Claimed, but not by my Mate

Chapter Nine

I stayed in the room cuffed to the chair for what I assumed was hours before Sam and another person came in. I wasn’t concerned about what they planned to do to me until I saw the long strip of a whip.

I tensed but kept my expression neutral. If they knew I was scared they would use it against me.  I couldn’t show fear or it would be the end of me.

“Break the back of the chair.” Sam commanded. The other guy quickly slipped behind me and with one tug broke the back of the wood chair, leaving my back open to him. “Cut off her shirt.” He demanded next. He did it hesitantly, pulling out a pocket knife and slicing along the seams of my shirt. He nicked my shoulder once and muttered a quick apology before he continued until I was left in nothing but my bra.

Sam pulled a metal chair toward me and sat facing me. He handed the whip to the other guy who went to stand behind me.

“So tell me, what is it about you that has so many people fretting over you? You have the attention of the Alpha’s son and his Beta, not that that’s anything new, you are a pretty girl Braize.  What has me confused is why the High Alpha and Luna suddenly decided to pay a visit and to you no less.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said feigning innocence. I would pull that act for as long as I could.

“Oh you know exactly what I mean if that mark is any indication.” He said. I didn’t do anything to hide it but just dept my chin straight.

“It’s a birthmark.” I tried but he just shook his head.

“I’m not stupid Braize. I know you didn’t have that when we were dating. I know its Ryder’s mark but something’s wrong with it. It should look like a half moon with a wolf howling at it but something went wrong with it. It’s just the moon which is weird. The only way something goes wrong with a mark is when...” He trailed and smiled widely at me. “You’ve found your soul mate but mated with someone else instead. Now the only question is, who is he?” He looked at me expectantly and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” I asked.

“No, I was just hoping you were smart enough to realize that if you don’t tell us what we want to know there will be a punishment.”

“Then punish me.” I said stubbornly. “There’s no way in hell I’ll ever betray my friends.”

“If you say so.” Sam said and with a simple wave of his hand the whip came down on my back, splitting the flesh. Blood welled in the gash and began to drip down my back, pooling on the floor. I tensed in pain but didn’t cry out and just looked Sam in the eye.

“You’re strong.” He said and leaned back in his chair. “Fifteen strokes.” He said to the man behind me.

I took all fifteen strokes without crying out. I looked Sam in the eye with each one, forcing him to see the pain I felt with each stroke. He didn’t look always, did not tell the guy to stop but just continued to let it happen as if I was an unknown person rather than someone he had once had feeling for. I could see those feelings were no longer evident at all but what made me curious was to know whether he felt anything anymore.

“Clean her up.” Sam said after the last stroke and stood.

He left without another word and the man got to work taking a cloth from a pail of water he must have brought in and began to dab at the gashes. I hissed in pain when he probed into one of the gashes.

“I’m sorry.” He murmured, so quiet I almost didn’t hear him.

“Then why did you do it?” I asked. He seemed surprised by the question and stopped dabbing for a bit before continuing.