The Female Alpha You Can't Tame

Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Punishment

An eerie silence overtakes the field not a single sound is made. Ragon is the first to break it. He bows on one knee. "Luna, I cannot."

"Ragon, you are the Beta of this pack. Now act like it." My tone hard, my voice unwavering. He gets up standing straight to my command.

"Yes, Luna." He replies, his hand clenches. He will do this against his will.

Deimos still hasn’t said a word, he only looks at me with those calculating eyes of his. He is observing me. Can he see my hands shaking? Can he hear the pound of my heart? Can he see the anxiety behind my eyes that portray strength?

"Then so be it." Deimos’s voice booms across the field. His word is final. I can’t back out now. I am stripped of my shirt and my wrists are tied to a wooden pole. I shiver, this is going to be hard. I plead with my wolf for her strength through this.

"You will receive 20 strikes for the crime committed by Rosewood who went against her Alpha," Ragon speaks taking the whip in his hands. My females are crying and Deimos has his hands fisted, doing his best to reign in his wolf trying to lash out and protect his mate.

"Forgive me, Luna," Ragon whispers before I feel the first strike of the whip on my back. I feel my flesh tearing to the strength of the whip against my skin and weeping blood all over my back. I keep my eyes on Deimos, my source of strength. His body swaying, flinching to every strike, every scream coming from my mouth.

I stopped counting at eight, my throat is sore from screaming, tears are gushing down, blood all over me. I feel dizzy. My body sways back and forth, I fall to the ground. Everything is hazy, I struggle to breathe. Someone is touching me, the touch soothes my pain. I open my eyes one last time with all the energy I have left. Deimos’s kneels above me holding me to his chest fangs elongating, he’s snarling and growling his anger stopping anyone from touching me.

I feel my body being lifted off the ground. I know it’s Deimos from the sparks. Feeling the front of my body being placed on the soft bed. "Sleep." Deimos whispers and I heed to him closing my eyes sleep consuming me.

I don’t know what time it is but my eyes flutter open. Looking around the room, I see Deimos sitting on a chair across my bed, legs crossed, elbows on his thighs chin resting on his steepled hands. He keeps looking at me, not saying a word. I stare back at him, it’s a comfortable silence. He slowly strides towards me, sitting at the edge of my bed, we still look at each other. I start the conversation, wanting to hear his voice.

"How did you know I would take her place?" I question him, trying my best to sit up. My back is slowly healing, the wound is medicated and bandaged.

He tilts his head to the side. "I observe you. I know your mind, I understand how your body acts without the need of command from your mind." I am surprised, how can he know this without even knowing me properly. Even Elriam took time to understand this. Yet this male of mine found it quite easy to do so.

"You see mate, I see beneath your walls. I can see every shake of your hands, every quiver of your lips, every sway of your body. You cannot hide from me." I fist my hands underneath the covers. "I felt your fear today, but you still stood your ground. Why? Why protect someone you don’t even know?" His whisper slowly caressing my skin, his tone soft making me want to sink deeper into his warmth.

"It’s just how I am, I can’t stop myself. If I wish they deserve my protection, I will protect them with my life." He reaches forward, skimming his fingertips across my cheeks. I close my eyes, relishing in the sparks it brings. He brings his thumb to rest on my lower lip slowly swiping it downwards. I open my eyes, lust taking over my body. He looks into my eyes leaning forward.

"You intrigue me, mate," Deimos whispers to me.

"You intrigue me, Deimos," I whisper back to him.

Resting his forehead on mine, taking a deep breath, breathing in my scent. I do the same knowing I might never get another opportunity like this. He slowly moves back, my fingers itching to bring him back to me.

"Do not do that again, mate. You can’t protect everyone. It’s a cruel world, protect yourself first." His advice sticking to me like glue.

"And what if I can’t protect myself Deimos? Then what?" I am curious to know his answer. Will he assign me, personal warriors? Will, he put Ragon in charge of me? Will he...

"I am completely sure you are capable of protecting yourself. But if you cannot do so... I’ll protect you, mate." My eyes widen at his answer, I did not expect that. You can expect that from your mate but not Deimos. He surprised me. Hope rises within me, maybe this can happen. Maybe we can happen.

"You at least deserve this, for..." He stops, looking straight into my eyes. "For, I cannot give you any more." His words completely crushing the small seed of hope I wanted to grow. My lips wobble, looking away from him, towards the window in my room.

"I do not understand. Why can’t you just..." A sob escapes my lips halfway.

"Care for you? Be there for you?... Love you?" He cuts off my plea, I snap my head towards him. Yes, that’s what I want, it’s not that hard to love someone is it?

"That is something that I can’t nor will do, it’s something that will never happen. So put hopes and dreams to rest, mate." Deimos’s voice lingers in the room, even after he is gone. His words echoing along the walls over and over again. This is my punishment, not the harshness of the whip.

The pain of my body is nothing compared to the pain of my heart.