Warning: Graphic violence ahead. But hey, isn't that why you're reading this?

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Alpha Cain walked us through the center of the throngs of people, many of which looked at me in curiosity and interest. Even thought I have never been particularly shy, I was extremely grateful for the extra coverage the cloak provided. I could tell many wolves were sizing me up, trying to gauge my strength level out of instinct.

He stood in front of all of them, and I felt incredibly vulnerable being in his arms and not on my feet, ready to defend myself if necessary. The fact that my life remained in his hands was concerning if not deeply alarming.

"As many of you have already heard," Alpha Cain began, his deep voice bellowing throughout the clearing so every wolf was sure to hear, "I recently met my mate, and your future Luna, Ares. Let me make it clear that anyone who is anything less than respectful to her will be punished severely at my hands, no exceptions." He said this matter-of-factly, and it made me cringe inwardly. I felt like if wolves so chose, they should be able to confront me in whatever way they felt they needed to and say what they want to say. They may not like my reaction to their disrespect, but at least I would be doling the punishment.

"Tonight, Gamma Axel is being punished for his crimes against the Luna, and therefore this pack. It was his responsibility to watch the security cameras that surrounded the prison, and he failed to note my mate exiting the premises, therefore failing me. If anything had happened to my mate, the pack would have crumbled, as the Luna brings the pack dynamic to a balance." Alpha Cain paused, looking around the crowd harshly, daring anyone to speak up. Nobody did.

"Bring him out. It is time to begin," Alpha Cain commanded, his eyes darkening as his wolf gained more control over him, making him look feral.

At his words, two burly men escorted another large man through the crowd. His hands were bound with rope, yet his head was high, looking straight ahead without fear. His green eyes were devoid of emotion, but I was shocked that due to my bond with him as a result of being Claimed by Alpha Cain, I could feel his fear through our bond. I didn't quite understand why a man of his stature was so fearful of a few whippings. He stood broad and muscular, though not as much as my mate, and I was positive that he should be able to take 20 lashings and only be a little sore the next day. I wondered why everyone was making this such a big deal.

"Kneel," Alpha Cain ordered to the Gamma, his voice thick with dominance. "Do you understand why you are being punished?"

The Gamma knelt, and barred his neck in submission. "Yes, Alpha." His voice was cool, despite the anxiety I felt through the Luna bond with him.

"The punishment will be 20 lashes, or until you pass out, as is the standard punishment for misdemeanors. Make no mistake though, the next time you fail to protect the Luna, you will pay for it with your life," Alpha Cain snarled the last few words, and I was shocked by how he thought putting me in the jail cell was somehow a method of protecting me.

"We will now begin. Before we start, I have to ask per Blood Law requirements, is there anyone willing to take Gamma Axel's punishment for him?" Alpha Cain asked, clearly not intending anyone to offer. The sickened look on their faces said everything they needed to.

I didn't hesitate. I will, I quickly spoke through the entire pack's link, so they all knew what was happening.

I heard many gasps throughout the crowd, but other than that, the air hung silent. Alpha Cain glared down at me, his hold tightening around my body. "The Gamma is being punished for crimes against you. I will not allow for you to take his place."

I met his gaze defiantly. He is being punished because I escaped from a cell that you put me into. Your grievance should be with me, not him. I am taking his place for the punishment. You said that according to the Blood Laws, someone could take his place for him.

"You have no idea what punishment you're about to take," Alpha Cain snarled at me, and many of the pack members winced at his harsh tone, though nobody made a sound.

I shrugged. It is my punishment to take, I will deal with the severity of it.

Alpha Cain's eyes were blazing in fury as he seethed with rage. He didn't speak for a few moments while he weighed his options.

Unless if you're too much of a coward to dole out punishments, I taunted him, knowing it would push him over the edge. Many people gasped at my words, including Gamma Axel. I had just directly called the Alpha's bravery into question.

I thought that Alpha Cain would snarl, but instead, he grinned wickedly, his canines extended. "You want to be whipped so badly, pup? Fine. Take the Gamma's punishment. Just know that I will treat you no differently than anyone else receiving the punishment."

I shrugged, fearless. I would expect nothing less, which was true. I wouldn't be able to respect him if he wasn't able to assert his dominance over everyone, even me.

Alpha Cain set me on the ground on my pelt, and he moved to unbind the Gamma's restrained wrists. The Alpha used the rope to tie my wrists together tightly, and jerked me off of the ground and onto my feet facing the crowd, standing on the pelt.

"Remove your cloak and shirt," Alpha Cain commanded, his voice absent of emotion, only fueled by aggression and dominance.

