The Beta's Justice

Chapter 22

Audrey's POV

"You promised," whined Lila.

"I know, but things change. This is one of those things. It's out of my control," I tried to soothe her.

"Come on, kid, everything will work out. We just got to give it more time," Darren stepped in, but even this time he couldn't make things better.

Lila didn't respond. Instead, she sunk to the ground and pulled her knees up to her chest. I knew she was about to cry, but there was nothing I could say to make this situation better. I shouldn't have promised her. That was my mistake. But I had really thought that by now we could take her and a few of the other pups on a tour around packland. They had been living in this training facility for nearly three months. They needed to go further than the grounds around the building. But Leon turned down my proposal this morning. Apparently, some of the pack members are still uncomfortable with having them out and about.

"I know I broke my promise, but think of it this way, we can't go today, but I'm sure Alpha Leon will give us the go-ahead soon," I tried to coax her as I sat down next to her.

"I didn't choose this," she muttered, trying not to cry.

"Shh... everything will be okay soon. It's only been a few months. The pack needs time to acclimate to all these new wolves," I tried to reason with her.

Then it happened, she cried. Darren slid down and sat on her other hand. We looked at each other, both feeling helpless. I was just like her, but I could walk around freely. I didn't have any rules keeping me within a certain area. "Would you like some ice cream?" I ventured to ask, hoping to take her mind off things even for a second.

"Not this time," she responded. She glanced at me, allowing me to see her eyes were red and tears were flowing freely down her cheeks.

Without another word, Darren and I leaned toward her and wrapped her up in a hug. "Everything will get better," I promised. This promise I knew was true because I was determined to make it true. We sat like this for a long while. Training was over for the day so the other wolves were upstairs either walking the track, lifting weights, or in their living quarters.

After a while, Lila's breathing calmed, turning into cute little snores. It broke my heart to know she had cried herself to sleep. I looked over at Darren sure his expression mirrored my own. We were worried. It wasn't only Lila that was becoming restless, but at least the adults understood the reason for needing to stay on site, but the pups were struggling more and more each day, especially the ones that had lost both their parents. Lila was one of the few that had been orphaned.

"Let's take her upstairs," Darren finally spoke.

I nodded. We both quietly stood. He bent down and gently lifted her from the ground. She curled into his arms, one hand wrapping around his shirt and clinching the fabric in her fist. Her breathing steadied as she relaxed more. We walked up the two flights of stairs and headed to her room. I pushed open the door, pulled down the blankets on her bed and helped Darren carefully place her under the blankets.

Darren glanced down at his watch then back over at Lila, worried. "I've got a meeting with Alpha Leon," he told me. Usually, he wanted to go to those meetings. They were going to discuss the files and Dr. Richard's findings. Today would be about my results and making plans to go back to Ryker's lab to collect the other wolves' files.

"I know. I'll stay with her until she wakes up," I told him as I settled in the chair that sat near the bed.

"You know you are to attend this meeting as well. It is about you," he reminded me.

We both knew I wasn't going. "I know, but Lila needs me more than I need to know what the results are. Just tell me the results later."

He looked once more at Lila and I could see he didn't want to leave her either. "The faster you go, the faster you can return," I said in a more hushed tone as we saw her stir in the bed.

He sighed. "I'll be back soon." With that, he came over, kissed me on the forehead and then left the room.

Nova's POV

Leon has been a perfect gentleman since our first real date. It had been a few days, but something felt familiar. It almost felt as though we had known each other for years. I shook my head. We had known each other for years, I just couldn't remember them. It was still hard for me. I wanted to remember, but something inside I didn't want to. It was almost painful.

He promised that we would slowly start going to places closer and closer to the pack. He wanted to ease me back into life with the pack. I was glad for that. I wasn't ready to jump into the world again. At least not a world that knew me better than I knew it.

I let out a sigh as I looked up at the ceiling. I had seen him just last night and this morning I felt as though we had been apart for months.

The ringing of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. "Hello?" I answered quickly.

"You're awake early," Leon's voice came through the line.

"It's not that early..." I started to say but then looked over at the clock. It was that early. It was six.

He laughed for a moment before continuing to speak. "I was calling to let you know that the school will be reopening tomorrow."

