Chapter 15
Marcus was shocked. This was unbelievable for him at first. He couldn't believe that he had humiliated himself so much in front of his guards. Marcus had insulted and tagged the guards as fools where he was at fault. This was a big red flag as a leader. It was only going to give Marcus a bad reputation.
"This was exactly what I was trying to tell you, Alpha Marcus…" the guard said slowly. He was gazing at Marcus intently but with humility. He still respected his Alpha despite all that transpired between them. It wasn't a big deal anyway.
Now, Marcus could tell the guards would harbor some deep sense of maturity and respect for them not to laugh at him in that case. Or probably, they were scared for their lives.
Even still, Marcus didn't feel cool about this. It felt like a soccer match where the match was between Marcus versus the guards. Now, the guards had scored a goal and Marcus had to equalize.
It might sound childish but Marcus's pride wouldn't make Marcus take corrections from lowly servants like the guards. Only a few people in the pack had the ability to advise Marcus and watch him make corrections.
Meanwhile, Marcus was ready to equalize. He had everything ready for the match.
"Is that why you are talking back to me?" Marcus asked carefully. He was gazing at the guards impatiently with his anger building up gradually.
The guards began to look around carefully. They didn't seem to understand that Marcus was talking about them. Marcus looked at them as well and shook his head. At last, one of the guards finally talked.
"What do you mean, Sire? Forgive me, but I think it's necessary for me to ask you…" the guard replied.
"Really? You think it's alright to be so inquisitive? I don't think so…" Marcus said slowly. He was still gazing at the guards.
"We have to be inquisitive if we wish to answer your questions correctly, Sire. Kindly forgive us but we will require you to expatiate if we would really have to answer that question…" another of the guards replied.
Marcus was gazing at the guards carefully. They were four in number. All four guards were distinct. All of them had different features which made them look totally different from other people.
The first guard was a very tall fellow. He rarely talked and since the conversation commenced, he had the least amount of spoken words.
The next guard was the shortest of the lot. He loved talking a lot and he had been among those who always forced themselves into the discussion. Marcus had noticed this behavior and he decided to tell him to work on it, lest, it might put him in trouble someday.
The next guard was neither tall nor short. He was average in height and he seemed to be the most outspoken of the guards. He was the one who tapped Marcus and from what Marcus thought, this guard had the best leadership quality.
As for the last guard, he was tall but not as tall as the first guard who was the tallest of the lot. Excuse my play on words. This last guard was the most handsome of the lot. He displayed charisma and he was soft-spoken. He kept his cool and only talked when it was desperately needed.
Upon noting all these, Marcus decided to ask the guards what their names were. He wanted to incorporate this along his former plans.
"What are your names?" Marcus asked carefully. His gaze never left the guards.
"My own name, you mean?" The short guard asked slowly.
"Are you talking about me, Sire?" The guard who tapped Marcus at first asked.
"Me?" The tall guard requested to know.
Now, only the charismatic guard had not talked. Upon noticing this, he decided not to talk. He wasn't talking out of his wish, he was talking since he had been compelled to do it.
No one forced him physically though…
All that happened was an issue of peer pressure.
"I guess you are talking to me then, Sire? I am so sorry for taking so long. My name is…" the charismatic guard answered and began to say. He was cut short by Marcus who as usual, had something to say.
"Shut up!" Marcus shouted. "I am not talking to you. I am addressing all of you. All of you should introduce yourself one after the other! It's that simple!"
After Marcus concluded this statement, the guards began to murmur. Each one of them wanted to come first. At last, the guard who tapped Marcus came first.
"Good day, Sire…" the guard began. "I am here to tell you…"
"Shut up your mouth! Are you here to answer a direct question or waste words?" Marcus shouted at the guard.
"I am here to answer a direct question, Sire!" The guard shouted in response. His answer was loud and it sounded like the voice of a soldier in training.
"Very well! May I ask why you have been wasting words then? You have not wasted only words but my time and energy. If this sounds fine to you, it sounds stupid to me and I hate it with all of my heart! I hope you understand me?" Marcus asked again. He sounded serious and every other person at the place kept shut and gave him a proper audience.
"I'm very sorry, Sire. I will try my best not to waste words again. I will take the bull by the horns," the guard replied again. He was still sounding like a military officer.
"Good! Now, what is your name?" Marcus asked slowly. The guard breathed in and out deeply and answered.
"Matt!" He began. "My name is Matt and I am a…"
"Next person!" Marcus noted.
"My name is Hamilton!" The tall guard replied.
"I am called Jimmy!" The short guard replied carefully.
"You can call me Hawkins," the charismatic guard said slowly.
"It's alright!" Marcus noted. "Let's leave here! We have got better things to do!"