Chapter 17
Kathryn’s Point of View
Tiana was so aggressive, desperate, and determined to kill me that no one
attempted to move or fight her, allowing her to take me away with ease.
With all her strength, she managed to bring me to our old house. She handcuffed my hands and tied my body to a chair using barbed wire, inflicting deep and painful wounds.
I tried to use my fire powers to escape, but no matter how hard I concentrated, a fireball wouldn’t form in my hands.
All this time, I had still seen Tiana as my sister, but now she felt more like a demon who had captured me.
“Your life’s going to end here, Kathryn,” She said, her voice low as she began
sharpening the edge of her warrior sword.
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“Do it. I’m not scared,” I replied coldly.
Tiana laughed menacingly as she moved closer, and then, deliberately, she dragged the edge of the sword in a straight line across my face. I felt the warm blood trickle down, but still, I didn’t flinch.
“Why don’t you make a deeper cut?” I taunted, belittling her capability.
At that, Tiana slapped my wounded face, her fingers stained with my blood.
“I’m not naive to give you an easy death. I want you to suffer!” She growled, smearing the blood on her fingers back onto my face. “Or I might let you live if Ashton arrives on time and agrees to sever his mating bond with you and choose me as his mate.”
And so Tiana waited… but Ashton didn’t show up.
So, she proceeded to make me suffer.
She wounded my skin several more times. until I was drenched in my own blood, but
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she made sure the cuts were shallow so that I wouldn’t die. She then lit a candle and intentionally let its melted wax drip onto the open wounds on my skin. She also stepped on my fingers and feet with her heavy combat boots.
She showed no mercy, consumed entirely by her selfishness and wicked desires.
My agony stretched on for nearly an hour before Tiana finally lost her patience.
“Fuck, I’m getting bored. I should probably kill you now. I guess Ashton will never show up after all,” She said, aiming the sword at me.
At this point, I had already accepted my fate.
I had come to terms with the fact that my own sister would be the one to end my life. So, as the edge of her sword pressed against my skin, I closed my eyes.
I was so close to death when I heard a loud crash at the door.
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When I opened my eyes, I saw Ashton and Jethro–despite being beaten–approaching behind Tiana’s back. And, as if on cue, Jethro disarmed Tiana just in time, preventing her from killing me.
“Let me go!” Tiana screamed, but Jethro only tightened his grip on her.
Then, I watched as Ashton handed Tiana’s sword to the pack warriors behind them.
“How lucky can you be, Kathryn? Even having two wolves saving your pathetic life!” Tiana spat, as Jethro handed her over to the warriors, who immediately handcuffed her. Then, she glared at Ashton. “Look at what loving you has done to me, Ashton. I ruined myself for you.”
Ashton scoffed. “And yet you’re still not worthy of being loved.” He turned to the warriors. “Take her away.”
“Ashton, you can’t do this to me!” Tiana screamed.
But Ashton only looked at her indifferently.
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“Pack warriors like you should serve and protect pack members. You, however, have caused harm, suffering, and danger. For that, I believe you deserve to have your position stripped off.”
“No! I worked hard to gain my warrior position, Ashton!” Tiana cried, her voice breaking.
“And you also worked hard to prove you’re not deserving of it,” Ashton spat.
True to his words, Tiana was stripped of her title as a high–ranking female pack warrior and sentenced to twenty years in prison, returning to her status as an Omega
once more.
A week passed.
Jethro and I were admitted to recover at the infirmary.
For the first time in days, Ashton showed up.
“Kathryn, can I please talk to you?” He
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approached me, his eyes filled with guilt
and regret.
Sensing the sincerity in his gestures, I silently agreed to speak with him. We moved to the infirmary garden, where the breeze filled the silence for a few
moments.
Finally, he spoke. “I’m sorry, Kathryn. I’m sorry for making your life miserable.” His voice trembled, and tears fell from his eyes. “I’m sorry for being a bad father to Bryan, and for neglecting our bond.” He sank to his knees in front of me. “I’m sorry for wasting your love.” Then, he reached for my hands. “I know it’s impossible for you to forgive me right now, and I’m not asking you to. But I want to make amends. Kathryn, I’m willing to do anything you wish.”
Despite the sincerity, I felt no pity for Ashton. After everything he had done, it was only natural for him to feel this way.
I looked him in the eye, emotionless. “I still
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want one thing from you, Ashton, and it’s the same thing. End our mating bond.”
Still kneeling in front of me, Ashton slowly nodded. “If that’s what you really want… then I will do it. I will set you free.”
