Chapter 7 ~ Punishment

                          •••••Aurora's POV•••••

It's been few days since I came here and I haven't heard anything from anyone.

Daily some guards come to taunt me scare me and then leave me.

I'm given bread and water only once a day.

I also found the name of the old man.

His name is Michael and he's a witch.

We've gotten close a lot last few days.

He's a 53 years old witch and is sentenced to a lifetime in prison because he's been found selling love potion and compulsion potion in black market because he urgently needed to collect money for his daughter's tuition fee for college as she's human-like his mate and can't get admission in witch school so that's why she took admissions in the human world.

I also found that love and compulsion potion can cause a huge problem if it gets in the hands of the wrong people. 

When I asked what happened to his family so he said he doesn't know anything as he's been here for more than decades.

He's been a good companion as he told me about some things about his kind and other species.

Except for Michael I've also been accompanied by a mice who seems to roam freely around us caged people in the dungeons.

He mostly comes across when our bread and water are being served.

When I first saw him I left a piece of bread for him and surprisingly he didn't fear me and ate it hurriedly.

Since after that he's always accompanied by a couple of more mice. 

                        •••••In the Castle•••••

                    •••••Third Person POV•••••

" What do you plan to do with Stephen's mate?" Astraea asked Leonidas who was busy thinking about the proposal of making another safe house near the school in the middle of all the packs around the northern border to lessen the casualties if packs ever get attacked by rogues in near future.

" Hmm" he replied before studying the proposal.

" Leonidas, are you even listening?" Astraea sighed.

Leonidas turned his head towards his and spoke " She's going to get executed if he doesn't turn himself up and begs for forgiveness before the end of the week. She'll be executed in front of the whole kingdom to set an example of what will happen if anyone dares to disobey the royal orders or practices any illegal activity because I won't tolerate anything like this under my reign" he informed before turning back to continue his work.

"You can't do this. This will cause a ruckus in the kingdom " Astraea said worriedly as she knew that her brother is not being fair.

" Are you questioning my decision?" Leonidas asked calmly yet in a cold voice.

" No, I'm not but What about the council? Do you think they are going to sit silently and watch this" she asked loudly? 

Suddenly Leonidas jaw clenched in anger and irritation as he never likes anyone talking to him in loud voice, not even his sister.

" I don't fear council" he angrily spat looking directly into his sister's eyes and noticed them widen in fear as she realized her mistake.

"I.....I " 

"You can leave now" Leonidas ordered not giving her any chance to say anything before he turned to focus on the files in front of him.

Astraea sighed before she walked out of the room tiredly hoping that somehow his brother will change his decision.

Even after few days when no one from the court heard from Alpha Stephen then-new royal order was announced in the kingdom that if Alpha Stephen didn't turn himself and begged for forgiveness before daybreak of the day after yesterday then his mate will be beheaded in front of the whole kingdom. 

This news of beheading soon spread throughout the kingdom life a wildfire making a shiver of fear run through almost everyone.

Some agreed and were happy with the king's decision and respected it while some people thought that this is wrong because this is the worst punishment any wolf can get but they couldn't voice out their opinions without the fear of angering the king. 

They knew better to keep their mouth shut.

                       •••••In the dungeon•••••

As a child, Aurora had always been scared of darkness because as a child she used to felt that darkness holds all the monsters and if get any closer to it then those monsters will catch her.

But now she happily and willingly embraces darkness as they provide her solace because she knew that she'll be safe here.

She did not have anyone except other than Michael to talk to but after some days she even stopped trying to talk to him as she started to feel strength less and later found that the cut on her head that she got from guard had started to get infected.

She was just a mere weak human who had no reason or motivation to be alive.

She had given up on living a long time which didn't help her case.

Due to an infection in her head, she laid unconscious for the most time and by the time she used to wake up all her bread were always eaten by the mice. 

It's been 3 days since she last ate anything.

She's been surviving on dirty water all these days.

After gulping water she slowly laid back on the cold filthy floor in her ripped and dirty maroon dress which once used to be pretty and now is covered with dried mud and her blood, knowing soon the darkness will embrace her.

Soon she heard the sound of footsteps and slowly opened her eyes. 

Sudden she felt her heartbeat increased as she could feel that something bad is going to happen.

The calmness in the air seemed like the calm before the storm. 

Soon she heard footsteps coming to come at half in front of her cell.

She didn't bother to make an effort to acknowledge the presence of that person as was well aware of her fate. 

She knew she is going to die sooner or later but she hoped her miseries to come to an end sooner as she felt too tired to even open her eyes.

She felt like someone is sucking the life out of her.

She only just wanted to rest knowing she won't have to face this again.

" You're being executed tomorrow at daybreak.  Do you have anything to say? " the minister asked loudly impatiently snapping Aurora out of her thoughts.

Lifting her head she slowly nodded her head in no. 

Yeah, she knew that she was going to die and she felt relieved to hear it.

She didn't feel any fear as she thought she'll feel or felt when she was sold to Alpha.

She felt relieved.

She watched the disappearing back of the man who just informed her of the news of her beheading as slowly her eyes dropped and she embraced the darkness once again...

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To be continued...

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Hey Guys, hope you're doing well. Please do tell me your reviews in the comments section...

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With Much Love....

                     Elvira 🤍