Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 194

Slade

Breakfast saw not just Ocean and Ana having breakfast with him and his unit but all of her Aunt’s as well. Zara had been released from the hospital and taken back to her suite with her sisters during his initiation of pack members. She was walking just fine and his pack doctor and the surgical staff had been some of the last he’d initiated.

It was good to hear she was all recovered and shouldn’t have any issues with her ankle in the future provided she didn’t drop off second story balconies again. That he’d told her that himself and she’d nodded, told him it wasn’t a normal thing for her to do.

It had surprised him that his doctor had also attempted some scar minimisation by cutting the scars out and realigning them neatly and finely for her wolf to heal, and now she had much less of that, though the one that went right round her ankle was not something he could fix. It was quite deep and would affect how the ankle would look if he tried to minimise it.

Breakfast appeared to go well. Londyn was happy she’d come out of Yuri’s suite this morning when they’d all been headed for breakfast. He wondered if she’d moved herself in there, though she hadn’t lined up for initiation. Yuri had told him she didn’t see why she had to.

He’d had to remind himself she’d not grown up like them, and was bound to her sisters, happy with her life like that. Though he was hoping that she being mated to Yuri would help with the others wanting to be here inside his pack.

Ana sat herself between Maddie and Ocean at the table, and he watched as Ocean looked about her at the others that were also here inside the dining hall. “This is how some of us eat every meal.” He told her. All together, a bit like your Aunt and mum’s café only on a bigger scale.”

She nodded, she’d been allowed to go and collect her own breakfast from the long buffet tables. He’d walked right next to her and pointed out the Belgian Waffles she’d asked for. Ocean had smiled right up at him and been able to put them on her own plate. She looked happy knowing she could have what she wanted.

“If you’re at all uncomfortable with those around you, Ocean let me know.” He’d told her as she sat and ate, and other wolves came into the dining hall to eat.

She stared at him and then shrugged “I’m okay. I don’t know why everyone keeps asking me that.”

“Hmm, it’s just because you’ve never been in pack territory with lots of wolves around you before.” He tried to explain what he’d heard Gretta tell him in the car.

“It’s no different to where we live. It looks like a town to me,” Ocean told him.

“I thought it was boring too.” Londyn stated, “Was expecting something special, it’s just like being at home really, only everyone’s wolfen instead of human.”

“I thought it would be different.” Ocean nodded at her aunt.

“If you’re comfortable, perhaps I could show you around the packhouse today. Would you like that?” he asked.

He watched her turn and look at her mother to see if she was allowed, he thought. Ana just nodded “If you want to.”

“Ana, you should probably come as well.” he looked at her.

“Why? I know where everything is.” she frowned at him “I know you won’t harm Ocean, so you can take her if she wants to go.”

“I thought maybe we could do it together.” He stated, he did want to do this together, as a family. He was also trying to interact with her, because he knew he needed to build a new relationship with her.

Though from what he’d just heard he could see she wasn’t going to stop him from interacting with Ocean. Like she’d told him she wasn’t going to, but she didn’t look like she wanted to spend time with him. He sighed internally, she still had walls around her.

“Ember wants to see me this morning. I’ll go and do that. Give you time with Ocean, help to strengthen your kin bond. I know you want that.” She stated simply as she continued to eat her breakfast.

“It’s not just Ocean I want to be reacquainted with Ana, I would like for us to reconnect as well.” He told her, maybe he’d not made himself clear about his intentions, he had wanted to spend some of that flight yesterday talking to her, but he had ended up spending it all with Ocean.

Maybe it appeared to her that he just wanted to get to know Ocean. It could appear that way he supposed, and when he thought about his actions, he realised that if Ocean was with her, he did talk directly to Ocean, ask her how she was. When he should be asking them both how they were.

Technically, she couldn’t refuse him now, she wasn’t even considered and Elder anymore was just a she-wolf that lived here inside his pack. He saw Ana look between him and Ember as they stared at each other.

“I guess there is no harm in that, Alpha.” She finally nodded. “Though I had intended on keeping it private within the family. Ana’s ears only, so to speak, it would be best that way.”

“I’m certain you think that, but I don’t want secrets within this pack. Look at the damage they did. I won’t be standing for that starting all over again. If you don’t want to, I can have a seer brought in to get to the truth of the matter, around Oriana and everything that happened.

“It is what was planned anyway, I dare say it’ll all come out whatever it is, and not only will I be informed, my unit and the entire council will be as well. Nothing will get past the investigation not with those seers attached to Anders and Bronnie’s heads outside.”

“Why are you arguing about this?” Ana sighed heavily as she looked at them.

“It’s not really an argument.” He looked at her, “I did tell you my unit and I had theories about you and Anders, I believe that is what is about to be brought up to you. I want to know. It concerns me as much as it does you, as far as I’m concerned.”

She was frowning at him now.

“I’m also Ocean’s parent, so I have a right to know her lineage. Not that it matters, more just pure curiosity on my part, Ana. I only truly care that she is our daughter, for us to raise together. I simply don’t want secrets that could come out later and hurt either yourself or Ocean is all.” he elaborated.

She looked at him for a moment and then just nodded her head, “I don’t really care to be honest. I’m not Anders’ or Bronnie’s kin anymore, so I seriously doubt whatever is said will affect me that much or Ocean at all.”

“I hope not. I would like your time here within my pack to be comfortable, for you to see you’re very much welcomed here, that I want you here as well.” he turned and looked at her sisters, at Ocean. “All of you are welcome here in the Forest of Light.”

“After you finish eating breakfast, please come to my suite.” Ember stated and turned and walked away.