Punished

*TRIGGER WARNING* To sensitive readers, please mind that this and the following chapter contain descriptions of violence, physical abuse, and humiliation.

ARIA

The members of my pack were still standing in a circle, silently looking at Alpha Kestrel with fear in their eyes. It became obvious that most of them were forced to come here and watch my punishment, and it wasn't my brother who had given that command. Of course, the Blood Shadow Alpha didn't come alone. Kestrel took his own warriors, more than twenty of them. They stood in two lines on standby. I bet that each of those hulk-like men could take down more than twenty of ours. Let's face it, if Alpha Kestrel decided to skin me alive, no one would have the power to stop him. If Alpha Kestrel wanted to take over our pack, he would only have to snap his fingers.

The man standing in front of me formed his mouth into a disgusting grin. His eyes, heavy-coated with madness, wandered up and down my body. I was standing before him barefoot with nothing but a cloth, resembling a potato sack, that was barely enough to cover my buttocks. I could sense his arousal, which only made me feel sicker and sicker as I looked at him. He grabbed one strand of my hair and stared at it as if he was looking at pure gold or diamonds.

"She is the true Seymour family heir." Alpha Kestrel's words made my dumb brother stomp forward.

Blaze called out, frowning, "She is not. I am the head—"

"It was NOT a question," Kestrel hissed before turning toward my brother and sending him the most spiteful glare l had ever seen.

My brother whimpered, crushed by Kestrel's dark aura. There was no doubt that I had just become a monster's toy. Even if my wolf snarled angrily, motivating me to fight, I was too petrified to move a finger.

The black-bearded beast leaned over me, his hands stroking my silver hair. "I used to hear a lot of legends about the Seymour family. I heard that the true heir is blessed with resilience and is immune to silver. I was always curious to find out whether those legends are true or not. Are you really immune to silver, my dear?" he asked, locking his eyes on mine.

I swallowed hard. My mouth opened slowly. "I'm no—"

"Let's test that theory, shall we?" The cold snicker hiding in the tone of his voice froze the air in my lungs. He ran his fingers through my cheek and down my neck. "I have my favorite whip with me. I use it to discipline those who belong to me. I want to test whether you survive if I soak the leather weave of it in liquid silver. How many whippings can you endure?" His face twisted with vicious excitement.

I shook my head since this was the only response I was able to give him. I was beyond terrified. Hot tears seared my eyes. The adrenaline buzzed in my veins. My heart hammered painfully against my chest as if it was giving me a taste of a heart attack. I had always been proud, but at that moment, I could shove my pride away and kneel down before that monster. But I knew he wouldn't care about my plea, and my desperation would only encourage him to hurt me more…

Two of Kestrel's warriors brought a timber pole and stuck it in the ground. A minute later, my hands were tied around it in front of me. Another warrior ripped the cloth off, leaving me standing completely naked. I cried as I hugged the wood, desperate to cover even one part of my body, but the humiliation I felt was merely a harmless interlude…

When I glanced back over my shoulder, I saw Kestrel standing behind me with a whip and a large container. He smirked at me and dipped the leather rope in the metallic liquid.

"Oh, Goddess, please save me..." I muttered under my breath while my whole body trembled in horror.

I heard that silver could severely burn a werewolf's skin, but it was a hundred times worse when it got in contact with one's blood. Once silver ions started to circulate in the wolves' veins, it drove them to insanity, making them tear their own flesh in madness—the worst pain imaginable. I also heard that the one fortunate thing about silver was that it could kill quickly... But what if someone was immune to silver's deadly effect? I touched silver once or twice before, and each time it hurt like hell. Even if I truly was immune to silver in some way, it certainly didn't make the contact with it less painful.

I looked at my brother. He was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, barely glimpsing my way as if the sight of me naked and disgraced made him uncomfortable. Unlike him, his Beta, Jack, kept his eyes on me all the time, clearly enjoying the state I was in. Fucking bastard.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I heard a few snickers coming from Kestrel's warriors, and then a chuckle from the monster himself. As the first whip shot came, it forced the air out of my lungs. A second later, the searing pain in my back forced me to scream. I dug my fingernails into the wood of the pole, fighting against the fire slowly igniting within me. The warriors started to laugh, my pain fueling their excitement. Another whip tore my shoulder and the side of my ribs. I cried out in agony. More silver leaked into my wounds and the heat inside me became unbearable. I was bleeding severely and sweating from the inner fire. My wolf let out a soft whimper, and I knew she suffered just as much as I did. I prayed for anything that could lessen the agony…

"Please… anyone…" I mumbled, looking around at the blank faces of my pack members. No one even moved.

The next shot made me fall to my knees, hugging the timber pole as if it could save me from suffering. The pain was slowly taking away my consciousness. The hellish flames penetrated my insides, licking me, itching me, leading me to madness. I kept screaming my lungs out and writhing as if I was trying to shake off the pain. Perhaps I should be grateful to those who tied my hands because I would have scratched off half of my skin otherwise.

After three more whips, the pain didn't feel any worse. I wasn't sure whether it was because I had gotten used to it or because I was dying. The sight of my agonized body must have become less entertaining since I vaguely saw my brother and a few others throwing up. I wished I could lose my awareness completely, but I didn't. I ran out of tears. The screams violated my throat enough for me to lose my voice forever.

"Fascinating..." I heard Kestrel mutter as he suddenly stopped the torture. "The way you are healing… This is beautiful!" he exclaimed and laughed.

I had no strength within me, but I could feel the heat within me becoming less painful. I was leaning my whole body weight against the pole, kneeling in an odd position with my back arched and my tied hands dropped limply on the ground. Kestrel walked closer and touched one of my open wounds. A hoarse sound broke through my exhausted vocal cords as he increased the excruciating pain with his fingers. At that moment, I prayed to the Moon Goddess for justice. I wanted him to taste the same cruelty he had caused me. Sick bastard.

He burst into deep, devilish laughter. "I will let you heal tonight, my little silver wonder," he whispered to my ear before turning to his warriors. "Take her back to her cell."

His warriors untied my hands and then jerked my arms up to put me on my feet. My mouth opened in a silent scream as the pain from straightening my back pierced through my body once more. I glanced at my brother; he looked like he was about to faint. My only consolation was that when I looked at Jack, he was no longer smiling. I even noticed horrification in his eyes. I smirked inwardly. I must have looked really bad, but at least it wiped the grin off that asshole's face.

The crowd in the courtyard, restrained by Alpha Kestrel's aura, stood as quietly as before. Only their faces had become paler. I had no idea how many lashes I had taken. I lost count after twenty-something. I hoped they were enjoying the show because I was paying for the protection of the pack's special business, whatever it was. Bunch of fucking, spineless cowards! The pack was supposed to protect its members, not sacrifice them. The feeling of an overwhelming betrayal hurt me equally as strongly as my agonizing wounds.

I took a few wobbly steps as I was dragged by two of Kestrel's warriors when the monster himself called out. "Rest well, little wolf. We will continue our test tomorrow."

I shook my head faintly and screamed in my mind while hearing his laugh behind my back. A single tear, the last one I could shed, streamed down my mortified face. I wanted to die.