Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 168

Maddie

She could see Ana was not only confused like she’d said she was, but starting to feel guilty about Ocean not meeting her father a long time ago, or maybe Slade not knowing his own daughter. Maddie had skimmed that folder, only actually read what had happened in the lead up to Ana’s worst moment in her life, inside that pack.

Maddie didn’t stop her from getting up and leaving the house. She’d once called herself a horrible person for taking Ocean away from Slade, for not telling him about their child. But she’d also truly believed he’d not known about their child, that he had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, even. Because he’d told her that himself.

All she-wolves understood that no child was truly safe inside a pack if it was the Alpha’s illegitimate child.

Even a future Alpha’s illegitimate child wouldn’t be safe from his Mate when he found them.

A lot of she-wolves, Lunas, wouldn’t stand for a threat to their own child’s right of ascension within her pack. Wanting to get rid of that threat to her own child as soon as it was possible. It was actually one of the reasons most she-wolves fled when finding out they were carrying the Alpha or future Alpha’s pup. To protect their own child from coming to harm.

Though Ana had not voiced that specific reason herself, she would also have known it deep down inside of her. Their species had a long history of killing each other and heirs, to get the right of ascension for themselves or their heirs. Right back to the dawn of their species, in the otherworldly realm.

She had also thought that Ocean, being a girl, would have been treated like she herself had been, passed over for the first male heir he produced with that Mate of his, Audrey. Though Slade had clarified that last night she was not his Mate, she had tried to coerce him.

There would have been, in not just Ana’s, but China’s subconscious mind, a fear of Audrey coming for her child. She’d actually left that pack in order to protect her child, risked herself to the wilds of being a rogue to protect her child. Maddie had thought she’d been right to do so back then.

Even now with Austin’s sss, and all she had read in that file, she still actually thought Ana had made the right choice, that pack’s leadership was rotten, and who was to say if they’d found out she was pregnant with Slade’s pup they wouldn’t have harmed her to get rid of it. They wanted to Mate Slade off to a chosen Mate of his father’s choosing and that pup of Ana’s would have ruined their plans for Slade being mated off.

She also thought Slade himself was filled with guilt, over everything that had gone down and what that leadership had done. That was why he was out there searching for her.

He knew he had a child, but was also solely focused on Ana. That’s what Zara felt, and that girl was an amazing Gamma, picked up on more than most when actively switched on. She had been watching Ana through the back door, while they all sat and ate breakfast.

Had mind-linked to Maddie to take Ocean to school, that Ana needed more than a minute and was struggling to maintain her façade of being alright. ‘She feels guilty for separating them, Zara sighed heavily. ‘What’s in that file Maddie?’

‘I suggest you go and read it. It’s in-depth, I only skimmed, actively read about what happened that day. It’s all screwed up from what I saw, nothing is what Ana thought it was.

She smiled at Ocean. “I’ll take you to school sweetie, you’re mum’s not feeling well.”

“Wolves don’t get sick,” Ocean stated right back and stared at her. Not much got past her.

“It’s not that kind of unwell. Isn’t sleeping well, and is emotionally exhausted, just needs a day, I think.”

“Because of my dad, right?” Ocean had murmured quietly.

Maddie looked at her. She’d used that word before, and had no problem with using it at all, it seemed.” There are some other things going on right now for your mum, Ocean. Austin brought something to our attention last night that is bothering your mum,”

“What?” Ocean asked, looking up at her.

What was she to tell the child? How much would Ana or Slade want her to know? “Hmm, that’s a difficult question, it’s all related to her home pack, Austin is going to call her to it, and Ana hasn’t been home in a very long time. Likely isn’t ready maybe not even willing to go there at this time. She’s got a lot going on is all.”

“Because of my dad?” Ocean stated.

“No, because of the current leadership of that pack,” Maddie stated, and it was likely right this very minute that was what it was. Not Slade.

“So, not my dad… my…” Ocean trailed off.

“Yes,” Maddie nodded. “Your biological grandparents, and Ocean, on both sides from what I can gather. So just give your mum a moment, okay, she told you she left for her own reasons, right… this is going to be that.”

“She doesn’t hate your dad, Ocean. Is just very confused about him at the moment. Like you, she thought he was mated,” Zara stated.

She shook her head. They knew nothing about the man, and she wasn’t going to add to the town gossip, but telling him that Slade was Ocean’s dad that was fine, because Ocean called him dad. It surprised her a little that their munchkin used that word so easily, but none of them had tried to stop her, not even Ana.

She turned at the sound of the door opening and saw Vance and Palmer walk in and nearly sighed out loud “You guys just can’t give it a rest, can you, one freaking day?” She muttered.

“No,” Vance shook his head. “I need my Zara fix.” He smiled. “Where is my cutie? I was on my best behaviour all night last night.”

She raised an eyebrow at the words ‘my cutie’ but she also did know that he reined himself in and been the actual Beta to that group last night. He’d understood Zara wasn’t just there to have dinner and chit-chat, but was on active Gamma duty, so he’d left her alone the entire night.

She also understood him being all Beta. He knew that last night’s dinner had been more than important to his Alpha, so had not distracted Zara even once, “I saw.” She finally nodded. “However, Zara is not here, Vance. She’s at home, as are Ana and Londyn.”

“Is everything alright Maddie?” Palmer asked her.

“No, not really. I’ve skimmed that file. Zara was reading it when I left and Ana… she got no sleep at all. She is now very confused.”

‘I know Ana told me.’ Maddie smiled. ‘I’m glad you could hold back and wait for the full moon. Are you getting up or going back to sleep?’

‘Getting up. I’m awake now!

‘Just a heads-up Londyn, Ana is not feeling alright, Zara is with her.’ Maddie sighed,

‘What happened? Do I need to go and put a beat down on Slade? I will, you know.’

‘Not at all… it’s fine, she’s just confused and upset with herself. Let Zara handle it. Oh, we’ll all be going to that pack as well, I’m not sure when, but Austin is there and request my help in getting Ana to go there.

‘Interesting turn of events. I’ll shower and come to the café.’