Chapter 4

ALORA

My mind swirled over everything that Madaline had said. This was to be my last night.

After Beck and Madaline left, I moved toward the bed and fell back. I lean against the wall as a lone tear escapes.

I closed my eyes as an image of my mother filled my head. I needed her. I didn’t know what to do.

Something jumped onto my lap, making my eyes open as I looked at the small ball of fur that looked up at me. “Nala,” I whispered, smoothing her soft fur. “You will have to leave tonight,” I murmured, smoothing her again. Nala moved up and placed her front paws on my shoulders. I tinkled behind her ear.

“I’m supposed to be killed tomorrow,” I whispered.

Another tear escaped.

Nala nudged her head into my face.

“The people who killed my mum,” I whispered. “They want to kill me too.”

Nala moved back and sat on her hind legs. She cocked her head to the side but hissed. I stroked under her chin, making her move her head and purred.

My eyes stayed on her.

There was movement coming from out of the cell. People were talking, and I leaned back against the wall. I closed my eyes and listened to what was being said.

“I can’t believe that all alphas are coming here,” a female voice said. “I’m going to try and get with one of the alpha’s.”

Another girl giggled.

“There are going to be loads of others trying to do the same,” the other said once she calmed down. “But it should be the best party ever for this pack. I can’t believe the alpha will announce the young alpha as the next heir. I mean, he is too young.”

My heart hurt as I didn’t dare to listen anymore.

My father would announce his heir to the alpha position—his son. That explains a lot and why they wanted to kill me. They didn’t want to have any reminder of my mother around, and that was me. With me gone, they had the perfect family and the rightful heir for the position.

The party was for him to be announced as the next alpha, which, if I remember rightly, all alphas had to attend the pack for the ceremony. There will be loads of people here, so no one will come to see me, not even Beck.

My stomach ached due to the lack of food. I have gone days before without food. I bet I wouldn’t be given a last meal before my death.

I let my eyes fall on Nala, who was now snuggled into me. Her warmth helped me keep slightly warm.

Time passed, making it harder to know what time it was. Normally, if Beck was here, I knew it was eight in the evening when he would leave to swap shifts with another. The other one doesn’t come in here, only makes snide remarks to me. Calling me a filthy human or murderer.

The door flew open, and noise from outside flooded in—music. The party was underway.

I move from the bed and move Nala onto the floor, placing the sheet over her. She stuck her head up, but I moved her down when I heard footsteps. “Don’t,” I mouthed.

I stumbled back as two people came into view, which made my stomach drop. Beta Logan and another guard.

Sinister grins appeared on their lips as they stared at me.

“Well, we are going to have some fun,” Beta Logan said, leaning on the gate with his eyes on me. I watched his eyes trailing all the way down my body, sending a shiver right through me.

My stomach dropped. I knew that look. He was going to do something, and it would hurt.

The guard moved back slightly and left, but my eyes stayed on Beta Logan. “I bet you’re wondering what we got planned,” he said, placing the key into the lock and turning it. I heard the dreaded click that indicated that the door was now open.

“Please...” I whispered, which made him chuckle. He opened the door and stood in the doorway. “I love when you beg,” he said with a sadistic smile. “Luna wants you to be comfortable as she’s coming down in a few moments.”

What? My mind raced. She was going to do it now. What about my father?

Beta Logan entered the cell, making me stumble back and walk right into the wall behind me till he stood before me. I felt the coldness and dampness of the wall, which went through my loose clothing.

Beta Logan leaned toward me and sniffed in my scent, a growl escaping his lips. “Pathetic human,” he muttered under his breath. He took a step back and grinned. “You are going to die tomorrow, as Luna said, but she wanted to have some fun before they kill you.”

I said nothing as footsteps came back, and Beta Logan stepped to the side as the guard came into view. He was holding chains. I knew what that meant. I was going to be chained to the wall. But my eyes went to what else the guard held, which only made my stomach tighten—a whip.

