Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 75

Ana

She let Maddie sleep in, she’d gotten in late last night, knew now that Austin wasn’t her Mate, she’d have said something or come home marked and mated and she’d not. But it was clear that they’d had a nice time yet again. Maddie was crashed out completely in her bed, and would normally be up and bright-eyed at this hour.

Ana closed up the house, leaving Maddie a note on her bedroom door, to let her know she’d open up the café, to take the day off. Had drawn a winkie face and written ‘I think you need it.’

Ana knew that Alpha Wolf had been looking to see if Maddie was his human Mate, and Ana was willing to bet, Maddie would have loved to have been gifted to Alpha Austin, now had disappointment where he was concerned.

She might be down and out for a day or two, maybe it was time to have a little getaway. They’d not done that in nearly a year. Not since Ocean was born, so it would be good for both of them to take a few days off as well.

The café was busy that morning, she did make two Maddie specials and two Ana specials to go, for Austin and his men. He’d looked for Maddie and Ana smiled at him, “I left her to sleep in, she got in really late.”

He nodded. “That she did,” he smiled at her. “Tell your lovely sister, I’ll catch her next time I’m in town.”

“Not sticking around for a few days?” she’d asked simply.

“No, I have other business to attend, a few places to visit over the next few days.”

She bet he did if he was here looking for that hacker, he was going to be all over the lake and its surroundings trying to scent out that person, who’d hit a wall inside the Wolfen Council restricted. files. Likely his men had been out hunting all night, scenting Greenville itself, and they were moving on up to the next town.

“Oh, Ana, any wolf sightings since I was last here?” he asked, as though an afterthought.

“Not that I’ve seen no, sorry Austin. It’s a heavily wooded state, perhaps they settled elsewhere.”

“Always possible.” He nodded “It was nice to see you again.”

She watched him leave a little sadly. She’d asked that question on purpose. No Alpha would leave a human mate unattended or unguarded. It was just her way of clarifying what she’d thought was all. That he and Maddie were not Mates.

Though they’d walked off not driven, that was curious, perhaps they were still going to be here for the day, but heading out this afternoon, she didn’t know if they’d actually hunted last night or not.

Hunting, unbeknownst to him and his men, for the woman he was getting all hot and bothered by. Maddie’s scent masking oil with human pheromones really was a good thing, not even a pure-blooded Alpha wolf having sex with one of them voided it.

Nothing seemed to get passed it, Ana was glad when the morning rush was over, she sank down in a chair and picked Ocean up, to bounce her a little on her knees, while she turned to her phone, and looked for a nice holiday place for them to all go and visit and have a short getaway.

She found a pretty place called Roque Bluff. It had a nice beach and a freshwater pond, had hiking trails and a picnic area, it had some good reviews and was only just over three hours away, so a short drive there and back.

She set out looking for accommodation nearby, couldn’t really get anything local, but found a nice two-bedroom holiday rental down in Jonesport, just 30 minutes away and checked the availability, booked them in for a 3-night stay, it was all the place had.

She also took the time to look at restaurants and book them in for dinner, though they’d likely hike and be out in the woods during the day, or at the beach. It was a nice and secluded place, and Tawny would be able to get out for a run late at night in the forest. That would be good, a new place to explore.

By the time Maddie strolled into the café just after lunch, Ana had the whole trip planned out. She smiled at Maddie. “Good morning.”

“Hey Ana, you should have woken me.” Maddie stated, stepping behind the counter.

“I think you needed the sleep-in.” Ana smiled a little knowingly and then sent the trip planning to the café printer in Maddie’s office and gave it to her. “I thought we could get away for a few days.” She told her.

“Trying to console me?” Maddie asked, “I’m fine Ana, kind of did and didn’t want it at the same time.”

“Uncertain?” she asked.

“I like the life I’ve carved out for myself. I also like playing games with his tech department, toying with him myself. It makes life that little bit more interesting.” Maddie smiled at her.

But others could and some would perceive that child as a threat, an Alpha-blooded wolf that, when it came of age, could try and wrest control of the pack for itself; Alpha duel for the control of the pack.

Not that she would raise Ocean to do that, no, Ana just wanted Ocean to be happy and healthy, loved, and grow up to do whatever she wanted to do, regardless of what it was.

“I should organise your and Ocean passports. I’ve got one, but once we all do we can go up to Canada.” Maddie interrupted her thoughts “They have nice forests up there.”

“Can you do that?” Ana asked curiously.

Maddie snorted at her, fully amused now “Can I do that? Of course, I can. How do you think I got

mine? It will take a few hours, is all.”

“I’ve never been to Canada. I bet it’s real nice in summer.” Ana smiled.

“Freezing in winter.” Maddie smiled “But we can all go skiing or snowboarding at some of the nice ski resorts there.”

“We could.” Ana nodded. Ocean actually had a human birth certificate, so she would have a legitimate passport, she supposed. Though Maddie was confident that she could do this and produce one for Ana with ease, it wouldn’t surprise her at all, she’d already gotten Ana legalized as Anna Forester. The woman had gone so far as to give her the same human father. They both had the same dad but different mums, according to the US government, one Mr Malcom Forester.

Ana was going to let her, didn’t really surprise her all that much that Maddie could access the government’s passport division and get passports sorted out. She was a tech prodigy. “The trip I’ve planned, are you happy with it?” Ana asked her.

“Yes, it will be nice to get away for a few days, take Ocean down to the ocean too. We could stop in at where she was born for a wade in the water.” Maddie smiled at her. “You know Ana, we should

do that every year, take little Ocean to the place she was born, make it a tradition of sorts. Tell her how she was born there, and how quickly as well. It would be a nice family tradition to start, don’t you think?”

“Yes, and I think she’ll love it herself when she grows up. It’s a nice thing for her.”