4. I will not bow

Kathleen's POV

Pain. Humiliation. Betrayal. Hatred. Helplessness. Anguish.

All these feelings combined can't even describe how I am feeling at the moment.

Looking ahead, I kept running, changing back into my human form.

I don't know how long it has been since I've been running. Was it an hour? Two hours? I don't know. All I know is that I had never felt so helpless in my whole life. They took away the only hope of my happiness from me without a care.

Can I still be the luna? What is the use of this title if I can’t have the love of the person I loved the most?

"Why did this happen to me, moon goddess? You took away my mom from me, then you took away my dad. Drake was my only hope for survival, and now you took him too? What did I ever do to you?" I cried in anguish as I fell to the ground, realizing I was in front of my parent’s graves.

"Dad, you only wanted Drake to take over the alpha position because you thought everyone would challenge an alpha female, and it would weaken the pack.

Are you happy now? If I would've been the alpha right now, I would've ordered him to reject his mate. But I was never enough because I was a female, no? Are you happy seeing me shattered like this?" I asked while looking at the sky.

Closing my eyes, I bit my lips as I felt like my heart was slowly breaking into pieces I will never be able to collect. I was bleeding without any wounds.

My throat felt clogged, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach, making it hard for me to breathe. I was becoming anxious.

All the possibilities about the future felt like they were erased by someone.

"Kathleen, where are you? It's been more than an hour since you left. Liv has finally gained consciousness," I heard Sylvia's worried voice through the mind link.

Running straight towards the hospital, I felt contemplated when I didn't see Drake there.

However, I didn’t have to think for long as Liv turned to me and smiled.

"Look, who's here? The almighty Luna woods. But, are you really a Luna anymore? I mean, as far as I remember, Drake is the alpha now, and he has chosen me. So I am Luna here, right?" Liv scoffed, her gaze not wavering from me even for a second.

Drake said she was an omega, but judging from her energy, she was definitely not an omega.

"Why are you doing all this? Would you be really happy being called a second woman all her life? Drake has married me. So no matter what you do or are, I will always be his first one," I tried to reason with her.

It was a sick move.

Honestly, the Kathleen when her parents were alive would've never done that. I am sure of it. Begging and reasoning with the person who took away my happiness?

I know I was stooping low now, but I didn’t have any choice. I was at my wit's end right now. I wanted to do anything I could to save my relationship.

"Why are you acting like this, Luna woods? I know you think‌ I came between you and Drake, but don't you think you are wrong? I am his fated mate. He is supposed to be with me for eternity. You were the one who has come between us. You are the third person between us, the second woman, and in local language, the names slut, and a housewrecker," She said, and crystal growled inside me, her words feeling like a slap on my face.

"How dare you provoke me like this!" I growled at her, and she whimpered at my voice.

"Please don't act like this, Luna woods. You are scaring me now. I am sure my mate, the alpha of this pack won't like it. I don't want you to get humiliated in front of your pack again," She said in her lotus voice, and before I could understand what was happening, she suddenly tore off the bandages on her wrists, making me widen my eyes.

What is she doing?

"Luna woods, please don't do this to me. I am sorry. I wanted to die myself, but I failed. Please, for the sake of the alpha of the pack, don't do this. It's hurting. If you want to kill me, just do it. Don’t torture me like this," Liv fell to her knees before hiting her head on the ground and scratching her arms, making me look at her in horror.

Why was she doing all this? What was this all about? Is she mad or -

My thoughts were interrupted when Drake opened the door with a loud bang, and before I could do anything, she tugged my hair, making me swat her away, the pressure being a bit too intense as she fell a few feet away from me.

"Liv!" He shouted before looking at me accusingly.

"You crossed your limits, Kathleen woods!" Drake growled at me as his eyes glowered, representing his wolf.

This can’t be a coincidence. She framed me!

"Drake, I didn't do anything. She is nothing like you think she is. It’s all her plans. She isn’t even an omega. I bet she is tricking you by acting pitiful. Believe me, she did it -"

"Oh, cut it out! I knew you were competitive, but I didn't know you could be this cruel, Kathleen," Drake seethed at me.

Taking my hand in his, he pulled me all over to the hall where everyone had been since earlier, and he threw me in the center, making me snarl as people took a step away from me.

"Your Luna woods today crossed her limits and attacked a member of the pack without any physical provocation from the member. I am sure everyone knows what the punishment is for it," Drake said, and I froze.

