Mute

Chapter 54

Aria’s POV

Recuperation was a slow and arduous process. The pack doctors came regularly to check on me, their visits a blur of antiseptic smells and clinical detachment.

I lay in Caspian’s room, a space that once might have offered comfort to Caspian but felt like a prison to me. The physical pain from the whips still lingered, each movement a reminder of the brutality I had endured.

No one was allowed into the room except for the maids Caspian had ordered to help me. They brought me meals and assisted me in resting, their faces were of pity and fear. I could see the curiosity in their eyes, but they never asked questions. The room was silent except for their whispered conversations and the occasional murmur from the doctors as they attended to my wounds.

The stings of the whip were a constant companion, a dull ache that flared into sharp agony whenever I shifted. I could still remember the guards’ faces as they dragged me to the cell, their expressions hardened and unyielding. They had whipped me like a common criminal, each lash a searing stripe of pain across my back. The memory of their cruelty haunted me, replaying in vivid detail whenever I closed my eyes.

I felt isolated, abandoned in this room with only my thoughts for company. Caspian’s absence left me curious. His reasons for staying away was something I was yet to understand.

Did he think he was protecting me by keeping his distance, or was he simply avoiding the mess his actions had caused?

Despite the physical torment, my mind kept drifting back to Ellen. Her smug face as she framed me for her own violent outburst, the satisfaction in her eyes as the guards took me away-it fueled a fire within me. The need for vengeance simmered within me, a dark current that grew stronger with each passing day.

The maids were kind, but their attempts at small talk fell flat. I was too consumed by my own thoughts, the weight of being framed and humiliation pressing down on me. I longed for some semblance of normalcy, but the room, with its closed doors and muted light, only reinforced my sense of isolation.

As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I made a mental effort to myself. I would recover, not just physically but emotionally. I would find a way to expose Ellen, to make her pay for what she had done.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why I always seemed to be suffering whenever it involved Caspian, the one I had tried so hard to distance myself from, the one I wanted to hate with every fiber of my being, had become the epicenter of my torment. It was as if the Moon Goddess conspired to keep me bound to him through pain and misery.

Why did my life spiral into chaos whenever he was near? Caspian was a storm, a tempest that disrupted everything in its path, and I was caught in its unrelenting fury. I had tried to escape him, to find a tad of peace away from his dominating presence, but fate had other plans.

Now, as I lay battered and broken, my mind was consumed with thoughts of escape.

I knew I needed to leave, to disappear from his life without a trace. Telling him of my intentions would only lead to confrontation, and I was certain he would do everything in his power to stop me. He had always been possessive, a trait that both attracted and repelled me. But now, after everything that had happened, I couldn’t bear to be near him any longer. To hell with him and his spiteful ex-chosen Luna, Ellen. They had both caused me more pain than I could endure.

Ellen’s hatred for me had always been obvious, a simmering jealousy that finally boiled over. She despised me because Caspian had ruined their wedding, choosing me over her. The memory of that day still haunted me-her fury, her humiliation. I never asked for his affection, never wanted to be the cause of such hate, but Ellen had made me her target. Her latest attack was just another chapter in a long history of spiteful actions.

The maids continued their work, but their presence was a reminder of how trapped I felt.

Ineeded to find a way out, a plan to slip away unnoticed. Each hour I stayed here, the need to escape grew stronger.

The

1/3

14:19 Sat, Aug 17 R.

Chapter 54

+34%2

+5

more I thought about it, the more certain I became that I had to leave this place, leave him behind, and find a new life where I could heal and start over.

I couldn’t afford to be sentimental. Caspian had proven time and again that his world was a dangerous place for me. His love, if it could even be called that, was a twisted, possessive force that only brought me pain. I had to escape, to break free from the chains that bound me to him and his life.

As I lay there, plotting my escape, I could feel a sense of boldness building within me. I would find a way out, no matter what it took. I would disappear, leaving Caspian and Ellen to their lives.

For the sake of my own survival, I had to go.

With each passing moment, my plan became clearer. I would wait for the perfect opportunity, bide my time until the guards and maids were less vigilant. Then, I would make my move, slipping away into the night like a whisper on the wind. I would leave behind the pain, the betrayal, and the heartache. And I would finally be free.

On the third day, the door to Caspian’s room creaked open, and Lena stepped inside. I was lying on the bed, fully recovered from the physical wounds, my skin showing no trace of the vicious whips that had torn it apart just days before. The healing process had been nothing short of miraculous, but the emotional scars remained, hidden beneath the surface.

Lena’s face was a mix of relief and concern as she approached me. She sat down beside me, her eyes searching mine for any sign of lingering pain. “Aria, how are you feeling?” she asked softly.

I gave her a small nod, signaling that I was okay. It was strange to be physically healed but still feel so broken inside.

Lena took a deep breath and began to update me on the pack’s reaction to Caspian’s announcement. “Aria, you wouldn’t believe it. The whole pack is talking about Caspian’s declaration. He stood before everyone and warned them that if anyone dared to hurt you, mock you, or even touch a strand of your hair, they would have to answer to him. The way he spoke about you, it was… it was something else.”

I was stunned at first, unable to process what she was telling me. Caspian had publicly defended me, made it clear to everyone that I was under his protection. It was almost unbelievable. But then, I collected myself, and with a heavy sigh, I signed to Lena, ‘I’m not interested. I plan to leave. Caspian is doing all of this just to make me accept him.’

Lena’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. “Aria, you should have seen the way he spoke about you. The intensity, the passion… he threatened them and made them scared. It wasn’t just about making you accept him. I think he genuinely cares for you.”

I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. ‘Caring for me doesn’t change the fact that I need to get away from here. From him. Every time I’m around Caspian, I get hurt. And Ellen… I can’t stay in a place where I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the next attack.’

Lena reached out and took my hand, her grip firm and reassuring. “I understand, Aria. But you should know that Caspian’s feelings for you are real. He loves you, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to protect you. Maybe… maybe you should give him a chance.”

I pulled my hand away gently, feeling the weight of her words but unable to accept them. ‘Lena, I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’ve made up my mind. I need to leave, to find a place where I can be safe and start over. Caspian’s protection feels more like a cage than a sanctuary.

Lena sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I won’t try to stop you, Aria. Just promise me you’ll think about it. Caspian isn’t perfect, but he’s trying. And I think he deserves a chance to prove himself to you.”

I nodded, though my resolve remained firm. Lena’s words had given me a lot to think about, but my decision to leave hadn’t changed. I needed to escape the shadows of Caspian and Ellen, to find a place where I could heal both physically and emotionally.

Sat Aug

Chapter 36

9+342

As Lena left the room, stared at the door, my mind racing with thoughts of the future. I had to leave, but how? And where

uld I go? The answers weren’t clear, but one thing was certain-I couldn’t stay here any lon

ger. The time for my escape was drawing near, and I had to be ready.