Chapter 6

_Astrid’s POV_

My breath hitched as my heart pounded in my chest. I knew they would catch up to me, but never this fast. And like I said before, I would never go down without a fight.

I tried to run again, even though I knew it might never sit well with Zade.

Honestly, I had thought of him as some kind of saint or something.

I thought he would save me from his brother or perhaps let me go. But I was wrong after all.

Zade was no different from Zarek, only that he was always calm, compared to his brother.

“Don’t even think about running.” he warned coldly. “Turn around," His deep voice rang from behind me. He hadn't shifted to chase after me, hadn't roared in anger like Zarek would always do. His voice remained calm even when he dished out his order.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I was scared to my bones.

Suddenly, I felt like the whole world was closing in on me.

My mind screamed at me to run, but my body wouldn't move.

“I said turn around!" This time, his voice rose to a certain level.

I flinched in return but obeyed in the end.

My feet felt heavy as I fully faced him.

My chest rose and fell rapidly, every muscle screaming at me to bolt, to fight, to do something. Anything at all.

“Where do you think you're running to, Astrid?" He quizzed, stepping closer with his both hands tucked in his pants pocket.

I swallowed hard, taking a step back. “Anywhere but here." My voice came out hoarse and shaky.

“And how far did you think you’d get?" Zade hummed as if considering my answer. He tilted his head and added, “You, a human, running barefoot through the woods full of powerful werewolves, rogues, and beasts much worst?”

I clenched my fists, glaring at him. “I’d rather take my chances than stay here and be your prisoner." A part of me protested at my words, but I refused to acknowledge it.

“You're not my prisoner." His expression remained cold, but his gaze darkened.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I stared at him deeply." Then what am I? A pet, like your fucked up brother calls me? A slave?” I lifted my chin, feeling the tears falling uncontrollably from my eyes. " You don't even see me as a person. You watch while your packmates laughs at me. And now, you won't even let me escape this horrible fate?” My voice gained strength despite the fear twisting in my gut.

"That’s it, Astrid. I'm not supposed to do anything because he bought you. You belong to him now. To us.” Zade said with a straight face, leaving me frozen in place.

The reminder of the fact that I was auctioned off to Zarek hit me deeper than ever.

Silence reigned for a couple of minutes before Zade moved.

I barely registered the blur of motion before a string hand wrapped around my throat.

His grip wasn't tight around my neck, but it was firm enough to make my pulse hammer.

“You don't know what kind of world you've been thrown into. Running will only get you killed." He said straight to my face.

“Maybe I’d rather die," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

" Don't say that,” His grip tightened—just a fraction, just enough to make me suck in a shaky breath.

“Why? Would it ruin your entertainment if I wasn't around to be tormented?" I asked in confusion, although deliberately.

“You're coming back to the packhouse." He said, finality in his tone as he ignored my question.

I started to shake my head, but he let go of my throat, only to grab my wrist instead.

Before I could protest, he yanked me forward, forcing me to stumble after him.

“No—let me go!" I thrahed, but his grip was unyielding, like iron shackles trapping me in place.

He didn't speak. He didn't slow down. He simply dragged me through the forest as though I weighed nothing, ignoring my struggles.

By the time we reached the packhouse, my feet were already torn and aching, my breath coming in gasps.

The moment we stepped past the gates and into the Packhouse, all eyes turned towards me.

“So she tried to escape after all?”

" Pathetic. Where did she think she was going?” I heard murmurs around me, including shrill voices of some nasty looking women.

Zarek stood at the top of the steps, arms crossed, a deep frown on his face as he watched me.

His dark eyes gleamed with mockery as he looked me up and down.

"Our little human tried to escape.”

My stomach twisted, humiliation burning through my form. I clenched my jaw, refusing to lower my head, even as my body to trembled. The drink was beginning to make me weak in the knees.

Zade finally released my wrist, shoving Mr forward. “She’s back. Do what you want with her," He muttered before turning to leave.

Wait. What?

I turned sharply to face him l. “Zade—"

“Guards!" Zarek's voice cut me short at once as he called for his henchmen.

The guards ran out instantly and held me down the next minute.

“Let me go!" I yelled and began thrashing again.

" Someone get the whip, my pet needs to be taught an important lesson. I've gone easy on her for quite awhile.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. Whip? Goddess no please..

I couldn't handle it. I can't.

A guard rushed forward with a whip and Zarek gestured with his head for him to stand behind me.

“Ten lashes," Zarek said, his smirk dripping with amusement. “For being a disobedient little pet."

Tears stung my eyes as I opened my mouth to apologize. I was wrong to have tried escaping from him and I needed to apologize.

But…

He was having none of it.

I clenched my teeth as a lash tore across my skin the next minute, the fiery pain making my vision blur. I groaned, but didn't scream.

I couldn't give them the satisfaction.

I saw a smile tug at Zarek's lips when he took in my facial expression.

Another lash. I bit down on my lip do hard I tasted blood.

I was kneeling in the center of the ballroom, surrounded by guests and warriors who had stayed to watch me suffer.

A public spectacle. A warning.

They enjoyed this.

“You know," Zarek began, brushing a loose stand of my hair back, “I could've handed you cover to the warriors instead. Let them have their fun with you."

My stomach twisted.

“But no." He sighed dramatically, moving back. “I've decided to be merciful."

He then turned towards his guards. " That's enough, take her back to her quarters."

Just to lashes and I felt my world coming to an end.

My entire body hurt like hell, as if a truck had run it over.

I guess he saw the near death condition I was in, so he made them stop before they killed his play thing.

The moment they pulled me up, Zarek leaned closer, his voice a mockery of gentleness. “Now, what do you say, Astrid?"

I met his gaze, blood trickling from my lips.

“Go to hell."

A sharp slap echoed through the air as a guard's hand struck my face.

The pain barely registered anymore.

“How dare you?!" Zarek's voice rose to it’s peak as he turned to glare at the guard.

" I'm sorry, Alpha, I thought_”

" No one has the right to lay a finger on her except I permit you to!” He snapped and before anyone could register what he would do next, Zarek's claws elongated and he directly clawed at the guard's neck, killing him on the spot and his blood marring my dress.

Just like that, the guard dropped dead on the cold floor.