CHAPTER 11: Lies and Punishments

MY heart raced at their topic.

I was their topic, and Raine even participated in it. A backhanded comment, I must say, she still manage to mention how I was blinded with jealousy.

I grit my teeth, turning my head away to ignore their chatters. There was no good in trying to let my emotions get the best of me. I had my fair share of attempts in slitting her throat and every one of then ended in me either punished or ignored, meanwhile her — a sobbing, annoying mess which everyone attends to.

I can’t let myself get involve this ti—

“You guys . . . You shouldn’t call her that way . . . even if she is.” I stop desd in my tracks, slowly turnung over to what they were saying?

She agreed?

I clench and unclenched my fist, trying my best to calm myself. The door was right in front of me and the pack warriors guarding the door was off to their shift in roaming the barrier for any intruders, which was why I was the only one here.

One step inside the pack house and I will no longer suffer to hear their voices trying to claw themselves beneath my veins.

“Lady Raine!” some of them gasped at what they heard come out of her mouth. I was expecting quite a different tone, perhaps shocked, or tiny-bit upset that someone from beyond the borders just insulted me like that, but they were rather much . . . relieved.

“We are so glad you think so too, Lady Rai—”

“—Luna.” Raine halted the Omegas from talking, inserting a word I would have never thought I would even hear from her.

“Pardon-Pardon me?”

“Call me Luna Raine. I will soon ascend to that position in the future, eitherway. There was no need of trying to hide that.”

I was frozeb in shock at what I heard, every skin in my fiber rose at how much creepy she sounded—how greedy.

I chewed on my bottom lip, tasting the metalic blood in my mouth. My gaze darkened, black spots arriving in my vision, and before I knew it, I stormed towards where they were.

My mind was blank, but it wasn’t blank

enough to not know who I was pulling. It was an Omega, I already had fun with Raine and she will get her special treatment soon enough.

What I really want to do right now, was to slit the Omega’s throat and perhaps cook her tongue. I wonder what will be the most satisfying?

As a Luna, I have the right to kill someone if I dem it fit. As a leading member of this pack, my judgement is considered justifiable and fair. Thus killing this woman isn’t going to be a big deal.

“Ah!” Raine’s shriek followed through my actions while I drag the Omega by her blonde hair right towards the forest.

“Kneel.” I said, nodding over to the other Omega. She fearfully obeyed, kneeling beside her comrade as they beg on my feet.

“I-I am sorry! P-please please forgive this lowly one. Luna!” Her last exclamation came from witnessing me break a large branch on a tree. Just fit enough to smack someone with.

“Maryna—” Raine’s eyes were starting to tear up and by the looks of it, I think she’ll try to contact Calvin with their matebond. Unless they aren’t mated yet.

Oh, Goddess, how I hope so.

“That’s Luna for you, Raine—damn it!” I finally bursted out loud before turning to her, pointing the branch at her face.

“Cry, and expect to see this branches slashing into your flesh. Something I wasn’t able to do a few days ago.” I mutter under my breath before turning to the Omega.

“Extend your hands.” I growl which she trembled more. She still extended her hands though. it’s unfortunate she did, if she hesitated, this branch might meet her head than the back of her hands she’s reluctant to extend.

“You know, you should have thought about that before you head around the pack mumbling about your stupid obeservation about me.” I smack the branch on her trembling hands.

It instantly bled, leaving red marks from the spot I hit. Her cries filled the entirety of the forest, birds flew from their homes from the loud sound, and the crickets silenced.

“Was it really hard to shut that mouth even for once?” I mutter before hitting the other Omega. I turn to Raine. She was already shaking so much to the point of her knees wavering.

Good. Shake, tremble, and fear my presence.

That is who you are. Beneath me.

“And the Luna position? It will remain as mine. Forever mine—” Ah!

I smacked her hand once more. She was shaking so much that it didn’t take long for her to cry and was muffling words I can’t can't comprehend. But all I know, it was a plea for mercy.

Little did they know, this was far from þthe things I wanted to do with them and their airy tongues.

“If you’re apologizing to me now, why even do it in the first place? Right?”

Another smack sounded. Their slick skin sounded from the wood that was hitting it. And again, just like how I would do in wars, I was taking pleasure on that little, agonized sound they make.

Another hit to the two of them.

“Yes y-yes, we’re truly s-sorry. It will never happen-happen again!” she plea, placing her head on the ground atop her hand. She was begging me on my feet.

How mezmerizing. It this what power is? Because I am loving it with every single thing in me.

Power, huh. Smells carnal . . . greedy, and silent.

“Ah!”

