Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 74

Slade

He was sitting in his father’s office, as were Palmer and Yuri, the entire Alpha Unit, Anders, Charlton and Dalton, along with his mother and father, Luna Elise, and Alpha Roman, as well as Hayden and the Beta’s Mate, Bronnie. The Alpha office door was closed so no one would overhear the conversation that was about to be had.

Chairs had been brought into this room to accommodate all of them and the room had been slightly re-arranged. His mother sat next to his father behind his desk. The current Alpha Unit were seated to the left of his father’s desk, across from him and his unit, who all sat in chairs lined up on the right side of his father’s desk.

Hayden was seated in a chair on his own directly in front of the Alphas desk, like all pack members were expected to, when in here, getting in trouble or being dealt a punishment to them. Bronnie was sitting on the couch behind everyone, allowed in this room but by her position, unlikely to participate. Likely only in here due to the seriousness of the matter at hand.

She’d lost her only daughter through no one’s fault but her own, by that poorly written note card to her own daughter, regardless of how she’d meant for it to be taken, had seen Oriana respond to it as harshly, as she’d read those words written in her mother’s hand!

Now here she was, sitting in the Alpha’s office with a full threat of traitorous behaviour hanging over her only son’s head, and depending on how that boy handled this situation. She could lose him too. See him banished from the pack or worse, killed for his actions.

The Beta family were now coming to the realisation of the true fallout of their own actions. Not just in what they had done to Oriana, but in the way they’d raised their son, and encouraged him to believe the position of the Pack Beta was his, and not his sisters. How they had bred jealousy and allowed sibling rivalry to not only grow but get out of hand where Hayden was concerned.

How they themselves had created this pathway, and allowed Hayden to go down it unchecked, a path full of lies and deceit, one that Hayden himself thought was okay to walk. Because it was what the Alpha and Beta had done now themselves. Showed him that was how things got done inside this pack.

It was very unlikely in Slade’s mind that Hayden truly understood he was in the wrong at all, because in the end he’d not only been encouraged by his own father to push his sister aside. They had managed it and Hayden now had her position, gotten the title he wanted, in the wrong way, but that didn’t bother the boy. He’d smiled and gloated about getting it, uncaring of his sister’s feelings.

His father, Alpha Roman, looked at each person in the room, in turn and then stated “Hayden, it has been brought to my attention, that on the day Slade was taken to Alpha College, by his former future Beta, Oriana. Her car had been sabotaged, in order for her not to get him there on time.

“The pack’s Mechanic’s assistant, Lindal, was given the car that morning before they left and went over it to see what was wrong with it. Filed a report regarding her findings. Do you have anything to say on this matter? Before I show that report to all here in this room, and decide if it’s necessary to bring Lindal herself in here, to discuss formally what she found.”

“I did it.” Hayden stated simply.

“You did what to Oriana’s car. Admit the crime for all to hear.” Alpha Roman told him.

“I ruined her spare tyre, and caused a leak to the rear driver’s side tyre. So she wouldn’t be able to complete the task given to her.” Hayden told the room without hesitation at all, though he did not appear remorseful at all.

Slade knew in that moment, that Hayden already knew everything that was going to go down inside this office. He wasn’t going to deny anything, just going to admit to the facts without any kind of regret for his actions.

“Have you done anything else prior to that incident?” His father asked.

“Crime,” Slade interjected, “Please state what it actually is. It was a crime against the future Beta at the time. But it is now also to be seen as a crime against who you, father, your unit, and all their mates, believe to be the future Luna to this Pack.”

He saw his father frown at his words, but nod once and amended his words “Prior to that crime of sabotaging the career path of, at the time, the future Beta.”

“Yes,” Hayden stated simply once more, “everything I could, to make her late or not show up for things. Not that it mattered.”

“It mattered to her.” Slade grated out “She, however, never not once reported you, not to the Alpha and not to your own father. Didn’t do it because you were her brother, she showed proper loyalty to you. When you showed her none at all.”

Hayden didn’t even look at him, just sat there looking at Alpha Roman, appeared uncaring for Slade’s own words.

“I’ve a list here,” Alpha Roman held it out to Hayden “Slade himself, has compiled, investigated you as the new future Beta. Stated to me, who appointed you, that these are the things he knows about that you did to Oriana over the years.” Hayden took the paper and looked it over.

“Read it through and answer honestly Hayden, did you do all of those things to Oriana?”

Slade watched as Hayden glanced over the paper, skimmed his eyes down it and then just handed it back to his Alpha. “Yes, Alpha, I did all of that.”

“Too late,” Slade stated.

“After Oriana left, you have insulted her, before the entire school in the cafeteria, implying she seduced Slade to stay in her position as the future Beta. Yes?”

“Yes, Alpha.” He nodded again.

“You used knowledge that was forbidden to be released into the pack, to sew the seeds of doubt about her, upon her return with my heir, next to her, you mean.” Slade snarled at him “That pup is not allowed to be discussed by anyone, outside this very room.”

“I did not mention a pup,” Hayden stated.

“Enough Hayden… Slade is right, your words that day, you chose them with full purpose. I even see that now. I believe that is what you were doing.” Anders muttered.

“That crime is the worst one. You insulted and tried to disparage the reputation of who we believe is to be the pack’s future Luna. Slade’s own Mate, not just your sister at the time. You knew what we all believed when you spoke those very words. Should never have said those words at all.” his father stated.

“Yes, Alpha.” He heard Hayden state flatly.

“Formal punishment, however, can not be announced to the pack due to the circumstances. I will, however, be punishing you for all to see. You will be put on the shaming post for the words you spoke that day about Oriana. I’ll be informing the pack that it was shameful of you to speak like that about the former future Beta. Also, your own bloodline, you’ll admit it was wrong for all to hear and be on that shaming post, for 1 day for each word that would bring doubt upon the future Luna’s reputation to this pack.”

Hayden just sat there and said nothing.

“When you come off that shaming post, you will be moved directly to the cells, for the crimes of attacking the future Luna, one month for each attack. As for the threat to Slade’s unborn heir.” His father sighed a little and looked at Slade, “that is up to Slade himself to state what he wants.”

“It’ll be a lashing at my hands,” Slade stated without hesitation, “and likely the pack Beta’s as well, for raising such an irresponsible child. The amount of lashes I’ve yet to determine. I will make the decision by the time he comes off that shaming post.”