ARIA
I shot upright, sweating, yet I shivered. My head and heart hammered so hard it hurt, and like that wasn't enough, a high, piercing noise echoed in my ears. It felt like a piccolo was intentionally played close to me.
"Make it stop," I winced, letting out a breathless shudder. But it got even louder, sharper, thinner until it eventually stopped.
I opened my eyes, staring at my unfamiliar environment. It took a few blinks before the blur around me sharpened into rows of mattresses on the floor. My nose wrinkled as the stench of sweat, cigarettes, and rotten food wafted into it.
My stomach rolled, bile burning the back of my throat. I grimaced, swallowing back the vomit. I was in the slave barracks. I remembered when I was brought here.
Kaiden had ordered them to bring me here. How could I forget his voice? Amidst my agony, his voice was what I held onto.
Let her stay out the whole evening.
It was a cold November night, with nothing but a thin, torn dress barely able to ward off the cold, when a report came in.
"Alpha Kaiden said to take the prisoner to the slave barracks where she'll serve the rest of her terms."
Since then, I have been here. I had endured many more beatings from the guards and the other prisoners alike. A month of rolling through filth, of crawling through the dregs—a nasty job no one wanted to do, so they made me do it. Believe it or not, all prisoners in here weren't equal. As far as anyone was concerned, I was the one with the greatest crime here.
I breathed out hot air and attempted to sit up straight. Succeeding, I leaned against the wall as a bout of nausea surged through me once more. I couldn't push it back down like I did before. My eyes skimmed the room in search of a trash can, but it was too far away, and I doubted I'd get to it before vomiting on the floor.
But I could try.
I held the vomit in as long as I could, managing to crawl across the room. I got to the trash can in record time, retching inside. My gut clenched, stretching as I hurled.
"Cross, ginger slob." Someone yelled.
An empty beer can whacked my head. I groaned, not daring to look at who had thrown it.
"Get that traitor out of here. Now this room is going to reek of vomit!"
"Quiet," A voice ordered.
I looked up to see a guard in front of me.
"I need something for my fever. I don't think I'll last a day here," I croaked out.
Although I desired to die, that would be best in my opinion. At least my suffering would end. The fever started two weeks ago. But no matter how severe it seemed, goddess Selene made it impossible for me to die. I had even tried to bleed myself dry, cutting my wrists. Yet, I survived.
Aside from my father, goddess Selene was a hater of me.
"There's no medicine for prisoners," the guard said.
"Please," I whimpered, tears welling in my eyes. My lips quivered, and I felt a single tear drop on my cheek. "I am really sick and in pain."
"Alpha Kaiden said no medicine for prisoners. So, save your tears."
Kaiden. He ordered them to say this. I never remembered prisoners being allowed to suffer like this. They were always given drugs so they'd perform better. Also, to avoid them getting sick. I swear, Kaiden wanted me to die. I was the only one he was being mean to because I had seen many of the prisoners with drugs! Why was the stupid guard lying?
"This will be between the two of us," I tried again.
The guard's expression softened, and pity briefly flashed in his eyes, but before he could say anything, Kaiden appeared.
"Are you trying to bribe my guard?" Kaiden growled.
"No, alpha!" The guard stuttered, shooting me a look.
What was Kaiden doing here?
He looked as handsome as ever. I wanted to cry and run into his arms just by seeing him. Since I arrived, no one has visited me. Not even Lyra.
"Shit, the Alpha is here."
"Quick, hide that cigarette. You bloody fool!"
"The guards will be in trouble if he finds out they give us these!"
The other prisoners, except for me, scurried around the room into corners, into any hidden place they could see. They watched Kaiden from there. When did he become so wicked that everyone would run away from him?
Kaiden looked down at me with an unreadable expression. Then he turned to the guard, speaking coldly, "Take off this disgusting dress and put this on."
He tossed a plain yellow dress on the floor. My eyes widened as the guard picked it up, walking towards me.
