Punished

SAVIOUR’S POV

“You don't have to do this, Sav.” Victor, my best friend and future beta says.

My fingers clench into fists beside me. He doesn't understand. He's not the one who has to say yes to everything his father commands or lose his place as heir.

The door to my room slowly opens. Victor glares at the guard who'd forgotten to knock.

“Forgive my manners,” the teenager hurriedly says before stepping out and knocking this time.

Why father insists on including kids into the pack's force will forever be a mystery to me.

“Come in.” Victor commands when the boy's knock comes through.

“They’ve cleaned the Silver Stone Alpha Saviour. The pack is gathered already and the hunters are ready.”

In order words, it's time for me to participate in this sick game the moon goddess calls destiny.

With a wave of my hand I dismiss him, my hands sliding casually into my pants.

“Forcefully marking your mate has got repercussions.” Victor hammers, worry evident in his tone.

“Whatever it is, it can't be worse than the shame of refusing.” I seethe.

By the time we step out, I can literally hear my heart threatening to pump out of my chest. The outer floors are occupied with pack members gathering around. Some are laughing and some eagerly waiting to see the hunters.

I don’t walk up to the cell, instead I wait. Victor stands beside me.

Duty, honor, loyalty.

Those words play on repeat in my hearing, reminding me of the reasons my fate is sealed.

Soon the crowd’s murmuring grow louder as guards haul Raven and Eli out from the underground cells.

A frown works it's way to my face the moment I spot how well Eli seems to be walking. Except they have healing abilities like us, there's no way his leg would be this alright just after one day.

My jaw tenses as I step forward slightly, scanning Raven’s face. She looks paler than yesterday, there's a purplish bruise on her jaw. Her eyes look a bit dazed, unfocused.

I fight the urge to ask what's wrong with her. It's none of my business. Nothing about her concerns me. She's a traitor that deserves all the bad she gets.

“Take them to the stone.” I order, my eyes trailing back to Raven. That's when I spot it. Her lips are coated in blue glitters. It's almost unnoticeable, but under the full moon it's clear as day.

Something in my gut twists. Shit doesn't look right. Especially when I catch the same substance on Eli's face.

“Stop,”

But it's too late. Eli jerks hard to the left, knocking one of the guards off balance. He moves with an unnatural speed.

Victor rushes at him as other guards try to knock him down but he kicks one, sending him crashing into the ground.

But then he doesn't just kick him. He kicks him with his broken leg and bounces back, sprinting towards the woods.

“Raven, run!” He shouts. As if awakening from slumber Raven hits the men around her. She's swifter than him. Her fists colliding with her opponent's face before they can comprehend her next move. Like a trained snake she slithers from their grasps, racing after Eli.

My instincts kick in and I run after her.

“Eli!” Raven screams, lunging after him. But he doesn't look back, doesn't wait for her. Her steps become wobbly as though her vision is poor.

As the wind rushes past my ears, I hear the rising chaos behind me and know I can't let them escape.

Eli, running as fast as lightning, the crazy bastard that he is, diverts, scaling the platform and leaps off the side, toward the north.

My voice rings out, “Guards! To the north perimeter!”

Raven bolts after him, but she’s not quick enough. I sprint after her, my wolf itching to come to the surface but I know that will be a mistake. He can't control himself as much as I can.

I focus on Raven and the way her scent gets stronger the closer I get. I catch her by the waist, hard, my hands tightening around her slender waist.

“Let me go!” She writhes in my grip.

You are such a wild thing.

“Fucking asshole!” she shrieks as I throw her over my shoulder. She weighs so little.

“Let me go! I don't want this!”

The sheer agony in her cracked voice cuts through my chest but I burn off that cursed feeling as quickly as it had come.

She means nothing to me.

“This is a punishment,” I growl, carrying her back. “You are not supposed to want it.”

In a minute, I haul her onto the center, ignoring her kicks, ignoring the warmth seeping through me from her body.

Her clammy skin shivers as her eyes show the fear she'd tried to bury inside.

Victor and some men return after a while, their breathing laboured. “Forgive our incompetence, Alpha King.” he says grimly with a bow of submission. “He’s gone. Took the north cliffs. No one caught him. The others are still searching. We believe he jumped into the river. ”

I grit my teeth and look up. My father stands tall as always. Cloaked in black and gold. His eyes meet mine, his expression blank but I can still see the eternal disappointment in his gaze.

Callum and Leo scuff at my incompetence but I say nothing.

They are two pussies in the bodies of men.

Father walks up and instantly the crowd goes silent. Hundreds of people fall to their knees in reverence.

Raven pulls at my grip. “Just kill me. Slit my throat.” There's tears in her eyes now but she's asking the wrong man.

I wish she never existed, but killing her would only ruin me.

“Arise,” The alpha King commands and everyone obeys. From across, standing between Callum and Leo's mother's, is my mother. Her gaze is already fixed on me.

I look away, turning my gaze to the Silver Stone. It's been here for at least a century. A raised circular slab of rock, polished from years of similar ceremony. It's the place where fated bonds are sealed in Darkwaters.

It's where warriors are named and where traitors are executed.

“Tonight, my son will fulfill one of his duties as heir to the throne.” Father says with confidence.

My grip on Raven tightens.

“Step forward, Enforcer Saviour, son of Alpha Raphael,” the pack's beta calls.

As harsh as I can, I push Raven forward. She stumbles toward the platform, her body sweating worse.

Facing the people, I recite her judgement. “You breached our borders with the intent of killing our men, women and children. You are a traitor who doesn't deserve to live. It is merciful for the alpha King to spare your life. But you will forever walk in the skin you hate. Forced to live like one of us, a captive of Darkwaters.”

The pack cheers, everyone watching… waiting for me to seal my fate.

“Mark her.” The alpha King commands openly.

Without wasting time, I steady myself, bare my teeth and bite.

“AHHHHH!” Her scream rips through the night like a blade.