CHAPTER 7— PUNISHMENT
CHAPTER 7— PUNISHMENT
Quin woke up early; willing herself to follow the alpha’s order. She sluggishly went to the bathroom,
brushing her teeth, showering and messing around with her hair, which she hadn’t really touched for
two days. She got dressed in her room and ate two toasted breads before leaving for Jeo’s office. Her
father didn’t speak to her, he was clearly still in a bad mood because of what took place yesterday, so
Quinn left him alone.
He'd speak to her eventually, she just had to give him time.
The sun outside was bright, peeking past the leaves and wetting the earth with grace. The birds were
active and energetic, singing beautiful songs that weren’t enough to calm Quinn’s heart. On the
wildflowers along the bushy path were colorful butterflies, free and flourishing unlike her…
For she was defeated…defeated and shackled in a place that made her heart break. She still couldn’t
believe the words Delilah told her last night…how could her misery ever make someone happy?
Especially someone who was supposed to be a close family member?
It was a shock, she’d been so kind to her sister, they’d always lived as one; in a unity that Quinn
thought would never break. There wasn’t a time in Quinn’s life where she’d ever thought of hurting
Delilah because she had something she didn’t. That girl owned all of Kathrine’s love and Quinn had
never been envious…so why when it came to her Delilah couldn’t…couldn’t be the same?
Quinn’s jaws clenched as she walked into the marketplace. It was festive…at least until her presence
became known. The noise that roamed heavily around the place had been silenced by her steps, and
everyone bowed their heads as she passed. Quinn didn’t understand why they were doing this.
Yesterday they’d been disrespectful and now they were showing her respec~?
“Beta Quinn…I’ve packed you a box of tomatoes, I hope it’ll be enough to display how truly sorry I am
for what happened yesterday.”
It was that lady, the one who’d thrown her stone first. Quinn eyed the nervous woman from head to toe
and then looked at the box she held in hand. “It’s okay, keep your tomatoes…you’d be better off selling
them.”
“Nonsense…take them with you, I packed you the best ones.”
Quinn sighed, she was angry at them for disrespecting her, but as a beta, she had to be the bigger
person. She couldn’t live in malice with the people she was bound to protect. “Alright, thank you…” She
forced a smile and as soon as she reached for the box, everybody started yelling.
“Take this too…!”
“Accept our apology…”
“We have a lot more to offer…!”
“Here!”
In the end, she was left with more than ten boxes of different fruits and vegetables by her feet. They
were too much, if she were to take them back home now, then she’d get to the office late. “Look guys,
I’m grateful for what you’ve offered, but I can’t take them back with me now…I’m busy…maybe later.”
Someone stepped forward. “Don’t worry, we’ll take them back for you. We’ll leave them on your
veranda.”
“Well, that…okay thank you.” She stuffed her hands into her pocket, confused and baffled, but
remembering she had somewhere to be. “I’ll be on my way now…have a good day.” She walked by the
people who waved happily at her until she descended out of the marketplace.
The rood she was on now was a dusty and quiet one that led to Jeo’s office. It took her approximately
three minutes to get there and with hands that visibly trembled, she knocked on the door.
She could smell his scent from here, the cinnamon and the mint…that beautiful scent that used to
mingle with hers. “It’s me…Quinn.”
Her lips wanted to add ‘your mate’, but he’d blatantly proven the fact that she was nothing to him with
his actions yesterday. He didn’t ask about her side of the story, he’d immediately taken Delilah’s…that
meant he didn’t care about her feelings anymore.
“Come in…!”
Quinn twisted the door open at his approval, stepping inside. He was seated behind his desk, looking
down at what seemed to be a sheet of paper. “You asked me to come here yesterday…why…?”
He looked up at her with cold eyes that Quinn still wasn’t used to. “You’re going to be punished for what
you did yesterday. Delilah’s face is still swollen, I will not just let it go. You hit my mate Quinn, that’s an
act that could get you executed.”
“I…” Quinn swallowed, rapidly blinking her eyes to keep away the tears. “I was your mate first.”
“That might’ve been so, but not anymore.” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Why? What did I do so wrong?”
He sighed, tapping his desk with frustration clear on his handsome face. “You did nothing wrong,
Quinn…you were perfect, just not perfect enough. You aren’t as sweet as she is, you don’t smile like
she does, you don’t talk the way she does…I’m sorry it had to end this way, but I chose my happiness
instead of yours.”
“Y-You said I was your happiness…” Quinn’s hands clenched in her pockets and her eyes burnt with
tears. “You told me that you couldn’t live without me.”
“That was before…she’s the one I can’t live without now.” He looked away from her, eyes fixating on
the wall. “Enough of this, it’s ruining the mood. Because I know you might’ve been influenced by the
anger of not being enough, your punishment will not be severe.”
The fact that he could say it like that had Quinn’s heart crumbling…she wasn’t enough, huh?
“Today a party will be held. Since the alpha king had been angry about the presentation of the contract,
Cannon proposed a party that will be held here to appease him. You never finished your job that day;
therefore, it is your fault that he’s angry, so you’ll be the one to plan and organize the celebration
house. It should be grand and as beta, please dress your best tonight.”
“As you wish…”
He gestured towards the door with a hand. “Off you now.”
Quinn bowed her head before pivoting on her feet and walking out. Since Jeo didn’t give a rats sh*t
about her, why was she supposed to cry because of him? It was time for her to let go of him like he did
her?
No looking back at the past, all she needed to do was step forward in order to mend her broken heart…
and to break him like he broke her.