AMELIA

The stinging of my cheeks jolts me awake, sending a surge of fear and confusion coursing through my veins. As I glance around the room, disoriented by the abrupt awakening, I see Ember standing by the edge of the bed, her gaze ablaze with intensity. There's no need for words; I understand immediately that she just used a slap to rouse me from my sleep.

Gingerly, I raise my hand to my swollen cheek, the ache throbbing beneath my fingertips. I meet Ember's glare with a mixture of shock and apprehension, the weight of her hatred hanging heavy in the air between us.

"Get your fucking ass up," she barks, her words a harsh echo in the room. With a forceful tug, she yanks me out of bed once again, but this time, I manage to maintain my balance. I regained some of my strength as I healed during my sleep.

"Follow me," Ember commands, her voice laced with authority as she strides towards the door. I hesitate for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of my resolve. But ultimately, I know defiance will only invite more trouble. With a resigned sigh, I scan the floor for footwear, my eyes landing on a pair of worn slippers. Slipping them on, I trail after Ember, my steps quickening to keep pace with her brisk stride, determined not to give her any reason to unleash her wrath upon me once more.

We ascend the stairs to the second floor, stopping at the third door on the right. As Ember swings it open, an assault of her pungent scent overwhelms my senses, confirming that we're entering her room. But amidst the familiar odor, another scent lingers, causing my heart to clench in anguish. It's the faint trace of Nickolas, a painful reminder that he hasn't reserved himself solely for me. Though I knew this truth, it doesn't lessen the sting of being led into the room where he committed his indiscretions.

With a heavy heart, I step further into the room, my eyes drawn to the shirt I recognize all too well, discarded carelessly on the floor. Its presence serves as a haunting symbol of the betrayal that still lingers in the air, casting a shadow over the room and deepening the ache within me.

Ember's voice drifts towards me, but it's muffled by the cacophony of thoughts swirling in my mind. Was this why he called her yesterday? Did he seek her to fuck her? The vivid imagery of Nickolas and Ember having sex on the disheveled bed or atop the cluttered vanity table, with the broken mirror bearing witness to their intimacy, floods my consciousness, igniting a firestorm of anguish within me.

I struggle to push back the tears that threaten to spill, willing myself to block out the intrusive images, but they persist, relentless in their assault on my senses. Blinking furiously, I attempt to regain my composure, but the sight of a discarded condom on the floor shatters whatever fragile facade I've managed to construct. Fresh tears well in my eyes, betraying the anguish that grips my soul as I confront the harsh reality of Nickolas's betrayal.

"Why the fuck are you crying?" Ember's harsh voice cuts through the haze of my thoughts, pulling me back to the present moment. I turn to face her, and if it's possible, my heart shatters even more at the sight before me. How could I have been so blind? Hickeys mar her neck, evidence of recent intimacy slowly fading as if she's deliberately prolonging their presence. It's painfully clear they just had sex just before she sought me out.

Tears blur my vision as I turn away, unable to bear the agony of standing in a room saturated with the scent of sex, a cruel reminder of my mate's betrayal.

"I don't fucking care why you're crying, but clean the place before I'm back," Ember commands, her words slicing through the heavy silence like a knife. I whirl around, meeting her gaze with bloodshot eyes, incredulous at her audacity. Clean this place? Hasn't she inflicted enough pain simply by bringing me here?

"Don't fucking look at me like that," she snaps, her hand connecting with my cheek in a sharp slap. I barely flinch, the ache in my heart eclipsing any physical pain.

"I can't clean this place," I murmur, the thought of doing so unbearable.

"What did you just fucking say?" Ember's tone is incredulous, her brow furrowing in disbelief.

"I said I can't clean this place," I repeat, my voice trembling with defiance.

Ember bursts into laughter, devoid of any genuine amusement, before abruptly stopping. "Repeat what you said," she commands, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes void of emotion.

"I can't clean this place," I say, holding her gaze with unwavering resolve.

"You can't," Ember acknowledges, moving closer to me, her demeanor shifting subtly. I nod, silently reaffirming my stance.

"You can't," she repeats, her words laced with venom, before delivering another stinging slap to my face. I grit my teeth, fighting to contain the pain that radiates through me, my fists clenching tightly at my sides in an effort to maintain composure.

"You fucking can't!" She screams, her hand poised to strike me once more, but this time, I refuse to be a passive victim. With a surge of determination, I seize her wrist, halting her in her tracks. Enough is enough. There's a limit to how much one can endure.

"You dare to stop me," she laughs bitterly, yanking her hand away and taking a step back. "It seems you've forgotten who you are."

I remain silent.

"I think I need to remind you," Ember declares, her voice dripping with menace. Without warning, shards of glass rain down on my body, followed by a sharp impact on my head.

I gasp in pain, my eyes darting to the floor to see a broken lamp lying at my feet. Blood streams from the wound on my forehead, and a throbbing ache settles in. Lifting my head up, my eyes meet the ceiling as I am suddenly tackled to the ground.

