CHAPTER 56: SHE’LL REGRET THIS

As Lyra extended the whip, Nikki hesitated for a fleeting second. Her fingers twitched before closing around the handle. Even she couldn’t shake the memory of Rhea’s strikes, a flicker of unease flashed through her eyes, but she smothered it beneath her usual smirk.

Tavian and Jason’s breath caught the moment they saw the whip. Their eyes widened, faces paling. Everyone in the pack knew that weapon. The pink whip was Nikki’s favorite method of "correction." Even with their fast healing, the pain it left behind burned long after the flesh was mended.

Jason trembled visibly, trying to free himself from Lyra’s hold. She forced him back to his knees as he struggled, his chest heaving and tears streaking down his face. Tavian’s pulse thundered in his ears; he felt sick, powerless, rage twisting inside him.

"Please, Nikki," Jason sobbed, choking on his words. "We’re sorry... please don’t..."

Nikki tilted her head, her lips curling with satisfaction. She trailed a finger lazily along the pink whip’s smooth handle. "Nikki?" she echoed with a sneer.

"Eh...Lady Nikki," Jason corrected, voice trembling. "Please, we didn’t mean to upset you."

Tavian’s jaw clenched as Lena and Seraphine pressed down on his shoulders. He glared at Nikki, his fury simmering beneath the fear.

"Oh, come now," Nikki cooed, her smile sweet and poisonous. "It won’t hurt much. Just a tiny bit."

"What you’re doing is wrong," Tavian said, his voice rough but defiant. "You’re not even the Alpha’s mate yet, and you already act like one."

The room went still. Nikki’s eyes flashed dangerously.

Seraphine moved before anyone could breathe, her hand whipping across Tavian’s face. The sharp crack echoed through the air. Jason flinched, eyes wide, as blood welled at the corner of Tavian’s mouth.

"Well," Nikki drawled, tapping the whip against her thigh. "It seems someone still has a bit of fire left."

Tavian spat to the side, the taste of blood bitter on his tongue. "I hope the Alpha never mates with you," he snarled. "I hope he reconciles with... "

The sound of leather cutting air sliced his words in half. The whip lashed across his shoulder, a blinding sting burning through his nerves. Tavian gasped, his body jerking violently from the impact. Seraphine and Lena stepped back quickly as Nikki’s voice rang sharp.

"How dare you!" she screamed, bringing the whip down again. It struck his back this time, harder, the force dragging a strangled groan from his throat.

Jason’s heart clenched at the sight, horror flooding him. "Stop! Please, Lady Nikki, stop! You’re hurting him!"

Nikki laughed, a wild, unhinged sound that sent a chill crawling through the room. She struck again, and again, the whip cracking against Tavian’s arms, his back, his chest. Each hit left angry red lines blooming across his skin. He writhed, choking back cries, but the pain was too much.

Lyra smirked at Jason. "Shut up and wait your turn."

Jason sobbed openly, shaking, his voice breaking as he begged for mercy.

At last, Nikki stopped. Tavian lay crumpled on the floor, his breathing shallow, his clothes torn and streaked with blood. His tears mixed with sweat and dirt, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Nikki exhaled softly and turned toward Jason, her steps slow, deliberate. "Don’t be afraid," she said mockingly. "I’ll be gentle with you. You still remember your place, don’t you?"

"Please... please... please," Jason whimpered, repeating the words like a prayer.

Nikki lifted the whip, her arm arcing back, and froze when the door burst open with a violent crash.

The sound thundered through the room, silencing everyone. Heads snapped toward the entrance just as Ellie’s leg came down, his boot connecting hard with the door, his expression carved from fury.

Everyone in the room froze except Jason, who let out a shaky sigh of relief, tears still streaming down his face, and Tavian, who lay groaning softly on the floor.

Ellie stepped forward, the air seeming to tighten around him. His sharp gaze swept across the room, the sight of Jason kneeling in tears, Tavian bleeding on the ground, and Nikki standing there with the whip still poised in her hand. His expression hardened, his eyes locking on her.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Ellie’s voice was low but deadly, the kind of tone that carried warning rather than volume.

Nikki blinked, her hand lowering slowly, the whip hanging loosely by her side. Her pulse skipped. She wasn’t used to being confronted like this, least of all by him.

