Letting Go–1
Aurora’s POV
1 dragged my feet back toward my cell, every step a reminder of my Hew reality. Prison was literal hell on earth. The fucking irony wasn’t lost on me. I’d made my career as a lawyer, and a damn good one at that. I was supposed to be the one defending innocents and sending criminals to this place, not becoming an inmate myself
I hadn’t slept properly since they threw me in here two weeks ago. Lom the moment I stepped into this cell, I became every prisoner’s enemy. For whatever reason, they fucking hated me and made no effort to hide it.
Deep down, I knew Sebastian was behind this. I shouldn’t have crossed him. I shouldn’t have underestimated how much he cared for Thea. The Sebastian 1 knew–my Sebastian–would never hurt me. He would never do anything that caused me pain.
I guess the boy I fell in love with all those years ago was gone. In his place stood a ruthless Alpha who wouldn’t hesitate to punish me for daring to hurt Thea.
I sighed, finally reaching my cell. I was exhausted to my bones. Since entering this place, I hadn’t had a proper shower or a decent meal.
Every mealtime, my cellmates either knocked the food from my hands, spit in it, or just took it away. For two weeks, I’d barely eaten. enough to stay alive.
As for showers? Most days they’d shove me out of the stall before I could even get under the water. The whole experience was terrifying and dehumanizing. I just wanted to go home, but I wasn’t even sure that was possible anymore.
“Look,” Grace, one of the most vicious inmates, said, “our little princess bitch is back.”
Whoever her mother was, naming her Grace was a fucking mistake. There was nothing graceful or proper about her. She didn’t bring beauty or gentleness to those around her–just brutality and pain.
I didn’t dare say this to her face. The last time I tried defending myself, I got a punch that left me with a black eye. I really didn’t want a repeat performance. The she–wolf was built like a male, so you can imagine how much it hurt when she hit me.
I chose to remain silent. It usually didn’t help, but I still thought keeping a low profile was the best strategy.
I tried to walk past her to my bed, but she blocked my path.
“I’m talking to you, bitch,” she growled, then gave me a hard shove.
I wasn’t prepared, and with my injured leg, I fell hard on my ass. The pain shot from my tailbone all the way up my spine. I bit my lip to stop myself from whimpering. Showing any sign of weakness wouldn’t do me any favors.
I tried to get up, but it was nearly impossible, especially with my injured leg. When I’d gone to the cafeteria, another inmate had tripped me, and I’d twisted my ankle. When I fell, no one helped me up. Instead, they all pointed and laughed while I struggled in pain.
W
I bit down harder on my lip, stopping myself from crying. The nurse told me my ankle would heal better if I rested and avoided further injury. That seemed impossible now, especially after falling at such an awkward angle.
“This idiot still thinks she’s important,” Lilian, another inmate, said. She doesn’t realize she’s nothing in here, just like the rest of
- us.
I didn’t look up at them, focusing instead on my ankle. It was red and swollen now. Maybe after they left, I could go back and have the nurse look at it.
1/2
Letting Go–1.
I was so focused on my leg that I didn’t notice two women approaching me. I was startled when one of them grabbed me by the hair. This time, I couldn’t hold back my cry of pain.
Letting Go–2
“Please let go of me,” I stammered, too exhausted to fight back.
I knew I should’ve stayed quiet because Grace gave me a cruel smile and slapped me hard across the face. She raised her palm again, and I lifted my hand to block her next strike.
“What’s going on here?” The booming voice made them back away in fear.
I curled into myself, trembling like a fucking leaf. Honestly, I didn’t know how much longer I could last. Everyone here was out to get me, and I was terrified I’d end up dead.
“Nothing, we were just having fun. Right, Aurora?” Lilian said with a fake smile.
I didn’t answer. We all knew what they were doing to me wasn’t fun
“Get up, Aurora, You’re coming with me.”
I didn’t argue. Maybe Roman had come to visit. I struggled but finally managed to stand up and follow the guard out.
“Today’s your lucky day,” she said as we walked.
I didn’t respond, just snorted. There was clearly nothing lucky about today.
When we reached a private room, she opened the door, and Roman was standing there. The tears I’d been holding back started flowing, and I stumbled toward him. Well, more like limped badly.
He wrapped his arms around me, making me feel safe. I let out all the pain and frustration, all the anger and hurt. I cried against his chest until I had no tears left.
“It’s okay, sister. I’m here to take you home,” he whispered in my ear.
At first, his words didn’t register, but when they did, I looked up and just stared at him.
“Really? How did you manage that?” I asked.
We’d tried everything. I’d tried everything. Nothing had worked, and no one was willing to go against Sebastian. This was the first time I’d witnessed firsthand just how ruthless Sebastian could be and how terrifying his power truly was.
“I talked to Thea, asked her to speak with Sebastian,” he shrugged. At first, I didn’t think she’d help, considering how cold she was toward me, but today I got a call to pick up your release papers. The judge said Sebastian was doing it as a favor to his wife.”
I just nodded. Honestly, I didn’t care if Thea had spoken up for me. All that mattered was my freedom.
After that, I was taken to an office to sign some papers. Then I had the chance to take a shower before they gave me back the clothes I’d been wearing when I was arrested. When I was done, I met Roman, and we walked out of the prison together.
It felt so fucking good to see the outside world. To breathe fresh air,
I took one last look at the building. My time there had opened my eyes to many things.
It was time to accept that Sebastian was no longer mine. If he could go to such lengths to hurt me for Thea, then I needed to accept defeat. I might have had his heart once, but it no longer beat for me. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I had no choice. I couldn’t keep holding onto something that was already dead.
1/2
Letting Go–2
Sebastian was my past, and probably had been for a long time. It was time to look forward and admit what I’d been unwilling to accept that we were never meant to be.
As this reality settled into my soul, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, and both my wolf and I exhaled in relief.
I got into Roman’s car. As he drove away, I smiled, feeling the chain that had bound me finally break free.
What I didn’t know then was that an enemy was smiling too. An enemy plotting against me. An enemy none of us had noticed was planning to destroy my life.
