CHAPTER 2| WENDIGO

Being starved to death was fine, but being enslaved was not for me. I would rather get my hands chopped than be tied to the pole of the main grounds in the packhouse as every pack member does what they want with me. 

This has been Silverfang’s way of dealing with the prisoners. 

A punishment before even being served justice in a trial.

They had just finished removing one of my nails, some even grabbed my hair so much that I am not surprised I might have gone bald. The trial would be in two hours, and what am I doing?

I am here still being punished by my fellow pack members. 

The members who promised loyalty to my father and had made an oath to never even touch a single strand of my hair. But they did. 

Judging from their ecstatic expression as they punished me, I know they must have waited their whole life to do this to me. 

The trials carry unfair rules that I have to fight for my life while beaten up. They would make the prisoner compete with one of their representative, the strongest one in the pack. 

I suddenly felt my hair being pulled from the roots, pulling me from my trance. “What are you thinking of, bitch? You seem out of it.” 

His greasy hands grabbed my chin to make me face him. “Do you remember me?”

I don’t remember him to be honest. 

I raised my eyebrows, “No, who are you again?”

“Ah, you’re all beaten up and you can still bitch out.”

He suddenly slapped me again, “Now, do you remember me?”

I coughed out blood to his face, “Still no. You’re completely significant to my life, bastard.”

He gritted his teeth, “You’ve been protected by your daddy this whole time, now that no one is protecting you, I can do everything I want with you.”

He suddenly licked my cheek and I cringed in disgust. I would rather get killed than be with this greasy-ass old pervert of a wolf. I suddenly got reminded of a memory that I forced out of my brain. Right. How could I forget? This was the same man who had been following me everywhere I went, and if my father was away for an alpha meeting, he would make sure to leave an impression on me.

Either watches me take a bath in the river, try to train with me on the grounds, or even stay with me on the full moon to check if we’re mates. The more he got closer, the more I pushed him away, but no matter what I do, he’ll always manage to stay close to me.

I had once reported him to his father but since he’s one of the delta’s that guards the pack, and we have a shortage in the guards, he couldn’t afford to lose one pack member or kick him out. The only punishment he got was being detained in a cell for a week and that’s it. 

“Hey, back off!” One of the women yelled and grabbed my hair, “Do you remember the time you killed my pup? It’s payback time, Nyra.”

Another one of the pack members grabbed my leg, “You stole my mate from me, Nyra.”

They beat me up, and I couldn't remember how many times my legs gave out that I was knocked to the ground, yet they still couldn't get enough. As if all the sins I had committed were not enough for me to just simply be killed. Almost everyone was here, some I don't even remember in our pack as they were too unrecognizable and worthless to even be bothered to remember their names. 

They might have wanted me to wish for death, but that's too low of them. I had already planned for their graves in my head. And it is far more gruesome than what they are doing to me. 

In between their kicks and punches, the pain was present, but my thirst for revenge was overcoming the idea of giving up. Of course, I feel pain, I am merely a werewolf, and I am thankful that I am the daughter of the alpha because I am much bigger compared to the other she-wolves. Also, I inherited my father's quick healing abilities. So after they would knock me unconscious, I would regain my strength and they would punch me again and the cycle continues. I fear that they are the ones who are struggling here as they run out of breath. 

With my teeth barred, my mouth couldn't help opening up and laughing at them. Laughing at my situation. If I die here now, wouldn't that be a waste?

"You'll never be able to kill me in this stupid way, everyone. Why not light a fire? I'll even get the fuel for you. Or get more silver, it will weaken me more." They all paused, looking at me like I had gone mad.

"The bitch has gone mad." One of them said, sensing the slight fear tinging his cheeks. 

"Really? Does anyone have any balls to do it?" I chuckled, "Or do you still have a conscience? Come on, I'm a monster for you. You'll never know when I'll haunt you gain in one of the full moons."

"Still the same feisty little Nyra." Said a voice from the crowd. I didn't have to turn around to see that it was my stupid brother, Ceylan. But then again, too much punching and kicking made me lose my eyesight temporarily so I could only see shadows and a hint of figure as of the moment. 

Instead, I trusted my nose. I smelled his presence coming in front of me, "I want you to rot in the cell, Nyra. Torturing you in every possible way until you no longer have the energy to bitch back like that.” 

