Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 174

Ana

At dinner, Ocean had been told about their trip, a plane ride to the pack her father belonged to, that Austin had organised it, and they all had to go. Due to her apparently being part of the investigation that was currently being held inside that pack by the Wolfen Council.

Ocean had looked at all of them in turn and then back to Ana. “Are you in trouble?” she asked.

“No.” Ana answered her honestly. “Apparently there was a crime committed within the pack, that resulted in me leaving the pack and never returning to it. That is part of the investigation.”

Ocean frowned instantly. “Is it why you left?”

“Likely one of the very reasons from my little understanding. I don’t really know all the details. But have been requested to go there so it can be sorted out. I guess to inform me properly of what went on.”

Ocean had been quiet for a minute, and they all waited for her to speak. “Is… my dad going as well?” she’d asked.

“Yes, from my understanding, Maddie?” she referred the question to Maddie, who Austin had emailed the details to.

“I got the travel arrangements about an hour ago.” Maddie nodded. “All of us will go, as well as your father and his unit. All on a private jet, Sloan will collect us and take us there in the Willow Moon’s private Jet. It seats 12.”

“Mum?” Ocean asked, sounding a bit worried.

“It’s fine,” She told Ocean. “I believe Slade is aware as well.”

“He is, he was attached to the sss I received.” Maddie nodded. “We all have to drive out to a private air strip in the morning and be there by 9am.”

“What is the travel time?” Londyn asked.

“About two and a half hours to the plane,” Maddie stated, “So we can get up at the normal time, we’re already packed, leave at like six fifteen.”

“I’ll message Yuri, and we can all travel together. That way, if one of the cars gets into trouble, we’re all there and aware of it.”

“Into trouble?” Ocean asked.

“Icy roads at that time of day, is all I mean munchkin.” Londyn smiled at her. “It’ll still be dark for half the trip, so just a precaution.”

“Oh.” Ocean nodded.

“Ocean,” Ana asked, “Are you okay with this?”

“I’ve never been inside a pack before…”

Londyn chuckled “Me either.” She reached out and hugged Ocean. “A first for both of us to share, we can make a memory of it together.” Londyn smiled at her. “I bet we’ll both have the same questions to ask.”

Ocean smiled now, just a little and nodded.

“Sweetie,” Ana drew her attention. “I’m going to go and talk to Slade in a little while, it’ll be fine.”

“What for?” Ocean asked.

“I need to is all. It’s nothing bad…” she smiled a little herself “I’d like to give him something to look at overnight and tomorrow, you’ll be able to sit and talk to him. Ask all the questions you want of him. Why don’t you sit down with your aunts and write them down, if you have lots, and not just about him but about the place he comes from too, whatever you want to know.”

“You won’t fight with him?”

“It’s very unlikely.” She sighed. “I’m… going to apologise.”

“For what?” Ocean asked now.

“That is a bit complicated, but in a nutshell, my not telling him about you… I’m so very sorry, Ocean, to you too. That you didn’t get to know him.”

“He had a Mate.” Ocean stated “That is what he told you.”

Ana nodded because that was what had happened. “I know, but I didn’t know all this time, that he actually didn’t or that he knew about you all this time either, and has been looking for you.”

“So, you think leaving there was wrong now?” Ocean asked with a frown.

“Mm, after all I’ve read, I have guilt Ocean a lot of it. And not just where he is concerned, but where you are concerned as well. You never got to know him, that is on me.”

“No, it’s not.” Ocean muttered. “He was the one with no brain in his head, dumb enough to state he had a Mate when he didn’t actually know he had one. It’s his fault.” She got up and walked away from the table.

“Hmm, in terms of him being a stranger still, I guess it’s a bit weird, but in terms of him being your father, it’s not weird at all… you also call him dad, so maybe you want that bond with him. Are just a bit scared right now. Life is uncertain at the moment for all of us, you included.”

“No more scared than you are,” Ocean muttered.

Ana sighed; She couldn’t argue with that. ” Bet he’s got lots of questions for you, about you.”

“Yay, it’ll be like a school report Q&A.” Ocean huffed.

“Go on hope down and find a picture your happy with, for him to have.” She told her gently. She knew Ocean was just being defensive, she was calling Slade dad or my dad. That meant she was actually open to bonding with him properly. She was just seven and scared of the changes this was going to bring to her life was all.

She watched Ocean prowl around the room and flip through the photo albums on the shelf, she was actively looking for a picture to give him. Even though she’d stated it was weird, she probably wanted him to have one, and deep down inside she probably liked the idea of him wanting one as well.

She came back and handed her a picture of herself. It was recent as well, only taken last Christmas. Barely a month ago, she had a bright pink beanie on and a white snow jacket, and was smiling at the camera. It had been taken at the town’s Christmas tree lighting.

Ana smiled at it. “Now that’s a good picture.” She stated as she took it.

“Of course it is. Aunty Londyn took it.” Ocean told her and pointed to the corner where had Londyn’s business logo.

She stood up. “I should go,” she told her, and felt Ocean’s hand in hers and looked down at her.

“Don’t be upset mum.” Ocean told her. “I love my life.”

Ana hugged her. “Me too.” she murmured even though she knew it was all about to change. How could she even want to think about it being different? She’d learned to be happy and like who she was, not just do as one was told, to fall into line to please others.

Ana headed off a few minutes later to meet Slade. She’d opted for what Zara had suggested, but not in his room, outside. They were staying at The Lodge at Moosehead Lake. She knew there was an open area out the back with views of the lake and seating dotted around for view of it, away from the main building.

He’d told her his unit would take a wander into Greenville to give them privacy.

Ana pulled up in the car park and got out, collected the two things she had to give him and pulled on her own bloodline to keep herself steady and firm. In this coming face-to-face with him since learning the truth of what he’d gone through, nothing she’d ever even considered as a possibility.

His life she now knew was a lot more difficult than hers had turned out to be. By the time he’d left Alpha College and returned to that pack, she’d already had Ocean and was happy and settled here in her new life with Maddie.

Things had moved on for her, away from that place, and his life had only gotten worse, having to be inside that place dealing with his parent’s betrayal every single day. Something she had escaped from, but he had not.