Chapter 4

The coarse bark of the pole pressed into my back, every irregular ridge harshly pushing against my drenched skin. The bindings on my wrists stung and hurt, each turn of the material a harsh reminder of my position here. My body was a war zone of pain and marks; my right leg pulsed ineffectively, a victim of Jenny’s relentless harshness. Rain fell unceasingly, drenching me completely, each drop a chilling blade upon my shivering body. Mud collected under me, dense and stifling, blending with the blood that dripped from my wounded hands.

The embarrassment was greater than the agony. More distressing than the chill.

Then, it arrived—the initial howl.

Deep, throaty, and alarmingly near, it cut through the stifling silence of the glade, causing chills to race along my back. A second howl erupted, then a third, each sounding more urgent, more threatening.

Disorder broke out.

Smoke surged from the treetops, twisting into thick, suffocating clouds. The atmosphere reeked of scorched wood and moist soil. Pack members dispersed like shaken deer, their actions frantic and disorganized. Cries of terror and the commanding bark of instructions permeated the atmosphere, blending with the constant beat of the descending rain.

Rio's voice boomed through the mindlink, filled with urgency. “All members to the pack house! At this moment! To safety!

The group flailed, terror shattering their poise like fragile glass. Nobody looked at me while they hurried to find shelter. My heart raced in my chest as I fought to stand up. The ropes tying me had been hastily severed, yet my limbs felt weak and rigid due to the cold. My wounded leg lagged behind like a dead weight, each step a struggle against the pull of gravity.

I I followed the crowd, slipping on the mud, my breath uneven. When I arrived at the pack house, the area was packed, with bodies closely packed together and tension saturating the atmosphere. The walls appeared to constrict, the shared anxiety overwhelming.

Everyone's gaze shifted to the platform.

Jonah was positioned at the center, next to the Alpha and Rio. He appeared pale, with dirt and blood marking his face. A jagged cut scarred his arm, with blood oozing in slow, red rivulets onto the wooden floor. His voice shook while he talked.

“I... uh... yesterday, while we were searching for the bitc—" He hesitated, his eyes shifting anxiously to me before swiftly averting them. "Well, Sia." I encountered one of the scoundrels. He attempted to intervene, and I... I needed to battle him. "It was a matter of self-defense!"

The Alpha's expression was as hard as rock, his fatigue only slightly concealed by the heaviness of the situation. “Just state your point, Jonah,” he snarled, his tone harsh enough to slice.

Jonah gulped, his Adam’s apple moving up and down. "I injured him," he confessed, his voice trembling. "It wasn't really that profound." But now... they’ve encircled us. “They're insisting on a hostage in exchange.”

A unified gasp spread among the group, the noise swelling like a tide of fear. Murmurs began, whispers of trepidation and anger spreading rapidly.

“Those are rascals!” a voice cried out, shrill with fear. "You can't negotiate with them!"

"They're going to murder us all!" shouted another.

"We must make an attempt!"

"Be quiet!"

The Alpha’s voice pierced the turmoil like a knife. The group descended into a strained, uncomfortable silence. He stood firm, although the pressure of the situation burdened him, the creases on his face more pronounced than I had ever observed.

“If we fail to provide them with what they desire,” he declared, his tone icy and unwavering, “they will massacre us.” Every one of us.”

The heaviness of his words lingered in the atmosphere, dense and stifling. Despair hung like a dense mist in the room.

“What should we do?” a person whispered, their voice hardly heard.

The Alpha stood upright, his eyes scanning the pack. "We will resolve this justly," he stated, each word intentional, determined. “An election paper.” All names are entered, and I will select one. “That individual will leave.”

The hush broke apart like fragile glass.

"This is insanity!"

"Another option must exist!"

“You can’t accomplish this!”

“There’s no other option,” the Alpha stated, his tone resolute. “This is the sole method to safeguard the pack.”

The crowd descended into turmoil once more, voices colliding in a mixture of fear and rage.

“Brian,” the Alpha ordered, his voice leaving no room for dissent. “Retrieve the box.”

Brian grinned as he moved ahead, a wicked sparkle in his gaze. He moved with a seemingly effortless assurance, as if he enjoyed the disorder. The whispers intensified, the hopelessness in the room tangible, overwhelming.

And throughout it all, I remained at the periphery of the gathering, my heart pounding in my chest. Chills ran through me as I became aware of the silent truth hovering around.

A ballot wouldn't be necessary for them.

They had their scapegoat already.

Brian came back shortly, holding a worn wooden box that appeared just as ancient and damaged as the customs it symbolized. A pile of paper lay on top, the corners bending from many years of handling. The Alpha gestured quietly to the assembled crowd, his face resembling granite. Not a trace of feeling revealed his thoughts, yet the burden of his power loomed large in the atmosphere.

