Chapter 1 You'll Pay for My Mother's Life

Aria Davis's POV:

The SilverBlade Pack's banquet was a total spectacle, lights twinkling like stars all over the grand hall, making everything glow gold.

Everyone was decked out in fancy clothes, celebrating yet another war victory. The loser was my old pack, the Frostbite Pack.

And here I was, Aria Davis, scrubbing the floor with my mom, Emma Davis. We were nothing but slaves now, cleaning up after the SilverBlade Pack's big win.

We wore tattered clothes, scrubbing away, completely out of place in this lively scene.

As we worked quietly in the corner, a group of people walked in, led by Jason Brooks, the Alpha of the SilverBlade Pack. His eyes locked onto my mom, recognizing her before his gaze dropped to her chest.

Emma had always been a knockout. She used to be the most beautiful woman in the Frostbite Pack. And I got my looks from her.

Emma's beauty always drew unwanted attention. Now, Jason's eyes were glued to her face, or rather, her chest.

Fear surged through me. We knew those looks all too well. Back in the Frostbite Pack, many had looked at Emma the same way.

Emma's face went pale as she quietly hid me behind a pillar. Her eyes were serious, her brows furrowed. She whispered, "Aria, no matter what happens, stay hidden here!"

I wanted to argue about stopping her, but she had already turned to face Jason.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest, bowing respectfully to Jason, and said humbly, "Mr. Brooks, how can I help you?"

Jason's hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of Emma's golden hair. Pain flashed across her face, her beauty only making Jason's wicked smile grow.

Seeing the pain on Emma's face, I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me.

Jason's eyes were locked on Emma's chest. He chuckled, "I'm shocked the Frostbite Pack still has such a beauty as a slave. This one's a real treat for our brave warriors! Who's gonna step up and claim this prize?"

The crowd erupted in malicious laughter. I couldn't stand their disgusting stares any longer.

Then I heard a man's voice, "This is just a beautiful slave. Alpha Jason, as the leader of the SilverBlade Pack, you can choose any slave to suck your dick."

"Not me, please!" Emma pleaded, stepping back in disbelief, but Jason grabbed her hair, effortlessly pulling her back.

Jason roared at Emma, raising his hand and delivering a harsh slap across her face. "I order you to stay here, slave!"

Emma weakly resisted, her voice trembling, "No, you devil, let me go!"

Her defiance was met with another vicious slap.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. How dared he lay a hand on my mother!

I was about to break cover when Emma's tear-filled eyes met mine. She shook her head slightly, mouthing "stay hidden" to me.

My tears blurred my vision, and I had to bite my lip to hold back the urge to rush out.

Jason pounced on Emma, tearing at her clothes. He cursed, "Fuck! You bitch! A lowly slave dares to defy me!"

Emma screamed, her hands slapping at Jason with all her might, but it was like a tickle to him.

"Please don't do this! I have a husband!" she begged, her voice breaking.

Jason sneered, his excitement growing. "Lucky for you, I love playing with married women!"

Emma fought back fiercely, kicking and hitting him with all her strength. She yelled, "Let me go, you bastard! You can't do this to me! God will punish you!"

Jason didn't care about Emma's words, lifting her and pressing her onto the table, biting her face and neck like a beast.

The crowd's cheers grew louder, their words filthy and cruel.

One called out, "Alpha Jason, come on! Tear her clothes off!"

Another urged, "Fuck these sluts from the Frostbite Pack!"

Emma listened to their filthy words, tears streaming down her face, desperately shouting, "Let me go! You devil!"

Jason's hands roamed over Emma's body, tearing all her clothes, exposing her beautiful body. He shouted, "Everyone, look at this slutty body!"

He grabbed Emma by the neck, lifting her up for everyone to see her naked body. I even saw someone squeeze her breast!

'Shit! That damn beast, I'll kill him!' I cursed inside.

I was about to rush out when someone yanked me back. It was Grace Wallace, another slave from the Frostbite Pack.