I slowly removed the cloak, wincing when many of the pack members got a better look at some of my scars. I took off my shirt, leaving me in only a sports bra and leggings. I heard gasps as the pack saw the true extent of the marks that littered my body. Bite marks, indentations from where chunks of flesh had been ripped out, whip marks from different times I had been tortured, claw marks, and of course scars from being slashed with different weapons. I fearlessly made eye contact with many of them, not wanting to show any fear or weakness. Most looked sympathetic, but all looked horrified, borderline disgusted.

"Alpha, you can't let her take my punishment! For fuck's sake, look at her body. She looks like she's taken enough beatings to last a lifetime," Gamma Axel's voice cried out.

Alpha Cain snarled. "Do not tell me how to deal with my mate. She voluntarily took your position. You know the Laws. Kneel and watch her punishment firsthand."

Gamma Axel cringed, and looked at me with guilt. Do not worry about me, I mindlinked him privately and he looked surprised when I spoke directly into his mind. I am stronger than I look, and have taken much worse than a few lashings.

His eyes widened. Luna, these are no ordinarily lashes- but his mindlink to me was abruptly cut off by Alpha Cain's voice.

"Let us begin the punishment. Seth, bring me the whip." He commanded, and a shaking male handed him the long wiry whip.

I smirked at the measly weapon, positive that this punishment would not be quite as effective as he may have hoped.

I was wrong.

He flicked the whip once, not at me but in the air, when suddenly the whip was engulfed in flame. Ah. So this is what they meant when they said these are no ordinary lashes. They are whippings with his fire.

Even if I had known that ahead of time, I still would have volunteered to take the Gamma's position. It was my punishment to take, and I'll be damned if someone else pays for my indiscretions. I was just surprised that the Alpha was going through with the punishment for me. Perhaps he was worthy of submitting to after all, if he held the inner strength necessary to hurt his own mate.

I widened my stance as Alpha Cain walked behind me. My bound wrists hung in front of me, and I looked blankly into the crowd, and was surprised to see how many of them looked at me in both fear and pity. I didn't understand why they would care so much about a wolf they had barely met.

The sooner you submit and let yourself pass out, the less painful this will feel tomorrow. Alpha Cain's voice penetrated my mind, and I could sense an underlying plead within his words. He wanted me to pass out quicker so he didn't have to whip me as many times. I knew he was too weak to follow through on his own punishment.

I scoffed at him. Just begin already. However scared you want me to be, it won't happen.

His eyes hardened. You will be scared of me after this.

I inwardly smirked. He would never stop underestimating me, would he.

Since I was faced away from him, I didn't hear him raise the whip, all I felt was a sudden lick of pain and fire along a sliver of my back, accompanied by a harsh cracking sound.

"One," The Alpha yelled out, his voice unmarred by emotion.

I felt the whip again, the fire burning my flesh where the whip made contact. The feeling was indescribably painful.

He continued whipping. We were at 10. I wasn't on the verge of passing out, even though I was in an indescribable amount of pain. The whippings were so painful because the whip would break the skin, and the fire would burn it, making the flesh incredibly raw. I could smell my blood, and feel how wet my back was with it.

I didn't wince for the next five lashes, and the crowd stood back at me in utter shock. They didn't think I would have been able to last that long.

The whippings had been so severe, my body pushed at me to give in to the impending darkness, but I resisted, determined not to give the Alpha the satisfaction.

Despite the pain I was in, I held a newfound respect for the Alpha. Though it may sound strange, he stepped up as Alpha and inflicted pain when it was necessary. This whole time, I thought he would have been too weak to seriously injure me. I was wrong.

By lash 18, my eyes glazed over and I could see stars. I wobbled, struggling to maintain my balance as my back was continuously assaulted by the pain. The air smelt of burning flesh.

I received the 19th whip, shaking on my feet. I had received many punishments, but not to this extreme. I cringed thinking of how painful the healing process would be. It took weeks when he burnt my hands, and now my entire back was not only bloody and missing flesh, but burnt to hell as well.

I took the last whipping, still on my feet, though barely. I could feel my blood dripping down my back, into my pants. I dully noted the pool of blood at my feet and the charred smell. All I could feel was the pain in my back that threatened to overtake me at any minute. I felt close to death.

Despite my watering eyes, I could see the shocked expressions of the crowd. It was silent as Cain called out the last number, signaling the end of the punishment.

Suddenly, a pack member dropped to his knees. He extended his neck, a sign of submission and respect. To my surprise, he extended it towards me, not the Alpha.

Other wolves joined him, slowly, and then all of them were on their knees in respect, barring their necks in submission.

My vision went hazy as my body swayed side to side.

Knowing it was finally time, I turned around, making eye contact with the Alpha. I dropped to my knees and showed him my neck, finally submitting.

After I submitted to him, I succumbed to the darkness that had been begging to overtake me ten lashes ago.

This time, I didn't know if I would ever wake up again.