The Established Siblings of the Pack

At that moment, Paige rose from her seat and declared, “My butler wears Gustav all the time. One look is all it takes for me to tell if these belts are fakes.”

Having said that, she opened one of the boxes and took out the belt coiled inside, then examined it carefully. A minute later, she put the belt back into the box and swept her gaze over the others at the table, then enunciated, “I’m sure it’s the real thing.”

Nancy grimaced as she bit out through gritted teeth, “You’re best friends with Serena, so who’s to say you aren’t covering for her lies?”

“Are you questioning me right now?” Paige countered icily, her expression turning grim. She was the second young lady of the Tanner Family and a major in the Seavale Military District; a deathly hush fell upon the room the moment she zoned in murderously on Nancy, and no one dared breathe.

“I… I’m not,” Nancy said shakily, so terrified that she nearly wet her pants.

Everyone else turned rigid in their seats as though bracing for an oncoming storm.

“Okay, that’s enough. Throwing tantrums is quite unbecoming for a young lady,” Kingsley cajoled.

At once, the tension in the room seemed to shatter and fall away, and Paige replied obligingly, “Fine.” The last thing she wanted was to go against her grandfather and the man who held the Order of the Northern Draken.

Upon seeing this, the others at the table blanched. They wondered frantically who Kingsley was and why Paige, a young lady of nobility, was so obedient toward him. Swallowing convulsively, they started to think about the way they had treated him with contempt and hurled snide remarks at him for the entire evening. No ordinary fella would be invited to stay with the Tanners’ for a night. He must be someone important! If he took any offense to how we treated him tonight, then we’re all as good as dead!

Presently, Kingsley turned his dark brown eyes on Nancy and ordered coolly, “You, come over here and get down on your knees. I want to hear you personally apologize to Serena for what you said to her tonight.”

“I…” Nancy was trembling like a chihuahua at this point. Out of desperation, she turned to Emory for help as she urged, “Emory, say something! You have to help me.”

Emory’s mouth was dry as he countered sullenly, “How am I supposed to help you when I’m in need of divine saving myself?”

He was sorely regretting his behavior earlier, and he shuddered at the consequences that would befall him if his cover as a spy was blown.

“Divine saving is right. The three of you aren’t getting out of this,” Kingsley said with a devious smirk tugging on his lips. “Come on, get down on your knees in front of Serena before my patience runs out.”

Nancy turned to look at the others in mute despair, but those who had been flattering her enthusiastically just moments ago dared not even meet her gaze now. Someone even whispered meekly, “Just get down on your knees, Nancy, or we’ll all be done for.”

didn’t compromise, and without another word, she walked up to Kingsley and Serena,

her and knelt down next to her

the way I acted just now. I shouldn’t have picked on you or

“I’m sorry. We both truly are sorry for what

apologize; forgiving the both of you was not what I had in

humbled figures at his feet. “I’m afraid Serena finds your apology displeasing. Now, how should we go about rectifying this?” He slowly rose to grab one of the belts off the table, then uncoiled the leather in his hand, feeling its weight nestled in his palms. He appraised

he could already imagine how miserable

ignored him and pointed at the other twenty-nine belts on the table, then said to the other guests who were holding their breaths, “Each one of you

themselves to disobey him. Moving stiffly toward that end of the table, each of

you may leave. If you refuse to strike

on the shocking suggestion. About half a minute later, the sound of a cracking whip filled the air. A burly man

in pain as cold beads of sweat

the ball rolling, the rest of the dinner guests joined in

any mercy. They stood red-eyed behind the two figures kneeling on the ground, taking turns with the corporal punishment. In truth, they couldn’t care less about their long-time friendship or their

dress to be whipped

from his seat and walked up to where Emory was, then asked, “You’re Emory,

he demanded, “What do

clipped tones. “Hand the

Emory and a chill ran down his spine. He sputtered, “What carrier? I don’t know what you’re

the back of his collar and chuckled darkly. “My, my, where are you rushing

his real name made Emory’s

grabbed a belt and tied Emory up, then threw him on the floor. Having

and announced, “I’ve seen enough.

each of you, and nothing less. Got it?” With that, he turned his attention to Paige and asked, “You

people here carry out their work.” A sadistic giggle escaped her as she said this. “I’ll be heading