“Where the heck do you think you’re going?”

My father’s words stopped me in my tracks. I felt a cold breeze run through my spine. How had he figured out that I was trying to leave the pack? He stood right in front of me, all grim-faced. His second in command was staring at me like I had stolen something. There was no escaping now, at least by force. I had to try something silly and practical.

“Don’t stop me, father, I’m leaving………..”

“Shut up!!” My father yelled, pinning me to where I stood. I was trembling in fear of what might happen next. “How dare you try to exit the pack house secretly? Did you really think you were going to be able to get away from here successfully?” He walked closer to me with a sinister look on his face. The closer he came, the more I backed away until my back was against the wall, the small exit just below my knees. “You’re a disgrace, Aurora. You can’t even make this much sacrifice for your own brother.”

“I can, I just………I want him back, too. But I could never go there myself. I don’t want to be switched for him……..”

“You selfish little brat.” My father slapped me hard across the face. I crumbled to the ground, my backpack dropping from my shoulders immediately. He launched forward and grabbed me by my hair, pulling me up to my feet. “You’re useless, Aurora, you always have been. I don’t need you here, and if there is even a slight chance of exchanging you for my son Elric, then I’ll take it. Girls have always been worthless in this pack, and you’re not any different.”

“Dad……….” I sobbed, unable to believe what he was doing to me. He pushed me into Marcellus’s arms and gave him some orders. Marcellus lifted me from the ground and started walking back to the pack house. I thought he would take me to my room, but he proceeded to the back of the pack house, where there were some empty rooms. He dropped me gently on the floor and then walked out. My eyes were full of tears, but I didn’t say anything, and he didn’t say anything to me either. He intentionally avoided my eyes as he bolted from the burglary. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me. How was it that my own father could treat me like this?

I stood up and walked to the gate, yelling for someone to get me. Anyone. My heart raced inside my chest. I pushed against the burglary to see if I could force it open, but it was a waste of effort.

I slid down the burglary, clutching my knees to my chest. Where was Aunt Agatha? Why hadn’t I seen her yet? I was so focused on trying to leave the pack house before I was sent to my death that I hadn’t bothered to search for her. There was absolutely no one around I could send to fetch her, and Marcellus had personally locked the door and left with the keys.

So this was it. If my father didn’t change his mind, then I would have to go to the enemy’s territory and wait out my death or extreme hardship.

I started sobbing. I couldn’t control myself. I felt hurt, pain, rejection and emptiness. I didn't know how long I cried for, but I eventually eased myself to my side and fell asleep.

***

Someone was yelling my name. I slowly opened my eyes and sat up. It was my dad yelling my name. I folded my hair into a bun at the top of my head and stood up. My father just stared at me for some time without saying anything. I fought back the tears that were forming in my eyes. As I stared back into his eyes, I finally realized that he didn’t love me. He never did, and I was foolish for thinking he ever would. I noticed the skies were dark outside, and a single torch had been brought into the room. My eyes caught something in the darkness by the open burglary gate. It looked like some bags had been hurled together.

“You’re leaving immediately, Aurora. You’re going to Eastern Europe. A private jet is waiting to take you there at the open market.” He walked closer to me, and I took several steps back. I didn’t want him close to me. “You’re a beautiful girl, so at least you are useful for something. You should feel honored to serve your pack this way, because of your sacrifice, this pack might finally stand a chance to recover from the blow that those bastards dealt us. We might even make allies, get people to fight alongside us against them, and if you’re still alive, we will take you back.”

He gestured for the maids at the entrance to pick up my bag. Then he waved his hands, and now guards entered the place.

“I’ll go on my own.” I immediately blurted out. “Lea……..lead the way…….”

My father smiled. “Very well, come my darling……..” He led me out of the empty room and to a car parked just outside the pack house. The bags I saw at the entrance earlier were loaded in, and I realized that they were probably my things. I looked back at the maids standing around, hoping to see Aunt Agatha amongst them. She wasn’t.

When the bags were put into the booth, my father opened the door for me to get in, and I complied. I didn’t want to be rough-handled, and it was useless to fight back now. There was no way out of this.

AI sat in the car calmly and folded my arms. I was fighting back my emotions like crazy, where the heck was Agatha? What was happening? A part of me still imagined that something could be done to stop my father. Maybe Aunt Agatha could talk to him on my behalf.

But she wasn’t even here. The car started, and we drove out onto the road. I took one final look at the pack house that had been my home all my life.