Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 172

Slade

Hearing Alpha Austin’s words about those gifts that the Luna had given to both him and his sister at 16; his watch and Dariah’s bracelet. A bracelet he knew the Luna had allowed Dariah to choose for herself, from a catalogue of selected personalised items.

Something Aubrette had made specifically for Dariah. After she’d picked the design, he now understood the reason behind that; letting Dariah choose it for herself. It was so it would be something that Dariah would always wear. A custom piece of jewellery made just for her to her own personal taste, and he knew Dariah liked it. Rarely took it off.

He’d taken his watch off years ago, inside that pack, but if he had not taken it off that full moon, it was now he realised very likely that he would not have scented out Oriana even if she was his Mate and still inside the pack. From all he’d heard, it would have prevented him from doing so.

He’d not been wearing it that night, because he had to shift, to go on the family pack run. It was no wonder they’d asked him if he’d lied to them. His mother had actually asked him where his watch was that afternoon. He told her there was no point in wearing it.

He now recalled her frowning at him, and stating ‘it’s got an expandable band.’ He was willing to bet that was on purpose now, a design so it would never have to be taken off, even in wolfen form.

Though Dariah had only been 16 and taking hers off was no big deal, she couldn’t scent out a Mate until after she was 18. Had taken it off for Clay’s shift, he’d seen her do it. His parents hadn’t seemed concerned about it. Likely if they suspected she had a Mate in that pack, and he was already wearing one as well, which would stop her from scenting him or him her if one of them took it off.

Just how much of what he understood was the actual truth? He no longer knew “I’m going to kill them all.”

He grunted out into his room, and his unit all looked at him. “That watch would have prevented me from scenting Oriana that night, if she was inside the pack. If I’d worn it.”

They’d all sighed “Slade…” it was Palmer “Do you think Dariah is Art’s actual Mate? Neither of them have found a Mate, and she’s still completely heartbroken. Loves him so very much and he, her.”

He thought about that and nodded “Yes, with all the threats that Roman and Elise made to Dariah, six months ago. I’m going to say yes.” His own heart had ached for his sister, and now if that was the case?

It was utterly unforgivable, he would be instated when he got home, because it was his right as the next in line, and that man’s head was coming off his body the minute the council allowed him to do it. He and Hail would take it themselves. If Dariah didn’t beat him to it, that was, before he got home.

She was currently the acting Alpha, and it was her right to do so. He wouldn’t stop her, one of them was going to kill him. He did know that much. He had to calm himself down before he put that call into Dariah. He needed to speak with her, check on her.

It rang out. She’d never not picked up his call before and fear touched him. He hoped she was okay, but deep down he doubted it. Would she loose it like Oriana had? He didn’t know she’d been struggling for years with her pain of being separated from Art. This kind of betrayal could set off a bloodlust.

He called Art as a second thought. He was inside that pack and likely in the know. He would probably have gone right to Dariah himself, or maybe she’d run off to find him. Art picked up on the fourth ring, and he could hear right away Dariah was with him, sobbing.

“Art?” Slade stated.

“Austin called you then?” Art asked right back.

“Yes.”

“It’s not good Slade.” The man sighed. “I was also wearing a moonstone, my watch.” He muttered.

“She has the right to kill them both,” Slade stated. “She is the acting Alpha at the moment, if she and you want to, you can claim each other, none can stop you, not even the elders, because she is the acting Alpha. As the Alpha, she has the right to approve a chosen bond between two wolves.”

“I understand, but I don’t think she’s in the right frame of mind, if Palmer was here.”

“Where are his siblings?” Slade asked.

“Mated off a year ago.” Art sighted “His dad’s currently on the shaming post with everyone else.”

“My grandmother is still there, an elder, she’ll be able to help,” Palmer stated.

“Really a female gamma?” Art asked confused.

“Yes.” Slade answered. “There is a female Gamma here, and she is good at using her Gamma charm, worked from what we’ve seen on myself and Ocean as well as one of the Ana’s sisters, Londyn. A female Gamma can use their charm on everyone, I think.” He nodded.

“Alright, um, your grandmother is Jelena, right?”

“Yes.” Palmer stated.

“Art, I’ll be home tomorrow, likely in the afternoon sometime. I’m not certain yet. Austin just recalled me to the pack.”

“Ori?” he asked.

“Unknown, he was going to call her sister and sort that out, get back to me, probably working on it right now. I’d like you to stay with Darlah until this mess is sorted out. She’ll need that, and it’s completely

He sighed a little, “I however don’t think Ocean needs to see that, me in a full rage, or ticked off even, I can be…” he trailed off.

“All Alphas have that side, Slade,” Vance stated “She is being raised wolfen, and likely has much wolfen knowledge, from not only Ana, but all her aunts as well, could well have dedicated wolfen classes at home. I don’t think she’s in the dark at all about our Kind.”

“Maybe.” He nodded.

“We’ll all probably be on the same plane, you’ll have time to bond with her properly, and talk to Ana as well.

Palmer stated “It’s likely we’ll all be brought in together.”

“If Ana agrees to come in,” he murmured, he had his doubts.

“It’s a waiting game at this moment.” Palmer nodded. “None of us can do anything, it’s all in Austin’s and Maddie’s hands by the sound of it. Maddie, I also believe has a lot of sway with that group. It’s time we entrusted Ana’s being brought in to the Wolfen Council, I think.”

He could only nod, she’d read the file, so there was nothing more that he could do but wait.

Yuri’s phone chimed an hour later and the man answered it, before turning it to face Slade. “Ana, is requesting your number,” He stated.

Slade stared at the text. It was from Londyn, ‘Hi Yuri, Ana would like Slade’s number

He wondered if that emoji was because Londyn was just happy that Ana was willing to talk to him, or if it meant things were now going to go well.

He turned his eyes to his own phone. It was in his hand and was now just awaiting game, him waiting on her using it to contact him. Yuri hadn’t even hesitated in giving it to Londyn, it had taken his Delta less than ten seconds to respond to Londyn with it.

He was curious as to what was going on with Ana. Had Austin or Maddie tried to convince her? Had they managed it? Or did she want to talk to him about that file? Or was it about the trip back? Lay down some ground rules for him or was she wanting his number to tell him she wasn’t going, that she’d refused the council?

His brain now couldn’t seem not to think up all the possibilities of why Ana wanted his phone number.

He’d never changed it, hadn’t even considered it, just in case she had ever needed his help out there, wherever she was. In case she wanted to call.