I grimace as the force of the impact reverberates through my skull upon hitting the hard marble floor. Black spots dance before my eyes, and I struggle to maintain my composure. But Ember wastes no time, seizing the opportunity. She straddles me, raining down a flurry of vicious slaps across my face, each blow stinging with a searing pain.

"Stop!" I yell, my hands flailing in the air in a futile attempt to ward her off, but I can't seem to make contact with her blurred forms as my vision swims. Ember's nails rake across my skin, drawing blood, and I wince in pain, summoning all my strength to push her away. She staggers back, panting, her hands stained with my blood.

Struggling to clear the haze in my eyes, I attempt to rise to my feet, but before I can, Ember is upon me again, straddling me with a vengeful fury.

"Next time when I say do something, you fucking do it, bitch!" she screams into my face, her hand poised to deliver a punishing blow. But before she can follow through, I sink my teeth into her hand, eliciting a sharp cry of pain.

Ember recoils in shock, getting off me, and I scramble to my feet, feeling unsteady as I stand. I shake my head to clear my vision, determination surging through me. I may not be able to match Ava's magical prowess, but I'll be damned if I let this bitch overpower me.

"You fucking bit me!" Ember exclaims, inspecting her injured hand, but I remain silent, glaring at her defiantly. Her pain is a small recompense compared to the agony she inflicted upon me moments ago.

I survey the room for anything that might aid me in this impromptu battle when Ember suddenly screams something that freezes me in place.

"Guards! She's trying to kill me!" Ember's shrill cry echoes through the room, and two men burst in, their eyes scanning the area for danger. I stare at her in disbelief. How could she twist the truth like that? I'm the one on the verge of death here.

"Seize her before she kills me!" Ember points at me, her voice dripping with false panic as she holds up her bloody hand, the evidence of my bite clear for all to see. The guards rush toward me, their hands closing around my arms with a vice-like grip.

Ember feigns exhaustion, and I continue to stare at her in shock. This bitch!

"Quickly take her to the dungeon while I inform the king of what she's done," Ember orders, her tone laced with malicious satisfaction.

My mouth hangs open as they drag me out of the room, my mind reeling with disbelief. I can barely keep my eyes open, and yet she's accusing me of trying to kill her. Wow! I'm speechless at this moment.

***

My eyes shoot open, jolting awake as I feel liquid being poured over me. I gasp, struggling to breathe as water cascades over my face, soaking me to the bone. I had passed out the moment I was brought to the dungeon.

"Stop! I'm awake," I manage to muffle out amidst the onslaught of water, my voice barely audible over the sound of pouring liquid. The sensation is disorienting, and I can feel the weight of my drenched clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

"It was about time," Ember's voice cuts through the darkness, accompanied by the sound of the water finally ceasing. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the water from my eyes, my nose burning from the onslaught. As I regain my senses, I realize my wounds are healing rapidly, leaving no scars since silver wasn't used to assault me. I must have been out for quite some time. The room around me is dimly lit.

"Drag her out," Ember commands, her voice reverberating off the cold stone walls. A guard, barely visible in the dim light, stands obediently beside her. I pant, attempting to catch my breath as the guard moves forward, his grip firm as he prepares to haul me away.

"Let me go! What do you wish to do to me?" I struggle against the guard's hold, my body still weak from Ember's assault earlier, but determination fuels my defiance.

"Lay her down on the table," Ember commands the guard, and they swiftly comply, strapping me down with coarse ropes that dig into my skin. The atmosphere in the dungeon is suffocating, thick with the scent of blood and death.

As they secure me, I hear the sound of fabric tearing, and dread fills me as I realize they've ripped open the back of my shirt. Ember extends her hand, and a whip is placed in it. My heart clenches in fear. She's about to whip me for biting her hand. But what truly shatters me is the realization that she reported it to Nickolas, and he allowed her to punish me. The betrayal cuts deep, a stark reminder of the fucked up dynamic of our relationship. I can't believe this is my reality now. A mere days ago, I was a princess, mocked for the size of my wolf, but now I'm a prisoner, subjected to daily physical and mental torture. I long for my old life, for the comfort of my family. I would endure my people's whispered mockery a thousand times over rather than endure this torment.

I hear Ember inhale deeply, and I brace myself for the impending pain courtesy of my monstrous mate. Tears that I didn't know were there spill from my eyes, staining the table with their bitter trails, mingling with the blood on it.

I hear the crack of the whip, but surprisingly, I don't feel its sting. Confused, I shoot my eyes open, and they widen in disbelief at the scene before me. Nickolas has intercepted the whip before it could land on my back. His gaze is filled with anger as he fixes Ember with a piercing stare, his eyes ablaze with fury.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Nickolas's voice booms through the dungeon, demanding an immediate explanation. The guards bow their heads in submission, and Ember visibly squirms, her nervousness evident. Confusion grips my mind as I try to piece together the puzzle. Is there something I'm missing?