---- It was a punishment far worse than death. To lose one's wolf soul was to become a powerless human, unable to survive in this world of predators. When the light faded, Lyla collapsed. The light in her eyes, unique to werewolves, was gone, leaving them dull and empty. "Take her to the Black Forest," I ordered. "Leave her to fend for herself." The guards dragged the soulless Lyla away. Now, only Damon was left. He knelt before me, his old arrogance completely gone. "Selena... please... for the sake of what we once had..." "What we once had?" I cut him off. "You mean our fated bond? You rejected the will of the Moon Goddess. There is nothing between us." "Then... then for the sake of us growing up together..." ---- "Growing up together?" I repeated the words. "Do you remember the winter eight years ago? When your mother was sick, who gathered herbs for her all night? Who stayed by her side for three days and three nights?" "Tt... it was you..." "When your father tried to usurp my father's position, who convinced the pack elders to support you?" "Tt was you..." "And you?" my voice grew colder. "For a woman disguised with dark magic, you betrayed everyone who was ever good to you." Damon lowered his head, speechless. "Now, I will declare your sentence." I turned to Kael. "If you would, please strip him of his Alpha power." Kael nodded and placed a hand on Damon's chest. ---- "Aaargh!" Damon screamed in agony. The formidable Alpha power inside him was ripped away, and his presence plummeted to that of the lowest Omega. "From this day forward," I announced, "you are no longer the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. As an Omega, you will be gifted to the cannibal packs on the border." The cannibal packs were the most savage of the border tribes. The way they treated Omegas was a fate crueler than death. "No... please don't... just kill me..." Damon begged in despair. "Please, just kill me..." "Killing you would be a mercy." I looked down on him. "I want you to live. I want you to spend every single day of your life regretting the choice you made. " The guards dragged the broken, whimpering thing