Chapter 5: Beaten, Rejected and Banished...
Emerald’s breath hitched. "Wolfsbane?" she croaked the word with a ragged gasp. Her voice was rough and scruffy, escaping in a choked whisper, "Rick? You wouldn’t dare."
He twirled the whip once more, and before she could look at him, a cruel amusement flickered in his eyes, different from the look of worry on Jake’s face.
"Rick," she called out frantically, eager to try one last time to spare herself. "B-but you l-love me." Even she found it hard to believe she said those words. These weren’t the actions of someone in love.
"Do I now?" Never had anyone seen such an emotionless expression on Rick’s face when it came to Emerald. He leaned in, his face coming closer to hers as he whispered, "Love is overrated. Just because you are my mate doesn’t mean I must tie myself to you. You were just an opportunity to secure my Alpha title."
Her brain buzzed. Viola screamed! What did he just say?
"Let him burn, Em!" Viola snarled.
"Rick. Stop it. You can’t. You..." Emerald grasped at the last straw she could since emotions couldn’t save her this time. Wolfsbane would weaken Viola further. She couldn’t put her through that. But it was hopeless.
A humourless scoff escaped Rick as he straightened his spine. "Can’t I?" he countered indifferently.
Suddenly, a dark glint flashed in his eyes, and before she knew it...
Snap!
Emerald flinched at the sound of the whip lashing out, but the movement was too slow. The barb tore through her clothes, sinking deep into her flesh with a searing pain.