"Guards! Circle her so that she doesn't run away. I am the alpha of the pack, and I don't want people to think that people close to me can get away even after breaking rules," Drake said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Punishment. How hard his heart has gotten against me ‌for him to mention punishment so easily?

"I just didn't reject my mate, and I don't see why there is such a fuss about it. Luna Woods here tried to kill the alpha's mate today. I am still willing to let her go with this if she apologizes to my mate. And if she isn't willing to apologize, then as per the rules of the pack, she will be whipped 20 times," Drake said, and I looked at him in mere amazement.

Is he the same guy who used to tell me he would never let someone even touch me? Is he the same guy to whom I gave my seven years of youth?

"Does anyone have any objections?" Drake asked everyone, and to my utmost horror, all the pack members that I thought were my family, took a step back, not saying anything.

This was my pack, but they have accepted Drake just like that? Have they forgotten who I am? Just because I am a female, I am being ridiculed like this?

"You must be out of your mind, Drake! Kathleen is your wife. You broke the agreement by not rejecting your mate, yet you expect her to accept your mate and respect her?

Didn't you know about these things earlier? Or is it because you were eyeing the position of the alpha of the pack that you waited till the wedding before showing your true colors?" Sylvia growled, and I froze when I realized how accurate her words sounded.

"Sylvia Turner! Whether I waited or I conspired, I am still your alpha. I won't think twice about snapping your neck if you talked to me like that again," Drake said, and I looked at him, feeling more and more shocked.

"Sylvia, stay out of this," I said to Sylvia.

The man I loved is against me. The pack that belonged to me is against me, so what do I even have to fight for? Sylvia is pregnant. I don't want her to stress and harm her baby because of me.

I noticed how everyone was looking at me as if waiting for my answer, and I smiled.

'What do you think, Caris?' I asked her, and she sighed weakly.

'You know my answer. It's the same as yours,’ She said, and I nodded.

"I, Kathleen woods, the daughter of kate and Mark woods, have never bowed down in front of anyone, and I will not apologize for a mistake I didn't even commit. Make it 50, the whips. However, neither Alpha Drake nor any of his people should touch me,” I said, looking at all the pack members, who bowed their heads in shame.

"Kathleen, don't be so hard on yourself," Sylvia cried as she hugged me, and I shook my head.

"Cody! Do it!" I said, and he whimpered before pleading with me with his eyes, my hard stare, making him nod dejectedly.

"Cody! No! You can't do that to my sister! Cody! I will forever hate you if that stick even touched her skin," Sylvia cried as she held his legs, and I looked at her, feeling pity taking over me.

I looked into Drake's eyes, his quivering eyes, making me smile.

I and my wolf have never bowed to anyone, but I was ready to make an exception today to save our relationship, but judging from the look in Drake's eyes, this relationship isn't worth saving.

"Start! One!" I growled, and as soon as I said that, I felt a piercing pain in my back when the stick hit me, making me take a sharp breath.

"Again! Two!" I growled as he hit me again.

"No!" Sylvia shouted as she struggled against Sasha and Maria.

Ten.

Twenty- one.

"Kathleen, don't be so hard on yourself. Just apologize to Liv, and we are even," Drake said, and I scoffed as I touched my back, my wolf whimpering when I saw a little blood on my hand.

‘It’s just a little blood, Caris. I can bear it,’ I told her before closing my eyes as I tried my hardest to control my tears from falling.

"What are you waiting for? Continue! Twenty- two!" I growled at Cody.

"Cody, I will forever hate you!" Sylvia growled, and I sighed before closing my eyes as I opened them again and looked at Drake.

Thirty-five.

Forty.

Forty-nine.

Fifty!

Growling in pain, I fell forward before supporting myself on my hands and panting heavily.

"Leave me!" Sylvia growled threateningly, and I looked at Sasha and Maria before nodding as Sylvia rushed and slid in front of me, hugging me as she cried, making my eyes brim with tears as I felt pain all over my body.

My body was aching all over, but more than that, my heart was in pain.

"If Uncle Mark and Luna Kate would've been here, you would've never felt this justice," Sylvia said as she looked at Drake's father, who fisted his hands, and I shook my head at her.

He probably knew everything and chose to make an exception. It was useless talking about it now. The damage was done.

"Stop

it," I said to her before smiling, feeling less hateful toward myself now.