Book 1: Chapter 50

Reaching into the case, I pulled out the whip. You forget the weight that a whip has until you have it in your hand. I rolled the handle in my hand and sent a wave through the end of it. It wasn’t enough to crack but I was able to get it picked up off the ground.

“Alpha, you can get started.” Finn stepped back, out of range like I asked.

Turning, I held my chin up, not allowing the tears I felt threatening to came forward to spill. Nate was on his knees, his slightly tanned skin clear of any scars. The potion would stop him from bleeding to death, allowing the full amount of lashes but it didn’t stop the pain. In fact, it was heightened by the fact that he currently was just human.

“Let’s get started then.” 

I wet my lips and tightened my grip on the handle. Meredith, Silas, Sam, Charles and Shep were on my left, far enough away that I didn’t need to worry about hitting them. The Kings Guard with Noah were to the right and behind me, their mouths shut finally. My hand started to shake but I took a breath and my eyes narrowed. Looking at my target, I came up and down, cracking the whip as it sliced across his back.

Nate let out a cry and I couldn’t help the water in my eyes. I came down again, letting is cross from his shoulder to hip on the other side. He cried out again and I took a deep breath. Over and over, I heard the whip crack, watched as it sliced a new line across his back. 

After ten, he stopped making a sound. At fifty, his body sagged against the tree and his head rested against it. One hundred is where my tears started to fall down my face. I didn’t let them hinder me but I didn’t make a move to wipe them away. It wouldn’t matter. All that mattered was getting this over with. My hand shook as I hit one hundred and twenty, the muscles feeling weak.

Letting some of the power come forth, I let it help me reinforce my muscles so that they wouldn’t fail me. My eyes glowed, one gold and one blue but neither of my Betas said anything. I continued the onslaught against Nate’s already torn up back. I tried not to hit the same place over and over, tried to keep the damage as minimal as I could. But with the barbs on the end of the whip, it tore through flesh easily.

My arm came up and down for the last one, number two hundred. As soon as it did, I let the whip fall out of my hand and drop to the ground. Running forward, I reached Nate before anyone even moved. Cutting Noah’s restraints, his body fell into my lap and his eyes were closed. I sobbed, moving his hair out of his face that was plastered on with sweat.

“Finn!”

“I’m here.”

Finn was crouched next to me, pulling out the tub of green paste I had grabbed earlier. Moving Nate so that his head was resting on my shoulder, I dug my fingers into the paste and started to smooth over what used to be the skin of Nate’s back. I continued to dig into the mixture until his back was covered completely with it. All the while I whispered apology after apology, running my fingers through his hair. Shep came forward, taking his wrist and looking at his watch.

“The paste?”

Finn answered him. “It’s a home brew. Made of anti-inflammatory herbs and plants as well as numbing and quick healing. We’ve perfected it over the years.”

I held Nate to me, and I looked up at Silas who was standing behind Shep. He was also nearly in tears, but he gave me a small smile.

“It’s over. Let’s get him in the house and in bed.”

I nodded and tried to get up but I couldn’t. My legs weren’t numb but they struggled to lift the weight of Nate. Tears spilled out but Silas wiped my cheeks.

“I got him, A. Don’t worry.”

Silas bent down and carefully picked up Nate, letting his back still be open to the air. I watched as he carried him back to the pack house and I buried my head in my hands. Finn hushed me, pulling me to him.

“He’s alright. It’s done. You save him, Sol. You saved him from what would have been much worse.”

“I can’t….Finn…”

He kissed my forehead. “I know. You’re stronger than all of us. None of us would have been able to do that. But you probably saved his life.”

My body started to shake as I let go of the power I had been funneling. Leaning over, I threw up again, blood spilling onto the grass as I coughed. Finn rubbed my back as I shuddered, leaning over the grass.

“Solaris, you…”

I growled, glaring up at Charles. “You couldn’t even watch. Leave me the fuck alone.”

Noah came up behind him and moved Charles away. He said something but I’d taken a deep breath and the sound covered his voice.

