On the Other Side

Lashes

The boot pops open showing a fresh dawn sky. Titus grabs harshly me and pulls me out. Pain shoots up my arm when I'm thrown onto the ground.

"Get up"

I breath in slowly before using all my strength to push myself up. The Winter air biting at my cheeks doesn't hide the burning in my chest. An uncomfortable heat eats at me

Something's wrong

It's only when we enter a large room and I spot a 100s of people that I know. A tall pedestal stands in the middle of the crowd, they part ways to let Titus and I through but not without spitting insults and curses my way

"Kneel" Titus' gruff voice says above the crowd

I look at him confused and he glares back, throwing me down. My head smacks against the pedestal. The crowd cheers

"Today, your Luna defied my orders and tried to run away again. Injuring her Beta, Cata, a mother, a wife, someone so vital to the Kingdom. How ruthless and cruel is that" Titus spits

"As her punishment she will receive 10 lashes, to compensate for disobeying me, 10 for shaming me, another 10 for injuring my Beta's wife"

The crowd erupts in more cheers

I bite my lip and shut my eyes tight, taking deep breaths.

Titus leans down to my ear

"Shouldn't have tried to run away. You should have stayed with me, followed my orders, like a good Luna does. Now look at you, on your knees for me, about to receive lashings in front of the whole kingdom. This is being broadcasted to every Kingdom you know, to everybody. I'll make you regret what you did"

As he gets up, I speak

"Nothing and no one will ever make me regret, loving him. You hear that. Stop being so pathetic and except the truth. Your mate doesn't love you"

My voice matches the fire raging in my chest. He rips my flimsy shirt open at my back, ignoring what I said

"Did you ever get on your knees for him. Of course you did, you little slut. I heard Bloodsuckers like it rough" he mocks

I hiss as the whip hits my back

2

3

4

....

15

16

Don't scream

17

18

Jeana, don't scream

19

20

....

27

Don't you dare scream

28

29

At this point I can feel the blood running down my back as the open wound gushes

30

I release a silent sigh of relief, I finished that without passing out. I lift my head but it's pushed down roughly

31

The cries of the crowd die as I dance on a fine line between unconsciousness

32

33

"Titus, that's enough" I hear a voice say before they are pushed to the side

34

35

At that moment my eyes meet with a familiar pair of gray ones in the crowd.

Era

The Goddess who tricked me into doing her will, who pretended to be my friend and hid the truth from me just for me to do her biding. She knew who Olu was but didn't tell me.

I hold gazes with her for what feels like centuries before a single tear drops from her eye. At that point I try to look away but my body isn't even responding. She mouths "Sorry" and turns away.

40

White and black dots dance in my vision as someone presses a kiss to my cheek before lifting onto their lap. Titus' face is covered in blood, my blood. He presses a kiss on my forehead running his blood covered hand through my hair

"That extra 10 was leaving me for that bastard"