Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 179

Ana

She felt Sloan’s hand rest on her knee as they approached the pack; a place she’d never thought she’d ever return to, but was now rapidly approaching, and she could feel her heart starting to race inside her chest. She had no affiliation or attachment to this place anymore, but still she’d left this place in so much pain.

Had been hurt by so many people inside this place that just being close to it brought back old memories of her life here, how it had been lived, and how she’d felt growing up inside that Beta family suite.

Something she didn’t want to recall feeling.

“The Alpha and Luna, both their units, Ana. Are all on the shaming posts out the front of the packhouse.”

Austin stated, “I believe the seers from the kingdom are already searching their minds.”

“Alright.” She nodded slowly, though she didn’t want to see them.

“I’ll not pull up out the front. But down alongside the packhouse where delivery trucks go,” he told her as if reading her thoughts. “All pack members have been sequestered to their homes for now as well.”

“Why?” she asked curiously.

“Which do you want me to answer?”

“Um.” She didn’t really understand him.

Sloan chuckled, “The side of the packhouse, then the pack members.”

Ana looked at her curiously.

“He can talk like a council member at times, they like to ask a question that also answers questions at the same time. You kind of get used to it.” Sloan smiled at her.

“Oh,” was all she said.

“To the side of the packhouse and not the front, Ana is very simple. Ocean is just seven, and has not grown up in a pack, punishments like what is going on out there she’s never seen the likes of. It might frighten her. In their homes, because young rogue wolves like Ocean don’t always do so well inside a pack for the first time. Being surrounded by all those wolves can trigger fear, and their fight response kicks in, so limiting that is a must, introduced slowly is the best way.”

“Alright.” She nodded.

“I’m not scared,” Ocean stated boldly.

“Good, let’s keep it that way.” Austin smiled at her in the review mirror. “Now Ocean, if you don’t get all angry, I’ll give you one of my beads.”

“Can I pick which one?” Ocean asked right away.

Sloan snorted from her place in the car, and Ana looked at her. She was trying not to laugh, as she turned and looked out the window.

“There will be no ripping it from my hair, young lady,” Austin murmured. “I actually brought a couple with me in a nice box for you to choose from.”

“Can I have them all?” Ocean asked right back.

“No,” Austin commented.

She saw Ocean pout instantly and mutter “How I’m supposed to have hair like his when he keeps all his beads to himself.” Which did make Sloan laugh this time.

She didn’t feel any connection to the land, like she once had as they drove through the gates and crossed the pack border. Though she felt Ocean shiver, and then she shook herself out, she had felt the difference even though she’d yet to set foot on it.

The gates had already been opened, and they’d driven right through without having to stop. As they drove up the main road through the pack, her eyes moved about the pack houses, and the school.

Ocean was sitting all the way up looking about “Where’s the pack?” she asked as Austin turned off the main road, seemingly a bit confused by what she was seeing. Ana saw the car in front continue on straight and turned to look at the one behind them. It also did not turn off.

“You’re looking at it Ocean, everything you see is the pack,” Austin stated.

“No, it’s just a town like Greenville,” Ocean stated right back.

“That’s how we blend in, packs look like small towns, have all the same things as small towns. Schools and hospitals, cafés and restaurants. Shopping malls,” Austin told her.

“Oh, so nothing special, ordinary like home.” Ocean huffed. “I thought it would be different.”

“They are designed this way on purpose, to let us blend into the human world. Look human to the humans.

”

“Why did only we turn off?” Ana asked.

“For Ocean’s sake. Gretta would have informed Slade, and he’d have passed it to your sisters. Don’t concern yourself. We want Roman to see that Slade is home, but not you yet. Everything will be fine.”

“Londyn’s not been inside a pack before.” She sighed.

“Then Grammy it is… Can Grammy get a hug…” Ember sobbed a little. “She really wants one.”

Ana blinked at her reaction and Ocean nodded slowly, and she watched Ember not only enfold her in her arms. But stand up with her and hug her all tight like she had done Ana herself. Ember looked at Ana and then her arm was around her as well as she hugged them both. “Finally, my family is home.” She murmured.

Ana felt her own tears well up. The one person in all her life that had supported her and wanted her to be the pack’s Beta was her grandmother, and still it seemed Ember loved her just the same. She knew she should call her aunt technically, but Ember had never stood for it. Even when she was little, she’d always insisted on her calling her grandma.

She had sat her down one day when she was about Ocean’s age and explained why, stating ‘I’m an elder as well as your kin, and I like it when you call me grandma. It makes me feel special.’

So she’d always called her grandma. It seems Ocean was getting to do that as well now. “Now explain to me.” Ember finally stepped back. “Why you both smell human?” she looked from one to the other.

Ocean chuckled and wiped Ember’s tears away from her face. “Because Grammy, my aunt Maddie is a mad genius.”

“Aunt?” Ember questioned.

“Yes, I have three aunts, you’ll love them, Maddie, Zara and Londyn,” Ocean told her. Their family kin bond, it seemed, was fully intact and quite strong.

“Come on.” Austin interrupted them. “Those girls are this way. I brought the entire family Ember.”

She found Ember’s hand in hers as they walked, and her eyes moved to it, her grip was firm and the woman was still carrying Ocean. It was almost as if she didn’t want to let go of them in case they vanished once more.

She heard Sloan state, “It’s nice to come home to such a loving embrace.” She’d smiled at the three of them and stepped passed them to slip her hand into Austin’s, and she watched him look at Sloan and her nod up at him. “Mm, hmm.”

“I expected as much,” he told her.

They walked down the hallways heading for the packhouse foyer, and she watched as Ocean looked about, in all the open doors as they walked past them. “Wow, mum, a pool.” She pointed it out.

“There is plenty for you to do here,” Ember told her. “I’d show you myself, but I think our new Alpha will want that honour.”

“New Alpha?” Ana questioned.

“Mm, currently Dariah is interim Alpha, but Slade will be instated shortly, before the day is over.” Austin told her. “The pack is aware, the elders have approved it. He’s home for good now, I think, and the leadership outside on those posts will never reign again, anywhere in any realm, not ever. If they survive us, that is.

“There has been much going on Ana, inside this pack, that not even Slade is aware of yet,” he sighed “If he doesn’t want to reign, the pack will be disbanded and its members sent to other packs to live. It will be up to him, what happens to it.”

“He’ll be a good Alpha,” Ember stated “He’s just, and upstanding, steady as a rock. We’re hoping he won’t want to disband the pack. That one day he’ll pass it down to little Ocean here.” she smiled at Ocean, hugged her a little.