Chapter 5

Lyra POV

The day was getting set already and all other slaves was brought out of there cages to start there duty in the pack, since we all already knew our position in the new pack.

" Hey, move forward" one of the guard held me on my wrist and pushed me forward while I gave him a nasty look, trying to set my arms free from his hard press onto my arm.

" Leave me," I groan with pain as he let me free I said to him while he gave me an unfriendly look that made me look forward to the front.

In the front of the line, Alpha Dante and Crystal stood side by side giving a glance to everyone that was out already.

At seeing them first, I just hid my face despite i was standing in front of the line,as demanded.

" Lyra" Crystal screeched out my name as I looked at her.

" Why hiding your face?" She walked closer to me and asked with sniffing me like a dog.

" It nothing" I responded.

"Nothing?" Crystal repeated my words, her voice dripping with sarcasm and malice towards me. 

"You're always hiding, Lyra. Hiding your face, hiding your emotions. What are you afraid of in here,huh?" She asked with an unfamiliar tone, while I still faced my head down trying not to look at her.

I felt a surge of anger rise up at her words, but I kept my expression neutral and calm.

 "I'm not afraid of anything, crystal," I lied trying to maintain my expression and also trying not to reveal weakness.

Crystal laughed at oñce, a cold, bitter sound.

 "Oh, Lyra. You're so transparent like the water. You're afraid of Alpha Dante, afraid of me, afraid of your own shadow,you are just of afraid everything around you."

I felt a quick hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Kieran standing beside me, his eyes fixed on Crystal with a warning gaze also.

"Leave her alone at once, Crystal," he said, his voice low and calm.

Crystal's eyes flashed with anger at once, but she seemed to think better of challenging Kieran .

 Instead, she turned to Alpha Dante, who was watching the exchange with interest and no words at all to we three.

"Alpha, I think Lyra needs to be reminded of her place here in this pack," Crystal said, her voice sugary sweet to the alpha who stood at front of the whole slave.

Alpha Dante raised an eyebrow toward her word at once. 

"Oh? And what do you suggest we do to her, Crystal?"

Crystal's smile was vicious and hid malice and hate. 

"I think she needs a reminder of who's in charge here. A public punishment would be fitting, don't you think so? Or something that can make her give respect to whom respect is due for"

My heart sank at her evil words, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me at once. 

"Public punishment? What did she have in mind for me?" I asked myself still giving a glance to the floor.

Alpha Dante's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on me at once. 

"I think that's a good idea if you say so, Crystal. Lyra needs to learn her place in this pack." He added.

Kieran's hand on my shoulder tightened, a subtle gesture of support towards me and against there own words.

 "I don't think that's necessary, Dante," he said, his voice calm and steady while my heart race so hard with fear.

But Alpha Dante was unmoved with the words from his wolf. 

"Take her to the center of the pack, right now," he ordered, his voice cold and malice running through it at same time.

The guards moved forward me, their hands grasping for me like claws digging into my skin.

 I felt a surge of panic, my heart racing with fear and thought.

Kieran stepped forward, his eyes locked on Alpha Dante,who happens to be his master.

 "I won't let you do this to her, Dante," he growled at his master.

Alpha Dante sneered at once. 

"You can't stop me, Kieran. I'm the alpha and you are just my wolf."

The two faced off, their eyes flashing with tension while my heart racing with thoughts of what would happen to me.

 I felt a spark of hope within, wondering if Kieran would defy Alpha Dante and save me from this public humiliation that was about to be done on me.

But then, Crystal spoke up, her voice dripping with malice and hate. 

"Oh, Kieran,Alpha Dante wolf. You're so predictable. You think you can protect her when your owner want her out? You can't even protect yourself in a huge fight."

Kieran's eyes flicked to Crystal, his expression darkening at once.

 And in that moment, I knew I was doomed already,I knew my life was finally destroyed, at this point all my hope was gone.

The guards dragged me to the center of the pack, their grip on my arms like vice and like wolf claws digging deep into my skin.

 I stumbled, my feet scraping against the ground as I struggled to keep up with the drag.

Alpha Dante stood on a raised platform, his eyes gleaming with triumph and a grin at same time.

 "Lyra, you have been accused of disobedience and disrespect towards this pack," he declared, his voice ringing out across the pack while my head down and my eyes already forming tears.

 "As punishment, you will receive ten lashes from the guard's."

I felt a wave of horror wash over me as the guards threw me to the ground at once trying to respect the command from Dante. 

Kieran's face appeared in my vision at same time, his eyes blazing with anger and helplessness at almost same time.

The first lash struck my back at once, and I screamed out in pain, the pain searing through me like fire and hot stone.

 I tried to struggle, but the guards held me down, their grip unyielding and the pain increasing at same time.

As the lashes continued, I felt my consciousness slipping away, the pain becoming a distant hum on me with my wolf stirring within myself.

 I saw Kieran's face, his eyes filled with tears for me, and Alpha Dante's, his expression twisted in cruelty and hate towards me as he obeyed crystal Word's.

And then, everything went black on me.

When I came after the public disgrace , I was lying in a dark cell, my back throbbing with pain and with tears dripping down of my eyes with less of any control.

 Kieran's face appeared above me, his eyes filled with concern for me.

"Lyra, I'm so sorry about what my master did," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion towards me. 

"I couldn't stop them since Dante is my owner and he still controls me as his wolf."

I tried to speak up, but my voice was hoarse from screaming die to the pain. 

Kieran helped me sit up at once, his hands gentle on my battered skin.

"We'll get through this as one I promise," he whispered, his eyes burning with determination and trust towards me.

I laid there looking at him.

" Cross... Your... Heart..." I stammered as my body shiver .

" I promise".