12.

"Sylvia!!"

Raising her voice, Selena yelled loudly. There was a smirk at the edge of her lips and she folded her arms looking ready to show off that she had a higher rank. After all, the term beta was only a formality for Sylvia. She was lower than a servant as their alpha intended to torture her.

Sylvia scurried out.

She was aware that the members of the peak ocean pack had arrived. But she had hesitated to come out. Why would she?

After all, she was aware that they all wanted to make fun of her like she was some sort of entertainment.

However, she listened in on their conversation. And when Luna Laurencia inquired about her, she had heard an underlying tone of mockery. They weren't at odds with the peak ocean pack, so why the hostility?

Except for the Black Crescent pack who were rivals, they weren't at odds with any pack.

Sylvia walked over to the table and bowed.

"You called for me Alpha Nolan." She kept her head bowed.

"Didn't you hear the arrival of our guests from the Moon pack? Why did you remain inside?!" He barked furiously at her.

Sylvia almost jumped in fright. Was there a need to be so loud?

"I'm sorry Alpha Nolan. Greetings Alpha Derek and Luna Laurencia." She turned towards them and bowed with a heavy heart.

Was she supposed to be doing this? She? An alpha?

Here she was bowing like a servant to the Alpha of another pack. She who ought to be the leader of her pack? She was devastated.

"Don't you think you ought to kneel?" Dianne asked contemptuously. She was in a very good mood today. Seeing an opportunity to humiliate Sylvia, she wasn't going to hold back.

"Do you think you are at your pack? Very ill-mannered. Are you trying to disgrace our pack? Kneel at once!"

Dianne smiled inwardly.

She watched as a melancholic expression flashed across Sylvia's face. Sylvia's eyes were red and blazing likewise. But, she held back her tears and knelt completely humiliated.

"Greetings Alpha Derek and Luna Laurencia." She repeated.

"You may rise." Luna Laurencia was the one who responded.

She was gleeful. Giving orders and controlling the alpha of another pack was so satisfying.

Alpha Derek was busy scrutinizing Sylvia's appearance. She was indeed beautiful as rumored. But she looked emaciated, and he could spot scars on her body.

Was she maltreated? Well, that wasn't any of his business. It was left for Alpha Nolan to decide what to do with her.

"Serve the food, Sylvia. Are you waiting to be told?" Selena commanded.

Seeing that Nolan really did not want anything to do with Sylvia and even humiliated her like this in front of others made her satisfied. The whole world would hear that the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack knelt to greet another alpha.

It was simply pathetic.

Sylvia complied. She started serving the meal. When she got near where Luther was, he deliberately made her trip. At that moment, a bowl of soup was in her hands. She couldn't stop herself from falling.

She tried to balance herself and would have succeeded since she was not fragile either. But he already set another leg behind and the moment she moved back to steady herself, she tripped and fell to the floor. The content in the bowl spilled on the floor.

Sylvia could feel that she grazed her knees. She sat up to look at the bruised knee.

Almost immediately, Selena was on her side to reprimand her.

"Are you so stupid??? Can't you see we have important guests? How dare you disgrace us?!" She yelled as she raised her hand to slap her.

It was at this moment that Nolan looked up. He pursed his lips and said, "Enough."

Sylvia stilled. She seemed to have not expected him to say that and she lost her composure for a moment. But she soon regained her senses and clenched her fists.

But, she listened to him and retreated to her seat.

Sylvia opened her mouth to speak but closed it back on second thoughts. Her knees were still stinging due to the impact of the fall.

But what could she say?

She raised her head and was met with looks of disgust and disdain in their eyes.

"It seems the Alpha is a clumsy one." Luna Laurencia mocked. She deliberately called her 'Luna' to remind her of her former position.

"I'm sorry everyone. I will clean the mess now." She hurried to the kitchen to get something to clean the floor with.

Xavier watched as she left. His hands were clenched tightly to his side and his teeth were chattering. He was tempted to yell at them.

But at that moment, a pair of eyes landed on him. It was Nolan. He looked at him quietly. Yet, that gaze was full of hidden intent. It was a sharp and cold gaze.

Xavier knew without warning that he was warning him not to dare do anything stupid. And Xavier did not dare to equally. He had been one of the beginners in the pack when Nolan began to gather them.

Albeit, he was only one of the cannon fodder. So he knew well what kind of person the man was and what he could do.

After all, killing five heirs of different packs who were always surrounded and protected was not a joke.