Chapter 12 The drive home is an unending torment, my heart pounding in my chest as my thoughts spiral into the darkest recesses of my mind. I wonder what will happen next. I wonder if Xandros will kill me or cast me aside like a worthless object. I can only pray for the latter. The tension in the limo is suffocating, and I feel as if I'm trapped in a nightmare I can't escape, no matter how hard I try. The castle lights come into view as the driver turns on the never-ending driveway, trees lining each side as the pebbles crackle under the car's weight as we pass through the tall iron gates. When we finally arrive at the castle, Xandros hops out of the car, leaving me to sit there, trembling uncontrollably. He leans back in and growls, his voice dripping with venom, "Get out of the car, Sienna." I whimper and flinch at the sound of his voice, my entire body trembling with fear. "Get out!" he screams, his fury echoing through the air like a thunderclap as his fist comes down on the roof of the limo, denting the steel. Guards rush out of the doors, followed by his mother, Queen Adina, and father, King Rehan. As if this night couldn't get any worse, now I will be forced to face the woman whose sister was brutally murdered by my parents. "Xandros, what is going on?" his mother asks, panic tainting her voice. His mother stands near the car door wearing a pair of silky pajamas and her hair is in curlers. She looks like a normal woman and not the regal queen she is used to being seen as. Despite the panic in her voice, her posture is still tall and proud, and her eyes are still sharp, taking in what's going on. "Nothing, Mother. Go inside," he tells her. His mother glances into the car and sees me bleeding, her lips parting in shock at my face which I know must be a mess of tears and blood. "Xandros!" she scolds, moving toward the door. He grabs her arm with a snarl. "I said to go inside," he growls, his aura crackling around him like a storm. His father gets in his face, his voice raised in anger. "You dare speak to your mother like that!" Xandros growls right back at him, his eyes blazing with fury. It is impossible to deny the uncanny resemblance he shares with his father, though his father is far older, despite still looking only in his forties. Lycans age far slower, and I know the man is at least from the medieval days, though his age I can't be sure of. His father, however, resembles a Viking king, his face angry, tough, his demeanor much the same as he challenges his son. "Then get your wife inside because speaking is far from what I feel like doing right now, Father," he warns. King Rehan wears blue plaid pajamas. His red robe falls to the ground behind him when Carina saunters out, a smug smile on her face. Her slim figure accentuated by her short, silky slip pajamas. The thin fabric clings to her body, her nipples hard beneath it, giving her a seductive aura. Her dark hair cascading down her back, her smokey eye, and her full lips make her look dangerously gorgeous despite the bed clothes she is wearing. "Looks to me like Xandros just found out about his little mate's true identity. Bet you're glad I didn't sign those divorce papers now, right, Xandros?" she mocks, her voice a seductive purr. "What is going on?" his mother demands, her eyes darting between Xandros and Carina. "Nothing! Inside. I will come to see you in a minute," he snarls at her before turning his gaze to Carina. "You knew?" he accuses, his voice filled with betrayal. "Of course I knew who she was. You forget whose family executed them! She smells exactly like her mother! I should know; I've tasted her, though I wonder if her daughter tastes as bitter as that bitch did!" Carina sneers, her words cutting through me like a knife. "Sienna, out now!" Xandros commands, and I obey, my legs trembling as I step out of the car. He seizes my arm, and his mother asks, "Wait, who's her mother?" she asks, looking at her son, but it is Carina who is all too eager to tell her. "Rosaline Draven," Carina tells her, her voice dripping with disdain. My blood runs cold as the weight of her words settles over me. I swallow hard as Queen Adina turns slowly to look at me with shock. "Draven?" she stutters, her eyes wide with disbelief. She looks to her son, searching for confirmation. Xandros clenches his teeth, his jaw tight with anger. Adina's gaze turns murderous as it settles on me. Her hand whips out faster than I can track, her claws raking down my face. Her claws slice through my flesh like razors. Blood spurts everywhere, coating me in the warm, coppery liquid. I cry out, my face burning as I clutch it, while Xandros just stands there, his expression unreadable. Javier looks away, his face a mask of something I can't decipher, and King Rehan looks on in shock. Carina's smug smile widens as she folds her arms across her chest, pushing her breasts up. "Put her in the fucking dungeons," Queen Adina snarls before storming off into the castle. Instantly, guards step forward and grab me, their grips like iron bands wrapping around my arms. I struggle in their hold, their grips are like shackles, tight and unrelenting, only growing stronger the more I struggle. "No, please! I didn't do anything," I beg. My cries fall on deaf ears and Carina smiles smugly like she just won some prize I wasn't aware we were competing for. I cry out at their bone crushing grips, my vision tainted by the blood getting in my eyes as I panic. More guards race forward to seize me, their grip like iron on my battered body as they grab my legs. I stare at Xandros. Desperation etched on my face and is audible in my voice. "Xandros, please, I am your mate," I beg, my voice trembling. "I can't have a traitor as a mate," he says. His voice is cold and detached as if our bond means nothing to him. He looks away, his expression unreadable. My heart shatters into a thousand pieces at his dismissal and I stop fighting, knowing it's pointless. