Ever gave a hard nod to Alpha Cyril and stepped back. My father's deep baritone voice was easily heard as he spoke to Sydney, "Your sentence is fifteen. Count each one out loud. Is that understood?"

"Yes," she whimpered.

Fifteen wasn't bad. It shouldn't take too long. I was more than ready to move along to the next step.

My father didn't waste any time. His hand came up, and the paddle came down, the slap against her bare skin resounding loudly in the air. Sydney flinched hard but made no sound other than to gasp, "One!"

As the punishment continued, and swat after swat rained down, Sydney was no...