"So I have to be a student then?" I responded. Even though I'd been awake and moving around for a few months, part of me was still not ready to face my peers.

"Yup."

"Will you be going back to school, too?" I knew it was a foolish question. He was already in the role of Alpha. Why would he need to go back to school?

"I have actually been completing assignments online. Because of my schedule, I can't go back to school," he told me with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Oh." I felt sadder than I should, or at least, I didn't think I should feel this sad. We would still see each other.

"Don't be sad," he urged.

"I'm not," I lied.

"I know when you're sad, Nova," he told me. His tone was serious. I knew he felt bad.

I took a few deep breaths to clear my mind. "Really, I'm okay. I understand. You're Alpha now. You have a job to do."

"I know you understand. But it's okay to be sad. I wanted to go to classes with you too," he promised.

"Couldn't I just do online like you?" I suggested, hoping he would agree with my idea.

"You could, but one reason you should go back to school is so wolves see your face and get to know you. You are the future Luna after all." He was right. I hated it, but he was right.

"So I can't be a shut-in Luna?" I tried to joke, but part of me wasn't joking.

Before he could respond, there was a muffled conversation with someone else. "No you can't be," he tried to sound light, but there was something heavy in his voice. Something was wrong. "I've got to go. Just another meeting, don't worry."

"Okay, see you later," I said, hoping he would tell me when later would be.

"Yes, bye." The call ended abruptly.

Leon's POV

"How can you be sure?" I asked Darren. He appeared winded. He must have run here as soon as he got word. We had a meeting scheduled, but he showed up early. We were going to discuss Audrey's results and when to head back to Ryker's old lab to gather the rest of the files since they have proven useful thus far.

"My informant is trustworthy," was his short response as he stepped up to my desk.

"How trustworthy? I can't use this information if there is any possibility of it being false," I stressed. I needed to be as close to a hundred percent sure as possible.

"I would put my life in his paws," he responded confidently.

I mulled over his words, debating if I should believe him or not. He may trust the wolf, but it doesn't mean I would. "Please, Alpha, you can trust my informant. We must act fast. My father will act quickly, especially with the pack perceived as weakened to the world."

I rubbed my hands over my face, exhausted. Everything had just started to fall into place. The special wolves had a home that the pack appeared happy and comfortable with. It took a bit of persuasion, but everyone agreed to let them stay. They feared them, understandably. Everyone fears the unknown. Then we had just finished rebuilding everything that had been destroyed when Ryker came. Schools will open back up tomorrow. All students have now been informed and the teachers are prepared for them. Yet now, Alpha James was coming.

"Fine, I trust you," I finally responded. "How long do we have?"

"According to my informant, we have a month or two at most. He had already begun preparations." His words hit hard. We needed more time. We needed not to have another battle. This was too soon.

"First, take a few warriors with you and gather the remaining files for the special wolves. We need to know all there is about them and their powers. Stan and the head warrior will help to prepare the warriors. Aside from those I have informed, I want to keep this under wraps for a little longer. Confirm again with your informant and then I'll prepare the pack," I told him. There was so much to do.

"Right away, Alpha," he responded with a bow. "I will report back once I have completed the mission."

"Good, make sure to deliver the documents to Dr. Richard." I would need to tell Dr. Richard to compile all the documents. I would also need him to write a report for Audrey that I could go over once I set all the wheels in motion for a possible coming war.

"I will personally deliver them," he stated proudly.

"Thank you," I said as I motioned him away. He bowed and then left.

The door closed behind him and I immediately linked Stan along with the head warrior. Instead of bringing them in, I gave them the information while we linked and made sure they understood the necessity of keeping things quiet for the time being. There came another knock at the door. "Come in," I called, praying the Moon Goddess was not sending another complication to getting the pack running properly again.

The door opened to reveal Nova. Her cheeks were red and she appeared worried. Quickly, I was out of my seat and standing next to her. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing..." she whispered nervously.

"Why are you so worried?" I tried to read her expression, but she was giving me mixed signals.

She appeared to be searching for the words to say but was struggling. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"I don't want to go to school. I'm scared," she responded in a hushed tone.

