Alpha Daniel walked into Emma's chamber with a long iron chain and a plastic bucket the moment Lunara, his favored she-wolf, stepped out, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her. Her footsteps faded down the hallway of the pack den, calm and unbothered, as though she had not just delivered the tools of punishment. Emma did not need to be told what was about to happen.
Her body stiffened instantly, her fingers curling slightly into the thin fabric of the bed beneath her as a cold, familiar dread settled deep within her chest. Daniel had done this to her many times before—whenever his anger needed an outlet, whenever she crossed an invisible line, especially when she had dared to raise her hand against Lunara, whose sharp mouth could provoke even the calmest wolf into rage. The air in the chamber thickened as Daniel stepped further inside, his presence heavy, suffocating, impossible to ignore.
Without a word, Alpha Daniel grabbed her legs and pulled them forward with a force that made her wince. With calculated cruelty, he wrapped the cold chain tightly around her ankles, the metal clinking loudly in the quiet chamber, echoing like a final judgment. He dragged the chain across the frame of her metal bed and locked it in place, binding her completely. Emma's breathing became uneven as she tried to steady herself, but the cold bite of the iron against her skin reminded her that she had no control here. Daniel then turned to the small drawer in her chamber, opening it roughly, and pulled out the inner wears and moon cycle pads she had bought just three moon cycle ago —the ones she had hidden carefully, bought with the money Oliver had given her.
"You have been stealing my money, right?" Daniel asked, his voice low, filled with accusation and irritation. Without waiting for a response, he threw everything onto the floor, scattering them carelessly across the room. Emma kept quiet, her lips pressed together tightly, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. She could not tell him the truth. Saying Oliver's name would only make things worse. It would turn this punishment into something far more dangerous. And even if she tried to explain, no explanation would matter. Nothing she said would stop what was coming.
"Answer me!" Daniel suddenly yelled, his voice exploding through the chamber. Before she could even react, the sharp sound of a lash followed, striking across her body. Emma gasped and jerked forward, a cry escaping her lips as pain burned through her skin like fire.
"Your blood mother stole from us and ran away, and now you want to continue from where she stopped, right?" Daniel's hoarse voice rang out again, followed by another lash. "I will kill you before you do that!"
A heavy knock sounded on the chamber door, loud and urgent, but it did nothing to stop Daniel. He continued pouring out his anger, each strike landing harder than the last. Emma bit her lip at first, trying to hold in her cries, but the pain became unbearable. Her restraint broke, and she began to scream, her voice raw and desperate.
"Daniel! Please, open this door!" Luna Theresa's voice came from outside, firm yet strained.
"Mother, help me, pleeease!" Emma cried out, her voice trembling, filled with pain and desperation.
The knocking grew louder, more frantic, echoing through the chamber as Luna Theresa pounded on the door. But Daniel did not stop.
"You will remain here until you tell me how much you have stolen from me and the name of the he-wolf you have been going out to see every Saturday!" he declared coldly. He fastened the chain with two padlocks, securing it tightly before kicking the plastic bucket toward her. He gathered the new inner wears and moon cycle pads from the floor and took them with him, leaving her with nothing but the old ones her mother had given her two years ago.
Emma lay back weakly, her body aching, her skin burning from the lashes. She did not know how long she would be left there this time. The longest she had ever been chained was three days, and that had only ended because Lunara had spoken on her behalf. But now Lunara was gone, visiting her maternal grandmother, and there was no one left to help her.
She heard the sound of keys as Daniel locked the chamber door from the outside, making sure no one could reach her. Emma swallowed hard, her throat dry. Her moon cycle will be due few days time, and now she had nothing left to use. Everything she had prepared had been taken away. Downstairs, she could hear voices rising.
"Daniel, set her free! For moon goddess' sake, this is physical abuse!" Luna Theresa shouted. "She could be taken away from us and sent to a foster pack!"
"Don't worry," Daniel replied coldly. "I have educated her on foster packs. She knows better than to open her mouth."
"And the injuries?"
"She will remain there until all is gone."
"Daniel!"
"What is it Theresa?"
"The Moon Princess is coming next few days to see her! Do not ruin your daughter's future!" Luna Theresa yelled.
Emma frowned slightly despite her pain. Moon Princess? What future was she talking about? Emma had no connection to any Moon Princess.
"You know how badly Lunara needs this mate bond!" Luna Theresa continued.
"Do not ruin it for her because of a she-wolf who has no future!"
Emma's chest tightened at those words. She knew they were talking about her now.
"High Alpha Eldric has already approved her. The Moon Princess cannot stop it! Who the hell is she?" Daniel snapped.
Emma sat quietly on the floor, listening, trying to understand. None of it made sense. Why would someone from the High Realm be interested in her? Why would they even know her name?
Three days passed slowly. Emma grew weaker, surviving on very little. But one thing kept her going—the sketch Oliver had hidden under her pillow. She would take it out carefully and stare at it for long moments, tracing it gently with her fingers, holding onto the memory of him like it was the only light left in her life. She was grateful Daniel had not found it. That would have brought even worse punishment.
When she heard the familiar sound of keys again, she quickly hid the sketch and forced her face into a sad expression. The door opened slightly. Daniel and Lunara stood outside, not stepping in, avoiding the smell from the bucket.
"What do you want to tell her?" Daniel asked.
Emma looked up and noticed Lunara's new school uniform, clean and perfect, a sharp contrast to her own condition.
"Tell that little witch you call a moonally to stop gossiping and using my name," Lunara said coldly before spitting toward her.
"Set her free. I wonder what the Moon Princess sees in this cheap outcast," Lunara added with authority.
Daniel threw the keys toward Emma.
"Thank you," she muttered softly.
"I'm not done with you yet," he warned before leaving with Lunara.
Emma waited for a moment before dragging the keys closer. Her hands trembled as she unlocked the chains. Her body felt weak, but she forced herself to stand. Slowly, she began cleaning the chamber, picking up the spoiled food she had refused to eat, restoring her chamber despite her exhaustion.
Later, she stood by the window, staring toward Brooklyn's house. A deep longing filled her chest. She wished things had been different. She wished she had been born into a family like hers.
That evening, Daniel returned and laid down new rules. She was not allowed to leave the house anymore. He said nothing about academy. It felt like her life had reached a dead end, like there was no future waiting for her anymore.
But she soon noticed something—every Saturday, Daniel and Lunara usually go out. She didn't know where they went, but it gave her a small opportunity. She could sneak out and go to the general park.
She began going there every week, hoping to see Oliver, her mate in moonlight, refusing to accept that he might never return.
Two full -moon cycles have passed. She still waited. She still hoped.
At the same time, her thoughts returned again and again to the Moon Princess. Why had she asked for her? Why bring her back? What was her purpose?
"Now she is back, why is Lunara not living with them? Maybe the Moon Princess wants to confirm they are living in harmony before accepting her. But their father said the High Alpha has approved her… so what is stopping her?"
Emma lay on her bed, staring out through the window, her thoughts tangled, her heart heavy with confusion. Nothing made sense to her yet.