Regina pulled me down to the bed. "There's something else here. Think about what it solves. If they're invested in you, actually invested, they have every reason to take you to the Queen. Every reason to keep you alive through the transition. And if a Lycan bond can override a werewolf bond–" she spread her hands, "--you get rid of Cole and this pack for good."
It was sounding like a whole bunch of nonsense. I was shaking my head. "We don't know that a Lycan bond can override a werewolf bond–"
"Actually," Jenny murmured. "I heard Lyon say the Lycans only bond once for life. And it is stronger, far stronger than any bond, even between werewolves. He said it transcends even death. This… this is insane. But it could work, Maisie."
"But they don't even like me," I pointed out. "And…and I can't stand them, either. And there are four of them."
Regina's smirk was nasty. "Take four for the team. Why settle for one when you can have all of them?"
I threw my pillow at her face. "You're disgusting!" I sighed. "I don't think I can do this. Where do I even begin?"
Jenny held up the thong. "I'd start here."
Regina hopped onto the bed. "I got a better idea. How's, 'Excuse me, your lordship, would you care to spank this ass and take my v-card?'"
I started laughing. And then all three of us were laughing at the absurdity of the situation, Jenny falling over sideways on my small bed with the box clutched to her chest, me with my mouth over my mouth to keep the sound from carrying outside, and Regina making disgusting smooching faces.
But our brief moment of insanity was cut short as the door suddenly burst open.
Four pack guards filled the doorway, the Head Guard, Foster, taking a step into the room, face stern. "You have been summoned, Maisie Adams, by the Alpha and the Council." He nodded at the guards. "Take her."
"What–why–Hey!" Regina yelled as she was knocked aside and either of my arms were grabbed.
Dread coiled in my gut as I was dragged out of my bedroom, down the staircases with everyone at the packhouse watching. The red doors of the courtyard where the hearings were usually heard were thrown open, and in the dark night, it is lit with outdoor lanterns, its edges filled with people who formed a circle, leaving the center bare.
Alpha Dante and Luna Kaida sat at the forecenter. Lana, whose injuries had significantly healed, stood by Cole, whose jaw was set so tight I could see the muscle working in it from ten feet away with the look of a man who had just swallowed something that didn't agree with him. The Braxtons, the Gammas, the Elders, servants, children–every single member was gathered, and I knew without a doubt that it was because of me.
One didn't lay hands on the Luna or future Luna without consequences. They had probably decided on banishment, or worse, a trip to the dungeons for insubordination.
I was hedged towards the square.
Moonlight streamed in, the night air bristling with excitement. The last time there was a gathering in the square was when a rogue spy was caught and executed.
My legs locked under me as a burly male with a jagged scar across his cheek unceremoniously placed a whip on the cushioned pillow that sat on a stand by the pillars.
A ragged breath tore out of me. Oh gods, not the whip.
My wrists were yanked hard, cold iron chains that bit like hot coal clasping around them. I started to flee from the chains, adrenaline fueling me, but I couldn't fight off the guards.
They chained me between posts, hands and feet far apart.
"Maisie Adams." Alpha Dante's voice carried easily across the courtyard. "You are here because you laid hands on Lana Braxton, future Luna of the Night Shade Pack, unprovoked, without the permission of a duel."
He paused. "In this pack, there is order. There is rank. There is the understanding that what keeps us from being rogues is the discipline we hold ourselves to." His dark gaze moved to mine. "An Omega who raises her hand to her Luna raises her hand to the pack itself. And that cannot go unpunished."
The yard was completely silent.
"The punishment is twenty five lashes," he said. "Decided and administered by the chosen Luna. So that the pack understands clearly who holds authority here, and no Omega, no scullery maid or servant, regardless of circumstances, is ever again confused about what happens when that authority is challenged. It saddens my heart that you have pushed us this far, but the values of this pack will not be compromised by a lesser creature."
He jerked his head towards the guards. "Put the bit in and strip her."
I struggled as something awful was shoved between my teeth and Quinlan's shirt was ripped off my back.
Lana stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on her lips as she caressed the handle of the whip. She came close enough that I caught her scent of jasmine and black licorice. "Try not to piss yourself. I hear this hurts like a bitch."
My heart raced and I pulled at the chains, but they wouldn't budge.
Calm down, Maisie. This is not the worst thing that has happened to you today, I told myself. This is not even the worst thing that has happened to you this week. You can take it. Just breathe–
I heard the whip crack first before I felt the pain. Someone had set my back on fire. It didn't matter if I prepared myself. Nothing, nothing felt as terrible as the first, burning bite of the whip.
The pain was unreal and paralyzing.
I won't scream or plead. I won't give her the satisfaction, I promised myself.
But when the whip split the skin of my back again, in the same exact spot, I couldn't help but scream.