Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 204

Slade

He tracked Ana right out of the war room and outside the packhouse, where he stood and just watched her as she went directly over to Anders. He stood and listened to her words to that man and there it was, the truth of what was going on around her.

She was not Anders’ child, but a man named Orlando’s. It wasn’t even a name he recognised, but he heard her words about her biological father. He had been Anders’ kin, and he now understood Orlando had been Ember’s son, died before he was born and no one talked about him at all, why he didn’t know the name.

Not once did he even attempt to interrupt her, this was what she needed to get it all out. He knew before it happened that she was going to kill him, because he wanted to right this very minute. Those words from her, ‘my eyes will be the last thing you see.’ told him all he needed to know, it was her intent, that this was going to be that man’s final moments, and he let her.

One hard quick snap and the man was dead. She didn’t drag it out or torture him, just ended him cleanly. Then stood up, and he saw it; this wasn’t Ana, the woman he knew was filled with guilt over leaving, and taking his child with her. She’d learned a lot from that reading in the war room.

Now understood, he thought, just what had happened and what would have happened to her, to her child if she’d not have left, the harm that would have befallen both herself and Ocean as well.

He was looking at Oriana right this very minute, she was still their inside Ana, only now she was more aware of herself, could be open and honest about who she was. This was the Oriana that she hid from everyone, bar him at times when it was just too overwhelming for her.

She was looking right at him and there was realisation in her eyes. She knew why he was out there, why he had followed her, because she was his life-long friend. That he loved her, and that he would never let her face those horrid people on her own, not ever.

She turned away from him after only a brief moment, and he knew why, she needed a minute to come to terms with all she was learning about him with all they’d heard in that war room. He also knew that his usual Stoic demeanor wasn’t showing to her, and he was letting her see all of his own emotions as well. He wanted her to know how he felt, so let it show, and she could see it for the first time ever, his true feelings on the surface for her. No longer would he hide it, like he had when they’d been teenagers.

He would not hide it from anyone, even those out here on the shaming posts could see it, that he loved her, that he wanted her to know it even. He could hear the emotion in her voice as she told Bronnie how she felt. That she wouldn’t kill her, wanted her to suffer the life-long pain of having no one.

Hearing Bronnie try and tell her that she’d tried to give her the namesake of her birth father, he wondered if that was actually true or just Bronnie’s way of trying to invoke sympathy from Ana. It wasn’t going to work, maybe if there had still been a kin bond there.

When she turned back to him, there were the tears that she’d always held in before these horrid people, allowed to flow freely, and he just pulled her into her arms and held her to him gently”

There you are.” He murmured as he saw not only his friend, his former Beta, but the mother of his child, all rolled into one person. No more hiding any part of her from anyone.

She was, he thought, finally whole and truly herself, for all to see. And looking down into those tear-filled eyes, how could he not tell her how he truly felt, as he brushed her tears away, how could he not kiss her softly and tell her the truth, that it was something he’d always wanted to do, but could never because of the ramifications it would have caused her.

Ramifications he now knew would have likely been far worse than they had actually been. She was shocked by the news, by his confession, but he wanted her to know, he didn’t need her to respond to him in the same manner, she’d probably never once thought about it, thinking he had a Mate all those years. Why would she think of him like that?

“I have missed you.” he hugged her once more. “No one will ever be allowed to hurt you, Ocean or your sisters while I am alive.” He told her “No matter where you are, I will protect you always.”

She looked up at him a little confused, and he smiled at her and let her go. “I know I overstepped last night. I also know none of you have made any decisions either as to staying or not. I’m sorry if I made you or your sisters, Ocean, uncomfortable in Claiming Ocean as the pack’s Heir.”

“It’s what you what. I understand that.” She told him

“Umm… I don’t know what plans have been made with them yet.” She told him.

“Please say yes. I’d also like to explain why I named the pack, Forest of Light, and thank the person responsible for everything that makes us both happy.”

“That’s cryptic.” She stated, “We would usually eat at six. Will you be finished your meeting by then?

“I’ll make time,” he smiled, happy she’d agreed, hadn’t even really hesitated. Just tried to think of whether her sisters had plans was all, “Go on upstairs, I’ll likely not see you or Ocean until dinner though. Meet you in the private dining room.”

“Alright.” She nodded, and he watched her turn and walk up the stairs, watched her until she was out of sight up on the second floor, despite her stating they would wait for the full moon. He felt things had changed right this minute, that they had just taken a full step forward. She also wouldn’t be so shocked when he pounced on her or yanked her into him and Claimed her, when the moon set, that was probably a good thing as well.

Slade took a moment for himself, before he returned to the war room and the investigation to try and relax. Ana had been his priority and now that she seemed to understand, and was okay, he could turn his attention and the anger he felt, that he’d not wanted to show; with her inside that war room, he didn’t want her to see that side of him

She’d never seen it, not once while she lived and grown up in Highland Hills. He’d become an angry, vengeful Alpha at times, and she didn’t need to see that. He was also hoping that now everything was out in the light, he wouldn’t need to be that person anymore, not unless it was in the defence of her or his family. The pack.