Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 157

Slade

He and the boys arrived 10 minutes early at Edge restaurant, so they were sure that Ana, her sisters and Ocean, did not have to wait for them to arrive. He preferred to arrive first so she could see that he wanted to have this dinner, that it was important to him.

Though he was anxious himself, and had to force himself to stay seated, because he had a need to be up and prowling around the room. But he was trying to project calmness when he was anything but calm.

He had no idea how tonight was going to go, but at least he now knew things back home were in fact moving forward. They’d all been trying to work out who was the actual Alpha, and if any of them had offended her, if so, tonight could go very wrong. Though if they were a unit, Maddie’s words made no sense to him.

They were pretty certain that Maddie had to be the leader of their unit. She was the one to deal with all of them. Zara was definitely a Gamma, and they all knew what Ana and Ocean were, so that only left Maddie and Londyn unknown to them. Palmer didn’t know but was hoping it wasn’t Maddie. If she was Alpha-blooded and his mate, he’d unwittingly rolled his charm not only over her, but an Alpha as well. That was a no no, in trying to get what you wanted.

It could make things difficult for Palmer if he and Maddie scented each other out, come the full moon, which left them all thinking about Londyn; she was only young. They could all see that, but she didn’t really have the Alpha mentality or not that any of them saw. She was relatively quiet for the most part. Her only interaction was to be amused and chuckle at Maddie’s antics and reactions to Vance’s interest in Zara, and then there was her interest in Yuri.

She didn’t appear to be the hot-headed type, but then again she likely had other things going on in her own life to distract her. Palmer had pulled him aside before this dinner and sighed a little, ‘I know you don’t want to hear this but… he’d mind-linked to him. ‘If Londyn is the Alpha to that group, I believe from where Yuri was knocked unconscious, to where their house is. She would have been able to scent him. I’ve been thinking about her this morning!

‘And?’ was all he said. Palmer knew the rules.

‘Londyn arced up at you, that one time, in the café about dads not caring. Zara comforted her, that was one Alpha arcing up at another. You and Londyn butted heads that day as Alphas can do

‘I suppose that we did. He nodded.

‘Also, thinking back to Yuri and Londyn’s reaction to him at her house, I was there just out of sight. It took Yuri less than three minutes to lay hands on Londyn. If she’s Alpha-blooded and not his Mate, she wouldn’t get that close that quickly. I’m betting I’m right…

‘I understand we’re not going to say anything, can’t say anything. But we need to make sure none of us offend Londyn at this dinner. If she rejects Yuri in the end, I don’t think any of us will be welcomed by any of the sisters.’

Slade had thought about that and could only agree; offending an Alpha meant insulting the entire pack that they ran, or in this case the unit and Ocean. He already knew Ana and Ocean weren’t happy to see him, so he’d warned all of them to be on their best behaviour. Vance, especially where Zara was concerned, she was going to be switched on, and he didn’t want Vance distracting her from her job.

They had to keep themselves in check at all times. That there was not even so much as annoyance allowed to roll off any of them, regardless of what any of those women stated, no matter if they were offended themselves; to suck it up and ignore it.

None of them were entirely certain as to how they ran their unit. Zara and Ana were rogues, which meant so was Ocean, and now when he thought about it, they’d smelled a Delta out there as a rogue. They were, he realised, a full Rogue female Alpha unit. And had the Wolfen Council backing them as well.

His eyes moved to the entrance of the restaurant, as he saw the five of them all walking in, all dressed in warm winter jackets. He watched both Londyn and Zara talk easily to the woman taking their coats. Londyn was dressed very nicely tonight, and he knew it wasn’t for his benefit; it was for Yuri. She also looked happy right that minute.

Maddie stood with Ana and Ocean. His little girl was all bundled up and her hair was pulled back into a braid, much like Ana’s herself, but there were several other plaits with beads in them wound into it as well. They were both wearing jeans and a sweater under their coats.

He’d told the boys not to dress up. This was a casual dinner, so they were all wearing jeans and dress shirts, going smart casual. If they were all wearing suits and looking their best, Ana would think more into the dinner than she needed to, and she had enough going on, having to see all of them, he thought.

He watched them all walk over, and Vance beat him to raise his hand to greet them, but he let it go. No annoyance was allowed to roll off him period. Not even at his own unit, Zara wouldn’t be the only one to pick it up if he got annoyed. Ana would know what his annoyance looked like and felt like having grown up with him.

He was also willing to bet Zara was already switched on, and she’d already dealt with him and gotten to feel all of his inner turmoil over the goings-on inside the pack.

He stood with his unit as the women walked over. He and his unit were in rank order. He was hoping that was how it was going to be for those women as well. So he could see the leadership of the group.

Londyn walked herself across the room with no hesitation at all, looked right at him, “Slade.” She addressed him and then moved on passed him to stand by the seat that was next to Yuri. Their table was round, Zara stood next to Londyn, and then Ana Ocean and Maddie.

That did not help him in his judgement of who the actual leader was, because of what Maddie had said about their hierarchy. They all held the same rank, rogues were not like regular wolves. There might well be a distinct or elected leader, but the others could well all be regarded as the same rank, so either Maddie or Londyn were in charge was all he could take from this, and the others could sit as they pleased.

“Thank you for agreeing to come to dinner,” he stated as he sat down after they did.

“You’re a stranger, I’ll call Alpha Austin if you try to,” Ocean told him directly herself.

He frowned. “As in the Council member Alpha Austin?” he asked his daughter.

“Yes,” Ocean nodded. “He’s practically my uncle.”

He heard Maddie stifle a chuckle and even saw amusement in Ana. His eyes moved down the table, Londyn wasn’t paying any attention; she’d struck up a conversation with Yurl down the other end of the table, and was not at all concerned about what was going on with him and Ana. Zara was all Gamma and focused on him, he realised.

But yes, that one statement told him they were a rogue unit but aligned with Austin of the Wolfen Council. But her words brought out amusement from both Ana and Maddie. They thought Ocean’s words were funny.

“I’m glad you know Alpha Austin,” he smiled a little at Ocean, looked to Ana, “That you Ana, were able to find a nice place to live, have a loving family, one that truly deserves you. Unlike the previous people you once knew. I also believe Alpha Austin is in Highland Hills right this minute, on council business.”

That gained her attention and her eyes narrowed on him, so he explained “Not to make you go back, I have requested a full investigation into the leadership of Highland Hills. I believe that started last week, sometime.”

She was frowning at him now, but said nothing. He had her undivided attention though and that was a good thing, he was hoping she was curious and wanted to know why. “We can discuss it next time, Ana.” He stated, “Perhaps over coffee, I’d like tonight’s dinner to be just that. A dinner to get reacquainted and for those of us who don’t really know each other, to get to know each other.”

“Why?” Ana asked him.

“Because I think it’s a good idea. I’m certain you also know I’m not about to just leave, walk away.” he shook his head. “I’m not going to do that.”

“I’m not about to give you what you want,” Ana stated flatly.

“Hmm, do you know what it is I want?” he countered. “Or are you thinking I came here just to collect my daughter? I did not.” He told her and turned his eyes to Ocean. “Though I would like to be a full part of her life,” he smiled at her gently, so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea.