13

ISBERLT.

I can hear the pounding of my heart echoing through my ears as I stare at the men that stand before me, like predators ready to devour their prey, with frightened eyes.

A soft whimper slides through my parted lips as the man at the left side moves forward, and I shake my head; thrashing backwards, only to be stopped by a foot against my head.

I peek around my surroundings and realize there's no escape from me. Not from people who want to see me suffer. Not from my Beta friend that stands meters away with a sad expression covering his face. Not from the sharp gaze that meets mine with a menacing smirk; as if telling me they finally got me. Not from the Alpha that banished my family and destroyed us years ago. Not from the delighted countenance of Rita, the prominent cause of everything that's happening. And not from the Alpha that gave the order.

I'm dragged back into reality, and the dilemma that's about to befall me as shock waves spurt through me, lightening my whole body on fire—awful—as his touch melts against my skin; goosebumps rising across the area.

"Please," I whimper when he grabs hold of my leg, spreading it wide apart to settle between my thighs with everything beneath the lower part of the dress wide open for him.

A smirk settles on his face as his gaze drags across my face, down to my cleavage, to where his erection is protruding against my clad core.

God, no!

I shut my eyes, unable to take it anymore as I wait for him to shred my clothes, and take me right before the rest of them—marking the beginning of my shame, and the end of the last bit of dignity in me.

This is where it all led to.

The defence against them.

Proving to be strong and refusing to bend to their will.

It all leads to this; me being pinned to the ground by a man ten times the strength of me, and given no chance to battle.

This is where it all ends.

Or maybe not...

"Stop!"

The one-word cuts through the thick silence like a sharp sword as the once silent vicinity disrupts; the wolves bursting into murmurs and silent whispers.

The man pinning my hands down lets go of me, and I feel him move away from between my thighs.

Unsure of what's happening, but recognising the familiarity of that voice, and knowing it belongs to the Alpha King; I slowly open my eyes, gaze scrutinizing the ones that surround me before I move to my feet, crouching on the ground as I glance back at the Alpha King, who's staring back at me.

Did he stop him? Why?

I don't seem to be the only one curious why he stopped the man as everyone goes silent once again when he slowly makes his way towards me; arms crossed behind him, just like always.

"Stand up, Slave,"

He mutters, his voice calm, unlike the one he had used earlier, and I rise to my feet; movement carefully as I stand before him with my racing heart never slowing down.

"Apologize to the Alpha's daughter,"

He nods his head towards Rita, and I clench my fists at my side, my teeth gritting against each other as I lift my eyes away from him to glance back at Rita who stands beside her dad with a fucking bloody nose, and an irritated expression on her face—probably frantic that she didn't get to watch the best show of her life of having me fucked, and shamed before the entire pack. I know just how much the bitch would have enjoyed it.

"I did nothing wrong," I start, glancing back at the Alpha King, and his expression makes me gulp down my next choice of words as I say in a much smoother time. "She crossed a line. "

"She was offering her honest condolences, and you hit her. What the hell is wrong with you?" He raises his voice at me, and I try to calm down the anger that surges through my body, threatening to detonate like a timed volcano.

You must be fucking kidding me! Does he believe that pathetic little sob story of hers? Over mine?

" I practically did nothing wrong as I told you earlier!" I snap, the bolt to my control loosening. Though I know this man can have me back at the position I was in minutes ago—I refuse to apologize for something that isn't my fault. Especially not when it shames my family! "She insulted me! She insulted my father, and she insulted my fucking mother!"

Low gasps erupt from the crowd at the loudness of my voice as murmurs quickly spread through them.

*The Alpha King should have let them fuck her; maybe that would have knocked some sense into her.*

*I don't think she knows the trouble she's in.*

*I've never seen a worthless lowlife behave so arrogantly. *

*I'm yet to comprehend why it's so hard to punish that little bitch.*

**Fuck all of you.**

"You are begging for it, aren't you?"

I flinch when his breath fans against my skin, and I turn my gaze back to him, eyes wide at the proximity to us. When did he come that close?

"I just stopped my men from shaming you right before the entire pack, but you're already begging for it? Is that desperate you are?"

How desperate I am? Is he fucking kidding me?

"I did nothing wrong."

I voice out, and he raises his brows before stepping away from me, his arm stretched towards Rita, who looks like she's enjoying this little show she's put up. If only I could punch that face of hers once more.

"Apologize to her, " He orders, and I look back at Rita before my gaze meets one that's behind her. Rio shakes his head, and the expression that he gives away is one that I know but refuses to abide by. I will not apologise to her. Not after throwing dirt on my name.

"What the hell have I done to deserve this?" I cry out, feeling the last string of control I thought I had in me slip away. No one says anything, and I continue, "I do not understand what I've done to deserve this much from all of you? Isn't it enough that you took my family away from me?" At the last part, I glance towards Alpha Gael, and I watch as a muscle ticks in his jaw. "Isn't it enough that you destroyed my entire life before it even started? Isn't it enough that I suffered for years? I did nothing to you! I was living my life, far away from any relation with any of you, but you drag me here against my consent and have me punished for a crime that I have no slightest idea of. Isn't that enough? Why must I suffer further from your hands? Have you no conscience at all?"

"No conscience?" A voice says from the crowd, and I turn in my stand to come into view with a furious-looking Alpha. "You dare speak of conscience when you betrayed your race? You dare speak of conscience when you had innocent wolves locked in cells, to be used upon your commands? You speak of conscience when you join forces with the human to take down our race?"

Silent gasps float in the air as I stare confused at the man. What the hell is he talking about? Locks? Cells? Join forces?

"I do not understand what you're saying. "

I say, and it happens so fast before I could even register it. One minute, a furious-looking Alpha is standing before me, and the second minute, I'm being lifted off the ground with claws digging into the skin of my neck, suffocating me, and drawing blood altogether.

"I think it's time we shut that little mouth of yours for you!" He snarls, and I choke in my breath as I feel my feet dangle off the air as I struggle against his grip. "You, a mere rogue, and a worthless wolf, stand before Powerful Alpha's and wolves. You should watch your mouth, and plead for us to keep your life, but you insult us? And disobey orders that have been given to you?"

"Stop," I croak out, feeling my lungs close up on me, and he lifts his brows at me, a taunting smirk playing by the corners of his lips, and the image of Peter pinning me against that wall, having me vulnerable, and under his complete control flashes through my mind—messing up my head, and senses as black dots appear in my vision, and I struggle to hold on to something.

The world closes up on me as his grip tightens around my neck—going beyond what I can handle.

I want it to stop now, please.

I've had enough of everything.

It hurts so much.

I just want it gone.

I want the pain gone.

Please. Just take it away.

Just... Make. It. Stop.

And I feel myself slip out of consciousness.

***

This chapter was quite difficult to write, but I'm glad it came out like this! What do you think of this chapter? And the book so far?

Let me know your thoughts and don't forget to drop a review of the book before you leave! It'll draw more readers in.. lol!