Lysida•
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pPAvPGnYI
That’s the pack house?118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpzTSs2TGD
As we inch closer, the view of a massive fortress grows bigger, and against my wish, my mouth slightly opens in awe. The stunning architecture looks like it was built from the nightmares of fallen heroes. It is tall, large and dark, spanning almost two acres of land. Giant trees surround it, making it look intimidating as hell.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsvwwDafFy
The golden sign above it reads ‘Moon-veil Pack: In Her Presence”
It glints mockingly at me, welcoming me to what feels like my impending fall. A beating, DrKon said.
The moment the guards yank me out of the cage, I know I am stepping into something far darker than just punishment.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXW242ZFXw
The chains dig into my wrists as they drag me through the stone corridors, feet scuffing against the rough ground. My body is sore, my head pounding, and my soul… heavy. My mind races, but my lips remain sealed. DrKon’s words ringing in my ears: Stay mute.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KGSwBIBCb
When will this fucking dream end?118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTEpiqyImK
I smell hatred as I am dragged into what looks like a meeting hall. The hall is massive to say the least. There are blue stone pillars that rise to the high ceiling, firelight flickering against the dark carvings on the walls. The hall is packed. Warriors, wolves, adults and elders stand littered as they glare at me, their faces shadowed and hollow.
Some look battered, their arms in slings, their bodies covered in claw marks and dried blood, a sea of accusing eyes burning into me.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVmCAmEP5A
It’s visibly directed at… Me. Hatred. Disgust.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtrK5fSSDG
I am made to kneel before a man. He radiates power, and if my knowledge of the glorious world of the Lycanthrope from ‘earth’ is correct, this is definitely the Alpha. My body forces herself to bow before him. That’s how much power he holds. He seems familiar, but also unfamiliar, it’s hard to explain.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn8OwyWQoG
Getting a closer look at him, the Alpha looks to be quite tall with broad shoulders and a regal aura. I peg him to be in his late 50s. A permanent frown is etched on his face and his dark beard trimmed to precision. 118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb4jVMGJZO
He steps forward, arms crossed and ice-blue eyes cutting into me like daggers
“Lysida” he says, his voice laced with disgust. “You have disgraced us.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3dCGy8Zvu
The room erupts, and I tremble.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfNGsBMRsG
“Selfish girl!” “She let our warriors die!”
“She fainted on purpose!”
“A Lunar Wolf who can’t even hold the moon’s power!”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4udVwpPM
The accusations hit me like hot stones. I want to defend myself, I want to scream that I don’t fucking know what they’re talking about. That I’m not their Lysida. But then I see DrKon.
He stands at the far left, half-hidden in the crowd. His eyes meet mine, pleading; Don’t speak.
So I lower my gaze, biting my tongue so hard it nearly bleeds.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWfPJxMvet
A woman’s voice, sharp as glass, slices through the chaos. “Silence.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ziFXc55R8
The air turns heavy and my breath stills. The chills return even though the hall is hot with the crowd’s anger. I feel a dark presence behind me.
If I thought the Alpha’s aura was powerful, this one feels two times more powerful and ten times darker.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCXYOmKSLm
I dare turn around and take a look. As my eyes land on the source, I immediately know that this is the Luna. But which Luna has more power than her husband?118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5UIZQyvM0
The room parts as she descends the steps. Her hair is black as midnight, dancing in waves past her waist. Her gown is a deep red, the color of fresh blood under torchlight, and it clings to her tall, elegant frame. Her beauty is chilling—too perfect, too unnatural, and too dark. But it’s her eyes that freeze me. Deep black, bottomless pits of malice.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ61K4ed4p
I lower my gaze immediately. My instincts scream at me that this woman is dangerous. And like with the Alpha, I am forced to bow.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Ldwo8eBV
The Alpha’s face softens instantly. He moves to her side like a lovesick pup, his hand resting on the small of her back like a pathetic fool.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN3upsz2LA
She stops before me and crouches, resembling a curious predator as she tilts her head. Her full lips curve into something that might be a smile... “Lysi, darling” she purrs, mock sympathy dripping from her voice. “Tell me… why did you faint?”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8by9offwjm
My mouth goes dry. I grip the stone in my palm, hoping it’ll help calm my fear like it calmed the pain before.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU5bXmO1rs
When I don’t answer, her gaze darkens. She stands, her expression going back to default. 118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz35mgOkFX1
“Nine warriors died because of your failure” she says. “Nine wolves who trusted in your gift. And what did you do?” Her voice hardens. “You collapsed. Like a pathetic, frail thing unworthy of the blood that runs through your veins”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5l8qXSIr6
The room seethes with agreement.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlj5BYqHBj
The Luna lifts her chin. “I hate to do this, but you must be flogged—one strike for each life lost.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGQhGPRgC9
Nine.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdnaneEykq
A chill runs down my spine. The crowd erupts in approval. They want this. They want me to suffer.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zsh687UpT
DrKon moves before I can process what’s happening. He steps into the open, hands clasped before him. “Luna” he says, voice shaky, but firm. “Let me take half of the strokes”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE4H24ppFG
The crowd laugh at him, and I feel my own breath hitch.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lt4Nq1hD5
The Luna looks him up and down like a pest, her lips curling in annoyance. “You dare plead for her, little wolf?”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYywtXMyY33
“Please, Luna. Her body is too weak” DrKon pleads, his voice still shaky.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d16x4cFPe
Something flashes in her eyes. Amusement. Cruel.
