Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 171

Ana

She’d spent half the morning with Zara right there next to her, trying to help her, because that guilt she was now feeling was trying to swallow her alive. She’d gone to her bedroom and lay down. Knew Zara had actually made her do so, could feel how mentally as well as physically exhausted she was.

She’d not slept well in days, not slept at all last night and could still not find sleep. Zara had charmed her into it, out of her pain and guilt-ridden state of mind over all she now knew, the knowledge she had of all that had gone on. Zara had reduced them to nothing so she could get some sleep, and put her to bed. Had likely lulled her into sleep at some point as well. Though she only realised this when she woke up in her bed.

Her eyes had opened to look around the room. She was now alone in here, but her bedroom door was open, which could only mean that Zara was still in the house, likely keeping an ear out for her, waking up or getting up even.

Ana rolled over and stared at the bookcase on the far wall, books they’d read to Ocean over the years. Her baby book was even there on that shelf. It covered the first two years of Ocean’s life. And then there were the photo albums filled with family moments as well.

She closed her eyes as she felt that pain touch her once more, for all the memories Slade had not gotten to be there for. All the things she knew that he had to have wondered about over the years. For all the times that Ocean had not been able to see him in those moments.

She pulled on the tethers that were her sisters, to see where they all were. Zara, no surprise, was in the living room. Maddie and Londyn were down in Greenville, though not together. Likely Londyn was at her Gallery, she mind-linked to Maddie. ‘Can you talk?’

‘Yes, I’m in my office, balancing accounts for the monthly tax requirements, how are you, Ana?’ she asked right back.

‘I don’t know, she lied. She hated herself right this very minute but was not going to voice that out loud to anyone, though Zara probably knew it, ‘I need you to do something for me.’

‘Alright.’

‘Ocean’s videos over the years, can you put them all on one USB in chronological order?’

‘Of course I can’ Came a somewhat amused reply, ‘When do you want it by?’

‘As soon as possible, I guess.’ She murmured, ‘It’s not for me.’

“I figured that out. Will you be giving it to Slade yourself, or will I be dropping it off?’ Maddie asked.

She was quiet for a long time, thinking about that. Could she face him? After all she’d learned, stand before him and not have that guilt consume her completely and hold it together? She honestly didn’t know the answer to that question. He’d seen her broken down before. Was actually the only one to ever see her like that. She had once been able to just bare everything to him.

But this was about him, what she’d done to him. Could she now face him without falling apart? She didn’t know, had barely been able to look at Ocean, how would she feel standing before Slade?

‘I need to make a phone call, before I make that decision I guess, to clarify everything for myself!’ and she did. She didn’t think it was a lie, but she still needed confirmation and knew where to get it from. Austin was in that pack right this minute, he would be able to fact-check everything.

‘Alright, you do what you need to, I will do that tonight… Londyn has Yuri’s number, Communication can go through her and him if you like,’ Maddie told her.

‘Okay, is she feeling better?’ Ana asked.

‘Yes, practically glowing when I saw her. Maddie chuckled a little. ‘she got all the fun stuff from Yuri that I used to get from Austin.’

‘I’m glad, and I know I smelled Yuri all over her. It’s good he’s attracted to her without the mate bond, I think. Londyn will know he likes her for her. Are they texting?’

‘I’d say Londyn is, but she’s not here, at her Gallery, so I don’t actually know. But she’s not the shy type, so I feel yes and likely on the hot and smutty side considering how it went down between them. She’s likely telling him what it is she wants to either do to him or him to her. That girl ain’t backwards in coming forwards.”

‘No, she’s not. Ana agreed and closed out the link. It was why she had so many boyfriends. She saw something she liked and just jumped on their joystick for a fun ride. They were actually Londyn’s words.

The girl was Alpha-blooded and had needs to be sated, something no human man could ever do by himself fully, she was likely going to be all hopped up and crazy happy after getting to have sex with Yuri that first time. Or she’d just be looking at him with thoughts of going again.

She got up even though she was still tired. Looking at the time, it was only just after 1pm. She’d still not slept very long even though Zara had put her to sleep. She picked up her phone from the charger dock, and clicked into the contact list. Austin’s number was right there, the first name in her contacts.

Hesitated with her finger over the dial button and took a slow breath in, tried to calm her heart, which was now racing a little and pulled herself together. She couldn’t stay in this state of mind, or she would crack completely and truly fall apart. She couldn’t do that.

She had learned a very long time ago how to hold it in and push her feelings down and away it was how she’d survived inside that Beta Suite. She saw Zara step into the doorway of her bedroom and waved her off. “I’m fine, I’ll get my own answers.” She stated “you can go into the café.”

She watched as Zara’s head tilted ever so slightly, and she sighed. “I’ll be fine, just… need to pull myself together.” She stated.

Zara stared at her long and hard and then nodded slowly and walked away. Though she didn’t leave the house, she’d gone back to the living room.

Ana pressed the dial button and waited for Austin to pick up, “Morning Oriana,” He stated, using her birth name.

“Afternoon Austin.” She greeted him, knew there was a time zone difference. “May I ask you some questions?”

“Related to?” he asked right back.

“What I just learned last night. Are you alone or…”

She frowned now. “Why?”

“Because it’s now bigger than just you and Slade. I did write on a grand scale in that sss. I meant that. Many lives inside this pack have been adversely affected by the betrayal coming from Roman and Elise. You, yourself, are included in that.”

“If Slade wasn’t so loyal to you, Oriana,” it was Gretta once more “We wouldn’t know anything about what was going on inside this pack and Roman and Elise would still be getting away with everything.”

“I don’t know Austin. If bringing them home is a good idea, Londyn…” she sighed. “Yuri, that’s Slade’s Delta. I knocked him unconscious on the last full moon. Londyn scented him out, but he doesn’t know she’s his Mate. If he goes there, and she’s here, that’s not fair on Londyn.”

“Did Londyn tell him she was his Mate?” a female voice asked.

“No, he’s unaware. She didn’t even tell us until a few days ago. When Palmer Slade’s Gamma tried to charm Maddie, and couldn’t…” she sighed “Austin, Maddie, she reacted quite violently to that charm, and well, we now suspect…” she trailed off.

“Maddie is Palmer’s Mate.” She heard several stated, all wolves knew Gammas couldn’t charm their own Mate.

“Yes. That was the day we found out about Londyn scenting Yuri out. It took her nearly two weeks to tell us. She won’t tell him, understands not to as well.”

“Right, make sure she doesn’t. That is considered coercion.”

“I know. She is containing herself, but separating them before a full moon… I don’t think that is a good idea, could see Londyn pitch and Alpha proportional fit.”

“Londyn’s Alpha-blooded?” another asked.

“Yes.” Ana and Austin both confirmed.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a full minute and then Austin spoke “all four of them and all five of you, will come here. Sloan will collect you, on one plane. Can you deal with that? Being on a plane with him for that long.”

“Yes, we had dinner, all nine of us last night, an hour and a half. I’ll survive a plane ride… it’ll also give Londyn time with Yuri. Palmer and Maddie a chance to talk and get to know each other as well. She’s currently vetting him. I don’t know her thoughts on him yet. Austin, you’re aware of her past.”

“I am.” He state simply.

“It will also put Ocean and Slade together, give him and her time to bond properly… they deserve that.” She murmured a little sadly as that guilt she had, welled up inside her once more.