Selene's Alchemy

Chapter 5 - Punishment

Just go away!

Sparrow said in her heart.

"Run!!!" She screamed hoping that the caller will hear her distressed voice and run for their dear lives.

"Run!! Don't come here!" She screamed again. She did not know who it was that was looking for her but she would never wish for that person to meet the wolves.

"Shut up!" Karen ordered and hit her across her face. "Alpha is not here to save you this time. You better do as I say otherwise you'll end up as our meat."

Sparrow raised her face to his with blood on her lower lip as a result of Karen's hit. She spat on his face. "You are cursed! Dirty wolf!"

Karen shut his eyes as the sticky liquid hit his face. He tried to quench his rising anger that was trying to overshadow his sanity. He was trying not to disobey alpha Raven but he couldn't. This obstinate human was pushing him to the edge and he can't afford to fall over.

He clenched his fists and thought of punching her face or maybe her abdomen. He swallowed hard and exhaled as he opened his eyes, then wiped off the spittle than was already running down his right cheek. The other wolf's patience was gradually running out and at this rate, he might go against alpha to kill this human.

"I'll spare you because of alpha." Karen said while Sparrow sneered at him. He turned to the other wolf guy. "Tighten your grip Oben. Make it painful."

Sparrow gritted her teeth as the large paws of the wolf human behind her forced her hands over each other and twisted it roughly that she thought he might have broken a few bones. She groaned from the cutting pain from that grip but put up a front that showed she wasn't moved by it. She clenched her jaws and maintained a stoic face.

"I see—more Oben." Karen grinned into her face and ordered when he didn't get the pained reaction he'd expected from her. Sparrow's heart began to thump faster which didn't escape Karen's hearing.

Once again, Oben tightened his grip around her wrists, his nails dug into her flesh and Sparrow groaned again. This time, her chest began to rise and fall as the pain raced back and forth in her veins. She shut her eyes and muffled the scream of pain that was about to come out of her mouth while sobbing lightly.

Her wrists will be raw from this. Oben's fingers were tearing through her flesh.

Karen chuckled when he heard her sob and turned his back on her. "One more thing. I am not alpha Raven. I am beta Karen and I am more ruthless than alpha. I know just how to treat obnoxious humans like you." His ringing voice lingered in Sparrow's mind and cultivated her hatred for Karen and wolves in general.

Sparrow wanted to react but she stopped herself from doing it. She can't afford to go through another round of this torture. What more torture will she go through if she counters Karen again? She'll rather keep shut until alpha Raven returns. She didn't say anymore word as they continued moving forward.

They walked wordlessly through the foggy grove. The sound their feet made while shuffling against the dried leaves on the floor was the only sound in the dark forest along with the tense thumping of Sparrow's heart. Her feet was becoming cold against the floor and it was making the wounds on her feet go sore.

She was close to tears with each stinging pain from the tears and cuts and it didn't look like it is going to stop until she's properly treated.

Her leather sandals were still stuck behind her ankle and she didn't know how to tell the overbearing Karen that her feet was sore from being on the floor for a long time and it was affecting her movements. They won't believe her. Not after trying to run away twice.

"Umm-" She cleared her throat and decided to say it after all. "I need to get my sandals properly on my feet. It's already sore from walking bare." Sparrow said without looking at Karen who was just few inches before her.

There was no reply. He ignored her.

"Didn't you hear me?" This time her pained face turned to his robust shoulders.

They were still not affected by the fact that they were still naked.

It would have been better traveling in their wolf forms than being totally naked! Sparrow had thought.

"It's part of the punishment human!" Karen barked without looking back.

Sparrow gulped. It was best to endure the pain.

My mother will be worried about me. Kisha will mock my incompetence. It was supposed to be a great hunt but now, am with the wolves. The enemies of humanity! Now I wish I had a silver weapon. I would have killed them all a long time ago! Sparrow thought but her thoughts only ended up fueling her anger and her desperation to escape.

As they were moving, her eyes were scanning the forest for a possible way of escape. But of what use is it? She can't outrun the wolves. They are very fast and agile while she runs on both legs with a speed much slower than theirs.

I wish Kisha were here with me. Nambi would have fought them effortlessly. Ah—He can't kill them. They are powerful and fast, really fast that Nambi would be dead in a blink. Even though Kisha might outnumber them but they might get the upper hand because of their speed.

Sparrow thought as tiny bits of regrets began to creep into her mind.

She began to regret joining Kisha in the first place. All these wouldn't have happened had she not joined Kisha. She would have been safe in the valley working in the meadows while being protected by the warriors.

No! I am brave woman! I will never resort to regrets because of dirty wolves!

She snorts as they finally stepped out of the grove.

The hill they were going to, emerged next. The warmth of the sun on her skin eased her body a little as the pains on her body gradually faded.

They walked to the foot of the hill towards a tiny clearing from the grass and sat under the hill's shade.

Oben pushed Sparrow to the grass and crouched before her as she was trying to sit up. "Oben doesn't talk much. He strikes when it is hot. Don't irritate him." Oben warned as he took his seat beside her. Sparrow didn't say anything. She clenched her fists and willed for her escape. If only she could get the slightest bit of opportunity again, she'll definitely escape.

Just as they had taken their seats, alpha Raven emerged from the dark grove with a human before him, hands tied behind his back while Olin walked by his side. They were now covered in thick furs asides the two with Sparrow who were still naked.

Sparrow's eyes darted towards their direction in shock of who it was that was being led towards them like a sheep to a s*******r house.

Her ragged breaths from her shock filled the air as her pains returned. She made to stand and confront alpha but she was roughly pulled back by Karen. "Sit down you fool!"

Her insides burned with dangerous rage as her body tensed with anger. They have him now! He came in search of her! He wanted to save her!

Sparrow studied him. He had blood on the side of his lips and tiny cuts on his body which had fresh blood on it. It proved that there was a struggle before he was finally taken. He must have fought with all his strength but the animals managed to subdue him.

His usually sleek hair was disheveled and messy with bits of dried leaves stuck in its strands. His face had faint claw marks to the left of his cheek and a bloody bruise on his forehead.

Sparrow felt guilty seeing him wounded like this because of her. Seeing that he was here because of her.

It's all her fault!

Had she not joined Kisha in the first place, this would not have happened!

Her eyes became heavy with tears as a large lump clogged her throat. She was going to break down at any moment. She can't stand another fellow being tortured just because of her recklessness.

She watched with sombre expression as he was pushed to the ground before her. Her lips couldn't help but quiver when she called his name.

"Kiremi."