When Mercy Dies!

My heart pounded uncontrollably as we went deeper into this unknown destination. What else could I expect? I had heard many sad stories about this miserable pack, and now here I was, being taken to it.

"Ah!" I cried out in pain as a whip lashed against my back.

"Didn't I warn you? You have no right to relax in this vehicle!" the leader barked. He had taken it upon himself to monitor and punish me whenever I tried to rest my head.

Sitting across from me, he held a wire cane in his hand, wore a tiny anklet on his ankle, and had matching clothes that gave him an intimidating look.

I sat upright, my hands tied to my legs, trying my best not to lean anywhere. After a few minutes, the vehicle stopped in front of the biggest pack house I had ever seen. It had massive mansions, an enormous pool, and a crowd larger than I could imagine. My jaw dropped as I stared in awe at the scene. For a moment, I forgot I was here as a captive.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, the leader's harsh voice startled me.

"Get the damn criminal out!" he commanded. Without wasting time, the guards dragged me roughly out of the vehicle, taking me to a large clearing where the pack members had gathered.

"People of the Red Teeth Pack, here comes another sacrifice for the gods!" the leader announced, pushing me to the ground. Did I just heard Sacrifice? Is this their blood moon day? A cold fear rushed through me. Blood moon day it's a day when they kill the captives, sacrificing them to the goddess.

"Unfortunately, she turned out to be the thief of Alpha Matteo's heirloom," the chief guard declared and The crowd erupted in murmurs.

"She looks so innocent!"

"She’s so tiny!"

"How could she waste her beauty by being a thief?"

Their words burned through me, and I bent my head in shame. If the queen mother hadn’t set me up, I'm sure I  wouldn’t be here by now.

I was still busy in my thoughts when the local musicians started doing magic with their instruments. the flute player did wonders with his mouth while the Harp and drums players created melody with their hands. Believe me, I have always loved music but witnessing all these in my bad state is one of the most heart breaking things.

The music stopped as a young man, followed by several guards, stepped into the clearing. His aura was powerful, and his presence made everyone bow their heads in respect.

That must be Alpha Matteo, I thought. I was surprised he was so young, given the terrifying stories I’d heard about him.

He has curly dark brown hair matching the brown eye patch on one of his eyes. News had it that he's just putting it on for a friend's remembrance, while others insisted that he has been putting it on  for fashion. Either way, it added to his cold and intimidating aura.

Without sparing me a glance, he walked to a blood-stained stone at the center of the clearing with some of the guards trailing behind him. "Finally, we have enough souls to waste for the ceremony." he muttered with a bitter grin, slipping out a knife from a guard's belt. 

It was then I realized there were people tied to poles nearby. The thick chains on them split their skin open, making it drip with so much blood.

Without hesitation, Alpha Matteo dragged one of the captives to the stone and, with a swift motion, separated his head from his body. The crowd roared in excitement as the head rolled into a net filled with skulls.

One by one, he executed the captives, and the crowd celebrated, dancing, laughing, and shouting as if death was a game. Even the little ones right there swayed with joy.

My whole body suddenly felt cold. Why were they so cruel, worse than my own pack?

I had heard stories about the Red Teeth Pack, but I never imagined they could be this heartless. No wonder the queen mother sent me here instead of her daughter.

"This is what happens when you go against us!" Alpha Matteo roared. "We kill you like a goat and watch you fall like a weakling!"

The crowd cheered again as he turned his cold eyes to me.

I let out some tears down my face, Imagining my own death. My stomach felt like it had dropped and my breath came to a halt as  Alpha Matteo squatted in front of me, lifting my chin with his blood-stained hand.

"So, you’re the thief of my family’s heirloom? You look too weak for such a crime," he sneered.

"Now, take this  knife and kill one of them. I want you to see how your death would feel." He declared, handing the sharp shiny knife to me. 

I felt  the hairs on my back stood up at once.

Of all the punishments, is for me to kill? I let out every hot tears in my eyes looking at this worst man existing.

"Don't keep me waiting little one" his rough tick tone pulled over.

My legs clapped together and my hands shook in tension as I tighten my grip on the long sharp knife, strolling towards the remaining victims tied on the pole.

I halted at their front shaking profusely. Their pleading eyes reminded me of my late son and the smell of blood hovered everywhere reminded me of the day he was killed.

"Queen mother will definitely pay for this" I muttered underneath my breath in anger, walking back towards Alpha Matteo. 

"I can't do this" I whispered, trembling uncontrollably. His eyes darkened as he stared at me, following a huge silence.

"Oh you can't? Well then, Choose your own type of death. Death by hanging or death by smashing" he asked, staring hard at me.

His words suddenly sent chills down my spine. Although his voice was calm, it carried a promise of pain that made my throat tightened as I struggled to form words.

"Neither," I finally whispered, through a cracked voice.

The scene erupted in low murmurs and luaghter. But Alpha Matteo raised a hand, silencing them instantly.

"Neither?" he echoed, curling his lips into a dangerous smile. "Do you think you have the right to decide? You’re nothing here, little one. Nothing but a little lamb which should be sacrificed at any time.

I stepped back instinctively as he closed the distance between us, his shadow swallowed me whole while his firm grip snatched the knife from my trembling hands.

"If you can’t follow orders, then you’ll serve as an example," he growled, Turning to his guards. "Take her to the Torture room, and increase her purnishment in sevenfolds."

"I'm innocent, it was all done by my step sister!' I shouted but before I could say more, something strange happened, Alpha Matteo suddenly gasped and stumbled back, falling at my feet. His whole body twisted like he was in great pain.