SONIA’S POV

I waited for my fate to be decided. Whilst I waited, I recounted my sins in my head.

I had broken a plate, and spilled food cooked with hard work all over. But none of these compared to the sin of being my father’s daughter. That truth sat like a stone in my chest, heavy and unyielding. Whispers moved through the crowd like wind through dry leaves. Eyes pressed down on me from every direction, some curious, most filled with old anger.

"Alpha Ramon, I didn’t mean to be dismissive. Sonia didn’t do anything to her. She pushed Sonia first, and then went ahead to slap her. It wasn’t fair what she did." Ivy’s voice rang out clear and steady beside me. I could feel the heat of her anger, the way her body tensed like a coiled spring ready to strike.

"And who are you to judge her? Why would she be nice to someone who is an offspring of a monster? Does that make any sense to you?"

The girl’s words cut sharp through the night, laced with years of pain. The crowd murmured in agreement, their voices rising and falling like waves.

Rage flashed through Ivy’s eyes, and although I didn’t see it because my head was down, I felt it. The air around us grew thicker, charged with unspoken threats. I held my breath, hoping she didn’t do anything stupid in a bid to defend me. The alpha may have a soft spot for her, but when it came to me, he wouldn’t mind punishing her.

"I think Ivy takes a lot of liberties, and I still don’t understand why. Sometimes, she behaves like she’s super important in this pack. I say until she’s taught a big lesson, she won’t learn to behave." Lorena’s voice dripped with satisfaction, each word deliberate and cruel.

"No!" I blurted. The word escaped before I could stop it. Everyone around turned to me, and I bit my lips nervously. My heart hammered so hard I could feel it in my throat.

"What is the protest for?" Ramon asked me. His voice was low, controlled, but it carried the weight of command that made the whole clearing fall quiet.

"Ivy didn’t mean to speak out of turn. This entire thing is my fault. I should be the one to be punished." My voice trembled slightly, but I forced the words out. The slap on my cheek still throbbed, a constant reminder of how easily everything could turn against me.

"I agree with you. You should be punished for wasting food." Ramon’s reply came swift, cutting through the murmurs.

"My alpha, both things can be true. I think the two of them should be punished," Lorena said, rubbing his arms possessively. Her touch looked intimate under the lantern light, her fingers curling around his sleeve like she owned him. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

My wolf began to charge up all over again. The unjust punishment she could take. But every time she saw Lorena cling to Ramon, she grew a little bit crazier. A low growl built in my chest, but I swallowed it down hard.

"Please don’t," I begged her in my mind. "Please don’t make a fool out of me."

"I thought you were asked to be silent, Lorena? Is this how much wings you’ve grown? You can’t even obey your own alpha?" The older woman questioned disappointedly. Her voice carried the authority of someone who had seen many seasons in this pack.

"That’s enough," Ramon stepped forward. "I think we should let the people decide who to punish. It’s only fair to put the power in their hands, just for this case."

It was over for me. There wasn’t going to be any mercy on me. The wolves of Bloodmoon absolutely hated me. They blamed me for being my father’s daughter. The man who had caused the pack years of pain.

"What is it going to be? Should Sonia be punished? Or should Nara apologise?"

I closed my eyes and waited for their judgement. Whatever it was, I would accept it. I had no other choice, anyway. The night wind brushed across my stinging cheek, carrying the distant crackle of fires and the heavy scent of the feast.

"If Sonia is going to be punished, I should be punished alongside her," Ivy said, just before the crowd could pick a choice.

One of my eyes popped open. "What are you doing, Ivy?" I muttered under my breath. My hand reached for her arm, trying to pull her back.

"And why would we want you punished when you’re one of us?"

"For this."

In a twinkle, she brought her hands back, and when it moved forward, it landed hard on the Nara girl’s face. The sharp sound of the slap echoed across the clearing like a crack of thunder. Wave of shock travelled like light through the crowd, as they watched the girl bleed from the force of Ivy’s slap. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, bright against her skin in the lantern glow.

"You see what I’m talking about? She’s so audacious!" Lorena cried out, her voice rising in triumph.

Ignoring her, Ivy faced the crowd. "So what is our punishment going to be?" She moved closer to me, and held my hand. Her grip was firm and warm, a silent promise that I wasn’t alone.

I could feel Ramon’s eyes on me. He probably wanted to step in himself, and handle my punishment. It wasn’t like we could go against his wishes, if he decreed I was solely to be punished.

In fact, I fully expected him to do it. It was just the kind of thing he’d do.

"We’ll let the alpha decide then," the self proclaimed spokesman for the crowd said. His voice carried the weight of the pack’s mood, uncertain but leaning toward anger.

"Alpha Ramon?" Ivy called boldly. She stood tall beside me, her shoulders squared despite everything.

"Ivy," I called in a low, panicking voice. I even dug into her hands to make her stop. My fingers trembled against hers, cold with fear.

However, she refused to lower her gaze, or even push her face to the side. Her defiance burned bright in the night.

"Whipping. Your punishment would be public whipping," he said.

My head shot up, and my gaze drifted to him. The words landed like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs.

"That’s absolute madness, Alpha Ramon!" The woman said, but he was already on his way out. His footsteps sounded heavy on the ground, each one echoing my sinking heart.