The Beta's Second Chance

Into the Chaos

Ivy

We were up before dawn, in my father’s office, bags packed and leaning against the wall. Khason, dressed in a tight white V-neck that clung to his torso, ripped light-washed jeans, a dark green flannel, and a light grey beanie, was outlining our chosen path to the Alphas, the wavy locks of his rusty hair falling into his eyes. I watched him surreptitiously. He had not sought me out the night before, despite my waiting up for him. Eventually, I had fallen asleep. We still had details to discuss, but it would have to wait until we began our journey.

I remained mostly silent. I was still furious with my father, who seemed more than content to let me remain that way. This morning, my mother’s room had been empty and dark. Clearly, her arguments had been as fruitless as I’d expected.

“With any luck, we’ll be on Crescent’s doorstep by the start of the fourth week. We’ll try to shave off some time in Nightfall, but we don’t want to push too hard, just in case.” He glanced at me, confirming if he’d missed any details. I simply dipped my chin in affirmation.

Dawson rubbed his silver-coated chin with a slight frown. “It’s a long time. More than we want to spend. But it makes sense. You two need to be gone long enough to establish yourselves as rogues, to be believable.”

“And you are certain-” My father said quietly to Alpha Dawson. “That Christiano Dahms has never met your Beta, seen him before?”

Dawson shook his head, his hair falling into his face before he shoved it back. He looked even more exhausted than Khason did. “Even I’ve only met him once. He won’t know my Beta.”

Obviously, he wouldn’t know me. Not that anyone asked.

“Alright. We need to get out before the dawn rises, put enough distance from us under the cover of night that your proximity to the Summer Hunt pack lands won’t be suspicious to prying eyes. Noble and I will drive you both into Blood Moon territory and then, head east and make for the Nightfall boarder.”

“And then, into the chaos.”

Dawson rolled his eyes. “You’ll be in Morson’s lands for at least a week or more, not exactly no man’s land.”

“Uninhabited lands, hours from him or you or anyone. We’ll be just as much on our own there as in any other lands. Unless, of course, we run into other rogues. Or worse, scouts.”

I tried not to fidget. I just wanted to get this over with. I exhaled and felt Khason’s eyes snap to me. I refused to lift mine to him.

“Alright. If there’s nothing else, we should be off. I’ll debrief you on what we have on Christiano and his pack on the way, but most of it you know. It’ll take us a few hours to get into Blood Moon. Let’s make the most of it.”

I finally looked up at my father. I don’t know what I was expecting. A hug? A smile? This might very well be the last time he’d see me alive. “…Baba?” I breathed as Dawson, Khason, Beta Forrest and the Blood Moon Gamma started for the door, in their own discussions. I hadn’t called him that since I was a child.

His dark eyes flicked up to scan my face. His was inscrutable. I wondered what he was thinking. Would he miss me? Did it pain him to send me? Was he scared of losing his first born child?

After a very long moment, his face hardened again. He inclined his head, slowly, almost a small bow. “I know you will do your duty.” He said simply. “May the Moon Mother’s will guide your fate.”

Not ‘I love you’. Not ‘Be careful’. Not ‘I’ll miss you’. Not even a ‘farewell’.

I stared at my father for what could quite possibly be the last time. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d held me. Touched me even. Had he ever? Had he carried me in his arms as a baby? Placed me on his shoulders as a child? Had he held my hands and taught me to walk? Had he crooned to me, coaxed me into my first words? Had he ever laughed with me, played with me, taught me? Had he…cared about me? Ever?

Something as hard as stone took form in the space below my sternum. Something that was once empty and yearning turned cold and unyielding in that moment. And I gave my father a curt bow.

“Yes, Alpha.” Was all I said, before turning on my heel and following the others out of the room.

The Blood Moon Gamma, Noble, held my backpack as they gathered in the foyer. I moved forward to take it from him as I heard my name called from above.

I turned to see my sister barrelling down the stairs, still in her frilly pink pajamas. My mother descended behind her, in a pale yellow dress.

Faith launched herself into my arms, sobbing, and I gripped her tight. “Don’t go, Vivi! Please don’t go!”

I pressed my face into her hair as her tears dampened the front of my white Henley. “I have to, Fay. I’m so sorry, but I have to.” I moved to release her, but she shook her head, her braids slapping the sides of my denim jacket.

“No!” She squeezed me tighter as my mother finally reached us. Her face was tight, eyes shining as she touched my sister’s back.

“Faith.” She said simply.

“Nooo…” My sister whined, stomping her foot like a child. I sighed, looking at my mother.

“Faith, enough.” Her tone was sterner now, leaving no room for argument.

Wailing now, my sister reluctantly pulled away from me, looking pitiful as she stood there in the dim lobby.

My mother stepped closer, and I went willingly into her arms. “I…am sorry.” She breathed, and I could hear the pain and sadness and regret in her voice. “Your father, he…”

“It’s alright, Mae. I understand. Phaw is doing what he thinks is best for the pack. This is my duty. It’s…all I can offer my wolves. So, I’m happy to go. To do what I can for Summer Hunt.”

