The Luna's Journey

Chapter 4

Miracle

My breath hitched with every question Alex fired at me. It felt like I was walking a razor-thin line, and the wrong answer could cost me my life. I couldn't help but think about how unlucky my life had become—an outcast in my pack and now a prisoner in this unfamiliar one.

With my hands clasped tightly and the little courage I could muster, I faced them. "I am the illegitimate daughter of the Stormfang Pack’s Luna. I ran away because I did something that angered my mother," I admitted, my voice trembling but honest.

I could see their hesitation, as they exchanged glances. The Alpha, especially, remained as cold and emotionless as he had been yesterday. There was no hint of emotion on his stoic face. The weight of his gaze bore down on me, and I couldn't help but wonder how my revelation would affect my fate in this strange and uncertain place.

"Stormfang Pack?" Alex grinned. "Are you sure you ran away or they sent you here?" His voice grew colder as he suddenly gripped my chin tightly. The pain shot through my jaw, but I dared not complain.

His accusation hung in the air, and I felt a shiver of fear race down my spine. The doubt in his eyes was unmistakable, and I realized that convincing them of my sincerity was not going to be easy. My heart raced as I struggled to find the right words to defend myself and prove that I was not here on anyone's orders but my own.

"Chill, Alex. The little princess is going to cry," Hillary made a side comment, her tone mocking.

"They didn't send me here, I swear," I pleaded, desperation in my voice. I could feel Alex's firm grip on my chin, but I had to make them understand. "I ran away because I hurt the Delta's daughter. I was scared of being punished, so I ran away."

The truth spilled from my lips, my words laden with sincerity and fear. I hoped beyond hope that they would believe me, that they would see the truth in my eyes despite the circumstances.

"Oh, I never knew you were this scaredy cat. Running away instead of facing your responsibility, huh?" Hillary added with a hint of sarcasm. "What sin did you commit against the delta's daughter, then?"

I confessed to them all. There was no reason to lie anymore. I wanted a clean slate, and I knew my conscience was clear. No matter what they did to me, I would regret nothing. I had told them everything already, and it was up to them to believe me or not.

"I had no bad intentions, believe me," I begged. "I was so desperate to get away from my pack, and I didn't even realize I had trespassed into your territory."

Silence enveloped the prison cell after my confession. Nobody dared to speak, as if they were trying to study my words thoroughly. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel their collective uncertainty weighing on me like a heavy cloak. It took a minute before Zach finally broke the silence.

“It looks like she's telling the truth. Besides, I don't think she's capable of spying on us," Zach noted. "She's weak."

The words hit me hard, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. I knew I wasn't as strong as other she-wolves. My mother hadn't taught me self-defense, and my strength barely relied on my wolf, Light. But to be labeled as weak in front of these strangers was a blow to my already fragile self-esteem.

The Alpha cleared his throat, commanding everyone's attention, including mine. My eyes involuntarily landed on his piercing blue gaze, and for some inexplicable reason, I felt a sudden surge of electricity in the pit of my stomach. A tingling sensation washed over me, and above all else, there was an undeniable, magnetic pull towards him, a desire to be near him.

He possessed the physique of a god, and his aura exuded an irresistible allure, but it was juxtaposed with an attitude that felt almost diabolical. He looked surreal, and I couldn't deny the small spark of attraction I felt for this enigmatic man. However, despite that attraction, my fear still cloaked it all, reminding me of the dire situation I found myself in.

"If you're telling the truth as you've claimed, prove it by becoming one of the omega and serving us. It's the penalty for trespassing on our territory," the Alpha said calmly.

"Wait, that's it? We're not going to flog her like we usually do to our captives?" Hillary complained, sounding somewhat disappointed.

The Alpha didn't respond immediately. His eyes briefly met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a hint of pity in them, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared. Perhaps I was just imagining it.

"Whip her twenty times. After that, clean her up and instruct her on her duties as an omega," the Alpha instructed Hillary before turning to exit the cell.

Zach and Hillary were the only ones left inside the cell, as Alex had followed their Alpha out. My hands and feet remained chained, limiting my movement.

I watched with a sinking feeling as Hillary's smile turned sinister, and she brandished a whip made of thick and hard materials. It wasn't the first time I'd faced such a situation; my mother had subjected me to similar punishments many times before. The idea of being whipped twenty times didn't seem as daunting as what I had endured in the past, but I knew that no matter how accustomed I was to pain, it still hurt.

"Don't worry, little princess. I'll be quick. This won't hurt much," Hillary taunted, her tone laced with cruelty.

I had no strength left to fight or resist. I had already confessed my truth, and now I had to accept the consequences, no matter how painful they might be. With a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, I braced myself for what was to come, hoping to endure it with as much dignity as I could muster.

"Have some mercy, Hillary. Don't be such a freak. The woman looks weak," Zach implored, his voice tinged with sympathy.

Hillary, however, only sneered in response. She ordered me to lie flat on the floor, and I complied. Without any warning, she began to whip me, and all I could do was clench my fists and close my eyes as the intensity of her lashes grew stronger.

Each strike of the whip sent waves of pain coursing through my body, and I bit my lip to stifle any cries. I knew I had to endure this, to prove myself to them, no matter how agonizing it might be. The minutes felt like an eternity as the whipping continued, and I clung to the hope that it would end soon, that I would be able to pick myself up and move forward from this ordeal.

‘This b***h is getting on my nerves. She's a jealous freak,’ my wolf, Light, commented, her voice filled with frustration.

"15," Hillary counted, and with each number, it felt like my back was being battered to a pulp. The pain was excruciating, and I could smell the metallic scent of my own blood, soaking into my clothes. When she finally finished the count, my strength wavered. My body trembled uncontrollably, and despite my efforts, I couldn't summon the energy to open my eyes.

"f**k, she fainted?" I heard the faint voice of a man, probably Zach. "I told you to have a little mercy on this girl, but you didn't listen."

"Shut up, Zach. Twenty isn't that much," Hillary retorted, her tone unapologetic.

"We need to report this to the Alpha," Zach insisted.

"Come on, Zach. Stop acting as if it's your first time witnessing someone faint," Hillary replied dismissively.

"Let's leave her. She will eventually wake up later," came the decision, and their voices faded away as they left me alone in the dimly lit cell, my battered body lying still on the cold floor.