My eyes darted back to Beta Logan, who grinned. “You know what to do,” he said. “Turn around.”

Another tear escaped as I did as he asked. There was no point in fighting back, and I wasn’t strong enough to take them on. I was a human to them and a weak one at that. I was a human where they werewolves, wolves who would rip me in two if they had a choice. Sometimes, I wish they would. It has to be a better way to go than all this torture.

Beta Logan stood behind me. He barked orders to the guard when to place the chains onto the wall. Once one was connected to the wall, Beta Logan would put the chain on my wrist tightly and ankle.

I closed my eyes as they chained me to the other side. I felt helpless. I move my head back and look up at the window. I gave up on any prayers.

I heard footsteps clicking more like. “Leave us, Beta Logan,” Madaline said, coming closer and stopping. “The alpha is wondering where you are.”

Beta Logan moved back away from me. “But Luna...” he said, but Madaline growled. “Leave.”

Beta Logan said nothing but moved away. When he got closer, I heard Madaline speak again. “Don’t tell the alpha what I am doing here,” she whispered. “This my fun before tomorrow.”

“Yes, Luna,” Beta Logan said, walking away.

“Luna, should I—” the guard said, but Madaline growled. “You will not leave. I need you to whip her while I watch. I am in my dress. I want my fun tomorrow, but she deserves this.”

“Go and make sure the door to the cell is locked,” she said, stepping closer to me. “I don’t want anyone to hear her scream. We have guests here. Some of them may not like what they see.”

The guard moved away.

“Look at me bitch,” Madaline growled.

Moving my head to look ahead, I turned to face her. I took her in. She was dressed in a fancy dress and looked like someone placed clown makeup on her. She looked horrendous, nothing like a Luna should look.

“I’m doing this,” she growled, placing her hand in my hair and gripping it tightly. “I’m blaming you for everything that is happening to me.”

“What did he—” I whispered, but as soon as I opened my mouth and the words came out, I knew I did wrong. Madaline slammed my head into the wall ahead.

My head pounded hard when it hit the brick wall. I groaned when I felt something trickle down my face and knew right away what it was—blood. Dizziness hits me hard, and I start to see two of Madaline.

“Don’t speak to me,” she growled, pulling my head back and making me look at her. “You’re father thinks I will stand by when he fucks another younger model, causing me pain. I will make him suffer

more and take his precious son away from him. But at the moment, I will take it out on you, and when you die tomorrow, I will make him suffer more.”

My father was back to his old ways, sleeping with other women. Madaline wasn’t fulfilling his needs, it seems.

“I’m ready, Luna,” the guard blurts out. “I can deal with this if you want to go to the party.”

“No,” she said, letting go of my hair with a smile. “I want to see her bleed more. Rip her shirt open; I want you to hit her bearskin.”

I groaned again, which was ignored by them, when I heard the guard come up to me and rip my shirt from the top, making my back exposed to the coldness. I knew I had scars on my back as this was her favorite torture to do on me.

The guard moved back as a lone tear escaped again.

With one movement, I heard the whip crack and slap against my skin, causing me to scream out as the pain radiated hard all over the area he hit.

Another crack of the whip came and another. I felt wetness on my back and knew it was my blood. It ran down my back as he kept going. After the sixth, I was numb to the pain, but my head hurt, making me slump more.

“Okay,” Madaline shouted. “One more for good measure.”

Another whip echoed as it hit my back. I move up with the touch and slouch. I rest my head on the wall ahead. I heard footsteps come closer. “Leave,” Madaline called out to the guard. Whether he left or not was another thing; I felt weak and dizzy.

“This is what you deserve,” she said, gripping my hair and pulling me back to look at her.

Madaline huffed. “What a pathetic little human you are,” she muttered. I slammed my head back into the wall, making me black out.

All I could hear was her cackling before I was sent into complete darkness.

Please, whoever can hear me, let me die.