CHAPTER THREE: VENUS

I woke up at some point in time, wondering where I was, and the events of the previous night came flooding back to me. I scanned the room and to my dismay I was back at the tower.

I wasn't able to escape, but my safety was the least of my concerns; my thoughts were on Xavier. I hope he's okay. Did they also capture him?

Who had intervened in our escape because Michael was already unconscious when we tried to flee? I thought, but the door opening drew my attention; they say that when you mention the devil, he appears; because the person who had just entered the room was Michael and he came with two other guards.

"Hello, dear wife--" Michael mocked as his gaze scanned my entire length, "you almost got away, if not for that wizard my father recently acquired, I can't believe that bastard brother of mine had a hand in your escape and the rebellion that occurred two days ago."

"Where is Xavier?" I asked without showing any emotion, even though my head was spinning in complete panic, "What rebellion?" What was he talking about?

"Don't worry your pretty little head about Xavier. Venus, you should be concerned for yourself because of you my father thinks I'm an incompetent fool and that makes me very angry, so you will have to pay for that"

"Are you going to beat me? Hurt me? Or rape me? Like the monster you are, but what did I expect from you?" I inquired, then added, "You are nothing more than a coward, dear husband"

"You arrogant bitch!, you've always had a mouth on you, and I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget!" Michael growled "Hold her!"

The men by his side approached me to do as he said, but I didn't give them the satisfaction of just lying there, so when they grabbed me, I fought back, but because they were werewolves, they won the scuffle and pinned me down.

I glared at Michael as he came towards me holding a large whip, not showing any signs of fear because I was sick of having to live in fear because of this asshole.

"You'll pay for this, Michael Aethelwulf, and I swear I'd be the one to end your miserable life by slitting your throat but not deep enough to kill you quickly, I'll watch as you slowly bleed to death, and when I'm satisfied with your pain, I'll drive a knife through your heart," I said as i spat at his feet.

"Gag her mouth and turn her over!" Michael ordered, and the men carried it out. A few seconds later, I felt the whip strike my back and a wave of pain rushed through me, but I held my ground because I was used to pain and this was nothing compared to what I had experienced in the past. He would never hear me beg him to stop, either.

He kept using the whip on me, and when he wasn't satisfied with my reaction, he ordered the guards to leave the room, leaving just the two of us.

"It appears that this punishment will not suffice, so I will humiliate you in another way," he said as he got on top of me fiddling with his belt, and despite the fact that my back was hurting like hell, I pushed against him because I knew what he wanted to do to me.

He became irritated by my struggle and slapped me across the face before tying my hands above my head with his belt.

"Stop with the pretense, I know you escaped to try and gain my attention, well now you have it," Michael said as he began kissing my neck. I struggled and struggled, but the coward didn't get off me, and I no longer had the strength to fight, so I just closed my eyes and went to my safe place, letting him do whatever he wanted because fighting him would only prolong the inevitable.

After a few minutes, he got off me and fixed his clothes before leaving me alone in the room. When I was certain he had gone, I burst into tears.

Was this how I was going to live the rest of my life? Being a punching bag and breeding mare for a coward like Michael? I asked myself as my tears fell down my cheek. After a while of crying, exhaustion overtook me, and I surrendered to the darkness.

A week later……

I was lying on the bed, trying not to put any pressure on my injured back. I was able to manage the pain with the little medication I had left but it still hurts.

I was about to close my eyes and sleep when the door opened and the soldier who usually guards my door, along with another soldier I didn't recognise, walked in with chains.

"Get up, the King and Prince would like you in the throne room," Solomon, one of the cruelest guards here, said. He took advantage of every opportunity to hit me while Michael was not present.

"I see" I said as I tried to sit up straight on the bed

"I don’t even know why they want you there? That bastard is already getting what he deserves."

"What are you talking about?" I asked

"You will see when we get there--" Solomon said,  pulling roughly on my hand so I could stand on my feet. After he made sure the chains were secure around me, he pushed me forward.

"Can I at least get my shawl? This dress isn't appropriate enough for the public"

"Do I look like I care? Move before I make you!" Solomon yelled then I felt something drape around me, it was my shawl, I looked to see that it was the other guard that had put it around me.

"Thank you," I simply said, receiving an acknowledging nod from him.

"Let's go, witchy scum!" Solomon cursed as he shoved me forward, his angry gaze fixed on the other guard, who ignored him as he led me down the stairs.

"What's your name, and do you realize you'd get in trouble if you helped me?" I asked, speaking quietly so that only the guard beside me could hear.

"My name is Sebastian, Princess Venus, and I don't care, you don't deserve to be treated that way, because no matter what species you are, you are still female, and he should have more respect," Sebastian growled, his hand tightened by his side.

Except for Xavier, he was the first werewolf to treat me like a human being, so it came as a shock. When he noticed my staring, he gave me a strange look.

"What!" he asked.

"Nothing, you just seem different, that's all, and it's been a while since I've been called Princess by anyone."

"Good or bad, different?"

"Definitely, good different, you're not like that scumbag over there, glaring at me like I'm just gum under his feet," I said as we approached the tower's entrance.

"Hold on tight," Sebastian warned as a magical circle appeared around us and we were instantly transported to the throne room, where a small crowd had gathered. The King, Michael, as well as some of the King's advisors and royal guards were present.

"Now that everyone has arrived, we shall begin--" King Leon said as he rose to his feet, "Today is a very sad day in the werewolf region because my son Prince Xavier Aethelwulf is being charged as a traitor of his kingdom--"