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 get it done before he can complain.
• "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. 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 Beta 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.