Mute

Caspian’s POV.

As I stormed through the corridors of the castle, my heart pounding with dread, I demanded answers from the guards with a voice laced with urgency. “Where is Aria?” I growled, my tone Brooking no argument.

The guards shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting nervously between each other before one finally spoke up. “Sh-she’s in the cell, Your Highness,” he stuttered, his voice trembling.

I wasted no time, striding forward with purpose until I reached the grim cell where Aria was held captive. My breath caught in my throat at the sight before me-Aria, chained and bloodied tears streaking her bruised face.

A surge of anguish ripped through me, threatening to overwhelm my senses as I turned on the guards with a roar of rage. “Who did this to her?” I thundered, my voice echoing off the stone walls.

They faltered under my furious gaze, stammering their responses that could barely make sense to me.

My fists clenched at my sides, trembling with a rage I could barely contain. “How dare you!” I snarled, my voice a low growl as I rounded on the guards once more. “Who laid a hand on her?”

The guards exchanged nervous glances, clearly reluctant to speak. But under my intense gaze, they relented.

“It was Lady Ellen,” one of them finally admitted, his voice trembling. “She screamed for help, and when we arrived, the whole place was a mess, your chosen Luna was hurt. Aria was defending herself.”

My fists clenched at my sides as I struggled to contain my fury.

“Why was Aria punished?” I demanded, my voice cold and unforgiving, as I was already seeing red.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before one of them spoke up. “It’s the law, Alpha Caspian,” he explained. “Anyone who harms a member of the royal family must face punishment.”

“You dare lay a hand on Aria?” I growled.

Their words tumbled out in a torrent, a lot of apologies and justifications that washed over me like a relentless tide. But despite their frantic attempts to explain, their voices seemed to fade into the background, overshadowed by the thunderous roar of my own heartbeat echoing in my ears.

As I gazed upon the woman I loved, her once vibrant spirit now subdued and broken, my heart clenched with anguish and fury. The sight of her battered form, marred by cruel lash marks, ignited a firestorm of rage within me, burning away any semblance of rational thought.

In that moment, nothing else mattered-not their apologies, nor their feeble attempts to justify their actions. All I could see was Aria, her pain etched into every line of her face, her tears a silent testament to the cruelty she had endured.

And as the guards continued to plead for mercy, their voices fading into the background, I knew that there would be no forgiveness, no absolution for their sins. For in that moment, all that mattered was the woman I loved, broken and battered before me, and the burning desire to see justice served.

With a primal roar, I lunged at the guards, my blows raining down upon them with a ferocity born of sheer desperation. Bones snapped beneath my fists, cries of pain filling the air as I unleashed my pent-up fury upon those who had dared to harm Aria.

“Please, Alpha Caspian, have mercy!” one of the guards pleaded, my voice treinbling with fear as I advanced upon them.

My eyes blazed with fury as I grabbed the chains from the floor Mercy?” I snarled, my voice dripping with contempt. “You. dare ask for mercy after what you’ve done?”

With a swift motion, I swung the chains, the metal links lashing out like a whip, striking the guards with brutal force.

The guards cried out in pain, their cries drowned out by the clang of metal against flesh.

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“You think you can hurt her and get away with it?” I roared, his voice echoing off the walls of the chamber. “You think you can lay a hand on the woman I love?”

I swung the chains again and again, each blow fueled by my rage and determination to protect Aria.

As the guards crumpled to the ground, battered and broken, I stood over them, my chest heaving with exertion.

“I will not tolerate anyone harming her,” I growled, my eyes blazing with intensity. “Anyone who dares lay a finger on her will answer to me.”

My heart shattered as I stared Aria, still crumpled on the floor, tears streaking her cheeks.

Without hesitation, I broke down the gates of her cell, my hands trembling with anger and guilt. “I’m sorry,” I whispered h**y, my voice barely audible over her**bs.

With trembling hands, I reached out to free her from the chains that bound her, my heart aching at the sight of her battered body. “I should have been here sooner,” I murmured, my voice thick with remorse.

