[Avira]
The whip eat deep into my flesh and left a sting each time it was raised and lowered with full force, and I grinded my teeth to stop from screaming.
Twenty! I counted in my head. ten to go. A single sound of pain from me would mean a restart, and I didn't want that. Not after he had had to restart twice.
"Who broke the earthen vessel?" He thundered, and I flinched. But I provided no answer. What was I supposed to say? That I broke it? Hell no!
He lifted the whip again, and lowered it in a much stronger force. It landed on the spot that has already been hit, and it took me extra self control to stop myself from screaming out loud in pain.
"Who broke the earthen vessel?" He asked again, and I panicked. If I lie, I will be whipped some more, and If I tell him the truth, I will be whipped even more. What then should I do?
I could feel my wolf whimpering in pain, and I couldn't tell just for how much longer she could hold. He lifted the whip again, his face portraying no emotion. It was almost as though he was only flogging an animal or worse still, a human.
"I didn't do it, I swear. I met it broken when I picked it up to wash. I didn't break it, it must have fallen off from the window sill." I lied before he could lower the whip again. But that did not change anything as he lowered the whip with the same force and it slashed through the skin on my back which was bare.
"I don't believe you." He said, with a wicked smile, and I sighed. Whether he believed me or not, there's no way in hell I'm admitting that I broke the earthen vessel. After all he kept it carelessly on the window sill, not me.
I tried not to think of the impact of the whip as he lifted it again, and just when he was about to lower it, a voice called him from behind, making him stop.
"Beta Maverick!" It was the unmistakable voice of Kyle, Alpha Demian's most trusted servant. He handles errands considered delicate and important for the Alpha.
I held my breath, not sure if I have been rescued or only given a moment to rest temporarily, but whichever it was, I was grateful.
The Beta dropped the whip, and went to meet Kyle who was already halfway to us. He looked towards my direction, and I returned the look. Of course I was not expecting him to be sympathetic. No one has ever felt that way for me, and I was already used to it.
They stopped a few feet from me, and spoke to each other in hushed voices after which Beta Maverick turned towards my direction, and waved me away.
I got out of the stocks, and went into the house, the part of the mansion where I stayed with the Beta. There were alot of chores I needed to do, and I had better start them now. I felt pain with each step I took but the chores were more important unless I enjoyed the whipping I just received, and was wishing for more.
There was the healing portion of course but Beta Maverick would rather see me suffer to perdition than give me a drop which is all I need to heal perfectly. But no worries, my wolf had the ability to heal faster than most of the others, although it could only heal once a day, so fuck the healing portion.
I arranged the plates that needed washing on the sink, and leathered up the sponge. If there's any reason I hate being human it was because of dishes. I hate doing the dishes. I might as well remained in the stocks and be whipped nonstop. Lol that's not true but I sure as hell dislike doing the dishes.
As I washed, I thought about Kyle's visit, and wondered what important message he had brought to the pack's Beta who doubles as my master or parent when we are in good terms with each other. Whatever had made him leave the Alpha's part of the mansion to ours, must be damn important.
I tiptoed to see if they were still out there, and yes, they were, and their voices were hushed still even though they were alone. I rushed through the dishes, and went into laundry immediately. If I was fast enough, I'd be done by noon which was about four hours away.
The clothes were a large heap, making me wonder just how many people lived with us even though it was just the Beta and I. The fact that I did as much laundry as this just yesterday caused me to wonder just how the Beta managed to wear all of these robes on a single day. There was lunch to prepare also, and I was already tired but the heap remained what it was – a heap despite the number of clothes I had washed.
I took the clothes I had washed to spread them on the line outside, and also as a disguise to know if they were done talking yet but they weren't there anymore, and my guess was that they had gone to the Alpha's quarters where the pack's palace was located.
Quickly, I spread the clothes on the line, and rushed back inside, then with the speed of lightning, I selected the clothes from the heap which weren't dirty, most of which I had washed yesterday or sometime ago, dunked them inside the bowl of clean water, and spread them on the line to dry. By the time I was done, only a few clothes that actually needed washing remained, and I had enough energy to see to lunch, and get every room in this quarter cleaned.
I finished less than an hour later, and headed for the kitchen. There, as is my daily routine, although secretly, I made myself a steamy cup of tea but not before shutting the door. Breakfast was forbidden, and only the Alpha Demian could have breakfast. Not even his Luna or any of his sons. Just him!
Of course I had laughed out loud in my head when the Beta had told me the rule the day day I was handed over to him, it was the same way I had laughed the first time I heard of it, just as I laughed at many other laws of the pack. Laws I thought to be barbaric.
My mouth was stuffed with bread as I greedily drank from the steamy cup. My wolf whimpered lowly as the tea burned us both but this was not the first time. I was used to it, she should too.
"Avira!" Beta Maverick suddenly called, and I panicked. His voice sounded from right outside the kitchen door. I didn't dare answer. My mouth was stuffed with bread, and that would be suicidal. Instead I remained utterly still, and tried to push the bread down my throat as quickly as possible.
"Avira!" He called again, pushing the door slightly, and I froze.