Cruel Beauty

Chapter 4

I am free. Yes, you read that right. I am f-r-e-e!

Just as Riley had promised, they freed me, just like that. My father wasn’t happy about it, but he also knew better than to defy the king’s order—although it wasn’t actually the king’s order. He doesn’t need to know that.

I shielded my eyes from the bright light of the sun as I took a step through the entrance of the dungeon. It was so bright outside, in contrast to the low lighting of the dungeon. Blinking rapidly, I enabled myself to adjust to the bright light. My eyes hurt, but I ignore the pain and focus on my surroundings.

There was a wide expanse of a yard. A table sat on one side of the yard, covered with an assortment of weapons. There wasn’t anyone around save for me, Esmeralda, Riley, and Beta Daniel.

He walked ahead of us, while I lingered at the back, taking in an unfamiliar environment. I fill my lungs with fresh air, enjoying the smell of flowers. It must be spring, I thought, gazing out at the lush green grass.

I trailed behind them, my gaze flitting from one thing to another. Everything looked so different from the last time I saw it. I remember there used to be a tree house where the table holding the weapons sat. I remember playing in that same tree house with my mother and brother.

As if summoned by my thoughts, he appeared a few feet away from us, standing at the entrance of the pack house. The house looked different, bigger. There was a fountain in the middle of the driveway that wasn’t there before. The driveway was no longer gravel; it was now paved with bricks.

A car sat idly in the driveway, with a man dressed in a black suit leaning against it. As we get closer, I take note of how much my brother has changed over the years.

“Hunter,” his name rolls off my tongue in a whisper.

His eyes narrow at me, his mouth pulling back into a sneer. “Is it true, Father?” He asks with an edge to his voice. “Are you really just going to hand her over after everything she’s done?” His voice rises with barely controlled anger.

“It is the king’s command.” My father spat the words out as if they were poison.

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” Hunter shakes his head in disbelief. “I’m gonna kill her.” He growls, advancing towards me.

My eyes widened in shock, watching him stalk towards me with purposeful strides. He doesn’t get close enough, though, because Esmeralda blocks his path before he can get to me.

“Are you really protecting her? Do you even know what she’s done?” There was so much anger radiating from him. He looked about ready to kill anyone who got in his way. “She destroyed our family!” He shouted angrily in Esmeralda’s face.

She doesn’t react to him, nor does she say anything. Without uttering a single word, she grasped my hand and guided me to the car. She opened the back door for me and was about to put me inside when I felt something grab me from behind.

I spun around to come face-to-face with Hunter. He glares at me with so much anger and hatred that I couldn’t help but ache for him. I knew how he felt. I understood better than anyone. I, too, have been feeling that way for a very long time.

He raises a hand with his claws extended. In one quick motion, he brings his hand down, claws piercing through my flesh. A pained cry escapes my lips as he pulls his hand back and steps away from me.

Slowly, my body slid down the side of the car until I was on the ground, clutching my chest. I looked down at my hands to see them covered in blood. Blood gushed out of my wounds, painting the old gown I was wearing a deep scarlet red.

Everything around me slowed down. I feel hands fussing over my wounds. People were talking to me, but their voices sounded far away.

“Stay with me!” Someone shook my shoulders violently, pulling me back to reality. “Don’t fall asleep, okay?” It was Riley.

I feel pressure on my wounds, then I am being hoisted into the car. Riley gets in the back with me. My head was resting on her lap as both her hands pushed down hard on my wounds.

Pain. That’s all I could feel. The pain was so intense, so all-consuming, that it took over my entire body. It was all I could feel. Red-hot pain surged through my body as I screamed at the top of my lungs, thrashing wildly against Riley.

“Breathe,” Riley instructs, barely able to hold me down. “Breath, Aurora.” Taking in huge gulps of air, I follow Riley's instructions.

“You’re going to be okay.” She has been saying those five words over and over again. I knew she needed to hear them more than I did. I could see it in her eyes—the sadness and regret.

“I’m okay.” I offered a weak smile. I bit my lip to muffle a cry when I felt a fresh wave of pain wash over me.

“It’s all my fault.” She sobs, her tears falling on my forehead.

“It’s not your fault, Riley. Don’t ever think for a second that you’re responsible for what happened. Hunter did this, not you.” I said these words with as much conviction as I could muster in this situation, hoping that my words would help her see reason.

The car lurches forward suddenly, and we take off. The car zoomed down the road at high speed. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was dying right now, I would have scolded the driver to slow down.

“Where should I take her?” The man asked Esmeralda, eyes focused on the road.

“Is Mica still with the king?” Esmeralda shot a look at us in the back seat.

“Yes… Don’t tell me—”

“We don’t have a choice.” Esmeralda cuts him off. “He’s the only one who can save her.”

“Alpha Kian won’t be happy about this.” The man sighed reluctantly, shaking his head in disapproval.

“He won’t be happy about a lot of things.” She mumbled under her breath.