Chapter 11

Elijah's POV
I always felt that something was different about her today. Or maybe I thought every day she was more beautiful than the day before.
Today she was like a cute kitten and a delicious pastry waiting for me to taste.
Before I could catch my breath, she took off my jacket and came up to kiss me again. I thought shamefully that these actions were actually the same as what I had done to her, except now we switched roles and she was stroking me instead.
Her slender but strong palms were resting on my body, and the places she touched felt like they were on fire.
I felt not only my face, but my entire being was ashamed like a boiled shrimp.
As exciting as it was, it was just too much to take.
"Why don't you just let me do it?" I resentfully tried to roll over, but the pain in my abdomen made me lie back down once again. I thought blood must be seeping from that wound.
She held me up, and her eyes were full of worry.
I held up my hands, signaling that I absolutely had to listen to her, and again indicating that there was nothing wrong with me. But to my surprise, she suddenly pressed my hands there.
"You don't listen. A disobedient wolf will not get any good benefits." She purposely lowered her voice, but I could feel her excitement in mate's link.
"You're going to get punished."
This emotion ignited me as well.
The owls in the distance were still "cooing" and it was awfully quiet, but it still didn't change the fact that this was the wilderness. She tied my hands with bandages and covered my eyes.
The senses were infinitely magnified and I could clearly feel what she was doing. I just felt my face burning and my breathing more ragged.
"If you're worried, I..."
I thought she's afraid she'd make too much of it.
"I'll always believe you." I quickly interrupted her next words. "Do what you want to do."
Soon, I was lost in this crazy game with her.
But she also understood that there was no need to hold anything back from me. I would always trust her unconditionally.
I loved her more than I loved myself.
I finally woke up when the warm sunlight shone on my face.
Exhaustion and hurt made me wake up a little later than usual. But she obviously slept longer than I did. I looked at her sleeping face and couldn't resist poking her cheek.
She mumbled cutely, but was clearly not awake at all.
She was really beautiful and she was my treasure. Now she was like a cute little white rabbit.
I took her in my arms and led her to the adjoining stream. We had made too much of a mess, and it was really time to clean up a bit.
"Well..." she opened her eyes and looked at me with still wet eyes in confusion.
All I felt was a dry throat and my body felt like it was on fire again.
What Isabella did to me last night, I naturally wanted to claim it back without fail.
"Oh, why didn't I think of that, you still hold a grudge..." she smiled and came up and took me by the shoulders.
"Then let's continue."
When the sky was fully lit up, the two of us organized ourselves and returned to the wolf pack together with the brown bear's corpse.
The wolves of the pack were standing at the boundary waiting. Seeing me with obvious enthusiasm, they came up to me.
Their eyes were filled with worry. "How did you get hurt like this?"
"Got it by accident. Or thanks to your Luna for bringing me back." I was afraid that they would accuse Isabella, so I guided them. "Also, this is Luna's sacrifice."
I turned sideways and told them to look at the big bear behind us.
Isabella came close to me and held my hand tightly.
She was too nervous.
Isabella's POV
"My God, how big this bear is! It must be the biggest offering of the year!"
"The Moon Goddess will be pleased!"
I heard their comments, and I was happy about it. After all, it was a kind of recognition. I was still worried that they would reject me because of Elijah's injuries, but it seemed clear that his explanation was very effective.
But I also knew that Elijah was injured because of me, and he was not given a sacrifice. I must take responsibility for this.
"Elijah and I are mate, so this is our offering." I quickly corrected them.
"Of course! It's in line with the rules. Alpha and Luna have the biggest sacrifice this time!"
They cheered and flocked us forward. The preparations for the ritual were wrapped up, just waiting for him to go for final confirmation.
That evening, the ritual ceremony was officially held. The high platform was filled with offerings, and the bear was likewise lying there, pointing its huge head in the direction of the moon.
These wre our sacrifice to the Moon Goddess, and we hoped she would bless us for the rest of our lives.
All of us among the wolves stood under the moonlight, and we swore eternal fidelity to our mates beside us, and eternal piety to the gods.
