Trigger warning: violence
The men dragged Emma towards a building beyond the gardens. It was a small cottage.
“Now what?” Emma said after one of the men pushed her onto a metallic chair in the living room before proceeding to chain her to it.
“Your alpha is not going to like what you’re doing,” Emma said. “You’re stupid if you think following that woman’s crazy orders is the way to go.”
“Shut up, bitch.”
Emma saw Michelle coming through the door. The woman was holding a knife on one hand.
“You can leave,” Michelle said to the two men, before turning to Emma. “Now, it’s just the two of us. Today I will show you who I am so that you think twice before crossing me again in future.
“You’re a coward, Michelle.” Emma said, looking up at her. Michelle came closer and slapped her across the cheek. Emma gritted her teeth as the pain spread all over her cheek. “What do you think you’ll achieve by this?”
“I know that I’ll drive you out sooner,” Michelle said. “I have been very kind to you although I didn’t need to be. I can kill you anytime I want but I just don’t feel like it. I just want you to be far away from here before you corrupt everyone’s minds. You might think you’re strong and can withstand it but I assure you that you’ll give in. this is not my first rodeo.”
Emma sighed. “Okay, do what you want to me and get over with it.”
Michelle smiled and held her knife forward, tracing it along Emma’s cheek. Michelle made a small stab before pulling out the knife immediately.
“See, you don’t like to see me in pain.” Emma mocked. It was a big mistake.
Surely, Michelle’s hand moved and Emma felt the knife burying itself into her stomach. She screamed out due to the pain. Michelle held it in for some seconds. Emma gritted her teeth as the pain spread through her midsection. Michelle pulled out the knife and stood back to watch her handiwork. Emma hissed as she bent lower, hoping it would reduce the intense pain. Blood flowed from her tummy, soaking her t-shirt. She stared at Michelle who was grinning and said nothing, waiting for the healing to kick in before she could speak.
“You’re very stubborn,” Michelle said, pacing around. “You forget that there are people who are more stubborn than you are. I’m older than you and I’ve seen many young girls act all strong and untouchable because they had the support of a man. If there’s one thing I have learnt in life is that a man’s mind can be changed anytime. Did you see how Lucius was proposing to reject me one minute and he was marrying me the next? At the end of the day, most men only care about what’s good for them.”
The healing kicked in and Emma started to feel better. The pain started to reduce and she leaned back on the back rest, staring at Michelle.
“You’re going to leave this pack as soon as possible,” Michelle said. “I don’t want you here anymore. I’m tired of putting up with this. Lucius ignored me for so long and I hate to see him happy. I want him to suffer for what he did to me. He has to pay for considering rejecting me for you. Do you know how disrespectful it is for your mate to tell another woman that he has no interest in you? It’s because of that that you and others have no respect for me and yet I’m the luna of this pack. This has got to end.”
“What will you do if I don’t leave?”
“I’ll make your life a living hell.”
Emma looked at the woman and saw the pain hidden behind her anger. Then she remembered that Michelle also cheated on Lucius.
“I saw you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I saw you with another man in a neighbouring town,” Emma confessed. “You checked into a hotel with him and cheated on Lucius.”
Michelle’s face was pale. Clearly, she had not expected such a revelation. Tossing the knife aside, she descended on Emma and started hitting her everywhere all at once. Emma felt the blows raining on her and she tried to release herself so she could fight back in vain. Michelle focused mainly on her head and at some point Emma couldn’t take it anymore so she screamed out loud.
Michelle stopped and went back to pick her knife. She had a murderous look in her eyes and Emma could tell that woman planned to stab her. As she drew closer, Emma moved in her chair and head-butted her. She staggered back and soon returned, holding a knife. She thrust it through Emma’s chest and hit her heart. Emma could feel a sharp pain in her heart as Michelle moved the blade, screaming. “Die, bitch.”
Suddenly, Michelle fell back and the knife was pulled out. Her vision had already started to become hazy but she could see the outline of the man she loved. Michelle got up and started attacking Lucius who shoved her to the ground with one push before quickly untying Emma who was almost passing out from the pain.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Thank you for saving me,” Emma said, weakly. He leaned down and lifted her, carrying her to a nearby couch. He set her down and she felt relieved to be on a soft surface. Now that he was with her, she felt relief.
“I can’t believe you care about me more than her,” Michelle said, tears flowing down the sides of her cheeks. “I love you so much, Lucius. For how long will you make me suffer?” she turned to two older men who were standing at the door. “You’re the heads of the elder’s council. Tell me, is this how an alpha should behave towards his luna, the woman bonded to him by the moon goddess. Elders, I have been wronged despite being nothing but good towards Lucius. The whole pack has seen how well I treat him but he chooses to have an affair with another woman.”
One of them stepped in, shaking his head. “We had no idea that this was going on. Alpha Lucius, this is terrible behaviour. Rest assured the elders council will meet this evening and think of a way forward. We cannot allow this behaviour to go on. As the alpha, one of your most important responsibilities is to make the luna happy. It seems you’re not doing. This has to change.”
“Thank you so much, elders.” Michelle said, crying even more. “If you had not seen this with your own eyes, you wouldn’t believe it. But my husband is more worried about a woman who disrespects his wife. It’s not okay.”
“This is not what it seems like,” Lucius started.
“No, alpha. The council will meet first. We shall listen to you both tomorrow before making a final decision.”
Emma felt sad, knowing that the decision would not be in her favour.