Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Raven's roy I went back to my room , locked the door , and sank to the floor , tears slipping silently down my cheeks . This wasn't the life I had dreamed of . Why was Late this cruel ? Why did everything I touched turn to dust ? Why did Olivia always get what she wanted , even when they were suppond to be mine ? How I wished just once that someone would fight for me . That someune would hold me when I was breaking , But I had no one . Not even my own father , Just then , a loud knock tore through my thoughts . Hinched , heart jumping into my throat . I ignored it , wiping my face quickly . Maybe if I didn't answer , they'd think I wasn't here . But the knock came again , louder , this time , more demanding . The kind of knock that warned you not to test your luck . Swallowing my nerves , I stood and made my way to the door . My fingers trembled as I unlocked it . The second it creaked open , a guard stood thre towering over me with a stony expression . I barely had time to part my lips before his hand shot out , gripping me by the arm " Hey ! What's going on - tyelped , but he said nothing I stumbled behind him , trying to keep up . The direction he was dragging me told me exactly where we were going - the grand hall . My stomach twist That was where the party was being held . My breath quickened What now ! As we entered the brightly lit hall , music still played faintly in the background , and laughter echoed off the high ceiling . The moment we stepped in , all eyes turned to us . Conversations died . The silence was immediate and heavy . At the front of the room stood her . The Luna . My half - sister . Her golden gown sparkled under the chandeliers ; her posture perfect lips twisted into a smug expression that made my blood run cold. " There she is , " she said , voice loud and clear . " The maid who stole from our guest . " I froze , confusion flashing in my mind . " What are you talking about ?" " You know exactly what I'm talking about , " she hissed , stepping closer . " You stole Lady Myra's diamond necklace while you were serving her . Don't pretend to be innocent . " I blinked . " I didn't take anything- " She's lying , " Lady Myra chimed in with a sneer . " I placed it on the table , and it was gone the moment she served me . No one else came near me swear i didn't " tumed desperately toward the crowd , but no on No one ever did . no one met my " You can lie all you want , " Olivia said , her voice dripping with fake pity . " But we've already searched your room Her words punched the air from my lungs . And then a servant stepped forward with something glinting in her hands . The necklace The same one Lady Myra had worn . 1/5 Chapter 28 " No ... No , I didn't somer " In her drawer , " the servant said , eyes cast low - fucked beneath My knees weakened . " That's not possible . Gasps rang out in the hall . Whispers followed .. " She was always suspicious ...... . " " Can't believe she'd steal from a noble ... " She's always had a jealous streak , that one . " I didn't do I shouted , tears burning the corners of my eyes . " I've never stolen anything " Enough , " Olivia said , her tone sharp . " This pack has no place for liars and thieves , Alpha Ethan , " she turned toward him now , her vorce laced with kirgency , " we must uphold the law. She must be punished - publicly . Let her be flagged and locked up . Show everyone that no one is above amad " I looked toward Alpha Ethan , my heart pounding so loud it drowned out every sound , He hadn't said a word this whole time . He was watching me . Not with anger . Not with disgust . But with something deeper - conflicted . His eyes met mine , and I saw the hesitation there . The way his jaw clenched , his fists curled He didn't want to believe it . He didn't want to hurt me . But then Olivia stepped closer to him , whispering something into his gar . Something I couldn't hear . And his shoulders stiffened . He nodded . My breath caught . The world tilted . No Not him . Not like this Being betrayed by the very person fate had bonded you to . I wanted to scream , to plead to run . But my v my voice failed me . My knees hit the ground . The room swam with noise and murrours . They were going to punish me for something I didn't do . And he was going to let them . Two guards seized me , each gripping one of my arms like I was nothing more than trash to be thrown out . My legs refused to move at first , but they dragged me forward , out of the grand hall , past the gawking crowd , through corridors lined with torches that flickered like judgmental eyes .. My wrists were shackled before i even realized what was happening , the cold bite of iron cutting into my skin . The halls blurred , the echo of my own Chapter 28 footsteps dined out by the roaring in my ears I didn't speak What was the point ? Hoone would listen to one ever did . The courtyard was waiting It was always the courtyard . A wide , open space used for punishments , duels , and lessons in obedience . The center was cleared , and at its heart stood the wooden cin and stained with the ghosts of past screams . Thad seen it used before . Heard the sounds . But I never imagined it would be " Strip her back , " someone ordered coldly Hands tagged at the back of my uniform dress , ripping it down until my spine was bare to the cold night air . I shivered , not from the temperature , but from the humiliation . The shame My skin prickled under the dozens of eyes that watched from the balconies above - wolves , nobles , servants All of them looking down at the fallen maid .. At the har The thirt Even though I wasn't . I was pushed forward and forced against the wooden cross , my wrists stretched wide and fastened tightly to the outstretched beams . Rope cut into my skin , but I barely felt it I felt nothing Not until the first lash , CRACK A sharp , burning pain tore through my back like fire . My head jerked forward , a strangled gasp escaping me before I could stop it . The whip wasn't just leather , it was laced with silver - meant to punish even the strongest wolf . Even a human body couldn't bear it . CRACK The second lash hit lower . I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood They were counting . A slow , cruel count that echoed after each strike , " Three .. " Four ... " Five ... " My knees buckled by the sixth . I whimpered by the tenth . And by the fteenth , I was screaming , Screaming not just from the pain - but hom the betrayal From the injustice . From the look on Olivia's face as she watched from the steps of the courtyard , calm and satisfied , like she was watching art unfold . I could hear Lady Myra's snide chuckle from somewhere above . " She should've known her place ... Twenty . Thirty I stopped screaming around the fortieth . My voice was gone . My throat raw Tears soaked my face , but I didn't have the energy to wipe them away . Chapter 28 The pain was no longer paint was everything . My skin burned , raw and split . My body trembled , twitching involuntarily , Myshion danced with dark spots . Somewhere , far away , thought I heard someone say they should stop . But the count went on , ' Fifty - one ... " Sisty ... I started to drift . The world felt ... quietes , Distant . Like I was floating outside myself , watching a broken girl hang limply from a cross of wood , blood trailing down her back and legs , pooling beneath her feet . That couldn't be me . That couldn't be Raven She looked too destroyed . Too empty . By seventy , the crowd had stopped whispering . Even they were silent . Maybe they'd finally realized this was no longer about justice . It was punishment bom of hate Seventy - five . Eighty Each strike felt slower , crueler . The man wielding the whip didn't seem to tire . But my body did . Every muscle ached . My heartbeat felt sluggish . I no longer had the strength to beg Eighty - one Eighty - two . My eyes rolled back . My lips moved , forming a prayer didn't remember learning . Maybe it wasn't a prayer . Maybe it was just my last thoughts - please , someone , anyone ... stop this . Eighty - three , My knees gave out fully . Only the ropes held me up now . Eighty four . I thought of Alpha Ethan . Of how he looked at me . Of how he said nothing , Did nothing . And that shattered me more than the whip ever could . Eighty - live . Something deep within me gave out . My head lolled forward , my breathing shallow . My heart , barely hanging on , fluttered weakly in my chest . And then darkness . Blessed , quiet , beautiful darkness . Tainted . My body slumped against the restraints , lifeless and broken . Somewhere , I think , someone screamed . Maybe it was my name . Maybe it wasn't I didn't care . 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