Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134
Katie
It seemed crazy enough that there were vampires in our territories, but now there were witches, too?
No one looked quite as shocked to hear this as I was. No surprise there.
“Why do we need to pack a bag?” I asked.
“Witches hide in plain sight in human territories,” Gabriela explained. “We’ll need to travel under cover of night if there’s any chance the Elders are keeping an eye on the comings and goings here.”
Instinctively, I reached for Stella, and Gabriela passed her to me.
for a bit to let the cure work.”
“Depending on what the witches say, we might need to s
Now there were witches plural? And how long was “a bit”?
“The babies will need to come, too. We all will,” she said.
Xander took a step forward and held his hands out. “Wait a minute,” he said. “How the hell does it make sense for all of us to go? Mason should stay here with Katie and Stella at least.”
A pang of trepidation momentarily stopped my heart. Did I really want to be here with Mason alone after what happened with Braden and Orion?
“Really?” Gabriela said, raising an eyebrow. “After he asked you who will be the Alpha next? You’re really confident leaving him here with just Monroe, knowing your father or the Elders might return any day?”
Xander’s jaw clenched, and he shot Zane an annoyed look.
“Good point,” Zane said.
Thank the go ds. Gabriela to the rescue again.
“Once everyone is packed, we’ll all meet back down in the great room at midnight.”
Xander and Zane stalked back into the bedroom, hoisting Braden away to wait downstairs while Mason disappeared to go gather our things.
“One more thing, Katie,” Gabriela said. “You might want to…disguise yourself when we go.”
I shook my head, at a loss for what to say.
“I don’t understand.”
Gabriela’s lips formed a tight line.
“Is this to do with my past?” I asked her.
“Yes,” she said.
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especially not some random rogue like me.
Except I couldn’t have been that random if Braden knew me. And if I’d known Xander and Zane.
All those feelings of deja vu were starting to make sense. I’d definitely been here before, and Gabriela knew it.
The question was, why was it so important that no one else did? What danger was I in if someone else recognized me?
“Just do as I say, okay? If things become safe again, I’ll tell you everything you need to know.” She reached for my shoulder and squeezed it, holding my gaze.
“Okay,” I said. I might’ve been crazy to trust her, but she and Braden had been more honest than anyone about who I was and where I came from. I needed to cling to that, even if it was risky.
As soon as Gabriela left, my palms started to sweat,
I usually felt so comfortable around Mason, but so much crazy sh it had happened in the last two days. that I had no idea where the f uck we stood now.
Jealousy had brought out a monster in him, and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to tame it.
“I’m so, so sorry, Katie,” Mason said when he walked back into the living room with our bags. “I know it doesn’t make up for what I did, but I am.”
“You left me, Mason. And Orion hurt me. And now now you might’ve killed someone, maybe the only person who could help me discover who I was before. I know I made a mistake with Xander and Zane, but I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
He nodded like he understood, but his devastation was written all over his face.
“I do love you, Katie. That’s why I went so crazy.”
My stomach turned over and tears pr icked my eyes. A week ago I was sure I would’ve said it back to him without hesitation, but now…everything was way too f ucked up.
“I don’t expect to say you love me, too,” he said sadly “What I did these past two days was scary, b figure this sc hit out with Braden…well, I hope you’ll come back to me again.”.
Without waiting for my response, he went downstairs.
After a stressful and silent drive from the mansion into human territory, we pulled up to what looked like
skeevy nightclub
“Are you taking us out on the town, Gabriela?” Braden asked weakly.
“I don’t think Stella will enjoy that very much,” I said,
Gabriela barked out a laugh. I even saw Mason smile in the rearview mirror.
“This is what it means to hide in plain sight. The witch we’re looking for operates out of the basement.”
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was dark out after all. Gabriela, Braden, and I piled out of the car and to the entrance first. Once we were inside, everyone else would trickle in behind us.
But when we got to the door, the big beefy guy guarding it flared his nostrils and spat on the ground.
“No way you’re getting in. Dogs and bloodsuckers aren’t welcome here.”
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