Chapter 3

In my previous life, though Kay and Lia's relationship existed, it was never so public. In front of pack members, Kay still maintained a respectful facade toward me as his Luna.

Now, however, they barely hid their affair at all.

No wonder that after just two or three days, the entire pack was whispering about them.

As I thought about my past life, my gaze turned cold.

After becoming Kay's mate, Stormfang Pack's power and wealth had grown rapidly, eventually elevating us to a position among the top five strongest packs in northern territories.

The elders were highly pleased with me, calling me the pack's guardian spirit.

Even though Kay remained cold toward me, their approval provided a false sense of warmth.

But when I actually witnessed Kay and Lia together in secret, and realized that every pack member—including those same elders who praised me—was helping cover it up for him...

All my illusions were shattered.

My father entered my room to inform me that Eli would soon be finishing his border patrol and returning to the pack's central zone.

My hands stilled. I gave no response.

He looked like he wad to say more, but ultimately just sighed and left.

I don't believe my father in my past life was completely unaware of Kay and Lia's relationship.

But he never warned me. Lia was my stepmother's daughter. After my biological mother passed away and my stepmother joined our family with Lia, my father stopped showing me affection. Everything I had was expected to be sacrificed for Lia's benefit.

Even becoming the Luna of Stormfang Pack made no difference.

The elders may have appreciated my capabilities, but they didn't care for me deeply.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have silently condoned Kay's behavior.

Only Eli was different from anyone else in the entire Stormfang Pack.

In my past life, he eventually left the pack, settling abroad and never choosing a mate.

My memories of him are few.

I just remember how he often extended a helping hand when I was in difficulty, and would even confront Kay directly, demanding he show me the respect I deserved.

So this time, I chose him.

I figured he had to be better than a complete stranger.

Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for this proposal.

As the pack's most brilliant strategist and team commander, I couldn't imagine he would accept such a sudden proposal to bind.

But things went more smoothly than I expected.

According to Pack elders Eli only paused for a moment before accepting the elders' arrangement to bind with me.

The next day, a sharp alarm howl shattered the peace. The southern border's defensive barrier had been forcefully torn open, and a fierce pack of rogue wolves surged into our territory like a black tide.

The chaos lasted for most of the night. When dawn arrived, it had driven away the darkness and the intruders, leaving only devastation. Several border watchtowers were destroyed, three Delta warriors were seriously injured, and the stockpile of moonstone energy had been completely plundered.

The atmosphere in the pack hall was heavy. The old Alpha sat at the head of the table, his face ashen. Kay stood in the center, reporting the situation.

"...we responded in time and repelled the intruders. But the rogues chose a precise breakthrough point. They bypassed all our regular patrol routes and directly attacked our weakest logistical supply line." Kay's voice was thick with suppressed anger. His gaze swept across the crowd before settling on me. "I believe our border defense deployment map was leaked."

My heart sank. That new defense plan I had stayed up all night revising, the one I was preparing to give Eli as a bonding gift...

"The defense deployment map has always been the responsibility of the Strategic Planning Division to update and secure," an elder said gravely. "Ella, I believe the latest revisions were led by you?"

All eyes in the hall turned to me. I stepped forward, about to explain about the stolen map, but timidly, Lia stepped out from behind Kay.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if terrified, her voice trembling. "I'm... I'm sorry... it might be my fault..." She sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "A few days ago, I saw how hard Ella was working and wanted to help her organize her files... I might have accidentally mixed the discarded drafts with the official documents and threw them out... I didn't know they were so important... I really didn't mean to..."

She cried prettily, her body swaying as if about to collapse. Kay immediately supported her, his gaze turning to me with icy accusation.

"Discarded drafts?" Kay scoffed. "Lia, this isn't your fault. Someone lacks responsibility, leaving important documents carelessly, causing this kind of oversight." He turned to the old Alpha and the council of elders. "Father and elders, I believe Ella bears irreparable responsibility for this invasion! Her negligence caused the pack to suffer heavy losses!"

"That's not what happened!" I retorted immediately, my voice sharp with anger. "The complete defense plan was stolen from my tactical room! I have surveillance footage as proof!"

"Stolen?" Kay sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Ella, when you make a mistake, own it. Shifting blame to some imaginary 'thief' and even slandering an innocent omega like Lia—is this the responsibility you show as a future Luna?"

"I'm telling the truth!" I clenched my fists, trying to stay calm. "Kay, why are you afraid to let me present the evidence? Or do you know deep down who's lying, who secretly pulled all southern patrol forces away, leaving the border defenseless and giving the rogues their opportunity?!"

I stared hard at Kay. From the fragmented information I'd pieced together from the minds of the injured Delta warriors, just two hours before the rogue invasion, Kay had urgently redeployed most of the southern border patrols to the northern Misty Forest to search for Lia's lost pet dog.

