Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 180

Slade

He got out of the car to see all eight of the former leadership on the shaming posts. Alpha Gretta had already informed him he would be instated later this afternoon, and that pack pledge would be held this very evening. Any that didn’t wish to pledge didn’t have to.

Those that didn’t pledge would be seen into by the seers and if no involvement by them was found, they would be granted the right to leave, and would be given 48 hours to pack up, find a new home and make their way to it. The council would help with finding them a new pack, but most would have an affiliation with another. Some family members that had moved away, they could go and join that pack.

The entire pack had been informed of this that morning by Dariah. All bar those eight on the shaming post they were still unaware of that. It was in the councils’ opinion that it was none of their business anymore, what happened within the pack.

Roman looked right at him as he walked towards the packhouse. There was full fury in his eyes. “You bastard, look at what you did.” He snarled at Slade.

Slade raised an eyebrow at him. The man should have seen it coming and mended his ways before the council was unleashed upon him. His eyes moved down the line of shaming posts, all four women had seers attached to their heads. Elise, he could see, had thrown up, and more than once by the look of it. Though it didn’t look as though the seer was deterred by this.

He walked over to Roman and looked down at him, closed his fist and struck that man with it, then hunkered down and looked right at him. “One’s not supposed to look at others, or speak to others when on the shaming post.” He grated out “Your lucky I wasn’t home yesterday, or I’d have ripped your and your Mate’s heads off. It’s likely still coming, after what I heard you did to Dariah, Art, your plans for me and how many others inside this pack.”

He stood up and walked away to the packhouse, only to hear his father laugh. “Didn’t find her, I see, you never will, you know. We gave her all the skills to keep herself hidden from you, before making sure she was gone.”

His jaw tightened so he was right. They’d made Orlana want to leave, treated her like that all her life to see she would leave. “Beta.” He stated, “Attend to that wolf’s punishment.”

“On it, Alpha,” Vance stated, and walked away from him. He heard Roman take another hit and a cry of pain came from him. He didn’t have to tell that man or those out there on the shaming posts, anything about his life or what was happening inside this pack he was a traitor and nothing more. A real piece of shit that deserved the worst of punishments that could be thought up.

‘Dariah,’ he mind-linked to his sister.

‘I’m on my way’ she told him.

He could see Clay standing in the foyer, looked to be waiting for him. He looked more like Roman than Slade did, “Clay.” He greeted him as he stepped inside the packhouse foyer.

“Slade, it’s good to have you home.” Clay greeted him.

“I hope you honestly feel that way,” Slade stated in return.

“I am, after all I’ve learned.” He sighed heavily.

“Good to hear it.” Slade nodded and then hugged the boy. “You’ve got a mating alliance attached to you?”

“Yes, I know. But I’d like to keep it,” Clay told him, “Though if you could rewrite it, I’d appreciate it greatly.

Write it to protect Vanessa. I really do love her, father was out to extort her pack. I couldn’t talk him out of it, not any of the clauses he put in. I just want a standard agreement. It wasn’t me pushing the deal.

“Vanessa’s parents know I love her, and would be happy with no clauses at all, just one that states I would protect her, and she’d come to no harm inside this pack. They’ve seen me argue it even. That’s why it’s not been rescinded on her end. She loves me too, doesn’t need to be the Luna, would she stated be happy just being mated to me.” Clay sighed heavily “There is something we’ve all kept from father.”

“That would be?” Slade asked.

“I have a son. We never told father, kept it from him on purpose to protect him and Vanessa. He’s two now.

“What?” Slade stared at his little brother.

“I couldn’t mark her and claim her and tell father, he would demand that mating alliance be signed. I’ve already told them you’re coming home. It’s horrid here, Slade, having to play his loyal son, when he’s hurting the ones I love, myself included. I understand why you’ve done everything you did. But I had to play the role he gave me, to protect my family.”

Slade sighed. “I’m sorry, you should have told me.”

“It wouldn’t have helped, I couldn’t have him know about my son. I just had to bide my time until you came home. I knew you were plotting and planning.”

“What’s his name?” Slade asked.

She just shook her head. “Beckham getting his litter then.”

“Hmm, it does seem that way.” Art chuckled. “No Alpha unit here to protect her from her Mate’s need to have her.” he snorted. “She still runs away from him at times, you know.”

He watched Art step over to Dariah and slip his hand into hers. He liked seeing that, and she didn’t pull away from him, leaned into him just a little the way a mate would when standing next to them. It was nice to see she was happy and likely where she belonged.

“Slade, sorry to interrupt, but you and the boys need to go shower and change. We’d like to enact the leadership change over as soon as possible. And get to the pack plodging loyalty as well.” Austin stated” I’ll escort Ana and her sisters, Ocean, up to their room on the second floor. A full suite that will house them all, like they would be back in their own home.”

He nodded “No messing about I see.”

“No, we don’t generally do that, and the king himself has put stipulations on your ascension.” He held up a hand. “Don’t concern yourself with it. It’s nothing bad.”

“Standard protocol in situations like this Slade,” Gretta stated.

He watched Ana, Ocean, and her sister along with Ember all head upstairs with Austin and Sloan, heard Ocean introduce her aunts to her Grammy, and smiled a little. She’d found a connection here that wasn’t just related to him. Though that was odd, he knew Ana had severed ties with Anders and Bronnie, Hayden even, they’d all felt it.

“Full pack suits, please Slade for you and your unit, present yourselves formally for this ritual.” Gretta stated, “Now go on upstairs Hailey I believe is prepping for your ascension right this minute. It’ll be a bit different to what you’re expecting, but we’ve been in direct communication with King Christian himself regarding the going-ons within this very pack by Roman and Elise. And seeing as we all agreed, you’d make a good Alpha to lead the pack, he has made a decision about it himself; what he wants. He’s proactive in managing his kingdom, unlike the former King.

“We told him that you are nothing like Roman and were the one to report things. He’s also been given many reports, and he understands, it seems, why you left them in charge. You’ll not be held responsible for anything Roman did while you were away. It is all on Roman; who had those years you were away to right his wrongs and turn himself around.

“You are not responsible for anything the former leadership of this pack has done, and Christian has commended your courage in turning them in and trying to fix things.” She told him, “Now go and get ready, it’s a big day, and tomorrow starts the sorting out of this colossal mess.”

He was just staring at her, at her words, and he had to shake it off. He’d never met the king, didn’t even know the man would be informed, let alone say anything on the subject. Though he was worried about the pack pledge now as well, only those that wanted to stay here would pledge. He could well see half if not more of them abandon this pack, and leave for somewhere else.