Chapter 6 West Wing\'s Punishment

Chapter 5: West Wing's Punishment

The following day, when I arrived at the West Wing, people there seemed agitated. It was as if there was a commotion right now.

"What happened?" I asked at Pera, feeling nervous as well. If only I had arrived early but I couldn't due to the muddy road. It was making me have a hard time traversing the other routes.

"Alpha Grant is here, Anais."

"What?" I asked, surprised. "What business does he want here in the West Wing?" I whispered to her when the pack guards had been scourging from left to right.

I spotted Alpha Grant, riding on his horse. He was looking so dignified, and the aura of cruelty was already surrounding him. The irritated expression was already enough that he was displeased today. I almost had shivers down my spine. My stomach could almost churn up from anticipation, scared from what was really happening.

I know that I should feel uncomfortable about our Alpha Marquess Grant, but why do I feel like Alpha Duke Sylvester has a more frightening aura than him?

I snapped back and flinched when Alpha Grant fished out a whip after getting down from his horse. "Line up, you fools!" he snarled.

My heart was pounding so fast as we hurried to line up. My hands were already fidgeting in nervousness as I didn't understand what was happening right now.

"Find that Polly woman and bring her to me!"

I raised my head, shocked by what I heard. So he was looking for Polly? But why? What was really happening? Why was he looking for her?

"Let me go! I said, let me go!"

We all turned our heads and gasped as we saw Polly, who had been struggling and was being dragged by the pack guards. I looked for Pera and bestowed her a meaningful stare as to what was happening. She shrugged, telling me that she had no idea.

I returned my gaze to Polly, feeling sympathy for being dragged. What is really happening?

Polly grunted when Alpha Marquess Grant gathered a handful of her hair to make her look up at him. "So, this she-wolf is the rumormonger, huh? The source of the rumors who kept spreading from all the plantations..."

Polly's eyes widened. "I-I have no idea what you are talking about..." Her lips were already quivering.

"Oh, really?" An evil smile curled to Alpha Grant's lips. "Shall I take confirmation to Solomon that you happened to overhear about the problem matters of the plantation? And now, you were kicked out of his life, which is why you want to ruin the reputation of my plantation? That is an exciting plan."

We all gasped when Alpha Grant slapped Polly. All of us had a look of horror. I even shivered down my spine when our Alpha kept on hitting her until her nose was bleeding.

Polly huffed. "Ruin the reputation? This plantation is already ruined ever since you granted this freaking land, you dumbass Alpha!" She raised her voice and expressed her annoyance by spitting at his face.

Wide-eyed, I couldn't believe Polly did that to our Alpha. I wouldn't even dare to do that. That was the last resort I needed to do.

Alpha Grant scoffed and wiped his cheek with his sleeve. "Such a bold Omega. I am certain I have taught all Omegas to be disciplined slaves, haven't I?!"

"Polly!" We all called her name when our Alpha punched her and kicked her.

I was horrified to see how he was punishing her in a worse way. This was an inhumane act! We do not deserve this!

"Step forward, or you shall end up the same fate as this slave," Alpha Grant shot us a glare.

I heard cries from the back, mainly from the children who witnessed how our Alpha beat Polly to a pulp. I even got teary-eyed, feeling helpless as I wanted to help her, but I didn't dare to do so.

I closed my eyes when we heard Polly scream in pain, hearing how she was severely hurt. We had to turn blind-eyed, or we shall taste the wrath of our Alpha.

"This wench shall be locked up in the prison cell until she learns her lesson," Alpha Grant ordered angrily, looking at the badly beaten Polly. Then he turned at us with his sharp glare. "Since this woman is from the West Wing, my subjects in the West Wing shall receive punishment as well." He lashed out his whip, causing us to stir. Finally, he turned to one of his packmen. "Tell Solomon not to distribute their payroll for the next month."

"Yes, Lord Alpha. As you wish."

I exploded a series of expletives under my breath from what the Alpha Grant said. North Wing and West Wing barely receive punishments from Alpha Grant. If we were to receive one, it is only minor, unlike the heavy penalties from the South and East Wing.

I heard complaints and annoyance at Polly. I bit my lower lip as they started despising her because they need the payroll next month for their family, yet here we were, we won't be able to receive it in that month.

For me, this kind of punishment that was not to distribute payroll is a minor punishment. This was nothing compared to the South and East Wing.

"My, my. Such an ill-tempered Marquess."

I stiffened upon hearing that familiar baritone voice. We immediately turned and saw the Duke of Ascian, Sylvester Callaway, riding on a chestnut-colored horse. Along with him was one of our guards and his guard.

We all bowed our heads and greeted him. "Welcome, Your Grace," we said in unison.

"Tsk! What are you doing here, Duke Sylvester?"

I slightly turned my head to look at our Alpha, who had an annoyed expression on his face. I could see on his sharp glare how he despised the Duke of Ascian.

His Grace approached him, riding on a horse. Then he had a mischievous smile on his lips.

"Well, I had heard when I arrived at your manor that there was a commotion happening at the West Wing, so I have asked a favor from one of your pack guards for a tour here."

His indifferent eyes roamed around us. Then his orbs stopped by me. When he smiled on my way, that was the time my heart suddenly stopped as he recognized me. My insides were panicking with the way he was staring at me. I even shivered as I looked away. I couldn't keep my eyes looking at the duke.