Kay's expression changed instantly, his eyes flashing with panic, but it was quickly replaced by deeper anger. "Ella! Are you questioning my command decisions?! I had my reasons for moving the troops! This is about holding you accountable for your negligence that led to the map leak! Stop trying to change the subject!"

Lia cried even louder, clinging tightly to Kay's arm. "Kay, don't argue with me over this... it's all my fault. If I hadn't touched Ella's files, if my puppy hadn't gotten lost... none of this would have happened... wuwu..."

The old Alpha rubbed his temples, his face showing fatigue and impatience. "Enough! The invasion has happened. Our priority now is to recover our losses and strengthen our defenses, not to point fingers at each other!" He looked at Kay, then at me, and finally settled his gaze on Kay. "Kay, as the pack heir, you also handled this situation improperly."

Kay lowered his head. "Yes, Father. I accept my punishment." But he immediately looked up, pointing at me. "However, Ella's negligence must also be punished! Otherwise, it won't satisfy the pack! I suggest stripping her of her access to core tactical planning and sentencing her to the silver whip, as an example!"

The silver whip! That was a whip laced with silver threads, excruciatingly painful to wolves, like burning the soul. It would severely delay wound healing and could even leave permanent scars and energy damage. Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd.

The old Alpha was silent for a moment before waving his hand. "Ella's supervision was lax. Punishment: twenty lashes of the silver whip. Kay's command was improper. Punishment: three days of confinement. This matter is closed!"

"Twenty? Too light!" Kay suddenly exclaimed, agitated. He stepped forward, his eyes fanatical and wild. "Her negligence almost led to our core territory being breached! At least a hundred lashes! And it must be done publicly! Let her remember this lesson! How can she ever bear the responsibility of Luna if that doesn't teach her a lesson!"

The hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned by Kay's brutality. Even several elders frowned deeply.

Looking at his son emotionally out of control , the old Alpha finally closed his eyes wearily. "...Very well. A lashes. To be carried out immediately."

My heart turned instantly ice-cold, as if immersed in the depths of a northern frost.

I watched Kay, watched his face contort with anger and some twisted possessiveness. He wasn't just punishing so-called "negligence." He was venting my "betrayal," using the cruelest method to remind me who was in control.

I didn't argue anymore. In the face of absolute power and prejudice, any words would be futile.

I was taken to a stone pillar in the center of the pack plaza. Rough ropes bound my wrists. Kay himself picked up the whip, gleaming with a cold silver light.

"Ella, this is what you deserve," he said in a low voice, his expression complicated, but with more of a morbid sense of satisfaction.

The first lash fell.

"Ugh—!" The searing pain shot through my entire body, every nerve feeling as if it were being burned by silver fire. My wolf form howled within me, desperate to break free.

The second, third...

The whip tore through my clothes, tearing my skin, leaving charred marks. I could smell the scent of burning flesh, feel the warm blood flowing down my back. I bit my lip tightly, not allowing myself to cry out, my nails digging into my palms until they bled.

Kay's whipping carried a vengeful ferocity. As he struck, he announced to the watching pack members, "All of you, look closely! This is the fate of those who are negligent and try to shift blame! Stormfang Pack doesn't need members like her!"

Lia stood not far away, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as if crying, but I could see a flash of satisfaction in her eyes.

Twenty lashes, thirty lashes... My consciousness began to fade, my vision blurred by sweat and blood. The pain became numb, replaced by a coldness that penetrated my bones.

Fifty lashes... sixty lashes...

I was back in my last life, the moment I was pushed toward the rogue wolves. The same helplessness, the same feeling of being abandoned.

Seventy lashes... eighty lashes...

The gazes of the surrounding pack members—sympathetic, fearful, indifferent—none of it mattered. No one spoke, no one tried to stop.

My father and stepmother stood at the back of the crowd, avoiding my eyes.

Ninety lashes... a hundred lashes...

When the final lash fell, I nearly collapsed, held up only by the ropes. My back was a mangled mess of flesh, the burning pain from the silver poisoning feeling like countless needles persistently stabbing.

Kay threw the whip down and walked over to me. His breathing was a bit ragged too. He looked at my miserable state, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his eyes before it was covered by ice. "Remember this lesson, Ella." He paused, then added, his voice for me alone to hear, "...As long as you come back to me, everything can still be made right."

He's threatening me. He can't let go of his beloved Lia, and at the same time, he can't let go of my bloodline and my ability. How selfish and greedy he is!

I didn't have the strength to answer, not even the energy to look at him.

The punishment wasn't over. Kay ordered the Gamma guards to bind me to the punishment pillar until nightfall. The noon sun beat down on my wounds, the silver poisoning acting more intensely under the sunlight, wave after wave of pain threatening to make me faint. Sweat trickled into my wounds, bringing a fresh round of agony.

After nightfall, the ropes were released, and I collapsed to the ground like a rag doll. No one came forward to help, no healer approached. Kay's orders were clear—let me face the consequences on my own.