001

Dienara was her first name, and it meant man destroyer. But the name didn’t portray who she was, so she was given Desdemona, meaning misery and ill fate.

Desdemona- a useless wolf others maltreated for fun.

She was a cursed Omega- a flower trapped within the four-kilometer-long wall of Razgriz Pack, where her sorrow resided, with longing desires, no tender touch of dewdrops at dawn, nor a gentle breeze to carry her on.

Her only crime was choosing to come to the world when the hunter moon shined bright and long in the sky- a sacred festival night for Razgriz Pack, a day that marked the day the moon goddess blessed their ancestors with a place to hide from the wolf hunters. And while Alpha Brecc, the current Alpha of Razgriz Pack, was about to offer a ritual to appreciate and appease the moon goddess, Desdemona’s first cry distracted him, and that made her the foretold death of the Alpha, and Razgriz Pack’s destruction.

Desdemona was wolf-banned immediately after her first cry in the world and her entire family was instantly wiped out for being the source of a curse into the world.

Alpha Brecc ordered her execution, but the moon goddess forbade it. And since her murder was a taboo, none of those who wanted her dead dare kill her. But they could torment her to their satisfaction.

Wolf-less, she was too weak to defend herself. And Mate-less, she has no hope of anyone to protect her. So, it was her fate to dwell in pain until her last breath.

★★★★★

Luna Ailee stepped out of her castle, in a long-sleeved white floor-length tunic. Her tunic was made from silk embroidered with green linen and she wore a green brocade jacket on it.

Her long black hair was cocktail-packed, and the tiara on her head was studded with gems. Five gold bracelets on each of her hands while a tiny, but shiny diamond necklace beautified her collarbone neck.

Her soft leather flower-embroidered shoes were already placed in front of the entrance, and she turned to Balto, her beefeater, immediately after she wore it. “To the Alpha’s East castle.”

Balto curtsied his head. “Yes, your grace.”

Balto turned to the four housecarls, who stood firmly in front of Luna Ailee’s castle in their interlocking iron rings short-sleeved byrnie.

Two of the housecarls wore kettle hats and held a flail, while the other two wore an iron helmet and carried a hand-and-a-half sword in their right hands and a mace in their left hands.

Balto pointed to them. “You… you, come with me.”

The two guards paced to Luna Ailee’s front and bowed their heads. “Yes, your Grace.”

Balto took the front with a long blood-sucking arrow that its pointed mouth was digging a hole in the ground. He was also wearing a short-sleeve shirt, but his own was made with bronze since he was the Luna's knight.

Ailee walked after Balto majestically with Bemia, her right-hand maid, walking almost beside her while the other two guards walked behind them at over fifteen steps intervals.

After a few minutes walk, they got to the Pack’s market square, and all activities were paused.

“Live long, the queen of hearts!” The pack members’ greetings came from all angles as they bowed their heads before she reached their fronts and they raised it as she walked past them.

Ailee didn't respond to the greetings, but she smiled at them.

After a few walks from the market square, they arrived at the torture center- a wide length concreted circle, built at the Pack center. It was the hottest spot in the Pack and was full of torturing instruments. 

Criminals are disciplined at the torture center, and Ailee believed Desdemona was also one from birth, so she had a cage built on it for her so that Desdemona would go through the pains of every season as there wouldn’t be a place for her to hide during the rainy season or shelter to stay under when it’s hot.

Ailee slightly glanced at Bemia. “Where is Desdemona? Is the curse serving punishment somewhere?”

Bemia stepped forward to Ailee’s front. Her hands were on her belly and she bent her neck a bit. “No, your Highness. Maybe she’s still in her home.”

The thought of Bemia guessing right made Ailee's eyeballs widen in disbelief. “Desdemona is yet to wake up?!”

Rage wanted to occupy Ailee's mind, but she calmed herself because it was a good day. She clapped her hands twice and chuckled. “How dare Desdemona? She is thinking highly of herself these days…”

“What do you think, Bemia?” Ailee directed a question to Bemia.

Bemia never disappoints. She always knew what to do and say at the right time. And her answers are always perfect to Ailee. 

Bemia bent her neck and said her view. “Your Grace, for Desdemona to sleep till now, she doesn’t fear you anymore. She is thinking high of herself.”

Ailee nodded. “What do you think I should do to her?” She inquired.

Bemia curled her neck a bit, saying her view, “My Grace, it’s a good day today. You're in a good mood, so I implore you to not allow her to ruin your mood. Leave her now and come back to her later,”

“But My Grace, you can’t let her go unpunished,” Bemia uttered. She glanced at Balto, and in an impressive tone, she poured out her poisonous suggestion. “Since Balto is here, let him take care of her.”

A grin escaped Ailee’s lip, and she looked at Balto. “Wake Desdemona up.” She instructed.

Balto curtsied his head and instantly turned to the torture center. 

“You aren’t allowed to wake her up in a normal way, but as a useless wolf she is.” Ailee notified.

Balto scoffed, wondering why the Luna reminded him how to treat Desdemona when she knew he was always on the go for bedevils. 

“Okay.” He let out and fastly ascended. He arrived at Desdemona’s cobb and whacked the arrow flat bottom on Desdemona’s back.

He pivoted the arrow and whang her the pointed mouth, shouting, “wake up!”

The arrow pierced Desdemona’s back, and blood flooded out. 