My mother’s arms tightened around me, and she inhaled shakily. “You shouldn’t have to.” She hissed into my ear, quiet but filled with intensity. She pulled back, cupping my face in her hands, her dark eyes furious. “It should not always be you who has to bear the weight of everything. If only I’d been able to give him a son…”

I stiffened. Because that was what it all boiled down to. I’d had the nerve to be born female. And after four failed pregnancies, my mother had dared to give my father yet another daughter, before being told that any further attempts to conceive would be impossible. Her greatest failing: being unable to provide a male heir to succeed my father. My greatest failing: being unwilling to marry one.

“This is not on you, Mae. The Mother decided the path of our lives long before we arrived on this Earth. We have no choice but to walk it. And I will do so, with my head high, and make our enemies tremble before me.”

A slight smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “So strong, my lûuk sǎao. My warrior daughter. You have the heart of a wolf. But…don’t forget that that heart was meant to do more than just be strong.” Her eyes flicked behind me, to where I was all too aware of Khason’s presence, near, but giving me space.

I scowled. “Not now, Mae.” I hissed.

She smiled in full now and leaned in to kiss my brow. “Then when, Ivy?” I blinked. I had no answer for that. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I responded.

Too long. I’d lingered too long. It was time to go. Reluctantly, I pulled away from my mother. I noted my father, standing in the doorway of his office, eyes on his mate. He’d likely listened to every word she’d spoken. Felt her turmoil. Did he care about that? About anything but honour and glory, and the fate of the pack?

I waved one last time at my sister, who waved back, still sobbing dramatically. I turned to find that only Khason remained in the house, the others having gone out to the car. His eyes were not on me though, but on my mother. I stilled as she crossed towards him, slow but sure. He didn’t move an inch, though his brows lifted in surprise.

She raised her hand, reaching up to press her fingers to his forehead. “K̄hx mæ̀ p̄hū̂ yìng h̄ıỵ̀ xwyphr kār deinthāng k̄hxng khuṇ.” She murmured. Then she inclined her head in a small, graceful bow, and shepherded my weeping sister back up the stairs, coldly ignoring my father entirely.

Khason’s baffled silver eyes now met mine as he shifted his pack higher on his shoulder. “Did I…just get cursed?”

I fought a laugh. “Blessed actually. She said, ‘May the great mother bless your journey’. It’s a standard farewell for us.” And it meant it was time to get our asses in gear. I nodded towards the door, and he stepped through it. I gave a final glance over my shoulder at my home, my eyes landing on my father’s. I might have been imagining it, but I could have sworn that there was worry in his tight, dark eyes. But he nodded at me, face set, and I returned the gesture.

K̄hx mæ̀ p̄hū̂ yìng h̄ıỵ̀ xwyphr kār deinthāng k̄hxng khuṇ.

The drive up into Blood Moon took longer than normal. Khason explained that we were not taking the most direct route, in case eyes were on us. On the way, Dawson gave us all of the information he had on Christiano and the Crescent Moon pack.

“As far as I know, Christiano’s father was just as much of an evil bastard as his son. If not more. Spent years abusing him and his mother until one day he eventually killed her. Killed Christiano’s mate too, when he was just nineteen. Claimed she was unworthy to be Luna of the pack. It probably eradicated any decency that the male had left in him.”

Khason tensed beside me in the back seat and I looked at him. His back was rigid as he looked forward through the windshield, his metallic eyes far away. Instinct had me reaching for him, brushing my pinky against his elbow. By the time he blinked and turned in my direction, I had already snatched my hand back, my face flaming.

Stupid… I admonished myself. Get a grip, Ivy.

“Sources say that Christiano then challenged his father for the Alpha title. It was a brutal, vicious fight, but Christiano won, killing his father and claiming his title. From then on, he’s ruled Crescent Moon like a tyrant, determined to prove himself the best, most ruthless Alpha there is. All he cares about is increasing his territory and making himself the most powerful Alpha possible.”

Khason snorted darkly. “So this fight with Summer Hunt is just a stepping stone. Won’t be long before he comes for us all.”

“Summer Hunt is a small pack, but with great lands and resources. Christiano will seek to claim both. And doing so will grant him far too much power for my tastes. It stands to reason that if he takes Summer Hunt, he’ll turn his eyes to Nightfall next. He’d be an i***t to turn south and assume that Morson and I would not plan any sort of pre-emptive attack.”

“So that’s why you’re helping us.” I murmured, crossing my arms over my chest. “To save your own asses. To keep Christiano off your doorstep.”

Dawson levelled me with an unabashed, humourless look in the rear-view mirror. He remained silent long enough that I had to fight the urge to shift in discomfort. “I hear you too have aspirations of leading one day.”

Irritation flooded me. How was this becoming public knowledge? “What of it?”

“An Alpha knows to always place the well being of their pack above all else. Yes, I am entirely focused on ensuring war does not come to Blood Moon. As their Alpha, it is my top priority. But that does not negate the fact that helping Summer Hunt, as allies, is the right thing to do. Saving innocent wolves' lives is the right thing to do. But at no small inconvenience to me, be well aware.” His voice was stern and hard. Not cold, but completely unyielding. There was no mistaking his meaning.