I pulled her into the office, closed the door and sat her down on the sofa. Taking a moment, I tried hard not to laugh. Out of everything that had happened today, this was the easiest. "Nova, I know it seems scary, but it won't be as bad as you imagined," I comforted her. I sat down next to her and she leaned into me. Within seconds, I felt her relax.

"It's hard though. I don't know anyone," she worried. "I mean, I don't remember anyone."

She was about to tears. "Love, please, don't worry about it. You are a future Luna. The pack will respect you." I placed my arm over her shoulder and pulled her in closer. Her presence was calming. It helped me to think more clearly.

"Go to school too," she begged.

I laughed this time. I couldn't help it. "I wish, but I'm just about done with all my courses and the pack needs a full-time Alpha."

She let out a sigh. She was displeased, but she accepted my answer. "Okay. Can we still have our dates?"

"Of course!"

"You won't be too busy?"

"For you, never." I tried to reassure her.

"Good," she sighed.

We sat together for a long while. I felt at peace with her next to me. But I could also feel her anxiety. She was scared and worried. I knew that. However, she is strong. I know she is. She will be fine. "Link me whenever you need me," I encouraged her, hoping it would ease her fears at least a little.

"I will," she responded. Her voice sounded lighter. The tension left her body and she truly relaxed into me.

Slowly, I leaned over and kissed her. It was instinctive. It was perfect. Her lips on my lips. Her body was so close to my own. I felt a ripple of pleasure pass through my body. She deepened the kiss as she came impossibly closer to me. Blaze was howling in my head, making it harder to focus and keep my thoughts straight. Just as she began to shift positions, someone knocked on the door. She was quickly off me and sitting on the other end of the couch. Groaning internally, I called whoever it was. It was my mother. She turned to face me, her eyes suggesting she was completely aware of what she had just interrupted.

"Nova, sweetheart, it is so good to see you. We must catch up soon. However, I do need to speak with my son in private," she said as she stood in the doorway waiting for Nova to take her leave.

"I'll call you later," I promised her.

"Okay," she responded to me. "Nice to see you as well, Luna Lily," she bowed to my mother before she exited.

My mother closed the door and motioned for me to sit at my desk. "This is a matter for the Alpha," she informed me.

Sure what's one more matter? We have a possible war heading our way. We still need to go over all the special wolves' files. My mate is going back to school with people she doesn't remember. "What has happened?" I questioned, praying it was as simple as my mate's fear of going to school.

"It's the special wolves. I've been informed that they are becoming restless, understandably so. The older wolves understand the need to remain in their designated area for the time being. However, the pups do not. We need to boost the packs' view of them quickly," she told me.

"I am working on it, but it's not so easy to make it understood they intend us no harm," I responded. Audrey had already come to me a few times about this matter. It wasn't new.

She finally sat down with a thoughtful expression. “We should host a festival,” she said, a smile spreading across her lips.

“Now? A festival?” I thought my head was going to split.

“Honey, what's wrong?” she asked with worry in her voice.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose while I debated whether to confide in her or not. I didn't know if I wanted to burden my mother. I was taking care of it as it was.

“Please, you can tell me,” she urged.

“Okay. Darren got word from an informant inside his father's pack that they are preparing for war since word has gotten out about our fight with Ryker damaging not only our numbers but our reputation,” I finished, leaning back in my chair feeling overwhelmed.

Taking a deep breath, she sat up straighter, her eyes shining with the promise of a plan in the works. “We will put on the festival. It will boost pack morale as well as bring the new special wolves together with the rest of the pack. We can prepare for war in the shadows of preparing for this festival. I will take charge of it with the help of your mate,” she smiled, happily.

“If you think it's what's best for the pack, however, I can't be sure of when Alpha James plans to attack,” I wanted to impress on her that time was of the essence. It would be ridiculous if we were caught up in a war while also having a festival.

“Just leave it all to me. I will have everything prepared by the end of the week. It will be played as a festival to help celebrate the rebuilding of the pack and welcoming our new wolves,” she assured me.

“Fine, but as promised, end of week.” She nodded, standing up excitedly. “I will speak with Nova today.”

This would be good for Nova. She would get to work alongside my mother and learn how to be a Luna while getting back into pack life. “I'll call her now,” I told my mother.

“No, no, I will go speak with her promptly,” she smiled. “Let me surprise her.”