Chapter 3: Father's pain

Exalia's POV

There was a knock, followed by the door opening. Maria walked in with a smug expression.

“How does it feel? Don’t worry, I’ll be a good Luna to your mate,” she taunted.

She approached me with an exaggerated expression of concern. “What’s wrong, Exalia? Can’t handle being turned down by your mate?” She sneered.

Before I could respond, Maria’s eyes flicked toward the door. I saw Alpha Jake approaching. Maria’s face twisted into a cruel grin. “Let’s see who’s more important,” she said with satisfaction.

Suddenly, she slammed her head against the door frame, crying out, “Ouch! Ow!” The speed of her actions left me stunned, unable to react.

“What happened, Maria?” Alpha Jake rushed to her, entirely ignoring me.

“Exalia hit me because you didn’t choose her!” Maria’s voice was filled with false indignation. She pointed at me as she spoke to Jake.

He turned to look at me, his brows furrowing in anger.

“Jeez, I didn’t do it,” I said weakly.

“Shut up, Exalia!” Jake snapped. “I thought we could still act civil, but this? You’re not the little girl I once knew.”

“I really didn’t do—” Before I could finish, Jake backhanded me across the face.

The force of the slap made my skin burn, and tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes.

Without another word, Jake scooped up the wailing Maria, cradling her gently. Maria’s lips curled into a scornful smile as she looked at me.

“I told you,” she mouthed, her eyes glittering with malice.

Hours later, my father stormed into my room, his face flushed with anger. I cowered on the bed, tears streaming down my face.

“How dare he do this to you?” My father roared, his voice trembling with fury.

“Look at how red he turned your face! That cowardly alpha thinks he can just reject my daughter and get away with it because he’s the alpha, and I’m his beta.” I shrank back, my heart pounding. I had never seen my father so enraged.

“Father, please, I don’t know what to do; I’m so tired of being bullied,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Without a word, he pulled me out of bed and dragged me through the hall to the alpha’s office. He kicked the door open with a powerful thrust.

“How dare you slap my daughter?” He bellowed, slamming his fist on the desk, making Jake stand up.

“She harmed Maria; I had no choice but to discipline her,” Jake replied nonchalantly.

“Did you consult me, her father, before you decided to discipline her? You’ve known her for 18 years. Would she ever bully anyone? You broke her spirit with your rejection; why couldn’t you just let her be?"

“I don’t care if you’re the alpha; my daughter is not a toy!” I blinked away the fresh tears threatening to fall.

“Is that a threat?” Jake’s voice was menacing as he narrowed his eyes at my father. Without a word, my father’s fist flew toward Jake, landing squarely on his jaw.

“Now that’s a threat!” my father said defiantly.

“Apologize, Beta!” Jake growled, and I knew this would not end well.

“Never!” my father shouted.

“Alright then! Guards, make sure he receives no less than 40 strokes of a silver rod laced with wolf bane,” Jake commanded, turning on his heel and walking out.

I ran after him, desperation flooding me. “Alpha, please, have mercy! I’m sorry,” I pleaded, falling at his feet, not knowing how to stop the punishment.

“Get off me and stay away!” he snapped, kicking me aside. I watched helplessly as the guards dragged my father away. I felt utterly powerless. How could my friend, my mate, be so heartless?

“Ahhhh! Ahhhhh!” I heard my father scream out in pain.

He was lying flat on a wooden-like board while two guards stood opposite each other, holding big rods in their hands and flogging him.

Maria sat in front of it with a smile on her face. If they weren't using silver and wolfs bane, I wouldn't have any problems, but this way, my father was too vulnerable.

The heavy whip was brought down with full force again and again across my father's shoulders, back, and legs. At first, the heavy thongs cut through his skin only.

Then, as the blows continued, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

I thought I could watch, and as the pack beta, he could manage, but no, my father was dying, and no one fucking cared.

“Ahhh! Please, Maria, I'd do anything to stop this." After enduring 20 strokes, I couldn't watch anymore; blood could be seen dripping down from the wooden board.

Maria stood up from her seat and walked to me. “Are you sure you are ready to do anything?” She raised an eyebrow, and I desperately nodded at her.

“Good then, fall to my feet and wipe my feet. I think they are dusty.” She ordered with a provocative smile.