C1 1

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Three vicious smacks met with a smallish, skinny, tanned-skinned, black-haired girl across her face.

Thud!

She fell to the floor from the impact and quickly got into a kneeling position despite the stinging pain she felt.

"I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. Please forgive me. I'll never do that again.” she begged with quivering lips after kowtowing.

Her clothes were threadbare and faded. Her hair was tangled with dirt in it and it almost obscured her face.

Numerous cuts and bruises could be seen on the visible parts of her body. Some scars that had barely healed from last night’s beatings had also been reopened.

How painful they were!

She hadn’t ingested anything edible since yesternoon and now it’s almost evening. She was already super weak before taking this beating from this angered male. She repeatedly banged her forehead on the floor, not minding the blood oozing from it. ”Please have mercy on me. I was stupid. Please, have mercy!” she implored.

The person who just hurt her was the Gamma’s son, William Woods. He was just one of the many pack members that beat her up either for fun or to relieve tension. She is a punching bag to them. Some just used lame excuses to hit her.

She could not resist and had no guts nor any right to attempt doing so.

She’s been here for as long as she can remember. She isn’t a member of this pack nor was she bought from a slave house. How did she get here then?

***

"Lavie honey, come get your food.” a tall, fair-skinned and brown-haired woman called out from the large kitchen.

"Yes, mama!” a little girl of around 4 with black hair tied into two small ponytails ran into the kitchen and hugged the lady’s left thigh.

"I can't wait to eat, Mama. It smells so good!” the little one said while sniffing in a dramatic way.

"Hmmn! I’m not sure you like it. My princess must be pretending.” teased the lady.

"No, no, no! I’m dead serious, Mama. Let me show you my sincerity.” the little one stopped hugging her thigh and retreated 7 steps away from her mum.

"Watch this, lady!” she declared and started dancing wearing an excited face.

"Whoa! Mama sees your sincerity. Come, let me hug you, princess.”Mum squatted after applauding and spread her arms.

Lavana ran straight into her arms and placed her small hands around her mom’s neck.

"I love you, mummy!” she giggled.

"Yeah, my Lavana loves me best,” Mum said, gently patting her daughter's back before they parted.

Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!

Suddenly, there were sounds of repeated shooting accompanied by howls that signified a battle was soon to take place.

A repeated yell was soon heard from a burly, golden-haired man who ran past the home.

"Warriors, the pack is under attack!”

Mum felt like her heart was about to leap out but tried her best not to let her offspring see her edgy.

"Mommy, is there trouble?” Lavana asked with worry plastered all over her face.

Mom chuckled before replying. "Not a big one. Just some flies who don’t know their place. Don’t worry, your Daddy and the other strong warriors in our Moon Crest pack will drive them away from here. It will be a piece of cake. Now, why don’t you hide in the secret room while Mommy goes to watch the battle? I promise you, I’ll gist you all of the interesting parts.”

"Ok, mummy.” the girl nodded and her Mum quickly put her food into a cooler and then put it and a bottle of water into a small basket.

"You'll have to eat it in there and here...” Mum handed Lavana her phone before resuming her speech. "You can play games on my phone to kill time. What do you think?”

"Mum, I'll play Candy Crush and then Princess dress-up.”

"Alright! Anything you wanna play, you can.” Mum said with a smile.

"Can I dance too?” Lavana asked eagerly.

"Yup! But don’t remove the phone from silent mode, ok? You can only dance with music playing in your head, alright?” her mum cautioned.

"Okay mummy.” the little one nodded and her mum pecked her forehead.

"Let's go,” taking the small basket in her left hand, she and her daughter exited the kitchen.

* * *

After hiding the little one in the secret room underground, the lady braced herself to go out of the home after stripping off her clothes.

"Brandon, my love, I’m sorry, but I can’t leave you out there all alone. I'll have to disobey you this time,” she said after locking the door behind her. She sighed as her eyes turned a glowing grey.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Cracking sounds could be heard repeatedly as she crouched. She gritted her teeth when her backbone snapped and enlarged.

