Chapter 3 Humiliation

Talia's POV.

No one spared me a glance tonight, and I was grateful for it.

The people were excited; the festival would begin in mere minutes. Guests had been trooping in since the day before. The atmosphere was filled with joy, and the night sky with fireworks.

I might have appreciated the beauty if I wasn't in chains. I might have appreciated the colors if I did not hate my own body.

All my senses were now torture to me; my eyes could no longer see color from all the crying, and my ears would not stop hearing Jade's vile voice: "I heard you let Jared do it with you on the prison floors." The stench of Jared's smell would not leave my nose, and it was reliving the moment over and over. I wanted to tear my skin off because I could still feel his hands on me.

Today might be my last day, and I could not be more grateful. I thought I did not want to die, but now there was nothing I wanted more than to leave this world.

"Talia." The voice was gentle. It was a voice I had begged to hear, one I had pleaded to listen to me.

"Alpha Kael!" I breathed. I fell on my face out of habit.

"It's alright. You can look me in the eye this last time." He spoke gently. "I could not let today pass without doing this. I want to apologize to you. You have lived in my household and eaten my food-"

"I did not steal the amulet. I swear. I can never betray you." I pleaded.

"I know. I know you did not do it. Jade did. I know. They made a few mistakes while trying to cover up their tracks. I would not be Alpha if I could not see through such tricks."

I opened my mouth, but no words would escape. I tried to make meaning of the words he had spoken. "Why am I still in chains?" I wanted to say more. Why was I on open display to be mocked by all who came for the festival? Why was the knife being sharpened for my execution?

"I cannot sentence my daughter to death, Talia. I cannot do that to Selene." The Alpha was pleased.

I watched as people passed by without acknowledging the Alpha, and I figured that he had masked himself in their eyes. Power was mind-blowing. "So I have to die in her place?" I thought I was broken; now I felt myself shatter.

"Maybe this is why you came here; maybe this is destiny's plan. What if this is your fate?"

My fate was to die in place of someone else, to save a marriage, to die unjustly?

Fuck Fate.

"Accept your fate, Talia. Maybe it'll be good to you in your next life." And then he was gone with the wind.

My whole body was numb. I fell to the ground and closed my eyes. I welcomed the death that was already on its way.

Music and dance came before death. It was hard to keep my eyes closed.

The villagers danced around the tree I was tied to and even beyond; it had been very long since a party this big was thrown. Many people stared at me as they passed, and I could tell they were visitors. My life was old news to the indigene; my story had lost its savor.

I must have been the last to see them.

What I noticed first was how people parted like they had been blown by the wind; I heard the horses even before I saw them. Majestic, like nothing I had seen before. From their mane to their tail spoke of power. Horsepower. But nothing spoke majesty better than the two men that rode the horses.

It was hard to see them from the floor where I lay, but their bodies filled their clothes like they were made for them, and they rode like they were one with the horses. I would have thought them to be brothers because of their similar build, but something told me they were not.

I could not observe more of them because one turned to me, and I looked away before our eyes could meet. Then both passed my spot without giving me a second glance. They must have heard of my treason.

I closed my eyes again. This time, I let my senses travel away from my current location.

My consciousness came back when I felt my chain being pulled. My eyes fluttered open to see a crowd had gathered around me.

"Moonfang has always been a pack known to be kind and helpful. We take care of each other and assist neighboring tribes when we can; we host parties and invite all from far and near." It was Alpha Kael that spoke; his voice echoed throughout the village, and he needed no amplifier. "But some have thought us to be weak and lazy. Then they think they can get away with something as heavy as treason." His voice was filled with bile and hate; this was the ruthless Alpha. Fear ran away from me; I could not wait to take my last breath. "The clan wants to set this as an example to all. Call the Whipper!"

I knew the Whipper. He was a big man; he assisted the Alpha in delivering all kinds of punishments, down to executions. The Alpha killed with the Whipper's hands.

"Why do you need such a big man to whip such a tiny girl?" The voice echoed disgust. It came from within the crowd. Again, the people parted to reveal the men. It was the one with the hair of the sunset that spoke.

"I don't think punishing a little girl will pass the message you're trying to convey." The one with hair as dark as midnight spoke.

"Do not be deceived by her stature. The girl has committed treason, something greater men dare not do." The Alpha tried to explain.

The Whipper wasn't interested in the conversations; he tried to pull me so he could tie me to the tree.

It was then fear returned. I tried to flee his grip, but his hands had caught my shirt. I heard it rip. Totally. From behind.

I was bare. I wore nothing underneath.