Emotional pain, physical pain, psychological pain. So many different ways to hurt someone and with so many different means. With words, with fists, with tools or vicious remarks. Every single one of them could leave from a simple cut to heart wrecking wounds that led to a painful death. It all started with pain, the clenching of the heart, the ringing of the head and the rising of the temperature. Then a sting, as if someone stung him or pinched him but soon, as the tired skin could not heal anymore, as his back had turned into a pool of blood his pride got crumpled piece by piece, his smile faded and the obnoxity he knew so well how to wear withered as he barely kept himself conscious. He had screamed, he had let go of everything as he had met with dripping tears. He had felt a different kind of pain, one that slid through his open wounds, invading his body like a virus and punching him from the inside. It was horrible, the feeling of the whip ripping open his skin, it was even more horrible, the sight of Philip, shedding silent tears for him. He didn't know why, he couldn't understand why he had reacted that way, why both of them had. Did he feel bad? For what reason? "One hundred." he counted together with Lun and his best friend fell on the floor, exhausted. He watched for a second, as they dragged him away, bloody and sweaty, unconscious and breathing heavily. "Keep counting!" He heard his mother shout and her voice echoed in the silent room. Next the horrifying sound of the whip cutting through the air and a fluttering of his weakened heart. Another scar, Kai counted as he bit his lips, trying to stop himself from sobbing. Again and again until he felt so weak, until his body had grown numb. He landed on the floor, his body slippery from all the blood and the sweat. The queen clicked his tongue as he breathed in heavily, the slightest movement of his muscles aching as if he was being burned by fire. The youngest prince closed his eyes, trying to find the little strength that remained in him. He didn't want her to win, he didn't want her to smile victoriously as he begged to be forgiven. Somehow, a crack had been created between him and his mother, somehow what she had said to her son had ruined his illusion. They never really got along, their ideals collided most of the time but he did consider her fair. Now there was nothing left, everything he had believed, all the moments he had felt the slightest bit proud of his last name seemed silly. That was why he couldn't give up. He put pressure in his arms, trying to get up but they couldn't hold him. He landed again on the floor, hitting his jaw, his head bouncing as if it was an old ball and he groaned. "Do you want to beg to be spared?" His mother asked him. Kai could barely open his eyes, her image, a blur but he did hear her words, loud and clear. "Your highness" Octavius stepped in. "He is your son. I think he has learned his lesson, maybe we should let him go. It was nothing but a mere childish prank after all. I am sure that Philip too feels the…"
Kai raised his arm. Stopping the talking Alpha and slowly, as if all of his bones were rusty he stood again on his knees, ignoring the pain, ignoring the looks of everyone around him and gaining satisfaction as his mother stared at him with wide eyes. "Do you want to beg for mercy?" She asked him again and in Kai's face a faint smile appeared. "I will never beg. Not to you, not to anyone." He said, his voice rough, strained but at the same time so clear it felt almost like an attack. Kai looked at Philip one last time, seeing the remains of his tears, the red in his eyes and how tense his strong body was. He tried to pressure him, ease the worry that was being mirrored in him. He didn't know why, maybe he felt pity for him, maybe he was still feeling guilty. There were many versions that could explain his attitude but he didn't have time to think about it. "It's alright" the prince mouthed, no sound coming from his lips and the werewolf flinched, taking a step back and turning his back on him. Kai's head fell, the smile he wore before disappearing. "Keep counting. Continue!" His mother ordered, the displease obvious in his voice. One hundred and fifty, one hundred and eighty, two hundred, two hundred and ten. So many numbers and Kai carefully revised them all, hoping he wouldn't lose count. His body would move forward with every hit, his eyes would open and stifled cries would escape his iron sealed lips. "Two hundred and ninety nine." He yelled at his mother. His face red, filled with anger as their eyes met. They looked so much like the other but they stood so far away. She was sitting on her golden throne, a woman made to fit perfection while he, like everyone said was flawed, disobedient, a mistake. That was what his mother was trying to remind him. Don't be yourself, don't think you can get away with it. She could hear her tell him that, he could imagine her face, her expressions as she said it. The laughter that followed the cruel words. "Three hundred!" he screamed and his body gave in, as if he was dead, he landed on the floor, crushing on the cold tiles. He smiled, letting the relief spread in his pained body. He hadn't begged, he hadn't let go. He did it. Kai praised himself, closing his eyes relieved that it was over. What he didn't know was that he didn't have to beg today but soon enough…he would.