The law was absolute in a pack and the Alpha was the one who enforced it. Everyone had to follow their order, no one daring to go against it even if the decisions that were made were unreasonable and unfair. Zeth took advantage of that, of the fact that no one could go against him anymore, and blatantly accused him. When the Alpha believed something there was no real need for evidence in a system like theirs, his word meant more than the word of god.
Astor considered it a rotten system and his brother too. Power corrupted people easily, those who were truly strong were the ones using what they had for good and not to please their personal sadistic and hateful tendencies. Zeth unfortunately fitted the last category a little too well and that was why the white-haired werewolf had found himself locked up, waiting for his punishment.
He was aware of the procedure. There was just an hour or so before sundown, Astor thought, mostly trying to guess judging from the time he had spent in that cell and the noises he heard from the other floors. Once morning arrived all of the people that walked here started to arrive, rushing here and there to fulfill their duties. Soon someone would pass through the door, pick him up, and tie his arms behind his back, they would also tie his eyes with a black cloth of fabric, even though he knew where they would take him. It was mostly symbolic, showing how blind he must have been to betray their Alpha. Astor scoffed, a grin on his face as he thought of the irony in this. Then they would lead him to the square where Edwin would wait, people surrounding them as he would be placed on his knees and whipped. Zeth was to decide how many times and the idea of that was the only thing that worried him. He had already been exhausted, the girl in the forest had been right about something being wrong with him. Astor's body was in survival mode most of the time, enduring physical and emotional strain, at some point he would find himself in a very concerning position and that was possibly today.
"Get up." he heard a voice and his head snapped towards the door of his cell. He hadn't noticed the guard, unaware of how long exactly he had been there.
He didn't know that werewolf personally but he was sure he had seen him around. A mediocre-looking young man with an expression of disgust holding a piece of rope. Astor obeyed, no use in fighting on his mind as his hands were pulled behind his back, the rough rope tightening and making him frown. The word comfortable would definitely not describe this situation as his vision too was soon restrained. The procedure played out exactly how he had imagined it in his head.
He was pushed down, the dirt scrapping his knees as he heard the murmurs of the people around him. The blindfold was taken away and Zeth's figure appeared before him, Edwin on his side, both of their looks oozing with this first-seen cruelty, as if they were truly looking at a traitor.
"My dear people." Zeth called out, getting everyone's attention as silence began to spread everywhere. "We gathered here for a rather unfortunate event. My own blood, my own older brother who was supposed to guide me and protect me has tried to betray me to my enemy." he announced and gasps were heard from here and there in the crowd. Astor shook his snowy head in disbelief, this whole ordeal felt more like a well-planned fiasco to him. "The moment we found out about his secret plans we decided the law needed to be applied. Usually, he would get executed but forgive me I do not find myself strong enough to kill my own family and I am fine for now so it has been approved that Astor will get whipped and left out here without food nor water for three days and nights starting now. No one here is allowed to help him or they will face the same fate too.
As it seemed Zeth had added some spice to his punishment, an unexpected plot twist that Astor had not thought of. The young werewolf could not believe his ears as he heard his brother so lovingly say he couldn't end his life. Who would have thought, Astor mocked him in his head, he was so kind after all.
"Astor, Brother of Zeth, the Alpha of the Highfangs do you confess that you schemed against your own brother and leader of your pack?" Edwin asked him. He held a black whip made of strong leather, the tip of its long tail almost touching Astor's knee. He raised his head, looking at the scary man and then his brother, the snake that had always been living with him.
"I do not confess." He said with a bright smile, seeing his brother bite his bottom lip. He wanted to humiliate him more. "And I definitely do not believe that you actually borrowed money for the sake of the pack and that you so naively got fooled by such a stupid scam. But it's okay, all lies face the light." he said.
"Start with his punishment!" Zeth ordered. "100 whips will teach him about lying."
Astor prepared himself, tensing his body and drawing in a deep breath. Closing his eyes and biting his lips so he wouldn't scream. He could hear the slashing of the air, feel the lash land on his back, and tear open his pale skin. The blood trailed paths from his wounds to all of his back. He bit the inside of his cheek, choking on his spit. He managed to keep it in though, proudly he wouldn't let them hear his pain. He breathed in between whips and after the first ten, he fell face-first to the ground, unable to stand straight for longer.
As he landed he heard footsteps approaching and whispering. Zeth took the whip from Edwin's hand, dissatisfied with how strong he made Astor seem. He raised his arm, the whip landing harshly on his strained body. Pain like this, he couldn't describe it with words and his scream escaped him being caught off guard. His bones trembled and his heart stopped for a few seconds, the air in his lungs turning almost toxic, hurting to even try to breathe. He felt as if he was going to die right there, lights appearing before his eyes while trying to stop himself from screaming. Astor kept shouting, suffering as he was hit again and again. Tears left the closed eyelids and for the first time he started praying, begging the moon god to help him, just this once and he would do anything, give him his life, his soul, everything he asked for, as long as he saved him.
He expected to feel more pain, he waited for the whip to land mercilessly on his skin but time stopped. At least that was what Astor had believed for a second, why else would Zeth put his punishment to a halt? He wearily opened his eyes again, barely catching a glimpse of the arrow that was coming towards them. With a loud thwack, it hit a tree, grazing lightly his brother, a small line of blood appearing on his cheek, who had suddenly turned ten shades lighter, utterly terrified. Someone had stopped it, as if a miracle had happened and his god had heard him three people jumped from the trees, landing right in front of them as the crowd stood frozen, frightened, looking behind them, all around, to find out what had just happened.
"Do you really have the time to be playing judge when you owe me money, you lowly dog?" the rough voice of a man was heard and Astor raised his tired head again, wanting to catch a glimpse of the man who had just insulted his brother.
This slight movement made him feel dizzy, black dots slowly overtaking his field of vision, stopping him from watching how the rest of the scene played out. Astor was a smart man, he knew immediately from the sentence he heard who these people were, and what they wanted, but he wished to last a bit longer, and see the man whom the voice belonged to, his tone dripping with confidence and malice.
His body would not obey him though, injured and in pain he ended up fainting, facing just an endless darkness as the world all around him was about to change, without him even knowing it.
....
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