Chapter 12.
709 Words
Skylar woke up to the sound of…. whipping?
She sat up on the bed and listened more carefully.
The sound, plus voices, were coming from outside.
Gingerly, she placed her feet on the floor. She still felt sore and a bit weak, even though she could barely remember the activities of yesternight clearly.
She left the room, got down the stairs slowly, and went outside.
The sight outside almost made her dizzy.“Nick!“
The Alpha glanced back at her and dropped his hand. It held a whip. “Skylar.”
“What are you doing!? And what is she doing here?”
It was the girl she'd fought at the Revealing ceremony. She was tied to a tree, shirtless, with pieces of skin dropping from her bloody back. She looked half dead.
“If I may answer your question, Luna,” said one of the men present with a bow, and a very thick accent.
Skylar nodded.
“She came back disguised, to harm you.“
Skylar faltered at that. “Harm me?“ She asked.
“And she would have succeeded, too.“ Nick added quietly.
“Yes, but…”
“She's not going to die,” he assured her, “But she's going to be a whole lot of lesson for the others.”
He raised the whip again and let it fall heavily on the girl.
“Nick,” she rushed forward and grabbed his hand before he could raise it again. “It's fine. I'm fine.”
He thought about it. “No.” The thought that she could have been hurt, after all she had been through yesterday, was enough to make him want to beat the girl to shreds. And he would do it, too.
“Nick, no.”
“She could have killed you, plus countless others.”
“But- Are you going to kill her?”
“No.” He hadn't decided yet. “Go inside. Please, Skylar.”
She turned back and the sound of whipping followed her in.
****
When he came in, he was clean, and was holding a tray with food. He sat down and placed the tray on a stool.
“Sorry you had to see that.”
“Where is she now?”
“Eat, Skylar.” His face was a mask. “How are you feeling?”
She decided to let the subject drop for the time and replied him, “I feel really sore. And I slept all through the day. Why didn't you wake me?”
“Because you needed the rest.” Then he frowned. “Take off your cloth a minute. Or my cloth as it seems.”
“Hey. You put me in it, and I'm not giving it back.”
He chuckled lightly and watched as she took off the large shirt. “Turn your back to me.”
She did.
There, on her lower back, his name was written.
“What?” she asked, peering behind her.
“You got your tattoo.”
“What? What's it say?”
He raised an eyebrow. “My name?”
“What's your name?”
“Rihanna,” he replied.
They both laughed.
She pulled the shirt back on and faced him. “I didn't feel anything.”
“Yesternight's bonding process must have numbed the pain.” He looked at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I'm — recuperating.”
“Eyes on me, Wild Child.”
She raised her eyes to meet his.
“I know you're worried. I'm worried, too.” he admitted.
“Why?”
“Because. Because it might prove to be too much for you, after all.”
She made a dismissive sound with her mouth. “What? I'm not scared to fight. My dad was a black belt. He taught me.”
Nick smiled. “Not that. Me personally. My powers -”
“- are growing?” she interrupted.
“Skylar, hush. But yes. My powers are such that I might hurt you accidentally. ”
“As long as you cuddle me after. And don't take a second wife.”
He roared in laughter and gathered her in his arms. “Not if my life depends on it.”
- Writer
