02~ A Taste of Pain

SKYLAR'S P*O*V

My heart raced a million beats per minute as I fixed my gaze on Alpha Denver, fully aware that there was no escape from this moment. I had broken the fundamental rules of avoiding beating.

I could feel everyone's gaze fixed on me, and the air was filled with murmuring voices as everyone, including myself, waited for what Alpha Denver's action would be.

"I'm so sorry, Alpha. Please forgive my–"

A hefty slap landed on my face before I finished speaking, resounding all through the hall as tears cascaded down my cheeks.

"You worthless little thing!" He cursed.

I could hear the gasps of the guests, none of them dared to do a thing. "Take her to where she belongs." He commanded and the guards quickly grabbed my both hands, seizing me from struggling.

"No. No. Please, don't take me to the cell. Please, I beg you alpha."

He wasn't looking my way, so he was definitely not paying attention to my plea.

Being locked in the Alpha's cell was a harrowing phase of life, more like a living nightmare. A room for one to think of both his past and current life, with full knowledge of what your fate would be after days of being in a cell.

"Skylar. Skylar." Roselle whispered as she called my name. "Skylar, can you hear me?"

"I'm here, Rose." I said and she traced me with my voice. "Rose, you shouldn't be here."

"I know. For now, no one knows I'm here. Except if that bitch had followed me." She said, moving her eyes in both directions, watching out for the guards.

"Rose, I didn't spill the wine intentionally." I confessed.

"I know, Skylar, I saw what happened. Beta Demi had purposely put his leg for you to tumble."

"How am I going to explain it?" I asked worriedly. "No one is going to believe me." I looked at her, trying to control the flow of tears.

Roselle sighed thoughtfully. "Let's just hope the Alpha King gets over with the anger. Hopefully, tomorrow, he'll order your release."

"I don't like this place, it feels like hell."

"It's better than having you killed. You just have to endure for a little while, I believe Alpha Denver won't let you stay too long." She reassured me. "I have to go now, or someone finds out I am here."

She held my hands, squeezing it gently. "I'll check on you tomorrow morning, I promise."

—

I remained awake throughout the night, contemplating how the following morning would shape my life. Sleep left me, and nature felt distant. The cold here was deep and would definitely freeze me before the next day.

As the morning sun gradually surfaced, I anxiously waited for Roselle to arrive as she had promised. Time seemed to stretch, and I couldn't help but wonder if something had gone wrong due to her prolonged delay.

"Roselle, what's keeping you from coming?"

Or maybe she was caught while trying to leave the cell last night.

"Skylar. Skylar, we've got a problem." I stood from where I'd been sitting, walking towards the cell door to hear what she's got to say.

"What is it?" I questioned, curiously. "Has Alpha Denver agreed to set me free?"

"No, Skylar. He's given orders for the guards to escort you out, and you're facing a punishment of one hundred cane strokes," she revealed.

My heart flew in fear as she revealed those words to me. 

"A hundred cane strokes?" I repeated, my eyes bulged open in shock. "Will I ever survive that?"

"Roselle, I'm scared." I cried, holding her hands. "Please don't let them do this to me." 

"Skylar, I wish I could help but–" the door to the cell opened, with two guards marching in. 

Roselle went to hide in a corner so they wouldn't see her. As the guards swung open the door to my cell, they yanked me out with force, leading me to the customary place where they give out punishment for offenders.

I felt my heart almost leave my chest as soon as my eyes locked into the multitude of people who had come to witness my flogging.

The guards tied my both hands against two poles, and my knees rested on the ground, placing me in a vulnerable position for them to flog me.

Despite my reckless behavior as a princess, I had never experienced such punishment, not even from my own parents.

Today, it's me, facing such fate I never hoped for. Alpha Denver gave them a signal to start.

Agony coursed through my body as the first guard struck me with a cane. The searing pain that accompanied the impact left me practically paralyzed.

I gritted my teeth as the second stroke landed on my back. Beads of sweat streamed from my pores, my heart raced uncontrollably, and I could tell my death was any minute from now.

I refused to beg, fully aware that no amount of tears or please would change Alpha Denver's mind. Being the ruthless and hard hearted Alpha he is, he would definitely not set me free.

The pain reached a point where my back became numb, as if that part of my body had been disconnected. All I could feel was a roll of my blood, dripping down to the ground.

My eyelids grew heavy as life silently slipped away. "Sixty five. Sixty six. Sixty seven. Sixty eight. Sixty nine." My eyes closed with each count they made.

"Seventy!"

"That's enough!" Alpha Denver ordered them to stop.

A glimmer of hope washed over me. As much as I wanted to leave this world for good, I wanted to stay alive.

"Take her out of my sight."

Roselle rushed to me, untying the ropes around my wrist. I fell on her arms, while she gently soothed my face with her hand. 

"It hurts. My back hurts." I whispered, forcing myself to breathe.

"It's over now. It's over. No one is going to flog you again." She reassured me.

My eyes gradually closed, my vision blurred, and my head throbbing with pain. I couldn't fight the heaviness in my eyelids as everything spun.

"Hey. Hey, Skylar, stay with me." She shook my body as she called my name, but I couldn't get my eyes to open. "Skylar, stay awake. Please… stay awake."

Those were the last words I heard before everything went – black.