Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 266

Chapter 266
Zane
I stopped with my hot grilled sausage halfway to my mouth at the sense of rising rage. I shot my gaze around, looking for Xander. He was talking with Hank, but neither of them looked like they were ready to fight.
I found Lanie with her blonde friend, Quinn. Lanie jumped up from the rocker she’d been sitting on. The anger wasn’t coming from her, though.”
Her eyes narrowed. She found me looking at her from across the yard.
“It’s Mason,” she thought at me.
“I don’t see him,” I replied.
Xander chimed in. “I saw him go into the house earlier with that Asher dude.”
“Oh, no,” Lanie thought. “I’m feeling a lot of anger from him. Where are they? Do you see them?”
The three of us met in the center of the yard. Xander put an arm around Lanie, who looked like she’d been having a good time. Her wolf rose, though, sobering her up quickly. She slipped an arm around my waist. To anyone watching, it would look like we all were just enjoying a conversation. I even took a casual bite of my
sausage.
“Really, dude?” Xander muttered.
“They’re good,” I told him, chewing.
Lanie squeezed us both. “Asher and Mason were best friends. Close enough that I’m sure Asher would’ve
been his Beta, if things were different.”
“Do you think he still wants Asher to be? Is that what they’re talking about right now?” Xander asked
quickly.
Lanie shook her head. “I’m trying to see what I can feel from him. I’m sure they’ve had a lot to talk about.
We did just up and leave Stillwood without a word to anyone. I’m sure Asher’s pis sed off with him. And
She trailed off. Heat rushed off her. She didn’t look us in the eye, but Xander and I shared a stare over the
top of her head
“Asher kind of liked me,” she said, adding quickly when Xander growled, “When I was Katie
“Did you like him?” Xander’s voice rasped.
“I did” Lanie lifted her chin to stare him in the face “He was funny and kind, and he took me out even
though I was pregnant with someone else’s baby”
“With my pup.” Xander growled
“Don’t act like that was noble or anything” I told her with a frown. “You’re beautiful. Any man would be
hannu to taka unui rast. He wasn’t drinn unii a fauna and veri ro ne s hit abut nwa him oratitude for heinn a
1/2
decent guy.
“Both of you, stop,” she ordered with a Luna push. “I had no idea who I was, much less that you were my mates. Besides, I really liked Mason, instead. And since we all ended up here, exactly where the Goddess meant for us to be, there’s no point in you getting yourself all tangled up about it.”
Xander mumbled something but didn’t keep going with it.
Lanie closed her eyes, swaying a little bit. “Mason’s trying to explain things to him. Can you hear anything? Sense anything?”
“Nothing.”
“Xander said. “Not sure if he’s blocking or just too focused on what’s going on.
I concentrated. “They’re just talking, I think. I’m getting a sense of guilt, confusion, maybe a little impatience?”
“I’m only catching small bits and pieces of that,” Lanle added. “But if Mason’s in trouble, we should go
find him.”
Mason
“Check yourself!” I pushed my Alpha strength toward Asher in a series of short, sharp bursts. I wasn’t
trying to overwhelm him, just get him to put his wolf away.
His biceps bulged, tearing his shirt as hair sprouted. I pulsed out another burst of energy, hoping he’d
respond even though, technically, I wasn’t his Alpha.
It didn’t look like he considered me his best friend anymore, either.
Or even a friend at all.
For another half a minute or so, I was sure he wasn’t going to pull back. Colt snarled and thrashed inside
me, eager to battle. I tried one last time to stop this
“You’re right!” I shot out at him. “I’m the as shole. I don’t blame you for being pi ssed off with me. Hell, you
don’t even have to forgive me. But I need you to listen to me, let me tell you what’s been happening, and then, if you’re still angry, you can tell me to f uck off again. You can punch me right in the face, I won’t even step out of the way.”
With painful slowness, Asher’s wolf retreated. He flexed his arms, looking down at the series of tears.
“You owe me a new f ucking shirt.
“Done. Are you ready to have a conversation? We can go grab a beer.” I jerked my thumb toward the
house. “Something stronger, if you want.”
At first, Asher looked like he was going to take me up on the offer. Then he looked past me. His lip curled.
“Oh, look,” he said with a sneer. “The gang’s all here
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