Chapter 4 Public Humiliation

Aurora's POV

The Donald family built everything they had on money, power and resources.

Their wealth bought them respect, alliances, and a polished image that impressed the entire werewolf world.

But me? I had nothing. No money, no title, and no protection.

Yet somehow, I was still blamed for not being proper enough, for not being generous enough, for not being good enough.

Even after all this time, I still didn't understand why they brought me back.

They had never truly wanted me here. My only role was to serve as a contrast, to stand beside Helen and make her shine even brighter.

She was the cherished one. The daughter they claimed with pride. And I was the shadow standing quietly in the background.

There was a time when this used to hurt me deeply. When their coldness, their injustice, their obvious favoritism left me broken inside.

But not anymore.

After everything I had endured, I no longer cared. Their opinions, their judgment, none of it held power over me now.

I thought back to five years ago. That was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life. The moment I finally thought I would be accepted.

My acceptance letter from Harvard University had arrived, and for the first time, I believed they might be proud of me.

But instead, they had thrown a grand banquet to celebrate Helen's eighteenth birthday .

The party was massive. The Alpha families from every corner of the country were invited.

Celebrities, politicians, high-ranking pack members, all gathered under the glittering lights to praise Donald Helen.

I still remember her standing on that stage, wearing a delicate crown on her head, smiling sweetly as she stood between Alpha Frank and Luna Melissa. Like a princess receiving her kingdom.

And me? I wasn't even allowed to stay long enough to see the celebration end. I was the ugly duckling of the family.

That night, I was taken away by the police in front of all their guests.

I still saw their shocked faces as I was handcuffed, as the whispers spread like wildfire.

Instead of starting my college life, I spent the next five years of what should have been my brightest years locked inside a psychiatric hospital.

The soft murmur of the crowd rippled as I stepped into the hall.

"Who is that?" someone whispered near the entrance.

"That's not Helen, is it?" another voice followed, slightly puzzled.

A few more heads turned, eyes narrowing, trying to place me.

And here I was again, standing under the same bright lights as the Donald family hosted yet another banquet.

Only this time, I wasn't a student with big dreams. I was the broken daughter they tried to hide.

My hair was short, uneven from where it had been hacked away during my time in the hospital.

My skin still had faint bruises and scars, some from restraints, others from rough handling.

Even after bathing, I still felt the cold trace of the hospital on me, as if its presence clung to my skin no matter how clean I was.

As soon as I stepped into the hall, the air shifted.

The guests fell silent for a moment, eyes locking on me. Then came the whispers. Quiet at first, but spreading quickly like wildfire.

An older woman nearby glanced at me with wide eyes. She had just been making small talk with someone but froze as she recognized me.

"Is that... Aurora?" she whispered.

"She used to be a dancer, you know," another voice said softly. "She was a good dancer, very good moves then, she was famous for it."

"But now... now she's a lunatic," someone else whispered.

And then, the real cruelty began.

"Word is she slept around with the inmates in that mental hospital. Not just mentally unstable, but probably infected too."

"She has AIDS," another voice said, barely hiding their disgust. "She's not just sick in the head, she's diseased."

The words wrapped around the room like poison, and soon many of the guests were looking away, stepping back from me, their faces twisting with discomfort.

My eyes swept the room, landing on Alpha Frank and Luna Melissa standing near the front.

Their faces showed a flicker of surprise at my appearance, my short hair, the old dress, the scars, the faint hospital smell I couldn't fully wash away.

But the shock didn't last long.

Quickly, it was replaced by embarrassment and irritation. They glanced around nervously, noticing how the guests were reacting.

I had overheard the old Alpha once speak of how they had hesitated to bring me back at all.

As I stepped further into the banquet hall, my eyes swept across the sea of faces. Alphas, Betas, Elders, and countless guests staring.

For a moment, it didn't feel like a welcome party.

It felt like I had been brought here just to stand under their judgment, as if every flaw I carried was being put on display under these lights.

A surge of bitterness welled in my chest. I didn't want to continue standing here for them. My feet shifted, ready to turn away.

But Keith stepped forward, blocking my movement gently.

His hand reached out, not forceful, but firm enough to stop me. His voice lowered, "Come," he said, forcing a tight smile as he motioned toward the stage. "It's okay."

He wasn't trying to hurt me. But he was still selfish, always more concerned about keeping up appearances than seeing what I was feeling inside.

I paused for a second, then started walking toward the stage. Every step felt heavy, but I kept my head up.

Once I reached the stage, I tried to move closer to Alpha Frank and Luna Melissa.

But the moment I stepped closer, I saw both of them subtly lean away. Their bodies stiffened, their faces growing even colder.

And around us, the guests shifted uncomfortably, as though simply being near me might infect them.

Keith frowned deeply. His voice steadied, laced with irritation. "Aurora, if you have AIDS, you should think of the family and inform us in advance."

The room went even quieter, the weight of his words hanging heavily over us.

I felt my chest tighten but forced my voice to remain calm. "I've been tested. I don't have the disease."

Keith narrowed his eyes as if still not believing me. Without hesitating, he activated his mental link to the family's pack doctor, summoning him instantly.

Moments later, the doctor appeared at the side of the stage. He bowed slightly toward Keith and spoke directly to him.

"Alpha Keith, I can confirm that she does not have AIDS," the doctor said. "All medical tests have come back negative."

Keith nodded slowly but didn't apologize or even glance at me.

Instead, he turned back toward the crowd, giving a small nod as if settling the matter.

The guests relaxed, though many still kept their distance, their eyes filled with disgust they didn't even try to hide.

I stood there, alone under the bright lights, fully exposed.

But inside, I felt nothing. Just emptiness. The girl who once hoped for their acceptance was gone.