Chapter 24: Unforgiven Punishment

ELAINE

I squinted at my reflection in the mirror, feeling a sense of unease. Something about my body seemed off, and I didn’t like it.

I smoothed down the white dress I was wearing and gave myself another once-over.

“Definitely,” I muttered to myself.

A couple of days ago, I’d started noticing subtle changes in my body. It was as if I’d put on a little weight around my waist and thighs.

It was strange, but I figured my recent overeating and lack of exercise were probably to blame.

“Ready to go?” Connor’s voice came from the other side of the bathroom door.

“Yeah,” I replied, quickly packing away my makeup.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Connor leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. His blue turtleneck hugged his body, showing off his muscular form.

I tried to look away, but it was hard not to stare, especially when his eyes were glowing an almost golden hue tonight.

I blinked and took a deep breath as I walked past him.

I could feel his gaze on me, making me hyper-aware of my appearance. It was as if the heat season was creeping up on us.

“We should get going,” I said, but Connor raised his hand, stopping me in my tracks.

I froze. What was going on?

Connor seemed to be studying my face, but I had no idea why. His intense scrutiny made my heart race.

I swallowed hard and looked down. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

“Connor, we’re going to be late,” I whispered, gently pushing his arm aside.

“We’ve got time,” he murmured, reaching out to hold my arms from behind.

I closed my eyes, instinctively reacting to his touch. His warmth stirred something within me, making my inner lycan react fiercely.

“Look at me, Elaine,” he whispered. I obeyed, opening my eyes to meet his gaze.

His eyes were so captivating tonight that I couldn’t look away.

“Connor,” I murmured, but he was already leaning in. His breath brushed against my lips, making me lick them in anticipation.

I wanted to kiss him, to feel him, to let his touch consume me tonight.

But I shook my head and pushed him away, putting some distance between us.

“No!” I said firmly. “No, Connor, stop this.”

His jaw clenched as he grabbed my wrists.

“Why do you keep rejecting ~me~?” he asked, his voice filled with hurt. I looked up at him, anger flaring within me.

“I’ve told you before, there’s nothing between us. You’re letting your desire cloud your judgment,” I snapped. “Stop acting like a possessive mate.”

I tried to pull away, but he held on, watching me with a look of confusion.

“We may not have anything, but you’re still my mate,” he said, his grip on my arm tightening. I glared at him.

“Yeah, because we were forced to be, remember?” I shot back.

His stubbornness was infuriating, so I let my lycan side show, baring my canines at him.

“I never wanted to be mated to you, and you know it.”

With that, he let go. I rubbed my arm where he’d held me and started to walk away. But before I could reach the door, a burning sensation erupted within me.

I winced and clutched at my side. What the hell was happening? I glanced back at Connor and saw the same confusion mirrored on his face.

“What did you do?” I demanded.

“Me? Can’t you see I’m just as confused?” he retorted as the pain intensified.

I took another step, the pain doubling. Sweat broke out on my forehead and I crouched down, gasping for air.

“Something’s not right,” Connor grunted through clenched teeth.

“No shit! This is all your fucking fault!” I managed to choke out. “~Your~ fucking fault.”

Connor snarled, the whole house shaking with his anger. I was sure everyone nearby could hear him.

“My fault?” he growled, his eyes turning black. “You’re to blame too. You should have never crossed me. That was ~my~ territory, not yours.”

“But I have every right to be there!” I spat back, baring my teeth. “A woman can be an alpha, and don’t you forget that I have lycan blood in me.”

Connor’s hand shot out to my neck, slamming me against the wooden door. I gasped as his grip tightened, cutting off my air.

“You should have never been there!” he roared, his voice a mix of his own and Khan’s. “Once I’m free of these shackles, I will fucking kill you!”

In a fit of rage, Connor threw me against a nearby table. I gasped as pain shot through my neck. With my vision blurring, I shifted fully and lunged at him. He managed to block my claws just in time.

I didn’t care who saw me in my true form. If Connor wanted a fight, he was going to get one.

We tumbled around the room, crashing into furniture and biting each other like wild animals. It was chaos.

Our warriors burst into the room, but Khan flew past them. This was our fight, not theirs.

Distracted for a moment, I was caught off guard when Connor grabbed my tail and flung me out of the balcony. Glass shattered as I crashed through the doors and over the railing.

I landed on my paws, the screams of the pack members alerting me to the fact that everyone could see my true form.

Even though the sun had set, our enhanced vision meant everyone could see me for who I really was.

I hesitated for a moment, but then Connor appeared, leaping from the second floor of the pack house.

He snarled and began to circle me, and I followed suit, forming a ring.

~“I’ll end you!”~ Connor’s mind-link threatened.

I growled a warning at him, but he lunged at me anyway.

I tried to dodge his attack, but his jaws clamped onto my leg, dragging me across the clearing towards the pack house.

I let out a howl, but managed to swipe my paw across his face, earning a whimper from him.

Blood seeped from the deep cut on his face as he shook his head.

~“You’re asking for death!”~ I growled. ~“I’ll be happy to oblige.”~

Connor didn’t respond, just stared back at me. His eyes were pitch black, his fur rippling in the wind.

A few curious onlookers watched us from behind buildings and trees. The revelation that their queen and king were lycans must have been a shock, but that was the least of my concerns right now.

I thumped my paw against the ground—once, twice, three times, four—until I reached ten.

Connor understood my message: I would attack ten times, and one of those attacks would be fatal. I needed to end this, not wait for a solution to these damn shackles.

I didn’t understand what the Goddess wanted. If she wanted to punish me, she should have found another way, because this wouldn’t deter me from my goal: killing Connor.

I charged and knocked Connor to the ground. We bit and clawed at each other as we rolled around. We were a whirlwind of fur, blood, and teeth, ready to end this.

Connor attacked me repeatedly, aiming for my vital points, but his ultimate goal was clear: he wanted my throat. I didn’t hold back either, sinking my teeth into his stomach.

He tackled me again, and I sank my teeth into his flesh, making him howl in pain. I didn’t know where I’d hit him, but he seemed to be weakening.

I shook my head, trying to clear it, when suddenly a kick to my abdomen sent me flying into a tree.

Broken branches and leaves rained down around me as the other wolves watching us screamed.

I quickly got to my feet, shaking out my fur. I didn’t have time to worry about my injuries, but then I felt it—a sharp, burning pain in my lower abdomen.

I let out a cry, my legs buckling beneath me. Ashina quickly retreated, and I shifted back into my human form. I screamed as tears streamed down my face.

I clutched my belly as a sharp pain in my back twisted me in agony.

Connor stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with confusion at my sudden distress.

“ARGHH!” I screamed, clutching my stomach. What was happening to me?

Through my tears, I looked down to see a warm liquid trickling down my legs. It was blood.

My eyes widened in shock.

I let out another scream of pain as the voices of the pack’s alphas grew closer.

I shivered in agony on the ground as a pack member knelt beside me.

“Oh, my Goddess!” a woman cried out in panic.

The pain was so intense that my vision faded in and out.

“She needs help!” another voice shouted. “Now!”

I didn’t see or hear Connor. All I could focus on was not dying. I couldn’t die like this. It wasn’t fair.

Gasping for breath, I tried to understand what was happening. Was the pain from an injury, or was I being punished?

Tears streamed down my face as I lurched forward, strong arms wrapping around my shaking body. I bit my lip to stifle a scream.

I didn’t know who was holding me. I didn’t care. But one thing was certain: if I survived this, I would kill Connor next time.