Brutal Punishment

I am not sure how long we swam before hitting a shore. I transformed back into my human body and lay on the wet sand, panting. Not sure where I had landed as I got on all fours and choked out water letting it escape my lungs. My auburn hair matted on my face as I pushed them back. Sable had gone silent in my mind again. I could hear some men in the distance and all my senses became alert. I tried to get up and run, but the fatigue had consumed my limbs. It was impossible to stand. “There, I see her,” someone shouted and I saw two burly men with their heads shaved from the sides and tattoos covering their arms, running towards me. There was no doubt they were werewolves and from the uniforms they wore, it seemed like they were guards. A coat was thrown over my naked body as they drew near. “We have got you?” One of them said in a dangerous gruff voice and harshly grabbed my arm. “Where am I?” I asked, wrapping the warm coat against my shivering body, this place was cold. I stared up at them. They watched me in disbelief as if I was some alien and not a woman. The fear settled in my heart. “You dare ask that, after that stunt you pulled. We will tell you where you are.” He shook my arm as if I was a ragdoll. It was a new place and I had no clue what I had landed myself in. Literally. They held my arms and picked me up as if I weighed nothing. I tried to stay calm and take in the beach and its surroundings but their menacing attitude had left me shivering. “Don’t you know, you are on Whispering Bay Island? The home of NightRiders Pack. We are taking you back to the castle so you can be punished for trying to escape.” Castle? Punishment? For what? What kind of place had I landed myself in? So many questions brimmed my mind. “Punishment? I didn't do anything,” I tried to plead my case but was met with a sharp slap from one of the guards. It left stars dancing in front of my eyes and my cheek stinging. If only Sable was with me, I would have torn him apart for laying his hand on me. “King will be furious to learn that one of the candidates went missing.” The one who had thrown his coat at me spoke and the other one barely nodded in answer. Not understanding who this king was, I decided to silently listen and get more information for now. “Almost all the she-wolves have arrived. Let's see who gets to be the lucky one to carry the King’s child and become his surrogate,” the other one said and they both nodded in agreement. Surrogate? Seemed like the king didn't have a mate or maybe she was dead making him search for a surrogate for his heir and I was mistaken as one of the women who had applied to become one or had escaped. I took in my surroundings and found the island to be home to a very unique kind of flora. Tall trees were scattered all around, their leaves shed for the approaching winter. A grey and black castle with four high towers, whose spikes seemed to be piercing the heavens stood on high grounds. For a second I was left stunned to watch its archaic design intermingled with modern style. They dragged me inside the castle through heavy doors. I observed how heavily guarded it was, it would be no easy task to escape. Once inside I was taken underground to a dark and damp room. From one dungeon to another. Some rotten luck I had. “Tie her up,” one of the men instructed the other. There was a long red stool on the hard floor and I highly doubted it was for sitting. Roughly pushing me down on the floor they spread my arms on the stool and tied them up with ropes. “All she-wolves were supposed to be not harmed but you decided to run away. An example needs to be made so no one else even dreams of it.” He flashed me a smile of pure evil as his partner handed him a pair of pliers. My heart dropped into my stomach, without my wolf I wouldn't even be able to share the pain or heal. “No, please! Listen. You got the wrong girl…” They didn't even let me finish when the nail of my index finger was pulled. I thought I knew pain but his actions proved I didn't. Never had I felt such torture, my helpless screams filled the entirety of the dungeon. The tears wet my face as my hand was drenched in my innocent blood. Curses flowed through my mouth and I swore I would give him tenfold the pain he was inflicting on me. They would have continued but another guard arrived, informing them the king had arrived. The men left me there and hurriedly left while I wallowed in my pain and misery. Questioning the moon goddess what had I ever done wrong? A stern-looking woman in her early fifties arrived soon after. Her greying hair were tied so tightly at the back of her head that it seemed even painful. She began to untie the ropes. “I am Linda Afolis and if you want to survive this place, it will be advisable to listen to what I say. Follow me” she said stiffly, scrutinising my attire and my bloody hand which was missing a few fingernails now. I was almost naked, minus the coat. “Yes!” I quietly answered and struggled to get up. Scrambling to my feet I began trotting behind her. I followed her into a room which seemed to be some kind of changing room. She began to bandage my shaking hand. The blood tripped on the clean floor. “One of the she-wolves ran away and we will be using you in her place. So keep your mouth shut and do what you are told.” After seeing what kind of barbaric people they were, who could go to any length to cover up for their mistakes. Everything made sense now but I decided to stay quiet and plan. But it did make my wonder what kind of king they had as a leader who allowed such barbaric acts.