The Beta's Justice

Chapter 7

Leon's POV

Faster, they need to work faster. "You should have gone with them," growled Blaze.

"They said I would be a distraction," I spat back at him.

"No! You left our mate's life in the hands of a traitor's daughter, her mate, and the children of a witch out for revenge," he lashed out at me. I knew what he was saying. I should have gone, but leaving her side was impossible.

"You wanted to stay here, too," I reminded him. We both feared something else had been waiting for Nova. Feared that somehow someone would come and finish her off if we left her unguarded.

He huffed back at me. "Still," he muttered, displeased.

"Look, Dad stepped down, we couldn't leave," I pushed to remind him.

"He chose the worst time to step down," grumbled Blaze. He was pacing impatiently in my mind. It was almost making me dizzy.

"Well, once word spread about what he had done to Catherine's mother, it would only have been a matter of time before the pack would have handled it on their own. It was best he stepped down," I could understand the actions taken. Even though I could, it was hard to. I felt as though I were being pulled in far too many directions. It was exhausting.

Blaze didn't have a comeback and so he slipped away as he had been doing lately. The longer we went without knowing how Nova was doing, the further he went from me. Trying to calm myself, I listened intently, trying to hear what the twins were doing and saying inside Nova's room. They said it would take time. They said they needed to prepare. Time... I wanted time too.

Audrey's POV

"Lila Hearth is the pup's name. Here's her picture. Please locate her parents as soon as possible," I instructed one of the warriors that had been standing around doing nothing.

"Right away," he responded, and then he was out the door.

I let out a sigh of relief. Turning, I bumped into Darren. He was practically a wall, which caused me to almost fall over. He caught me and pulled me close. "I've got you," he whispered into my hair. His scent filled me with peace.

"They're so little," I whispered, feeling tears that wanted to fall. I was barely holding it together.

He pulled away from me and took my hand. He walked me out of the training building toward the treeline. "Darren, where are we going?" I questioned.

"You need air," he smiled, but I could see the worry in his gaze.

I nodded. He was right. I needed space. I was drained, emotionally. My father. I had thought he was some great man. Now the more I learned, the more I hurt. I wasn't special to him. I never was. Suddenly, I felt a hand press gently against my cheek, brushing away my tears. I was crying and hadn't noticed.

"You're okay," he whispered.

"But I'm not," I cried. Tears fell faster and my sobs began to fill the forest. "I'm broken."

"Stop it. You're not broken," he grabbed my shoulders, looking directly into my eyes. "You're perfect for me," his gaze was so serious.

"How can you say that? You know who my father was. You know what he did to me. You know what I've done," I pushed the words out as anger filled me.

"You are not your father and your actions are in the past. You have changed," his words were pleading with me. He wanted me to see reason.

"But it was me. It could be me again," I worried. I didn't want to be her again, but she was part of me and always would be. I'll always be broken.

"Stop it," he pulled me into a tight hug. "Stop hurting the she-wolf I love," his words were pleading with me.

His words gave me pause. Love. He said, love. "Love," I whispered, feeling stupid for saying it.

I could feel his smile. "Yes, love," he laughed. "You are my mate. We both know it. The only reason you aren't marked yet is because you are not of age." He was trying hard to reassure me.

"Couldn't we still... you know prepare?" I asked. His love filled me. His words drew my attention away from the darkness I had started to wander into.

"No, I want the first time to be when we mark each other," his tone was firm. He wasn't going to budge on the matter.

"Fine," I sighed dramatically, causing him to laugh.

For a moment, I didn't feel so broken. For a moment, I felt whole. Pushing myself up on my toes, I pressed my lips against his. Instantly, he deepened the kiss, pulling me so close I could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Then just as soon as it started, he stepped away. I peered at him with sad eyes. It had ended all too soon. "A warrior just linked me. They have news about the pup's parents you sent them to search for." My heart skipped a beat. I prayed to the Moon Goddess it would be good news. So many had died, and I feared her parents were among them.

Quickly, we made our way back to the training arena where the warrior waited for us outside. I couldn't read his expression. No matter how hard I tried. He stood at attention when he saw us. "Audrey, the pup's parents. We were able to locate them," he started, but he didn't need to finish. I knew that tone. "They didn't make it," his gaze was downcast.

"I see. Thank you for finding out," I tried to keep my tone even. She was an orphan, just like me.

I turned to look at Darren once I dismissed the warrior. "How do I tell her?" I felt tears lying in wait.

"The truth," he responded as he took my hand. "Come on, let's go talk with her. The warriors will slowly inform the others of their parents' statuses. Then we will begin to train them. Once they are able to control their powers to some degree, we will reunite them with their parents. After that, it'll be up to Leon."

He had a plan. A simple plan and that calmed me. "Okay," I whispered as we strode into the arena.

Lila perked up as soon as she saw me, causing my heart to drop to the pit of my stomach. I let go of Darren's hand and went to her. Against the words of the warriors and others, I opened her cage again and pulled her into a hug. "They're gone, aren't they?" She whispered.

"Yes," I breathed, trying hard to keep my tone even. "But don't worry. I'll take care of you," I promised her. She wrapped her arms around me tighter.

Then it happened, she broke down into tears. The strong, happy girl I had met was now broken, like me. I dropped to my knees and wrapped her in a proper hug. "You're not alone," I whispered again and again until her breathing calmed.

Darren came soon after she calmed, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Instinctively, I leaned into his warmth. Into his comfort. "Audrey," Lila whimpered.

"Yes?" I questioned as I looked down at her.

"Do I have to go back into the cage?" She looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.

My heart ached. I wanted to say no. I wanted to take her back to the packhouse and protect her, but I couldn't. She needed to learn to control her powers. Right now, she was too emotional and I knew all too well that those emotions along with untrained powers would be dangerous not only for her but those around her. "I wish I could say yes, but until you can control your powers to some degree, you must stay here. But I will visit often," I promised her.

"Really?" She began to cry again. "I don't want to go back in. I want to leave. I want out," she began to sob again.

"I know, I know," I grabbed her to calm her. She needed to calm back down.

"Let me out," her voice grew quieter as she repeated herself again and again until she had fallen asleep. Exhaustion had finally taken her.

Lifting her up, I went into her cage of a room and lay her down on the bed. Then I pulled the covers over her. "Rest and soon we will begin your training. Then, before you know it, you will be out of here," I whispered as I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

Turning, I left the cage, locked it, and walked straight into Darren's waiting arms. "Be strong," he encouraged. "It's going to be hard for a while, but once we train them and they re-adapt to pack life, I'm sure Leon will allow them to stay," he reassured me.

"I hope so. These pups didn't choose this," I responded, beginning to feel hopeful.

"Let's let the pups rest today while the warriors search for their families and then tomorrow we can begin training," he said as he pulled me from the arena.

I nodded, agreeing with him and then we left. "I think it's time you rested," he said as he continued to guide me back to the packhouse gently. "Go get a shower, put on pj's, and then sleep. I'll be right down the hall in the guest room," he assured me.

I stood in front of my door for some time, finally feeling exhausted and unable to think clearly. Too much had happened. He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to me. In one quick and not-so-smooth motion, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Instinctively, he pulled me closer and deepened our kiss. This time he didn't pull away so soon. This time it lasted as long as I needed it to.

Stepping back from him, I caught my breath. "I'm going to go in now," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up.

He chuckled. "Sleep well," he responded as he kissed me on the cheek before I escaped into my room.

Slowly, I made my way to the bathroom, showered, changed into my pj's, and then slipped into bed. I passed out even before my head hit the pillow.