Jenny sneered audibly while seizing a sheet of paper, her actions brisk and contemptuous. “As if my name is going to be chosen,” she whispered to Mel, her tone infused with the sharp arrogance of someone who felt beyond reproach. Laughter emerged quietly from those around, yet it felt uncomfortable, devoid of sincerity.

My hands shook as I extended for the paper, the moisture on my palms blurring its surface. Every letter I wrote felt like a nail sealing my fate. As I placed the slip into the box, my stomach twisted fiercely, and bile scorched the back of my throat. I didn’t require anyone to reveal the truth to me—I was disposable. The looks, the soft-spoken dialogues, the manner in which their gazes darted from mine—it was all evident, etched in the expressions of their taut, eager faces.

The Alpha shuffled the papers in the box, the noise of crinkling sheets resembling dried leaves scraping on rock. The audience collectively held their breath as his hand descended, each moment extending into forever. He pulled out one slip, unfolding it slowly and carefully, his eyes keen as they scanned the crowd.

"Jennifer."

The stillness broke when she screamed, her voice a sharp blade slicing through the atmosphere. Her complexion became pale, and she fell back, vigorously shaking her head. "Absolutely not!" “This is not occurring!” She clawed at Mel’s arm, her hold frantic. "Take action!" "You must not allow this to occur!"

Mel's expression tightened, her jaw clenched like steel. She faced the Alpha, her tone icy and resolute. "Sia will take her spot." "She’s the cause for all of this occurring initially."

The ground appeared to shift underneath me. My heart pounded against my chest, each thump a booming resonance in the heavy quiet that ensued.

The mass remained still, their expressions either stunned or apathetic. I glanced at Rio, his eyes glued firmly to the ground. Jonah moved restlessly but remained silent. Not a single voice was raised in my support.

Mel’s finger jutted at me like a blade, her mouth twisting into a contemptuous grin that oozed malice. "She cannot speak." Pointless. "Allow her to take responsibility for the group's errors."

Alpha James hardly blinked. His nod was automatic, aloof, as though this choice meant nothing to him. Maybe it didn't.

My wolf softly whimpered in my thoughts, her hurt leg leaving her as helpless as I felt. I felt the urge to scream, to grasp at the delicate strand of justice, but the words became stuck in my throat, choked by fear.

The guards came back shortly after, bringing a rogue with them. He stood tall, his body covered in lean muscle, his face marked and harsh. His eyes sparkled with a hunter's joy as he scanned the crowd, his mouth twisting into a sardonic grin when they fell on me.

"Is this her?" His voice was coarse and harsh, every word grating on my nerves.

Without a moment's pause, Mel pushed me ahead. "She belongs to you," she stated, her voice lacking any feeling except disdain.

I tripped, my hurt leg almost giving way under me. The rogue's hand extended swiftly, his hold firm as he pulled me to my feet. His odor was intense and wild, the metallic stench of blood and sweat causing my stomach to turn.

"She'll suffice," he remarked, an icy amusement threading through his tone.

My gaze scanned frantically across the crowd, looking for anyone ready to protest, anyone ready to stand up. Jenny stood next to Mel, her arms folded, a look of smug satisfaction displayed on her face. Rio lowered his head, his lack of words overwhelming. Jonah's eyes briefly met mine, a hint of guilt evident, yet he remained silent.

Heartache coiled within me, the anguish far more profound than any bodily pain. I gulped it down, compelling myself to remain upright. What did I anticipate?

The outlaw fastened my wrists, his hands swift and experienced. The ropes scorched my skin as he started to drag me toward the trees. The pack observed quietly, their relief evident alongside their apathy.

“Do not glance back,” I reminded myself, the phrase a delicate barrier against the treachery. "They have never shown any concern." “They will never do that.”

The scoundrel pulled me into the woods, the darkness engulfing us entirely. My wounded leg pulsed with each step, the pain a relentless reminder of my newfound fragility. The ropes pierced my wrists more deeply, resulting in raw, aching skin behind them.

“Keep moving, dog,” he growled, pushing me ahead when I hesitated.

I tripped but steadied myself, determined not to fall. I wouldn't provide him with the pleasure.

“You're so silent,” he said scornfully, his tone laced with contempt. "Lost your words?"

I did not respond. I was unable to.

He leaned closer, his breath warm and foul against my ear. "Excellent." “I prefer them quiet.”

My wolf let out a soft growl, but I quieted her. There was no purpose in battling. Not at this moment.

As the pack’s edges vanished into the background, engulfed by the gloom of the woods, one reality enveloped me like a cloak.

I wasn't merely departing from the group.

I was letting go of the final fragment of hope I had ever bravely clung to.