Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 89

Slade

He stood in his father’s office, listening to his father request him to take Dariah into Pheonix on Friday, before he and the boys drove her out to Alpha College. She wanted new clothes to take with her. And was up in her room pouting about her gym wear being worn, and she needed new ones if she was going to be gone all year long. She also wanted a few clothes to wear on those full moons.

That she had requested Slade take her shopping, not her mother, because she wanted to pick his brain on the day trip, about Alpha College, before she went, and what to expect while there. How to avoid being sucked in by coercion even, like he nearly had been. That had made him frown, but he’d let it go.

The girl had been holed up since the last full moon just a week ago and she and Art had not paired it. She was unhappy about it, to say the least, he’d gone into her room and talked to her when Art couldn’t get her to talk to him. They had been secretly dating, and now she was upset he wasn’t her Mate.

He just nodded at his father, he and Hayden were supposed to take her, but he’d opted to take Palmer, stating it was because of how sullen she was already, that Art hadn’t turned out to be her Mate. That having a Gamma would be a better option for the trip in case she got upset or nervous at the college as well.

It had been acceptable to his father and Dariah had just nodded solemnly, wasn’t really talking to anyone, she’d stated over dinner “I don’t mind.” Simply and softly, and Palmer had actually reached out and touched her, and she’d leaned into him a little. The man knew she was sad.

This shopping trip, though, was his and Dariah’s joint mission for him to have the chance to talk to Vance about bringing him in as the new Beta bloodline for the next generation’s lineage. Though only he, Palmer, Yuri and now Dariah understood that.

She’d been in the cafeteria when Hayden had gone on his rant about Ori, and she’d not liked what happened over the Beta ascension. Didn’t much like Hayden anymore. So was happy to help him. She was the pack’s second heir and a good wolf. She hadn’t actually understood why their father had done that at all.

She also didn’t want to be in charge of the pack, and told him she’d be happy to get through Alpha College in one piece, and then go off to get her medical degree without finding a Mate. She had already lined up her internships with the Obsidian Pack, and she was excited to be going off there, or said she was. Though now, he just thought it was because she didn’t want to see Art mate off to anyone.

The Obsidian pack was affiliated with them, and he knew their medical research facility was top-notch, all wolves could go there and study medicine, and his parents knew she’d be safe inside that pack.

Dariah didn’t want to be a Luna to a pack, didn’t even want an Alpha for a Mate. She wanted a normal everyday wolf, so she could have the time to obtain her medical degree, and be a pack doctor, once she had gotten it. It had always been her dream, and he hoped she got to have it fulfilled.

That everything would work out for her, unlike it had for him, that neither of their parents interfered in her life like they had his. She had promised to tell him if she thought that they were, so he could stop it before it got out of hand.

Slade strolled out of that office and messaged Vance about the meeting. He and his unit had already picked a location and time only the day had to be organised. Today was Wednesday, so he was hoping it was enough notice for Vance.

He mind-linked to Palmer and Yuri that the meeting was set after getting an affirmative response from Vance 45 minutes after the text had been sent. A simple “All good see you there.”

Now he sat with Palmer, Yuri and Dariah in a restaurant for lunch. They’d taken her shopping first thing in the morning, and she’d bought new gym wear and a few nice dresses, nothing fancy, she wasn’t looking to find a Mate, and she’d told him she’d sent up a prayer to Selena, that she wouldn’t find one until she was like 30 or 40, maybe even older.

He and the boys had laughed at her a little for wanting to wait, and he’d wished her good luck. She was pretty with her platinum blonde hair, slightly tanned complexion and dark blue eyes. She got those from their father, but she was all their mother, pretty as a picture.

Vance had looked at Dariah a little surprised that she was here with them, she’d just smiled at him and put her earbuds in as she stated “I was never here.”

He knew her wolf Crystal wasn’t actively listening, which gave her plausible deniability, and with everything going to happen, while she was off at Alpha College, he wasn’t expecting their mother or father, any of the current Alpha Unit to question her at all. Regardless of how close they were to each other.