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My eyes dart to Carina, who saunters over to Xandros, looping her arm through his. I take one last look at Xandros before turning away. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I take a deep breath. "Come, love, let's clean you up," she purrs at him, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Xandros shrugs Carina off and storms off inside, abandoning me at the mercy of the guards. They drag me around the side of the castle to a massive concrete building hidden among the dark, foreboding forest. The forest is dark and oppressive, with thick trees that block out most of the moonlight. The guards are gruff and unsympathetic, their grips bruising my arms as they drag me along. My feet can barely keep up, and my shoes are lost in the process. I can feel my toes scraping against the rough ground when I trip, landing on my hip, yet they don't stop, not even giving me a chance to get back to my feet, instead dragging me harshly across the landscape. Each movement sends a sharp pain through my body. Despite my struggles, the guards hold me firmly, not allowing me to escape. As I approach the dungeons, I am filled with a sense of dread. The air is heavy and still, the trees looming over me like silent sentinels. The entrance to the dungeons is a heavy, iron door, and the windows are barred. The walls are thick and made of cold, gray stone, and the only light comes from a few torches flickering in the darkness. It is a haunting and domineering sight, and my heart sinks at the thought of being trapped within its walls. They open a huge metal door that leads to a set of stairs. I see nothing, only darkness as we descend the stairs, my feet aching from the cold, which only gets worse the deeper we get. The place is freezing, like I've been chucked inside a freezer. The dungeons are filthy, the air damp and heavy with the scent of mold and whatever other excrement; a sewer would smell more appealing than this place. They drag me down the stairs, their grip unyielding, and chuck me into a cell with a small window. This is the only source of light in this bleak, lonely place. The window is so high I can only see outside if I stand on my tiptoes, straining my neck to catch a glimpse of the world outside, not that the world out there offers anything to me-it never has. The guards lock me in, their laughter echoing off the walls as they leave. I realize with a pang of despair there isn't even a bed in the cell-nothing but a cold, grime-covered concrete floor and a filthy toilet in the corner. There are cobwebs and spiders in every corner, and the sound of rats scurrying around is ever-present. The walls are stained with blood, the shackles and chains hanging in the cell across from me are a reminder of the horrors that await me if I dare to attempt to escape. I huddle against the damp stone wall, trying to warm myself. However, the dungeon chill seeps into my bones, and I can't stop shivering. As I sit there in the darkness, my thoughts race with fear and despair. I can't believe Xandros, my mate, abandoned me so easily. Was our bond truly worth nothing to him? I wonder what will happen to me now, locked away in this cold, dark cell. Will I be left here to rot, forgotten and alone? Or will they decide I am too dangerous to be left alive? Tears stream down my face as I contemplate my fate. All I can do is wait and hope for the best while knowing there will be no best outcome. I close my eyes, taking in a shaky breath. Tears fill my eyes, and I can't hold them back any longer. As they stream down my face, I realize I am truly on my own, left to face the consequences of a past I was never a part of. The pain in my chest is a constant ache, a reminder of Xandros's careless dismissal. The darkness of the cell presses in on me, suffocating me with its oppressive weight-the cold seeps into my very soul, chilling me to the core. I hear the howls of wild wolves in the forest, and the taunting laughter of the guards who stand outside the small barred window serving as a haunting reminder of the fate that could await me. I clench my fists, and the pain grounds me as I try to regather myself, knowing my crying is only bringing the guards outside something to mock me further for. My heart races, and I feel my face flush as I try to regain my composure and focus on the present. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. For a moment, I'm able to forget the pain as I focus on my breathing and the smoke clouds that fill the air with each breath. Title: "Twists of Fate: Embracing Family Ties with Three Powerful Brothers" Author: CrushReel Genre: Billionaire, CEO, Sweet Romance, Modern, Romantic, Office, Drama Status: ongoing Embarking on the path to marriage, she faced a sudden heartbreak as her fiancé called it quits. Amidst the shattered dreams, a surprising revelation awaited at her engagement celebration. Three influential brothers unveiled her true identity as their long-lost sister, reshaping her world in unexpected ways. Navigating through the complexities of newfound family connections and the opulence of their high-stakes world, she grapples with the essence of wealth beyond material possessions. As bonds of blood intertwine with the allure of power and love, she finds herself at a crossroads where loyalty, ambition, and affection collide in a captivating dance of emotions. Set against the backdrop of ambition-driven CEOs and the tender nuances of modern romance, this tale weaves together themes of self-discovery, familial bonds, and the intricate dynamics of office politics. With each chapter unraveling layers of secrets and desires, readers are drawn into a narrative that blends drama with heartfelt moments of connection. Distinguished by its blend of sweet romance and compelling drama, "Twists of Fate" offers a unique perspective on love, ambition, and the transformative power of family ties. Available to read at CrushReel for those seeking a captivating journey through the intertwined lives of three powerful brothers and the sister they never knew they had.