Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 208

Ana

She looked at Maddie and her sisters to see if they wanted to be out in the pack. Londyn she didn’t think would care at all. She and Yuri had gone off and mated in the woods when completing their bond. But she knew that Maddie and Zara had their own issues with pack life and this could bring that back for them.

“Would you like to do that?” she asked them. “I know pack life is not exactly comfortable for you.”

Maddie nodded. “I have more issues with being told what to do by the Alpha, than being out in the pack perse, not getting a say in my own life is my biggest concern. So, I’m okay with going for a walk.”

“Zara?” both she and Maddie stated at the same time, looking at her. That girl had been beaten up and tortured by the pack, that had taken over her home-pack, and all because they were allowed to brutalized her. It hadn’t just been the ranked members but regular pack members as well. She’d learned to stay away from wolves. To try and hide from them where it was possible, to have her Gamma’s Charm switched on at all times, due to her life after that take over.

She watched Zara look around the room at everyone here and nearly sighed “Don’t do that Za,” she sighed, knowing she was feeling out everyone in here, to find out what they wanted to do, so to know what to go along with. “Don’t feel what we all want. What do you want?” she asked.

Zara’s eyes moved to her after a long moment and then to Vance, and Ana watched him reach out and touched her face, “I’ll not let anyone hurt you.” he told her gently, he seemed to understand there was something there, and it was for Zara to tell him, not them, and she would likely only do so, if they were Mates, “I’ll rip their damned heads off if they even try, or think about it, you just tell me what you feel, and I’ll enact upon it.” he told her a moment later, all Beta now.

Zara smiled a little at him and shook her head. “I think it will be okay. I have you all. Got me a bodyguard, it seems.” She looked at Vance and jabbed a thumb at him.

“Yes, you do.” he stated without hesitation. “And a Gamma right there to help you if you need it.” he pointed at Palmer. “Though…there will be no touching.” He stated, staring hard at Palmer.

They left the dining room and exited the pack via the omega stairwell so as to keep Ocean from the sight of those out there on the shaming posts. She smiled at seeing Ocean strolling along hand in hand between Londyn and Yuri. Her little girl was more than happy having an uncle and those two were winging her away and lifting her off the ground, and she was laughing happily about it. Regardless of the fact that she was seven, they were still able to do that because they had the wolfen strength to do so. It was something all pack children could enjoy up until they were about Ocean’s age. Depending on their growth, some could enjoy it until they were nine, though it depended on their father or mother’s lineage as well.

It was a casual 20-minute stroll down through the pack to Lindal’s house, and just after they left the packhouse Slade chuckled “Well now she’s all hopped up, I just told Lindal I’m bring you down to see her. She’s calling everyone.” He shook his head. “Sorry she’s very social and has been itching for your return. Misses you.”

Ana smiled. “If there was anyone, I would have contacted. It would have been Lindal or Ember. I just thought it was better not to. A clean break and to stay away.”

“She knows this, Ana. Loves you, misses you, and didn’t tell me she’d cut or changed your hair colour until after you’d left, then told me outright, you were her friend, and she was giving you the time you needed to get away.” he shook his head “She understood your need to be gone from here and supported it. Also, didn’t hand that box of all your hair over until like two days later, she was definitely all about you leaving for a better life.”

“Oh, I forgot about that hair.” She shrugged.

“Hmm, I kind of lost it. Yelled at everyone about that card Bronnie left you. You took it the right way, you know.”

She nodded “Figured as much at the time.”

“She played it as if it was a funny play on words, for when you and I were…” he trailed off.

“I know I read your scroll.” She nodded as Lindal’s house came into view, and she could see her out in the front yard pacing around, and her four children were all there playing on the lawn. Beckham was sitting on the front steps watching all of them as well as his pregnant mate. She looked full term to Ana, and she wondered if Lindal would be the first one to have a baby inside Slade’s new pack.

She looked right at Linda as she turned to come back this way, from her pacing and then just smiled at her, laughed and hurried out of the yard, to come and greet her, hugged her right to herself “Not twinsies anymore I see.”

Ana chuckled softly “No.”

Slade had smiled at Ocean and scooped her up without any hesitation when she’d asked him to, and as he carried his sleeping daughter back, he looked very happy about it. Maddie nudged her as they walked along and whispered half-heartedly “I think it’s a Slade job from now on,” she snorted”

None of us have to do it anymore.”

Ana smiled. “I guess so.”

Slade turned and smiled at her, “Unlike Beckham, I only have one to carry. Did you see him pick up the twins?” He shook his head “like they were a pair of barbells.” He chuckled softly.

“Mm, they loved it.” Zara chuckled. “So did he.”

Ana smiled, Zara seemed comfortable walking through the pack, though she did note that Vance had been there right next to her all night, and for once Zara didn’t torment him about the words he said, in front of all those there at Lindal’s house. Hed made his intentions very clear for all there to hear and see. Zara hadn’t deterred him at all.

Even now she was walking right next to Vance without issue, a curiosity it was. Perhaps Slade was right and there was something there. Zara wouldn’t actively use her charm on him either. Maybe she understood that if she did, and he arced up about it, he’d been even more attentive, and she wasn’t ready for that.

Zara had never been with anyone, not even a human boy. Wouldn’t, would only accept her Goddess-Gifted Mate.