*~Gabrielle's POV~*
My lungs burned from the number of times I had screamed, but no one came to my aid. Mother was wrong—pain was NOT an illusion. It was real, and it was consuming me.
She continued to sew into my bare back. My eyes were red from tears. I tried to flee, but my two sisters held me down so tightly that I couldn't even move my bones.
My voice wavered, and I let out another agonizing cry. She persisted. My head throbbed with immense pain. Then suddenly, she stopped, though she still held the needle in her hand.
"Leave her," she commanded. My sisters released me, and I crashed to the floor. I wiped my back and shivered when I saw blood—my own blood.
"Why are you doing this, Mother? It hurts, Mother. Please, it's enough. I won't escape again," I pleaded, but she only looked at me with pity as she knelt by my side.
"Sweet girl, you are strong. Have you forgotten? You fought death and came back to me, hale and healthy. This is nothing compared to what you've been through. Just hold on… There are only a few threads left," she said, patting my hair and wiping the sweat from my forehead.
"A few threads left?" My eyes widened—that was what struck me most from everything she just said. She stood up and gestured for my sisters to lift me again, and they obliged. This time it was even more painful, as the threads were thicker.
I bit my tongue to stop myself from screaming, and soon a metallic taste filled my mouth. My vision grew blurry. I could hardly feel my body anymore. I felt weak, and soon enough, they were done.
My sister caught me before I collapsed to the floor while my mother simply wiped the blood off her hands, as if that was all that mattered to her.
"Argh! My clothes are stained. I'll have to go change," she said.
Then her eyes scanned my prison.
"I see you've added another face. Quite a handsome one, at that," she remarked, narrowing her gaze as she studied it.
"What?" she muttered. "How did you know this face?" she asked, an expression of fear crossing her features.
Too weak to speak, I just turned my head to see the face she was referring to—the Gorgeous Monster.
"ANSWER ME!" she yelled, making me shiver.
"I… um, I met him when I escaped," I replied, but she didn't seem satisfied.
"You met him when you escaped? Are you sure it's not from your memories?" she asked, her voice laced with fear. I merely continued to hold my back and whined in pain.
"Levy!" she screamed. Turning to my sisters, she ordered, "Go get me Levy." Annabelle rushed out, and in less than thirty minutes, she returned with Levy.
"You called for me, Your Grace?" he bowed. She ignored his greeting.
"Did you see this man, in particular, when you found Gabrielle?" She pointed to the wall, indicating the Gorgeous Monster's face. He nodded.
"Yes, Your Grace. He was the one who found her and brought her to us. He advised that we tighten our security so she wouldn't escape again," he answered with a soft smile.
"Really? Interesting. Do you know this man, Levy?" she asked, and he nodded.
"Of course, Your Grace. I was quite surprised myself," he replied, and curiosity sparked within me.
My mother and Levy knew the Gorgeous Monster? My mind raced. Then Mother turned to me.
"Gabrielle, did you tell him you are the White Wolf?" she asked. I knew better than to tell the truth, or she might sew a sword into me next.
"No, Your Grace, I didn't. I simply asked him for help," I replied. She nodded, somewhat satisfied, then turned back to Levy.
"Did he mention anything about the White Wolf to you?" she asked. Levy shook his head.
"But he might know she is from the Forbes House since he saw my face. I'm well recognized across the whole pack as your royal servant."
"This is not good at all. Someone already knows about your existence, Gabrielle, and news spreads like wildfire. Soon, everyone will know that the White Wolf, my lost daughter, has been found, and the Alpha will question me for not presenting you to the pack earlier," she said, stomping her foot on the ground, as she always did whenever something bothered her.
"We must announce your existence before that scumbag spreads the news and they come for me," she said, turning to Levy.
"Levy, go announce to the pack that the Forbeses are hosting a ball at the High House tonight. We have pleasant news we must share," she ordered. Levy bowed and left.
"Wait..." She suddenly stopped him, and he halted in his tracks.
"Before you go, please erase this nonsense. I don't want to see his face in my house," she said with utter disgust. He nodded.
He growled, brought out his claws, and jumped, scratching my beautiful artwork. Once he was done, he left, and I stared at the defaced piece.
The large claw scratch only made it look more vivid and added more story to the art; his piercing hunter eyes still managed to pierce my soul.
She then turned to my sisters. "What are you naughty girls waiting for? Go start preparing for the ball," she said, waving her hand.
"All right, Mother," they both curtsied and rushed out while she glared at the face on the wall.
"You will be making your first appearance to the pack today, Gabrielle." Her voice suddenly became gentle as she knelt beside me, removing my hand from where the pain had taken place and gently patting it to soothe the discomfort.
"I'm sorry. The whole pack will see you today. I can't risk the council questioning my integrity. And since you are showing your face today, you know what's next." She paused. "Marriage. Argh!" she said, wiping away little to no tears from her eyes.
"I will have to let you go this early. I was hoping you would spend more years with me before getting married, so you could bear me children that would carry this family's name, and one would become the White Wolf." She stood.
"Argh." I winced in pain as it rushed back when she stopped patting it.
"But, on the bright side, you will get what you've always wanted… nonexistent freedom that only exists in fantasies," she said, rolling her eyes and waving her hand across the room. "As if all this is not enough for you… sigh."
"Well, prepare yourself and stop whining in pain. It's just a needle and thread. I've done worse to your sisters, and look—they're still alive and well. Get over it, Gabrielle."
She's done worse to my sisters? What kind of torture are my siblings going through? My blood ran cold at the thought. Perhaps… maybe it's a dagger she is sewing in them. Horrifying.
"I will be leaving now, dear. Be prepared," she said and left, surprisingly not shutting the door behind her, but I didn't dare step out.
I got to my feet and staggered toward the new face I had drawn, now marked with a dangerous scratch, making it even more perfect.
Why hadn't I thought of this? I bent down to pick up a stone and threw it at his face.
All because of him, the chances of me getting married to some old creep today are high.
But maybe it's a good thing. At least I won't be stuck here again. And maybe… proximity will make me fall for this old creep.
Perhaps… we will know soon.