Three

Aurora POV.

Have you ever wished for death? Cried out your eyes, begging for your life to come to an end but it didn't happen.

That was the exact same situation I found myself in, laying on the cold cell floor, hopeless and lifeless.

It's been seven days, of pure torture since my father ordered that I should be locked in here, no food, no light, no water, just darkness, a constant reminder of my cursed fate.

A punishment for a crime I didn't commit.

Suddenly, for the first time in several days, the main door creaked, as some footsteps grew closer.

Hope flooded through my veins as I picked myself up from the cold floor, the investigations must be over by now and everyone must have come to know that I didn't steal the Beta's ring.

If it wasn't for my father's orders for me to be thrown into the prison, the entire pack members would have stoned me to death.

I had multiple tags to myself, a reject, a thief and now I was a prisoner.

First four guards and finally my step mom.

I picked myself from the floor slowly, gripping the bars of the cage as tears welled up in my eyes.

Finally I would be free from this prison.

"Mother, you have come, I'm free to go right?" I asked, my lips curving into a smile.

"Open the cage and bring her out!" She ordered instead, scanning me from head to toe with zero emotions on her face.

The guard brought out the key from his pocket as he opened the cage while glaring at me..

Once the doors were opened, he dragged me out of the cage, pushing me to her feet.

"Arghhh" I groaned in pain as my body collided with the hard cold floor.

"Your father's birthday is tomorrow, I'm sure you don't remember that?" She started, staring down at me.

"No no...I do, I remember my father's birthday, I..."

"I begged for you to be released, just so you can join the celebrations, but before that you will have to run some errands tonight for the party tomorrow, do you get it?" She added even before I could complete my statement.

"Really?..but what happens after the party?"

"What do you think will happen? Of course you would be thrown back here, did I ask you to steal from the Beta?"

"But I didn't steal anything, I promise I didn't see the ring or..."

"We can settle all this after the party, if your father is in a good mood, he will sort out something, but for now you need to hurry to the market before it closes okay?" She interrupted me once again.

"Okay.. thank you so much mother, you have saved me." I replied, folding my hands before her as tears rolled down my eyes.

"Here is a list of what you need to buy, and the money you will need, you have to be back in two hours!" She ordered, giving me one last look, she walked away.

****

I didn't even have enough time on my hands to get dressed and so I washed my face and legs before heading to the market. My stepmother asked some guards to escort me through the back door to avoid unnecessary attention, my stepmother's words replaying in my head.

 Just as I took the next turn down the street, a loud shriek escaped my lips as two huge figures appeared before me, they were putting on masks that covered their eyes but the creepy smile on their face was enough to tell that they were up to no good.

Immediately I turned around to escape but before I could move, one reached out for me, grabbing my arm, "Where do you think you are going?" He growled, his dirty eyes raking all over my body.

"Let go of me" I cried out, searching around for any help but there was no one around. It was quite late in the evening and I had taken this shortcut so I could get to the market on time and return before two hours.

Just to be met with this obstacle.

"What are you going to do huh?" The second guy added, pulling my hair backwards.

Immediately my free hand moved on its own accord, throwing a punch at the man's abdomen.

"You little bitch!" He cursed out loud, releasing my hair instantly.

I had no idea where the strength came from as I stared at my hand when I heard a small whisper in my head.

"You have me Aurora, don't ever forget that" Gem whispered.

That's right! My Alpha wolf. With such strength I will be able to take down those men and run back to the castle.

My eyes danced between the both of them as I took casual steps backwards so I could change into my wolf but suddenly one of the men moved like the gust of a wind reaching out for me then he jabbed me with a syringe at the back of my neck.

The last thing I heard was their sadistic laughter before I passed out.

****

"Is she the one that tried to fight you both?" 

"But she looks so frail and yet she was able to deliver such a punch?" 

My eyes stirred open slowly, taking in the voices around me, for a second I wasn't able to register anything, as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room.

"Look she is awake, right before the Auction starts" The first voice added again.

Auction?

What auction?

Immediately a tall lanky figure appeared in front of me, crouching down to meet my eyes and instantly, all different flashbacks crossed my mind.

First I was in the prison, and then on my way to the market I met two strange men.

My eyes darted at the man standing close to the door as I recognized him, "You! Why did you bring me here?" I yelled at him.

Immediately the man kneeling in front of me slapped me right across the cheeks, "You won't ask any questions, do you get it?" He barked loudly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I held my cheeks, just how miserable could my fate be?

"When I ask you a question, I demand an answer, understand?" The man added, grabbing my jaw.

"Yes" my voice squeaked as he released me harshly, causing my head to hit the wall.

What is happening?

What am I doing here? I asked no one in particular while holding my head in pain.

"Your stepmother did this, she sold us to these goons!" Gem replied, in an angry tone.

"What are you saying Gem? She wouldn't do something like that, she wanted me to participate in my father's birthday" I replied, my eyes hovering around.

"She wants you to celebrate or just an excuse to get rid of you permanently, moreover I overheard the goons talking about it before you regained consciousness" Gem countered, she sounded pissed.

"You must have misunderstood something, she doesn't treat me well but she wouldn't do this to me" I retorted looking around.

Call it denial or any of that sort but I couldn't bring myself to admit it, not after she released me so I could participate in my father's celebration.

"Get up! You need to get ready for the auction" the man barked, pulling me up.

I tried fighting him off but it was pointless and before I could realise it, I was pushed into another room, more decent than the other. 

There were a few girls, dressing up in net robes as they all stared at me.

"Get her ready in ten minutes!" The man ordered, throwing me into the arms of a mean looking old lady.

"Please" I begged, I was almost out of breath and still had no idea what I was begging for, all I know is that I wanted out.

"You are going to fetch me a lot of money" the woman cheered, throwing a flimsy net

material towards me as her eyes raked all over me.

"What is this?"

"No questions girl, you will do as you are told, strip now!"