4 - Gore Punishment

*****TRIGGER WARNING!

There is no rape in this chapter but may trigger some readers, please read at your own discretion.*****

Katie's POV

"W-what do you want now!?" I hissed and inwardly cussed at myself for stuttering.

"What else, honey? You cut my six-month's salary!" He quietly screamed, if that made any sense. I was about to scream loudly, but he stopped me. "Scream, and I'll kill your brother!"

"As if Khalid will be killed by the likes of you!" I scoffed, and he smirked.

"I meant Jessica. I'll sexually harass her if you dare to yell. It would surely kill Khalid inside from the guilt. As if he wasn't already guilty enough." 

I glared at him and balled up my fists.

"Jessica isn't weak." Doing my best to distract him as I slowly paced backwards.

"Of course she isn't. But when her mate is away on a mission, she'll be consumed with anxiousness. That is her weakest days. Everyone knows they haven't completed the bond. Jessica is yet to be mated," he meaningfully said. I gasped at him as I realized that he wanted to mate with Jessica. Doing so will make Khalid insane while on the mission, and.. He could die thinking that his mate betrayed him. Either that or he'll die of guilt because he can't protect his mate.

I froze, and my breathing became fast. Having a mini-panic attack and could not think straight. Khalid is already on the brink of being insane with his guilt about me. There is no way he could survive when it concerns his mate. Rowan darkly chuckled.

"I-I'll pay you your six-month's salary that was cut." I tried to bargain, hoping he will agree.

"You can pay me with something else.." His lips formed a lecherous smile. He slowly walked towards me, then he suddenly ran. I sprinted to go back to my workplace; at least some of the people there are nice to me. They can honestly speak the truth, I hope.

Rowan jumped in the way between me and the direction to the workhouse. As if he already knows what I'm thinking. Steadying my breathing and forcing myself to calm down.. I dashed straight into the woods. We ran for minutes as we both halted. Once we realized this, we entered the prohibited forest.

The eerie silence is so disturbing that it consumed the entire place. Not even the sounds of crickets and frogs could be heard.

"Surely now you want to head back? We can talk this one out," Rowan reasoned out. Ignoring his pleas, I ran deeper into the woods. He cursed silently but still decided to chase me. Oddly enough, I pondered why didn't he wolf out? Even in this situation, I still wondered about the oddest of things. Maybe he just had fun chasing and toying around with me.. Or maybe he's frightened because his scent might attract some rogues. 

I tried my best not to trip and fall like those clichés in movies that I always hated. Even with all the scratches from the sharp branches and twigs that grazed my flesh. Blood is now dripping to the ground..

Rowan finally grew tired and impatient. He swiped his feet with mine, and I stupidly tripped. Fuck. He instantly hovered over me and held both my hands. I tried to attack his balls again with my knee, but he trapped my legs with his. Not backing out one bit, I headbutted him. It did work, as his head now bleeds from the force I struck. But he just smirked at me and licked the blood off my forehead. Shuddering in disgust, I bit his neck, and blood dripped on me. Both of us are now yelling for different reasons. 

He suddenly lewdly chuckled and licked my ear. Tears are now welling. I feel so sick and ashamed of myself.

He was about to lick my cheeks as I whispered, "Please stop now.."

Rowan was suddenly up in the air. The next split second, he was now on the ground. I saw his mouth fly open and his eyes widen in shock. A tall, pale-skinned man appeared from the shadows of the prohibited forest..

In a split second, Rowan's clothes were shattered to pieces with barbaric slashes in his chest. He yelped in pain and agony. He just watched as a tall, pale-skinned man tore apart his clothes with no difficulty. I stared in Rowan's direction, then at the man who attacked him. It wasn't a wolf's claws, but the being who tore his buttoned shirt apart has something in common with a wolf. It is feral and attacks with a personal grudge, as if an Alpha had struck revenge for its Luna.

Fueled by a primal rage, he continued his relentless strikes. As if toying with the male wolf, he takes his sweet time. I knew in every fiber of my being that he was capable of doing much worse. Every slash was a declaration of punishing what Rowan had done. I was too stunned to move or speak. 

The mysterious man wore a long black cloak that had a regal touch, and it screamed royalty. It has detailed silver embroidery adorning the edges. His piercing red eyes stared into his art piece, Rowan's chest. I gaze upon his pitch-black hair, which sways according to the direction of the wind.

