Punished

"You were mated with someone from Nyxoria, how possible is that?"

Triston Valtor stood with his hands placed on his hips, looking forward. He had his long white hair held in a ponytail, with some of it sweeping over his face. His stance was rigid and his muscles and abs was obvious through the thin white shirt he had on. His sweat had dampened the material and it glued on to his body.

They had ran all the way to the middle of the forest from the Nyxorian castle, heading back to Elyria and they were now very close to the border.

"It shouldn't have been possible," Triston replied to the man rather calmly, "But it did happen."

"And it doesn't bother you?" he asked again, "You don't seem surprised by this..." he struggled for what word to describe it and finally settle on one, "...phenomenon."

Triston chuckled, and so did the other two with them. 

Jaxon Korvus was the Redwood pack's Delta and was considered Alpha Prince Triston's best friend. He was much too sensitive, much too detailed and maybe much too into the rules for some, but he was the best man Triston could ask for. In human form, he was built just like Triston in stature and slightly taller, he had darker skin and short wavy hair.

The big man was not one for big words and hearing that word "phenomenon" roll out of his mouth was just funny, but Triston reasoned what he had meant. Sure it had been surprising to him when it had happened. He was twenty five and had attented all the mating ceremonies held in Elyria ever since he had turned eighteen, but had failed to find his mate.

Elyria's mating ceremony was set to happen tomorrow night, and he had hoped to find his mate this year, but nothing had prepared him for what had happened when he had unknowingly knocked that girl to the ground.

"...mate..." the voice had dropped in his heart as soon as he had stretched his hand out to her, "Mate," he had said out loud almost immediately without thinking.

"What would you have had him do, Jaxon?" Revin, one of the pack's Beta asked.

Jaxon shrugged his shoulders, "Not acknowledge her maybe?"

Revin shook his head, "Then she would acknowledge him..."

"...and he would reject her," Jaxon interrupted him with a snarl, "Elyria's mating ceremony is tomorrow, how would it be explained that the Alpha Prince Triston Valtor of Elyria has found a mate in Nyxoria?"

"Alpha Prince has waited more than five years to be mated, and you would have him reject the first mate he has?"

Jaxon opened his mouth to speak, but looked at Triston who was not really paying them any attention but looking out into the forest. Jaxon let out a sigh and shut his mouth, then sat down on a tree stump.

"Tomorrow it would be explained to the Alpha King of Elyria," Triston finally spoke, "If it would interfere with our plans then I would reject her."

As he said those words, he felt a squeeze in his heart as his wolf fought him on the inside. Triston was known to have no romantic interest and he would delibrately keep himself from associating with any girl because such move could prove disasterous when your mate turned out to not be the girl you were in love with. This girl would be the first, for both him and his wolf, rejecting her surely would no come as easily as he had said it.

"Are you sure about it Alpha?" Revin asked, "Chances of you finding another..."

"It will be done as I have said, Revin," Triston said with a voice of finalty, he really did not want to dwell on this for any longer, "When Xaren is back, we will leave."

"Speaking of Xaren," Jaxon spoke up, "Where did you send him off to?"

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, they heard a familiar howl and fast approaching steps. They all turned in the direction of the sound to see a wolf running towards them. The big animal leaped into the air when it was close to them and transformed, landing on two human feet, out of breath. Triston narrowed his eyes at the man.

"What's wrong Xaren?"

"The girl..." Xaren said, still trying to catch his breath, "...I don't think all is well, Alpha."

Triston came closer to him and held him up by the shoulders, "What do you mean?"

"Well, first she hid her sister and went into the house alone..." he paused before adding, "...I think she is being whipped and punished for something."

"Take us there," Triston said and immediately transformed into a huge white wolf, "Take us there now!"

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Damaris let out a painful scream when the whip landed on her back. Her dress had been torn open by the lashes and she was bleeding. Her hands and feet had been tied with a rope and she laid on the floor of the living room.

"Again mother!" Zina said to her mother excitedly as she fixed her eyes on Damaris whimpering on the floor, "Again!"

Edged on by her daughter, Rhea lifted the whip again and brought it down hard on Damaris' back, drawing out another cry of pain from her, "Where is Ivone?! Where is that little demon sister of yours?!"

"Mother told you both to remain in the house and not to show your faces at the mating ceremony!" Zina yelled out at Damaris, "You disobeyed! And Ivone ruined my moment with Prince Reyes! Where did you hide that little twerp!"

Damaris whimpered and shook her head, if they were treating her this way for hiding Ivone, then she wondered how they would treat Ivone who had supposedly ruined Zina's moment with Prince Reyes. But then her sister being mated to Princess Maya had come as a shock, never had this happened in the history of Nyxoria, it was the strangest occurence and judging by the look Prince Reyes had given to her, she was sure that he would send people to search for Ivone.

"The mating ceremony is for all Nyxorian that had come of age," Damaris dared to speak, "How could I and Ivone be made to stay out of it while Zina attends?"

"You dare to compare!" Zina lashed out, feeling insulted. She seized the whip from her mother and lifted it up in the air, bringing it down on Damaris.

Damaris shut her eyes tightly, anticipating the lick of the whip against her skin. She would endure this torture one last time, now that she was mated, she would finally be able to leave this house to live with her mate, and she sure as hell would take her sister along with her. She would have to convince her to break her mate bond with the princess, even though such action would have dier consequences for both girls, it would be better than being outcasted.

Just before the whip came down on her the second time, there was a sudden and loud bang! and the front door crashed open, sending pieces of wood everywhere as a huge white wolf broke through, coming to lay protectively over Damaris and snapping his fangs at Zina and her mother, Rhea, who stumbled back in fright.