Chapter Thirty-Five

Cartan

I gazed at my Omega with a puzzled expression but provided her with an answer, "They are punished to ensure they remember the consequences of their actions."

"And what if their actions unintentionally put someone else in danger?" she inquired.

"We have strict measures to ensure the safety of everyone here. In this harsh environment, even a small mistake can have dire consequences. Therefore, we need to ensure they remember," I explained to her, and she nodded in understanding.

"That's what I thought," she whispered, and I could hear the pain in her voice as she placed a hand over mine on her stomach. "You're going to hurt me, aren't you?"

"What? Why would I do that?" I questioned, genuinely concerned. "Have you done something, little Omega?"

Fear gripped me for a moment, fearing she might have committed some transgression that warranted punishment. Perhaps that was why she was here, seeking refuge from the potential consequences. When she nodded and wiped her tears with her free hand, my apprehension grew.

"Tell me what you've done, and we'll find a way to address it," I urged, gently stroking her belly.

Kiandra sniffled again, her tears flowing more freely now. "I-I freed my sisters. I interfered with your plans, and I allowed them to escape into a dangerous world."

I instantly felt a wave of relief wash over me, understanding it was concern for her sisters that had overwhelmed her. It had been some time since we last discussed them, and as she found her place within our clan, it was natural for her to miss them. I purred louder, shifting to my side and pulling Kiandra closer, but she remained wary of being pressed against me, fearing that the warmth she craved would transform into pain.

"It's okay, little Omega, I won't hurt you," I reassured her, my voice soft and soothing. I pressed her closer to me, and eventually, she began to nuzzle against my body, allowing herself to relax. I ran my fingers through her hair, feeling her tension melt away as she turned her head to gaze up at me once more.

"But I defied your authority," she pointed out. "I made the other Alphas lose respect for you."

"While you certainly made things more complicated, you've already told me where I can locate your sisters, and three Omegas can't hide for long," I reassured her. "Moreover, the way others perceive me is not your responsibility. Those judgments have been formed over many years."

She shook her head, and her persistent sadness baffled me. "Little Omega, I can't comprehend your emotions. Why are you so distressed?" I inquired, growing frustrated by her fluctuating feelings.

"You must punish those who step out of line," she explained. "You never punished me for my actions. I deceived you."

"Do you doubt my ability to locate your sisters? I may be physically present here, but that won't hinder me from finding them," I stated firmly.

Kiandra shook her head and wiped her cheeks. "No, I don't doubt you. I knew right away you were the perfect Alpha for me."

Her words filled me with immense pride, but she still appeared troubled by something.

"But I still did it. I still helped my sisters escape, Omegas destined for other Alphas, and now they are upset with me too," she whispered. "They think you should punish me, but I don't want you to hurt me. I'm scared."

Her words took some time to register fully, making me comprehend what had upset Kiandra. I growled darkly as I wrapped a hand around her throat in response. To my surprise, my Omega responded positively to my Alpha powers, and the scent of her arousal filled the nest. However, I did not tear off my clothes or flip her onto her back. Instead, I focused on calming her.

"Did you leave the others?" I inquired, and Kiandra gulped, her body trembling beneath my hand.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Did you venture out on your own?"

"Y-Yes."

I turned Kiandra, placing her front down on the ground, and kept one hand on her back while the other rested on her ass. I felt her shiver beneath my touch, but I was determined to teach my mate a lesson. It wasn't about making her fear me, as she believed, because my touch would never cause harm. Rather, I intended for her to remember this. I delivered a firm spank to her rear, causing her to whimper, but I immediately soothed the stinging sensation with my palm. When she relaxed enough, I repeated the action.

"Whom did you speak to?" I asked.

"I can't remember which High Alpha it was," she confessed, and I spanked her ass again, prompting her to moan. As I smoothed away the sting, she began to push back against me, clearly ready for more.

"Do you recall which clan you visited?"

"Um … Ah!" I struck her again, and she gripped the furs tightly before nodding. "The color was yellow! Yellow!"

