Chapter 23
Silas was dragged forward. His shirt was ripped from his back, and before he could fully react, the first blow landed. His body jerked as the pain tore through him.
He grunted in pain, then screamed as the second and third strikes hit.
He struggled against them, but he was too weak to do much. They turned him and kicked him hard in the ribs. One of them slammed his fist into Silas’s face, and blood splattered the ground.
Another kick to the stomach, and Silas curled, gasping.
Alastair didn’t flinch or wince. He just watched coldly as Silas bled.
“That’s enough,” Alastair said finally after several tortuous minutes.
The guards stopped and stepped back, leaving Silas on the floor, moaning in pain.
Blood dripped from his nose and mouth. His arms shook as he tried to push himself up, but he collapsed back to the floor.
Alastair crouched down beside him, “You’re still breathing, and you’re conscious.” He narrowed his eyes. “That’s disappointing.”
Silas let out a weak cough with blood trailing from his lips. “I didn’t mean to—”
Alastair stood slowly and looked at the guards. “Again.”
“What?” Silas croaked, barely able to raise his head.
“I said again,” Alastair repeated coldly. “He’s still talking.”
The guards didn’t hesitate.
Silas barely had time to groan before the first kick landed, right in his stomach. He coughed out blood. A hard punch followed to his head, causing stars to flash in his
eyes.
They didn’t stop this time.
The blows rained down without pause. The guards used their fists, their feet, their elbows. One grabbed his hair and slammed his head into the floor. Another cracked
his ribs with a knee.
Silas felt himself losing consciousness, but they kept going.
His vision blurred. The last thought on his mind was: “So…this was probably what Willow felt.”
Then finally, his body went limp as he lost consciousness.
He lay there, barely breathing, his eyes swollen shut. His body was badly bruised and
broken, and blood pooled under him.
Alastair finally stepped forward again. He looked down at the broken body before him coldly, then he hummed in satisfaction.
He turned to the guards. “Leave him here. When he regains consciousness, feed him and throw him away somewhere.”
One of the guards asked. “What if he dies?”
Alastair shrugged. “He’s an alpha werewolf. He’ll heal. And if he dies… well, good for
me.”
He walked away without looking back.
Willow’s POV
My heart was racing, and it wasn’t from nerves, but it was from the shock of what had happened earlier.
Silas.
The way he had looked. He had looked so haggard, so broken, and so desperate. I had known Silas for over six years, and I had never seen him like this. It was not something I could easily forget.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
“Don’t think about it,” I whispered to myself, clenching my fists. “Not today.”
The bathroom door creaked open, and I turned.
Alastair stood there, watching me quietly. He had removed his formal jacket and the top buttons of his shirt were loose.
“Hey,” he said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. “Are you okay?”
I nodded slowly. “I just needed a moment.”
He walked over and gently pulled me into his arms, pressing a soft kiss on the top of my head. I closed my eyes again, inhaling deeply as my body relaxed..
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he murmured. “I don’t know how he evaded the guards.”
“It’s not your fault,” I replied. “You did what you had to do.”
He kissed my forehead again and pulled back to look into my eyes. “Silas shouldn’t ruin today for us. This is our day. You’re my wife now, Willow. And no one can take that joy from us.”
I swallowed hard and gave a small smile. “I know. It was just… weird to see him like that.”
“You’re not responsible for him anymore,” Alastair said firmly. “He made his bed. Let him lie in it.”
I nodded again.
“Come,” he said, gently taking my hand. “Dance with me again. Let’s make good memories to erase the old ones.”
Willow’s POV
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.
