Riley POV
My body was shaking. I felt somebody gently help me up onto a chair as I stared at my mate who resembled nothing but a monster, even as my eyes glanced towards my father and brother, both hanging from hooks in the ceiling, their arms suspended above their heads, restrained with silver chains and cuffs, their ankles also tied together. My mouth was dry. Both of them were awake, their mouths gagged with dirty fabric wrapped around their heads. They were still wearing the same clothes I had seen them in before I chose to drink the poison. They glared at me, their eyes filled with hatred and condemnation as I fought the urge to shrink back.
Why was he doing this to me? How could he be so cruel as to make me watch him do this to my family? I might not like them, I might hate them, but I had no desire to watch them be tortured right in front of me. Alpha Jaxon had a sickening smile on his face as he glanced towards me, while his Beta and Gamma looked revolted. He strode over to a trolley clad with various torture implements, deliberately picking up a pair of gloves and putting them on with a dramatic flair as I watched, my heart beating loudly in my chest, my eyes wide with horror.
"Jaxon, you're going too far" Callum spoke evenly, glancing at the paleness of my face "she didn't mean to upset you. Let me take her back to her room" he suggested.
"No" Alpha Jaxon snarled "let her see exactly what a monster her mate is" he growled, picking up a whip with silver strands and gently whipping it through the air. He nodded to Cody who reluctantly opened the cell and strode in, tearing the shirt off of Damien first as he struggled in mid-air, kicking his legs uselessly, his ankles bound together.
"Take his gag off" Alpha Jaxon spoke casually, glancing at me as I stiffened "Let her hear their screams."
I shuddered, wishing I had the nerve to get off the chair. My breathing was shallow. Cody reached up and yanked the fabric down and Damien immediately started to yell.
"You little bitch, this is all your fault, you whore, you aarrgh" he broke off as Alpha Jaxon hit him hard with the whip, causing large gashes across the bare skin of his back, Damien's mouth opened in a silent scream of agony.
"Brave words coming from a man who tried to kill me" commented Alpha Jaxon casually, bringing the whip back and sending it forward, the muscles in his arms rippling as he used all of his strength to strike my brother who gave a howl of pain "I wouldn't be using such words to describe my mate" he snarled and Damien's eyes widened as he looked at me, his body violently shaking from the pain he was experiencing.
I glanced away but Alpha Jaxon wasn't having it. "Look," he said icily and I forced my head to turn back and my eyes to look at where he stood "if you look away, I will add another strike to the amount I'm giving him."
Tears pricked my eyes. I didn't understand how he could be so cruel or so callous. My father was trying to wriggle free and kick out but he was too far away to help and his eyes were glacial as he glared at me, blaming me for Damien's pain and suffering. My lip quivered as once more Alpha Jaxon brought the whip back and then let it fly forward.
Damien's scream was chilling. I could see the whip marks across his back as his body moved slightly back and forth on the hook, swaying, his flesh burned from the silver, blood trickling down from his wounds. His face was devoid of color. Alpha Jaxon was expressionless, as though he had tortured many men before this and this was just a typical day for him. Another strike had Damien howling and cursing. Tears began to trail down my cheeks. Callum closed his eyes, looking sympathetic towards me. Cody looked grim.
"Why do you cry?" Alpha Jaxon taunted, turning to look at me, his eyes dark and wild "do you cry because you feel sorry for him? I know that he abused you, as did your father and yet you feel sorry for him?" he sounded disbelieving and furious as I tried to shake my head in denial, a smirk appearing on his face.
He moved and struck Damien across the front of his chest, a bloodcurdling scream emitting from my brother as I flinched. "This is nothing" Alpha Jaxon spoke, staring hard at me "this is basic torture. How many times did they beat you?" he growled as I stared at him, too frightened to look away, knowing he would only torture Damien more if I did and wondering why that mattered "how many times were you whipped Riley?"
I couldn't speak. I couldn't answer. My hand unconsciously went to the dog collar that still rested against my neck. I hadn't been able to bring myself to take it off. Alpha Jaxon's eyes narrowed as he saw my gesture. It infuriated him for some reason because he paused what he was doing and strode over to me, dropping the whip and reaching behind my neck, tearing the collar in two and dropping it to the floor.
"You're not an animal" he snarled as I looked up blinking and he grabbed the whip again as though he had merely paused to take a break.
The collar was gone. It felt odd. I had gotten used to the feel of it around my throat and now it was disquieting to have it gone. Damien's eyes were cold as he glared at me. But his face was also contorted in pain. "Riley" he wheezed looking at me pitifully "Riley please stop him" he pleaded.
He wanted me to stop Alpha Jaxon? I looked at him incredulously. I did not possess that kind of power. I was only here because Alpha Jaxon was punishing me. Not because he cared for me. But Damien seemed to believe otherwise and at those words, Alpha Jaxon let out a chuckle.
"You think your sister has some sort of power over me?" he asked cruelly.
Damien's eyes widened as he saw Alpha Jaxon put down the whip and survey the trolley.
"Mates or not, I will not be dictated to by another shifter" Alpha Jaxon commented, picking up a dagger and examining it closely.
I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take. He had only tortured Damien a little and still had to get to Father and already my body was beginning to feel dizzy and faint. I put a hand up to my head, feeling lightheaded and Callum noticed.
"Jaxon, you've proved your point," he said sharply and Alpha Jaxon turned on him.
"I will say when I've done enough" he thundered and we all felt his aura pushing out.
It was powerful, forcing us to bend to his will, causing even the strongest amongst us, besides Jaxon, to respectfully bend our heads and submit our necks. Alpha Jaxon looked satisfied as he lightly touched the blade of the dagger. I swallowed hard. My stomach was churning. I couldn't bear to watch. Not any longer. I didn't care what he did to me. I couldn't watch another shift suffer, even if they deserved it. I wasn't made that way. I wanted my revenge against my father and my pack, but I didn't have the stomach to torture them before killing them. I wasn't that type of person. Did that make me weak?
I heard the agonizing scream as the danger was plunged into Damien's thigh and smelt the scent of burning flesh which caused me to gag. My father was silently watching, no doubt anticipating his turn. I got to my feet, my hand going over my mouth as I fought back the urge to vomit, my body stumbling slightly.
"Sit down" Alpha Jaxon was quiet, but his voice echoed in the room nonetheless and there was no doubt it was intended for me.
I ignored him. He could punish me, I didn't care. Not anymore. I could not sit by and be forced to watch a minute longer. It was all I could do to keep breathing. Tiny spots were appearing in front of my eyes and I could barely make out anything in the dungeon.
"I said sit down" his voice was sharper.
I fell, heating the heavy thud my body made as it hit the ground, felt the blinding pain in the back of my head and closed my eyes as I let the darkness surround me. I wanted to be anywhere but here and it seemed for now, I had finally got my wish, even as I heard the sounds of Callum and Cody exclaiming loudly in the background and felt somebody pick me up in their arms, tingles running down my spine.