His Flamed Luna

Torment

     ~Thomas' P.O.V.~
    Staring at Ember's limp body on the cold floor of the prison cell, I felt a twinge of guilt. I had rejected her, a strong and able-bodied, able-minded leader. For what? Her wolf? It hadn't necessarily been my choice, my parents pushed it. They told me of the prophecy a year ago. She was fire, I could not allow her to rise to power if I wanted the packs safe. I didn't want to reject Ember, she was a beautiful and smart girl.
          "I'm sorry, Ember," I murmured as I brushed her lovely brown locks out of her face. She was angry at me, rightfully so, and my chest was raging with pain from our mate bond being snapped. 
        Where I had marked her it was now bare, no sign of ever having carried any mate was on her body. I wanted to tear my heart out of my chest and get on my knees before her, beg for her to let me be her mate. But I knew I couldn't. And now, she was a lowly Omega. My own words made it so.
            "I'm no Omega!" Her words rang in my head and I felt a sharp tug on my heart. She wasn't an Omega by any sorts other than my words. 
         Josephine, my chosen mate and Luna suggested by my parents, wasn't a good fit either. She was weak and cowardly, cruel. She was pretty, yes, but as I stared at my ex-mate I couldn't help but regret the decision I made. If I rejected her, this only pushed her into the arms of the wolf of ice. Seeing Ember chained up with silver, wolfsbane in her blood to keep her weak, I felt sick. She wouldn't heal fully, ever, from any injuries she endured with what they laced her with. And I had to pretend to be okay with the torture she'd face for attacking the Luna. Unfortunately, Josephine's injuries were so critical she lost her wolf and was now in and out of stability in the pack doctor's office. This meant Ember would be in huge trouble. As I heard the snickering of her punishers approaching I got up, unable to watch the pain they'd enforce on her for her crime.

     ~Ember's P.O.V.~
         I opened my eyes to two men standing over me, their golden eyes flashing with enlightenment when they realized I was awake. I felt weak and sick, noting the prick in my arm. Wolfsbane... I could still feel Zara's presence, but her whines were faint. I prayed to the Moon Goddess she didn't take Zara from me. 
             "She's awake!" The first man cheered happily. "Now we can begin."
          Confused, I sat up shakily, looking at them with defiance. 
              "The Luna might die," The second man chuckled, looking me in the eyes. "You're a criminal."
         I snarled softly, "She's no Luna, she's a weak link."
         They both looked at each other. 
                "If she dies, I did this pack a favor," I spat. 
         A searing pain landed in my stomach and it took a moment to register that one of them had kicked me. I coughed and curled up, groaning. Another sharp kick left me breathless, a weak cry escaping my lips. Dry and cracked, they burned, and I licked them before I felt another blow, this time to my ribs. I felt a rib crack and screamed. The pain was overbearing and suddenly I realized I'd be half dead before they left me here unable to heal with a weakened wolf. I tried to scramble away, coughing and gasping, only to be slammed to the floor before I felt blow after blow landing on my stomach and ribs, leaving me to choke on air as hot tears streaked my cheeks. Zara was crying for me and I wanted the pain to stop, I begged the Moon Goddess silently as I took the endless blows both men dealt me.

      I couldn't tell how much time had passed, I was barely conscious as the two men finally left my cell for the eighth time. It'd been over a week since I was locked in the cell and every day I was beaten, left for dead.  I was left, slumped and broken on the floor, pain covering every inch of my body. I didn't dare move, it would only hurt worse. Breathing on it's own was excruciating, multiple ribs cracked and bruised, leaving me taking quick, short gulps of air.
             "Ember," Karly's voice sounded from the door to the cell. 
        I looked up slowly. "Karly," I wheezed. 
              "What did they do to you..." 
       My face hurt from slaps and punches, my lip split and my left eye swollen shut. I knew I didn't look pretty and the damage dealt was clear to anyone who saw me.  I couldn't speak now, my voice catching in my throat. I just closed my eyes, wanting to sleep, wanting the pain to stop. Eight days of beatings had left me completely helpless on the ground of the cellar, dirt was my friend, cement was my friend. I was covered in my own blood. I felt sick with the feeling that chained itself to my body and wanted to be free. I couldn't move even if I tried, it would hurt too much. 
           "When's the last time you ate?" Karly asked softly.
      I tried to remember. It had been maybe two days since I last got a meal, maybe more. I just exhaled and let my body sink further into this darkness I knew too well. I felt the ground melting away and blocked out the faint panicked cries of Karly. I just wanted to sleep at this point, no more pain when I was sleeping, no more hunger, no more emotional struggling. At this point, I wished I could sleep forever. I don't want this pain anymore... I cried in my mind. Praying for death I greeted the cold and welcoming darkness as my body stopped being real to me. 

       ~Thomas' P.O.V.~
              "She may not make it," The doctor muttered to me, giving me an apologetic look.
        Ember was hooked up on IV and a heart monitor, her body so badly damaged and weakened by the wolfbane and injuries I wasn't sure how I felt. Her face was littered with bruises and cuts, her body too. The smell of her being used as ragdoll by her two abusers lay heavily on her body, which reeked of soil and blood as well. Her ribs were so badly damaged, any more and her left lung would have collapsed. 
               "I'm so sorry," I breathed as I looked over her, noticing how skinny she'd become. "When is the last time she ate?" I asked the doctor.
         Her eyes met mine and she shook her head. "Bloodwork showed she hasn't eaten a single thing for almost five days, plus the amount of wolfsbane in her system is deadly..."
         I felt anger, at the men, at myself and at my parents. If she died I would kill Josephine myself, who was currently stable but unable to talk. Ember looked so sickly it made me feel like throwing up. This wasn't the beautifully strong wolf I'd known growing up. She was no longer full of fire, no longer full of defiance. She was on the brink of death and it was my own fault. I turned at the sound of someone entering the room, surprised to see my father.
               "It's best if she dies," He spoke, meeting my gaze. "Then we are all safe."
               "Bullshit," I snapped, making him step back. "If I hadn't rejected her maybe we would be safe. She wouldn't ever meet the ice wolf," I pointed out bitterly.
         My father furrowed his brows. "I see your point," He admitted. "But if she dies it's also for the best."
               "I love her!" 
               "So what?" He growled.
               "If she dies I'm going to end you. You, Josephine, Blaze, mom, Rosetta," I vowed. 
          His eyes widened and a gulp came from his throat. I felt satisfied I'd scared him. 
                "If she dies, I'll happily die too," He spoke up after a moment of silence. "I won't have to protect anyone anymore."
          That angered me more and I scoffed. "Get out. Now."
          Instead of protesting, my father turned and walked out. I hated him with every fiber of my being at the moment, my eyes locked on my ex-mate. I felt horrible seeing the damage done to her. I would lift the punishment immediately if she lived. She would remain Omega ranked until Josephine died, if she did. But I'd allow Ember some freedoms. I couldn't bare to see her in this state and wouldn't take it anymore. As the Alpha, my word was law in this pack. The only one who could ever override my word in my pack was the King. And then my heart slammed into my throat. 
                 "His Majesty has written!" A female ran in, her short brown hair bobbing with the wind from her speed. "He's coming in two days!"
          The only thing that I could say was, "Shit."