She whispered urgently, "Aria, calm down. Emma wouldn't want you to suffer the same fate!"

I could almost taste the blood in my mouth, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. Tears blurred my vision.

Emma looked at me from afar, then closed her eyes in despair, no longer resisting.

Jason noticed it and paused.

My heart eased a little. 'Great! Maybe he'll let her go, and she won't have to suffer anymore!' I thought.

But suddenly, I saw Jason pull out a barbed iron whip. He smiled like a demon, gripping Emma's neck.

Jason laughed cruelly, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "Look at this whip," he taunted, holding it up for Emma to see. "I conquered the Frostbite Pack with it, and it's still covered in your people's blood. Since you don't want to be my woman, you'll taste the whip instead!"

I gritted my teeth and cursed under my breath, 'That monster! He should rot in hell! I will never let him continue to hurt my mother!'

I shook off Grace's hand and was about to rush out, but Grace covered my mouth and dragged me back behind the pillar.

She held me tightly and warned, "Calm down! Even if you rush out, you can't save Emma! You'll only get yourself killed too!"

Grace's grip was too strong, and I couldn't break free. I could only watch helplessly as Jason tortured Emma.

Jason's whip lashed across Emma's body, leaving bloody marks instantly.

"These demons!" I spat through clenched teeth. My mouth tasted of blood, and my eyes blazed with seething hatred.

Emma's screams echoed through the hall. She rolled on the ground in pain, using her eyes to stop me from acting. Seeing her suffer such cruel torment, my heart ached so much that I could hardly breathe, and each breath was filled with the taste of blood.

Jason's iron whip struck Emma's body again and again. He laughed, as if controlling others' lives excited him. "The bitch's skin is so tender. With just one lash, it's torn open!"

Everyone watched as if it were a show. My tears flowed freely; their joy was built on Emma's suffering.

In despair, I kept asking God in my heart, 'Why is this happening, God? Is it because we lost the war or because we are slaves? Do they think they can do anything to us?'

One woman spat, "Look at that slut, she must be trying to seduce the Alpha. She deserves a good beating!"

A man sneered, "Defeated women should be treated like this."

Another man chimed in, "What's the use of being pretty? She's still just a toy for the Alpha. All the Frostbite Pack's slaves should be played with by us!"

Everyone treated my mother's chastity and life as entertainment!

"These cold-hearted beasts! You all deserve to go to hell!" I muttered, my body trembling uncontrollably with hatred and sorrow.

Jason's lashes on Emma's body became more frequent and harder. Emma rolled on the ground in pain, the once clean floor now covered in her blood. I watched as Emma's breath grew weaker, but I could do nothing.

My body trembled uncontrollably, my eyes bloodshot. In despair, I cried out to God, 'God! Help me! How can you be so cruel as to make me watch my mother being tortured to death? Please save her!'

My tears kept falling until Jason finally stopped, ordering someone to throw Emma to the wild animals. Only then did Grace let go of me, sneaking out with me to Emma's side.

I took off my coat, wrapping Emma's naked body. Her body was a bloody mess, unrecognizable, covered in deep wounds.

I wanted to hold her tightly, but feared hurting her, so I gently held her, crying, "Mother, I'm sorry, it's my fault. I couldn't protect you."

Emma moved her fingers, trying to wipe my tears, but couldn't lift her hand, only weakly smiling at me. "Aria, I will always love you. Take care of yourself."

Her breath faded, leaving just her lifeless body in my arms.

"No! Don't leave me! Mother!" I cried silently, holding Emma tightly until her body grew cold in my arms.

I looked up at the luxurious lights of the banquet through my tears, shadows moving back and forth in the windows, everyone laughing happily. Their joy was built on my mother's life, and I would make them pay.

I swore inwardly, 'Jason Brooks! You demon, I won't let you get away. You'll pay for my mother's life! I'll do whatever it takes to send you to hell.'