"I see that the rumors about how you mistreat and abuse your Omegas are verifiable, Marquess Grant." There was a toothy grin plastered on his lips.

Alpha Grant scoffed. "From whoever you heard that kind of malicious stuff, you shall not believe it, Your Grace." I glanced at our Alpha with the way he huffed when he addressed him as Your Grace. It was as if he just forced himself to handle it out of respect and so that it wouldn't be a part of gossip to our kingdom. "I am just disciplining them for whatever means possible."

"Heh?" An exciting tone masked in his voice as he nipped his chin, looking at us with icy cold eyes and a smile. I gulped, seeing how easily he shifted his expressions. "A punishment you mean fault of one, fault of all?" Then he went to a concerned face. "That's so cruel, isn't it, Marquess Grant? Have you had no heart at all?"

We heard our Alpha huff scornfully. "I am just teaching them a lesson so they would know not to defy their Alpha, Your Grace," he said through gritted teeth. It was visible that any moment he would likely snap out at him. It was easy to predict how he was irritated, seeing how he secretly clenched his hand behind him. "I believe the Duke of Ascian must not meddle with my business. Must you manage your pack and leave if all you will do is to exchange nonsensical discussions with me."

His Grace chuckled shortly. "You surely have a peevish attitude, Thompson," he said in a nonchalant tone. "I want to take my leave, but I have taken a liking to taking a stroll around this West Wing."

Our Alpha's stony-faced made a twitch muscle. He silenced for a while before he spoke. "Very well. You can take my pack guard who escorted you here to the West Wing."

"I refuse."

"What?" He growled, disrespected from His Grace's words.

"Shh... I suggest having one of your Omegas as my escort. Your pack guard is uninteresting to speak with." Duke Sylvester turned at us with a smile.

"Tss." He stepped forward and halted in front of us. He gave us a sharp glare before he turned at the duke. "I shall pick—"

"I shall pick who shall be my escort." The Duke of Ascian's sweetened voice made me shiver. "If you may allow me, Marquess Grant."

He narrowed his eyes at him before he nodded. "Very well. You shall pick with them who can be your escort here in the West Wing."

"I'm honored," Duke Sylvester uttered with a smile as his horse neighed when it halted in front of us. "Who shall I pick then?" He hummed as his eyes started to roam around and check each of us.

I immediately lowered my gaze and didn't move. I don't want to meet his gaze because there was no reason for me to get chosen.

"That woman over there. The woman who was lowering her head."

I flinched when Pera nudged me. Perplexed, I looked at her. Her eyes shift, making a gesture that I should focus my eyes on the front.

"His Grace picks you," she whispered, only for me to hear.

Wide-eyed, I immediately raised my head. I realized that they made an opening so the duke could see me. Duke Sylvester and I's eyes met. My heart pounded in agitation.

"M-Me?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yes." His Grace nodded his head. "You there. What is your name?"

I furrowed my forehead. His question has taken me aback. His question was almost the same thing he told me last night. He already knew me, yet he was asking for my name again?

"I haven't known your name. It is unfair that you already know me, yet I do not know about yours."

I snapped back when I got to recall his words as I bowed my head. "Anais Marlee is my name, Your Grace," I said politely.

"Anais..." I stiffened a little. The way he mentioned my name again as if he was tasting and familiarizing it. The same thing he did when I also introduced my name to him. "I shall remember your name."

I gripped my skirt and forced myself to smile, trying to make myself feel honored. I even bowed my head. I glanced up at him then at my Alpha. He had a menacing glare that sent me shivers down to my spine.

'You better not spill anything at that dull-witted duke, or I shall have your head when you come back. You shall inform me what he is going to ask and say. Am I making myself clear?'

I almost gasped at his words. Our Alpha just mind-linked at me and said those words. That was the very first time he spoke with me through mind linking.

Forcing a smile again, I bowed my head before him. 'As you wish, Alpha,' I said through mind-linking. It was hard to defy him because we were jailed by bond and his authority.

"Anais, take a stroll with our visitor. You shall take him to see the beauty of the West Wing," Alpha Grant said with an almost utmost heartfelt respect. I have noticed how emphasized the word, visitor.

It was as if he was trying to say that he was an uninvited visitor that must not come to his manor and plantation anymore. It was meant to sound like he didn't want him to ruin his paradise anymore.

"Your wish is my command, Alpha Grant." I nodded my head at him. Then I turned to Duke Sylvester, who had an amusement expression plastered on his face that made me uncomfortable. "Shall we then, Your Grace?" I gestured my hand, telling him that we should go to the sugarcane farm.

He released a short cackle. "Very well. I shall take my leave, everyone. I shall return to your manor after making a short trip here in the West Wing, Marquess Grant." Duke Sylvester looked at our Alpha for confirmation.

"Please take your time." Our Alpha made a fake smile as we started strolling.

I turned my head one more time to look at our Alpha, having a menacing glare again. When his eyes darted on me, he gave me a meaningful stare, reminding his orders. I looked away and focused my attention in front of me.

I am so dreadful right now and didn't like this. Of all people, the Duke of Ascian would choose to be an escort, why does it have to be me?