I’m laying my ass on the line for you, so at least show some gratitude.

I looked callously away from his piercing eyes in the mirror, gazing out the window at the passing trees, growing denser and taller the further north we travelled.

Silence prevailed in the car for long enough that I glanced back to see Khason’s eyes glazed over. So were Dawson’s and Noble’s. So, they were having a private conversation. My temper flared and I returned my eyes to the trees. So much for the team Khason and I were supposed to be forming.

Dawson cleared his throat. “Continuing on. Strengths and Weaknesses. Strengths: well, Christiano’s pack is large, male-dominated and ruthless. He has trained his wolves from puppyhood to be merciless warriors, most willing to use tactics that would just not occur to other wolves. They will torture, maim and kill, just for fun. And they have no fear of death, so they will take risks that one would not imagine either. That being said, Christiano values his numbers. He does not want to lose wolves if he does not have to, so he is tactical and precise with his battles. Which is why, I imagine, it’s taken him so long to inch his way into Summer Hunt. He didn’t want to face you in an all-out war. No, instead he chose to circle your boarders and pick off your fighters in small skirmishes. Reducing your numbers before making a final attack.”

My stomach clenched. That meant such an attack was not far off.

“Christiano also has gifts. Increased strength, beyond that of other wolves. And he…well it is rumoured…that he has the ability to…extract strength from other wolves…by drinking their blood.”

That got me. I gaped. “So…what, he’s a vampire wolf?”

Khason grinned. “You should ask him.”

“I’m sure you’re intelligent enough to figure this out, but you should endeavour not to get close enough to figure out if that one is true. You’ll have to play a part in order to be accepted by his pack. Weakness, mercy, kindness, they are not traits that are respected within Crescent Moon. You will need to be seen as just as strong, as vicious as his wolves. Make yourselves assets. More useful alive than fun to kill. You’ll need to make yourselves seem vital enough to gain an audience with Christiano in the first place, instead of his wolves just destroying you on sight.”

“We’re supposed to be rogues…” I met Khason’s eyes. “What could we possibly offer him that would make us more useful alive than dead?”

Khason shrugged. “Let’s hope we have some time to think about it.”

“You're both capable fighters. That’s a start, at least.” Dawson handed a file over to his Beta, presumably filled with all of the information he’d given us. “We’re close now. Do you two have your backstory down?”

I nodded. “Handled.”

“What about communication?”

Khase raised an eyebrow. “I mean…we’re not the most verbose, but I think for what the job entails…”

Dawson silenced him with a glance. “You’re rogues, Khase. You wouldn’t be wandering around in skin. But you’re from different packs. How will you communicate in fur?”

Khase blinked, and I was just as stunned for not thinking of a solution to that problem before now. For it was indeed a problem.

“You’re both highly intelligent. I’m sure you see the obvious answer to that problem.” I stiffened. It seemed like the Blood Moon Alpha was a bit of a busybody. “We’re within my territory now. We’ll let you out here.”

The car turned down a random dirt road, and wound down a few miles, the uneven ground causing us to bounce around in the back seat, Khason’s head almost hitting the grey roof. Finally, Noble stopped the car and we slipped out.

Dawson did not get out, but extended a hand out the window to his Beta. I looked away at the emotion in his eyes. I did not want to invade their private moment.

To my surprise, Noble wound down his window, beckoning me over. “…Ivy, right?” His quiet voice was low and gravelly, like the sound of rocks sliding down a mountain. I nodded. “Look…he’s a bonehead. A cocky, brash, impulsive i***t with far too much temper and far too little caution. But he has a good heart. He’s smart, and kind and…he’s a good male. A great one. One of the best I’ve ever known, honestly. I…owe him a lot so…do me a favor, okay? Just…try not to let him get killed? When he opens that big mouth of his to say something supremely stupid, just…kick him in the ‘nads.”

I snorted, a smile crossing my face. “I’ll be sure to tell him it was under your instruction.”

He shrugged. “As long as it keeps him alive.” He glanced over his shoulder at the others. Their relationship was so odd…so different than anything I knew. They were more than ranked comrades. They acted like…brothers. All of them. I wondered how they had gotten that way. “You can trust him, you know. He’ll always do what’s best for you.”

My smile faded. That wasn’t his job, doing what was best for me. It was mine.

With no more than an inclination of my head, I grabbed my pack from the trunk and stepped off of the road, into the dense trees.

Khason took a second to say goodbye to Noble, before grabbing his pack and following. He paused, watching as the car pulled away and started bouncing down the road again. I watched his face. Warring emotions flashed in his silver eyes. His throat bobbed.

I was touching his arm before I could help myself. And then we were both gazing at the place where I made contact with him, unable to let go.

“You’ll see them again.” I said quietly, meeting his eyes again. They were too intense. Too full of…something. I dropped my hand and turned towards the trees. “We should get moving.”