Another Betrayal

••• Arabella’s POV ••• I wanted to free myself. I wanted to warn everyone to be careful. I wanted to kill Abigail and her mom. I wanted to scream in frustration. Yet I couldn’t do anything except to sit here quietly like a useless puppet. I had given up hopes of mindlinking anyone or freeing myself. It only gave me headaches and hurt myself. The more I struggled, the more the chains hurt my wrists and ankles. I would only waste my energy from doing all that stuff, seeing how useless my efforts were. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself down and looked around again. Wasn't there something that I could use to free myself? As I was wondering, I saw Lina walk into the cell again, followed by two guards carrying a small table and TV. The guards placed the table and TV in front of me, plugged it, and left, leaving me alone with the mad she-wolf. Seeing the TV made me confused about what would happen next. What did she want to show me? Had Max, Mom, and Dad arrived and been captured? Were they torturing the people I loved? A chill ran through my spine when I thought of seeing them being tortured. If Lina would really force me to watch, then she was more cruel than I thought. She laughed eerily as she took in my expression and said, “Princess Arabella, your family has committed so many sins over the years, and it is time for them to atone for them!” Sins? What kind of sins had my parents done? They had been the greatest leaders who were loved and respected by all. Why would she say they have committed many sins? And what kind of atonement was she talking about? Killing? Did Mom and Dad do something unforgivable that they needed to be killed for it? Did Lina and my parents have grudges? As I was confused, Lina switched on the TV, and I saw Max appear on the screen. He was sitting on a couch, and the next second, Abigail joined him. My body trembled, and tears instantly spilled from my eyes as I felt my heart shatter. Max… He was… Abigail… Abigail started seducing him. And… And… And he didn't push her away. Instead, he was reciprocating her advances. They kissed and… and… I wanted to close my eyes or look away, but I couldn't. My eyes were glued to the screen, and I was forced to watch the person who had stolen my fated mate and now was having sex with someone whom I thought had feelings for me. Abi’s screams of pleasure and Max’s groans filled the cell as they fucked like animals. He was rough with her, rougher than he had ever been with me, and he looked like he was enjoying it a lot. I had never seen him looking that much in pleasure when with me... “Maximillian is just like any other he-wolves, pretending to care so much about their mates but fuck others behind their backs. He’s just using you to get the Alpha King title,” Lina’s mocking voice sounded in my ears. “Don’t be too heartbroken, Bella. Werewolves are nothing but impulsive slaves, after all,” she patted my shoulder as if she were comforting me. “I’ll tell you a secret, Bella,” she continued and laughed maniacally. “I want to become the next Alpha Queen so every werewolf will obey my every command.” I heard her words, but I couldn't register it. All I could think about was Max, who was still enjoying himself with Abigail. Was Lina right? Did Max feel the same way as other he-wolves? Did he lie when he said he never felt anything toward she-wolves? Did he lie when he said I was his first? What about when he said he wanted to mark me and make me his? Was he just pretending? Was he the same as Shawn? Did he really just use me to get my help in running for the Alpha King title? Then… His affection… His words of comfort… His claim that he saw me as his mate and Luna… His claim that he won't let me go, that he wouldn't let anyone hurt me or take me away from him... Was everything just a lie? And Abigail… He took Shawn away from me. Now, she seduced Max, too. Did she plan to take all my mates away? How could she do this to me? How could THEY do this to me? Iris suddenly woke up and howled in agony when she saw the scene on the TV screen. “How could Max… How could Cryrus… How could they do this to us, Ari?” she sobbed in anguish. “I thought Max loves you. I thought he was a reliable mate. But why… why is he having sex with Abigail… Why is he betraying you…” I could feel Iris’ heartbreak. Seeing Max fucking Abigail was too much for her, and I felt the same way. But… How could this be? Weren't we supposed to only be contractual mates? Then why did Iris and I feel the heartache of being betrayed by our mates? And this felt even more painful than when I saw Shawn and Abigail on my birthday. I felt suffocated, and tears couldn't stop spilling from my eyes. “Awww… Our poor Alpha Princess is being betrayed by her mate… again!” Lina laughed and enjoyed looking at my heartbreak. She finally switched off the TV, but I couldn't shake the image of Max and Abigail enjoying themselves. Lina took something from one of the guards and walked back toward me with a glass of drink, complete with a straw, and placed the straw against my lips. I pursed my lips tightly, not wanting to drink whatever it was she was offering me. Goddess knew what the drink would do to me. Knowing her viciousness, it wouldn’t be a regular drink, although it looked like ordinary water. It should be laced with poison or other things that would harm or, worse, kill me. “Drink!” she urged me and tried to push the straw between my lips. I glared at her and refused to open my mouth. “I’ll leave the drink here,” she said and twirled her index finger on the air, making the glass float in the air. If it were any other time, I would be amazed to see her magic, but at this moment, I couldn't appreciate it. Instead, I wanted to smash the glass to the floor or against her head. “You should drink it, Bella. It’ll help to end your suffering,” she said and looked at me like she genuinely wanted to help me. Unfortunately, the glint of viciousness in her eyes betrayed her words of understanding. She then turned around and left my cell, with the drink still floating near my lips. Iris suddenly roared in anger. Her doubts and pain quickly fading, and I could feel it being replaced by uncompromising resolve. “Ari, to be a proper female Alpha, we should not be swayed by a man,” she said firmly. “We shouldn't sacrifice ourselves for a man, mate or not. We have done it with Shawn, and we can do it with Max. We don't need any man. We have our own worth.” That was what I used to think - to be strong, to not depend on any man, never to show my vulnerability. But… I had changed because of Max. I wanted to depend on him, and so it wasn't as easy for me to be as resolute as my wolf. A bitterness spread through my heart. It seemed I could only depend on myself and my wolf from now on. Mad shouting suddenly sounded from the hallway. I could hear people fighting. There were sounds of punching and kicking. “Bastards!” Was that… Shawn? I became excited. He didn't die! He growled and roared. I knew that sound… The growl and roar of a werewolf when their wolf was trying to emerge. The fighting moved closer to my cell, and I could see Shawn’s wolf desperately trying to appear. It seemed Lina’s poison didn't have the impact they were expecting. I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess that Shawn’s shift would be successful or that he could at least knock down the guards. Soon, the sounds of fighting ceased, and Shawn appeared with bruises all over his face and arms. “Bella! Did they do something to you?” he asked anxiously. “No…” my voice was back now. He squatted down and tried to free me again, but it still resulted in the same thing as before. “Shit!” He stood up and looked around. “Bella,” he grabbed my shoulders. “I’m going to find something to break the chains. Wait for me here.” He left before I could say anything. “Be careful!” I shouted to him even if he already disappeared from my sight. With his wolf hearing, he would be able to hear me. I prayed to the Moon Goddess again that he wouldn't take long to find a tool to help break the chains binding me and that he wouldn't face any enemies or get caught by them.