Page 85 of Mated By the Pack
“Ow,” I whimper, then another one echoes in the abandoned clinic. “Ah!”
“You have to learn, little girl,” Knox chides, staring into my eyes while Gideon spanks me. I grimace and take them, but I can’t help twisting on my toes once it starts to sting. “Especially now that we know what is at stake. We might have decided differently if we realized that you were the key to saving the entire world.”
“We all are,” Jace says, his cock already hard and rubbing against me. “It isn’t just instinct making us crazy for you. Making us want to rut, claim, and breed you every chance we get.”
“We were fucking broken,” Gideon growls, slapping my ass a few more times. “And you healed us. You’re so much more than our mate. I told you what happened with Silas on the way to Haven North. That would have been the right time to tell me what was going on in your dreams.”
“But you were too busy waking up wet for him, like you’re wet for us right now, hmm?” Knox asks, narrowing his eyes.
“It wasn’t like that,” I whimper, squeezing my eyes shut when several harder slaps land. “I felt it, but it wasn’t just him. I think it was… ow… me feeling my attraction to your pack.”
Gideon stops spanking me. I let out a sigh of relief and dare to open my eyes. As soon as I do, Gideon turns me around and presents my punished bottom to Jace.
“Please, I’ve had enough,” I whine. “Especially after Caleb tied me down and whipped me.”
“Just take your punishment like the naughty little girl you are,” Knox orders, nodding to Jace, who begins spanking me.
Jace’s slaps are hard and fast. Less controlled than Gideon’s steady rhythm. Similar to how it was the first time I got spanked, when Jace put me over his knee. But he’s not holding back as much as he did back then.
“Ah! Not so hard! Gideon didn’t spank me this hard!” I protest.
“Gideon isn’t punishing you right now,” Jace chuckles, continuing to spank me. “I am.”
I whimper, groan, and do my best to hold back my tears. My bracelet offers no assistance, which isn’t surprising, because it seems to think I need to be punished often. At least it’s not helping them tie me down this time—although it probably would if I asked.
And it’s not just the bracelet. It’s The Aether itself, deciding I not only need mates, but disciplinarians. Silas said when I first stepped into The Tangle, it was like a mother finding a lost child she didn’t even know she had. One who needs to be corrected regularly, it seems. One that keeps making mistakes, no matter how hard I try to do the right thing.
Keeping this secret definitely wasn’t the right thing. I’ve got marks from the leather Caleb used. A stinging ass from Gideon, that’s getting thoroughly reddened by Jace’s fierce hand. Andthen Knox will have his turn. Four punishments, and I’m really glad Vance doesn’t have my scent. He’d probably spank me too, even if he seems a lot kinder than his brothers.
“Bad mate!” Jace says harshly, but there’s some humor in his tone. He slaps my ass hard a few more times before finally stopping. “Very bad mate!”
“That’s the spirit, brother,” Knox says, moving to take Jace’s spot as soon as he takes a step back. “You got her nice and red. But I think she still needs the rest of her punishment. Bend her over a little more.”
Gideon nods and takes a step back, pulling me toward him. Knox holds onto my hip, so my lower half doesn’t budge.
“Stick your ass out,” Knox demands. “Then I want you to ask me to give you a good, hard spanking for keeping secrets.”
I groan a protest, but I know it’s no use. Knox made me thank him for every stroke from the switch and ask for another. Resistance and noncompliance just got me extra ones that didn’t count. I whimper, stick my ass out until it meets his scarred hand.
“P-please give me a good, hard spanking for keeping secrets,” I whisper.
“No, say it loud and proud,” Knox growls, slapping my ass. “Say it like you mean it, little girl.”
I clench my jaw and nod. “Please give me a good, hard spanking for keeping secrets,” I say, even though I know this is going to hurt. “I-I deserve it.”
“That’s better,” Knox says, then he starts spanking me in earnest.
Knox’s hand lands hard against my ass, jarring me forward so much I’d fall if Gideon wasn’t supporting my weight. I bury my face in his chest. Partially because I need the support and partially to hide the tears that are dangerously close to falling.
The sounds of skin-on-skin ring out as the punishment continues. The impact of each handprint sizzles across my bottom like fire licking at already raw flesh. I steady myself against Gideon, and try to keep quiet, but my gasps are too loud.
“This is what secrets earn you, little girl,” Knox says firmly. “When I’m done with you, you’ll need redwort before you can walk back to the den.”
Another strike. Then another. My legs tremble and I blink rapidly, trying to will away the tears burning the edges of my eyes. I deserve this. I know I do. They know it. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Physically or emotionally.
“Hurry up, Knox,” Jace mutters impatiently. “I know you can smell it. She’s ready for so much more than a spanking.”
“I’m not rushing it,” Knox snaps, slapping my ass again.
