Once back at camp, we all change into our human forms. Kiara has a shocked expression all over her face. She walks towards Cricket, and he reaches out for her hand.
"You felt it, too." He is wearing an ear-to-ear grin, and Kiara looks like she has just said
I do."
"I – I have a boyfriend," Kiara stammers.
Chetan walks over to them, confused I bet. His arms are shaking and his eyebrows are
raised.
"He's your mark mate," Chetan says.
"We will figure this out, Utsiladvdi," Cricket voices.
"Bud? Hmph! We are already going through this; might as well add another grenade,"
Chetan states.
"Wow, now you got your wish, Zare," Kiara says. "Alpha, may I go for a run?"
"Stay away from the cemetery, please," Ajay requests.
"And, Zare, look how Kiara asks," Ajay says with a smirk.
Yup, I am in trouble. Noticing an axe and wood, I realize Ajay must be planning a fire for
everyone to keep warm, since the weather will be getting colder.
"Please, new friends, make yourselves at home," Ajay declares.
"Thank you," Cricket says.
"Zare you with me, now," Ajay commands.
Walking over, I feel like a child about to receive a spanking from my parents for breaking
the rules.
"You see that pile of wood?" Ajay asks.
I nod my head.
"You are going to cut all those logs in half for disobeying me," he declares.
" What?"
"Yup, you'll cut wood until your arms hurt," he says.
" That would take all day and probably night."
"It will, so you better get chopping."
"You can't make her do that," Chetan hisses.
"Oh, I can, and I will," Ajay retorts.
"That would kill her arms.""That's the idea."
"You'll do that to your girlfriend?" Chetan asks.
"This punishment is coming from her Alpha; she'll get punished tonight by her
boyfriend," Ajay smirks.
"Whatever," Chetan says, probably realizing he couldn't help me.
Stomping over to the woodpile, I kick up the dirt. How can Ajay do this to me?
Picking up the axe, it is heavy, hurts my arms, and I hate everything about it. Picking on a log, I place it on the tree stump bringing the ax to it and slicing it in half. I did this log after log. My body shook, my back hurt, and my arms felt like it was going to fall off. Only doing half the pile, I wasn't sure if I could continue.
Sitting on the ground, I take a break. I am exhausted, and the world was spinning. My
lower back hurts so bad; I just want to quit. Chetan brought me water a few times, and Ajay checked on my progress, showing no sympathy. I get up, starting my second set of logs. I could barely stand straight. To be honest, I vowed in my mind I would never disobey the Alpha again.
Bringing the axe to a log, I chop it in half. Then another and another. My stomach starts
cramping, and my head hurts. I start vomiting, and Chetan rushes to my side, rubbing my back.
Ajay soon follows.
"She's fucking done, Ajay," Chetan cries.
"She only has a few logs left, she can carry out the punishment," he claims.
"I said she is done, she is sick," Chetan screams.
"You don't tell me anything!" Ajay yells.
"I will finish,'' I say before vomiting again.
"When it comes to Zare, I do. I mean seriously, she has been doing this for hours, and I
am sure she learned her lesson," Chetan says.
"I won't do it again, Alpha," I say, weakly.
"Fine, go," Ajay speaks.
Chetan scoops me up in his arms, and I rest my head on his chest.
"Fucking dick," he growls.
"I understand why he is Alpha, I have to listen," I remark.
"I could never do that to you, no matter what," he states.
We sat under a tree with me still in his arms. He rubs my arms and kisses my forehead
many times. Falling asleep in his comfortable embrace, I didn't immediately hear the fight that took place, I assume.
"What if Kiara sees you two like this?" Ajay asks.
"She is just resting by me," Chetan says.
"In your arms?" Ajay sounds annoyed.
"He's right," mumbling, I try to stand up. I feel Ajay's strong arms around me.
"Chetan, I can't allow Zare to break the rules, or none will listen to me. She wasn't
listening to me, no matter what I did, and I needed a stricter punishment. I didn't want to have to kick her from the pack; that would truly break my heart," he speaks.
"Whatever." Chetan rushes past us.
My eyes can hardly stay open. To say I am exhausted is an understatement at this point.
Every bone in my body is aching. Feeling Ajay lay me on the couch, I keep my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, still not wanting to face him.
Maybe being in a pack wasn't for me. Perhaps I am better as a lone wolf. His warm, soft
lips touch my forehead, and I try to shake these feelings. I understand why he had to do it as my Alpha. I keep breaking the rules, and so does everyone else. As a boyfriend, he stood, so heartless, watching me chop wood. Does he even love me? He didn't even care that I was physically sick.