As I lifted her into my arms, Aria’s s**bs only seemed to intensify her gaze filled with so much pain it was almost unbearable to witness. “I’ve got you,” I whispered, meaning every freaking word. “I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”

Cradling her close, I carried Aria out of the cell, my steps heavy with the weight of my own failure.

I cursed myself for not realizing sooner what was happening under my own roof. I didn’t care who had struck the first blow —what mattered was that Aria was in pain, and I would do whatever it took to ease her suffering.

As we emerged from the cell, my gaze fell upon my parents, standing with Ellen’s parents, their expressions of shock and disbelief.

Ignoring the stunned stares of my parents and Ellen’s family, I side-stepped them, my gaze fixed firmly on the fragile woman cradled in my arms. They could judge me all they wanted, I cared not for their opinions. All that mattered was Aria.

As I put Aria to rest on the bed in my room, I could hear a commotion in the hallway. Someone was trying to get in, but the guards at the entrance of my room were stopping them.

“Let them in,” I commanded my guards, my voice tight with emotion.

And the person burst into the room.

It was Lena, Aria’s friend.

As Lena approached Aria’s bedside, her eyes filled with tears, I felt a pang of guilt pierce through him like a knife. I had failed to protect Aria, and now she lay before me, broken and battered.

“Oh, Aria,” Lena whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I warned you not to go. I warned you not to trust Ellen.”

I cursed deeply under my breath, my fists clenched at my sides.

Truly, Aria should have listened to Lena’s warnings, should have been more vigilant in protecting herself from Ellen.

As Lena reached out to comfort Aria, my gaze softened, my heart aching at the sight of Aria’s tears. “She didn’t deserve this,” Lena murmured, her voice heavy with pain.

And then she turned to me, her eyes flashing with boldness. “Aria would never attack Ellen,” she insisted, her voice fierce with conviction. “Ellen must have framed her out of jealousy and hate.”

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At this, my jaw tightened as Lprocessed Lena’s words. Deep down, I knew she was right. Ellen had always harbored resentment towards Aria, and now it seemed she had stooped to new lows in her quest to destroy her.

“Alpha Caspian, you have to let Aria go,” Lena suddenly turned to me and implored, her words choking with s**bs. “She has suffered enough, all for your sake. Aria needs peace, please. Everyone wants to hurt her because of her condition. She might get killed if she stays here and completes the remaining days of serving. Please, let her go.”

Her words struck deep within me, igniting a fierce sense of protectiveness over Aria. I had brought her into this world of chaos and danger.

But as much as I wanted to grant Lena’s request, I knew it wasn’t that simple. Aria’s safety was paramount, but she was still

pack. bound to serve for a few days. To release her would mean defying centuries of tradition and risking the stability of our

Nevertheless, Lena’s words tugged at my heartstrings, reminding me of the pain and suffering Aria had endured in my castle. I couldn’t bear to see her hurt any longer, and yet I was torn between my duty as Alpha and my desire to protect her. Gritting my teeth against the turmoil raging within me, I-turned to Lena with a heavy heart. “I will do everything in my power to keep Aria safe,” I vowed, my voice tinged with resolve. “But for now, she must remain here.”

But Lena was unwilling to back out, her eyes were filled with boldness. “Aria needs to be in a place where she feels safe and loved,” she insisted, her voice unwavering. “And it’s definitely not here with you.”

Her words struck a nerve, igniting a surge of defensiveness within me. How dare she question my ability to keep Aria safe? Hadn’t I risked everything to protect her, even at the cost of my own reputation and status?

But as Lena continued to plead her case, her words resonated with a truth that I couldn’t ignore. Aria had suffered enough under my watch, and perhaps it was time to admit that I couldn’t guarantee her safety within the confines of the pack.

Before I could stop myself, a wave of anger swept over me, my voice rising to a crescendo as I lashed out in frustration.

“Enough!” I bellowed, my words echoing off the walls of the room. “I will take control of everything.”