The Beta's Justice

Chapter 30

Alpha James

“It must be very relaxing to be the leader of Crimson Fang,” I mumbled in thought as I looked over the photos from the festival that had been handed to me.

As I scanned through the photos, I continued to see a large building in the background of many of the photos. It appeared to be recently built. "Are there any photos of inside this facility?" I questioned as I pointed to the building.

The wolf in front of me appeared nervous with sweat beginning to start beading down from his forehead. "We weren't able to get inside," he informed me, fear in his voice.

"Why were you unable to enter the building? I can see in this photo that wolves are going inside," I pointed out as I slid the photo over to him.

"They only allowed so many wolves in. They met capacity and so we were turned away," he explained, nervously.

"Why not just go in?" I glared at him.

He shrunk back in fear. "They allowed appeared suspicious of us. We didn't want to blow our cover," he responded, his gaze pleading for me to understand.

"Get out," I barked at him. Useless, all of them.

I threw down the pictures and stood. I was about to step around my desk when I saw something in one of the photos. Darren. A smile spread across my lips. Settling back down onto my chair, I picked up the phone and dialed his number. It rang a few times before he finally answered. "Hello?" he said, confused.

"Hello, son." Our conversation came to a stop. I needed him to carry on the conversation. I needed it to appear as though this were an innocent call.

"Father, why have you called?" he questioned. He seemed on edge.

"Can't a father call his son to ensure he is okay?" I feigned sadness at his disrespectful tone.

He let out a sigh. "Father's can, but not mine. You are calling because you want something."

"I only called to check on you. We are not in the same pack anymore. How can I keep tabs on you if I don't call?" I continued to try and sound as a good father would. It was disgusting.

"I'm fine," he responded flatly.

"And your mate?" I pressed.

"She is well and happy," he responded shortly. I knew he wanted off the call, but out of what little respect he still had for me, he didn't hang up.

"When do you intend to return?"

"Why? Are you planning on stepping down?" He shot back quickly.

"Not quite yet."

"Then I'll be here until my mate comes of age. Then we will speak about what she wants to do," he spoke in a monotone voice.

"Son, you are the future Alpha. She would be a fool not to want to be a Luna," I spoke, trying hard not to laugh out of disbelief.

I could hear his anger before he spoke. "If she wants to be Luna, then I will make her one. However, if she doesn't, I will find a way for your pack to move on without me."

"How dare you even think of giving up the great honor of being Alpha," I growled at him about to lose my temper.

"Father, if there is nothing more, I am actually very busy," he informed me.

"If you are not the Alpha or the Beta or any wolf of rank in that pack, what could you possibly be doing?" I snapped at him.

"My mate is the sister to the acting Beta. She has responsibilities and aids her in them." It was sickening to hear him speak as though he followed a she-wolf around like a lost pup.

"Come back home. Learn to be Alpha and take over," I offered him. "It will give you more purpose."

"I have a purpose here!" He responded harshly.

"What? Following a she-wolf around like a pup?!" I responded, knowing I was getting closer to him slipping up and telling me something useful.

"There are pups here without parents. We are taking care of them while getting other families back on their feet after what this pack has been through," he nearly yelled at me.

"Charity work. How charming," I responded sarcastically.

"Father, I'm very busy. I need to go." He was finally at the end of his patience.

"That's right, be the good little dog," I said snidly.

"As usual, such a great talk," he said before he hung up.

The line went dead. He said everything I needed him to. I could now devise that the new building was built for those who seemed to be in need of charity. That pack was in pieces. It was time for me to make my move.

“Beta get your ass in here!” I hollered.

Darren's POV

I was about to throw my phone when Audrey grabbed my hand. "What's wrong?" She asked with worry in her gaze.

Looking around, I remember where I was. Lila had hidden behind Audrey and was peeking out at me, fear showing in her gaze. I took a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry. It was my father." I let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh," she said as she took my hand and my phone from it. "Let's go get something to eat and sit down," she offered.

"Didn't we just eat?" I asked, confused as to why she wanted to eat again.

"We did, but I saw something else I wanted to try." She smiled up at me, melting away the tension in my shoulders.

"Lila, do you want something else, too?" I questioned, hoping she would come out from behind Audrey and the fear would leave her eyes.

She peered at me nervously for a moment before she stepped out. "I want the same as Audrey," she spoke in a quiet tone.

Bending down, I crouched in front of her so we were eye to eye. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm not mad at you or Audrey. My father just knows how to push my buttons." I hoped my words gave her some sense of relief.

She was silent for a moment or two before a smile crept across her face. "You know, if you're really sorry, you should let me play more games." I saw a mischievous glint in her gaze. She was back.

