Chapter 5

I FLINCHED EVERY time the whip came down against my back. My back was already covered in blood, but I don't care. My urge to escape was stronger than the pain I am feeling.

"Fuck! You really want to be punished, huh?" I could hear tiredness in his voice as he continued to slap the whip on my back.

I bit my lower lip and fought the urge to cry. I could heal my wounds later once he gets out, and I would be okay.

"Damn you, bitch! Who do you think you are to disobey me?" His heavy breathing didn't escape my ears, and I know, it was caused by anger and tiredness combined.

I fought so hard to stay awake, and because I already expected this pain, it didn't hurt as much as it did the first time I experienced being whipped by him.

"Take your clothes off!"

This. This was the reason why I was confident to go through this mess for the second time. He only wants me to take my clothes off after he's done whipping me, so I don’t have to worry about my flawless back before he whipped me. I was thankful he thought about that. If not, then I would be doomed.

He would find out my healing abilities, and I don't want that to happen.

With trembling fingers, I held the hem of my dress and pulled it over me. I could see that the back part of my dress is already covered in red. It was badly torn.

It was already covered in my blood.

My wounds throb in pain and I almost let out a hiss when my sweat seeped in. Damn it!

"I did this." He traced my back using his index finger with no gentleness at all, making me flinch in pain. His nail dug into my scars, opening them even more. Fuck! I promise this is the last time! No more torture after this!

He removed his finger from my back and his fingers "Remember this, you little bitch. I did this to you, and this will serve as a reminder of your disobedience to your Alpha."

Despite the pain that I am feeling, I almost rolled my eyes heavenward because of the arrogance that I hear in his voice.

Blah blah blah. Reminder? I already healed the marks you cruelly put on me. Reminder where?

If only I could talk back to this Alpha, I really would. But for now, I need to be submissive to him and keep my dominance out of the way.

"Don't you dare pass out here in my room! You must leave or drag yourself to hell before I come back. I don't want to see your shitty face!"

Oh, you really won't because I'm not coming back! And I'm already in hell, you fucking jerk!

I bit my lips to keep those words to myself. I could hear his heavy footsteps walking away from me. When the door opened and closed, my heart almost leaped out of my ribcage because of joy. This is it!

I stuck my right cheek to the floor and closed my eyes, feeling the vibration of his receding footsteps and making sure that he already left.

"Such a genius move, Samara, but you could have gotten us killed!"

"But we didn't. So it's not that bad to take some risks."

I closed my eyes and tried to feel the sharp pain my wound had created. I absorbed all the pain and took it all as I imagined my wounds closing slowly and washing the pain away. Moments later, my back was healed as if I wasn't tortured and I regained my strength.

"Sick."

I smiled at Samara's words and didn't waste any chance to put my dress on. I didn't mind the fact that it was soaked in my own blood.

We need to get out of here.

I looked to the other side and saw the bed. The bed was in the middle of the room, and so is the door as far as I remember.

I got up on all fours and crawled under the bed. My heart is pounding as if it wants to get out of my ribcage so badly. Excitement rushed through my veins as I saw the wooden sliding door.

"Here it is, Amaris."

I heard Amaris take a deep breath as if preparing herself for what might happen, but I can also sense her excitement.

I slid the door to the other side and it opened, revealing a metal ladder. We fucking did it!

I chuckled at the sight of the ladder and didn't waste any chance. I held the floor and changed my position. The contact of my body sliding against the marble floor created a sharp sound. My feet are on the side of the wooden door just right above the first step of the ladder.

I stepped on the ladder and slowly descended. I could hear nothing but the sound of my heartbeat and my own breath. Fuck. We can do this.

As I go further, the room of the Alpha is starting to get lost in my vision and is covered by the ladder instead. I looked up and using my palm, I closed the sliding wooden door before taking the last four steps of the ladder.

"You did it, Samara!"

"No! We did it!"

As much as I wanted to giggle, I stopped myself, afraid my voice would echo in the tunnel and someone might hear. Maybe, this tunnel has some vents or such. I need to be careful.

I looked at the tunnel in front of me. The ceiling was just right, enough for me not to suffocate. It was dark here, and there was no light. I don't know what will await me at the end of this, but I'm ready.

Taking a deep breath, I began to walk toward the darkness and let it swallow me whole. The tunnel was really dark, and I couldn't see the floor I was stepping on. From what I have seen on the map, we just have to walk straight and we will get to the other side.

I stretched my right arm to the other side and felt the wall of the tunnel. Based on its texture, I can say that it is made out of hollow blocks. Its roughness created small scratches on my palm as I slid my palm along the wall, but the wall also felt cold.

"I can't see anything," Amaris grunted. I almost let out a chuckle if I hadn't stopped myself.

"So do I. But let's just follow the map. It's telling us to go straight." I wonder when we can reach the end of this tunnel. As far as I remember, when I opened that door and heard the bell ring, the huge walls were about hundreds of meters away. We're still far, I know, but I know we will get there. 

