IN THE NICK OF TIME

“But I don't understand!” I exclaimed in disbelief, addressing the pendant, my voice shaking. “What do you mean by saying I am the chosen one? How can I possibly be the Luna?! I am just an ordinary girl who is despised by everyone!”

"You're not merely an ordinary girl, Alina," the pendant responded, its voice filled with reassurance. "You possess something extraordinary. And soon, you will embark on a remarkable journey unlike anything you've ever experienced."

This pendant seemed to know more than it should.

“But what do you mean by I am the mate to Aleksan-” I attempted to ask, but before I could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed nearby.

“Someone's coming!” I exclaimed, making sure the pendant could hear me.

“I have to go now.” the pendant informed me.

“But wait, you still haven't answered my question! How am I the chosen one?!” I exclaimed, anxious of the approaching footsteps.

“Don't worry, I'll explain that some other time. I am a part of you, so you can reach out to me whenever you desire.” The pendant reassured.

“But wait, how do I reach out-” I tried to say but suddenly, the pendant went back to normal. No humming, no glowing red light, no voice—just an ordinary, plain pendant.

“To you,” I said it to myself, in the moonlit, chilly dungeon as I concluded my words, letting out a deep sigh.

Frustration overwhelmed me as numerous questions raced through my mind. However, one question stood above all others:

How could I possibly be the mate of that heartless creature, Aleksander? It seemed completely impossible!

Maybe the pendant had made a mistake. Maybe it wasn't referring to Aleksander as my mate, but rather suggesting that I was meant to be with Klaus or Meynard, or someone entirely different. Just not Aleksander!

Because how can one's mate punish them to get beaten?

My thoughts were still in disarray, and my head throbbed as I tried to process what had just occurred, when the guard approached.

"I thought I heard voices as I was coming here," he murmured, his voice devoid of emotion.

"No, it's just me, as you can clearly see," I replied, gesturing with my hands outstretched. "There's no one else here.”

The guard glared at me before declaring, "It's time for your punishment.”

My heart raced within my chest as the realization of the reason for my presence in this place dawned upon me. With each step, my heart pounded heavily, and my knees grew weak as the guard extended his hand to retrieve the keys, unlocking the door that would lead me to the open space where my punishment awaited.

As the guard led me out of the dungeon, I wondered if there was any way to escape my fate.

What if I ran away?

The thought of running away crossed my mind, but the reality of my situation quickly extinguished that possibility. My hands and legs were bound by chains, making it impossible to escape the watchful eye of the guard and getting away from the guard would only put me in more trouble with Aleksander.

As we reached the punishment ground, popularly referred to as 'The House of Terror' among the pack members, a wave of unease washed over me.

I wondered if there was anyone who could save me, yet I couldn't ignore the sinking feeling that there was no hope.

The only person with the power to save me from this predicament was that cold-hearted Aleksander, but I was well aware that it was an unattainable feat.

I mean why would Aleksander waste his time and energy on me?

Why would the almighty Alpha Aleksander enter this place and command the guards to stop, disregarding everything I have said and done to him?

No, that doesn't sound like him!

I accepted my fate as the guards forced me to kneel, my hands and legs still bound by chains. The guards stood around me, two stationed at my side and one gripping the whip.

The whip belonging to the wolfsong clan wasn't like any other type of whip. It possessed extraordinary qualities. Crafted from silver elements, its strikes would instantly weaken and inflict intense pain upon the recipient.

Although, it isn't enough to kill them but it would make them utterly weak, requiring a week or more for recovery. In dire situations, the pack would seek the aid of their most skilled healer.

Meynard, the most powerful healer in the pack, would need to use one-third of his healing abilities to restore the afflicted individual to their normal state.

And here I was, in a vulnerable position, anticipating the lashes of a whip that had the potential to fatally harm me.

One of the guards positioned my head on a wooden surface, drawing attention to my exposed back, which would bear the impact of the whip's strike.

As the guard lifted the whip into the air, I tightly shut my eyes, bracing myself for the impending strike and the ensuing pain it would inflict upon my body.

Still anticipating the impact, a gust of wind suddenly swept past me, accompanied by a sensation of something crashing down upon me. The next sound I heard was a deep, pained groan.

"Aah!" The voice cried out, unmistakably that of a man, and one whose familiar tone I knew all too well.

I opened my eyes and shifted my gaze to the person standing behind me.

Aleksander! He actually showed up!

Wait, what?! He came?! But why?

I observed as Aleksander rose from me and adjusted his stance.

In utter disbelief, the guard with the whip stammered, “A-A-Alpha Aleksander!” He dropped the whip to the ground and fell to his knees. “Alpha Aleksander, I deeply apologize. It was never my intention for this to occur. The intended target was her,” he explained, pointing towards me. “Please, forgive me, merciful Alpha!”

Witnessing this, the remaining guards followed suit, kneeling before Aleksander, pleading for his forgiveness and sparing their lives.

Despite his silence, I could tell from Aleksander's eyes that the whip had a profound impact on him. I kept my gaze fixed on his eyes, recalling the moment when I heard him groan in agony, and a wave of guilt washed over me.

"Set her free!" Aleksander eventually uttered, his voice devoid of warmth and distant, as he directed his unwavering gaze towards me.

The guard who had escorted me out of the dungeon, coincidentally positioned on my left side, produced the key. With hands trembling, he unlocked the locks, setting me free.

I rose to my feet and massaged my wrists, which were sore from the chains that had bound them.

With my head lowered, I faced Aleksander and began speaking.

"I sincerely thank you, almighty Alpha Aleksander Stormgaze," I reluctantly apologized, even though I didn't truly want to.

But let's be honest, if he hadn't intervened, I would have suffered severe harm. It's time for me to let go of my arrogant facade and genuinely express my remorse.

"I am truly grateful for your recent actions," I expressed, looking up at him while his icy gaze penetrated mine. Concerned for his well-being, I inquired, “Are you hurt?"

A fleeting silence enveloped us as we locked eyes, until Aleksander eventually broke the stillness.

"Can we talk… in private?" he asked, his voice carrying a subtle undertone of tenderness.

Upon hearing the word 'private,' the guards, who were previously kneeling with their heads lowered, abruptly lifted their gazes.

A lump formed in my throat before I mustered the courage to respond. "Certainly," I replied, nodding ever so slightly.

"Follow me," Aleksander instructed, taking the lead and striding away, leaving the guards still kneeling behind.

Before I hurriedly chased after Aleksander, who was gradually distancing himself from me, I took a moment to apologize to the others.

Despite the pain in my legs, I pushed myself to catch up. As I did, my heart raced with anticipation, wondering what Aleksander had in mind to discuss.

Eventually, we reached a spot and came to a halt. After settling down, Aleksander unexpectedly uttered the most peculiar statement I had ever heard from him.

"You were right. I owe you an apology for what I said to you in the forest today. I'm sorry.”

I was filled with disbelief and let out a gasp when I realized that he was capable of apologizing.

It was hard to believe that the Aleksander I knew could say the word 'sorry'. It made me wonder if something had changed him, perhaps the whip has affected his memory.

Or has he gone mad?