Chapter 9 Mystifying Upheaval

Chapter 8: Mystifying Upheaval

Before afternoon strikes, all of the workers in the plantation had been told to go home.

Today is Alpha Grant's young adulthood ceremony which will be held at his manor. This was why all of us had to go home early because tonight, the ceremony shall happen.

Sighing, I was looking at the new dress that I will wear for the ceremony later. It was an ankle-length bodice tunic with long flared sleeves, front lace-up, shoulder ties, and back laces. I spent half of the payroll I saved for the semi-annual just for this freaking dress. Milla and I had the same complaint about this one.

If only this weren't mandatory at all, I wouldn't have to come to our Alpha's celebration of his young adulthood.

"I am not so happy with this." Looking at my savings right now, I felt like I had to work hard again. If only our Alpha were paying us with great benefit, I wouldn't have to choose to work overtime after his celebration.

I decided to take the wooden bucket and went to the well using my wolf speed. It was nice that we had a chance to fetch some water in the well in this pack. Unlike in the plantation on the West Wing, we had to fetch some water to the Norlow River.

As I arrived there, more people from our pack were gathering. My jaw dropped when I saw the guardsmen destroying the well.

"What is happening?" I asked, approaching Michelle, my neighbor.

Michelle's concerned look turned at me. "Anais..." She mentioned my name in distress. "Lord Alpha Grant has executed an order that we can no longer use the well. So, from now on, we are temporarily fetching water from the Norlow River."

"What?" I whispered hastily and couldn't believe what I heard.

She mouthed, 'right?', asking for my confirmation. Her expression told me that she wasn't expecting this.

The Norlow River was far away from our pack. So we had to take the road toward the West Wing of the plantation. Except if they will open the gate to the north. "Are they going to open the gate near the Norlow River?" I asked, quite beguiling from this happening.

Michelle shrugged. "For now, our packmen haven't told us anything. But, since this is temporary, there is a chance they might open the gate for taking a shortcut."

"Maybe, Alpha Grant will announce it at his ceremony, no?"

"I hope so."

Sighing in defeat, we had no choice but to go to the West Wing if that is the case. But the West Wing's gate is closed right now.

"Is the well to the east still available?" I asked Michelle.

Michelle nodded. "Yes. They made it available. But no one dared to walk there since, you know, it is an old well." She shrugged.

"Yeah, I remember." But what a shame, though. I badly need to fetch some water.

I could sneak out, making my way to the north, but if I get caught just before our Alpha's celebration, I would be dead meat to Alpha Grant.

Sighing in defeat, I turned my back, slouching. I was about to leave when I heard a soft neigh from a horse.

"What is the commotion up here?"

I suddenly crouched down when I heard the baritone voice of Duke Sylvester, wide-eyed. What on earth is he doing here? He was the last person I wanted to see right now! And why was he lingering around our pack? Why was it every time that something was happening in our pack, he would always arrive at the right time?

"Greetings, Your Grace." They all greeted him, and so am I, but I was crouching down when I greeted him. I don't want him to have an idea that I am here.

I still remembered giving myself an inkling that he witnessed what Countess Minaya and our Beta Count Solomon did to me. Then, of course, I could spout a lie to prove him wrong from taking a conclusion. But I was wrong after all.

I heard one of our packmen speak with the duke, explaining what was happening right now. I could hear his humming tone. I could surmise that he already understood the situation based on how we surrounded the well.

"You really have no compassion for the people in Raesien, do you not? The way your Alpha tried to forsake you all is quite unbearable to witness."

That made me gasp in surprise. Did he just utter those words? Like for real? Right in front of our packmen?

Everyone stayed silent. No one dared to talk back to the duke. Or, maybe they found that what the duke said was right after all.

I heard his snicker. Gulping, I knew that he managed to change his expression in a short time based on having a humorous tone.