Soon, my eyes began to adjust in the dark and I got used to the darkness embracing me whole. I tried to walk at a fast pace. I can't wait to reach the end and finally have the freedom that has been taken away from me. I was being held captive in hell, and I have no plans in going back no matter what.

In the middle of our journey, my feet began to feel tired and my throat was dry due to lack of water. We're walking for hours and I think we're still very far. Perhaps, we still haven't reached the middle yet. 

Licking my lips, I wiped the sweat off my forehead and continued walking. We can't give up. 

"Let me take over, Samara." I heard Amaris say. I shook my head and let out a sigh. 

"No. We need to be careful. I'll let you out once we get far enough behind the walls." Amaris might howl or something, and the warriors might hear it. Worse, the Alpha. I can't let that happen. 

"But you're starting to get tired!" 

"And I know this will all be worth it. Just trust me." I said with conviction, silencing her. Even though my ankles were turning numb and the soles of my feet felt like they were being pricked by needles, I continued to walk through the darkness. The thought of being able to reach the end is what pushed me to do so. 

Letting out a sigh, I put down my hand which was sliding against the walls for minutes and healed the small scars on my palm. If I didn't find out about this ability, I would still be stuck in the Alpha's room, crying and begging for the Moon Goddess to take me back to the present. 

"Samara, a light!" Amaris shouted after hours of walking and I looked up. My heart pounded upon seeing a small dark light created by the moonlight beams at the end of the tunnel. Hell, yes! 

My tiredness instantly vanished and a wide grin appeared on my face. I could feel my entire nerves screaming in excitement as we got closer and closer to the light. Hope rose inside my heart, making it beat rapidly. 

I could hear my breath shaking and my chest rising up and down, trying to catch my breath as I ran along the darkness. But the darkness and the cold walls are no longer my company, for I finally found the light that we have been looking for hours. 

I gulped as the faint light got larger and larger and soon, I found myself climbing up a ladder. I could see my fingers tremble as I held the steps of the ladder due to excitement. Hell, yeah! 

I pushed myself upwards and looked at the glass sliding door. Without thinking twice, I pushed the glass door aside as I slowly ascended. Half of my body was still in the tunnel while the other half was outside. 

I looked around and the cold breeze wrapped around my body. I shivered, but I didn't bother to wrap my arms around me and instead, felt the coldness of the night cradle me. Damn. So, this is what freedom feels like.

A chuckle escaped from my chest as I finally let myself out and closed the door behind me. The night is cold as hell and the moon shone brightly at the top of the trees. I could hear nothing but the sound of my breath and the leaves of the trees brushing against each other. 

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and spread my arms, finally tasting the freedom that I have been long craving. Damn, I love the feeling of the breeze kissing my cheeks, and blowing my hair in any direction. 

I opened my eyes again and looked behind me. The huge walls are right in front of my very eyes and seeing it this close gave me shivers. It's about a thousand feet tall. How were they able to make this? 

"Can I go out now?" Amaris' voice made me blink. I looked at the forest on the other side. I could see that it was dark in there, but it felt like I was being called by the voices in the forest. It was like it was telling me it was time to go back home.

And the forest is my home. 

I nodded a lot of times before sprinting inside the forest. As I did, I took my clothes off and let Amaris take over me. She took my clothes in her mouth and began to run free. 

"This is so fun, Samara!" Amaris laughed in my mind and I could feel how happy she was. 

"The grass feels so soft against my paws! I love this!" Her chuckle filled my mind. I laughed along with her and enjoyed the freedom that we finally earned. 

Amaris ran and ran deep inside the forest until we saw a small clean lake from a distance. Thin leaves and branches of trees serve as the ceiling of the lake, and they are enough for the moonlight beams to pass through, making the lake look like it's sparkling. That's when I realized how thirsty I was. Damn, I need to drink water. 

"Water!" Amaris wagged her tail and went to the lake, setting aside my clothes first before sticking her tongue out and drinking. I felt relief wash over me and my throat is no longer dry. Thank goodness!

I can see a beautiful gray wolf with blue dazzling eyes on the water. When Amaris was done, I shifted back to my human form and let her rest. 

"Did you have fun?" I asked her and put my clothes on. 

"Yes! Now, we're a lone wolf. But it's fine as long as we finally escape from that cruel Alpha." 

"Or we could join a pack and become a rogue. We're a good rogue, though."

Our conversation was cut off when we heard footsteps from a distance. My eyes widened and I was about to run away when I smelled something. 

It was intoxicating and addictive that it made me close my eyes and sniffed the air. In my entire life, I never smelled something as good as that smell. 

As the footsteps got nearer and nearer, the smell got stronger, making me open my eyes and look at where the noise had come from. My heart pounded against my chest as I waited for the owners of the footsteps to show up. 

And when they did, my mouth hung open and a gasp escaped from my mouth. This. . . The man in the middle. The smell comes from him!

"Daddy," I heard Amaris purr inside my mind.

His jet-black eyes stared at me with no emotions at all, and he opened his red lips to say something. What he said to me shook my entire core,

"Mate."

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