Akila's eyes fluttered open, and she was greeted by the harsh sound of knocking on her rusty metal door.

"Open the damn door! Akila!" A man's angry voice boomed on the other side of the door, followed by a low angry growl.

She groggily got out of bed, her battered body protesting the movement. She limped towards the door, her bruised leg aching with every step.

Lexine managed to heal most of her bruises, but some pain remained.

There was only so much her wolf could do in such a short time when she was asleep, and her healing abilities weren't like the other wolves in the pack.

Lexine needed a considerable amount of time to heal her. Even a cut on her hand took about a week to heal, and with the constant abuse she received, she always had bruises on her body, so much so that she had even lost count.

As she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment before opening it.

On the other side of the door stood Donel, the Gamma of AlphaDante's pack. His piercing gaze seemed to bore into Akila's very soul, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"You should answer the door quickly when I knock, or you'll get it," he warned, his voice icy and mean, and his tone filled with dominance.

His wolf growled lowly to prove his point.

She looked down and nodded, something she had learned to do to avoid getting beaten up, but trouble seemed to follow her everywhere as Donel grabbed her by the jaw, a hard slap landing on the side of her face.

She hissed, her ear ringing as she fell to the floor.

"Answer me!" he urged angrily.

"Y-yes," she responded, her voice barely above a whisper as tears stained her eyes, threatening to leak out of her.

He gave her a mean glare. The hatred in his eyes suffocating her.

"The Alpha demands your presence in the training grounds," Donel said, his voice cold and commanding, before he turned, walking away as though nothing ever happened.

She quickly got to her feet, knowing better than to refuse or hesitate. She followed Donel out of her cell, her heart racing with anticipation and fear.

As Akila was dragged to the training grounds by Donel, she caught sight of Alpha Dante sitting on his throne, a regal and imposing figure.

Beside him sat another Alpha, his presence commanding attention and respect.

Akila's gaze flickered to Princess Leah, Alpha Dante's sister, who stood before the two Alphas in her battle apparel.

Leah's armor gleamed in the light, and her eyes seemed to burn with a fierce intensity.

Akila's heart sank as she realized that this might be more than just a routine "training" session.

The presence of another Alpha and Princess Leah in battle gear suggested that something significant was about to unfold.

She was about to be beaten up again to be more precise.

The training grounds were buzzing with spectators. Donel pushed Akila forward, forcing her to stand before Alpha Dante and the other Alpha, and a few feet before Princess Leah, and bowed to the two Alphas before her without making eye contact with them.

"I greet you, Alphas," she said softly.

Alpha Dante's eyes narrowed as he looked at Akila, and he sneered at her battered appearance. Alpha Dante nodded, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"The opponent is here, now. The match should begin," Alpha Dante said in a bored tone.

As he spoke, Princess Leah stepped forward, her eyes fixed intently on Akila.

Princess Leah was a beautiful she-wolf with light ash blonde hair and soft, silky skin. But as beautiful as she was, she had a nasty temper.

She was just as cold as her brother, Alpha Dante.

Akila bowed before the princess before Leah stepped closer to her.

"Don't just stand there and take it. Let's give them a good show," Princess Leah said, twisting Akila's wrist, she hissed in pain, but she nodded nonetheless.

Akila's eyes met Leah's, and she knew that she was facing a formidable opponent.

Princess Leah was not one to be underestimated, and Akila would need all her strength and all the fighting tricks she had up her sleeve to survive this match.

The air was electric with tension as the two opponents faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The match was about to begin, and Akila steeled herself for the battle ahead.

The match began, and Princess Leah charged at Akila with a fierce determination. She landed a solid punch on Akila's jaw, sending her crashing to the ground.

The spectators erupted in a roar, their cheers and jeers filling the air as Akila rolled a couple of times, struggling to get back to her feet.

Leah took advantage of Akila's momentary disorientation, pouncing on her with a flurry of kicks and punches.

Akila tried to defend herself, but Leah's attacks were relentless, and she stumbled backward under the onslaught.

She make it look like she was actually fighting and not just getting beaten up, but Leah came at her too strong and too quick, she couldn't block all of her attacks.

It wasn't her fault... Leah was trained by the best warriors of the pack. She could probably hold her own against the giant looking Gamma, but Akila was just a runt....

The slave of the pack, who only learned how to fight from being beaten up since she was young.

She mostly learned to block or avoid getting hit, never had she learned to fight back.

Despite her battered body, Akila refused to give up.

She gritted her teeth and launched herself at Leah, determined to take her down.

But Leah was too strong, too skilled, and she easily countered Akila's attacks.

The fight continued, with Leah having the upper hand. She landed blow after blow, each one sending Akila crashing to the ground.

But Akila refused to stay down, getting back to her feet each time, her determination and resilience driving her forward.

As the match dragged on, Leah became more and more frustrated.

She was taken aback by Akila's unexpected resilience; usually, Akila would simply stand there and absorb whatever blows Leah landed.

But now, Akila's determination to defend herself was infuriating Leah, who felt her pride wounded by the realization that Akila wasn't the pushover she had thought her to be.

