As a mortal, her body couldn’t withstand their relentless attacks. The whips tore at her skin, leaving her covered in blood and bruises. She couldn’t fight back—her only instinct was to curl up and protect her belly.
Enduring the unbearable pain, she screamed through gritted teeth, her voice raw and desperate.
“Stop! I am the Queen of the Werewolf Realm!”
When they heard those words, everything around us went still. Even Lila’s clique paused, their eyes flicking between each other, uncertain of what to do next. Lila, the ringleader, stood off to the side, glaring at me with narrowed eyes, her predatory stance clear.
“You said you’re the Demon Alpha’s mate?” she sneered.
I straightened my back, keeping my voice firm. “That’s right. If the Demon Alpha finds out what you’ve done to me, he won’t let any of you live.”
I believed I’d made things clear enough. Surely, Lila and her werewolf clique would see reason and back down. But instead, laughter erupted from them like the howling wind.
“This pitiful mortal thinks she’s the Demon Alpha mate? She must be out of her mind!” One of them sneered.
“Because she looks like Lila, she dares to act like the Demon Alpha’s chosen mate! Does she really think anyone here would believe her?”
“Everyone knows the Alpha only favors Lila. How could a lowly mortal like you even dream of being his Luna?”
I couldn’t help but glare back at them, my heart pounding in my chest. Lila’s eyes gleamed with malice as she smiled cruelly, her fangs glinting in the dim light.
“I thought this tramp might have a few tricks up her sleeve, sneaking into the Nine Shadow Pack’s den like that,” Lila said, tilting her head. “But it turns out you’re just a brainless fool.”
The surrounding laughter only grew louder, cutting into me like the claws they wielded so proudly.
“You claim to be the Alpha’s mate, yet you’re stranded here, in the forbidden lands, all alone,” Lila mocked, stepping closer. Her eyes traced the curve of my belly, still swollen with the child I carried. “No power, no pack... what makes you think you’re anything special?”
She raised her hand and motioned towards her clique, who immediately bared their claws, readying themselves to tear me apart.
“Take her down. Cut off her limbs. Let’s see how much she can still talk after that.”