“How noble. Very well” she says, her lips stretching into a smirk. “Then she will receive fifteen strokes instead. And you will take ten of them... If you’re still feeling charitable”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrKA4etvAn
This woman is the Devil’s apprentice.
Despite the fear grounding me, fury gathers inside as well.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPEYX6Ml3j
DrKon’s jaw clenches. “I will”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9p456gecs
The crowd roars in excitement, and my stomach drops. No. No, no, no!118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWfiyhmzPy
Before I can react, the guards grab us both toward an open stone yard. The only thing lighting up the place is the bright moon as it bears witness, watching in silent indifference.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYMPkxWEfZ
They bind our wrists to rough wooden posts as the wind howls through the courtyard. My heart hammers as a guard unfurls a massive whip, its leather cracked and cruel.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQsXoRrTk5
The moment the whip touches the air, a voice rings out.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHQAkIWYuU
“Wait!”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXvWOI6Kzg
A girl steps from the crowd. 118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8svYm9T6D
She is beautiful. Long, ink-black hair flows down her back, her crimson gown gliding against the dirt like she is untouched by this world’s filth. But it’s her face that makes my blood run cold. She is the Luna’s reflection—her carbon copy. 118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi0A53i04I
I refuse to piece her as the daughter of that mad woman. No, she can’t be.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxWPCTpmOw
“Cora” The Alpha speaks, his voice fond. “What is it?”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjqGl5CQHP
The girl—Cora—smiles, but it’s not warm. It’s something sick. “I think we should make this more… entertaining”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYvzh5mD8W
The pack howls in agreement.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXuCdOBAxS
Cora turns to them, her eyes gleaming. “Shouldn’t the whips be dipped in the blood of our fallen warriors?”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKlhidll4t
The courtyard erupts. “Yes!” “Yes, Princess Cora!”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpttjQXq3Bz
My stomach twists. 118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZEpvWLcOD
The Luna’s smile widens, proud. “Grant her request.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAmwrgrzHh
A guard vanishes into the shadows, returning moments later with a bucket filled with dark, thick liquid. My stomach clenches at the scent—blood.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkYjxf6vvs
Cora steps forward, her nails tracing the whip’s handle. She tilts her head at her mother, voice dripping with honey. “May I do the honors, mummy?”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcXz7dSdpE
I stiffen.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4sIlW3e8Y
The Luna laughs, a sound as cold as the wind. “Of course, my darling.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzDZOHgApp
Cora’s smile grows too wide. She walks toward me, slow, savoring the thrill. I grip the stone in my hand like a prayer, but I know—this is going to be hell.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiIKFJIfnI
I look at DrKon, panic clawing up my throat. He mouths ‘It’s gonna be okay’118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbv5BqJYWH
The first lash lands, angry.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLngtQxsZq
White-hot pain explodes across my back. My vision blacks out for a second. A strangled sound rips from my throat.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3Mg8ttbG5
The crowd cheers, shamelessly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4Ea1mX3o5
Cora steps back, admiring her work. “Oh” she purrs. “This is fun.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOl0bdH2Uu
The second lash comes. My knees buckle and I feel flesh split. The third rips through me, and I feel everything. By the fourth, my world tilts, and my body gives in.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsnuyhDCNv
Darkness rescues me from the torture.
ns216.73.216.82da2