"From what I learned of this pack, I believe there is a gate here near the Norlow River. I want you all to open it," he ordered. This time his tone has a bit of hostility, bitterly cold, and earnestness. "I must pay a reasonable amount. Just open the gate to the north, you opportunist scums. You there! Communicate with your Alpha now."

"Y-Yes, Your Grace."

I shivered from what was happening. He should be willing to pay a monetary medium so the gate from the north would be opened. Just how generous he could be...

I slowly raised and settled beside Michelle. She gave me a meaningful look.

'Is the duke always like that?' she asked through mind-linking.

I shrugged. 'I am not sure,' I answered back, lying. I don't want to say that was the duke's behavior. He has compassion for Omega people. I could tell that he was telling the truth on that part. I wanted to tell Michelle, but I remained silent.

It was not in my place to say such words. It was much better not to say anything at all. I don't want her to know that I happened to speak with him so many times.

We all gasped when we heard a familiar howling noise coming from the south. We all stepped back as we spotted a massive gray wolf coming in our direction.

We all knew who that wolf was. It was our Alpha Grant.

"Heh? So he had arrived."

As soon as our Alpha arrived, he immediately transformed into his human form. His dignified figure has an eminent aura.

"What seems to be the problem here?" he asked nonchalantly as he fixed the notch lapels of his tuxedo. Then his eyes fixated on Duke Sylvester. "Your Grace, what are you trying to make a ruckus here in my pack?" he asked in his dangerous tone.

I watched as Duke Sylvester's expression changed to smug. "I cannot turn a blind eye as to how you treated your pack members here, Marquess Grant. I am displeased. Luna Queen Lydia will not be happy if she sees this."

Alpha Grant clenched his hand upon the mere mention of the Luna Queen. It was all over right now that the Luna Queen's name was mentioned here. "What do you want?" he asked in a calm, dangerous tone.

His Grace smiled triumphantly. "Well..." he started uttering what he wanted.

Since Duke Sylvester is part of the royal family, he greatly influenced the royal court after the war had commenced and ended peacefully. That was what Milla told me. However, he was also a humble knight serving the Estasia Eglaria Kingdom before being granted a dukedom to rule.

"Your wish is granted," Alpha Grant said, huffing. He turned to his men. "Open the gates to the north. Now!" he ordered hastily.

"Yes, Alpha!"

Michelle and I looked at each other, feeling relief because of that. But we couldn't celebrate that because the dark aura was releasing from our Alpha. It could mean that he was displeased. It might ruin his mood for his celebration later.

"I must go. I am still busy decorating my manor." Alpha Grant excused himself after taking a bow before His Grace.

I could tell that he wanted to snarl right now. He was upset and pissed right now just by seeing how he clenched his hands before he left.

A moment of silence enveloped us before they decided to walk away from the destroyed well. Probably, they were going to the north right now.

I did not leave yet as I silently watched the duke when he did the same action when I first met him in the Norlow River. He was covering his mouth with his clenched hand, almost kissing his thumb. I saw how his shoulders were shaking like he was trying to contain his laughter again. His indifferent, deep-set colored eyes were plastered with mischief, focusing his stare as to where our Alpha had gone off.

Like something was astonishing. It seemed like it satisfied his interest. And he wants to laugh it out.

Then his eyes suddenly met mine, which made me nervous. My wolf was telling me to leave the place immediately, but my feet were nailed to the ground, watching him drawing a smug smile with his bitterly cold stare. His reaction sent shivers down my spine.

He simply nodded his head at me before he decided to turn to his horse named Lavender. Duke Sylvester pulled the rope the moment he hops on Lavender's back as the horse screamed.

"Giddyap, Lavender!" A sly smile smeared on his lips when he gave me one last glance before Lavender started running in the other direction.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I followed his trail by gazing at him. "What's with that arrogant look?" I mumbled under my breath, perplexed.

When he was out of my sight, I shrugged it off. Then I brought my feet with me to the north as I recalled his reaction.

“What a weird person he was…” I sighed in exasperation. I just want this day to end. I just hope things will end smoothly after our Alpha’s celebration.