Departure

"You are going to the Zircon pack and alpha Nikolai is to do with you as he wishes. A peace treaty has already been agreed on and you need to go to pay for your sins and to prevent the impending war he has been hanging over our heads." Tiki announced with a flat face.

Raine's eyes widened at his words. When she had been summoned to come before the council and apologize for sabotaging the moon procession and for putting the lack in danger, she didn't expect that a punishment would come with it. And not just any punishment, she was being sold off as a slave.

"The zircon pack?" she squeaked.

"Did I stutter?" Tiki asked glaring murderously at her.

"You brought this upon yourself. To make matters worse, you even tried to run away. Since you wanted to leave the pack so much, I'm giving you the opportunity."

Raine fell to her knees in tears.

"Father, please. Don't send me away. I'll try better from now onwards." She implored Tiki and the rest of the council but no one paid her any heed. She knew what would befall her if she ever left her clan.

There was no place for a defective wolf anywhere in the world. Her life would be in danger. In as much as everyone hated her around here, she still had the protection of her brother keeping her alive. Leaving the pack would mean death.

Raine's mind wandered. Maybe death would be a better option than living a miserable life. She didn't know which was better.

"Please, Father. I am innocent. I swear it. I didn't plant that bomb. I didn't make any attempt on Alpha Nikolai's life." She pleaded.

"The evidence against you is damning, Raine. It's high time you learn to take responsibility. Living under your family's shadow won't protect you forever."

"But, you are sending me to my death!" Raine yelled.

Tiki's eyes flashed murderously at the outburst. He pinned Raine with the most hateful look he could conjure.

"Then, die." He deadpanned.

Raine sucked in a breath in surprise at his callousness.

"You think I don't know all about your desire to die? All along you've been playing the victim to garner pity from the rest of the land because you're weak. I won't indulge you anymore. You will go to the Zircon pack, and you will die, if that is what you wish."

Raine knew he was right. She might be hated by everyone in the pack, but there was still an immunity that came with being the alpha's daughter. That immunity as well as her brother protected her and kept her alive.

Outside the night pack, she knew there was no place for a defective wolf like her. She wouldn't survive even a day from under her family's wings.

Raine's mind wandered trying to come to terms with her new predicament. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe this was her chance to finally leave this world behind. But even that thought didn't sit well with her.

"I am still your daughter." She pleaded. "Please, don't give me away. I'll do better. I'll try harder." She begged.

No one paid her any heed. Shania stared at her in disgust. The rest of the council members stood up and left the room one after the other signaling the end of the meeting.

Their decision has been made and Raine would pay to save them all. She huddled on the floor and curled herself into a ball. Heart-wrenching sobs racked through her. She put her hand on her chest to prevent the pieces of her shattered heart from pouring out.

"Get up," Atticus commanded.

Raine shook her head and bunched in closer. Atticus knelt in front of her.

"Get the hell off the floor, Raine. You are stronger than this."

"I'm going to die, Atty." Raine wailed.

"It's a peace treaty. Alpha Nikolai won't kill you. He's a better person than that." Atticus assured her.

"You don't believe that. Everyone knows how ruthless he is. Why would he care about one puny girl without a wolf?" Raine questioned.

"Don't let them see how much their decisions hurt you." Atticus chided.

"You keep saying that." Raine snapped.

Atticus sighed.

"Get ready, put your things together. I'll take you to the Zircon pack myself and make sure no one lays a hand on you." He assured her.

Raine got up skeptically. She knew his plan wouldn't have any effect. But somehow it made her feel better.

She nodded and headed to her room to get ready as advised. Some omegas accosted her on the way and apprehended her.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

They flanked her and without any explanation took her away to the dungeons.

"Where are you taking me? Why are you doing this?" Raine demanded. No answer came forth. The omegas threw her into one of the cells and locked her in.

"Hey! Let me out of here." Raine yelled. They left her in there and slammed the door. The sound echoed and reverberated through the entire cell. Even the walls shook at the impact.

"Help me." She whispered in prayer to no one in particular and fell to the floor in despair.

Raine didn't know how long she sat in the dark cell, but after a long while, she heard footsteps approaching. She huddled to the far end of the stall and plastered herself against the wall while her heart thundered in her chest.

The door opened with an ominous creek and rough hands grabbed her dragging her along out of the cell and into the tunnels.

"Why are you doing this? Who sent you to do this? My father?" She asked.

The guards didn't answer. Raine struggled to free herself but they were too strong. They brought her to the clearing in front of the ancient caves where the spirits dwell, according to their legend.

Shania walked out of the cave with a sinister smile.

"What do you want from me now?" Raine asked.

Shania gave a nod of her head and the guards violently tore off Raine's clothes from her body stripping her naked. She clutched herself in a bid to cover up, but it was a futile attempt.

"Why are you doing this?" Raine wept.

"You didn't think I'd let you run off to another pack without letting you taste the pain I've endured all these years? Watching my mate bring in a child from another woman into my household and having to raise the child? You brought me misery. Consider this payback."

She signaled the guards again and they fished out leather whips from their belts. They cracked the whip in the air testing its resilience.

Raine's eyes widened at the sight. She stumbled backward in shock and fear.

"What are those for?" She asked eyeing the guards uncertainly.

"Leave no flesh untouched," Shania ordered callously.

The realization dawned on Raine. Before her insects could react, the first lash landed on her back.

"Argh!!" Raine screamed in pain. She could feel the exact moment when her flesh tore off on impact. Before her brain could even process the single lash, more of it rained down all over her body.

Her knees gave out and she fell to the ground and wept. Her body burned with pain and her soul despaired in anguish. Blood dripped from the several wounds marring her body and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Shania threw a black robe down on the ground next to her. She squatted in front of Raine and gripped her jaw tightly digging her claws into her skin.

"Cover up your filth. And get back to the house. If anyone finds out about this, you will have worse coming to you, and you will only have yourself to blame." She spat in her face and walked off.

Without a backward glance, the guards followed her leaving Raine to writhe on the floor.

Her muscles groaned and her bones ached as she wrapped the robe around her and blindly stumbled her way through the woods to the pack house. She tried as much as she could to stay out of sight.

She soaked herself in warm water and salt to try and alleviate the pain. The torn flesh sizzled in contact with the warm water.

Soon, banging ensued outside her bedroom door.

"Who is it?" Raine croaked.

"Get ready. The betas are here to take you to the Zircon pack." Atticus announced from outside the door.

Raine's breath hitched at the news. She stepped out of the tub and drained the water. She struggled to get dressed. Each movement aggravated the pains and aches radiating from all over her body.

She finished slowly and walked out the door to find a bunch of people waiting for her.

"Are you okay?" Atticus asked peering at her suspiciously.

Raine nodded and focused her attention on waking straight without wincing or showing any signs of discomfort.

Shania's glaring eyes made sure to keep her in check. Atticus walked up and put his hand across her shoulder to guide her out. Raine hissed at the contact and he quickly withdrew his hand.

"Are you sure you are alright?" he quizzed her again.

Raine nodded one more time and got into the waiting car. The glee on the face of her entire household pierced her heart. She looked away and faced forward.

This is going to be a new chapter of her life. And even though everything seemed bleak at the time, she held on to the fact that just maybe, she would find a better place without being in their shadows.

"Let's go," Atticus said.