A million mates (On Pause)

Eight

********************************* Sam's POV **************************************

Atlanta was getting whipped to death right in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it. The king had put us all under his command to not interfere. I desperately wanted to run up there and save her, even if it meant my death but I physically couldn't. 

I couldn't even look her in the eye I was so ashamed. I knew every one of us felt the mate bond and everyone was just as desperate to save her. 

Each hit had my chest clenching in agony. It felt like my soul was being shredded and there was nothing I could do against it. Everything in me wanted me to protect her but I knew I couldn't. 

The prince obviously felt the mate bond too, how could he be so cruel? 

Part of me was dying for her to just say what she had to say, to save herself, but the other half of me knew that a life with that soulless dick was not a life worth living. 

I don't know how she was still awake, let alone looking strong. Her back was so mutilated I couldn't even look at it without gagging. A few people actually threw up, not being able to handle the damage inflicted on their mate. 

She was so strong. She has yet to mutter a single complaint, she barely looks like she's hurt at all, but the mate bond let us all know the kind of physical pain she was in. We only got this feeling in our chests when our mate was truly in danger of dying and the chances of them surviving were lower than them of her dying. 

Usually just a single hit with a normal whip has people begging on their knees, screaming in agony. The strongest of warriors can't usually take more than 15 before giving in or passing out. At that point you skin is completely ripped up and the pain is unbearable. Even the largest and strongest men can barely recover from this. 

She has now endured 45 whips. Each one has been pure torture. I could see her slugging against the pole, probably not able to hold herself up anymore. This was enough. It needed to stop. I felt the king's power waver. 

I could feel that he was becoming unsure and was realizing that she was not going to give in. He could no doubt feel through the bond that she was going to die and I could feel him begin to hesitate. 

It would be extremely disgraceful if he had to put his full grow son back in his place. He was meant to take over the throne and show that he would be a strong and fair leader and having his daddy having to tell him not to kill his mate was not something that should happen to him. 

She had now been whipped 65 times. Her back and stomach and neck were now almost completely void of skin and the whip was now puncturing her muscles and even bones. I could hear her bones cracking under the whip. 

How the fuck was she still awake? This has to be torture worse than anyone could possible experience but she still hasn't let out a sound. 

This is all my fault I told her to be strong. I really just meant not cowering and crying too much, I never expected this to happen. 

I was proud to call her my mate. I didn't care that she was everyone else's mate too. She was perfect. 

Finally after 60 whips I felt the King's power fall, letting us move and make it stop. Warrick was the first to yell out, followed by everyone else. Everyone from the town had now gathered to watch this, probably drawn in by the mate bond and the intense need to protect her. 

The king grabbed the prince by his neck and began to drag him away. The queen immediately ran up to Atlanta. We all wanted to join her, to comfort our mate but Queen Red had placed a barrier. We all went into an outrage, pushing, trying to get to our mate until we saw a single tear fall down Atlanta's face and our chests felt like they were about to be ripped out in pain for our mate. We all knew what this meant.