“Hum!” Desdemona moaned. Her mind desired to scream, but her mouth prohibited it.

Balto pummeled her ankle. “Stand up!”

Desdemona's mouth couldn’t hold it anymore and a screech fled her mouth. “Ah!”

“Her noise is disturbing. Shut her up!” Ailee complained.

Just like others, Ailee loathed Desdemona. But her hatred for her was worse. Ailee was the Pack Luna, and despite her tight schedule, she found time to torment Desdemona. No one knew the reason behind it, but they believed it was supposed to be so. Who wouldn’t despise her lover’s foretold death?

Balto blanked Desdemona. “Come out!”

Desdemona raised her head to get out but had to slow down to stretch her body because she always curled in the cage so it would inhabit her body.

Struggling to get out quickly, she hit her forehead on the cage cover and she fell back to the ground.

Her crushed body and soul tried to hold her back, but she governed them and bobbed out of the cage in a dirty, torn kirtle.

On her face, neck, and arms were scars left by wounds that healed without treatment while fresh ones were covered with dirt. And her long black hair was roughed and tangled.

She swaggered towards Ailee with her forehead blood leading, while the ones from the back followed her footsteps.

Watching Desdemona walk slowly, a smug smile escaped Ailee’s mouth. “It seems she can't walk, please. Please help.”

Balto stormed to Desdemona and pummeled her feet. “Walk faster!”

Desdemona knew the hitting wouldn’t stop until she reached Luna Ailee’s front and kowtow, so she wanted to ignore the pain to walk faster, but her body was a betrayal. 

Tears rolled out of her eyes, and her entire body froze.

She dragged her feet to take another step, but she fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

“What’s it?” Ailee inquired.

“She faints.” Balto reported.

“Take care of her,” Ailee commanded. “Pummel her and if she refuses to wake up, use hot water.”

Ailee looked over her shoulder, directing a question to Bemia behind her. “Are you still feeding her?”

Without waiting for Bemia’s response, Ailee sighed. “We still have to feed her. What can we do since we can't stain our hands with her blood?”

“Are you making sure she is fed with leftovers?” She inquired.

“Yes, your Grace,” Bemia gave an immediate response. “I take care of her meals and make sure she eats leftovers.”

“Reduce her meal to once a day and thrice a week.” Ailee instructed.

Bemia bowed her head. “Okay, your Highness.”

Ailee sufficed her lip with a venomous smile and walked away to the palace.

★★★★★

Three guards pummeled Desdemona as Balto instructed, but she didn’t wake up. Another two guards joined, but she still didn’t wake up.

Balto looked around and glimpsed Bayen and Aglaeca passing by. He waved at them. “Hey, come!”

Bayen and Aglaeca looked at Balto and walked up to the circle. They arrived at his front and bent their necks. “Sir.”

Balto pointed at Bayen. “Fetch hot water from the kitchen.” He ordered.

“Hun!” An unbelievable tone escaped Bayen's mouth as his eyelids went up. He didn't know or hear anything about Desdemona, but seeing her on the floor, he instantly guessed what the hot water might be used for.

Bayen looked at Balto’s face, querying, “for what, sir?”

Aglaeca, Derian, and Caxton’s eyes widened, shocked.

Balto has never seen Bayen before but has encounters with Aglaeca before. He looked at Aglaeca, questioning, “is he new here?”

“Yes, sir,” Aglaeca answered. “He was sent as a gift for the Alpha and judging by his competency, his Highness handed him to me so I can guide him to be a better pack guard.”

“I see…” Balto nodded. He stepped closer to Algaeca and placed his hand on his shoulder. 

“Don’t you think you should take full responsibility? Take today off to teach him everything he needs to know.”

Aglaeca grabbed Bayen’s hand and forced him to bow his head. “Thank you.”

“Ahn!” Bayen exclaimed.

“What-” Bayen wanted to pour out his mind, but Aglaeca gave him a reprimanding look and he quickly controlled his anger so he wouldn't drag Aglaeca into a mess.

“I will make l take my time and teach him well.” Aglaeca assured.

Aglaeca held Bayen’s hand tightly and hurriedly walked away.

Balto looked at Caxton. “Get hot water.”

Caxton handed his arrow to Derian and darted to the palace kitchen. He came back minutes later, carrying a pocket of hot water. 

He showed the water to Balto. “Here, sir.”

“Pour it on her.” Balto ordered.

Caxton gave Derian and Balto a second to step back and he poured the water on Desdemona’s body.

Immediately as the water touched Desdemona, it damaged her internal organs and the extreme pain made her regain consciousness.

She coughed and ground her teeth as she gradually opened her eyes, but before she could fully open them, Caxton poured the remaining water on her face and she instantly closed it back.

“Hmm!” She moaned.

Desdemona was the weakest of all, but since the wolf’s blood ran in her veins, the hot water caused no harm to her skin- hot water was only poisonous to the inner wolf and reduced their inner powers, which Desdemona wasn’t sure she had. She has already passed twenty years but has yet to shapeshift.

“Tie her to the pole,” Balto commanded. “Let her face the north so the sun can dart at her face.”

Derian put the arrows on the ground and walked closer to Caxton. And they hung her to the shortest of the three poles.

Immediately, as Desdemona was tied to the pole, the sun rose and darted on her face. She closed her eyes and a drop of tear fell from her eyes. 

‘If I ever gain freedom, all of you will regret hurting me.’