Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 203

Ana

Anders was a despicable, hate-filled man that didn’t deserve to live as far as she was concerned. If she’d known all of this back then as the future Beta it would have been her job to deal with him; Beta to Beta. She squatted right down in front of him and grabbed hold of his head, turned his face to make him look at her. “I hate you,” she stated truthfully, and it could be heard in her tone of voice “As much as you hate me, and why do you hate me Because I was born… I did nothing wrong to you. It’s just that my eyes are his eyes, isn’t it… I’m glad I have them, that for 18 long years, you had to look at them and know you killed your own kin. Know this, my eyes, they will be the last thing you ever see.”

She gripped his face so very tightly, China lending her strength and got right up close to him so he couldn’t see anything but her eyes. “You’ll never see anything else ever again.” She and China grated out together.

They stared long and hard at him and saw it, the hatred for her right there in his eyes, watched his mouth open to speak and snapped his head around before he could even utter a single word. One hard sharp motion ending his life. It was as far as she was concerned her right to do so, after all he had done to her, to her kin, what he’d probably tried to do to Ocean still inside her womb, what he had done to Slade, her supposed Goddess-Gifted Mate, the heir to that pack.

She stood and looked at Bronnie. The woman was screaming in agony at the loss of her Mate, staring at his now lifeless corpse. A part of her wanted to do the same to that woman. But another part of her understood the pain and suffering she’d been through.

Just carrying her would have been hard, after the way she’d been conceived, and a part of Ana knew that Bronnie had probably tried her best in the beginning. And she wondered if Bronnie had ever truly loved her as a mother should, would Anders have left her, abandoned his Mate over it? Maybe even harmed her, or Oriana herself?

That perhaps in her own way she had loved her, the best way she could. But couldn’t truly show it, had to go along with everything Anders wanted, because of what he had suffered during her conception. It was likely Bronnie herself suffered at the hands of Anders and had, in the end, turned from her child, to stop it all.

To protect herself and though it wasn’t right, all that they had done to her, a part of Ana could understand her need to protect herself anyway she could.

She turned and walked away. The woman could stay out there and suffer the loss of her Mate, stare at his lifeless body, knowing that the one she’d birthed had taken his life, just like he had taken the life of her daughter’s father. Her footfall stopped as she saw Slade standing outside watching her. She’d never in her life killed. anyone before, had wanted to, just once before, had fought it off and turned away, but not this time. She was wolfen and all wolves had it in them to do so.

This man, now standing before her, her once life-long childhood friend, her once Future Alpha and the father of her child, who had never stopped searching for her. Loved her, and she knew it. Her jaw tightened as she tried to keep those emotions in check. She could feel it, the tears welling up as she stood staring at him. All the things he’d done for her and that she’d not even known about.

She turned away from him, even now, he was out here where she was, and she knew why. It was to make sure that she was okay after all she’d just learned. His care and love for her brought him right to her, he wanted to know she was okay, just like he’d always done when they’d been growing up.

She found Bronnie’s eyes on her. “I hate you, and don’t hate you at the same time.” Ana stated “I think I understand a part of you… But you should have given me up at birth and let Ember raise me. “she stated, knowing it would have been Ember, because Orlando would have died regardless. Anders had killed him before she was even born.

Though she was certain her fate would not have changed right this very minute, not when Roman and Elise had plans for Slade, and they needed her to be away from him at all costs, to enact their plan. They might have even gotten that bracelet on her if she was raised right.

But who was to say their bond wasn’t so strong that they wouldn’t have dated? She’d still have been part of his social circle, been in his life and he was, she knew, a handsome boy, always funny and friendly, trustworthy, all the things a girl looked for in a boyfriend. She’d liked who he was, and she knew it, and if not for being his future beta, then it was entirely possible, she’d have dated him if he’d asked her out, still have slept with him and still have gotten pregnant. Destiny, it seemed, had played a part in their lives.

“Kill me too.” Bronnie yelled at her.

“No.” Ana stated simply “You deserve to suffer for years like I had to, inside that Beta Suite. Like Slade had to, for the past seven and half years. Not being able to see his daughter grow up into the beautiful little girl that she is. I brought her up with all the love and care I should have gotten.

She didn’t stop him, just let him hold her, slid her own arms around him and leaned into him. He’d once been the only person in her life that ever saw her like this, broken down because of those that raised her. He was the only one to see the girl inside the Beta that she’d always hidden from everyone around her.

Everyone bar him, because she knew she had loved and trusted him always growing up, he’d been her rock inside that place, and now here at this very moment she knew she could still love and trust him, like she had once always been able to.

She looked up at him, and he smiled gently down at her. “I have missed you, like you wouldn’t believe.” He whispered “there was never a day that went by that I didn’t miss you or wanted you right here with me, next to me where you belong. I would never have stopped looking for you, Ori, not even if it took me all of my long life.” He shook his head “Never, would I have given up on you.” he told her.

She felt more tears spill down her face at his words so softly spoken, full of love and care, and both his hands were on her face gently, his thumbs brushed away her tears and then, to her surprise, his mouth dropped right on to hers in a soft gentle kiss.

“I have wanted to do that,” he murmured as he looked down into her eyes “Since we were teenagers. I never dared to, but, Goddess, I wanted to more often than not.” He told her gently.

“I… I.” she stammered, completely shocked by his words.

“You don’t have to say anything. I know what your life in Highland Hills was like, it’s why I never dared. I didn’t want to be the reason you lost your position as my Beta, or ruin our friendship either.