Seconds later, she had transformed into a black wolf with white ears, white stripes and a white tail. She stretched her wolf legs and let out a howl before running out speedily, leaping over the low wooden fence.

Reaching the scene of the intense battle, she saw to her dismay that her pack was on the losing side. She quickly transformed back into human after seeing her husband fall to the ground. He’d been scratched in the neck by an enemy that sneak-attacked him.

"Brandon!” she shouted in distress as she ran to him. She knelt and had him rest her head on her thighs. "Brandon...” she called out in a whisper, sniffing.

"Nayelie...” her husband said in difficulty, groaning. "What are you doing here, mate? You’re supposed to be with her. You... You have to keep her safe, including yourself. Why did you come here?”

"Lavana is underground, Brandon. And she is special. I worry more about you and the others, my love. How can I go hide and leave you alone?”

"My dear, you have to go back now. Nothing should happen to Lavana. It’s fine if I die. The both of you should live on.”

"No, Brandon. I’m not leaving you like this.” she shook her head in refusal.

"No, Nayelie, listen to me.”

"Brandon, I always listen to you. But not this time, mate. If Moon Crest is to go down, I should follow.”

"Nayelie!” her husband yelled and suddenly rose.

"Brandon!” she cried as she saw what happened the moment he sat up. A spear had passed through his left chest.

"Brandon! Brandon!” she called out in distress as he fell backwards. She caught him, letting him rest on her lap once again. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she cried, her hands trembling as touched her chest. The spear has penetrated his back and he was bleeding so much.

"Nayelie, it seems I can’t accompany you to the beach as we'd planned. Neither can I have that amazing bonking tonight with you. I’m sorry you have to see me like this.” he slowly brought his left hand to touch her hands.

"Don’t panic. Take this chance to run now. You and our daughter must flee. Our daughter will take revenge and fulfil her destiny. You have to go now. Don't worry about me.”

"No, I can’t. I’m your soulmate, Brandon. Don’t ask me to do the impossible. I’ll take out the spear and...”

"No need. I won’t make it.”

"Brandon...” She buried her face in his bloodied chest as she wept, her body trembling greatly.

"Nayelie, please go. This is my last wish. You and our daughter must be alive. Don’t reject me. You must go now. I also don’t want you to see me close my eyes forever.”

"Brandon.” she raised her head and he kissed her forehead. "I love you, Nayelie. I love you so much. Please, go now.” he urged.

She slowly rose and turned to leave, covering her mouth with her right hand. She would turn around with every step she took.

"Go, my beloved.” her husband said with a smile. More blood was flowing from his mouth. "You mustn't look back, my dear. Remember only this smile of mine, my dear. I love you, Nayelie.” he mind linked her.

"And I love you too much. I can’t really bear to leave. But it’s your last wish. Brandon... I...” She couldn’t continue with her telepathy as there was a gunshot close to her. She gasped and turned around to see her husband had been shot in the head. He’d just rescued her from danger again. He fell down with eyes widened.

"Brandon!” she cried out as she ran to him. She kept shaking him, even slapping him across the face to see if he’d complain to her but there was no response. The reality wasn’t obscured- her beloved husband was no more. He was dead!

At that moment, she felt like her world had crashed.

"Brandon....” she whispered with quivering lips. "I can’t survive without you. It's meaningless to live. I must avenge you and then come with you. I promised to be with you forever. I’m not reneging on my promise. Just await me a bit, ok?” she planted a kiss on his lips and then slowly let his cold body lie on the ground. She looked ahead of her with bloodshot eyes.

Those bastards had killed her husband. They shouldn’t dream of living past today! She rose from the ground with clenched fists.

“Ralton bastards, prepare your necks for me!” she growled before running ahead, jumping into the air and somersaulting. She landed in her wolf form and rushed into the fierce battle scene.

