Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 71

Ana

Did it surprise her to see Austin back in their town a little over a week later? Maddie had waited to search the wolfen intranet for nearly a week. Had searched for destroyed packs and remaining pack members, if they would or wouldn’t retain their pack scent.

The answer had been complicated in its trail of links, leading her to; a burned out or destroyed pack did not necessarily mean the territory was null and voided, so in that case the pack scent would still remain on not only the land, even if it was decades later and reclaimed by nature. But would also still remain on the wolves that scattered, until they found a new pack to be initiated into.

Anyone walking on the land could still feel it was pack land, even if there was no pack on it. This was often how rogues claimed old territories for themselves, they felt the connection to the lost territory and stayed there, building new lives for themselves.

Some abandoned territories still had old derelict buildings which could be rebuilt, rogues were industrious creatures and could even elect a new leader for their group, maintain a hierarchy and work on joining the wolfen society once more. Those abandoned packs could often be seen to the human world as ghost towns.

Then there were pack territories that were abandoned by their pack Alpha for varying reasons, and though the ground had been released by the Alpha that had once ruled over it. The land itself still belonged to the wolfen world, so again it still held a pack scent and felt like a pack territory, to any otherworldly creature that set foot upon it.

Those pack members, however, aligned to that Alpha, all became rogues even if not banished, because they were loyal to their Alpha who had turned himself rogue, after abolishing the pack himself. Though it was said that did not happen very often. Most Alphas who were decent and cared for their pack members; if they had to abandon everything for whatever reason, they would endeavour to place their pack members within other allied packs, to keep them safe. Or have his entire pack be absorbed by another so they could all stay together.

Wolves born into a pack had a pack scent, wolves born to rogues had a rogue scent, it was that simple in their world.

Londyn still confused them, and though Maddie had gotten herself up in the wee hours of the morning to access the Wolfen Council’s intranet to further investigate their thoughts, she’d not come up with anything. She’d gotten stopped by the words Restricted Access, council member ID required. And a password box had appeared on the screen under Alpha Austin’s name.

She had huffed a little annoyed but had logged herself out. Not even Ana had known council members had ID passwords, but that box had not indicated how long or short the password was, and Maddie had not been willing to try and breach it. That would actually be fully punishable by the Wolfen Council if they found out it was her.

Though both she and Ana now suspected that there was a way for it to happen, and how it came about was a highly guarded secret in the wolfen world, and likely those that they reported to within the wolfen kingdom.

So, they put Londyn, not having a pack scent, down to some closely guarded secret of the wolfen council. That no one of normal wolfen status was to know about, and they had to let it go altogether. Unless they came across Londyn once more, and she knew the answer, and she was willing to tell them, they’d likely never know.

Ana smiled at Alpha Austin as he strolled in with not just his Beta, but his entire Alpha Unit. “Wow, you travel with some nice-looking fellows.” Ana had stated without much thought.

He’d not come back after Maddie had toyed with his tech, but here he was after Maddie had hit a brick wall within the Wolfen Councils restricted files, and he’d brought his entire unit with him. She must have touched on something very important to them and their world.

“Where is the lovely Maddie?” Austin asked with a smile.

“Walking with her niece, she was a bit fussy, teething at the moment.” She told him “What can I get for all of you?”

“Hmm, how about two Maddie specials, one Ana special and…” he chuckled, looking up at the special board, “One Ocean special. Who’s Ocean? I don’t recall anyone by that name. Is she new in town?”

Ana smiled at him, he was fishing already, it seemed “No, Ocean is my daughter.”

“Ah, I see. Likes chocolate?” he asked, “We’ll have it here, not to go.”

Ana nodded and rang it up, he swiped his pack card, and she told him to take a seat, then stated with a chuckle, “Maddie won’t be long, I’m sure.”

He smiled right at her and nodded, she watched them all go and sit down, bit her lip a little and texted Maddie, she couldn’t mind-link to her like she normally would with an entire Alpha Unit in the café. One of them might see her eyes glaze over.

‘Austin is here, with his entire unit.’

‘Goddess, are they all hot like him?’ came the reply.

‘Yes.’ Ana sent, and they were, all tall buffed up and dressed as immaculately as Austin himself.

Then she set about making their order, she was just putting it on a tray to take it to them, when she saw Maddie come up to the café door. Smiled as she watched Austin get up from his chair, and go over to hold the door open for her.

“Need a hand?” he asked.

Maddie smiled right up at him, she did actually need a hand, was pulling Ocean’s pram, had come in backwards as one did when needing to push a door open and bring a pram through it. “Thank you, Austin.”

Maddie bit her lip and looked at Austin, then nodded “I’d like that, though…”

“Though?” he prompted with a raised eyebrow.

“Maybe I could go home and change first. Unlike last time.”

“Yes, do that. I’ll watch the café.” Ana piped in “Go now, I’m sure Austin will find a nice restaurant to book while he waits for you.”

“I’ve already booked one.” Austin smiled at her and then looked at Maddie. “I was hoping you’d say yes, Maddie.”

“All’s good here, Maddie. Dylan and Lyn will be here for the dinner rush in like half an hour. I got the café.”

Maddie looked right at her and then nodded, bit her lip a little as she grabbed her keys, she told Austin she wouldn’t be long, and he told her he’d wait right here.

A date on the full moon, she was willing to bet Maddie was kind of freaking out on the inside. She knew Maddie understood the meaning of it. Austin was actually looking to see if Maddie was his human Mate. He must have really enjoyed himself with Maddie to come back for a full moon.

“You just passing through today?” Ana asked him.

“No, spending the night.” Austin stated simply.

She chuckled softly, she also understood now why his entire unit were here with him. This wasn’t just solely council related business, if Maddie was his human Mate, he’d need to date her for a while, before taking her back to his pack. He would also need his unit here in town to protect her 24/7.

Interesting this full moon would be for her and Maddie.