Chapter 10 — The Traitor

AURORA

“No… that can’t be right,” I whispered, horror clawing up my throat as the guard pointed toward my father.

My blood turned to ice when Darius’s silver eyes fixed on him. I shook my head violently, ready to rush forward but a firm hand clamped down on my shoulder, forcing me to remain seated.

“Sit this one out, peach,” Calypso murmured, her eyes deadly.

“But—” I was about to protest when Darius spoke.

“Bring him to me,” Darius ordered, his voice sharp as steel.

A cold sweat slicked my skin as guards seized my father, dragging him forcefully toward Darius. My father shook his head, thrashing, yelling desperately.

“No! You’ve got the wrong person!” But none of the wolves listened to him.

My gaze searched the crowd and caught Victoria. Her face was twisted, her eyes narrowed, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.

Her eyes had no tears, but I could see the anger and fear. I scoffed. At least I know she cares about my father, or maybe she's scared her means of survival won’t be with her for long.

“Even if you were one of them, you’d never admit it, you wretched coward,” Darius spat at my father.

The guard threw my father at his feet. He scrambled up, terror etched into every line of his face.

“No, please… I swear I don’t know anything. My wife is pregnant. I’d never risk her safety!” my father begged.

Darius sneered. “What do you know about protecting family, when you sold your own daughter for bread?”

My heart lurched. I fought against Calypso’s grip, eyes stinging with unshed tears.

“Please! He’s innocent! I need to save him!” I begged her.

Her grip tightened like iron. “Let go, peach. He’s gone.”

My heart broke at her words when suddenly rocks emerged from the ground, shackling my father’s legs in jagged stone cuffs. Gasps ripped through the humans in the crowd.

I froze, staring in horror as the rocks held my father in place and he couldn't move. How great is their power? I wondered in fear.

“Please,” my father sobbed. “I made a mistake with my daughter, but don’t judge me by that. Spare me, I’m innocent!”

“Start talking,” Darius said flatly, ignoring his pleas.

“I… I don’t know what you want me to say,” my father cried.

The crowd shrank away but they couldn't leave. Not unless they wanted to lose their legs, no one could move an inch until Darius left or ordered them to leave.

I could see women desperately trying to hide their husbands and sons before another guard identified someone else.

“How about you tell me where the rest of The Red Hand are cowardly hiding in and where the hell my woman is!” Darius snapped.

“I don't know anything, I swear I’m inno—”

My father’s words were cut off as his scream tore through the air and heat shimmered across his body. I recognized that torture, it was the same burning agony Darius had unleashed on me.

Panic surged through me. No matter how much I hated him for betraying me, I couldn’t watch my father die like this.

I had been furious and vengeful earlier but now watching him being tortured by this sadistic Alpha for a crime he didn't commit, it broke my heart and I knew I would never be able to harm my father.

I broke free of Calypso’s grip, much to her surprise and I lunged forward before she could stop me.

“Please!” I threw myself at Darius’s feet, clutching his leg. “My father is innocent, spare him. He's not part of the gang.”

“Calypso,” Darius growled. “I told you to put a leash on her.”

“She slipped free, Alpha. Forgive me,” Calypso muttered, ashamed.

She tried to reach out toward me again but I recoiled, dodging away from her.

“Leave her, I’ll deal with her myself!” Darius hissed at Calypso.

I tightened my grip on Darius’s leg, refusing to let go. “Please, Alpha, spare him.”

Darius chuckled, darkly. “This is the first time you've spoken to me respectfully of your own free will.”

“Please, have mercy, Alpha!” My voice cracked.

If I needed to be respectful to this sadistic monster just to get my father released then so be it.

Darius gave me a bored look, “He sold you off, slave, shouldn't you be happy that I’m helping you get your revenge? I know you hate him so I’m doing you a favor.”

I shook my head, tears rolling down my cheeks, “No, I don't want him to get hurt, please. If he were with The Red Hand, he wouldn’t have sold me. We would have had enough food to live on.”

I turned, locking desperate eyes with Draven, silently begging him to save my father while I still clung onto Darius’s legs like they were my lifeline.

“Brother,” Draven said quietly, “perhaps we should investigate further. It’s possible the man isn’t guilty.”

I nodded rapidly, tears streaming. “Yes! Investigate! You’ll find out the truth!”

But Darius’s expression remained cruel. “That would give him time to escape. They took Luna Astrid. I will not rest until she is returned.”

My father screamed again, writhing as the stones clawed at his body, blood seeping through his clothes.

“Stop!” I sobbed. “Torture me instead! Please, hurt me, not him!”

The crowd gasped. Even the wolves were shocked.

Darius tilted his head, studying me. “You would willingly take the pain meant for a man who betrayed and sold you?”

“He’s still my father,” I whispered, sobbing.

My cheeks were wet, my nose running, but I didn’t care. I would degrade myself if it meant saving him.

For the briefest moment, something flickered in Darius’s eyes and I thought he would release my father but it was gone immediately.

“Drag him back with us,” he ordered. “He will be detained until he confesses.”

“No!” I cried, clutching at his leg. “Please!”

His boot struck my chest, sending me sprawling away from him. I scrambled, coughing and struggling to breathe as I clawed my way back toward my father as guards dragged him.

“Calypso,” Darius snapped, “Put a leash on her.”

Calypso pinned me down while I thrashed desperately and suddenly I screamed.

“Check if he has any tattoos!”