66: 66 I Was Abandoned

66 I Was Abandoned

Catherine's pov 0

Pa!

Pa!

Pa!

With each sound, another whip mark was left on my body. In the darkened room, I knelt on the frigid floor, surrendering to the relentless lashes that tore my clothes apart.

"Does it hurt?" My father, Elder William, asked me in the darkness.

"Not at all." I clenched my teeth, biting my lips until they bled. I heard myself utter the response, and words escaped through the parting of my lips.

Pa!

The whip struck my back, releasing my father's wrath. It coiled like a venomous serpent, devouring my nerves, causing involuntary tremors to course through my body.

"Catherine," my father's voice descended from above, "I need an explanation."

Struggling to steady my near-collapsing body, I maintained my silence, steadying myself.

In obscurity, nothing was visible, yet my sense of touch grew acute. I felt my father lifting my chin with the whip, the sweat on my face gliding and moistening it.

Gazing at my father's blurred silhouette in the darkness, I mustered a feeble smile and softly spoke, "My dearest father, what explanation do you need? You want me to tell you that Delia's shift is a fabrication? Or you want me to tell you why I spare Delia's life?"

Pa!

The whip landed upon my face, igniting a searing pain.

"You know, I have raised you for many years. Do you think it was to mold you into a worthless being?"

Sharp fury accompanied my father's bellow, nearly forming echoes within the vast, dark room.

"I beg your forgiveness, father." I uttered those words.

I had been kneeling for too long, and my knees had started to tingle, almost losing sensation.

But I was already accustomed to it. Compared to the physical pain, my spirit suffered more. In my mind, I imagined how my father, who was always a gentleman, would unleash his rage. His hypocritical face was never revealed to anyone.

Even in punishing me, he preferred the darkness of this room, as if it could mask his dreadful expression.

How laughable. My father, praised by all, was nothing more than a deceitful scoundrel. The scent of roses in the castle couldn't conceal the smell of blood.

"Catherine, you know, I don't want to hear those words," my father sighed, his voice resonating in the darkness. He extended his icy hand to cover my face.

It was the hand of an old man. The skin had grown loose, yet the veins still tensed beneath. My entire body tensed as if struck by electricity, and his broad palm securely enveloped the swollen areas on my face.

His fingers slowly tightened, gradually restricting the air around my mouth and nose. Instinctively, I tried to break free, but he held me firmly in place. Beneath his aged skin, the power of the Lycan remained undeniable.

"Catherine, my good child, you are intelligent and beautiful. You are a girl, but your strength surpasses that of men. I must admit, you are much stronger than your brother, Lancaster."

His golden eyes scrutinized me in the darkness, as if observing an ant in the palm of his hand.

"But why are you a girl? Why didn't you kill Delia?!"

He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with bitter anger. He put pressure on my mouth and nose. It felt as if I were being plunged into water, and the diminishing air made me struggle.

The suffocating pain caused my body to convulse and curl up. His words echoed in my mind. Yes, why was I a girl? If only I were a boy, then I would have inherited the position of the Elder, and the foolish Lancaster would't have a chance!

My lips weakly parted, like a fish cast onto the shore. It was unbearable, so painful. My wolf let out a pained howl, but I didn't resist.

I bet that my father wouldn't kill me.

Although the lack of air clouded my consciousness, just before succumbing to suffocation and unconsciousness, I managed to grasp a fleeting breath.

Cough! Cough!

Tears streamed down my face, and my body immediately collapsed to the ground. Air rushed into my lungs, causing a dizzying sensation. Sweat drenched my clothes. On the floor, my bloodied fingers left deep and shallow marks.

"Catherine, if you had listened to me, you would have become Queen of Kral, the royal consort. Once you had his child, Kral would have perished. Your child would have become the next king. Until your child grows up, you will be the most powerful person in the entire royal family. The only queen in Lycan!" he exclaimed.

He grabbed my collar, his breath spraying across my face. "Catherine, why didn't you do it? All you had to do was kill Delia, and everything would have gone as planned."

"I..." I stared into his cold, golden eyes, but another face appeared in my mind.

It was the face of a weeping woman. Her long, red curls cascaded, covering her tear-filled, black eyes. Her lips were slightly parted, devoid of color, like a fading flower.

"Catherine," the woman in my mind called out softly.

"Answer me!" He tightened his grip around my throat, his eyes radiating a malevolent intent.

I regained my consciousness, and my throat constricted.

Why? It was because I wanted to see you lose everything, my father! I wanted to witness the pain in your face. I wanted to see your lifelong plans fail because of me!

As I gazed into his furious eyes, a mocking smile crept into my heart. Lancaster was already imprisoned, Father. What else could you do?

"Please, don't abandon me. I am willing to accept whatever punishment you give me." I lowered my gaze, concealing my thoughts. I assumed a submissive demeanor, as if confessing my guilt.

"We can no longer stop the wedding between Prince Kral and Delia, but Delia's father has brought some good news." My attitude finally made him satisfied. After a moment of silence, he slowly continued.

"What news?"

"The pack has been taken over by a group of rogues. Their leader appears to possess formidable abilities and is expanding his influence, capturing several pack territories. They defeated Delia's father and sent him to deliver a message to the royal family. At the same time, we received a letter from the Werebear Kingdom, informing us of the death of their queen."

I raised an eyebrow, quickly understanding his meaning.

"Are you saying that Prince Kral needs to engage in a battle?" To be more precise, a dangerous battle.

"No, no, Catherine." He released his grip on my collar, and my father's white robe dragged along the floor, making a faint sound.

"What you need to understand is my second statement." An ominous premonition crept in as William's cold voice continued, "Lancaster must not die. Catherine, since you cannot become the queen, you become the queen of the Werebear instead."

"So, my father, this is your new plan. You are using me as leverage for negotiations with the royal family. The Werebear Kingdom will provide assistance in Prince Kral's war, and Lancaster can be released from prison."

I heard myself uttering these words in a hoarse voice, and my heart sank.

Yes, how could the shrewd Elder William be at a disadvantage?

"Don't hold resentment towards me, Catherine," the dark room's door was pushed open, allowing moonlight to stream in and illuminate Elder William's figure from behind.

"After all, I have given you an opportunity." A gust of wind blew as my father's voice reached my ears. I gazed at the open door and slowly raised my blood-stained fingers.

Moonlight seeped through the gaps, casting its glow upon my face. I closed my eyes slowly. The moonlight tonight was too bright. I felt as though I could never escape this dark corner.

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