Dad's Dark Secret

Charlotte Moore's POV

My mother's scream drew my father to the scene, along with two soldiers, one plump and one skinny.

"Come on, get dressed!" my father shouted at me.

I put on a loose blue-gray striped pajama set. The two soldiers escorted me all the way to the basement – the Silver Dungeon.

I was thrown into the innermost cell. The innermost cells were reserved for those sentenced to death, deprived of daylight and even a small window. Puddles of dirty water formed on the floor, and the cell contained only a long bench, no bed. Two hook locks hung from the ceiling, spaced about 1.5 meters apart. Each lock had an iron chain, and my hands were bound to these chains. My arms were in a V shape, and my feet were about five centimeters off the ground. My entire body weight rested on my arms, and soon my arms started to ache unbearably.

Throughout the entire afternoon, I hadn't had a drop of water, nor a single grain of rice, nor seen a single person. I hung in the darkness, slowly being consumed by fear. Several rats scurried around my feet, wanting to bite me. I kicked them away, but every time I moved my feet, my arms hurt even more. After being chased away, the rats returned shortly to continue nibbling at my feet.

I heard the sound of metal colliding – the basement door was being opened. Someone was coming in. Hope ignited within me; maybe someone was here to help me, to let me down, my arms were about to break.

The footsteps grew clearer and clearer, they belonged to two people. As they approached me, I caught a whiff of my father's scent.

"Dad, please, let me down," I shouted with all my might. My voice sounded as hoarse and harsh as the sound of sawing wood.

My father ordered the soldier beside him to open the cell door. He then dismissed the soldier and walked in alone, sitting on the bench.

"Dad, please, please put me down," I begged again.

Out of the darkness came the sound of his laughter, a giggle that sent shivers down my spine.

" This will all be over soon, soon you will be relieved and end this miserable life of yours," he said in a tone devoid of emotion, as if the one suffering here wasn't his own flesh and blood, but a stranger.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I whispered in despair.

"This is your destiny. Before you were born, you had three sisters and two brothers, all of whom died young because I sucked away their power, and you, the luckiest of them all. You were born with amazing power, so I let you live, when you were sixteen years old, you showed your unique double-tailed wolf, it could be used for me, letting me live forever. Now you are a useless waste, you can go die." He said with a sneer.

I recalled some unusual occurrences. Although my father was approaching forty, he looked as if he were twenty. I had always thought it was due to proper self-care, never suspecting such a horrifying secret behind it.

"You're a demon! Who do you think you are? Do you think you can casually decide someone else's fate? The things you've done will bring the wrath of the Moon Goddess upon you!" I roared, using my last strength.

"Hahaha, say whatever you want. I'm telling you all this out of kindness," he said and stood up, walked outside the cell and called for two soldiers on duty, "Put her down and escort her out."

The two soldiers unfastened the iron chains from my wrists. My balance was shaky, and I fell to the ground. Struggling, I attempted to get back up, but my limbs were sore and I had no strength left. The soldiers lifted me up and supported me as we walked out. My feet dragged on the ground. As we emerged from the basement, the outdoor light hurt my eyes, even though it was dusk. I was brought to the square, where a crowd had gathered. In the center of the square stood a pyre, and the soldiers fastened me to the stake with iron chains. Then, two Omegas pushed a cart filled with firewood and straw, dumping it under the pyre.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as they raised their right hands and chanted, "In the name of the Moon Goddess, execute the blasphemer!"

A genteel middle-aged man stepped out of the crowd. He was Liam's father, Beta Drake. His bloodshot eyes glared at me, and he waved his fist at me, shouting, "Why? Why did you kill my son?"

Why? Because your damn son deserved it! I cursed in my mind. Tilting my head back, I refused to look at him. I had nothing to explain to him, and I had no strength to do so.

My attitude infuriated him. He charged forward, took out a lighter, and prepared to set the fire. Alpha Morgan, no longer worthy of being called my father, rushed to stop him. He informed him that the fire could only be lit once the full moon rose in fifteen minutes. Alpha Morgan sent Beta Drake back into the crowd.

I closed my eyes, refusing to watch or listen. I imagined myself as a little bird; soon, after the fire burned out, I would be in heaven. There was nothing in this world worth clinging to, except for my mother. Suddenly, my eyes shot open. My mother, she was still in the dark, unaware of the demon she shared a bed with every night. I had to tell her the truth and help her escape from Alpha Morgan.

"Mom! Mom!" I shouted as loudly as I could, but my voice was drowned out by the noisy crowd.

I scanned the crowd and couldn't spot my mom, I was afraid she was still in a coma and hadn't woken up, I was so anxious I was close to tears.

I watched as the full moon rose from behind distant mountains. I watched as Alpha Morgan ordered the soldiers to light the fire with torches. I watched as the grass and firewood below ignited, sending a wave of heat rising. I closed my eyes and tears trickled down, waiting silently for death.

Suddenly, the crowd fell silent. Curious, I opened my eyes and looked down. A soldier ran up to Alpha Morgan, whispering something in his ear. Then, Alpha Morgan's voice echoed loudly across the square, "Everyone, listen up! A royal guard has reported that Alpha King has disappeared in our tribe's direction. Everyone, go find Alpha King now!"

In the next moment, the people in the square scattered, leaving me alone, waiting for death's arrival. Just then, a faint voice reached my ears, "Don't give up. We still have a mate." It was my wolf. I hadn't even had a chance to name her yet. She had awakened.