Chapter 77: Chapter 77: A Beta’s Quiet Rebellion
SONIA’S POV
"What the fuck are you doing?!" A raging voice ran forward and tackled the man who was about to force himself on Sonia to the ground. The impact was loud and brutal, bodies crashing together with a heavy thud that echoed in the cold stone room.
He began to throw punch after punch on his face, until he broke his nose, and blood began to gush out. The wet, sickening sounds of fists meeting flesh filled the air. Each hit landed with a dull smack, and fresh blood sprayed across the dirty floor.
"Don’t you ever dare touch her with those filthy hands of yours!" He spat on his face, before straightening on his feet. His breathing was heavy and angry.
"Beta Blane." The rest of the wolves around bowed in unison. Their voices were quick and nervous, full of fear.
"What was the verdict?" He questioned in a loud voice. It bounced off the stone walls, deep and commanding.
"To have her whipped," one of the wolves said, his head still lowered.
"To have her whipped," he repeated. His tone was sharp with disbelief. "Yet, you were going to let one of you sick freaks take advantage of her? Do you want to die?" He hissed, still angry. The words came out like growls, low and dangerous.
Sonia on the ground couldn’t believe her eyes, neither could she believe her ears. Her body trembled from the cold and the leftover terror. Beta Blane had never stuck up for her before. Frankly she assumed he hated her just the way his alpha did. The surprise made her dizzy.
She couldn’t hide her surprise at his angry voice, reprimanding the other wolves. It felt strange to hear someone defend her in this place.
"We’re sorry, Beta Blane. It won’t happen again." Their voices shook as they spoke.
"You’re damn right it won’t. Because in her place, you’ll all be getting the whippings."
He dropped to the ground, and lifted her into his body. His arms were strong and careful as he scooped her up. Sonia felt the warmth of his chest against her cold skin.
"Hold tightly," he said, as he carried her bridal style out of the room. His voice was softer now, almost gentle.
As he walked along the dark corridors, with nothing but his wolf eyes lighting up his path, he felt even angrier. His steps were steady, but his breathing was still rough. The air in the dungeon was thick with dampness and decay, the kind that clung to your skin and made you feel dirty inside.
He had watched in silence all this while, as the poor girl was dealt blows after blows. Be it physical or mental. The guilt sat heavy in his chest like a stone he couldn’t swallow.
The day the alpha asked him to take her innocence still haunted him. On that day, he felt on top of the world, but right after, he hated himself. The memory made his stomach turn. It wasn’t his character, and neither was it Alpha Ramon’s. He was supposed to help the alpha make better choices, not bend his morals so viciously.
From that day, he had prayed in his heart to never be in a situation where he had to hurt her anymore. The weight of that prayer had followed him like a shadow.
He had intercepted the alpha’s orders. It would cost him dearly when word got back to Ramon. He knew that. But he also knew that in the long run, when the veil of anger covering the alpha’s eyes fell off, he would thank him for stepping in before things could go too far. At least, he hoped so.
He carried her past the dark corridors which captives who they didn’t want to kill immediately were kept, so they could slowly lose their minds, and into the well lighted hallway. The change in light was sudden, almost blinding after the pitch black of the dungeon. Artificial lights glowed softly overhead, chasing away the worst of the shadows.
It was dark already, but thanks to artificial lights, their paths were illuminated. He no longer had to strain his wolf eyes to be able to see. The warmth of the lights felt like a small mercy on his skin.
He searched for breath, but could barely find one coming from the girl. She was unconscious. And if she didn’t get immediate rest, she could die. The thought made his jaw tighten. Her body felt too light and too cold in his arms.
To avoid the same fate as that of Alpha Liam, he carried her into the room of one of the maids in the alpha’s quarters. The hallway here smelled cleaner, like fresh linen and faint lavender.
"Beta Blane? What are you—" The maid’s voice was startled as she saw them.
He pushed her out of his way, and placed Sonia’s body on the bed. The mattress dipped under her weight, and he pulled the covers over her carefully.
"Get as many towels as you can. Light up the entire room. She needs heat so she can sweat out the weakness in her system." His voice was firm, leaving no room for questions.
"But—"
"Move!" He growled, and the seriousness in his eyes made her feet wake up in haste. She hurried away, her footsteps quick on the floor.
He pulled away from the bed, and began to throw everything that looked like a cover on her. Blankets, shawls, anything to trap the warmth around her shivering form. Her skin was ice cold against his hands.
The alpha may think he needed her dead, but deep down, he knew it was just his anger speaking. Soon, he would need her. He would hate for that day to come, and she wasn’t accessible. The thought made his chest feel tight.
To avoid a crash that wouldn’t be stopped by the force of gravity, he used his position to save the girl. It was a risk, but one he had to take.
"Call the pack doctor too!" He ordered when he heard the door open again.
"They told me you took the girl and I didn’t believe them." He heard Daniel’s voice from behind, and turned around. Daniel stood in the doorway, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Good, you’re here. Can I get a big bowl for when she eventually wakes up? To counter the heat, we would need cold water."
"Have you lost your mind? The alpha ordered for her to be whipped. You countered his orders, and made one of your own. He’s already furious because of the thing with Alpha Liam. He spared him, doesn’t mean he’ll spare you. Please don’t tell me what Lorena said was true. That’s the only reason I can see that would make you act this foolish."
Blane walked up to him and placed both hands on his shoulder, giving him a good shake. The movement was firm, almost desperate.
"I need you to wake up," he screamed into his face. "The alpha is acting out of anger. If she’s whipped in this condition, she won’t survive it. Do you know what her death would cause? There’s still space for peace across both borders. Do you think her death would make that happen? Think!" He slapped the side of Daniel’s head before pulling away. The sound was sharp in the quiet room.
When he didn’t move, he turned his head behind. "Are you going to keep standing there, or will you help me?"
"I don’t know man, I’m scared of the alpha’s wrath. You know how he gets when he has his mind set."
"Fair enough. Be scared, but don’t stand in my way."
He turned his attention back to Sonia, and covered her body more. The door closed behind him, and it hurt his heart for the moment, but he understood Daniel’s fear. The weight of loyalty was heavy on both of them.
The maid returned, and when he whirled in hope of seeing the pack doctor, but she was alone, he frowned. Disappointment settled in his chest.
"Where is he?"
"He can’t leave Ivy. I don’t know why, but those were the alpha’s orders."
Blane knew why, but it wasn’t his place to clear the maid’s obvious confusion. He simply nodded.
"That’s okay. Start the fire, from the little knowledge I have, let’s pray things work out. I’ll go get the water for when she wakes up." He turned around, and hurried out of the room. His footsteps echoed down the hallway as he moved quickly, determined to do whatever he could before it was too late.
