Victoria whispered in Zayn's ear. Her eyes never left Lily's face as she watched in delight. Every flicker of fear and pain.

"I didn't want to worry you, Zayn," She said with the sweetest voice, "But it was Lily who spilled wine on my dress. That's why I had to change."

Lily widened her eyes in shock, frantically shaking her head as she tried to sign and explain that Victoria was lying.

"She even spilled wine on the dress she loaned from Elder Princess Tilda just to sell her version of events! Accusing me of being the one to do so when she tripped and fell on her own. You have to put her in her place, Zayn," Victoria added fuel to the flames.

'That's not what happened! She's lying to you!" Lily signed desperately.

Zayn narrowed his eyes. He brushed her off in impatience, "Stop with your pathetic hand signs. All you do is lie, Lily Brightpaw. You're just like your father and brother."

Lily's chest tightened. Was this really the Zayn she came to know? The man who had spent nights practicing sign language just to communicate with her now looked at her with nothing but contempt.

He even brought up her father and brother.

"I know a suitable lesson for scum like her," Victoria said as she pressed herself against Zayn's side, her fingers trailing up his arm.

"You do?" Zayn asked as he turned to her. A dark smile formed on his lips as he looked into her eyes.

There was something about their connection. They didn't even need words to know what the other was thinking.

"You've always wanted a threesome, haven't you? Perhaps this is the perfect time."

Victoria's eyes lit up with cruel excitement. "Oh, Zayn, you always know exactly what I want."

Lily's heart sank. Horror washed over her face. She shook her head violently. Her heart pounded in her chest as nightmares she'd buried bubbled to the surface.

Zayn grabbed her wrist, his grip painfully tight. "You don't get to refuse," He hissed.

"You belong to me, Lily Brightpaw. You do as you're told."

Lily struggled against his hold, tears welling in her eyes. This wasn't her Zayn. This wasn't the man who had held her through the night, who had promised to protect her.

Victoria laughed, "Look at her squirm! How pathetic."

Together, they dragged Lily into the bedroom. She fought every step of the way, but Zayn's strength was overwhelming. Once inside, he shoved her onto the bed.

"Strip," Zayn commanded.

Lily remained frozen, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head.

"I said strip!" he roared, his eyes flashing red.

Still, she refused. Annoyed at her defiance, Zayn tore off her clothes. The fabric ripped, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Lily struggled to cover herself, sobs wracking her body.

Victoria approached with a length of rope. "Let's make this more interesting," she purred, handing it to Zayn. "Tie her up."

Zayn grabbed Lily's wrists, binding them together despite her struggles. He pushed her onto the bed, forcing her onto her knees with her back to them. Lily continued to cry silently, her body trembling.

"You'll learn your place," Zayn growled, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Victoria rummaged through a nearby drawer and returned with a leather whip.

"I remember how much you enjoy inflicting pain," she said, handing it to Zayn. Her eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure.

Lily glanced over her shoulder, her tear-streaked face pleading with him to stop. This couldn't be happening. Not from the man who had sworn to protect her, who had held her so tenderly just days ago.

The first crack of the whip against her skin sent white-hot pain shooting through Lily's body. She buried her face in the sheets, begging for it to be over. The pain brought back horrid memories of the past.

The times when she'd been whipped for her father's entertainment. But through the fog of pain and fear, another memory surfaced.

Zayn stood before her, his voice firm as he promised, "I will protect you. No one will ever hurt you again."

The whip cracked again, landing across her shoulder blades. Something shifted in Lily. She bit down hard and forced herself to turn back and look at Zayn. She just had to find a way to reach him.

Their eyes met. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she pleaded with him.

Zayn's eyes widened. Something flickered in his gaze.

Confusion.

Hesitation.

He paused, whip still in hand and raised. But he didn't move.

"Zayn?" Victoria called out to him, but he did not respond.

He froze, expression unreadable.

Lily seized that moment. She realized the ropes around her wrists were loose. She wriggled her hands free and slid off the bed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Victoria hissed as she lunged at Lily.

But Lily dodged her. A surge of courage fueled her movements.

"You bitch!" Victoria yelled as she tried to grab Lily once more.

Again, Lily dodged it. But that wasn't all. Fueled by an unknown force, Lily swung her hand and slapped Victoria across the face. The sound echoed through the quiet room.

Victoria gasped, her hand flying to her cheek. Shock rendered her speechless as she stared at Lily with wide eyes.

Lily stood there, naked and vulnerable but somehow radiating strength. She turned to Zayn, who appeared equally stunned by her defiance.

With trembling hands, she signed, 'This isn't you. You are not the man I love.'

Zayn stood there, unable to speak. Lily's words replayed in his mind. He wasn't supposed to understand sign language, and yet he did. He understood every word Lily signed, and it made his heart ache.

Victoria, on the other hand, had no idea what Lily said. She cursed internally, wishing she had learnt it in the past just to know what Lily was saying.

When she glanced over at Zayn, she realized something shifted inside him.

"Get back here, you little bitch!" Victoria snarled, face contorted with rage.

Lily grabbed what remained of her torn dress and bolted for the door. She ran into the corridor, heart pounding in her chest. Her priority was getting out of there, getting somewhere safe, but Lily could not resist turning back.

Zayn stood motionless. His hands hung limp at his sides. His expression was a mixture of confusion and something else. Something that ignited a small flame of hope in Lily's heart.

Lily didn't stop running. She could hear Victoria's enraged screams echoing down the corridor, growing fainter the further she ran.