretching her smelly foot onto my lap. The stench made me nauseous, and I threw up right in front of her.

"Eww," she muttered, kicking me to the ground with her foot.

"How dare you do such a thing!" she screamed. This time, I was truly afraid of what she was going to do next.

"Guards!" she yelled out, watching them rush towards me and grab me tightly. It was then I started to accept my fate; this was the type of life I was destined to live.

"Whip her 210 strokes of the cane," she commanded. And that was how everything started—living in the jungle for months and being mistreated by Orion and Alicia. Every day, I cursed myself for ever forcing myself to love the guy called Orion; I should have left quickly. I shouldn't have been so strong-headed.

Touching my belly, I sighed in pain, the clicking of the door alarming me and sending a shiver down my spine. Every time it reminded me that another punishment was coming.

This time it was Orion. He stood right in front of me, fear gripping me as I shifted backward until I reached the end of the wall.

"How dare you wound Alicia, huh?" he shouted, delivering a kick that made me fall onto my belly. Gripping my stomach tight, knowing it was my due date already, nobody was going to help.

Orion walked out shutting the cell, It was time the contractions were coming, trying to hold it after some hours.

I lay on the cold, hard floor, my body wracked with pain. The guards had been gone for hours, but I knew they would return soon. I had to focus on the task at hand: giving birth to my baby.

As the contractions intensified, I screamed out in agony. But I was alone, with no one to help me. I was forced to deliver my babies by myself, with no medical care or assistance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my first baby was born. It was a boy, and he was perfect. But as I held him in my arms, I knew that I wasn't done yet. I still had another baby to deliver.

The second baby was born soon after, but it was clear that something was wrong. The baby was weak and struggling to breathe. I held him in my arms, tears streaming down my face as I begged him to stay with me.

But it was too late. The baby took one last gasp of air and then went still. I was consumed with grief, holding my lifeless baby in my arms.

Just as I was starting to lose hope, I heard the sound of footsteps outside my cell. It was the maid, the same one who had helped me before. She rushed in and saw the state I was in, and her face filled with compassion.

"I'm so sorry, Aurora," she said, rushing to my side. "I had no idea it was this bad. We have to get you out of here, now."

I nodded, still in shock from the loss of my baby. The maid helped me to my feet and handed me my living baby. Together, we made our way out of the cell and through the castle.

We moved quickly and quietly, avoiding the guards and other dangers. The maid knew the castle like the back of her hand, and she led me through secret passages and hidden doors.

Finally, we reached the outside of the castle. The maid handed me a cloak and a small bag of supplies. "You have to go," she said. "You have to get as far away from here as possible."

I nodded, hugging her tightly. "Thank you," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "I owe you my life."

The maid smiled and hugged me back. "You don't owe me anything, Aurora. Just take care of yourself and your baby. And don't let them catch you."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. I knew that I had a long and difficult journey ahead of me, but I was ready. I was ready to fight for my freedom, and for the life of my baby.

With the maid's help, I disappeared into the night, determined to start a new life and leave my past behind. But I knew that I would never forget the baby I lost, and the maid who had helped me escape.