Chapter 9 — Public Torture

AURORA

I let out a startled gasp at Darius’s words, and it seemed I wasn’t the only one. Every human in the crowd froze, eyes wide with shock and dread. I could feel the fear rippling through the crowd.

“Now!” Darius’s voice cracked through the air like thunder.

His guards surged forward into the crowd. Screams broke out as they kicked women and children aside, dragging the men and boys into the open.

They forced all of them to kneel before Darius and I wondered what else he was planning. The men were all shaking with fear as they bowed their heads.

“Silence!” Darius barked.

The square fell into an eerie stillness. His silver gaze locked onto me, pinning me in place like a hunted animal. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. His Alpha aura held me captive.

“You are going to identify the man you saw during the kidnapping, Aurora,” Darius commanded.

I scoffed and before I could stop myself, I blurted out the words in my head without thinking.

“Why should I betray my kind for the wolves who stole our homes?”

A horrified gasp escaped the crowd. My own hand shot to my mouth as I realized what I had said but it was already too late. Everyone stared at me, horrified. Even the wolves looked stunned that I would dare speak to their Alpha that way.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—” I started, but Darius raised a hand to silence me.

I kept quiet and lowered my eyes to the ground as Darius laughed. It was a low mocking sound that made my skin crawl and I wondered what was funny but I didn't dare speak up again.

“Humans never cease to amaze me,” he said coldly. “They’re always so quick to betray each other for scraps of food, a little power, and money. But we are different. We don’t sell our blood for bread.”

I felt my heart ache as I realized what he was doing. He was trying to mock me before everyone, all thanks to my father who sold me to them. His words were like a blade aimed straight at my heart.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Darius sneered. “Your father sold you, Aurora. Sold you for food. You are nothing to him. And yet here you stand, preaching loyalty to humans like they're some kind of saint when they've already betrayed you.”

Shame burned hotter than fire in my chest. The truth cut deeper because it came from his mouth.

Then the pain hit. It wasn’t the collar this time. This was worse, almost like something inside me was tearing open, heat flooding every inch of me until I thought my veins were on fire.

I writhed on the ground, screaming as sweat soaked my body, my throat raw from my shouts.

I wanted to beg for help, but I couldn’t form words. My lungs burned, my skin burned, my mouth felt dry, my palms were clammy, everything inside me was burning.

No one moved. Not even Draven. He just watched, pity in his golden eyes, but powerless to stop it.

At last, it ended and I collapsed, gasping for breath. Darius strode forward, fisted a hand in my hair, and yanked me upright until pain lanced through my scalp.

“I’ll rip your tongue out, slave,” he growled against my ear, “if you ever disrespect me again.”

Then he shoved me down, smirking, while I burned with hatred. I hated him. I hated all of them. But most of all, I hated my father.

If he hadn’t sold me like livestock, I wouldn’t be here. Tears rolled down my cheeks as humiliation burned through me. He had sold me for scraps, allowing Veronica to poison his mind.

Many times I've wondered if I was better off dead but right now I would do everything in my power to stay alive and take my revenge on them for all they put me through.

Darius’s voice snapped me back. “Are you ready, Aurora? Or do you need another lesson in betrayal?”

I scrambled to my feet, shaking. “No. Please… I’m ready.” My voice cracked, hoarse from screaming.

I couldn't afford to go through that torment again. It felt like I was being burned alive from the inside.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked, hoarsely.

His hand clamped around my throat, squeezing until spots danced in my vision. He smirked. “Such a good little slave.”

Then he shoved me forward. I stumbled to the ground before the kneeling men.

“Tell me who you saw the day of the kidnapping,” Darius ordered.

My gaze lifted and my breath caught.

My father was there. He bowed before them, shoulders shaking, unable to even look at me.

Rage surged through me. “After selling me, you can’t even face me?”

“No talking, Aurora!” Darius snapped.

His words were accompanied by a jolt of pain from the collar. I screamed, my body jerking, before gasping for breath when it ended. I forced myself upright, choking back sobs.

I walked past the kneeling men one by one. None of them were familiar. All were cowards. All would sell their daughters just as my father had.

“No one,” I said at last. “He’s not here.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the men. But my father didn’t move or make a sound. He didn't even stop bowing as long as it kept him from staring at me.

I clenched my fists until my nails cut into my palms, swallowing my scream. He was pathetic!

I wanted to scream and hit him. I wanted to ask him why he betrayed me and mom instead I swallowed those words before I would incur another punishment.

“Are you certain, Aurora?” Darius asked.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, bowing slightly. “None of the kidnappers are here.”

Darius scoffed. “What a waste of time.”

Then a guard’s voice cut through the silence.

“This man looks familiar,” he said sharply, pointing. “I’ve seen him with the Red Hand.”

I turned to see who the guard was talking about and my heart froze when I saw him standing before my father.