49 punishment

Erox from future POV:

Three days had passed since my grandma died, and I still couldn't accept it. The guilt gnawed at me, a relentless beast. If only I hadn't been so focused on that so-called princess, if only I had paid some attention to my grandma that night at the bar. She had clearly needed someone to talk to, she was drinking all alone.

I slammed the door of M's house behind me, a surge of anger and grief coursing through me. I had been at the bar earlier, the place where my grandma was killed, before I decided to go home. But now, I was back, drawn back to the scene of the tragedy, and the memories flooded back, sharp and painful.

I drank, trying to drown my sorrow, to forget everything. But even with every shot of liquor, the reality of my grandma's death kept repeating in my head. It was a relentless loop of guilt and pain.

"Erox, what's going on? You're so wasted. Why are you drinking so much?" The princess asked, her voice tinged with concern. She was fine now, completely oblivious to the fact that her actions had led to my grandma's death. It was like that day never happened, like she’d forgotten everything.

"You asking? As if you care? Well, I don't need your fucking concern. Leave me alone, Princess, before I forget who you are,” I growled, my voice laced with venom.

I saw Margaret raise an eyebrow. She was starting to get angry, but she didn't know the depths of my rage. I was beyond furious. She had no idea the pain she'd caused, the life she'd taken.


""I'm definitely concerned, Erox. You're the only person I think could help me right now, because Fay is still exploring, just like me. You've been gone for three days. Of course, I'm worried sick," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

I pushed past her, ignoring her pleas. I headed to my room, which was next to M’s room. Damn, how I missed her.

"Did you just push me and ignore me? Where the hell are you going? Don’t turn your back to a princess, you moron!" She shouted, her voice rising in frustration.

Her words ignited the rage that had been simmering inside me. It erupted, a volcano of fury.

“Did you call me a moron? Me, the second beta of our pack and soon-to-be first? Bullshit! Because my grandma just died! And it’s because of you that I haven’t had a chance to save her. Now are you calling me a moron? Do you have a death wish, are you?” I roared, my words heavy with pain and anger. The words felt like a physical blow, each syllable carrying the weight of my grief and frustration.

The princess’s eyes widened at my words, and a flicker of sympathy replaced the arrogance in her gaze.

"Your grandma died? What happened? Why is it my fault? As I remember, I did lose control, but I don't remember killing anyone. Or did I?"

A flicker of curiosity glinted in her eyes as I met her gaze. I knew she was playing a game, trying to manipulate me, but I was beyond caring at that moment.

"I'm done talking to you. I wanna sleep,” I said, my voice tired and heavy with grief.

The princess grabbed my wrist, her grip strong and firm. She pulled me toward her, her strength overpowering my drunken weakness.

“I said don’t turn your back on a princess. I’m asking, so you better answer,” she demanded, her voice laced with a hint of threat.

I gritted my teeth, the dam of my anger finally breaking. This was my cue to unleash the fury that had been building inside me for days.

I yanked her towards me, my hand tightening around her neck. It was a move I'd practiced countless times, a reflex honed through years of training. But unlike the countless times I'd grappled with opponents, I felt no thrill, no satisfaction. Just a burning, consuming rage that burned hotter than any fire I'd ever encountered.

Her neck felt surprisingly delicate beneath my grasp. It was eerily similar to M's, and a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. I cared for this girl, worried about her, felt compelled to protect her, but that was a different feeling, a different kind of attachment. Right now, I couldn’t hold back. The frustration, the grief, the guilt, all of it came pouring out in a torrent of words.

“You want an answer? Then here it is. The night I let myself become your rescuer, my grandma was killed. And if I hadn’t taken care of you first, if I had visited her in one of the VIP rooms in the bar… perhaps she wouldn’t have died. I’m blaming myself for that. But I realize, why would I blame myself if it was you who was the reason I didn’t have time to save her? So technically, it wasn’t my fault. It is yours. Don’t think. Let me see how you can pay me for that huge sin.”

My voice cracked with emotion as I spoke. Every word was a barb, a lash of fury directed at the princess. She was the one who had taken my grandma’s life, the one who had caused this unbearable pain. And now, I would make her pay.

*******
Margaret from the future. POV:
"Let me go, Erox. You were just drunk, so you couldn't think properly. It's not my fault either. No one is at fault. It just happened that your grandma was in the wrong place at the wrong time," I said, my voice strained. My words felt hollow, a desperate attempt to reason with him.

Erox shook his head, his grip tightening on my neck. I struggled, trying to pry his hand away, but he was relentless. He was stronger, more powerful, and I felt a wave of despair. I had trusted him, thought he was the one person I could rely on, but I was wrong. I had been betrayed again, hurt by the very person who had once been my savior.

"Oh, maybe I should punish you for that. So we could be even, at least, right?” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Before I could react, his lips slammed against mine, a punishing, ravishing kiss. It was rough, passionate, and painful. His teeth grazed my lips, drawing blood, and his hands began to roam down my chest, his touch both possessive and brutal.

Suddenly, a flash of memory flickered in my mind. It was the night in his car, the night he had first taken advantage of me. But this time, it was different. He was the one pushing, the one in control. And I was trapped, helpless, with no way to escape.