"I should be the one asking that," she said finally, forcing her tone to sound calm though it wavered slightly. "What do you think you’re doing, barging into my room and kicking down my door?"

Deep down, her stomach churned. Ellie’s presence had always unsettled her, the cold precision in his eyes, the quiet authority that even Ares’s power didn’t overshadow. Still, she lifted her chin, determined to look unbothered.

"Get out of my room this instant," she ordered, her voice sharper this time, though her fingers tightened around the whip’s handle.

Ellie’s voice was calm, but every word carried weight. "Get out of your room?" he repeated slowly, taking a step closer. "Are you ordering me, the Beta of this pack, to leave? And you still haven’t answered my question."

Nikki’s throat tightened. For a heartbeat, the whip felt heavier in her hand. Seraphine and her daughters exchanged uneasy glances; nothing seemed to be going their way today.

"Yes," Nikki stammered, her voice faltering before she straightened her back. "Get out. Leave my room or I’ll report you to the Alpha."

Ellie’s eyes flicked to the whip still dangling from her fingers. Nikki’s stomach dropped, her heartbeat stuttering. She remembered what happened that morning, how easily control had slipped from her hands. Quickly, she hid the whip behind her back, forcing her face into a glare even though fear crawled beneath her skin.

His gaze lingered on her for a tense moment before he turned sharply toward Jason. "Get up," Ellie ordered. "Help him."

Jason scrambled to his feet, hurrying to Tavian’s side. Tavian groaned, struggling to stand as Jason pulled one of his arms over his shoulder.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Nikki snapped. "Nobody leaves without my permission."

Ellie turned his head slowly, his expression hardening. "Do you really want to find out who the Alpha will side with if it comes down to you and me? Because I wouldn’t mind testing that theory today."

Nikki swallowed hard, her voice faltering for the first time. "I’m the Alpha’s chosen mate," she said quickly. "You should show me some respect."

"Chosen mate?" Ellie asked, a dangerous edge to his tone. "When did that happen? Because last I checked, the Alpha’s one and only mate is Rhea. I don’t remember him choosing another. What I do remember is you throwing yourself at him every chance you get."

Nikki’s eyes blazed. "You have no right..."

"I pity whoever the Moon Goddess pairs you with," Ellie cut in, his voice cold. "They’ll need divine intervention to survive you."

"Shut your mouth!" Nikki screamed, her face twisting in rage.

Ellie only scoffed. "Pathetic." His eyes swept over the floor littered with scattered clothes and torn shopping bags. His jaw tightened, the muscle in his cheek ticking before he exhaled sharply. "Lena. Lyra. Pick those up and put them back in the bags."

"Don’t you dare," Nikki hissed.

The sisters froze, exchanging uncertain looks. Seraphine stayed still, her expression unreadable.

Ellie’s gaze turned on the two younger women, sharp and unyielding. "Are you defying me?"

Lyra swallowed. "We’re sorry, Lady Nikki," she said quickly before bending to gather the clothes. Lena followed suit, both girls working fast, their hands trembling. Defying Nikki meant punishment, but disobeying the Beta? That could be worse. They didn’t even want to find out what the Alpha might do to them for that.

Nikki’s face twisted with fury as they handed the packed bags to Ellie, who took them in one hand before stepping to Jason’s side to help keep Tavian steady.

"Let’s get out of here," he said to Jason, his tone final. Jason nodded wordlessly, holding Tavian close as they moved toward the door.

Ellie paused at the doorway, making Jason stop as well. He turned slightly, his eyes meeting Nikki’s. "You’ll pay for what you did today," he said, his voice low but heavy with promise. Then he turned and left the room.

Nikki stood trembling, her nails biting into her palm. Rage surged through her like wildfire. She screamed, grabbing the whip and throwing it hard at the damaged door.

"I’ll make him regret ever crossing me!" she shouted, her voice cracking with fury.

Seraphine and her daughters flinched at the sound, exchanging uneasy glances but wisely keeping silent.

Ellie scoffed at the echo of Nikki’s voice behind them. Fury burned beneath his calm exterior as he tightened his grip on Tavian’s shoulder, helping Jason keep the boy upright. She’ll regret this, he promised silently, every step sharpening his resolve.