“Come on, Sol. Let’s get you home.”

Noah tried to pick me up but I pushed him back. My hands covered in Nate’s blood and the green paste I’d frantically covered his back in. I swayed as I stood.

“Sol…”

“No! I will walk.” 

My hands clenched as I took one step at a time towards the back door. A few steps away from the door my vision went hazy and filled with black dots. I lost consciousness before I even reached the door, feeling my body crumble but never hitting the ground.

-

My eyes fluttered open and I was in a familiar place. Finn was in front of me, tucked under the covers of our bed. Noah was usually on the other side of him but I felt him behind me, his arm draped over my side. I tried to move but my body wasn’t responding. Trying my toes, fingers, even just my arm and leg, nothing moved. Tears welled up and I continued to try to move my body, frustration seeping out of me.

“Sol, it’s okay. Relax.” Finn brushed his fingers against my cheek.

“I can’t…I can’t move.”

He scooted closer, kissing my forehead. “You did too much. Used too much power and the emotional and metal strength it took to handle his punishment. Sol, it’s going to weaken you.”

“I can’t…it’s too soon, Finn. I still…”

Noah behind me pulled me closer, his head burying in my neck. “Sol, it’s okay. You just need to rest.”

Closing my eyes, I let the tears stream down as the two of them held me.

“I’m scared.”

Noah hummed holding me tight while Finn wrapped his arms around me and pulled Noah closer as well.

“It’s okay to be scared. We will be here for you. Don’t worry. The whole way, no matter how bad it gets.”

“I shouldn’t be…I’ve accepted this. I’ve prepared…”

Finn sighed. “You can do everything in the world to try to help this process but it doesn’t make it any less scary. It doesn’t mean on your bad days you aren’t going to be frustrated or worried. You’re still human, despite being part robot and part wolf. It’s okay to feel even if you’ve realized that there isn’t anything you can do.”

Nodding slowly, I was able to lean my forehead against the crook of his neck.

“I’m sorry you two. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh Sol, you don’t need to apologize. Not to us.” Noah kissed the back of my head. “We love you and we will take care of you. I promise.”

Sighing, I let their warmth envelope me. I stopped trying to move and just let myself relax back into the bed. It wasn’t long before Finn’s snoring stared up again and I fell asleep to it.

-

It took about a half a week but I was able to get up and walking again. As slow as it was, I felt my strength returning but Noah still kept me off any and all hard labor. I came down in the evenings and helped pour drinks but even that was cut off after a couple hours. Finn was quiet but he kept an eye on me, like a hawk. They wouldn’t let me do anything without either one of them watching or they would just take over and do it themselves. Now, we were already seven days past the punishment and I felt good enough to work out but they still hovered like mother hens.

Sitting at the bar while Finn set up for the night and Noah was doing inventory, my phone went off. Pulling it up, I clicked the text message from Keri.

**‘I’m here, Alpha. What would you like me to do?’**

I looked up at Finn but he was busy with his back turned.

**‘Do you have a hotel for the night? Did you want to stay with us?’**

Her reply was quick.

**‘You want me to stay in a room with those two? No thanks. I’d rather sleep in the forest. I can get a room if you weren’t ready. Otherwise I was going to actually head down south for a bit to a camp.’**

My lips pursed and I narrowed my eyes. Honestly, now probably would be the best time. Noah and Finn would be busy with a Friday night opening and I could slip out. Going through my phone’s map, I marked the pools in the forest and sent off the location to her.

**‘I’ll meet you here at around eight tonight. We can get it over with and you can head out.’**

She replied fairly quickly.

**‘Sounds good. I will see you there, Alpha.’ There was a pause and other message came in from her. ‘I received the weapon already. It was sent to me by the Alpha King. So just bring that green goop you love so much.’**

Chuckling, I sent an emoji rolling its eyes. Finn turned around and smirk.

“Everything okay there, Sol?”

“Yeah.” I paused and looked at the dished in the open dishwasher. “Can I help?”

Finn scoffed. “Not on your life.”