Chapter 36

I opened my eyes and winced. I felt pain all over my body. I tried to sit up, but even that simple action was too much of a chore. I remained on the cold, hard floor. Its coarseness was another punishment on my back. I haven’t checked the extent of the whip marks, but I was very aware of the pain they exuded. I tried to roll on my stomach to reduce the impact of the tiny stones and rough sands scratching against my back.

This Alpha was brutal—more brutal than Alpha Arthur. I had thrown up twice on Alpha Arthur, but I'd never experienced such a savage act. Couldn’t he see I was sick? Did he think I'd ordinarily have vomited on him? I grunted, pain shooting from every corner of my body. The uncomfortable position I’d found myself in in that box had resulted in a very painful hip. The rough ride in that wagon and the unsteady bumps had hurt my arm, and it still hurt. My head was hurting, my eyes felt raw, and my lips were cracked and dry.

I tried to move my legs; another pa