Chapter eight

[Avira]

Beta Maverick did not return from the Alpha's quarters until about two hours later. I had finished making lunch, eaten to my fill and after waiting for the Beta for over an hour, I went to my room. The big pot filled with herbs was steaming on the fire, the Beta's lunch was ready, and only needed to be heated when he returned so I climbed into my bed for a quick nap.

For a long time, sleep did not come, and just when I eventually began to feel sleepy, the Beta returned, and as it was his usual routine, he began to scream my name from the spot which marked the beginning of his quarters.

"Avira!" Beta Maverick called the third time, and I made a growling sound, although it was low because the Beta's voice sounded from right outside my window now, and I couldn't dare let him hear me growl.

I rolled out of bed rather reluctantly, and staggered towards the door, wishing I could be allowed to take a nap without any disturbance. My destination was the kitchen, to fetch from the steaming pot of herbs. It was pointless going to the Beta first when I knew what he wanted at the moment.

It was past five in the evening, and Beta Maverick was yet to have lunch or his herbs. The other members may be too scared to admit it but the Alpha Demian was a no good dictator. He could have sent the Beta back to his quarters earlier than he did since the Beta was without food but as expected, he didn't, instead the meeting had lasted for an hour more than it was supposed to last for.

I fetched herb water from the steaming pot and headed for Beta Maverick whom I was sure would be sitting on his rocking chair by now.

From the distance, I saw him on the rocking chair, lost in thoughts. My guess was right after all. I approached him with caution so as not to startle him. I was feeling too good to do anything stupid that would earn me a good whip. Besides if the stranger was right about feeling my pain, I didn't want him feeling sympathetic towards me.

The Beta rose up so suddenly as I got close to him, startling me so much that I lost grip of the cup which I held, causing it to drop from my hands to the ground. Slowly, I looked from the cup which luckily did not break, to the Beta, and when our eyes met, his was fiery, filled with anger and hate. My wolf whimpered inside me in fear. I know that face. This can't be good.

"I brought you the herb water." I said in a shaky voice, hoping that would calm him even though I didn't think it would. Worse still, the herb water had poured.

"And you had to stupidly startle me, and made a waste and a mess." Beta Maverick stated, his eyes flashed angrily at me. I wanted to answer in the negative because I didn't startle him but I knew better than making a single sound in defense of an accusation whether I was wrongly accused or not.

Beta Maverick headed inside, and I knew what was coming, and braced up for it. He soon came out, bearing a whip, but not the one with thorns, I noted with relief.

"Strip," he commanded when he came to me, and I stepped out of my clothes till I was left with nothing on me.

Once he lifted the whip, I tightened my muscles, clenched my teeth, and shut my eyes, waiting for the pain which I knew was coming. All my effort to avoid getting whipped had only got me to this, and now if the stranger's words were true, he would look at me with too much pity come tomorrow night.

But there was no impact, Beta Maverick did not lower the whip, and I was afraid of releasing my muscles and letting go of my teeth which were clenched.

Slowly I opened my eyes when I began to hear retreating footsteps. He was heading back inside with the whip in his hand.

My jaw dropped!

He sure didn't change his mind about getting me whipped, only with what. As I expected, he came back with a different whip, one with thorns and my wolf whimpered inside me in fear. She was not alone. I too was just as scared of the pain that was coming, and most especially of my inability to heal quickly. My healing ability could only be used once a day, and the ache in my stomach had been cured already with it, now I'll have to suffer till when my healing ability returned tomorrow.

"You were lucky this morning," Beta Maverick said, brandishing the whip before me. "But you won't be so lucky now." He added, raising the whip above his shoulders. I trembled violently just as my wolf whimpered in the most pitiful way I have heard her whimper in a long while. Clenching my teeth or tightening my muscles wouldn't do any good this time but I did them anyways. Whatever would minimize the effect of the pain.

"Argghh!" I screamed once the whip landed on my bare back, and curled around me. Mercilessly, Beta Maverick pulled at it with force, and I could hear and feel my skin come off with the thorns on the whip.

There was no way I could have stopped myself from screaming, not with a pain so great.

But Beta Maverick wasn't done. He raised the whip above his shoulders once more, and lowered it with the same amount of force. It landed on my right shoulder this time while the end of the whip clung to the lower part of my left shoulder.

I tightened my eyes even more when the Beta again pulled the whip roughly off my skin. I did not scream this time, I was in too much pain to scream. Tears only flowed nonstop from my eyes. Hot, painful tears.

I had released my hold on my muscles and teeth since the first whip was delivered, and I couldn't tell if there was any difference between the first hit and the second.

I waited for the next hit with my eyes close but it wasn't forth coming. I waited, and waited, afraid to open my eyes for fear of what I might see.

When I eventually opened my eyes some long minutes later, the Beta was gone, and so was the whip.

I laid on the ground, panting heavily in pain. I couldn't see my back but my right shoulder was wounded and there were droplets of blood from the wound down to the ground.