She let out a terrifying howl before jumping at an enemy wolf and biting his neck. He died instantly. She then went on to the next one speedily. The enemies in human form were the ones holding guns, spears and axes. She killed several of them in seconds, her eyes glowing red.

Only a few of the Moon Crest pack members were still alive but they were injured badly and barely able to defend themselves from their opponents who outnumbered them.

She growled and jumped to pounce at three enemies who were in human form only for a whip to hit her back, causing her to fall to the ground. Still determined, she tried to rise but a man whom she was familiar with hit her with that same whip which curled around her neck.

She tried to stand again but the whip hit her again causing her to fall to the ground weakly. transformed back into her human form with difficulty. She looked at the enemy wolves who had also returned to their human form. All of them stared at her in spite.

However, she focused on the one man who had hit her with the whip. He was the biggest and strongest of all but hadn’t even bothered to shift for this unfair battle.

She sat up, ignoring the intense pain that she felt in her back and neck. That whip was no joke. Its every hit caused wounds that could be lethal.

She pointed at him with her right index finger. "You won’t get away with this, Alpha Blake. The retribution will come to you, I swear,” she yelled.

"Someone, please, shut this b*tch’s mouth. The air isn't fresh anymore.” said the tall burly man who had red hair and green eyes.

"Yes, Alpha!” one of the surviving intruders, the winning Alpha’s subordinate, replied and then headed towards the weakened lady who started retreating.

"You are one pathetic, weak pack. I asked you nicely to give us some of your lands and you’ll get money in return. But you claim it’s your ancestral land. That it can’t be given up, right? Now, look at you. Only 7 of you are left. And even so, none of you will live to see tomorrow. This could all have been avoided if you gave in to my request. It’s quite a shame that many morons abound on earth.” the Alpha king said with fake pity in his eyes.

"You won’t get away with this. You won’t!” she screamed and tried to transform, to no avail. The wounds on her body hadn’t healed yet. But she still didn’t want to give up easily. She kept on trying to shift but nothing happened. No bone even cracked in her body.

“Damn it!” she swore as she hit the ground in frustration while the intruders laughed at her failure.

”Stop struggling, woman.” the intruder Alpha’s subordinate said and held her by the throat.

“S-Stop it,” she managed to say amidst choking. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she struggled to free herself but this man’s grip on her neck was too strong.

“Nayelie, I’ll give you a chance. If you agree to be my concubine, I’ll let you live.”

“Cough Cough… In your dreams, bastard!” she said through gritted teeth. “I will never betray my Brandon. You killed him.”

“Well, because he dared to be arrogant. And it’s one of my people who hurt him. Not me, dear.” the Alpha King laughed.

“Alpha Blake, you will one day kneel with the Ralton you’re so proud of Ruined beyond recovery. I promise you that,” she swore, her chest heaving as she gasped desperately for air.

“Send her off.” saying this, the Alpha king turned around, with hands in his pockets.

“It's better to die. Brandon, I'm coming to you now.” she laughed.

The Alpha turned to look at her. “I've changed my mind. If you can successfully reach his corpse by the count of ten, I’ll let you go. But if you don't, I'll take you back to my pack as a slave.”

“I'll never be your slave.” She yelled after she got free of Alpha Blake's subordinate's grip. She raced in the direction of her husband, not minding the counts. She planned to die resting on his chest.

Pow!

A bullet went into her left leg, causing her to fall. Still determined, she crept but another bullet entered her neck. She stretched her right hand, hoping to at least touch her husband’s clothing but failed. She closed her eyes and let out one final gasp. A tear slid down her left eyelid. She had expired!

The Alpha's subordinate who killed Nayelie also killed the other 6 warriors of Moon Crest who could barely stand, by twisting their necks.

"Congratulations, Alpha king! This land is now yours.” the subordinate knelt and bowed along with the other 50 warriors.

"Congratulations, Alpha king!” they chorused.

