07

“W… Where am I? Where’s Rachel?” Her voice was weak, and her face pale. She had just woken up from a deep coma. She’s been comatose for the past two weeks.

The maid who was cleaning her body widened her eyes in shock. “Avery? You’re awake.” She asked, dropping the towel and bowl on the other side of the bed, and helping her sit up.

“Dahlia? Why are you the one cleaning me up? How long have I been unconscious?” Avery asked, coughing slightly.

“You shouldn’t stress yourself or say anything. You were heavily poisoned, and the poison has just been detoxified, and you’re yet to recover.” Dahlia told her.

Ignoring her, Avery inquired. “Where is Rachel? How is she?”

“I advise you to stop talking about the Alpha’s slave. Just focus on getting yourself better.” She replied, rather scornfully.

Avery’s eyes grew in curiosity. Dahlia’s reply alone shows her that something was actually happening to me. I’m not surprised… She cares about me the most. Even though she was originally from the Silver Crust Pack and just like Alpha Kyle and the rest, she was brought to the Dark clad pack as a slave.

However, she was an orphan. Being brought to the Pack, I liked her because she was of the same age bracket with me, so my father let her serve me as my personal maid. Instead of a maid, she became the sister that I never had. We became practically inseparable, and I never treated her like a slave.

“Rachel… Please tell me what is going on. How is Rachel? Is she okay?” Avery asked anxiously.

Taking a deep breath, Dahlia unwillingly responded. “She’s probably getting her punishment by now.”

“Punishment?” Avery's eyes grew wider. “What punishment? What’s going on?”

“I don’t get you, Avery. You sound so concerned and passionate about that heartless Alpha’s daughter. Have you forgotten what we went through in the hands of that cruel Alpha Dane? Have you forgotten how we were tortured and starved? We lost our fellows all because of her father’s callousness. Now that we’ve regained our freedom, why should we give an f about his daughter? She should pay for what we went through.” Dahlia sounded so furious.

“No!” Avery shook her head in disagreement. “Rachel is nothing like her father. She doesn’t deserve this. She was so kind to us.”

“That’s too late, Avery. She’s the Alpha’s slave now. Moreover, she’ll be stepping on poisoned nails today as punishment for trying to escape.” Dahlia snorted.

Upon hearing that, Avery’s mouth dropped in astonishment as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Immediately, she yanked the blanket off her body, taking off the drip syringe from my hand. “She won’t be able to take that. She will die.”

“Avery… wait. She’s an Alpha’s daughter, and she’s already 18. Her wolf will heal her.” Dahlia tried to stop her.

“Hell, no! She has no wolf.” Avery cried out, limping out of the room.

Meanwhile, two bodyguards led me into the hall where the Alpha, Beta, and the pack members were already waiting. My hands were still chained to my back.

My eyes caught with the wooden surface that has nails all over it. I could see the gray substance on the nails… it was obviously poisoned. Undoubtedly, the poison on the surface of the nails was wolfs-bane.

The moment we got closer, the bodyguards pushed me and I fell to my knees, facing the Alpha’s cold eyes.

I saw how they glared at me scornfully with resentment, and I don’t blame them. I just hope that my death will bring them the justice they yearn for.

Imelda was sitting beside the beta, and her eyes were beaming with excitement. They all wanted me dead.

“Slave, are you sure you would rather not beg your Alpha?” Alpha Kyle asked in the most mocking voice I’ve ever heard.

“No, Alpha Kyle.” I sternly replied.

His face countenance became even colder than it was. I’d rather embrace death than plead with Kyle for mercy.

“Guards! Untie her hands and let the slave walk on the nails, now.” Kyle’s roared.

“Yes, Alpha.”

They hurriedly untied me, and I was led closer to the nail surface. Tears were already clouding my eyes, but I have to face my fate.

“Moon goddess, I pray that my death pacifies the souls of those that my father has caused harm to. If my death can bring Kyle and his pack members out of their misery, then I gratefully accept my fate.” I thought to myself.

Fearlessly, I stepped into the nail, and groaned in intense pain. Blood was already gushing out, but this is just the beginning.

“Why did you stop? Do you want to force? Proceed! You’ll walk on these nails for an hour.” Kyle ordered me.

Shutting my eyes, I continued. The more I stepped on the nails, the more blood kept gushing out of my foot.

It hurts so much. The pain was much worse than expected. It was barely 10 minutes, and I’m feeling this much pain.

Imelda was smiling in contentment. I bet this was the best thing that has happened to her today. On the other hand, Alpha Kyle’s face was expressionless. He clenched his fist at every step I took. At this point, I was already feeling weak, but I kept going, and bleeding.

Rhoda, who sat beside the Alpha, tapped his shoulder. “Alpha, something doesn’t seem right. Look at her, she’s looking so weak. She might die.”

“No way, Rhoda. Have you forgotten that she’s an Alpha’s daughter? Her wolf will heal her.”

The more I stepped on the nails, the more I felt life leaving me. I was trying hard to hold myself. I stepped on the nail again, and yelled in agony. “Kyle…” I called out as I kept stepping on the nails.

Rhoda couldn’t take it anymore, she rushed to Alpha Kyle, and pleaded. “Please, tell her to stop, Alpha. She’s not healing.”

“Why should she stop, Rhoda? She’s not even halfway done with her punishment, and she’s been told to stop?” Imelda snapped at her.

“She's going to die if she doesn’t heal.” Rhoda replied.

“So what if she dies? Our Pack members died too, but does her father care about that?” Imelda countered, and they started murmuring.

My vision was already becoming blurry. I couldn’t hold on anymore, so I passed out.

“Is she faking it? She’s an Alpha’s daughter. She can’t just pass out.” Alpha Kyle thought to himself.

“My Alpha, the slave passed out. Should we help her to continue?” The bodyguards asked anxiously.

“What’s that useless question for? Of course, she’s yet to complete her punishment. Help her up and make sure she continues stepping on the nails until it’s an…” Imelda was still talking when Avery rushed in and bent over to me.

“Please, Alpha Kyle. Have pity on Rachel. She can’t take any more of it.” Avery begged.

Scoffing in disbelief, Imelda fired at her. “Seems you’ve forgotten who you are, Avery. You come from Silver Crust, they made you a slave.”

“Shut up, Imelda. Rachel’s entire life shattered. She just went through hell, now this?” Avery cried out.

“Her life shattered? Of course not, our lives shattered, Avery. Our lives became hell when Dark Clad attacked Silver Crust and made us their f****** slaves, you hear me?” Imelda yelled at her.

“Keep quiet. I’m not like you guys. I can’t hurt Rachel. You had families, but I had none. She took me in, treated me like a sister. What the hell have you guys ever done for me?” Avery glared at her.

“Enough! Avery, I will spare you because you’re a member of my pack. Step aside, let Rachel complete her punishment.” Alpha Kyle growled at her.

Shaking her head in disagreement, tears streamed down her cheeks. “No please, Alpha. She’ll die. She has no wolf.”

“What?”