Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 76

Slade

He got to see Hayden being shamed in front of the entire pack, they were all sitting neatly on the ground in uniform rows to accommodate all of them, some had brought their own chairs. The boy had to stand there next to the shaming post, not allowed to say anything unless spoken directly to. Slade stood there in the pack ascension line, as were the rest of his unit and his father’s own unit as well.

He heard his father state “I would like to inform you all that this punishment was always intended to happen. That it, needed to wait until Slade himself came home from Alpha College, as was your future Alpha’s wishes, upon the matter at hand…he wanted to be here for the punishment and shaming to be served.”

His father had taken a moment and then continued “Hayden, as you are all aware, conducted himself in a manner unbefitting of the status as the future Beta to the pack. During a lunch break two months back. He insulted and tried to bring disrepute to his sister Oriana’s good name, and standing within this pack.” his father sighed a little heavily and shook his head.

“Though Oriana is no longer here within the pack, she has never once brought shame to her family bloodline, or this pack. While she was the future Beta and stood next to Slade, your future Alpha. Who has personally taken issue with his current future Beta’s words and insults to his former future Beta. Demanded that Hayden be formally punished for his words that day.”

His father turned and looked right at Slade. “Son, step up and deliver the punishment you see fit for the insults you have taken offense to, on Oriana’s behalf.”

Slade stepped up right next to his father. “I was relayed the very words Hayden spoke that day.

How he could do this? To his own sister. When I never once saw her dating a single person inside this pack. Never once saw her even kiss a boy. She was in fact a diligent and reliable Beta to me always.

“Followed all the pack laws and as for her seducing her future Alpha. That being myself. That never happened. Ori understood her father would yank her from the future Beta position and seat her brother Hayden right in to it. As it would be seen in his eyes as her being irresponsible.

“Not once did I ever see her be irresponsible. I also do not recall at any time, her trying to seduce me, her future Alpha.” He informed them all. “I…however, did find my Beta attractive, as I’m certain most of the male population here in this pack did as well. I do not recall ever having sex with Oriana.” He stated for all to hear.

It was actually the truth, he did not recall it, still to this day, though he now understood he had done so, but did not recall it, so he could state that with all honesty.

“Hayden’s words, they disappoint me greatly, as the new future Beta, I, his future Alpha, cannot understand his words, he holds the title now. Oriana is no longer with the pack at all. Vanished after the poor handling of her being stepped down by the current Alpha Unit. You’re all aware of how it went down.” He muttered. “Not even I, was aware of how it was going to happen; like that, I would never have approved of it happening in such a manner either.”

He heard his father clear his voice, knew he’d gotten off track, but this was the only time he was going to get to bring it up in front of the entire pack, and he wanted them to all know he’d not approved of how it had gone down.

“For Hayden to bring up something like this, nearly a year after he took the position from his sister. Is unfathomable in my eyes, I can only put it down to him not feeling as though he measures up to his own sister. Is still jealous of her and knows we are still looking for her to try and bring her back

into the pack. Worried I’d say, that I’ll reinstate her.” He sighed and shook his head, looked at Hayden.

“There was no need for, or call for, his words, so I, as the future Alpha have decided, that there will be one day on his shaming post…” he paused and saw Hayden’s body relax a little “For every insulting word that I have taken offense to, so that would be 36 days on this shaming post. Then and only then will I consider him punished appropriately, and see my way to allowing him to retain his position as the future Beta. He will also never be allowed to mention his sister’s name again. If anyone in this pack hears him do this.”

“Slade.” His father grated out.

Slade ignored his father and continued “You will report it directly to me along with the context that it was in as well. I will then further punish him for it, out here on the shaming post for all to see.” He saw Hayden looking right at him now.

His father declared the punishment dished out and sent the pack away, looked right at him for a moment and then just turned and walked inside the packhouse along with his unit and all their mates.

Slade walked away with his own unit. He’d kind of expected to take some sort of pleasure from punishing Hayden, but he hadn’t taken any at all. Knew that boy deserved it, and it needed to happen for him to learn a lesson. But he didn’t feel happy about it.

A part of him wondered if he’d ever really smile again, feel truly happy or was he now just always going to feel sad, and angry on the inside.

Something he was going to have to cover up and not let those around him truly see how miserable he felt, put on a façade for this pack, because they did not know all that had gone on.

Slade wondered if, as the years passed, would he feel different? Would what he experienced and how he felt now, had felt for the past year, just start to fade away and eventually leave him. Or would he hang on to it for always? If he couldn’t find her and tell her the truth. Show her he had never meant for all that had happened to her, to happen at all.

He didn’t know at this point, he was just trying to do what he needed to do, in order for him to be able to bring her home when the day came; if he could ever find her. To make sure he could sort it all out before, as proof he’d fixed everything. Show her he was sorry. Redeemed himself.

That he had punished those that needed punishing on her behalf, he was documenting everything now. So when that day came, if it ever came. He could show her, prove he missed her and wanted her to come home to the pack.

At this time, he couldn’t think about her as possibly his mate, there was no proof of that, so he had to do everything with her in mind as his Beta, as his friend. As the mother of his child, he would not know if she was his Mate until he came across her on a full moon. Or if he came across his Goddess-Gifted between now and when he found her. No one knew if she was or wasn’t.