CHAPTER ONE: VENUS

Sitting on the cold floor, my gaze locked onto the ceiling, I contemplated where my life had taken a wrong turn. I couldn't help but ponder where I might have been and who I'd be with now if I hadn't agreed to this arrangement.

If I hadn't been the princess of a dying realm, would I have married someone who truly loved me? Would my family and I be living a peaceful life in Khadran? Or would I have lost my life while fighting for Ovithan in the war?

The more I've thought about it, the more I've come to the conclusion that anything other than the miserable life I am currently living would be far better.

In fact, I believed that being dead was far better than being wed to a man who frequently beat, raped, and degrades you for every single mistake you make

I moved too quickly, forgetting about my injured arm and a sharp pain shot through me, making me wince from the pain.

My gaze lowered to my bruised and bloodied left arm, the latest souvenir from my dear husband.

The coward took pleasure in beating and torturing me, and it got worse after he found his mate, and because I was the crown princess of Verna and not her, she despised me, so any opportunity she gets to have me punished by Michael, she takes it.

When I was at my lowest, I wondered if I had brought this on myself. Or should I say my people did this to me? I was practically the sacrificial lamb, and I suppose, like all sacrificial lambs, I must bear the consequences.

If I had fought against my mother and this sham of a marriage, I wouldn't be in this pitiful situation; locked away in a tower with no way out; trust me, I've tried escaping this tower multiple times, but with my powers sealed away, I'm always caught by Michael or his goons, and it never ends well for me.

I was startled out of my trance by the sound of the door opening, and I glanced up expecting to see Michael, but instead, Xavier Aethelwulf, Michael's half-brother, was in front of me. I thought he was fighting to protect the werewolf region alongside every other able-bodied werewolf man and woman, but seeing him here and in perfect health after such a long time, two years to be exact, is a relief.

He was the only person in this godforsaken castle who treated me like a human being rather than an animal.

Would I have gotten betrothed to him if I hadn't been born with such bad luck? Instead, I was paired with his scumbag of a brother and the less attractive one! Xavier was about six feet three inches tall, with broad shoulders, long black hair, and beautiful green-colored eyes that showed how special and different he was from his useless family. Micheal was a head shorter, with black hooded eyes and a bear-like build.

That may appeal to some people, but not to me! Maybe he was attractive, and my hatred for him clouded my judgment, but it didn't matter. I detested the coward! And I don't want anything to do with him.

"That jerk is now beating on you; cheating on you isn't enough." Xavier cursed as he approached me, but I recoiled instinctively, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw pain in his eyes, but that could have been because I was delirious from the pain.

"I'm sorry, it's not you," I explained, and his eyes darkened.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Vee. I just want to see how severe your injuries are." Xavier said, looking frustrated as he ran his hands through his hair.

I'm sure he won't hurt me, but I've grown so accustomed to defending myself against his brother that it's become a habit.

"He sure did a number on me, huh?" I tried to lighten the mood by making jokes, but it didn't work because Xavier still looked like he wanted to kill someone, and that someone was his brother Michael.

"You're not sane, Vee, it's only you who would joke about what he's doing to you, I was gone for a while and he does this to you, his wife, for goodness sake, how much lower can he go?" Xavier said as he kneeled carefully beside me, treating me like an injured animal that would attack if provoked.

"He was hitting me even before you left for war, I just got better at hiding it," I admitted because there was no point in hiding it from him because he was going to find out and scold me for keeping it a secret.

"What?" he asked, staring down at me, anger, sadness, and guilt visible in his eyes.

"Yeah, it was just a few slaps on the face before, oh and lets not forget the emotional torture he put me through, but there were things I could handle, but-" I squirmed as his  hands pressed against my side.

"Your ribs could be broken," Xavier said, stating the obvious.

"No shit Sherlocks, that's not the only thing broken," I joked, receiving a glare from Xavier.

"What happened? Why did he suddenly become more violent?" Xavier asked, picking me up in his arms and gently carrying me to the small bed in the corner of the small concrete room.

"He recently found his mate, and she is quite the character," I replied, causing him to look up at me. I couldn't help but notice the play of emotions in his beautiful eyes, but anger was the most prominent.

He is so charming and gentle, and after getting to know him, I wished he'd been the first Prince, and I'd been his.

"I see, so that's the girl I saw him with, but that doesn't give him the right to lock you up like some dirty secret; does father know about this?"

"Who do you think gave him the idea? Your father and brother are cut from the same cloth. It's like they share a brain," I said. "What are you thinking about?"

"You, your situation, and how I need to get you out of here before they hurt you any further, or even worse."

"You don't think I tried to escape every day, but I always got caught, so I gave up and accepted my fate. Maybe in some twisted way, I deserve all of this." I sighed

"Don't ever say that, Vee, you don't deserve any of this. No one deserves to be treated like this, like some animal." Xavier growled, his fist tightening on his laps, and even if I was badly injured, that growl of his still did things to me that I wouldn't dare to say out loud.

Yes, I was in love with my husband's brother, but I knew nothing could ever happen between us, so I kept my feelings to myself because I didn't want to put him in any trouble; his family already hates him, and I didn't want to add to their list of reasons.

"I don't want you to waste your time or risk your safety by helping me, I have already accepted my fate, even if I die now, I will have no regrets, because everything and everyone I cherish is gone," I said dejectedly, It sounded way cooler in my head, but now that I've said it out loud, I just sounded pathetic, I thought as I stared up at Xavier, who never took his gaze away from mine

"Dammit Venus, I care if you died," Xavier said, his hands gently caressing my swollen cheeks. "You don't deserve this,"

"You really are a good man, Xavier. I wish I had married you instead. Maybe life would have been better," I muttered under my breath.

"I promise Venus, I'll get you out of here before the end of this week, and he won't be able to hurt you ever again. None of them will ever touch you."

"Are you willing to defy your father and brother to help someone like me? I questioned.

"In a heartbeat Venus, I would choose to help you and have them disown me than to see you suffer at the hands of that vile bastard and my family."

"You seem determined to help me, but what if we don't escape and are apprehended?"

"It won't happen, trust me, just give me two days and pack the things you need before then, Venus,"

I sighed, placing my good hand on his and saying, "I will trust you, but I'm still adamant, I don't care if I get hurt, but you getting hurt because of me will break me, Xavier, and I'm barely holding myself together."

"I won't get hurt, Venus; now rest, you need your strength,"

"Thank you, Xavier, and please take care of yourself; I hope you don't regret your decision."

"I will, Venus, and I will not regret this; in two days, you will be free." Xavier smiled softly as he walked out of my room, leaving me to my thoughts.

If we are successful, I will finally be able to leave this hell and be free, but something in the back of my mind tells me we shouldn't go through with it because we might not be able to escape. But I have faith in Xavier, and I will put what little hope I have left in him.