He was not going to bring her up during the argument he foresaw coming on the day he enacted his plans to remove Hayden and seat Vance.

They talked over lunch about what had actually happened that day inside of Highland Hills, how Ori had actually been passed over. The way his father and hers had plotted and planned to remove her, put on that fight as an act for him to hear, to get him to state he’d take Hayden as his Beta, in order for his father not to Banish the Vale bloodline.

Vance had stopped eating at some point and just sat back in his chair to stare at him, a deep frown on his face for a long time before he voiced “Why go to such lengths, what’s the pack ascension law?”

“The firstborn is the heir. But the Vale bloodline, being pure-bloods, have their own family laws which state the firstborn son is to be ascended into the position of Beta. There was a conflict. Hayden believes and was brought up to believe, he’s the rightful heir to the Beta bloodline. I, however, trained and hung out with Ori. She was born just two days after I was, and is the actual firstborn to the Beta bloodline. I not only believe the pack laws have precedence over a bloodline law, but I also wanted Ori to be my Beta, and everyone knew that I was never going to take Hayden on.”

“Right, so the Vale family screwed over their own daughter in favour of their son, and your father helped them to do it.” Vance stated.

“In a nutshell, yes,” Slade stated. “So, I’m looking for a new Beta on the quiet. There will be no more Vales as Beta’s within Highland Hills. Anders will be the last one.”

Vance nodded his head. “Alright, how are you planning to do this? Get what you want?”

“In the exact same manner that they did this to Ori. I’m going to blindside everyone. If you agree to be my Beta. There are things you will need to know, still. But I won’t be bringing that up unless your 100% in.”

Vance was staring at him now, looked at Palmer and Yuri, then back to Slade. “Why pick someone like me? I don’t really want leadership.”

“That’s exactly why, you respect your brother’s position within your pack.” Slade stated, “You’re also strong and an excellent fighter. Palmer and Yuri believe your fun attitude, will rub off on me as well. And I might crack a smile and relax a little, become happy like I used to be.”

“To show father and Anders just how hard it is to take you down. That Hayden can’t beat you.”

“Ah,” he nodded, “You’re expecting a Beta to Beta duel to challenge for the right of future Betal then?”

“Perhaps,” Slade acknowledged “Contingency plan for them to know how good a fighter you are, it might not happen. I’ve got quite a bit on the Alpha Unit as well, things I can use if needed to. Don’t want to at this point, because I need them to stay where they are until I have everything I want.”

“Interesting statement. I get the impression you’re going to overthrow your own father.”

“Not exactly, but it’s a possibility, and don’t think I’m like Hayden, I’m not. You’ll understand why if you say yes. I’ll give you all the details Palmer and Yuri have, I think you’ll agree. My Gamma, Delta and sister here all agree that the current Alpha and his Unit need to step down from their position, when it’s the right time for us.”

He watched Vance lean across the table and tap Dariah. She looked at him, and he indicated for her to remove her ear buds. “Father or Brother?” he asked simply.

“Brother, when he sees the timing is right. I don’t want the seat, don’t even want to be a Luna. Slade’s agreed to let me be a doctor and go where I want to study for as long as I want as well.”

“The pack, what do you think they will do?” he asked her. “Whose side will they be on?”

“Hmm hard to say, but I’d be willing to bet right this very minute 50/50, but when the truth comes out.” She looked at Slade “They’ll take Slade’s side.” She smiled at Vance “I think you’ll make my brother a great Beta.” She looked to Slade “I agree with Palmer and Yuri, though I’m off to Alpha College tomorrow, so will not be taking part in anything that happens. I just want Ori back where she belongs.”

Vance nodded. “So I take it we’re all going hunting then?”

The man did not miss much, but Slade didn’t say anything, just looked at him, he was very good at reading between the lines, very observant, and he was going to be an excellent Beta.

“I’m in.” Vance stated simply. “I’m bored sitting around all the time, could use an adventure, and I do like me some mischief sounds like I’ll be getting involved in a lot. That will be fun for me.”