307 Self-deprecation
Selma Payne’s POV:
After wiping the hand that had touched him, I threw the handkerchief at him and said expressionlessly, “A disgusting thing like you, you think you’re worthy of being a leader of a pack’s Alpha? The heaven is truly blind.”
No matter how devastated Benson was, I felt great.
This man, who was once insufferably arrogant and weighed down on my destiny like a tall mountain, now seemed like an insignificant fallen leaf. Although annoying, he was crushed into powder with a gentle touch.
The anger that had accumulated in my chest was swept away. I no longer paid attention to the pile of mud-like coward by my feet. I returned to my adoptive parents’ side and gently held their hands to comfort them and stop them from talking.
It was not the time to interrupt.
The Walton couple were so anxious that they were about to go crazy. They looked at their son, who had collapsed, in shock and disappointment. They were filled with guilt and pleading when they faced me. They didn’t even dare to look at my adoptive parents, much less my biological parents, who exuded an aura of authority without being angry.
The living room suddenly fell silent, leaving only Benson’s weak sobs and trembling.
My father slowly walked up to him, coldly looking at the young Alpha, saying, “Benson Walton, do you confess to your crimes?”
Benson raised his head shakily, revealing his wet face and red and swollen eyes. He mumbled, “I admit it…”
Mrs. Walton let out a sigh of despair. Mr. Walton stood up helplessly and tried to defend his son. “There must be some misunderstanding here…”
Benson interrupted his father and said dejectedly, “No, Father, everything is real. I was the one who forced Selma to commit suicide. I was the one who bullied her. I was the one who turned a blind eye to my friends bullying her. I used to be a b*stard. Irascible, arrogant, stupid, and ignorant. I was the one who caused all the tragedies.”
Hearing his self-narration, my adoptive father sighed, my adoptive mother burst into tears, and Rhode looked at his ‘good buddy’ in shock. His eyes darted between Benson and me, clearly unable to accept this.
“Why did you do this?” He angrily grabbed Benson’s collar and lifted him, roaring at him, “Selma is my younger sister! You keep saying that I’m your best friend, that I’m destined to serve as your Beta, that my family is your family, that you’ll treat Selma as your sister, and this is how you treat your sister?”
𝑓ree𝑤𝘦𝚋𝐧𝘰ve𝑙. co𝒎
Benson wanted to defend himself, but he was punched to the ground by Rhode.
“Go to hell, you hypocritical villain!” Rhode beat up Benson as if he had gone mad to vent his anger. “How dare you do this to Selma! How can you let me down? How can you let Selma down? How can you be worthy of the people in the pack who sincerely regard you as a leader worthy of following? You’ve deceived everyone!”
My father watched all of this coldly and had no intention of stopping it. Mr. Walton and my adoptive father quickly stepped forward to pull the two apart. Rhode, who had lost his mind in anger, even punched Mr. Walton in the chaos.
Looking at this farce of fighting and kicking, I suddenly felt extremely fed up – the outcome was already decided, so what was the point of wasting more time?
“Enough!” I shouted, and the people in the chaos stopped and looked at me, bewildered.
“Come back, Rhode. Violence can’t solve anything.”
Rhode glared at Benson unwillingly and spat on the ground. He shook off Mr. Walton’s hand and turned to leave.
“As for you, Benson, what kind of punishment do you think you should receive?”
With a bloody nose and a swollen face, Benson silently got up. With Mr. Walton’s help, he said with a hunched body, “I’m willing to accept anything.”
I waved my hand impatiently. “Don’t play dumb with me. This kind of ambiguity is boring. As an Alpha, you should know that the royal family generally doesn’t easily intervene in local affairs. You understand what I mean, right?”
Benson bowed even lower. “Yes, Your Highness. After I return to pack, I will immediately resign from my position as an Alpha and join the mobile patrol team, punishing myself with hard work until my death. I’m doing this of my own free will. I only ask for your forgiveness.”
I subconsciously opened my mouth to say something sarcastic, but I changed my mind. To an egoistic maniac like Benson, who regarded power as his life, falling from the pedestal was probably worse than death. Moreover… A mobile patrol team? This is a good place. I needed a sentinel to help me investigate the various packs, and the candidate had already arrived.
It might sound a little dark to say this, but the rules of politics were like this: A frightened dog might not be obedient, but it was easier to control than a loyal person.
I nodded in satisfaction. “I accept your apology. This is considered done.”
After being beaten up by Rhode, Benson’s father sent his men to treat his wounds. My adoptive parents knew they couldn’t do anything about it, so they remained silent. Rhode was immersed in the pain of being betrayed by his friend and the guilt he felt for me.
The Walton couple was terrified. They could not accept that their son had done such a despicable thing, but reality had hit them in the head.
After dealing with Benson, only one question was left unasnwered: Who should be the Shadow Pack’s Alpha?
