Lysida•
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That’s the pack house?73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M38wfEOQM
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLGGA0q232
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREQ8RsJpWk
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnNW8Td4LW
When will this fucking dream end?73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCqvTYJODn
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegzvtpZxZT
It’s visibly directed at… Me. Hatred. Disgust.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFp0yz5KYu
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOUq9gkOw9
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. 73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lRAvrcj9R
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.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNn1wHBq9A
The room erupts, and I tremble.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2vuYyrClO
“Selfish girl!” “She let our warriors die!”
“She fainted on purpose!”
“A Lunar Wolf who can’t even hold the moon’s power!”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUrh5JHhiB
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTynfSWRZoR
A woman’s voice, sharp as glass, slices through the chaos. “Silence.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9mKeDqaVX
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35Z6FdpBAc
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?73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwtRMrsdQx
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkecZ0Ogr3
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeScBTkV9a
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfOV5Zn14I
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?”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo8dkDFO65
My mouth goes dry. I grip the stone in my palm, hoping it’ll help calm my fear like it calmed the pain before.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWG15cwFc4
When I don’t answer, her gaze darkens. She stands, her expression going back to default. 73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLS52ygTy3
“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”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcglAPSc2S5
The room seethes with agreement.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMSM915TOn
The Luna lifts her chin. “I hate to do this, but you must be flogged—one strike for each life lost.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpkzoAa76g
Nine.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCctIkWHM8
A chill runs down my spine. The crowd erupts in approval. They want this. They want me to suffer.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeCh1H9fV5
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”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkKO1PBxs9
The crowd laugh at him, and I feel my own breath hitch.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPi1mrH1ul
The Luna looks him up and down like a pest, her lips curling in annoyance. “You dare plead for her, little wolf?”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9GjtwhmBf
“Please, Luna. Her body is too weak” DrKon pleads, his voice still shaky.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqACau7GWe
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”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n5ns19CA9
This woman is the Devil’s apprentice.
Despite the fear grounding me, fury gathers inside as well.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLFcnkWXrc
DrKon’s jaw clenches. “I will”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUGKKVtZ62
The crowd roars in excitement, and my stomach drops. No. No, no, no!73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwASP2JQt2F
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRfeFasaqb
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh3LTKS5XM
The moment the whip touches the air, a voice rings out.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC7VcGcYsP
“Wait!”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETwBZHKxu8
A girl steps from the crowd. 73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAKUmx1pMJ
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. 73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtoolJSHOA
I refuse to piece her as the daughter of that mad woman. No, she can’t be.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAV9hDzSp0
“Cora” The Alpha speaks, his voice fond. “What is it?”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q7yta64gs
The girl—Cora—smiles, but it’s not warm. It’s something sick. “I think we should make this more… entertaining”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXA9gHklTs
The pack howls in agreement.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0rkUCXEbm
Cora turns to them, her eyes gleaming. “Shouldn’t the whips be dipped in the blood of our fallen warriors?”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDwu1iT1xo
The courtyard erupts. “Yes!” “Yes, Princess Cora!”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBqOeuWi83
My stomach twists. 73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk6Gb7IKqi
The Luna’s smile widens, proud. “Grant her request.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl4uGLfe2R
A guard vanishes into the shadows, returning moments later with a bucket filled with dark, thick liquid. My stomach clenches at the scent—blood.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU70P7R89Ee
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?”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtyv5fudec
I stiffen.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUIYi2Vs2W
The Luna laughs, a sound as cold as the wind. “Of course, my darling.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUSV5lRRJA
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk6ku0oXEQ
I look at DrKon, panic clawing up my throat. He mouths ‘It’s gonna be okay’73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNiIc4nfVs
The first lash lands, angry.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgaTLhB2pT
White-hot pain explodes across my back. My vision blacks out for a second. A strangled sound rips from my throat.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahGxAaH3z2
The crowd cheers, shamelessly.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBEXhjsAPC
Cora steps back, admiring her work. “Oh” she purrs. “This is fun.”73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevkvFpcex4
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSrcgjZWnZ
Darkness rescues me from the torture.
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