"Am I that sorry?" I pondered out loud as I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

"I really think you are," she told me in a more serious tone.

"Audrey, am I that sorry?" I asked as I peered up at her. Her gaze was full of love and admiration. It was all for me. My heart warmed.

"Oh, I don't know," she started as she checked her watch. "I suppose you could be though," she finished with a sweet smile.

"I guess I am that sorry," I chuckled. "Why don't we get some more food and then we can play three more games."

"Four," Lila quickly said.

"Two," I countered.

"Fine, three," she grumbled.

"Let's go," I said as I took Lila and Audrey's hands. We walked through the crowds heading toward the food court.

Audrey directed us to a pretzel stand. She adamantly declared pretzels should always be eaten at a festival and that every dip available was also necessary to complete the experience. I peered down at my wallet as, they at, thank the Moon Goddess I had thought to put some extra cash in otherwise, I would have too grumpy she-wolves on my hands.

"Why did he call?" Audrey asked, bringing me back to the festival.

"Who?"

"Your father," she said as she took a piece of pretzel and dipped it into the cheese.

I thought for a moment, debating on how I should respond. "He was checking up on me or so he was trying to make me believe."

"What did he really want then?" She continued to dip pieces of her pretzel into the various dips. Lila watched her and dipped her piece into the same dish each time.

"I think he was fishing for information. But I'm not sure what," I sighed. My father was. However, when he wanted something, he was determined to get it no matter what.

"Is he coming?" She suddenly asked.

"Not yet. I don't think," I told her. But my wolf agreed with her. Why else would he call?

"It won't be long," she speculated.

"What are you two talking about?" Whined Lila. At this point, some of the dip which didn't make it into her mouth was over her face.

I couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips. "I would tell you, but since you are still eating like a child, I can't," I teased her.

"I'm not a child," she muttered.

I took a quick photo of her and then showed her a picture. "A child has food on their face," I told her with a smile.

She grabbed a napkin and cleaned her face before she spoke again. "Audrey has sauce on her face too. Does that make her a child like me?" She pointed out as she set down her pretzel and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for my response.

Looking over at Audrey, I saw she had some sauce on her chin. She quickly took a napkin and wiped it away. "What sauce?" She asked, trying hard not to burst out laughing from the expression Lila was giving her.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk, tell me, but if you want me to stop asking, you will need to let me play four games," she declared as she shoved the last piece of her pretzel into her mouth and stood.

Chuckling, I stood with her. "I suppose that's not a bad price to pay." Audrey cleared the table as Lila pulled me toward the first stall.

Over the next hour, we played four different games and then my wallet was truly empty. "One more snack," Lila begged as she looked up at me with her puppy dog eyes.

I checked my watch and then shook my head. "Nope, it's time you went to bed," I responded.

"Just a little longer. It's Friday night," she pressed hard to try and stay up later.

"You've got two shows to put on tomorrow. You need to be rested," I told her with a smile.

She peered up at me, pouting. "Fine," she muttered.

We took her back to the training facility and climbed up the stairs until we reached the boarding floor. Audrey helped her get ready for bed and then we both went into her room. Audrey read her a story and we wished her a good night's sleep. Soon we would be adopting her and we wouldn't have to leave her here in this kind of dorm. She will come to live with us. There was more than enough room on the Beta floor where we stayed. My mind drifted to my pack. She would have an even better life with me standing as the Alpha. But right now, I couldn't take them there. Not yet.

Nova's POV

My performance went well. Leon seemed so proud. Luna Lily appeared to stand taller after. I lay in bed reliving the performance and my night with Leon. It was magical as we walked under the lights, played games in the stalls, and ate so many different types of food that I was sure I wouldn't eat again for the weekend.

"Let's go out!" Sky said as she pranced in my head.

"Go out? We just got in," I responded, feeling more than exhausted.

"I want to run," she whispered. She was trying to sound sad so I would pity her and let her out. "You can sleep while I run," she offered.

"Where are you planning to run to? Or maybe you are running to a wolf." I laughed.

"What are you talking about?" I felt her trying to act as though she were just trying to get fresh air.

"Are you sure you didn't set up a rendezvous with a certain wolf?" I pressed, unable to stop the smile that spread across my lips.

"Possibly," she responded, still trying to be cryptic.

"Fine," I agreed as I rolled out of bed and got dressed.

I pushed open my window and crawled out. "Take over," I told her as I set a change of clothes just outside of my window and another next to the first tree of the forest line.

