Mated To The Pack’s Doom

Arielle

Water clouded my vision as I walked back to my isolated quarters. I hated myself for letting his words get to me but I couldn't help it.

Damien's words cut through me like a sharp dagger, just when I was starting to give in to Riley's delusion that he liked me.

I was beginning to hope that there was a way, that there was someone else that cared for me, but he only saw me as a liability to his well-being. A witch… just like the rest of them!

"I hate you." I cussed in the corridor, and I was going to spew out more cusses when a group of maids suddenly appeared, and I held my tongue.

As they walked past me, they made their intentions clear.

"Never get involved with her, she's a witch."

I waited until they left before I continued to my quarters. Sneers and insults were normal now. I didn't have to let it bother me.

But the closer I got; a sharp crack reached my ears, and I looked down the corridor. I thought I was hearing things and ignored it. But then I heard it again, with a woman's cry echoing in the background.

My heart sank as I recognized that voice. It was Riley!

I rushed down the corridor, running into angry maids and not apologizing for it. As I turned left into the courtyard, I stopped in my tracks because I found her— more like them.

Two hefty men dealt flogging Riley with Bailey dropping orders behind them.

"Don't miss that spot, yes! Under the laps! That should leave a beautiful scar!" Bailey grinned evilly.

"I'm so sorry, my lady! I'm sorry!" Riley screamed in pain, but the whips kept on coming.

Bailey held her hand up and the men stopped. She walked over to Riley and gloated. "Where is that useless friend of yours? Where is she?!"

Riley looked in pain. "I really don't know— my lady! I haven't seen her all morning!"

"This is a waste of time, whip her!" Bailey yelled.

My legs started moving on its own. "Wait! I'm here! I'm here!"

I ran to Bailey and dropped at her feet. "Please, leave Riley out of this, please!"

Bailey grabbed my hair and yanked it back and forth continuously. "Bitch, how dare you disappear and appear when you want?"

"Please I'm sorry, Riley is innocent, she didn't know anything!" Tears streamed down my face. But I ignored the pain from the way she pulled my hair.

Bailey looked down at me and shook her head. Her men stood by and watched.

"Where have you been, wench?" She demanded.

My eyes rolled. I didn't have anything to come up with. I couldn't tell her I was with Damien or what happened either.

What could I tell her, a walk in the garden? Cleaning the stables? It wasn't my chore today; I didn't have any good lies cooked up.

"Don't play with me, bitch! Where were you?"

My lips trembled. "I—I was—I was attending to a business—"

"Shut up." Bailey released my hair and kicked me away. "I'm not ready for your lies, I don't even care about what you were doing." She nodded at her henchmen and they readied the whip to flog Riley again.

"Wait, please I was at the shop, I was getting ingredients!" Lies came at random.

Bailey turned around and kicked me in the stomach, which I gratefully accepted.

"Shut up! I don't want to listen to it! You stay there and watch, that's your punishment for ghosting me today! Flog that stupid friend of hers!"

"Yes, my lady!" The men said happily and took turns flogging Riley at will.

"Please! No—argh!" Riley screamed at every stroke.

"Please! Flog me instead!" I desperately pulled at Bailey's gown and bowed my head low so that I almost kissed the floor. "She's innocent, I will take her place! Please!" I sobbed.

Bailey grinned and her eyes contained no emotions, only hate.

"This is a lesson for you and her. Your aura caused this to her, and the people around you, maybe you will learn when I start hurting your loved ones," her voice was a cold whisper.

My mouth fell open and I had no choice but to watch. It was disheartening, watching Riley scream and I could only close my eyes and cry at the scene.

"Stop! Her screams are annoying, all this flogging is making me hungry, let's go back inside," Bailey finally ordered.

As they left I rushed to Riley and she was in a pitiable state.

"Oh, Riley! I'm so sorry!" I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and helped her up. She was barely conscious of the beating she had received.

I walked her back to my quarters and cleaned her wounds on my bed. Her wolf took care of the rest and her healing abilities kicked in, I could only sit and wait for her to wake up.

Bailey's words were still fresh in my head. It was because of my Hex, that people around me were hurt. If this continued, Riley would get seriously hurt and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself—

"Arielle?" Riley groaned. She rubbed her eyes and stared at me. Her wounds had almost completely disappeared.

"Riley, thank the Goddess!" I held her hands and started sobbing.

"Hey, that's okay. I'm fine now, I have a wolf, remember?" Riley smiled at me, despite her pain.

I looked away and closed my eyes. A decision had formed slowly in my head. My friend shouldn't get hurt for me, and there was only one way.

"Arielle, I would get flogged over and over for you. I will gladly do it because you are my friend." Riley hugged me. "You don't have to be down like this."

I clenched my jaws as a stinging sensation formed in my throat.

"Riley," my voice shook. "We can't be friends anymore." I avoided her eyes. If I saw those eyes, I wouldn't be able to continue with this.

"Arielle, what's wrong?" Riley drew closer and touched me, but I slapped her hand away and stood up.

"Don't touch me! I don't want to be friends with you!" I screamed. I had my back to her, to hide the tears that rolled down my cheeks. "Being friends with you will only cause you harm."

"Arielle, you are only saying that because of what happened… but I am not even complaining." She sounded hurt.

"Oh, no Riley. Do I need to wait until you start complaining?" I hissed as I turned to face her. "Please, just leave."