Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 161

Austin

He’d strolled down to the cells with Gretta and Dariah. They’d not done anything with the boy; they had found out he was in the cells and just left him there after hearing from Dariah how long he’d been there; half a decade. It was now time to pay that boy a visit.

His hair was long and shaggy, and he was very unkempt. His cell was right at the very back, away from where all other prisoners would be put when arriving. Slade, it seemed, had put him in solitary confinement.

Though that boy’s eyes moved to the three of them from his place on the floor, he didn’t actually move at all, didn’t say anything in greeting, just looked at each one in turn and then just closed his eyes once more. There was nothing in that cell of comfort and the boy lay there on the bare floor. There was a single bucket in one corner and Austin gathered from the smell, it was the boys’ toilet.

Austin knew it was Hayden. Not only did he see a resemblance to Anders, he could smell that he had pure beta-blood as well. Though he no longer scented like a Vale, he still held the pack scent of desert sage; he hadn’t turned himself rogue in all these years.

“What happened to him?” he asked Dariah.

“Attacked Slade and tried to kill him, when Slade replaced him.” was the answer. “I wasn’t here when he got replaced, I came home later that night…but I knew it was going to happen, the way it would even.”

“The way?” Gretta asked.

“Yes,” Dariah nodded. “Hayden was replaced by Vance, a Beta-ranked wolf of Slade’s choosing. Slade went out of his way to make sure it went down in the same manner as Ori’s demotion. Blindsided the Alpha, his unit, Hayden. But informed the pack 15 minutes prior to it happening. Just…” she shrugged. “Left those in charge out of that mind-link.”

He heard Gretta snort amused. “Fitting.”

“Many here thought so. No one is allowed to come down here and see or speak to him, and as far as I know no one has. He made his bed, is a pack traitor; now he has to lay in it. Not many liked him after what went down for him to be ranked up, and he was arrogant and lorded it over everyone, was uncaring of how many people here liked Ori and hurt a few for just talking about her. If he’s ever released, he’ll be shunned or exiled,”

Austin understood a little more now about the goings inside this pack after the scroll was written. Hayden, having gotten the position he wanted, was disrespectful to pack members; didn’t actually deserve the title he’d been given. He wasn’t loyal to Slade, and his reaction to being demoted in the same manner that Ori had, showed a very distinct difference between him and her. She was actually more worthy of it, hadn’t hurt anyone bar that punch to her Gamma Palmer, but at the time that could be considered reasonable with her state of mind.

But a single punch and leaving this pack was completely different to trying to kill the one that replaced you. She had good control of herself, her actions, and Hayden was entitled even two years after the fact.

Hadn’t been able to handle it.

Though as he looked at the boy or man now he supposed, he was 25, he didn’t look anything like Oriana.

He also knew that Hayden was listening to them talk, but had no intention of speaking with them. He likely hadn’t spoken a single word in years.

He wasn’t cuffed with silver, but the bars to this cell were silver-coated, and he had some old scars, that looked to be from those bars, and he was curious about that. “Was he tortured or are those scars self-inflicted?” Austin asked.

“I don’t know. I only know he did get a beating by Slade’s Beta and Gamma, while Slade was in the pack hospital.”

“He doesn’t smell like a Vale,” Gretta commented.

“Mm, Anders and Bronnie had no choice but to sever their kin bond with him, in order to show the pack they were loyal to the pack heir and not their own kin.” Dariah nodded.

“A typical response.” Austin nodded. “Hayden, how would you like the opportunity to get out of this cell. I am Alpha Austin of the wolfen council and I have some questions for you. If you answer them, I’ll let you take a stroll under guard, of course.”

He watched as that man rolled over on the floor to face the wall. He was not interested in talking to him. No real surprise after half a decade down here alone with no socialisation.

“He’s fed?” he questioned.

“As far as I know, he’s Slade’s prisoner, and he’s down here until Slade comes home, so three meals a day, but no pack interaction.” Dariah stated.

“That’s typical punishment for a traitor,” Gretta nodded. “I doubt he’ll talk, learned I imagine there is no point.”

“Or was ordered not to.” Austin mused. “Dariah put a call to Slade I want to know if the boy chooses not to speak or was ordered not to.”

It was a pretty white gold with a moonstone charm attached to it.

“I also like the way it glints brilliantly in the moonlight.” Dariah smiled.

He nodded, though sighed internally. He’d seen several wolves now over the past few days wearing moonstones. “Is it a common gift to pack members from the Alpha and Luna at 16, or just you that got one?” he questioned.

“Hmm, I know a few that got them from their parents. Rainbow moonstone is the pack’s choice of jewellery.”

“I did note there was a pack jeweller on the books,” Gretta commented “Likely make their own.”

“Yes, we do have a jewellery store, Highland Jewellery,” Dariah nodded “It’s quite popular in the pack and in the human world, not considered high end or exclusive, but fine jewellery, mostly deals in moonstones of all colours, pearls and opals. Things that glitter.” She chuckled softly. “The owner likes shiny things. Is from my understanding part fairy.”

Now that got his attention, “Part fairy?”

Dariah nodded. “Yes, she was here before I was born, I believe.”

Austin waved her off for the afternoon as they entered the packhouse and Gretta mind-linked right to him, “Part fairy? Likes shiny things.”

“Not a good combination of genetics, I agree.” Fairies, no matter the rank could all use some sort of magic. “What do you suppose the other half of that fairy is?”

“I don’t know, but best we find out.” Gretta murmured. “Not many fairies leave their realm, not a Dark Fairy,

they couldn’t survive here.”

“Hmm, it could do depending on the cross-breeding and where it was born.” He sighed.