That night, they tortured me in my room with a cloth stuffed inside my mouth.
"Next time you defy my orders, I'll ensure no hair strand is left on your crown. The burns on your back will be treated if you promise to behave in the future," she said, shoving me to the floor with full force.
A hiccup escaped my lips in between the sobs. My shoulders were still trembling from the shock. The pain was pulsing through every vein of my body. Resting my forehead on the floor, I closed my eyes until she held my hair in her tightly clenched fist,
"You won't tell this to anyone, slave," she said through her clenched teeth, "You know why?" She raised my head, forcing me to look at her, "Because Luna's order, slave! It's Luna's order!"
I winced in pain, while she beamed, clearly enjoying inflicting it on me.
I wasn't crying anymore, the tears had dried up. A storm was brewing inside me, but there was a strong emotion, too, that I could feel swirling through my heart.
Hatred.
Hatred for everyone who failed me.
I didn't want to live here anymore.
I wasn't a novel heroin who would escape her husband and in-laws after getting pregnant. Nah!
Why get pregnant for a man who didn't even know what was going on in his palace? Why did my father never teach me that self-respect was a thing?
Just like boys, girls also deserve equal respect.
We were not objects that could be presented in a tray. Our job was not only to look pretty and produce kids.
"Oh, Goddess! Luna Aurora," Kamila must have come to check on me. Her voice shook when she saw me lying on the floor wearing almost nothing, with my head shaved.
Her hand flew to her mouth, "What did they do to you?"
"Delis," she called out, turning towards the giant watchman who stood awkwardly at the door, "Can you help me get her into bed?" she requested the man, who was supposed to be scary.
"No!" I managed to speak and got up on my shaky legs, "I don't need anyone's help."
Kamila rushed towards me, concern was evident across her face, "You can't even stand properly, Luna."
Kamila tried holding me, but I pushed her away and fell back to the floor, "I said, I'm fine!" I snapped, though my voice cracked midway. I had to drag myself to my bed. For the first time in my life, it was a struggle to climb into my bed.
"Luna!" Kamila tried holding my hand, but I freed it quickly, "Kamila. Leave. Otherwise, you two might get into trouble. Please go."
My knees still hurt from being knelt for so long. I tried straightening my spine, "J…Just leave me alone... both of you…"
They were standing there in confusion, not knowing what to do. Kamila quickly placed a blanket over me.
Delis seemed uncertain, but Kamila stepped back, biting her lip, "At least let me bring some water for you, Luna."
"I… I don't want water… I need nothing," I winced in pain, "I … I need your help, K-Kamila … I want to leave this palace. Please…" I tried controlling my quivering lips, but still a few tears slipped down my face.
"Luna…" Kamila turned to look at Delis, then back at me, "Y…you can't leave, Luna. Slaves are not allowed to leave the pack."
"She is right," Delis's heavy voice reached my ears, "And now you are partially marked by an alpha. If you try to run away with this mark… they will keep looking for you. You'll be hiding all your life."
Delis, who I thought was a heartless Lycan guard, seemed to have turned into a softie.
"Th-There must be a way… P-please find it… Please help me," I held Delis's heavy hand against my cheek and started crying. I was missing William, my brother.
I didn't know how ugly I looked, but Delis tucked the pillow behind my back and then placed his heavy hand on my head for a short while.
"Delis. There must be witches here or in the nearby packs," I raised my face to look into his dark eyes, "They might help us. Luna Tamia would never suspect that I'd use a magic potion— or some kind of spell."
When I didn't get the required response, I closed my eyes tiredly.
Kamila seemed to give up and leave the room. My resolve to escape from this palace was getting stronger with every passing minute.
"I know what you are thinking, Luna," Delis stated, "If you want a safe escape, you need to complete six months here. Otherwise, they won't let you live. After six months, their guard will be down, and you can get a clear way to run and hide. You need to think rationally and act smartly, girl."
Come on, Aurora. Come on. Think about it. Delis is right.
Being hasty meant more chances of getting caught.
And then the witch's words echoed through my head, which she said when I was a child.
"Dear Aurora. You reach a point in life where there is no escape except death."
I think this was the point she talked about. I think death was better than any other option.
I needed to try that option.