I functioned as one. I might have my own faults and weaknesses, but I never condoned beating and assaulting my pack’s females. And regardless of who committed the crime, the punishment remained the same.
Manuel was one of our warriors. A trusted one. For some unknown reason, he consumed too much alcohol last night and went into a rage. And the victim was his mate. She was found unconscious this morning by Manuel’s sister, and words spread out immediately.
My Gamma found Manuel in the basement of their house, repentant for what he had done to his mate. But it wasn’t enough. He needed to learn his lesson not to touch her or any other female in this manner again.
And this was something my mate needed to understand.
There were still many things I didn’t know about Nadia, but I was sure she had a soft heart and I needed to toughen her up, but not to the extent of losing her humanity, as I did for a period of time.
I coiled my fingers on the rod that holds the single tail whip. Its end was dipped in a small amount of silver, just enough to burn the skin on the first whip.
I was getting ready to strike the first lash, but I couldn’t ignore her anymore. I wanted to see her, to understand the emotions she was sharing with me.
My head tilted in her direction, and our eyes met. Her face showed no emotions at all, but her eyes were telling me a lot of things—but it all boiled down to one thing: she didn’t like what she was seeing. She hated this part of me.
I dropped my gaze down and took in a deep breath, moving into position as my men turned Manuel’s body around. I tried to block off the sound of a wailing female, pained by her mate’s punishment.
‘Leave.’I sent Nadia a mindlink, my eyes still locked on the grounds.
‘No. I want to see you.’Her voice was cold.
‘There will be blood. And you might not be able to take that.’
‘I can.’
‘You might not like this part of me.’
‘I want to stay.’
‘You can’t stop what I am about to do. I won’t let you. You have to trust me.’
She didn’t answer, and I took it that she didn’t want to discuss it anymore.
I opened another mindlink, this time to Manuel.‘Block off your emotions. Own up to the pain and don’t let your female feel it.’
‘Yes, Alpha.’
‘No matter what happens, don’t turn around. I want the lashes on your back, not anywhere else.’
‘Yes, Alpha.’
I hoped he would keep his word. A blow to his head or chest would be fatal, and it was not part of my plan. I needed him alive to learn his lesson, not dead.
My hand tightened its hold on the whip as I raised my head high, my eyes focused on the back of the warrior I was about to punish.
‘Riley…’Nadia’s voice came soft, and I knew she was holding herself so she wouldn’t break.‘Don’t punish the female. I don’t think I can take it.’
I shut off my mindlink as my hand raised and the whip flung into the air, hitting Manuel’s back in a second. I heard the tearing of his skin, but he didn’t utter a single curse or scream at the impact.
Instead, it was his female who fell to her knees and begged me to stop.
The smell of blood was swirling in the air. I let go of the single tail whip in my hand and reached for the clean whip from my Beta. This one would not tear his skin, but it would still give him a big blow.
I avoided looking at my female, but I could see through my side peripherals how her body stiffened and how she was holding her hands in coiled fists.
I took a deep breath before the whip swung in my hand and landed on Manuel’s back. And then another and another one. And another.
Five.That was enough. I dropped the whip in my hand as Manuel’s body slumped to the ground.
