Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 79

Slade

Slade stood and watched as Hayden was hung from that hook on the ceiling in the cells that evening. He’d been led down here directly after that meeting in the Alpha’s office. By himself, Palmer and Yuri, walked without cuffs, so it would have looked to the pack members who saw them, as though they were just walking along like the future Alpha unit.

He had spent the day in this cell waiting on, not only night to fall, but for the cell guard shift to change as well. His punishment; the lashings, he had to be served by the leadership of the pack, that had to wait until the pack was settled and mostly all off to bed.

He could already hear Bronnie crying, she’d held it together all day long, until this moment of seeing her son being strung up for those lashing to be attended to. Palmer and Yuri had been put on cell guard duty for the night. It had been rostered weeks ago, well in advance for this very reason. So that no one, not even the pack guards, knew Hayden was getting lashed.

It was the only truly lenient thing the boy was getting, if everything was out in the open, Hayden would get punished alongside everyone in this room for all the pack members to witness. Though it would be unlikely the boy would get lashed himself.

What had been said inside his father’s office; that Hayden knew nothing of their parents’ plans and deceits, was in fact true, so he’d likely only get a full warning. But Slade had no way to punish those that truly needed it; the Alpha and his unit and his mother and Bronnie. Not without everyone finding out about his heir, and that it was Oriana who was the mother to his child.

So, for now, this was all he could do. “Son?” his father stated “Bronnie…”

“Will lash her own son,” Slade stated flatly, “As will Anders for their part in not protecting their daughter from their own son. When that should have been their priority, if they also believed she was to become my Mate and Luna to this pack. Something they did not do.

“So yes, I expect each one of them to lash Hayden. Just like I expect all of you not to be lenient in your lashing. If you do not lash properly, with the full force, I know you can all lash with. I will lash him with the Cat of 5 Tails for each lash leniently given to him. As a further punishment.”

He would not relent, not show any weakness to these people that should have known better, were not, he thought, fit to run this pack anymore. But that too would come later. He was showing them. all now, here in this cell, that he was an Alpha, and could stand up and do what was right and necessary.

Punish pack members regardless of rank, follow the pack laws and also grant some small mercy at the same time. Also showing them, he meant every word that he said. That he would follow through on his decisions. Today they were all seeing a side of him they’d never seen before. A side they’d created themselves.

The side of an Alpha Wolf that was usually reserved for prisoners of war, or rogues harming the pack, or trying to snatch she-wolves. The Alpha that he would be when he grew up and took over the pack one day. An Alpha that would uphold the pack’s laws to the letter.

He stepped back from the cell and stated, “Rank order, unless Bronnie wishes to go first instead of last.” Both lots were terrible places to be in for the mother of the one being lashed. The first lash ripping the skin and flesh from Hayden’s body and spraying his blood across the cell, and to hear him gasp and cry out in pain and agony; that first time.

Or the last lash given, where he would be hanging limply from the ceiling and was already torn up by the barbs of the previous lashes already dealt out to him; a bloody mess hanging limply from the hook in the ceiling.

Neither place would be nice for the woman that was his mother, but she herself was Beta Blooded and should be able to pull on that bloodline and hold herself together, like her mate was doing right this very minute.

He looked at her and heard the woman state “I’ll go first.” In a bare whisper.

Slade watched as she stood in the cell behind her son for almost a full minute staring at his bare back, before she swung that Cat; he heard it whip through the air a second after she whispered,” I’m sorry, Hayden.” It tore through his back and left three open and jagged wounds across his entire back, he heard the boy scream in pain and then was just gasping afterwards.

Anders stepped up and took Bronnie as she staggered a step back, the Cat clattering to the ground at her feet. Watched as she was turned into his chest, and he walked her out of the cell.

Slade stepped aside the minute it was over and let his mother, Elise, lead Bronnie up the stairs and out of the cells. “The boys and I will get him down.” Slade stated, and he saw Anders look right at him “I’m done punishing the boy.” Slade told him “I will train him as the future Beta when he is released. Now that I believe he understands the rules of this pack, will be followed to the letter from now on, and that he will do as I tell him, without complaint.

“He is the future Beta and I his future Alpha. Is my charge now, and I don’t think he’ll disrespect me ever again…nor the pack and its members.” He told Anders “I am not happy about this Anders. But he needed to learn the errors of his way of thinking. As much as all of you did.”

His father was staring at him now. “Proper training, Slade, I expect that.”

“He’ll get it.” Slade nodded “He had best not be late or miss training ever again. I won’t stand for that. A Beta needs to be reliable, trustworthy and show respect to his Alpha. As long as I see that, there will be no further issues.”

He turned and called Palmer and Yuri to him. “Let him down boys, gently so. Be careful of his wounds.” He told them.

“Yes, Slade.” They both stated, and he watched them do that, even helped Hayden to lay down on the cot in the corner of the room on his stomach.

Slade watched the Alpha Unit leave and his eyes moved to Hayden a moment later. He’d not taken any joy or pleasure in this, wanted it, but hadn’t found it at all fun. “Heal up, Hayden. Just focus on that, you’ll forget the pain in time. I’ll come and release you when your time in here is up. Till then, just focus on letting any thoughts about your sister go. She’s not here anymore, so there is nothing for you to be jealous of. You won Hayden, got everything you wanted, including, I imagine, her not being here at all.”

He turned to leave the cells and heard Hayden murmur “I never wanted her gone from the pack.”

Too late for that, Slade thought. She was gone and bringing her back? Not even he knew if he could do that, or when it would happen either. At least he’d gotten to punish those responsible for her leaving; in his eyes. It might only be in a small way, but it was at least something.