Failing to land a blow, Princess Leah backed off, her gaze flickering to Alpha Dante, then to Alpha Kael, who was watching the match with interest and fascination.

Her brother wore a blank face.

She couldn't tell what he was thinking. She looked back at Akila, who panted heavily on the other side of the ring.

She knew what she had to do. She just had to defeat Akila.

She just had to be the Luna of the Crystal Valley pack.

It didn't matter that Alpha Kael wasn't her mate. Being Luna of the Crystal Valley could mean so much for her. It would secure a relationship between her pack and the Crystal Valley, which meant that her brother would have something to be proud of about her.

That's all she ever wanted...

For her brother to be proud of her.

With a fierce determination, Leah turned back to Akila, her hands clenching into fists as she summoned Ruby's power.

Leah unleashed a ferocious growl as she charged at Akila with relentless fury, her blows landing with precision and force. Akila struggled to defend herself, but Leah's speed and strength proved overwhelming, each strike landing with increasing precision and pain.

Akila crumpled to the ground, her body rolling with the impact as she struggled to catch her breath. Blood speckled the floor, dripping from her battered lips, and her arms bore witness to the brutal assault – bruised, scratched, and reddened. Just as she attempted to push herself up, Lexine's voice cut through the din, her words laced with concern and urgency: "Akila, you can't take much more of this..."

Akila crashed to the ground, rolling in an attempt to absorb the impact. Blood splattered from her mouth, and her arms were a mess of bruises and scratches. As she struggled to rise, Lexine's voice echoed in Akila's mind, her tone laced with concern.

"Akila, we can't take much more of this beating. We're going to get seriously hurt if we don't find a way to turn this around."

Akila gritted her teeth, her mind racing with desperation. She knew Lexine was right; she couldn't keep taking Leah's punishment without finding a way to fight back.

But how? Leah was too strong, too fast, and Akila was running out of options.

Lexine's instincts took over, and Akila's body had reacted without her control.

"Stop hitting me!" Lexine growled, hitting back hard. The punch had been swift and precise, catching Princess Leah off guard and sending her flying to the ground.

The crowd's initial stunned silence was followed by a cacophony of boos and jeers, with many accusing Akila of trying to kill the princess.

"She's trying to kill the princess!"

"... She's evil! She'll kill us all!"

"She's a monster! A curse!" The crowd's cry escalated, their voices laced with fear and outrage.

Akila's eyes widened in horror as she stared at her hand, feeling a sense of detachment and dread. She hadn't meant to do that; she hadn't meant to lose control.

The weight of what she had just done settled heavily on her shoulders, and she felt a wave of fear wash over her.

What would Alpha Dante do now? Would she be punished even more severely?

As the crowd continued to jeer, Akila's gaze flickered to Princess Leah, who was slowly getting to her feet, her face twisted in anger and humiliation.

Akila's heart sank, knowing that she had just made a powerful enemy.

Alpha Dante rose from his seat, his face a mask of fury and disappointment. He turned to Alpha Kael and said something inaudible, before turning and walking away, Alpha Kael following closely behind.

The crowd's jeers and boos continued, but Alpha Dante didn't look back, his departure a clear indication that the match was over.

Before he left, Alpha Dante spoke with the Gamma through the mindlink to take Akila away and punish her for humiliating the princess.

Donel strode into the arena, his face cold and unyielding, and grabbed Akila's arm in a tight grip. "You're coming with me," he growled, dragging Akila away from the arena as the crowd continued to shout and jeer.

Akila stumbled along beside Donel, her mind reeling with the consequences of what had just happened.

She knew she had made a grave mistake, and now she would have to face the wrath of Alpha Dante. Donel's grip on her arm was like a vice, and Akila knew she wouldn't be able to escape.

As they walked, the crowd's noise faded into the distance, replaced by the cold, harsh reality of Akila's situation.

She knew she was in for a world of trouble, and she wondered what her punishment would be. Would it be physical, or would Alpha Dante find a way to humiliate her further?

Akila's heart sank as she was dragged deeper into the darkness, unsure of what lay ahead.

Donel dragged Akila to the dungeons, shoving her inside as soon as the door was opened.

Before she could get up, he kicked her stomach.

She doubled over, crouching in pain, but he didn't stop. He pulled her up by her hair, her scalp burning as he pulled harshly.

She let out a cry, but it didn't help her one bit. He didn't stop abusing her. By the time he threw her back to the ground, her face was bloodied, aches and pains all over her body.

There were tears flowing down her cheeks, though she didn't know why she was crying anymore.

"Lexine. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry," She sobbed over and over again to her wolf, who tried her hardest to heal her wounds, but there was only so much she could do. She was weak, just as Akila was.

The goddess had turned her back on them the moment they came to the world. That was why their life was filled with so much pain and hatred.

She had done nothing wrong.

She always did as she was told. Followed orders, like the good mutt she was, but still, she was hated, she was despised and cursed, just for existing in the world.

"Lexine, I'm sorry that you're stuck with a slave like me," she sobbed, her voice cracking with despair. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better life. I'm sorry I'm a slave, a curse..."

