Lysida•
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That’s the pack house?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPByLp7Euo
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wfnPpdrgL
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiac2tybP9
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakbj51mYNl
When will this fucking dream end?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIpFDdKkj5
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOPltlvYsN
It’s visibly directed at… Me. Hatred. Disgust.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XEUrNnWmQ
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0Qmpw420e
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. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZbpc5Bi3v
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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOT62WkE19
The room erupts, and I tremble.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA91gygzv0P
“Selfish girl!” “She let our warriors die!”
“She fainted on purpose!”
“A Lunar Wolf who can’t even hold the moon’s power!”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ6n88UPY8
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yatGXP61s
A woman’s voice, sharp as glass, slices through the chaos. “Silence.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYRzZlWO7z
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8ySLGoyM8
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?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iVAK0TiPj
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW2LuoheRm
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy9Yg88D2o
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknTSGDuMxW
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?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdfqBUXmK3
My mouth goes dry. I grip the stone in my palm, hoping it’ll help calm my fear like it calmed the pain before.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EMI9KUrJV
When I don’t answer, her gaze darkens. She stands, her expression going back to default. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdRNzxOwMr
“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”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkb7RlxFJ0
The room seethes with agreement.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3gC0XxWb9
The Luna lifts her chin. “I hate to do this, but you must be flogged—one strike for each life lost.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU3zsKDttF
Nine.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqHhKvfGeA
A chill runs down my spine. The crowd erupts in approval. They want this. They want me to suffer.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnV1V2h4PS
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”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGrVzSimG1
The crowd laugh at him, and I feel my own breath hitch.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmif2C5xgVq
The Luna looks him up and down like a pest, her lips curling in annoyance. “You dare plead for her, little wolf?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP83Ek73Ix
“Please, Luna. Her body is too weak” DrKon pleads, his voice still shaky.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cumUdsPfv
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”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1UEQxYmis
This woman is the Devil’s apprentice.
Despite the fear grounding me, fury gathers inside as well.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCcaQ1ZwA4
DrKon’s jaw clenches. “I will”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTrqdVjYsT
The crowd roars in excitement, and my stomach drops. No. No, no, no!38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF47piVUHK
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvOGga95dp
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jg7pE4IjD
The moment the whip touches the air, a voice rings out.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1X4cunwKc
“Wait!”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy5k6D7z72
A girl steps from the crowd. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNQdVybX3y
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. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2QTSxWvSR
I refuse to piece her as the daughter of that mad woman. No, she can’t be.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8gisus3ZM
“Cora” The Alpha speaks, his voice fond. “What is it?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojlcKkCFct
The girl—Cora—smiles, but it’s not warm. It’s something sick. “I think we should make this more… entertaining”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn98RhFX4zN
The pack howls in agreement.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ILfMdpFWH
Cora turns to them, her eyes gleaming. “Shouldn’t the whips be dipped in the blood of our fallen warriors?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39CaEHAFlx
The courtyard erupts. “Yes!” “Yes, Princess Cora!”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4JrQVC13
My stomach twists. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauJxAdGdLb
The Luna’s smile widens, proud. “Grant her request.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaZOe6GlE9
A guard vanishes into the shadows, returning moments later with a bucket filled with dark, thick liquid. My stomach clenches at the scent—blood.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwKgxPJgDz
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?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bem2Bh7XK
I stiffen.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1RlcIMnSV
The Luna laughs, a sound as cold as the wind. “Of course, my darling.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlpvApszqT
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6MC4vmRDJ
I look at DrKon, panic clawing up my throat. He mouths ‘It’s gonna be okay’38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH58eS4RNg1
The first lash lands, angry.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXXspvOrbp
White-hot pain explodes across my back. My vision blacks out for a second. A strangled sound rips from my throat.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUnullykx4
The crowd cheers, shamelessly.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wVRjybIU7
Cora steps back, admiring her work. “Oh” she purrs. “This is fun.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq0fRksDLo
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxFXDQVbSs
Darkness rescues me from the torture.
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