Rowan is now whimpering on the ground. Regret was evident in his eyes, as he realized he had underestimated the danger that the prohibited forest holds. But he was not having it.. It hurt his pride, and even though both of us knew he had no chance,. He still stood up and fought. Although the pale-skinned man's ferocity was unmatched. Each stroke was a symphony of vengeance, a dance between predator and prey. As the mysterious man's final blow, he snapped his fingers. Like magic, he broke Rowan's limbs. I know Rowan can still be healed with the help of his wolf strength, but still, the scene that unfolds is quite gruesome to watch. The mysterious man shifted his attention to me. I saw anger and sadness in his eyes. He leaned in slightly to give me a handkerchief while pointing at the side of his lips. Motioning me that I have a stain in mine.

He stood up and turned around. I sensed that he was about to go.. My mouth unconsciously flew open to stop him. "Wait!!"

He did halt, dead in his tracks. As he slightly looked sideways, I could only see his pale cheek.

"A-are you the same man w-who saved me last time?" I queried, fully aware that if he's not, I'm risking the one who really saved my life that day..

"I'm glad you're okay." He was so cryptic. He didn't even bother to answer my question. It only confused me more. I saw him lift his finger. Knowing he was about to snap it, I tried to stop him yet again. Only this time, he didn't give me the luxury. By the time I opened my eyes.. I'm at the entrance of the prohibited forest. With a long cloak draped over my body. 

I heard the yells of Khalid, Jessica, Percy, and Rose. It seems like they have been looking for me for a long time.

"Khalid!" I managed to raise my voice for a bit. My throat is exhausted due to all that shouting and yelling earlier. Looking around our pack, I noticed the sun was already rising.

Khalid finally arrived and instantly carried me in his arms. Rose and Percy each held Rowan's foot and dragged him away. Maybe to the jailhouse or to Alpha's office. I don't know. My eyes were getting heavy, and I welcomed sleep.

By the time I opened my eyes, I was in my cabin. Noticing that it was already noon.. Jessica was by my side.

"Khalid?" I asked.

"Punishing Rowan," she sparingly replied, as if feeling no remorse. Even though she knows Khalid can be quite brutal.

Jessica narrated that Alpha Fredrick used his Alpha command so that Rowan would spill the truth. He did say everything, including his threats and blackmails.. With just that information, I know he's already dead. No way would Khalid let him live. Rowan also spoke of a man who clawed him. But there was something amiss; he didn't tell them about the snapping of fingers.. Because of that small detail, they thought it was some righteous rogue who attacked him. Scrunching my forehead for their claims, how could they think of that? Didn't they question themselves about how the rogue could use me to threaten them? Like.. I don't know, give them food or shelter in exchange for my life? Well, maybe they did. But the final missing piece was just hard to find. That they just dismissed it as 'rogue'. And even if that were the case, there's no way Alpha Fredrick would waste or exert his effort just to save me.

"What is it, Katie?"

I flinched when Jessica suddenly asked. Heaving a sigh, I queried, "Is Luna Kathrina back from her mission?"

Jessica froze. She whipped her head in my direction. It was evident in her eyes that she was confused about how on earth I knew. "She.. she just got back two hours ago."

"Did she.. perhaps look for me?" I bit my lip and exhaled deeply before saying, "Nevermind."

Pity in her eyes. She opened her mouth and was about to say something. But decided to keep it to herself. All four of them are like this. Jessica, Khalid, Alpha Fredrick, and Luna Kathrina. Although Alpha Fredrick's more hostile towards me. It irks me since it obviously concerns me, but they decided to brush it off and just keep it among themselves.

--------

That was the end of that accident. Alpha Fredrick did not waste a single glance at me. He did not summon me to ask a question or anything. Maybe he was embarrassed that he let Rowan go with a lighter sentence the first time around.

Today is the day before my sixteenth birthday. The day before, I'll get banished. I bitterly chuckled. Finally accepting my fate, I just visited the training grounds. 

Percy and Rose were there. Fighting, as usual. We spar for a bit, as they know that I don't want to talk about tomorrow. I mentally thank them for respecting my space. I mean, I can always just visit them secretly, though. Being a rogue is not that bad of a thing, I guess. 

While we were sparring, Percy grazed Rose with a dagger. She pouted, and we all laughed. But the happiness was a fleeting moment. After a little while, we heard screams and growls surrounding the pack. We overheard the clumsy and frantical ringing of the bells. As if in a hurry to warn us. The three of us looked at one another; this could only mean one thing.

"Rogues," all three of us said in unison.