Letting Go – 1

Aurora’s POV

I dragged my feet back toward my cell, each step a stark reminder of my new reality. Prison was literal hell on earth. The 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 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. From 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 I 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, spat in it, or simply took it away. For two weeks, I’d barely eaten—just 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. 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.

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.