TASHA Rendall commanded a guard to open Ava's cell, and when he did, I raced inside. However, I couldn't bring myself to hold Ava because I was afraid that my touch would lead her to experience even more pain. She suddenly opened her eyes and smiled, making me cry even more. How could she offer me a warm smile after what happened to her? "M-My Luna," she said with her weak voice, which made me break out in tears. Guilt filled my heart upon hearing her voice. "W-Why did you do that? It would be best if you hadn't confessed to something that wasn't your fault, Ava," I said. "You shouldn't be here. You don't deserve to be here." "I..." she drew a breath, "bowed my loyalty t-to you," she said. "I'm w-willing to give my l-life to s-serve you and o-our Alpha." I shook my head. "They should've punished me and not you! You did nothing wrong except abiding by my command. I'm sorry," I apologized. I was about to kneel in front of her when her hand touched my arm. She groaned in pain but
TASHA Rendall and I followed Raiah as she exited her grandfather's room. We saw her head inside the dungeon where the guards were holding the rogue that we had brought earlier, who turned out to be her mother. Rendall hurried in Raiah's direction when he saw that his sister was in the process of releasing their mother from the chains that were restricting her movement. "Stop it, Raiah!" Rendall yelled out while he had both of his hands on Raiah's arms and was keeping them firmly in place. "You are mistaken if you believe that she would be able to fill the emptiness in your heart. She's not the kind of mom that you would be proud of—" "What makes you think you're different from her, huh?" Raiah questioned him as she spoke in a tone that suggested she was agitated. "I trusted you, Rendall! I trusted you more than anybody else in this pack! How could you withhold the truth from me?!" "Because I wanted to protect you from her!" he asserted. "No matter how hard you try to neglect the
TASHA I wasn't able to hear the rest of the conversation between his father and Raiah's mother when Rendall dragged me out of the dungeon. As much as I want to know some things about his father, I have to respect that they are dealing with a much more important matter now. "I'm going to see Ava," I told Rendall while we were walking. "I'll come with you—" I cut him off. "I only wanted to inform you about my plan; you don't have to come with me," I said. "I know that you're already dealing with a lot of pain within yourself; I don't want to add myself as another burden that you have to worry about. Besides," I looked away before completing my statement, "I was the only one responsible for what happened to Ava." "I'm not blaming you for everything, Tasha," he reassured me. I gave him a small smile but chose not to say anything. I looked around, finding something I could carry with me once I went to Ava's house this afternoon. After strolling almost every shop in the area, I bo
TASHAI was jolted awake by the slow yet piercing clang of a gong. Before peering out the glass window, I straightened the night dress I was wearing, and my brows wrinkled as I realized that there was a ruckus happening outside.Yesterday, Rendall exiled the rogue back into the forest, and Raiah cried because of his brother's decision. Even though he wants to help his sister, he doesn't have a choice but to adhere to the laws of the pack. veryone was pleased with the decision made by the Alpha, but I am sure that watching his sister cry must have torn his heart in a million different ways.My senses went back to reality when I heard a loud knock on my door. I wrapped a robe around my body before I opened it, and I saw some of the warriors of the pack standing in front of the quarter. They were with the head of the combatant. "Our Alpha wished for your presence, our Luna," he announced as he lowered his head "What exactly is going on?" I couldn't help but ask."Some of the warriors o
TASHA I wrapped my arms around my knees while I was seated on the cold floor. I don't even know how long I've been staying in that same position, just thinking about what had transpired earlier, how Rendall chose to look away from me when I was hoping that he would save me, how he made me realize that I was the only one who's putting up too much trust on him, and how I chose to gamble for someone who wouldn't do the same thing for me. When Rendall decided to turn his back away from me, I wanted to understand that he was just doing his responsibility as the Alpha, that he was being fair and just, but still, the look on his eyes was more than enough to tell me that, just like everybody else, he doubts me as well. I felt that murky dull feeling where I knew I wanted to cry, but tears won't come out of my eyes because the pain had numbed my heart. I didn't even realize how fast the time went by, and the only thing that signified the breaking of dusk was the light coming from the torche
TASHA“Get up!” the head of the combatant ordered me when he arrived at my cell. He was followed by some of the warriors of the pack and three older men dressed in a medieval type of clothing. It was the first time that they appeared inside the packhouse.They started cuffing my hands together and suspending my wrist to a hook in the ceiling. Instantly, it restricted my movement because my feet could barely touch the ground. He entered my cell with a braided, long whip on his hand. Right there and then, I knew that they would put me in a torment just like what they did to Ava.“Ah!” I cried as searing pain resurfaced my body after the first whip has been granted. The affected part of my body prickled with heat which made me fear the rest of the torture. The reality of my predicament trumps my willingness to protect the perpetrator.“Greet the council!” he commanded before hitting my body again…and again…and again. I shouted in pain when I felt my blood dripping from my back and legs.
TASHAAfter we buried Emily's body, the only thing governing my emotion was pure hatred toward Raiah. She used her status in the pack get what she wanted, and because of that, someone ended up losing her life. The more I think about what Emily had gone through after she realized that her actions led to the death of the warriors of the pack, it will only fuel the rage building up inside me. I couldn't even feel the pain that's killing me because witnessing the death of an innocent person is much more painful than that. "Tasha!" Rendall called me when I walked away from him but I didn't bother to look back. All I know is I had to confront his sister about why she put Emily's life in great danger. I want her to pay for what she did. I barged into her room but she was not there. I walked my way to the room of Rendall's grandfather but Rendall stopped me when I was about to open the door. The guards also blocked my way. "Let me go!" I exclaimed. "I need to talk to your sister, Rendall!
TASHAWhen I opened my eyes later that afternoon, I could still feel the numbing of my heart. Even after the confrontation I had with Raiah, I still feel the emptiness inside me. My eyes went to the door when it swung open and Rendall walked inside the room. "I thought you were still asleep," he said. I kept my lips pursed. "I told the council the truth about what Raiah did, how her action caused Emily's life and your own torment. They wanted me to carry on with the proper punishment for her but..." "But?" "Raiah descended from the Alpha's bloodline, she's still my sister and the daughter of the previous Alpha of our pack, which means that I had to punish her myself because that is how the hierarchy dictates it," he added, almost whispering. "Is that why you came here? To tell me that you can't punish your sister?" I blurted out with bitterness evident in my voice. He shook his head. "I just wanted to tell you that this won't be easy for me, too. I don't want you looking at me di