Chapter 48: Rejecting A Wolf

They sat in silence for the rest of the way. It took nine hours of constant driving to finally enter the council's territory.

Tom's body tensed when they entered the territory, this place was a place of horrors for him. A place where his beliefs were shattered and his life ruined.

He swore never to step foot here again, yet here he was. Sitting in a car while it drove him and Aurora to the main building.

As the car pulled up to the building, the double doors opened, and several people walked out, a handsome man who looked at least seventy-five percent like Tom was the head of the group.

They stood at the top of the stairs waiting. When Tom saw his brother for the first time in years, he froze.

Aurora looked at Tom, who was clearly struggling to regain his calm, and reached out, patting his hand lightly.

He turned his gaze to her and took a deep breath. Slowly, he calmed down as the car came to a complete stop.

The driver got out of the car and made his way toward Aurora's side, and opened the door. The driver gestured for her to step out, and Aurora looked at Tom.

Seeing his gaze was on her, Aurora's heart clenched. It was so gentle, filled with a warmth she was not familiar with. He was trying to reassure her with his gaze.

Sadly, his intentions will fall short, even as she has already made up her mind. And she did doubt that decision, Aurora knew there was no way out.

She took a deep breath and got out of the car, Tom exited on the other side and walked around the back of the car, and stood at her side.

They both looked at the group of people silently, not going forward and greeting them.

Brandon's gaze was solely on his brother's body, his gaze gentle like a parent whose child was being naughty, but he dared not to punish the child. His expression did not escape Aurora's and Tom's gaze.

Tom could help but grab Aurora's hand and squeeze it lightly. Aurora moved her gaze from the people in front and looked at their linked hands.

"It's okay, I'm here," Tom reassured her. Aurora didn't answer. She only rose her head again to meet Brandon's gaze.

"Welcome to the council headquarters, You must be Aurora." Brandon smiled as he stepped down towards them. "Unfortunately, we are pressed for time. So I'll be frank."

"Three things are going to happen today. One, punishment for the rejection is going to be given out today," Brandon stopped a few meters away from them and said. "Two, an investigation into whether having two mates is possible and three, Having Aurora thoroughly examined."

"What does that mean? She's my mate Brandon, I will not stand for anything that might harm her. This would include your little exams." Tom coldly told Brandon.

"Have you forgotten little brother?" Brandon looked at Tom gently, but his words were anything but, "It's not a request. it's a decree. You wouldn't want to be punished just as you returned?"

"I'm not afraid of you, any of you. I won't stand for anyone harming my mate!" Tom snarled, narrowing his eyes his wolf let out a threatening growl as Tom glared at the group before sneering at Brandon.

"Sigh," Brandon sighed, shaking his head, "Alright, no examination. "

His tone was doting. It seemed like he gave in to his little brother's whims. But as Tom's eyes met Brandon's. Tom bit inside his mouth until it bled.

'You owe me one.' Brandon mouths to Tom before turning on his heel. "Follow along now. Everyone who needs to be here will be here soon."

The silent group of people at the entrance of the building silently followed Brandon's footsteps. Tom hesitated after all he dug a hole for himself just now. But Aurora didn't, she stepped forward and followed behind. Tom, who held her hand, had no choice but to match her steps.

After a five-minute walk, they arrived at an arena-looking grounds. There were stands, and in the middle was a podium.

Aurora's steps stopped at the entrance, and her breathing quickened. Tom, who was beside her, was also panicking.

This place was the last place he saw her alive. Brandon at the front as if he knew they would stop, made a U-turn, and walked towards them.

"Don't stop here. We have a seat ready for you," Brandon came up to them and said. "I doubt you want me to make you?"

"You're a horrible person. Do you know that?" Tom could help but tell Brandon as he let out of Aurora's hand. Before moving in front of her and shaking her shoulders lightly.

"Aurora has to be here." Brandon said, "But you don't, "

"As if I'll leave my mate in the hands of a psychopath."Tom spat without looking at Brandon. His attention at the frozen young woman. "Aurora, it's okay."

Aurora raised her head to the sky when she heard that. How many times has she heard that today?

What she saw, was vague, but she could still hear the gut-wrenching scream as blood pooled on that podium.

Who died? Who did they kill? Why couldn't she see it properly? It was never this vague before. Who was it they killed?

"Come on, kids, move!" Brandon's voice broke Aurora out of her thoughts. She sent Tom, who was looking at her worriedly a nod.

Tom reluctantly moved away and walked to her side once more. He wanted to hold her hand again, but Aurora tucked her hand into her pockets before stepping forward once more.

Under the direction of Brandon, they were seated in front. The view of the podium was visible. Brandon took a seat next to her while someone she didn't know sat beside Tom.

There were already people here, shuffling around and finding a place to sit. Aurora could help but glance around. Across from where she and the others sat, He was seated with her mother, sister-in-law, and a few people surrounding them.

Her eyes met his, and Aurora's left palm tingled. As if it was reminding her. Jace sat there. He was skinnier than the last time she saw him.

His eyes were blank as he stared back into hers. Aurora studied his features. His lips were so pale that they looked slightly blue. They got to him.

Jace looked as bad as she did. She wanted to go over to him, but it wasn't the time. She moved her gaze and looked at her haggard mother and Cherise.

Her eyes searched, but she didn't find any sign of her brothers and father. She could help but frown.

"Everyone is here, let's begin," Brandon clapped, and everyone who was standing quickly found a place to sit. "Bring out the prisoner!"

Soon, two muscular men escorted a chained man with a cloth bag over his head. Aurora's eyes didn't move for a second off the man being escorted.

Her stomach felt like it fell to the floor. Her lips trembled.

"No," She whispered, Brandon and Tom both looked at her. Tom realized long ago that it was an execution, but he didn't know who they were executing.

But after hearing Aurora whisper no, he could guess. Tom couldn't help but look at Brandon.

"Please look at the show. it's just beginning. The sinners will be punished." Brandon's lips curled. "After all, it's a little unreasonable to blame everything on one person."

Aurora looked at Brandon in disbelief. Her heart, which was already on the verge of complete death, was pushed to its last limit. All her doubts were washed away.

She couldn't afford to doubt it any longer, the facts were put plainly in front of her.

This was their usual tacit, they break you into submission, and this was only the first step into breaking her.

As she watched the bag removed from his head, she felt no stirring of emotions. The vision that unsettled her before no longer affected her.

Her gaze turned colder, earlier when she reacted to Aiden being held. She understood that she was not completely over her feelings for her family. This was a hurdle she had to jump over, showing emotion was what they wanted, and once you showed emotion they would manipulate you.

So, to protect herself right here, right now, she killed it. She killed her emotions. Nothing could faze her anymore. Because all of that becomes irrelevant when compared to the horrors to come.

The things that happened to her up until now were not her fault. She never chose this. Everything was a consequence of everyone else's actions.

Aurora understood clearly that she could only own up to her actions and mistakes. She had no room for other people's mistakes, not anymore.

Brandon watched Aurora closely. She went from stunned to panicked, then calm. She was such an interesting girl to be able to kill her emotions, so fast.

Suddenly, Brandon felt like he had to get a rise out of her today. After he had that thought, he mind-linked some enforcers.

How would she react to his surprise? He could not wait to see it.