"Peros," I snarled before delivering a series of harsh spanks, one after another. The punishment was brief, and once I believed this memory had been etched into her consciousness, I turned her to face me once more. She did not gaze up at me with fear, but her eyes were still filled with tears.

"What did he say to you?"

"J-Just that you shouldn't have allowed me to step out of line. A true Alpha guides his Omega, ensuring she knows her rightful place. And because I deceived you, they believe I deserved the painful sting of a punishment," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He questioned your strength, which I vehemently disagreed with, so I, well, I confronted him, defending your honor. He interpreted that as further proof of your inadequacy as my Alpha."

My mate spoke with such urgency that her words required a moment to fully penetrate my consciousness. A brief silence hung between us as her revelation sank in. When the truth became clear, I reached out and gently touched her tender ass, eliciting a hiss of discomfort from her.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, my concern evident.

"A-A little," she admitted.

"Do you despise my touch?" I inquired, leaning down to lick her now-hard nipple, which had become erect from her punishment.

"N-No," she stammered, her breath coming out in pants.

"Do you want your Alpha to fuck you?"

I sucked hard on her nipple, causing her to whimper. I released it with a satisfying pop and looked up to see her nodding. Pleased, I swiftly removed my clothes and positioned myself between her legs. Sliding my cock through the wetness pooling between her thighs, I aligned myself and thrust into her tight, eager channel.

We both groaned in response to our union, but I granted her no respite. I began to fuck her passionately, driving into her like a wild beast. She clung to me, crying out with sweet abandon until she climaxed underneath me. I continued thrusting into her with forceful, punishing strokes, and she wrapped her legs around me, urging me deeper until my knot expanded and locked us together.

After fulfilling her needs, my little Omega was nothing but a sea of calmness, and I could feel it through our bond. I leaned down to lick her other nipple, teasing it with my tongue, and she moaned in delight.

"I would say you've admirably accepted your ‘punishment', and there's no need to be scared anymore," I told her, locking eyes with her. She blinked in confusion.

"But you didn't punish me," she whispered. "You made me feel good."

I smiled and moved up to her face, kissing her gently. "Doesn't your ass hurt?"

"It stings a little, but you've spanked me before. How's that a punishment?" she questioned.

"Will you try to trick me again?" I asked, growling lightly. She shook her head quickly, and her eyes held determination. "Will you wander off on your own again?"

"I was still in the territory," she pointed out, and I growled again, making her shake her head even more vigorously. "I won't go exploring without someone with me."

"Good. And will you remember this moment?"

Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she nodded. "A punishment doesn't have to cause searing pain. It should teach a lesson that will be remembered."

"What?" she asked, intrigued.

I smiled, enjoying her curiosity. "Let me give you an example, little Omega. There was a young Alpha once who wanted to tame one of the wild horses we had recently acquired. He sneaked into the enclosure with his friends to prove himself. However, things didn't go as planned, and the horse threw him off, injuring its leg in the process. Do you know what his punishment was?"

She shook her head, eager to hear the outcome.

"He had to take care of the injured horse until it was better. Now that horse won't let anyone else ride it," I explained.

Her eyes widened in understanding, and she began to bite her lower lip in deep thought. "Alpha Peros made it sound like—"

"Are you his Omega?" I interrupted her with a firm tone, shifting my hips slightly so she could feel the knot inside her.

She gasped and shook her head vigorously. "No."

"Whose are you?" I inquired, my voice laced with authority.

"Yours," she whispered with a sweet, pleading tone.

"Then isn't it up to me to decide how you should be punished?" I asked, a playful tone in my voice.

She smiled teasingly and nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

"And if I say that you have been punished, haven't you been punished?"

"Yes," she breathed, now sounding needy. Her fingers roamed along my body, seeking contact with me, and I obliged, drawing closer to her and grazing her lips with mine.

"You're mine, Kiandra," I asserted, my voice husky. "I would never hurt you. I might tease your body, leading it to that sweet edge between pain and pleasure, but I will always bring you pleasure. So much that you'll beg me to stop."

I growled, feeling my knot begin to recede, and I quickened my pace, making her pant and writhe beneath me. We shared a powerful kiss, a reminder of who she belonged to.