Lyra looked in shock as he walked off. She was extremely terrified.
"Princess," Lief calls to her mockingly with a fake bow. She shuddered in fear and begged. "Please, I haven't done anything wrong. Help me." She cried
Her cries were lost on him as she was shoved out of the room.
She was greeted by the cold winter air as she stepped out. The impact caused her to shiver, making her look down at herself. She only had a flimsy full-length blue gown on. Despite its long sleeves, it wasn't equipped to shield her from the elements. Her bare feet tingled from the sharp feel of the ground.
She wasn't alone.
It looked like the whole pack was here. They all looked at her with disdain and hatred; it was as though she were there to face her execution.
She couldn't look up amidst their shatter.
Suddenly, the voices stopped. He was here.
"Princess Lyra of the Bloodmoon pack. How do you plead?" He calls out.
Lyra flinches, unable to comprehend. She had barely survived a nasty ordeal. Her body was very weak, and the cold was killing her brain cells.
"It looks like we have a mute," Ryker said, causing a roar of laughter to erupt among the pack members.
Lyra attempts to shield herself warily, looking everywhere else but at him.
"I don't understand. She says, but no one heard her.
Ryker then snaps his fingers at one of his warriors, who steps away from the clearing but returns shortly with a badly marred head on a spike.
The pack members made a clearing for him while he walked towards Lyra.
The moment she sees the gruesome sight before her, she begins to shake violently.
It was her beloved father.
How could they?
She is unable to stand, and so she fell to the ground and retched violently, wailing helplessly.
No one paid her any attention. They cheered and chattered excitedly until Ryker raised his hand to silence the noise.
"Princess Lyra of the blood moon pack, you have been found guilty for the blood that runs through your veins, and you will walk this path for atonement that I have chosen."
"I do not deserve this' she screams amidst the tears that fall uncontrollably. 'You do all this to me, what does that make you?" She swallowed hard.
"Don't you dare!" Vera screams. "You dare talk back to your Alpha."
Lyra looks up, her face swollen from the tears.
"Alpha Ryker. In the name of the sacred moon goddess, have mercy. Please have mercy." She cried hoarsely.
Any more punishment and she was afraid she could die.
Her body couldn't take any more torture.
Yet, it would be a shame to die.
"No mercy". Someone shouts from the crowd
"No mercy!"
"No mercy!" They begin to chant.
Someone ties her hands roughly. The pups begin to throw their snacks at her. The members of the pack take turns and spit at her while some drag her hair, yanking her head backwards while spitting on her face.
Someone ripped the front of her dress in the chaos and slapped her.
Lya does not know how long the torment lasts. She was ruined for life, and something broke inside her.
"What now, Alpha?" Ezren asked while he watched the scene of Lyra's abuse play in front of him.
"Let her stay in the cold for now." He replies coldly.
"What's the point, though. She could die at that rate." Ezren responds, frowning.
"Who cares?' Vera butts in, rolling her eyes. 'Isn't that what Ryker wants?"
"It's Alpha Ryker to you in public. You need to learn some respect and no. If he wanted to kill her, he would have done so already." Ezren lashes at Vera.
Lief frowns, looking at Ryker.
"I don't understand." Lief looks at Ryker.
"I am just pissed. Angry at her father for dying without a fight. He made it so easy. I can only pour my anger out on her until this fire subsides." Ryker responds.
"Whatever you say." Ezren scoffs as he gives Ryker a look and takes his attention back to Lyra.
Ryker frowns at Ezren but doesn't say a word. "Take her to the dungeon once she has learnt her lesson." He orders Lief, who nods swiftly.
Vera looks at him, stroking his hair. However, her attempts weren't acknowledged. This was unlike Ryker.
Something seemed off.
She observes him and watches how he doesn't take his eyes off the long-legged white skinned beauty not far off.
She panics.
He had never had to worry about any competition in the past. Much earlier in their relationship, she had staked her claim on him and made her territory known to the other she-wolves in the pack.
Ryker was not a flirt, but he hardly warded off any advancement from any clueless female, so she had made it her responsibility to let everyone know she called the shots and would undoubtedly be the next Luna.
Everyone knew that at Alpha's age, he was likely not to get his fated mate. Besides, Ryker didn't seem to care for a fated or chosen mate.
He had always firmly said he was in charge of his destiny, and he would decide for himself what was best.
Could he have fallen for the enemy?
She looked at him and back at Lyra. He doesn't seem to give anything away. His cold glare and hard resolve calmed her racing heart.
He hated the enemy. His daughter was no different. If he weren't, he wouldn't go this far.
She takes her attention back to Lyra.
'I will destroy you, Lyra, you just wait and see. Ryker is mine. Her jaw tensed.