Chapter 3 What are you?

Auren’s pov

“You’re useless, Auren.”

My uncle’s insult made my flinch.

“You’re telling me that you haven’t learnt anything of importance till now?”

I shifted on my knees, keeping my gaze low. It had been days since I started going upstairs twice a day to keep the Demon King “Comfortable” who by the way haven’t said more than two words to me till now. Everybody was still surprised I was still alive on the second day after he threw me on the door with his threats ringing in my ears.

When I was sent back the second day without the gun I was sure this was it. He threw me against the wall, his hands squeezing my throat. His head had bend down towards my throat and I closed my eyes thinking he was going to tear my guts out but he just froze.

“What are you?”

I shivered remembering that question……what am I? What does that even mean?

“Auren?”

My uncle’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“He…He refused to talk to…”

His hand struck my cheek, hard, sending me sprawling to the floor. I fell on my hand and I swear I heard a crack but worse than that was the laughter of my cousin behind him.

“Pathetic girl,” my uncle spat, his boots pressing against my side.

“You will bring me answers. Do you understand? Or you won’t live to regret it.”

I nodded, swallowing the scream that threatened to escape. How am I supposed to get information from him?

I shuffled to his room or prison, each step heavy, carrying his lunch tray and a can of water. I was in charge of bringing him food twice a day which he never touches.

He looked up once I entered the room and I noticed his eyes following the way I was favoring my sprained hand as I dropped the tray. His silver eyes narrowed.

“What happened?” he asked softly, his voice low, almost concerned.

I jumped and shook my head, forcing my lips to remain sealed.

“Nothing,” I murmured, though my chest tightened at the memory of my uncle’s fist.

I have to stay strong. I have to get something from him… My mind raced. But how He’s… an Alpha and I have nothing to bargain with, nothing to offer but myself. I took a deep breathe, reached for the hem of my dress and pulled it over my head. I stood there naked wearing only my panties.

His gaze lingered, something shifting in his expression. He made no move to stand and take what I was offering instead he took a deep breath, inhaling the air.

“Ask me,” he said suddenly, leaning forward.

I hesitated, was he serious?

“Your pack… Do they know you’re here? how many are there? Are they planning to attack?”

He gave the numbers quickly, almost casually, then changed the subject when I asked another.

“Why do you smell strange? You are a wolf aren’t?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat closing my eyes. I knew why I smelled strange but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock.

“You should open your eyes when you’re being addressed. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?”

His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly I opened my eyes and lowered them using my arms to cover my breast.

“My wolf was bound”.

Or removed I wanted to say, no one knew for sure, all I knew was I had a wolf and it was suddenly not there anymore. He probably wasn’t interested in that part. He looked at me with curiosity.

“Why would someone do that?”

“It’s said to be a curse from the moon goddess…….for killing my parents”

There was silence, I knew he was studying me. No one could quite believe why someone would do something as disgusting as killing their own parents. I stood there, still naked wishing for the ground to open and suck me in.

Suddenly there was a chain rattle and he was standing in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts, my face towards his forcing me to look at him. Then slowly his hand latches on my neck squeezing slowly.

“You killed your parents?”

I panicked

“I was 15” I spluttered, “I don’t even remember what happened, I woke up beside them and their blood was all over me. I was told my wolf lost control and killed them and they bounded me before they died”

My voice came out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could still remember my parent’s faces, my love and adoration for them and I could also still remember all the guilt I was made to feel since then.

“A 15year old wolf killed two grown wolves? What are your parents? Omegas?”

“I am… I am the daughter of Alpha Alaric and Selene,” my voice shook.

He froze, his weird silver eyes widening.

“So you’re telling me that a 15 year old wolf killed an Alpha and Luna wolf?......that’s impossible. And if your parents were the Alpha and Luna shouldn’t that make you the Luna of this pack?” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “And yet… you are a slave in your own home?”

I bowed my head. “I cannot be Luna without a wolf. My uncle took over. He was made Alpha and I… I have no claim.”

His brow furrowed, trying to understand. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaching made both of us tense. Without warning, he threw himself onto me, pressing me against the cold stone wall. I froze, my heart hammering, feeling something stir beneath my skin. He acted as if he was having his way with me, keeping up appearance but I felt like he was trying to cover my naked body from them instead.

The men opened the door laughing and throwing crude remarks at us as they saw what was going on unaware of what had or had not happened. My arms went around his waist or tried too…..he was so big. Our eyes locked, silver on brown, and in that instant, I saw something magical curl around him.

His eyes glowed brighter, his voice dropping into a low, almost devilish tone.

“Run.”

Thunder cracked overhead, suddenly my gown was over my head and I was shoved towards the door. The last thing I remember before I bolted from the room was the surge of power around him and the chains rattling. Later that night after his escape, as the whole pack prepares for war, I dreamt of him.

We were standing in a place I didn’t recognize……a courtyard bathed in golden light, the air soft with laughter. The scent of wild roses drifted around us, and somewhere a music sang. People moved in the distance, their faces blurred, but I felt peace, the kind I hadn’t known in years.

Alpha Dravik was beside me, his hand brushing mine and smiling at me with such tenderness. “Lyra,” he said, though his voice sounded different…….younger.

I turned to him, why was he calling me by another name? My reflection caught in a nearby window. It wasn’t my face, my hair was longer and lighter. My eyes glowed faintly gold, not the dull brown I had always known. A shiver ran through me.

Who am I?

We laughed together, the sound echoing, then everything changed. The light dimmed and suddenly I was lying on a bed draped in white, my breath shallow, and my body weak. Alpha Dravik or whoever he was knelt beside me, holding my hand. His face streaked with tears and blood.

“You have to let go,” I whispered.

I didn’t know why I said it, but it felt right, like words I had spoken once before. He shook his head, gripping me tighter.

“No. I’ll avenge you,” he voice broke. “Even if I have to bring down the sun and the moon, I’ll do it.”

The room trembled. His lips moved again, but I couldn’t hear him. Everything began to dissolve, his face, the roses. Then darkness swallowed it all.

I woke with a gasp. My heart racing. What was that about?

I pressed my trembling hand to my chest, feeling my heartbeat hammering beneath my ribs.

His words echoed in my mind……I’ll avenge you.