Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 131

Lily's

pov

I didn't know how long I hid for but I knew that I stopped counting the lashes after a hundred, my hand around my mouth as I heard Aiden's grunts of pain slowly fade until they were nothing but whimpers.

I didn't even need to take a look to smell the blood that was his but I did anyway and more tears trickled down my cheeks to see Aiden lying on the floor on his chest, barely breathing as he trembled and growled weakly, the floor around him covered in his blood. How could someone do this to anyone? His own flesh and blood? What sort of monstrosity was this?

I was trying and failing to stifle my tears and the pain in my chest made it almost difficult to breathe especially when I knew that Aiden was in much worse pain and that this was not the first time that he had gone through something like this... Alone...

Victor merely looked down at Aiden, his face impassive as he studied his nephew like he was a project before he walked over to the sink that I didn't even realize was in the room to wash his hands. Removing a handkerchief from his pocket, he dried his hands and rolled down the sleeves of his shirt.

"I know that you think me wicked. That you think me a monster. I know that you hate me, Aiden but if there is one thing that you should know, it is that all I have done, everything I have done including this is for your good. I am the only family that you have left. More importantly, I am the only one that has never wanted to throw you away, that will always accept you and put up with your flaws, which are very many."

Squatting beside Aiden who didn't even look like he was breathing, he patted his hair gently like he really cared about him before rising to his feet and walking over to where his suit jacket rested to pick it up.

"Unfortunately I am not here to stay this time as I must leave immediately to complete finalizing my deal with the Corrigans and humans. A new era is beginning, Aiden, one where Night Shade sits at the very top with full monopoly over the resources in Shadow Cove. I want you to be at the forefront of the most recent movement that I am planning. I hope that you won't fuvk this one up like you do to everything that your hands touch. In the meantime, before I leave, I must appear before the council and attempt to plead to lessen the council's verdict for what you did to Sebastien and Paige."

He rose to his feet, adjusted his coat, tapped his cane on the marble floor as he let out a deep sigh. "Goodbye nephew."

And Without another word or even a glance, he left the room. The slamming of the door was what woke me up from my shocked trance and I rushed to Aiden's side, covering my mouth as I choked back a sob to see his beautiful face scrunched up in pain and his eyes shut.

"Aiden." I whispered. "Aiden, please open your eyes."

The scrunched up expression disappeared and when I felt his pulse, it was faint. He looked like he had fallen asleep but he was as still as a statue, his body unmoving and his chest not rising. Was he dead?

Stifling a scream, I forced myself up my feet and ran to replace help, only one thought on my mind.

I hoped that it was not too late. Aiden's pov

There was a time that counting the lashes on my back used to keep me tethered to reality and help me remain focused even though the weight of the pain I felt was almost bone crushing, but today it felt like it was going to be the last time. It felt like it was going to be the end.

As I fell to the ground and hear my uncle speaking to me the only thing that came to my mind was Lily and how I needed to get back to her but was currently unable to. I would not be able to spend more time with her and show her that I could love her the way she deserved.

I didn't want her to see me like this.

As if I had conjured her up, I saw her face hovering over me and wondered if this was what heaven felt like. Because there was no other explanation than I was dead to see her lovely face right now staring down at me and cupping my face.

But contrary to how I imagined heaven would be, she was not smiling. Tears were running down her eyes and she was shaking me hard.

Her mouth moved and that was when I finally could hear what was being said.

"Aiden! Wake up!"

No, I wasn't dead, I realized, but I was barely alive and I was still lying on the ground of my uncles study, my body already numb to the pain.

Shame filled me that Lily was seeing me at my lowest point and I could not even move or hide from her. How was I going to be able to convince her to stay with someone like me who allowed himself to be abused? The thought that she knew some of my most shameful secrets, secrets that I would have never been able to say to her for fear that I would lose her made me feel not only embarrassment but agitation and frustration.

All I ever want is to look my best for her. She has already seen the horrible, most deplorable side of me, the part that loved to hurt people for his own amusement. The part that didn't care who gets hurt as long as I get what I want. I wanted to show her that I could be like Ren, that I could be perfect for her. I wanted to make sure that she never gets to see this low and pathetic side of me but now that she had, there was nothing I could even do. Speaking even hurt and when I tried to open my mouth, it felt like my entire body was on fire.

All I ever want is to look my best for her. She has already seen the horrible, most deplorable side of me, the part that loved to hurt people for his own amusement. The part that didn't care who gets hurt as long as I get what I want. I wanted to show her that I could be like Ren, that I could be perfect for her. I wanted to make sure that she never gets to see this low and pathetic side of me but now that she had, there was nothing I could even do. Speaking even hurt and when I tried to open my mouth, it felt like my entire body was on fire.

When she rose from the ground and ran towards the exit, I tried to stop her, my heart breaking because it looked like my worst nightmare was slowly coming to life and that she was leaving because she could not handle this side of me. Because she realized that I was more baggage than I was worth.

"Lily!" I croaked, straining against my bleeding back and stretching out a hand as if that would somehow make her turn around and look at me but she was long gone. She was leaving me, taking the opportunity to escape like I had always feared she would. It was even worse now because she had every justification to flee now that she had seen my darkest shame.

No, it didn't matter. I could not let her leave me. Even if it meant that I had to explain, I needed to do something. Heart twisting in pain, I let out an anguished groan as I tried to hoist myself up from the ground and failed, crashing back down, too weak to stand. Slowly, I started crawling towards the door, each step more tedious than the last but that was nothing compared to the agony of knowing that if I stopped I would lose Lily forever.

I was almost at the door when I realized that I was slowly losing consciousness and the last thought on my mind was the painful reality that I had lost Lily forever and that my uncle was right. No one would ever be able to love me.