Chapter 5

Emily Carter POV

My feet froze in place.

It wasn't because I was afraid of being kicked out of the Moonhowl Pack.

It was because if I had a total fallout with James right now, the alliance with the Alpha King might fall through.

I had to endure this for just two more weeks.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and sat down at the very edge of the sofa.

Seeing my submission, a cold smirk of triumph flashed in James's eyes.

"Mr. Reed, I leave Emily in your hands. Enjoy your chat."

James stood up, wrapping his arm around Sophia's waist as they walked out.

At the door, Sophia looked back at me, her lips curling into a wicked, triumphant grin.

The heavy door shut, blocking out all outside noise.

Marcus immediately slid closer, his suffocating mix of cheap cologne and alcohol making me gag.

"Emily, don't be so cold. Alpha James practically gave you to me. Stick with me, and I promise you a good life."

He poured a glass of wine and held it in front of my face.

"Come on, have a drink. Let's get friendly."

I pushed his hand away coldly.

"I don't drink. Mr. Reed, just because James is crazy doesn't mean you have to be."

Marcus's face darkened, but then he let out a filthy chuckle.

"I like feisty girls. Today, you're drinking this wine whether you want to or not!"

He suddenly lunged, grabbing my jaw with brute force and forcing the wine down my throat.

I fought back wildly, spilling most of it over my clothes, but a small gulp still went down.

Marcus let go, grinning wickedly.

"There we go. There's a little 'extra ingredient' in that glass. You'll find out how good I am in a minute."

My heart sank.

The drug hit me incredibly fast.

Within minutes, my body started burning up, my limbs felt like lead, and my vision blurred.

Grinning like a maniac, Marcus began to unbuckle his belt, lunging at me.

"Get off me!"

I bit down hard on my tongue, the sharp pain bringing a brief moment of clarity.

As Marcus came at me, I grabbed a heavy crystal ashtray from the coffee table and slammed it into his temple with all my remaining strength.

"Ah!"

Marcus screamed, clutching his bleeding head as he collapsed onto the couch.

I seized the opportunity to stumble out of the room, running for my life.

The drug was getting stronger. My steps were uneven, and I almost fell several times.

The wound on my left shoulder tore open from the frantic movement, blood soaking through my bandage, but I couldn't care less about the pain.

I didn't even know how I managed to escape the venue, hail a cab, and make it back to the Packhouse.

But when I pushed the front doors open, what welcomed me wasn't my mother's concern, but an interrogation.

The living room was brightly lit.

James sat in the middle of the sofa, his face livid.

Sophia stood beside him, looking smug.

And Marcus Reed's parents were pointing at me, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Alpha James, we came to negotiate a partnership out of respect for you! And this little bitch dared to assault my son! You must give us justice today, or we will take this to the Council and put her on trial!"

I collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, my body burning like fire.

"He drugged me." I rasped.

"Drugged?!" Marcus's mother shrieked. "My son can have any woman he wants! Why would he drug you? It's obvious you tried to seduce him, and when it failed, you violently attacked him!"

Sophia chimed in at the perfect moment.

"Exactly, Emily. Mr. Reed is so wealthy, why would he do such a thing? You must have lost your temper again. Just apologize to them."

I lifted my head, staring directly at James.

"James, do you believe me?"

James looked at me, a complex flash of emotion crossing his eyes.

But in the end, his voice was cold and detached.

"Emily, you've disappointed me. I gave you a chance to serve the Moonhowl Pack, and you repaid us by almost turning the Reed family into our enemies."

He stood up, looking down at me as if I were a piece of irredeemable garbage.

"Since you refuse to behave, don't blame me for being ruthless. I will have to punish you according to pack law!"

Pack law.

The punishment of the Moonhowl Pack was a whip lined with silver thorns.

I stared at him in utter horror, my heart completely dying in that very second.

"James, I still have a fresh stab wound..." my voice was hoarse.

"You brought that on yourself!" James snapped coldly. "Kneel!"

Two werewolf warriors stepped forward, forcing me down onto my knees.

James took the silver-thorned whip. Without a single trace of hesitation, he brought it down hard across my back.

Flesh tore.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to let out a single scream.

With every strike, a spray of blood flew, accompanied by the agonizing burn of silver.

By the tenth strike, my back was a bloody mess. Combined with the reopened stab wound on my shoulder, blood completely stained the carpet.

I lay on the floor like a dying dog, finding it painful even to breathe.

"Throw her in the basement," James tossed the bloody whip aside, his voice devoid of any warmth. "No food or water without my permission. Let her reflect on what she did!"

The heavy basement door slammed shut.

Complete darkness swallowed me.

Curled up in the cold, damp corner, feeling my life slowly slipping away, my soul felt a strange sense of liberation.

James Whitfield, in this life, I have finally paid you back, with interest.

There were only three days left until the Alpha King's arrival.