Lysida•
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4Z7kTC76m
That’s the pack house?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxigoH6OsBQ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJp9yzjbpa
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfiNlXFmDE
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSERLF5nyRq
When will this fucking dream end?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnLuYIbTlm
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubrMimCtaR
It’s visibly directed at… Me. Hatred. Disgust.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6ZeAhLnrp
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPGq9prBRe
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. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH4ONE4fBa
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.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHn5dqaman
The room erupts, and I tremble.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKbSOZr80D
“Selfish girl!” “She let our warriors die!”
“She fainted on purpose!”
“A Lunar Wolf who can’t even hold the moon’s power!”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3DJmuzMmJ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aG8WzX6jv
A woman’s voice, sharp as glass, slices through the chaos. “Silence.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKU3RVEkTJ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3keaHAscH
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?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ3z7imrQH
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAym1lLhdEn
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKBCaJUts0
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj67wm47SHJ
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?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjJ4sowVRz
My mouth goes dry. I grip the stone in my palm, hoping it’ll help calm my fear like it calmed the pain before.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaMSaUW1MW
When I don’t answer, her gaze darkens. She stands, her expression going back to default. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTROErlhom
“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”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM48AETGFXN
The room seethes with agreement.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSWwoRwiS9
The Luna lifts her chin. “I hate to do this, but you must be flogged—one strike for each life lost.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaNyvAIYQ2
Nine.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55pw1pZthV
A chill runs down my spine. The crowd erupts in approval. They want this. They want me to suffer.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8riWLapeSE
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”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbrm6x7xPT
The crowd laugh at him, and I feel my own breath hitch.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1FOyFLVKg
The Luna looks him up and down like a pest, her lips curling in annoyance. “You dare plead for her, little wolf?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cVUuoc9l6
“Please, Luna. Her body is too weak” DrKon pleads, his voice still shaky.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZc4IqyEOC
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”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrry8KiIyP
This woman is the Devil’s apprentice.
Despite the fear grounding me, fury gathers inside as well.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0CJ1IJTdU
DrKon’s jaw clenches. “I will”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcJJ6pzCfv
The crowd roars in excitement, and my stomach drops. No. No, no, no!61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv88WW2KLmW
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxmTQUBIpt
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckN02zM0yg
The moment the whip touches the air, a voice rings out.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ebWx8bcY
“Wait!”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZrIgHYLzg
A girl steps from the crowd. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz2RVMaq8p
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. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtUaFLzC32
I refuse to piece her as the daughter of that mad woman. No, she can’t be.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WmFWFu1RJ
“Cora” The Alpha speaks, his voice fond. “What is it?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1jxw4poz3
The girl—Cora—smiles, but it’s not warm. It’s something sick. “I think we should make this more… entertaining”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfYaHe4LIc
The pack howls in agreement.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkM8w6Oi0l
Cora turns to them, her eyes gleaming. “Shouldn’t the whips be dipped in the blood of our fallen warriors?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPvb5ea0gk
The courtyard erupts. “Yes!” “Yes, Princess Cora!”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrI77zV3Kx
My stomach twists. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaO0o79gc8
The Luna’s smile widens, proud. “Grant her request.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKxA0ETako
A guard vanishes into the shadows, returning moments later with a bucket filled with dark, thick liquid. My stomach clenches at the scent—blood.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRtoiWJvoe
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?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg9DtrNSIe
I stiffen.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVpdjXssFY
The Luna laughs, a sound as cold as the wind. “Of course, my darling.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbdpzmBCbk
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj9oSDEYnY
I look at DrKon, panic clawing up my throat. He mouths ‘It’s gonna be okay’61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uNT10qZ0y
The first lash lands, angry.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVN6eFNmA5
White-hot pain explodes across my back. My vision blacks out for a second. A strangled sound rips from my throat.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4KX5Uvx0X
The crowd cheers, shamelessly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH9tcPaNlU
Cora steps back, admiring her work. “Oh” she purrs. “This is fun.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P5aq8NNJ9
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXMZxnh1Al
Darkness rescues me from the torture.
ns216.73.216.154da2
