The Beta's Justice

Chapter 8

Hunter's POV

I woke with a start, finding the space next to me empty. Rose, where was she? Ever since the Beta floor had been finished, we had slept together every night. Maybe not for the full night, but at least for part of it. Then if one of us were to wake up before the other, we would leave a message. Quickly, I glanced around, searching for a note, but there wasn't one. "Rose?" I called, thinking she still had to be in the room, somewhere.

"I'm right here," she whispered as she came to my side. She gently pulled the covers back over me.

"What time is it?" I questioned, looking over at the clock.

She turned it from my view before I could see it. "No, you need to rest. The pack will be fine for another few hours," her voice was soothing.

"No, I have to get back to work," I started to push myself up, but she quickly pushed me back down.

"Doctor's... or rather nurse's orders. You need to rest or you'll be no good to anyone." Worry clouded her eyes. "Please, rest," she whispered as she placed her forehead gently against my own.

Without thinking, I wrapped her up in my arms, pulling her back into bed. "Then I demand you rest with me, Beta's orders," I smirked as I brought her lips to meet my own.

She happily pressed her lips to mine, wrapping her arms and legs around me. I rolled, putting her under me as we continued to kiss. Suddenly she stopped and I pulled away to see her eyes glazed over. Someone was linking her. Then she was back and I was looking at her sad gaze. "What's wrong?" She seemed concerned about something.

"I have to go. There's a bit of a problem with one of the pups," she said as she wiggled out from under me.

"Can't another nurse go instead of you?" I whined as I rolled onto my back.

"Everyone is attending to the still injured wolves or are taking their own break. I had about five hours, which is more than most do," she sighed as she leaned over and gave me a kiss.

"Fine, then I might as well get up, too," I huffed as I started to get out of bed.

In the blink of an eye, she pushed me back down and covered me. "No, I need you to sleep or you're going to get sick. Then the pack will fall apart. We don't know if Nova is going to make it and if she doesn't, we don't know how Leon will react. So, yes, you need to rest," she had squared her shoulders, glaring at me as she practically scolded me.

"Fine," I grunted as I sank further into the bed.

She smiled triumphantly at me. "Good, now the faster I go, the faster I can come back," she winked as she left the room.

Rolling onto my side, I forced my eyes closed, but a feeling of unease washed over me. It made it practically impossible to sleep. As my heart finally steadied, my phone rang. Grumbling, I reached for it. "Hello?"

"My apologies, Beta, however, there is a matter which needs your attention. However, it would appear your block is up," the wolf, on the other end, explained quickly.

"What matter?" I questioned as I pushed myself up.

There was silence for some time until, finally, they spoke. "Our defenses have been weakened and while we are recovering other packs are hearing rumors," they began to explain, and I knew exactly what he was talking about. We were about to have a target on our backs. The faster we pulled ourselves back together, the faster we could put those rumors to bed.

"Yes, I understand. How much time is it assumed that we have?"

"Weeks at most before a pack tries to make a move during our weakened state."

"Understood, I will prepare a training schedule along with a border patrol schedule that will allow for rest and rehabilitation," I informed them. "Send the head trainer and Delta Stan to the office in ten minutes," I instructed.

"Right away," the line went dead. I jumped out of bed, cleaned up, and rushed out of the room and down to the office.

I needed to prepare schedules or at least have the structure of one assembled. Then it could be discussed further with the head warrior and Stan. I had barely begun to fill out a schedule on my laptop when there was a knock at my door. "Come in," I called. When the door opened, it wasn't Stan and the head warrior. Instead, Alice, Ethan, and Parker entered.

"We weren't sure if you would be in your office," Parker started. For some reason, he appeared nervous.

"Did you come for anything in particular?" Since everything that had happened with Nova being kidn*pped, Ryker and Catherine turning out to be evil, and them being hospitalized, we hadn't really spoken. Then I took over most pack duties over the last few days and Leon has been withdrawn.

An air of awkwardness hung over the room. It was only worsened by how long it took one of them to respond. "Yes, well ummm..." Alice began, but her face reddened instantly.

Parker, Alice's mate, spoke up for her. "First, we want to apologize. We may not have been in control, but we did have a hand in the war. It was a small roll since we were being used," his tone was solemn. I watched them carefully, but none of them would meet my gaze. We had suspected something had been done to them when they returned from scouting around Ryker's pack. This only solidified our presumption.

"You weren't in control and therefore we will not hold you accountable for any action you may have taken against the pack," I informed them. They all visibly relaxed. It must have taken all the courage they had to come in here and tell me.

Their words made me wonder about those in the dungeons. How many of them acted of their own volition? How many were used or drugged to do what Ryker wanted? We would need to tread carefully when deciding what to do next with them. "Thank you," Alice said, pulling me from my thoughts.

"No need to thank me," I smiled. I watched as they glanced from one to another as though there was more they wished to discuss. "Is there anything else?" I asked, trying to hurry them along. As much as I wanted to check in with them, I, unfortunately, had work that needed tending to.

Parker cleared his throat before speaking. "We lost warriors," he began, pausing as he glanced over at Ethan. "Ethan's mate was among them." Then he saw it. He was far paler than usual, thinner too. How could he lose so much weight in such a short time?

"How can I help?" I had never had anyone close to me lose a mate and so I didn't know how to help.

Parker glanced over at Ethan as though he were trying to encourage him to speak, but he refused. "I'm not sure what to ask. All I know is, he needs help. He would only come today because Alice forced him. She has a way with words," he added, the last part, almost as though he were trying to joke, but the topic was far too serious for it to land.

"I see. Give me a moment," I linked the Luna. I figured if anyone could help, she could. "I have someone coming, who knows how to help." I watched as Parker and Alice brightened a little while Ethan was becoming a shadow of himself.

There came a knock on the door and I called for them to come in. Luna Lily stepped inside. "Ethan," her voice was soft and comforting. "Come with me and we'll have a little chat," she smiled comfortingly at him. He didn't respond, but he did move to follow her.

Parker and Alice began to go as well, but Luna Lily halted them with one wave of her hand. "I know you two mean well, but he will need some space," she told them kindly, and then she and Ethan headed down the hallway toward her office.

They were about to leave but before they could, I decided on a whim to have them help me. "Stay for a moment. I have something that you two could help with." They turned back, both appearing defeated. They wanted so desperately to help Ethan but could do nothing.

"Take a seat, I have two others that will join soon." They sat without a word. I needed to do something. They won't be the only ones hurting from the war. I need to strengthen the pack to stop the rumors, but I also needed to brighten the mood. This place was turning gray. My mind drifted for a moment. Nova, if she were to wake up and heal, then maybe the pack would brighten. She will be their future Luna after all. The pack needs good news and that would be the perfect good news.