I shook my head, protesting weakly. "You can't undress me," I whispered.
"I don't have all the time in the world. Rip it off her if she disagrees!" Kaiden snapped, glaring at me.
I trembled, unable to stop the guard. If I refused, I'd be forced. So, there was no use. I wrapped my arms to shield my breasts as the dress was tugged off me. Hastily, the guard slipped on the new one, and I breathed a relieved sigh.
"Did you come here to bail me out of here?" I asked him, hopeful. Kaiden didn't answer me.
I guessed that was it. He wouldn't be here if he didn't want to take me out. At least, someone still cared enough for me, unlike my own family.
"Thank you," I murmured, although I didn't think he heard me.
"Can you walk?" He asked me.
I stood, testing a foot. Then another. My knees weakened, and I stumbled.
Kaiden narrowed his eyes, grunting out, "Bring her out." He commanded the guard.
The guard swooped me off my feet, startling me.
"Thanks," I said. The guard looked down at me, nodding with a small smile.
When we got out, I saw many people gathered. All pack members literally. The guard set me on the ground. My brows furrowed as I saw about five black sedan cars.
"What's going on?" I asked him.
Kaiden didn't respond. He walked to the cars, and some strangers stepped out of them.
I couldn't recall the pack house having any important celebrations or guests. The barracks were a gossip hub; someone would have said something.
I watched as Kaiden spoke to them for a minute before they turned around. They came forward, stopping in front of me.
"Are the goods allowed to be inspected to be sure they're not damaged?" One of the men asked in a loud, deep voice.
"What," I started, stopping as the stranger's finger hooked the neckline of my dress.
Before I understood what was going on, the dress gave way under his grip, tearing straight from the neckline down.
A startled gasp escaped my parted lips, and I covered my breasts with my hands. Stunned, I blinked fast. My heart pounded, staring at Kaiden, who looked back at me blankly.
"Take off your hands," the stranger murmured roughly.
He slapped my arms so hard I let them down, yelping. Two other strangers came up behind me, holding my hands in place. The one who tore my dress proceeded to grope my breasts without my consent. He inspected me like I was a cow he had paid for, and he was making sure it was in good condition. He didn't touch my breasts alone; he felt my butt, my stomach, my vagina through my pants, and he smelled his fingers.
I couldn't fathom what was going on. Yet Kaiden continued to watch as I was humiliated.
"She looks good enough to be able to carry the next heir of the nightfall pack." The stranger said after inspecting me.
Heat crept up my neck, infusing my cheeks. I stood there frozen and embarrassed.
"Is this appropriate, Kaiden? Alpha of Nightfall's pack is barely a second to his death. He's two times our father's age!"
Kaiden snorted. "Age is just a number. The Alpha is still fertile."
"No, Kaiden," Lyra shook her head. "Please rethink your decision. I don't think Aria should be punished in that manner after all she endured."
I looked at Lyra as she defended me. She glanced back at me with a smile, her expression turned serious as she noticed Kaiden watching.
"I am the alpha, and I alone make the final decision." Kaiden asserted himself with Alpha authority; his eyes blazed a golden hue.
Lyra lowered her head. "I'm sorry."
I walked up to Kaiden, trembling. "Please. I'll do anything you want. I don't want to be bred like a dog, especially for someone like that!"
"One more ill word towards Alpha of the nightfall pack, your tongue will be cut off!" The stranger cut in.
He turned to Kaiden. "Anything else?"
"That's all," Kaiden answered, not changing his mind. "Henceforth, Ariana Leigh Davenport is banished from the pack, and a kill-on-sight order has been placed on her. If anyone dares to shelter her, you shall suffer the same fate!
Also, let it be known that my debt to Alpha of the nightfall pack has been cleared."
My heart shattered beyond repair when he finished speaking. I was used to clearing his debt. I was nothing more than a slight inconvenience.