Echoes Of Agony.

Ah! I winced as the 36th stroke of the cane landed on my back, tearing open some wounds with blood dripping freely. From the sounds I made at every stroke, anyone could tell my world had been replaced with agony.

"Huh, you have the guts to stand up to me? Let's see how you handle the consequences!" Queen Mother smirked, ordering the guards to increase my punishment. As if the strokes weren't enough, they added pepper to the canes, making the pain unbearable.

"I didn't do it, ma'am. There's no way I would claim the crime I didn't commit," I cried, wincing as another stroke landed right in the center of my bare back, making me scream loudly.

After throwing me into the cell room, she decided to spare me this time, only if I agreed to confess to a crime I didn’t commit, all to save her daughter.

Few days ago, I overheard them discussing  that Scarlett stole a sacred, ancient golden pendant from Alpha Matteo's bag. A dangerous alpha who came to sign a deal with our pack.

Unfortunately, Matteo found out about his missing hereditary pendant and threatened to destroy the whole of High Feet Pack, if we didn’t find the thief.

Of course, everyone knows he's a man of his words, but Queen Mother forcing me to take the blame and confess in front of the whole pack is something I can’t understand.

I have always followed her orders, but this time, I can’t risk my life for someone like Alpha Matteo.

"You seem to be strong about this, right? I will hurt you where it will hurt the most," she said with a bitter grin, walking around me. The guards had forced me to kneel, ignoring the pain they had already caused me.

I glanced up at her from the corner of my eyes. Queen Mother is dangerous, but what is she planning this time? Before I could think more, I heard the little cry of a baby—the same baby I gave birth to after Queen Mother’s younger brother raped me repeatedly.

I sprang up from my knees, but the guards pushed me back down, trapping me with their legs. "You can't do this, Queen Mother! Please leave my child out of this!" I cried, using every bit of strength I had left. If I had known it would come to this, I would have agreed to her demands earlier.

It took me three days of painful labor to give birth to this child. I was only twenty-one when Queen Mother’s brother visited and stayed for three months. During those three months, he forced himself on me every night, and no one bothered to care. Queen Mother warned me not to tell anyone, and since the pack didn’t like me, she used it as an opportunity to ruin me.

When I finally got pregnant, her brother ran away, leaving me in shame and mockery.

"Aww, the love of a mother. So sweet," she mocked, raising my son with one hand as if he were nothing.

I gasped, staring at the only hope I had in this life. "Queen Mother, please, I’ll do it. I’ll confess, as long as you spare my child," I begged, trembling.

"Guards! Bring the tablet for the video. This will make great evidence," she said with her usual devilish smile, staring straight at me.

I stood in front of the camera, crying and confessing to something I didn’t do. From the video, anyone watching would think I was crying out of guilt, not knowing how much of a victim I had become.

"I’m so sorry, Alpha Damian. I’m ready to face whatever punishment you decide," I said, my voice trembling with fear. I knew how dangerous he was, but at this point, I would do anything to save my child.

After speaking with tears running down my face, I tried rushing to my child, but Queen Mother stopped me halfway with a scuff. "For taking so long to obey me, your child will pay the price."

Before I could react, she pulled the trigger and shot my child. My own child, the only hope I have, was gone in an instant. For a moment, my world stopped. My heart shattered, and my body trembled from the unbearable pain.

I had always known Queen Mother was cruel, but this was beyond anything I could imagine. Killing my child like an animal in front of me?

"I can’t survive this," I mumbled, collapsing to the ground. Memories of everything I had endured flooded my mind, and more tears flowed. If my mother had known these kind of people surrounded her, why didn’t she take me with her? Why did she leave me in their cold hands?

As I cried, rolling on the ground, Queen Mother laughed in mockery. She ordered the guards to dispose of my son’s body, and then squatted in front of me.

"Well, miss, thanks for the evidence. Get ready to meet Alpha Matteo," she said, waving the video in my face before leaving with a smirk.

I wiped the tears streaming down my face and leaned against the thick wall, feeling empty.

Nothing in my life has ever been good, but now it’s worse than ever. I still wonder why the Moon Goddess created someone just to let them suffer their entire life.

As I wept over my cursed existence, the guards grabbed me roughly, lifting me like a sack. They stripped me and poured soapy water over me, making me wince as it burned my wounds. Well, don't be surprised, this was just their usual rough way of giving me a bath as a prisoner.

After what seemed like forever, an old cloth was thrown at me by one of the prison guards. "Queen Mother ordered that you should join the omegas and work at Alpha Kyle's wedding," he said before leaving.

I had almost forgotten—today was my younger brother's wedding. At 22 years old, he was a fulfilled man on the throne, ready to tie the knot with his mate, Laila, whom he had been with for a long time. Unlike me, who had nothing to show for my age, he was doing well for himself.

I let out a sigh and strolled toward the event venue. It was a large clearing where important pack events were held. The moon shone brightly over the scene, and the altar looked grand, made of polished wood with silver decorations and dark red roses scattered around.

After helping the omegas put things in order, my body began to ache uncontrollably from the punishments, starvation, and stress I had endured. I staggered to the dark side of the clearing where no one could see me, wincing in pain. Suddenly, a loud noise jolted me, and I looked up to see Laila arriving in a carriage pulled by black horses.

She walked down the aisle with her blood-red dress flowing behind her. Smiling shyly, she made her way toward Alpha Kyle, who stood in the center of the gathering.

There was no doubt Laila was one of the prettiest women I had ever met, but wickedness was not far from her. I smirked as I looked at her before turning my gaze to the elder standing before them. He held a wooden staff carved with ancient runes and spoke with authority.

“Tonight, under the gaze of the Moon Goddess, we witness the union of Alpha Kyle and Laila. This bond is sacred—not just of love, but of power, loyalty, and trust. Together, they will lead us.”

Kyle stepped forward first, taking Laila’s hands in his. He beamed with a smile, looking like the kindest man in the world, though he was the opposite of that.

"Laila, I vow to protect you, to trust you, and to honor you. My strength is yours, my heart belongs to you, and I will never let the moon set on a day without you knowing how much you mean to me.”

I saw Laila smile softly, wiping away tears threatening to fall. "Go, girl! I'm with you!" Scarlett shouted from the crowd, standing beside her smiling Queen Mother.

"Kyle, you are my anchor, my shield, and the wild strength I never knew I needed. I vow to match your fire with my own, to protect this pack as fiercely as you do, and to love you until the moon no longer rises. Be my Alpha, my mate, and the rhythm of my soul."

Their words left a lasting impression, calming the audience. Soon, the elder came forward, holding a silver chalice for the blood bond. Kyle picked up the ceremonial dagger and cut his palm, letting his blood drip into the chalice without breaking eye contact with Laila. She did the same, and the elder raised the chalice toward the moon, chanting in an ancient tongue.

"Now it’s time for the—" The elder’s words were suddenly cut short by the sound of a gunshot. He collapsed into a pool of his own blood and Everyone gasped trembling in fear. Another shot followed, then another, and eight more souls fell to the ground in an instant.

"Alpha Matteo's men are here!" someone whispered, and a cold shiver ran down my spine "The pendant!" I trembled in fear.

As I crouched low, praying to the Moon Goddess to save me this time, three guards suddenly grabbed me like a thin bag, dragging me roughly toward their feet.