Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 191

Slade

6pm rolled around; Ana and Maddie were upstairs with Ocean and Ember. They’d been told by both Zara and the pack doctor to go back to the packhouse, the surgery would take several hours. That he’d send a nurse up to their suite to let them know if there were complications or when it was finished.

He knew that Ana and Maddie were going to sit Ocean down and explain to her what had happened to Zara, and that Londyn was now off in the woods having Marked Yuri, that he’d claimed her right back. They were going to leave out the other details; Ocean was too young to hear that.

He’d not interfered in that, he didn’t know Ocean like they did, so it was best, he thought, that they were the ones to explain that. Though he did ask them to come downstairs and join them for dinner in the dining hall. But Gretta had beaten him up there at some point and given her that scroll he’d written in Alpha College, and she was reading it.

Sloan was also in there with Ember making dinner already when he’d gone up to talk to her. Ana had looked right at him and sighed a little, “I’m sorry.” She’d murmured.

“It’s alright, perhaps breakfast then.” He had offered instead, and she’d actually nodded at him, and agreed to it. He’d been happy about that and smiled at her, at Ocean, who was standing right there.

He’d hunkered down and looked right at her “Now what would you like to have for breakfast?” he asked her with what he hoped was a gentle smile.

“Chocolate chip Belgian waffles, with ice cream and chocolate dipping sauce.” She answered him.

“I can organise that.” He told her “Anything else?”

She’d stood there and looked at him for almost a full minute and then shaken her head. “We all like waffles.”

“I like waffles too,” he told her, and she’d smiled at him.

He’d stood up and smiled at Ana, “I’ll leave you to it,” he didn’t want to overwhelm her, and a lot had happened for her today. He would take it one day at a time.

He’d gone downstairs and eaten dinner and looked at Vance and Palmer. “I’d like to go and see my prisoner before going back to the war room. Stretch our legs and get some fresh air.”

They’d both nodded, they’d all been in that war room since leaving the hospital going through those mating alliances and dealings Roman had made with other packs. “I hear he’s not talking anymore, that’s interesting. Was vocal for months after we left.”

He knew his day was not over yet, it wouldn’t be until that pack solidified, and he’d initiated everyone that was willing to stay here and take him as their Alpha. So there was no point in turning in and getting an early night, though was actually tired, being outside and stretching his legs, would help.

He’d been up since 0530 and, though it was 1830 now, there was a two-hour time difference between here and Maine, so he’d been awake 15 hours.

He was happy to know that Ana was here and handling it well from what he’d seen. Though he wondered if that was because the place had been revoked and turned to rogue territory, like Palmer had stated. It could be felt as rogue territory earlier in the day, though as he walked he could feel his connection to the land under his feet.

“Ana moved about the pack quite easily after getting here.” Vance stated, “I think it’s a good sign.”

“It is.” he nodded and looked down at his hand. She’d held it almost all the way to the pack hospital. He’d let go when she had, but not before. He had liked holding her hand, it felt nice to him to know she was right there next to him once more.

She’d taken a full minute to actually take his hand in the first place, and he’d not rushed her, neither had Maddie nor Palmer, and then for nearly 10 minutes they’d walked hand-in-hand on their way to the hospital, before she’d realised she was still holding it.

He’d not mentioned it, just strolled along and pleaded ignorance, but had really enjoyed it. They were, he thought, once again building trust between them. She seemed open to doing that. How it had come about he wasn’t entirely certain of, but he was happy about it.

“Are you going to keep the pack name?” Palmer asked him as they walked out of the packhouse.

“Pack colours?” Vance asked.

“No, I’ll change everything. Everyone here needs a new beginning. Not just Ana and her sisters, but all of us, the entire pack. Though coming up with a new name…” he shook his head “I’ve never thought about that before.”

“There is no rush, you should come up with something that is close to your heart; has meaning to you.” Palmer stated.

“Or appeals to you about what it is you want the pack to stand for.” Vance nodded.

“What would you name it?” he asked them both.

“Something that represents who I am.” Vance smiled. “Wandering something.” He chuckled.

Palmer laughed. “Don’t ask me. I’ve never thought about it, but I suggest you keep well away from what it is now.”

“I will be.” That much Slade did know. They were all quiet for a long time as they walked. “Not so easy to do, I don’t think.” He murmured as they walked into the cells.

Hayden was in that cell where he’d been left, laying on the floor staring at nothing. His eyes moved to them when Slade rapped his knuckles on the bars, then the boy just rolled over away from all of them. “I’d like you to know I found Oriana, she’s here now.”

‘You’ll have to come back for the pack pledge.

‘I’ll tell her, and we’ll make our way back now. he cut the link.

Gretta was leaned back in her chair smiling at him, “How does it feel, Slade, to have your own pack?”

“Pretty good.” He had to admit “Though I want to rename it and get a new pack symbol.”

“We expected as much. I’ve got all the paperwork for that printed out.” She smiled at him.

“Thank you.” he nodded.

“Now to the fun part.” Austin stood “We’ll notify all the pack members and those that want to stay will come and pledge.”

“Please inform them that they will be pledging to the Alpha of the Forest of Light Pack.” he smiled. He’d been thinking about what he would call it since talking to the boys earlier.

The name he had chosen incorporated everything about their lives. He felt those three words, ‘Forest of

Light’, had several meanings he could connect them to. Had in fact played a word chain game with himself to come up with the pack name because he didn’t want it to be too long.

There was the chance encounter that Yuri had, had out in the forest, which had brought Ana and Ocean into the light for him. Then there was that all of those women up there on the second floor had the last name Forester, because Maddie had taken them all in.

Maddie was the light in Oriana’s darkest moment, a light that had saved Ana and Ocean. Maddie had been a stand-alone tree that had created a small forest to stand with her, created a little forest of a family, and she was the light that looked over them, protected them with that scent-masking necklace that allowed them to smell human.

He’d actually named the pack after Maddie in the end, because of all she’d done, and not just for him, for Ana and Ocean, but for both Zara and Londyn as well. Maddie, he believed, was the light that drew them all to her, and held them all together.

If it wasn’t for Maddie, it was unlikely, Palmer, Yuri, and most likely Vance wouldn’t have found their Mate’s. He was praying damned hard for himself as well, that their Goddess would gift him, Ana.