Their Barren Luna

6: Punishment Or Submission

Rhett’s chest rose and fell heavily as his claws retracted, his body trembling with the remnants of his wolf. But then—he shook his head sharply, as if snapping himself out of something dangerous. The redness drained from his eyes. The wolf slipped back, swallowed into his skin.

“No,” he muttered, voice hard.

Ronan narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp and accusing. “What do you mean, no?”

“You know we’re going to die if we don’t find her,” Ryder added, his tone edged with frustration.

Die?

My brows furrowed. They would die if they didn’t find their mate? Are they cursed? What could they have done in the past to be punished in such a way?

I couldn’t stop myself from speaking, even though my throat still burned from earlier.

“Why will you guys die because of that?” I asked, reminding them that I was still standing there.

“Don’t waste my time. I’m going for another hunt. Today’s one was unsuccessful, but—”

“What’s your name?” Ryder cut in, his voice softer, but disappointment laced it, as if I had already failed him somehow.

“Ohh, my name is—” I started, but before I could finish, Rhett’s hand fisted in my hair, yanking hard. Pain tore across my scalp.

“Why would we need her name here?” Rhett snapped, his voice like thunder. His grip pulled harder until tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. “She is going to be punished for disrespecting us—to the extent that she will beg for death instead.”

The words chilled my blood, but I bit my tongue. I wanted to spit back, to tell him that I wasn’t afraid, that no punishment of his could ever break me. But the pain in my head was blinding. My body already felt weak, aching all over as though something was trying to claw its way out from inside me.

Rhett leaned closer, his teeth gritted. “I’ll make sure you regret being born. You will bow for me.”

The word bow ignited something hot and angry in me. I hated that word more than anything. It wasn’t just an order—it was a demand to erase myself. To kneel. To surrender. To be beneath. Never.

“I wasn’t born to bow for anyone,” I forced the words through my lips.

His grip tightened, lifting me clean off the ground. My scalp screamed as though he would rip it free. I clung to his hand with both of mine for balance, the room tilting, lights dancing across my vision. My jaw clenched, and with all the fury inside me, I opened my mouth and spat—aimed straight for his face.

But he was faster. In one fluid motion, he ripped the bra from my chest and shoved it up, blocking the spit. The wetness hit fabric instead of skin.

Humiliation burned in me. My eyes darted down to my shirt—my breasts nearly visible, fabric clinging damp from the water earlier. My rage boiled hotter.

“You b***h,” I snarled, swinging my leg up with all the strength I could muster.

He blocked it with ease.

I swung my hand—he caught it.

I struck with the other—he pinned it too.

He was too fast. Too strong. I couldn’t land a single blow.

“Rhett, keep her down,” Ryder said sharply. “And just tell us who our mate is.”

“We’ll deal with her after that,” Ronan added, his voice like ice.

Rhett’s nostrils flared. His hand unclenched, and with a rough shove, he threw me down. My head struck the edge of a table. Stars exploded behind my eyes, the room spinning.

I lay there, groaning, promising myself—I would get revenge for every bruise, every humiliation.

Rhett turned back to his brothers, his face dark. “I said, I don’t know her,” he growled.

“Liar,” Ronan and Ryder spat in unison.

Ronan’s voice cut deeper, fierce. “We can only get our wolves back if we find her. Don’t you get it?”

“It’s nine months,” Ryder pressed, voice grim. “Nine months left—or we die.”

A laugh escaped my throat, bitter and sharp. “Then I’ll be very happy if you don’t find her. So you all die.”

Their heads snapped toward me. Three pairs of eyes—burning, watching me. My legs trembled. Heat pooled in me, between my thighs, an ache I couldn’t ignore. Their gazes followed, down my legs, lingering too long. Then their eyes flicked up—straight to my chest.

I looked down. Horror filled me. My legs were shaking violently, and the ache between my thighs had only grown sharper, throbbing with every breath. My breasts strained against the damp shirt, n*****s hardening as if the fabric itself couldn’t contain me.

Panic tightened my chest. This… this wasn’t normal.

“How I wish I hadn’t sucked his c**k,” I muttered to myself bitterly. “This wouldn’t be happening.”

Ronan’s voice was cold, clinical, but his eyes stayed locked on me. “Can a wolfless omega even go into heat?”

“Can’t you see?” Ryder asked, his tone sharp, as if the evidence was right in front of them. “Not just see—can’t you feel it? I feel it.”

Ronan’s gaze didn’t waver. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Ryder’s lips parted, his eyes narrowing. “Rhett is definitely hiding something fr—”

“I’m not hiding anything!” Rhett roared, cutting him off. His face was wild, defensive. He turned sharply, yanking open the drawer beside him. He grabbed the phone, his movements rough, and dialed quickly.

“Be here. Now.” His voice was sharp, commanding. He slammed the phone down, chest heaving.

I said nothing, only watching. My body trembled, my strength fading fast. The ache between my thighs grew unbearable, my skin burning as though I was about to combust.

Within minutes, the door opened. Siya walked in, followed by a guard.

Both of them bowed low, heads bent.

“Huh.” The sound escaped me before I could stop it. “Bending your heads for people who are just like you?”

Rhett’s rage exploded. He stormed toward me, but Ronan and Ryder caught him, holding him back by his arms.

His eyes still burned holes through me as he shouted, “Lock her up!”

“What?” I yelled, pushing myself up despite the dizziness. “Do I look like someone you can just lock up?”

The guard stepped forward, his hand reaching for my arm. But before his skin touched mine, Rhett growled, a sound so low and lethal it froze the guard in place.

“Don’t touch her.”

The guard retreated instantly.

Instead, Siya stepped toward me, her hands softer but firm. She tried to raise me. I let her, too weak to resist now.

I stood shakily, swaying. My body was too tired for another fight, but my spirit wasn’t done. My hand slipped my heel from my foot. I gripped it tightly, intent clear. One chance—that was all I needed—to break Rhett’s skull open with it when he wasn’t looking.

But Ronan and Ryder weren’t paying attention to anything. Their eyes stayed on Rhett, studying him carefully, as though trying to peel him open, read his mind, discover whatever he was hiding.

I raised the heel, my muscles trembling, ready to strike—

But my fingers gave way.

The shoe slipped, falling from my grip. My whole body weakened more suddenly, so frail I could barely stand.

And then—

I heard it again.

Faint. Almost inaudible. A whisper curling inside my head like smoke.

“Mates.”

My blood iced. My heart slammed hard in my chest.

I froze.

And when I lifted my eyes, Rhett’s gaze was already locked on me—heavy, unreadable, suffocating, like a weight pressing down on my chest.

My pulse stuttered. My skin prickled.

Can he read my mind or what?