The first test

ELARA'S POV

I heard the sound of my cell door opening again, it never ended nicely whenever my cell door was opened.

I had started getting used to expecting pain whenever I heard it being opened, maybe today would be different, I thought to myself.

There was a guard standing there with a light and he said to me "You. Up".

I tried standing up as carefully as I could because my whole body ached from Yvette's assault.

I stood on my feet and my legs trembled, but I knew I had to be strong or it would even be worse. The guard turned and started walking, I walked behind him and tried to keep up to his pace.

"Please. How long have I been here?" I was hoping he would reply to me because he was the one that brought me bread and water daily. 

I didn't hear a word from him for a few moments.

"A week," he said. I guessed rightly then, he had given me food for 6 days, it was hard to keep track of time in the dungeon, it was underground and morning or night didn't make a difference.

He walked briskly and I lagged behind and then we eventually got out of the dungeon and we went out through the back entrance of the pack.

We kept walking for a few minutes and then he stopped. I felt relieved because I wasn't sure how much longer I could walk.

"Here, you have been ordered by the Alpha to transport these rocks from here to there" he said, pointing at the other end of the pack house.

I thought to myself "that's the whole other end of the pack house, how will I do this?"

"But...I can't do this, I wouldn't be able to do this..please" I didn't even know why I was begging, I knew my pleas would not be heard.

I knew this was a punishment from the Alpha, but I physically couldn't do this, there were a ton of rocks and the distance was so long to cover. 

"Failure to complete everything by nightfall and you will be whipped 20 times" he said strictly, before walking off.

What the hell? I physically couldn't do that, I was never too strong, I could clean and wash for as long as I could, but I doubt I would even be able to lift these rocks. 

I shed tears again, this was becoming too much, I knew it wasn't necessary but the Alpha just wanted to punish me, for what? For being his mate?

I had cried so much these past few days my eyes hurt.

I couldn't do this, but I had to try, I had been whipped before and I really didn't want to relive it.

It was a few years ago, I stole bread from the kitchen and I was caught, I was whipped just 5 times and I couldn't walk for days after that, the scars were still on my back. I was treated once a day, because they didn't want to lose the cleaner of the pack, it was hell for me. I shuddered at the thought.

I decided it would be best to try and move them rather than get whipped. So I got to work.

I walked closer to the pile of rocks and noticed some were smaller than the others, I decided to start with the small ones, there were no tools to work with, only my bare hands.

I took one look at the pile again and bent down to try and lift one of the smaller rocks, it didn't budge, I tried again and after a while, after straining every muscle in my body, I finally lifted it and held it close to my body, I slowly pulled my legs and walked to the place I was to carry them to. 

It took me a few minutes, and when I made it there, I was panting and out of breath. 

I felt someone looking at me and then I turned back and saw the Alpha in the distance, I stared at him for a while, thinking of how cruel he was and then I decided to get back to work.

I took my eyes off him and when I looked back, he was no longer there. "Even better" I muttered to myself. But other people still had waited around, watching me, this was public humiliation.

I made it back to where the pile of rocks were and I bent to pick up another rock.

Rock after rock, walk after walk, hours had gone down, I hadn't been given food or water and the pile of rocks still stood tall, daunting.

I couldn't move my legs anymore, my arms were heavy and it was almost dark. I knew I wouldn't be able to get it done today.

"I shouldn't have even tried" I said, tears started falling again. I was getting sick and tired of crying every damn time.

I just stood there, motionless, I knew I couldn't finish before time, so I resigned to my fate.

As tears fell, my knees fell to the ground and then the fear of the whipping started creeping in.

A guard walked up to me and said "you will be flogged if you fail to complete this task"

I had no words, I knelt there crying helplessly. I know I had tried my best and I tried to numb myself.

After a few moments, another guard came and picked me up. I was carried to where I would be flogged, my hands and legs were tied to a large rock I hugged.

I had been numb the whole process, wondering and thinking.

Then I heard the whoosh of the whip, slicing through the air.

Whack!!

It came down hard and unforgiving on my skin, I could feel my skin break, every bit of numbness I had fled away, I could feel everything, every nail on the whip, the coldness and hotness of the whip.

My eyes widened in desperation and I started struggling against the ropes.

"No...no please" I screamed, that was just the first whip, I had 19 more to go.

The second one came, even more unforgiving than the second.

I screamed for my life, every fiber in my body burned.

Then came the third, the fourth, up until the 10th and I knew I couldn't take it anymore.

 

I had lost the strength to scream, I raised my head and saw people looking at me, some of them had pitiful looks on their faces. I saw the Alpha in the distance, looking at me, expressionless.

I couldn't move, I couldn't say a word, I could only cry and my eyes hurt now.

The next whip came down on my back, and the minute I felt it, the same minute I blacked out.