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Raine decided to pull another trick again. Why she wasn’t running away and trying to call on someone who would be strong enough to stop me—I really don’t know.

What she was trying to achieve by staying by this scene, I want to know.

“Maryna, please stop it!” I continued beating the bleeding arms of the Omegas. They aren’t so stupid to actually pull them away. It’s their hands or their heads.

“Maryna!” I was busy smacking and hitting and making sure the heavy branch landed on their arms that I didn’t notice the voice that was trying to stop me changed.

It wasn’t Raine anymore.

I only realized the moment I was pulled away from the two Omegas and landed on my butt with a thud on the rough ground. I grunted and was about to eye whomever stopped me when my mouth closed before the words even came out.

I can’t be angry with the Alpha.

“Calvin . . .” I mumble before standing up to fix my appearance, the dirt clinging onto some parts of my skin, and I try to shake them off as much as I can.

“You’re not bothering Raine anymore, and now you’re into her friends?” I look towards Raine whom he was trying to hide and protect in his arms. She was a sobbing mess.

My brows furrowed at what he said. This was probably the first time he talked to me after what happened at the ball and yet this was the first sentence I’d hear from him—another scolding.

“No, you don’t understand. it’s them—they-they . . .” he raised his thick brow at me, dubiously looking at my stuttering posture. Raine too was unhelpful with the situation as Calvin cannot even focus on what I have to hear from how loud she’s breathing and sobbing.

“Hush, Raine.” Calvin slowly runs his hand on her back as she presses her face on his chest. A pang that was in the pit of my stomach awoke and rose up to my heart.

No no, look at me, hear me out.

“I-they were talking behind my back, Calvin! Telling me how I was-I was a bitch!” I loudly exclaimed, trying to find his eyes. I place all my trust that maybe this time he’s going to listen to me.

That he’s going to consider to at least hear my words out. Afterall, what good has his ignorance of me been for the past few days if I haven’t even slipped in his mind even once?

He turns to the trembling Omegas that are now behind me. They already stood up from kneeling on the ground, knees and arms dirty of both blood and dirt.

They were trembling, perhaps from the pain of my hits, or their feat of the Alpha believing me. Perhaps both. But at least they were still decent enough to not utter a word to defend their actions.

Unless one would oppose what I’m saying.

“Is this true? This will result with the both of you being banished from the pack. Salting the name of the Luna—” Raine seemed to have perked up from the sound of the last word.

Calvin continued rubbing circles on her back, calming her down once more.

“You will either confess, or be banished.” Calvin glowered at the two of them and they were comfortingly rubbing their arms and looking at each other. A second later, they both nodded in unison and turned to their Alpha.

“I-We did—We sullied the name of the Lu—” I waited for them to complete their sentence. Of course they sullied my name, stabbing me with such words behind my back. I wonder if all the Omegas think like them, that would be—

“No! Please don’t force yourself!” my head quickly turned towards Raine who hastily cut the two of them. My brows furrowed, and I glared at her.

Damn it.

“Raine, not now. I’m trying to hear their statement. I cannot let this slide.” he mumbles before kissing the top of his mate’s forehead.

“No-No! Calvin please. They-they were just complimenting me and-and yet—” she then turned to me who’s already scowling at her.

Her pink hair was fuzzy from all the tears yet her unique blue eyes still seemed aware of what she’s saying.

Hngh!

She gasped, fear flashing in her eyes at the sight of my face. In a third person’s point of view, this would instantly seem like I’m trying to threaten her into not uttering a word.

And so, Calvin pulled her closer, glaring angrily at me.

“What is the truth?” He gritted out those words, as he threw daggers at me with his gaze.

“They were talking bad about me! I heard it, Calvin. I heard it myself!” I shout at him. My chest heaved up and down and the Omegas shifted from where they were standing.

I think the birds which have settled around a few branches flew away once more upon hearing my voice.

“Calvin—” Raine tried to turn his jaw away from looking at me.

“Fuck at least believe me for once and stop talking to that whore!” I exclaimed a few tears coming close to falling from my eyes. A lump formed in my throat before I clenched and unclenched my fist.

I was about to raise my head when it turned sideways instead and a loud smacking sound reached my ears.

The stinging came. It was far from Raine’s slap, it was stronger.

I let my head stay still on the side, eyes wide in horror. The tears that were threatening to fall were already cascading down my cheeks, yet I dare not move. I can’t move.

If I did, then I would have to face him. And face the fact that after two decades of us being together. Whether it was merely a platonic relationship . .

.

He finally laid hands on me.

I dreamt of this, for his touch to have an impact on me.

I didn’t expect it to hurt this much though.