THE WALK

The walk was horrible. 

Every single one of his men rode on their horses. 

No one was walking like I was. 

It was embarrassing as I trailed off in my white dress, which still showed seams of it being ripped after he had taken my virginity. 

I felt my head spin. 

I couldn't tell how long I had been walking, but the only thing that remained in my head was that I couldn't faint. 

If I did, I would disgrace my father. 

I shook as I feared him, even though he was now miles away. 

My inner thighs burned, and it felt like something was dripping down my leg with every step I took. 

The men chatted, and no one looked at me like I was a human being. 

I was insignificant, irrelevant, and their enemy. 

They all hated me, and no one wanted anything to do with me. 

Then, the ride came to a halt. 

The horses all abruptly stopped. 

I had to stop in my tracks, too. 

The door of the carriage opened, and Xaden stepped out. 

My heart stopped. 

He stood hovering over me, his entire height scaring me. 

I swallowed. 

Then he turned to his men. 

"Throw all the trunks filled with her possessions in the river." He said. 

I froze instantly. 

I turned to look at him in horror. 

They were the trunks and possessions that my father and Luna Maria had packed up for me. 

The men brought them down and threw them into the river. 

"No, what are you doing?" I shrieked, confused, and managed to rush towards the river as I watched them drop to the bottom. 

Xaden caught my arm and spun me around. 

"Don't test me." He warned. "Your disgusting parents gave you your jewels and expensive clothes, didn't they?"

They hadn't given them to me. 

They gave it to cement further the belief that I was Jessica, my stepsister. 

"Well, let me shock you, spoilt brat." He said. "I'm not here for any of your silly antiques. Your life will be nothing like your life in the castle."

My heart raced, and I turned to see the last trunks of clothes, shoes, and jewelry being flung into the river. 

He smirked at me. 

"Keep walking." He said, and then he turned to a horse that had been empty throughout the ride and climbed on it instead of returning to the carriage. 

Then, I forced myself to continue the walk. 

My head began to spin, and I saw double this time. 

I held my breath, trying to relax, but my entire body was on fire. 

I wasn't moving anymore. 

I pressed my fingers against my temple, trying to regain composure. 

"Alpha Xaden!" Someone said it behind me. "She seems to have left a trail of blood."

I didn't know what was happening again. 

I thought I heard Xaden curse aloud. 

Then I felt the gravity dissolve, and I fell. 

I didn't feel as much impact on the ground as I should have.

But it felt like someone had caught me right before I fell, and everything went blank.