Chapter 3

JOHANNA.

With the way my heart pounded in my ears, I was scared the guards could hear it and come after me. In this palace, the guards were as strict as their alpha king.

Once it had to do with following orders and doing their jobs, they knew no rank or title and did what they wanted, so I was certain I'd be dead meat if they eventually set their eyes on me.

“Let's split. We can't have the person spill this secret.” I heard one of them say to the other.

My heart sank into my belly. I gripped the chest of my dress, lips trembling. Leaving was the worst because a slight movement of my body could draw their attention, since their wolves would be too sensitive at this point.

But to think of it, why is such a thing a secret? Were they planning to make it a surprise for me?

Who should I even blame? Ramsey or his ex, Nina?

Seconds passed, and I didn't hear even footsteps again, so I guessed they had left the vicinity. Hoping to use that opportunity and return to the slave quarters, I slowly stood and turned around only to bump into someone.

I slammed my forehead on his chest and a soft wince left my throat as I staggered backwards.

Massaging my forehead, my chest thumping faster, I raised my face only to meet Alpha Ramsey before me. My eyes bulged as I stared back at him, still unable to get hold of my breathing.

A scoff left his lips, “What is a slave doing here?” came his voice, low and domineering. His expression was cold as if I were a stranger to him from the start.

He even called me a ‘slave’ and it tasted so sweet on his lips, huh?

“You forgot what the rules of the palace say? Now what should I do with you?” he folded his arms, striding closer, only for a feminine voice to ring out from behind.

I quickly turned and my eyes landed on Nina.

Just then, Alpha Ramsey shifted backwards and even pulled a more chilly face like he had been scolding me all through. The sudden shift in expression stunned me a bit.

“So you're the one they are searching for?” Nina stated as she hooked her arm around Ramsey. “But, on what authority did you leave the slave quarters whereas you should be resting from the laundry?"

My hut was in the slave quarters, although separated from the main building generally for slaves.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, knowing that she was referring to the guards who had been searching for me.

She turned to Ramsey, wearing a baffled look. “Did you send for her?”

“How could I? I was out to take a stroll when I saw someone hiding. Also shocked to see it's a slave in my domain.” A sinister smile spread across his face.

Nina nodded as if she had gotten what she wanted, “If that's the case, then I'll send back the guards. They know the penalty for such an offence.”

My breathing hitched and my gaze immediately landed on Ramsey, as if expecting him to save my ass even if it was this once. But he casually looked away like I was nothing but someone to trample on.

I tried to mind link him even though we hadn't done that for two years now, and then I found out he had disconnected the mind link too.

What a cruel man I fell for! What happened to being considerate sometimes? At least, I was once Luna, wasn't I?

Nina strode ahead and when she returned, the guards were behind her.

“Take her away. She's the one you're searching for,” she ordered, pointing fingers at me.

I turned to the guards, my gaze pinned on them like a plea.

“Ten lashes and then she should kneel under the snow till dawn,” Nina added, her chin raised in amusement like she was getting the pleasure she always sought from my pains.

Again, I glanced at Ramsey whose looks weren't predictable.

“Take her out. Didn't you hear her?” He scowled at the guards, who for some reason I didn't know seemed to be hesitating.

They bowed to him, “Yes, Alpha.” and then they got hold of my arms.

Pleading before Nina could only result in some sort of mockery that would kill me more. It was Ramsey who I expected to say something, or at least reduce the penalty…but he sided with her like he always does.

The guards had me thrown into the torture room, and the guards there took over instantly.

I heard one of them that brought me whisper something to one of them in the torture room while peeking at my face, and I hoped it was a reduced sentence.

But just as the first guards left, Nina showed up like he knew what they planned.

“Watching you groan painfully could sate my hunger tonight. Don't you think so?” she mocked, taking a seat at the side. “Start the punishments. Ten lashes!” she commanded and crossed her legs.

How could someone dump a lover, then return years later to claim something she didn't strive for? Why wasn't she there to build with Ramsey if she loved him that much?

My arms were tied above my head, and my legs were chained together so I wouldn't move an inch. At that moment, I regretted ever suppressing my lycan, or this would have been nothing to me.

The lashes landed on my back one after the other, sending immense pain upon pain. My body went stiff. I felt the coldness of my blood on my dress.

The guards didn't stop until the ten lashes were done, then they untied me and let my body slump to the floor.

Nina stood up, staring at me with an amused look. “Now, drag her out to kneel under the snow. Next time, you will be more mindful than to break the rules of the palace.” She pulled a face filled with scorn as the guards hurled me from the floor like a sack.

My body had gone limp, useless at that point. I couldn't feel my back any longer. The lash had crossed my belly at certain times, and the fact that I hadn't eaten made things worse.

They dragged me out of the torture room and forced me to kneel in the slave yard… in the middle where everyone could pass by me and do with me what they wanted.

It snowed all night, and I would barely survive it if I caught a cold since my lycan wasn't active.

They tied up my limbs there, leaving me with the cold dress I had on.

“Beauty,” Nina squatted before me and tilted my jaw with her middle finger. “You know, I had always wondered if you were a werewolf or a human, because I could sense you with no wolf no matter how hard I tried.”

I held my sobs. If my father had at least stood by me, I wouldn't be here for any reason.

“Avoiding my gaze isn't the issue. Just pray to live till the next day,” she whispered to me and stood.

I didn't bulge, not even a glance until I sensed I was now alone, then I broke into sobs.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, ones I couldn't even hold back. I didn't know what hurt the most. Was it the lash, or the denial from my mate? The fact that my mate couldn't even at least lessen my punishment was more than cruel.

He wouldn't reject me, nor would he let me go. If only I could get that tape, then I would have no reason to be here again.

The rope tied on my wrist was so tight that it hurt; I knew it would leave me with bruises soon.

‘Goddess, even if it's just now, let him change his mind. He's the only one who has the authority to take me out of here.’ I thought amid tears my chest tightened in frustration.

As if the moon goddess didn't want me dead because I had a long suffering to endure, I felt his aura—the man who couldn't even save my ass before his ex.

For someone whose lycan was inactive, perceiving his scent took a hard time. The easiest way to feel him around was his alpha aura, and that made my body hair stand.

But when I looked around, I couldn't see him…not even a glimpse of him. Was he peeking to see if the guards did as ordered?

A low groan tore through my lips uncontrollably.