Derek's Pov:

I had a cloth in my mouth to prevent me from screaming as the whip lashed against my skin. The pain was excessive and I had to put the cloth in my mouth hard so I wouldn't cry out. The lashes were painful enough to actually draw blood. He wasn't being merciful at all.

"Don't you dare, make a sound." My father said as he continuously whipped me. "You're weak. Even as a man, you're too weak. I can't trust you to protect your mother or even your brother."

The whip lashed again, harder this time, and I felt blood trickling down my back. I clenched my teeth,...