Chapter 4

Marietta’s Pov

Pain.

Deep, excruciating pain.

It was the first thing I felt when I woke up.

The pain was a throbbing ache that pulse through my skull like a child had cracked it open and glued it back together with baby hands.

I winced, forcing my eyes open, which was a terrible idea.

A blinding light stabbed through my skull, making my head pounded even harder.

Oh my freaking God.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a shaky breath.

My body felt… so wrong. 

My wrist ached, my arms were stiff, and there was a dull sting at the back of my head. 

And where the hell was I?

I threw my eyes open again, this time slower, and warm, yellow, lights flooded my vision. 

Only the light wasn't from the sun. 

It was from the torches flickering against stone walls — cracked, worn, and ominously, damp walls.

I stiffened and a strange smell hit me next.

Sweat. 

Blood.

Mold.

Oh, that was never a good combination.

I tried to sit up, but a rattling sound pierced through my brain. 

I couldn't move my hands. They were chained behind my back. 

What the — 

Panic shot through me like a lightning bolt. 

My breathing quickened as I struggled against the chains binding my wrists, but they wouldn't budge. 

Okay.

Don't panic.

Assess the situation.

Where are you?

I was in a cold, dark room. No, it was a cell. The iron bar in front of me confirmed that. 

I wasn't alone.

Someone —

Something was here.

A shadow moved beyond the bars and my breath got caught in my throat.

The shadow stepped forward and I realized how handsome this stranger was.

HE was tall.

Intimidating.

His broad shoulders cast a long shadow on the cold, stone floor. His hair was a wild mess of black strands, falling past his shoulders. His sharp jawline and high cheekbones could have belonged to a Greek god.

And his eyes.

Goddess, his eyes were piercing red, like fresh blood swirling in a glass. 

Everything. I mean absolutely everything about him screamed danger. 

I swallowed hard. “W — Who are you?”

The stranger tilted his head, studying me with an unsettling smirk. “I should be the one asking that question, little wolf.” 

Little wolf.

I frowned. “I —”

“Are you a spy?” He cut me off, his voice sharp.

A spy?

Was he serious? 

I barely had friends, let alone the ability to infiltrate… wherever the hell this was.

I blinked. “What? No! I don't even know… where I am.

His face darkened. “Liar!” 

“No. No, I'm not lying!” I panicked.

The man sighed, rubbing his temples like I was giving him a headache. “Tsk. You wolves are always so stubborn.”

Wolves?

So he wasn't part of my pack or any pack at all.

Well, no shit, Marietta. You got kidnapped by rogues.

I shook my head. “Look, I don't know what you're talking about, but I was just trying to go home when —”

He raised a hand, silencing me. “Enough! Since you don't want to confess… I'll have no choice but to make you.” 

His tone sent a shiver down my spine.

“Soldiers!” He called out, his voice echoing through the room.

Two figures stepped in, large and hulkling, their faces covered in shadows.

“Yes, sir.” They chorused in hoarse voices.

The black haired man turned to me. “Whip her until she talks.”

My. Heart. Stopped. 

“W-What?” I gasped. 

The two men grabbed me before I could react. 

“Let me go!” I thrashed and screamed, but it was useless. My hands were chained and my body was exhausted. They yanked me forward and forced me on my knees. 

“Wait!” Panic clawed at my throat. “I told you — I'm not a spy.”

“Then prove it.”

A sharp, burning pain exploded across my back.

And 

I 

Screamed.

The whip tore through my dress, biting into my skin, and my body jolted forward but the soldiers held me in place. 

“Confess!” The dark-haired man ordered.

Tears burned my eyes and I choked a sob. “I don't know… I swear… I don't know anything. Please, stop..”

Another lash came and my breath hitched. The pain was worse than anything I'd ever felt. It felt like my flesh was peeled, piece by freaking piece.

I begged.

I cried.

I screamed.

Over.

And over.

And over.

Until I lost count.

Each strike sent fresh waves of pain and agony through me. My dress clung to my skin, soaked with blood, sweat and tears.

The world around me blurred and the worst was, this man just watched like I was some kind of entertainment.

How could someone so beautiful be such a monster? 

It was as though he read my mind and gestured to the soldiers. The whipping stopped and my body trembled. 

For a long moment, silence was the only thing I heard.

Then, he crouched down beside me. “You're either very brave or very stupid.” 

I didn't have the strength to respond. 

“You have until dawn,” he murmured. “If you still refuse to talk, I'll do something much… much… worse.”

He turned on his heels and walked , his footsteps echoing in the dark room.

The soldiers released me, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Moments later, I was dragged into a dark, damp cell like a ragdoll and shoved inside like a discarded cloth. 

The door slammed shut and the lock clicked, the echo reminding me of my dire situation.

I was alone again.

I curled up on the cold, stone floor, my back screaming in pain, my tears soaking the dirt beneath me.

What had I done to deserve this?

I had spent my entire life suffering. Suffering under my father's hatred, my pack's cruelty and Hunter's rejection.

And now this?

The Goddess must hate me.

A shaky laugh escaped my lips even thoug

h there was nothing funny about my situation.

I told myself that if I ever got out of here alive, I was going to find the Moon Goddess and punch her in the face.

Until then, I cried myself to sleep.