Speaking of the devil. Ugh, “You’re all talking, brother. Do it now then.” I provoked further, mocking him in any way possible. I know that this has always been one of my strengths, Using my mouth as my weapon and provoking anyone I want. Alas, I only turn out the victor in the end. 

I felt his hands griping my cheek tightly as he growled, “Stop running your mouth or I’ll cut that off.”

That didn’t stop me from provoking him. Instead, it encouraged me more, "Awe, did I do anything that might have pissed you off, brother?"

"Yes. By existing."

"Oh...does my existence bother you? Why not kill me." I urged him. “Or you don’t have any balls to do it to your pretty little sister?” I pouted, “Well, what’s new? You’ve never even laid a hand to me when we fight, From what I could remember, this is the only time you managed to even touch my hair.” He had never stood a chance against me. I’ve always been the greatest among us three. Which is sad because it’s obvious that I am the one worthy of being the alpha. If only they could see it. 

He sighed, "You lost your sanity, Nyra. You're a dead case. No one can save you. Not even yourself.”

“Really? Let’s see about that then.” I replied. 

“Fine. Take your time talking, because after I get crowned, you’ll be disposed away like trash, and the first thing I’ll discard is your tongue-”

Suddenly, I smelled my other brother, Brian, coming near.

“Ceylan.”

“Who dares to cut me off?” Ceylan yelled.

Brian proceeded, not even quivering with fear, “The Ravager is nearing our territory.”

Ravager? If I heard it right, that’s the growing rogues who have taken some territories in the north. Their target might be us…

I smirked, if that’s the case, this pack, Silverfang, is doomed. Those rogues are savages and now that Father is gone, we lost our greatest fighter and our pack is unstable. Once Ceylan rules, the neighboring packs will be displeased that Father had left this pack with some tiny incompetent bastard. Even if Ceylan asks for their help, I know they’ll refuse. 

Oh, this is going to be fun. 

“Those damn rogues, I could smell their stench from here. Once they get to our territory, kill every last one of them.”

I looked at Ceylan, pitying him now. He does not know the looming doom that awaits him. Well, that’s what he gets for reaching for something he’s not destined with. 

It is clear how 

“Want me to help you with that? I am great at negotiating and one of the greatest fighters here.” I offered. “Father had once taken me to their meetings and I had personally witnessed how pushy and demanding those bastards are. 

“Shut up!” He yelled. He then called for one of the deltas and smirked, “I had enough of hearing her voice, let’s have her taste some pain.”

His eyes shone with mischief and I was confused at what kind of pain he was referring to. But when I saw Beta Reed coming out as he pushed the cage to the grounds, I knew what he meant.

Inside the cage carries our deadliest punishment for our criminals. Wendigo. The werewolf eats his fellow werewolves. He was once a great fighter until he lost his mate and went insane. He was uncontrollable and only his father could battle him, well, he managed to get out of it alive once when he tried to put him in the cage. 

The chains loosened and we could hear the howls of the Wendigo. Even the pack members took a step back as their fear enveloped us. And I believe that’s their mistake. We all know what feeds the Wendigo the most.  

It’s fear. They love the scent of fear. It feeds them more. And with the full moon, they are unstoppable. Even silver or wolfsbane is not enough to weaken them. 

I rolled my eyes, I should have expected this would come. Ceylan is too much of a coward to even try to fight me himself. Instead, he relies on selfish methods. 

 "You're past your deadline for finding your mate, if I were you I might have already killed myself."

“Thanks for the suggestion, but I believe this pack belongs to me that’s why my mate is still not found,” I answered. The wendigo growled as they made it closer to me. I stayed seated on the ground, wanting not to show fear. 

“Or he’s dead.”

My eyebrows quirked, “If I manage to make it out of this alive, give me the pack.”

Ceylan scoffed, “Wow, you’re in the middle of dying and you’re still thinking of the impossible.” He paused, “What’s in it for me?”

“If I die, then you’ll have nothing to lose. The pack is yours.”

“Deal.” He said and motioned for Beta Reed to open the cage. “Just a warning, we forgot to feed him for three days, so he might be a bit angrier than usual.” He said and I caught my breath. I did not let his warnings weigh me off, instead, I focused on remembering what I read about Wendigos and my father’s advice to me.