Charles' POV:

The metallic scent of blood overwhelmed my senses.

A harsh tug yanked me up, my arms tightly bound to a rope, suspending my body downward. Every breath sent waves of pain coursing through my bones. I felt like my skeleton was splintering with each inhale.

“Crack!” A whip snapped through the air as a guard approached, followed by two more. They surrounded me in a triangle, each gripping a whip with cold, sadistic intent.

On any other day, three guards would be nothing, but now, drained of energy and undoubtedly drugged with aconite, I was powerless. My wolf was too weak to stir—I could hardly sense his presence,...