Alpha Blake beamed and told them to rise. ”Clean this place up. Next week, we are moving some of us here.”

"Aye, Alpha!” the subordinates chorused again.

"Alpha, there is this one who had been hiding underground.” said a tall, blonde-haired man who’d just arrived. He’s Alpha Blake’s Beta, Lucas Syner. He was dragging a little girl by her right hand. She was crying and desperately struggling to free herself from his grip but her efforts proved abortive.

"Let me go! Let me go, you bad man!” she cried.

"Bring her to me.” Alpha Blake ordered and his Beta threw the little girl to the Alpha’s feet.

Alpha Blake then intently looked at the little girl with his eyes that had turned red. His expression looked twisted for a moment and he creased his eyebrows.

His subordinates did not ask anything. Anyone who dared to could join the fallen Moon Crest warriors.

"She is an omega!” Alpha Blake announced after a minute passed. ”Let's keep her as our trophy. She will be a slave and punching bag to our pack. This is a tiny compensation for losing our beloved warriors.” he said before kicking the child in the stomach.

She flew from the impact and fell among the corpses of her pack members.

She managed to sit up while crying pitifully.

"Mummy, Daddy, where are you? Come, save me, please!” she spat out blood and desperately looked around. She saw so many dead bodies. She rose and walked facing east. After a few steps, she found her parents dead and separated from each other.

"No!” she cried out in despair, clutching her chest because of the agony.

At that moment, the Beta was coming towards her and she started retreating.

“Lavie, run. Avenge us when you grow up. Run!” a familiar voice urged anxiously. She turned her head to see a bloodied Austin seated on the ground, beside his mother who usually fed her cakes when she had time to make them.

“Austin!” she called and wanted to run towards him.

“No, Lavana. Run. Don’t let him catch you.”

“Austin!” the little girl kept running towards him. She wanted to take his hand and run away together with him. But two steps away from the boy, she saw an arrow pierce through his chest.

“Run!” he whispered before hitting the ground, eyes closed. Behind him, his mom was long dead, her belly had been ripped open and her unborn baby squashed.

Lavana covered her mouth, too stunned to speak.

“Come here.” She heard the Beta’s voice again and got to her senses. She started running as fast as her legs could carry her, deeper into the woods, praying someone would rescue her.

Austin Cararner, the Gamma’s son who had promised to marry her jokingly yesterday was dead too. Just like the others. She’s the only one alive. No, she didn’t want to die in the enemies’ hands. She had to escape so she can take revenge.

The Beta didn’t even bother chasing her. He just walked in a carefree manner. ”Hun, if you keep retreating, I’ll have no choice but to end you,” Lucas warned.

"Get away from me. You are evil. You killed my parents. You killed Austin. I hate you. I hate you all!” she yelled as she ran, not daring to look back. She suddenly kicked a stone and fell to the ground but she didn’t waste time in rising again.

”One day, I'll avenge my pack.” she swore to herself and started running with all her might.

Lucas sighed and jumped, landing in front of her. The little girl stopped in her tracks before retreating, wearing a terrified expression.

“I'm in no mood for games.” He picked her up by the collar of her gown and brought her back to the Alpha who gave her a tight slap, causing her to spit out blood and 3 teeth.

"Let me ...”

The Alpha King slapped her again. ”This is the kind of life you will live until you expire, kiddo. Tie her up and take her back to the pack. The rest of you, clean up this mess!” he ordered and they bowed.

"Yes, Alpha!” they chorused and Alpha Blake left the scene amidst the little girl’s cries.

***

Ralton pack.

This is Alpha Blake’s pack. The second-strongest pack on the list of elite packs kept by the wolf council. Lavana was introduced to the pack as the trophy and their new punching bag. No one was to show mercy to her.

From then on, anyone who felt like beating her up would come to her.

At first, she tried to resist but after a week, she stopped. Resisting means more beatings which will take a longer time to heal.

As an omega who hadn’t shifted yet, her healing was the slowest!

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