Donel's grip on her face was brutal, forcing her to meet his gaze. Despite the beatings he'd inflicted, his expression remained twisted in contempt, his eyes blazing with hatred.

"You thought you could touch the princess and get away with it?" he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"You, a worthless nothing?" He hurled her back to the floor, and she whimpered, struggling to process the venom in his words. A lump formed in her throat, choking her breath.

Her wolf's voice whispered in her mind, "No, I'm the one who's sorry. Sorry I couldn't protect you better. Sorry our life is like this..."

Donel's fists descended upon her, each blow landing with precision and force.

Akila tried to shield herself, but he was too powerful, and she was soon left battered and bruised. Akila's vision began to blur as Donel's blows continued to rain down on her.

She felt her body weaken, her muscles screaming in agony. Her wolf's presence grew distant, as if trying to shield itself from the pain.

Akila's mind was a jumble of thoughts, but one phrase kept repeating: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Donel's anger seemed to fuel itself, each blow landing with increasing force.

Akila's body was a canvas of pain, her skin bruised and battered. She felt herself slipping away, her consciousness fading into the darkness.

Just when it seemed like Donel's rage would consume her, he finally stopped, his chest heaving with exertion.

Akila lay there, her body broken and battered, her spirit crushed. She knew she'd never be the same again, that this beating would leave scars that would never heal.

Just as Donel finished his brutal assault, Alpha Dante entered the room, followed closely by Princess Leah.

Akila's eyes widened in fear as Alpha Dante's gaze swept over her battered body. "Donel, tie her up to the X-cross," Alpha Dante ordered, his voice cold and detached.

Donel nodded and dragged Akila over to the X-shaped wooden frame, binding her wrists and ankles to the wood with thick ropes. Akila struggled and kicked, but it was no use. She was trapped and helpless.

Alpha Dante turned to Princess Leah and handed her a silver-coated whip. "You have the honor of whipping her, Leah," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

Leah's eyes gleamed with excitement as she took the whip, her fingers wrapping around the handle with a sense of anticipation.

She raised the whip and brought it down across Akila's body, the silver-coated lash biting deep into her skin.

Akila screamed as the whip struck her again and again, her body soon becoming a bloody mess. Leah's face was twisted in a snarl, her eyes flashing with anger and hatred.

She whipped Akila with all her might, taking out her frustration and humiliation on the helpless girl.

The sound of the whip cracking through the air and Akila's screams echoed through the room, a gruesome symphony of pain and suffering.

Akila's body was soon covered in bloody welts, and she hung limply from the X-cross, her consciousness fading in and out.

Alpha Dante handed Donel a syringe filled with a clear liquid, the label reading "Wolfsbane".

Donel took the syringe with noth hands, looking at Akila. He knew exactly what he needed to do with it.

Donel nodded at Alpha Dante and approached Akila, who was still tied to the X-cross, her body battered and bloody from Leah's whipping.

He injected the wolfsbane into Akila's vein, and she felt a searing pain coursing through her body.

The wolfsbane took effect quickly, introducing Akila to a new form of agony.

She felt like her body was on fire, her skin burning from the inside out. She thrashed against the ropes, desperate to escape the pain, but it was no use.

Alpha Dante watched Akila's suffering with a detached interest, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "She's been a thorn in my side for far too long," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "It's time she paid the ultimate price."

With a wave of his hand, Alpha Dante ordered Donel to untie Akila and throw her out of the pack. "She's no longer worthy to be a member of our pack," he spat, his face twisted in disgust.

"Let her fend for herself in the wilderness. That is if she can survive the poison." He said with a cold smirk before he turned, leaving the room, with Leah following after him like a scared puppy running after its master.

Donel dod as he was told, ordering that Akila be thrown out of the pack like the thrash she was.

The forest was quiet and still, the only sound being Akila's labored breathing and the distant howling of wolves.

Akila lay there, her body wracked with pain, her mind foggy from the wolfsbane. She knew she had to get up, to keep moving, but her body seemed to be shutting down.

As the shadows deepened, Akila's thoughts grew hazy, her mind drifting toward the afterlife. She wondered if she'd ever find peace, or if her spirit would fade away, lost in the wilderness.

Left to die, abandoned and alone, Akila's body seemed to surrender to the darkness.

In her fading moments, Akila's thoughts turned to the goddess, her heart heavy with unspoken words.

As the darkness deepened, Akila's thoughts grew more disjointed, her mind struggling to hold on to consciousness.

The questions she wanted to ask the goddess swirled in her mind, a maelstrom of pain, anger, and despair.

Why had she been born into slavery? Why had she been subjected to such cruelty and abuse?

The questions seemed to echo through her mind, but her voice was barely a whisper, lost in the silence of the forest.

Just as Akila's spirit seemed to fade away, she felt a strange sensation, like a warmth spreading through her body.

It was faint at first, but it grew stronger, filling her with a sense of hope and possibility. Akila's mind cleared, and she felt a surge of determination. She would not give up.

She would not let the darkness consume her.