Chapter 4. Caught

It's been three days since I completed that application. My mind considers it as I wipe the table, ensuring everything is clean. Alpha Draven has been visiting Alpha Ethan and his pack.

Apparently, the deal they are making is going well. Well enough for Alpha Draven to leave his own pack and travel

It's good, though; it means I haven't been touched for three days. I have barely had to kneel as Beta Luca and the others are busy doing Alpha Draven's work.

Hell, I have even managed to get out of the constant cleaning and finally had time to consider the implications of that application. I'm sure Alpha Prime Darius will punish me for lying about it. I could be killed; I lied to the king essentially.

It was an order to answer honestly, and I didn't. So will Alpha Draven have fun telling them I lied if he ever finds out the truth? Finishing cleaning, I sit on my mat, my eyes close, and I try to relax; I was told he is returning today. So I've made sure I cleaned at the hours I was required to.

That way, if he comes back, I'm right where he expects me to be based on what time it is. Most would hate this, sitting in a cell with nothing. Boredom would be a quick thing they would complain over.

I guess when you're constantly cleaning and doing things for everyone else. This is perfect. Why would I want to do anything other than relax right now? That thought quickly vanishes when I realise what day it is.

Standing, I walk through to the laundry room. The maid smiles at me, and I begin to get the correct items for Alpha Draven's bed. I still have plenty of time to finish it before he complains.

"They are getting the women." I turn to the maid, confused. "The guards of Alpha Prime Darius began to collect the selected ladies today."

"Lucky them." I smile, and she reaches out.

"It could be lucky you." I look at her with a confused expression, and she smiles. "I saw, don't worry, no one else did."

Crap. I stand and panic. "If..."

Her hand goes up. "I won't be telling Alpha Draven, Elara, so you don't need to worry; I have everything crossed for you." She says that, yet she hasn't considered the consequences, just as I didn't.

I'm claimed; the mark is impossible to hide if he were to ask us to strip and confirm we're not claimed. I never considered the consequences of my actions, and right now, It's too damn late.

All I can do is hope I wasn't selected, and why would I be? Wolfless, packless, orphan, with no last name. I'm at the bottom of that list.

After replacing the sheets and bedding, I take the dirty ones to the maid, although they aren't dirty. They were put on two days ago. No one has even slept in it. As I leave, I hear the door. I quickly walk to my cell to avoid them. If I'm not there, I am hoping that I'm out of their minds.

"Mutt." Or not. Standing, I walk through and kneel. "What is this?" I look up.

"A cloth Master." Why is he asking me that?

"And who uses it?"

"Myself, Master, they are the ones given to me to use." No one else uses them. He has a weird habit, like everyone has their own cloths. Why? So he can see whose cloths are used the most?

"Then why was it next to the computer?"

Shit. My mind races back. I was cleaning that day and took the sheets to the maid. When I went to the computer, I had a cloth in my hand.

"I don't know, Master."

"That is a blatant lie." I hear him move. "Get it ready. Ensure the entire pack will be watching."

Wait, I stare at him.

"You went into a room that is forbidden. You used items you are not allowed to. Did you think this would go unpunished?"

I thought he wouldn't know. He wouldn't have if I didn't leave the cloth.

"Master, it was not me who put the cloth there." Maybe he won't punish me if I lie and make out that it was someone else.

"Lying is only increasing your punishment." He turns to Alpha Luca. "Drag her out." I feel my body get pulled up and pushed out. He rarely punishes me in front of the entire pack.

My body is thrown to the ground. Kneeling, I keep my head lowered. I know that I caused this. Now, I consider his plan, maybe to keep me kneeling here and battle the weather with them watching.

"If I give orders, I expect them to be followed even when I am not in sight."

I feel the cuffs wrap around my wrists. So, I’m not going to be punished by having to face the elements?

"So this is a reminder that I won't allow it to happen," I scream as my body is pulled up by the cuffs around my wrists. My toes barely touch the floor.

"Now," I scream, feeling the whip hit against my back. My head raises, and I look at Alpha Draven. He had sworn never to do this to me.

"Again." I brace myself, but it does little to help. Screaming; tears flow from my eyes.

"Again." The pain from the whip has me slump forward, the scream getting tangled in my throat with the sob.

"Again." I stare at Alpha Draven. Screaming, I dangle from the chains, my eyes seeing Alex in the crowd. My head drops, I never expected him to give me this punishment.

The pain is worse than the other night. I can feel the blood running down my back from the lacerations. I hear cars and raise my head. I watch as the crowd disappears.

"Take it inside." Alpha Draven points to me, and I feel the cuffs being removed, and I fall down. A hand grabs me and drags me through. As we get inside the door, I'm dragged forward.

"Stop!"Alpha Draven shouts. My body is dropped, and I kneel, ready for Alpha Draven to begin yelling abuse at me. "Apparently, Alpha Prime Darius has sent guards for you, Mutt!"

Shit. I raise my head slowly to see him glaring and growling at me. Is this because they know I lied? I have a feeling tonight's punishment is only the start of it.