At the end of the festival, although there was no reminder, all of them embraced with their partners and the moonlight seemed to put a veil on them.
I swear, that was the most beautiful view I'd ever seen in my life. How nice it would be if time could stay in this moment forever.
I thought this and also hugged Elijah who was standing beside me.
"You're supposed to kiss me." He leaned in to whisper a reminder in my ear, then he wrapped his arms around me even harder. "Like this."
Emma's POV
The Moon God sacrifice festival had finally come.
We women would give all to the great warriors for sheltering this wolf pack. That ultimate pleasure made us abandon all reason.
I was honored to have been given the opportunity to serve Liam. God knows how much work I had put into this moment.
I straddled him and struggled to support myself, but I knew that even too much touching was considered my desecration of him. I watched his expression carefully, afraid that I had done something wrong and made him feel uncomfortable.
It was a supreme honor, and I could see the envy and jealousy in the eyes of the other women on stage.
So I would use all my strength to give him true satisfaction.
"Aren't I good enough?"
"What are you thinking?! Bitch!"
"Concentrate! Or I'll throw you out..."
Those wolf warriors obviously noticed this as well, and they again tormented the women assigned to them as much as they could. After all, every warrior is a loner, and they would not allow their women to think about anything else at a time like this.
I automatically blocked out the screams and concentrated on serving the alpha in front of me.
But Liam's expression didn't look happy, it was as if he was mocking me and treating me like the meanest of clowns.
I don't care. It is already my dream to serve him and to bear him an heir.
"Whew..." eventually he got released. Immediately afterwards I felt a wave of vertigo and the scene before me fell over.
He pushed me aside like a piece of trash, then he stood up and looked at me with the expression of a mole.
Offstage, those warriors have also ended the fight.
"Snap!"
The barbed whip struck me hard and I hung my head helplessly.
"The breeder has run away!" His voice irritated my eardrums with the sound of the whip. "Aren't you her friend, how can you let her run?!"
"I will bring Isabella back to you." I didn't care about those bruises on my body and bowed my head reverently.
To be able to serve him was already my greatest luck, I really did not dare to ask for anything else.
"I'll reward you for licking these clean." I could tell that he was very pleased with this behavior and extended his hand to me, which encouraged me.
"If you can bring her back, I will allow you to serve me once more."
I crawled on the floor, happy and barely able to control myself.
"Get out." Liam's men stepped forward and pushed me aside with one hand. I stumbled helplessly to the ground.
Isabella, why did you run away? If you hadn't run away, I wouldn't have been dragged down by you! Now they won't even open their eyes to look at me!
I was the one who got her the first time she escaped. After all, we were still best friends on the surface. If she had run away, then I would never have had the chance to be near Liam, much less serve him.
At that time, I didn't understand why she didn't cherish such a good opportunity at all.
And why was she able to run away even though I had someone tie her up?
But that day I actually went to see the corpse of that warrior. The moment I saw the corpse I understood that she was not as vulnerable as we normally see her, she was completely hiding her strength.
I'd always considered her my best friend, but she's even trying to hide this from me!
I considered her a friend, she probably just saw me as a dumbass to tease!
Isabella's POV
I followed slowly behind a group of girls, holding a dozen weapons. They were future warrior women, and I was concerned about their hearts.
Although eavesdropping was not a very decent thing to do, but I really couldn't think of a better way than this.
"Did you guys hear what else the White Birch Pack has...breeders?"
"I heard about it, it's like a poor machine. Non-stop production until it dies."
"Oh, that's pathetic. That doesn't even qualify as human anymore, does it?"
"I've heard that the women of their community are so envious of this position that I'm afraid it's not worth our heartache."
For some reason there's always talk about the White Birch Pack in the Wolf Pack these days. These kids obviously weren't surprised. I knew they meant no harm, but the comments still made me a little sad.
I followed them and could not help but lower my head. Simply did not dare to let them see my expression.
If they knew their Luna was such a pathetic character, would they still acknowledge me? Or would they look at me with such disgusted, but pitying eyes?