She gladly took over and before I knew it, we were racing through the trees. This was the first time we had shifted and run around. Was it the first time? I can't remember. It felt so good to feel the grass beneath my paws and the wind in my fur. It felt as though I were truly alive.

We ran for another five or ten minutes before Ski came to a stop in a clearing. There was a lake off to the side and a group of trees nearby. The moon glistened off the water, reflecting in the rippling water. It was soothing in an almost majestic way. Suddenly, I saw a shadow across the lake. The silhouette appeared familiar, but it also made her nervous.

“Ski, are you sure this is where you are supposed to meet him?” I asked, worried.

“That's Blaze. Can't you smell him?”

I stopped and sniffed the air with Ski. She was right. The scent was exactly the same as Leon's. Ski laughed lightly at my worry and then walked toward the lake. She howled to Blaze and then we both waited as he strode around the lake until he stood directly in front of us. “I suggest you take a nap,” Ski giggled as she nuzzled Blaze.

“No, s*x,” I reminded her. “Not until Leon and I have,” I added.

“Yea, yea, such a spoilsport,” she muttered.

I trusted her, I truly did, but sometimes her responses made it hard for me to fully trust her without worrying. “Really, I won't do anything. We're just going to play,” she promised.

“Okay.” I felt more at ease with her promise.

* * *

Morning light came in through the window and I felt completely at ease. I felt warmth in my heart. Then I realized I felt warmth from someone next to me. Suddenly, I jolted up. Next to me lay Leon. Filled with shock, I fell out of bed. I hit the floor hard. Looking down, I feared I wasn't wearing anything, but I was fully clothed. I felt myself relax ever so slightly.

I heard Leon begin to stir, yawning, and stretching. Then he also shot up in bed. “Where am I?” He had never been in my room before.

“My room,” I squeaked.

He leaned over the bed and looked down at me on the floor. “Did you fall asleep on the floor?”

I shook my head. “No, I was in bed too. I just fell out of bed,” I told her.

“Oh...” he responded, clearly as confused as I was.

“How did we get here?” I asked.

“I assume our wolves brought us back here.”

“Wouldn't we have woken up when we shifted back?”

“Usually, but sometimes, wolves could maintain consciousness while in human form,” he said as he looked around her room, studying it.

I nodded. It made sense. “Okay, so our wolves just decided to sleep in bed together.” I was more talking to myself than to him.

“Seems so,” he responded as he got out of bed and then helped me up.

When our hands touched, I felt electricity. Then, without thought, I pushed up on my toes and pressed my lips to his. He was shocked at first and then he fell into the kiss, deepening it. His arms wrapped around me and I placed my arms around his neck. I felt whole and at peace. I had never felt this before and I didn't want this feeling to ever leave. We must have been kissing for at least five minutes. With each passing second, I felt the kiss deepen and my heart calling for him. I was ready.

Before we could do anything more, there was a knock at my bedroom door. “Sweetheart, are you awake?” I heard Mom's sing-song morning voice.

Quickly, I pulled away from Leon, straightened my clothes, and tried to appear presentable. “Yes, I'm awake,” I responded, trying not to sound out of breath.

“Breakfast is ready. Come out when you are. Oh, and tell Leon he is invited as well. No need to sneak out the window,” she said through the door.

I looked over my shoulder to see Leon at the window, looking back at me sheepishly, almost comically so. “Okay,” I said back, trying not to sound so guilty, but not succeeding.

“See you two soon,” Mom said before she walked away.

We both listened as her footsteps got further and further away. Then I turned to look at him, sure my cheeks were red as tomatoes. “I'm going to change,” I whispered.

“Oh, okay. Should I go out?” he asked nervously.

“No, just look at the door,” I instructed.

He went over to the door and faced it. I grabbed some clothes from the dresser and then quickly changed into a summer dress with a cardigan. The dress was covered with sunflowers and the cardigan was a light brown to match the center of the sunflowers. “Done,” I informed him.

Leon slowly turned around and then I watched as a smile spread across his lips. “You look beautiful,” he told me.

My cheeks reddened impossibly more. “Thanks, but I haven't done my hair or makeup yet.”

He walked over to me with an intense look in his eyes. “You don't need to do anything more,” he said as he brushed his lips against mine. My body felt as though it were lit on fire and all I wanted to do was truly become one with him, but my parents were in the kitchen waiting for us.

Leon placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me gently back. “Not now, but soon,” he promised as he kissed my forehead and then went to the door. He opened it for me to walk out.

I strode past him and he followed me down the hallway. We went into the dining room and sat down. “Leon,” Ben started as he spooned eggs onto his plate, letting Leon's name hang in the air.