I am your wife อย่าลืมว่าฉันเป็นเมีย

Aurora knelt on the cold ground with her hands tied behind her back. Her shoulders ached, her wrists burned against the rope, and every breath sent another wave of pain through her body. But she bit down on her tongue and refused to make a sound.

Slash!

The cane struck her back again. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. Her body weakened beneath her, and she finally collapsed onto the ground. Her vision blurred as her eyes fluttered shut. A tear threatened to escape, but she forced it back.

Not in front of them.

"Is she dead?"

A boot nudged her side.

She remained still, refusing to open her eyes. The other guard crouched beside her and pressed two fingers beneath her nose. After a moment, he pulled his hand away.

"She's still breathing."

"She must be faking it," the first guard said coldly. "Just like a thief like her would."

His hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head upward. Pain exploded across her scalp. Her eyes snapped open.

"Flog her again."

His grip tightened. She winced, but he didn't care. She was the illegitimate daughter, the one nobody wanted to claim.

Her heart hardened as she stared at the cane in the other guard's hand. He raised it above his head, preparing to strike again.

"Stop."

The voice echoed through the room.

Aurora froze. She knew that voice. Even in her worst nightmares, she would recognize it.

Veronica.

Her sister walked toward them with her chin held high, her long blonde hair falling perfectly over her shoulders. Her slender figure was wrapped in an expensive gown, and every step she took carried the confidence of someone who had never been forced to beg for anything in her life.

She reached the guard and roughly pulled his hand away from Aurora's hair.

"Enough."

Aurora stumbled backward, catching herself with her hands before she hit the ground.

"My sister has received the punishment she deserves," Veronica said calmly.

She crouched in front of Aurora, her expression suddenly softening.

"Are you alright?" Her hand moved toward Aurora's arm as though she genuinely cared. Aurora stared at her for a moment before smirking. Then she slapped her hand away.

"Stop pretending. It makes you look stupid."

Veronica stumbled backward and landed on the floor. The two guards immediately rushed toward her.

"Princess, are you alright?"

The concern in their voices was almost amusing. One of them turned toward Aurora, his expression darkening.

"Should we punish her for that?"

A faint smile appeared on Veronica's lips. She stood slowly and dusted off her gown.

"No. You don't have to."

She glanced at the guards.

"Leave. I have a private matter to discuss with my sister."

The guards hesitated before bowing their heads.

"Yes, Princess."

They walked out, and the heavy door slammed shut behind them. Silence filled the room. Aurora turned toward Veronica with a frown.

"So you can finally show me your true self."

A dark chuckle escaped her lips.

"There is no need to pretend anymore.”

Veronica stared at her. Then she walked closer and grabbed the front of Aurora's torn dress.

"How was my gift?" she whispered. "I hope you liked it." Aurora's expression hardened.

This was the real Veronica. The Veronica she had always known. She reached into her bag and pulled something out.

Aurora's eyes widened. The necklace. The same necklace she had been accused of stealing. The necklace that had gotten her locked up and beaten. Her gaze snapped back to Veronica.

"So it was you."

She smiled.

"You accused me of stealing it.

Why?"Aurora's voice remained calm, but anger burned inside her.

"What did you gain from this?"

"Nothing."

She shrugged.

"Only your pain."

She leaned closer.

"If you ever get in my way again, Aurora, your head might be the next thing you lose.”

Aurora's fingers curled into fists. Veronica released her dress and walked toward the door. She stopped before leaving and glanced over her shoulder.

"You may leave now."

Her smile widened.

"After all, you don't know how many days your mother has left."

A cold laugh escaped her lips before she walked out.

Aurora stood frozen.

Her mother's face immediately filled her mind. She needed a kidney transplant, and Aurora's father—the Alpha of the Bloodcrest Moon Pack—had refused to help her. Aurora had begged the pack's elders and healers for help, but no one wanted to go against her father. And now her mother's life depended on time they didn't have.

Aurora clenched her fists as she stared at the door Veronica had disappeared through. Veronica had won this round. But Aurora refused to let her have the last word.

She dragged herself toward the exit, every step sending pain through her battered body. She had been locked up for five days for a crime she never committed, and now she was finally free. The moment she stepped outside, the cool breeze brushed against her face. She inhaled deeply. Fresh air had never felt so good.

She walked through the market, keeping her head lowered as people stopped to stare. She didn't want their pity. She never had. Then a woman's voice reached her ears.

"What a waste. The Alpha should have never slept with that maid and produced such a disgrace to our pack."

Another woman laughed.

"True. He must have been drugged. Her mother was never worthy of him in the first place."

Aurora stopped walking. Slowly, she turned toward them.

"If you were so perfect," she said coldly, "why did you never manage to catch the Alpha's attention?"

The women stared at her in shock.

"You—how dare you!"

Their voices followed her as she walked away. Their words still pierced through her, but she refused to let them see it. They could call her whatever they wanted.

Illegitimate.

Maid's daughter.

Disgrace.

She had heard worse. But none of those words mattered as much as one thing. Her mother was dying. And she needed to get to her.

⸻

Aurora stood outside the huge hospital, her hands clenched at her sides before she finally stepped inside. The sharp smell of antiseptic and bleach hit her nose as she hurried toward the reception desk.

"I'm here for Ward Three," she said calmly.

The receptionist looked up at her. Her eyes traveled over Aurora's torn dress and bruised face. She picked up a piece of paper from the container beside her and held it out to Aurora without saying a word. Aurora took it and walked toward the ward.

When she pushed the door open, her mother's weak figure came into view.

She looked even more fragile than Aurora remembered. Her lips were dry, her skin was pale, and an IV was attached to the back of her hand. Aurora walked toward her slowly, her eyes taking in every detail.

Tears filled her eyes. This time, she let them fall.

"Mother, I missed you," she whispered as she carefully wrapped her arms around her.

Her mother had always been her only friend. Nobody wanted anything to do with the daughter of a maid, even though Aurora was also the Alpha's daughter. To everyone else, her blood meant nothing because of who her mother was. But her mother had never looked at her that way. She had never made Aurora feel like she was a mistake.

The door creaked behind her. She quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and turned around.

The Beta stood in the doorway, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared at her.

"The Alpha has asked for your presence," he said coldly.

Aurora's eyes widened. Her father had never asked for her before. In fact, she hadn't seen him in an entire year. Her heart began to tremble. Anyone else might have been surprised that the Alpha had finally summoned his daughter. But she knew her father. Whenever he called for her, it was never good news.