Trigger Warning!

Lillian Pov

I groaned, biting my lips in pain as the whip, soaked in silver, landed on my back for the 100th time this night.

“You think you can break rules!” she yelled, hitting me again. I whimpered in exhaustion as hot tears fell down my eyes. My back was aching and throbbing in pain, and she wasn’t done with me. 

“You found amusement in me being embarrassed?” she asked, whipping me into the back again. I winced, closing my eyes in pain.

“Answer me, bitch!” she yelled, whipping me again, the pressure increasing by the second.

 “N.no” I whimpered. She dropped the whip and pulled me up by my hair. And once again, I couldn’t fight back because of how weak I am. She looked into my eyes, her hand tightening around my hair.

“Repeat after me,” she growled, her canine dropping and I can feel it in my body that she was feeding on my energy. I can barely move a muscle.

“I am nothing, just a worthless and weak wolf,” she growled and with a shaky lip, I repeated what she said because I am really worthless and weak.

“Nobody will ever love you or care about you. You are meant to serve people, and that is what you will do,” she growled, slamming my head on the wall harshly. I cried out, my vision blurred. I lay on the floor, naked and covered in blood, then her shiny heels came to my vision.

“This is your last warning bitch, stay away from Asher. He is mine and I don’t want your Wolfie scent on what is mine. If you keep defying my rules, somebody is going to get hurt badly,” she growled, her heels stepping on my hand. Then she left without turning back. I breathe out, crying on the cold floor. My hurts badly and I can’t even move. Who is going to tend to my wounds? Who is going to tell me everything’s okay? Who is going to fight my battles and support me? I have no one. I am alone in this big world and I am meant to be alone and die alone. I curled into a ball on the cold floor, crying myself to sleep.

**************

It was the next day, and I didn’t get any sleep, mainly because I was in too much pain. I had to cover up all my scars and clean off the blood because today I am redesigning Zira’s room. I couldn’t clean all the blood and the injuries keep on opening because it was not covered properly. So now I am wearing a black long gown, covering all my body. I packed my face with makeup and left my hair to fall down my back. I look horrible and pale, but hopefully nobody will notice. Every step I take, my body cries in pain, but I just have to act strong for Zira. I got to her room, and she was sitting on her bed dressed up. The maids are not here; I guess Asher told them off. I sat beside her, hugging her to my chest.

“How are you?” I asked, brushing her black hair.

“I don’t like it here,” she said. 

“Why not?” I asked. She pulled back and looked at me.

“Everyone is mean. I don’t have any friends and I can’t sleep because this room is scary. I want to go back to my cousins,” she cried, and I could see the frustration on her face. I sighed. I also don’t like it here, and I thought she would have been used to this life because she has been here for almost five years. Guess I was wrong.

“You are a princess now, baby,” I said, cleaning her tears softly.

“I don’t want to be a princess. This place is too dark and I don’t like it. I told daddy, but he didn’t listen to me because Alma was there. Can’t we just go and never come back?” she asked, folding her arms and looking away from me. I turn her to me and I clean her tears again.

“You can’t go Zira, you are a princess now,” I said.

“But I am tired mommy, Dean and Archie are princes too, but they do whatever they want. Why can’t I do whatever I want?” she asked me, looking at my face for a reply. Those are such strong words coming from a child and that is because they have forced her to grow quickly. I was about to talk, but Asher appeared beside Zira, scaring the shit out of me. I didn’t even notice a presence was in the room and that is because I don’t have my wolf. Zira cleaned her tears like she had not been crying immediately when she noticed Asher.

“Were you crying?” he asked, looking at her.

“No,” she whispered, not looking at him. I sighed. She can’t even show emotions in front of her dad. That just makes the situation worse. Asher sighed and carried her on his lap, then he cleaned her tears.

“I see tears,” he said. She cleaned her face.

“It’s water,” she lied again, still not looking at him. He turned her face to him.

“Are you lying?” he asked, and they both looked at each other. She turned to me and looked at Asher again.

“Yes,” she whispered, looking down. Honestly, no child should be afraid they are crying. Children cry all the time. 

“So why are you lying?” he asked. She sniffed, holding her tears in.

“Alma said princesses don’t cry because it means they are weak,” she said. 

“Do you think you are weak?” he asked.

“No, I sometimes train with Dean and Archie and Auntie, said I am strong,” she said. 

“Yes, you are. And I am sorry I didn’t listen to you. Forget everything Alma said, you are allowed to cry anytime you want because crying doesn’t make you weak. And we are going to change your room and get you whatever dresses you want. Would that make you happy?” he asked. She turned to him.

“You really do that?” she asked, hoping she didn’t hear wrong.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Can we shop in my favorite store in werewolf kingdom?” she asked.

“I don’t see why not,” he replied.

“Can I visit my cousins anytime I want?” she asked.

“Yes, and you can also have sleepovers,” he said. She smiled widely.

“Really?” she asked. Asher nodded his head and she hugged him happily. I just look at them embracing each other and I feel so happy. This should be how their relationship should be. Asher looked at me and he pulled me into their hug. I bit my lips as my body reminded me of what happened in the midnight, but I hugged them back and quickly pulled back before Alma came. 

“Okay, let’s go!” she yelled, pushing her demon in. Yes, they have human form and demon form Zira switch, but most of the time she stays in human form. Asher remains in his demon form. Asher chuckled, standing up.

“Okay, let’s go,” he said, taking Zira’s hand and also pushing his demon in. We left the room, heading to the portal that will take us to the werewolf kingdom. The demon kingdom is not on the land earth like werewolves, witches and other land supernaturals. They are in another dimension, and only a portal can bring you in. We were walking in silence with Zira just hopping in the middle of us because I was also holding her hand. She looks so happy and feels happy so I am also happy but as we were going Alma walked towards us and she didn’t look too happy. 

“Where are you going, your majesty?” she asked, looking at him displeased.

“I don’t think I have to inform you of my movements, Alma,” he said, a frown on his face.

“But it’s important to keep you safe, so I am going with you,” she said, not waiting for him to agree and or not. She was heading to the portal.

“Come back here, Alma,” Asher said, his voice dark. She turned around and walked towards us.

“I hold you in high regards because you helped me conquer the kingdom, but now you are pushing it. From now on, you are not allowed to follow me everywhere I go unless I asked you to. Do you understand?” he asked.

“But your majesty you can’t just go to an unfamiliar background with a demon watching over..” he cut her off harshly.

“The wolves are my family and they will always remain my family. They accepted me when the demons didn’t, so from now on don’t come near me until I ask you too and you have no right on my daughter. Her mother and I will decide whatever concerns her, do you understand?” he snapped, a black beam coming out of him showing his demon was getting angry. She bowed her head, gritting her teeth. I am definitely not coming back to the demon kingdom because she will put the blame on me while I had nothing to do with it.

“Yes, your maje…” she trailed off because he didn’t even wait for her to finish speaking before walking away, dragging us with him. I sighed. After the shopping, Asher will have to arrange Zira’s room because my body is exhausted and I can’t handle more pain and torture. I just have to get away from the demon kingdom for a while. But what I didn’t know is something tragic is going to send me back right after.