The Beta's Second Chance

A Visitor

Khason

I bolted upright, heart pounding, sheets soaked. I barely managed to untangle myself from them and sprint across the room to the bathroom before my stomach was upending itself, expelling the meager dinner I’d choked down the night before. Gasping for air, I clutched the cool sides of the toilet, my body shaking.

Teeth, closing around my throat…choking on my own blood as it poured down my chest…Gaia’s scream as the world dimmed…as I fell, and fell and kept falling, into darkness, into black, into cold, silent, terrifying nothing…

I wretched again, bringing up nothing but bile from my now empty stomach. I spat bitterly, and flushed, collapsing back against the wall of the bathroom.

It had been months. f*****g months. Why the hell was I still tormented like this? Wasn’t living it bad enough? Why did I have to experience it over and over? Like my dreams were no longer just pantomimes of my imagination, but some living, independent creature, hell bent on torturing me.

My limbs were weak with exhaustion as I pushed myself up an eternity later and stumbled to the sink to brush my teeth. I glanced back into my bedroom at the clock. Almost five am…I’d only gone to bed at two. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck.

I rinsed my mouth out and, knowing I wouldn’t be falling asleep again, showered the sticky sweat from my body.

My mind bounced across another dream I’d had. A memory of frolicking in the ocean waves. Smaller…a pup. With a large, copper-colored she-wolf watching me, maternally, prancing around with me. I knew her…she was my mother. And yet…she was absolutely not my mother. Not my memory…not my dream.

I shook the odd thought from my mind. Lack of sleep was starting to affect me. My brain was slow, my body tiring much faster than normal. And I was starting to have the most bizarre f*cking sense that…my dreams were not mine. But I had no idea what to do about it. The last time I’d slept through the night was…

Visions of Ivy’s body wrapped around mine flashed through my mind. Her writhing against me, grinding herself on me, climaxing with her chocolate eyes burning deep into mine.

I was instantly hard, my erection bobbing in front of me as I padded naked back into my room. I’d jerked off to the memory countless times in the days since. hell, I had last night. But, if possible, things had gotten even worse between us. She rarely conceded to even remain in the same room as me, unless her father demanded it. During training she circled the opposite side of the training yard, refusing to even meet my eyes.

'This was a mistake. A huge f*****g mistake…' Mother’s ass, she sure knew how to rip a heart out. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had managed to say something that actually got past the wall of bravado I’d built around my heart years ago. But damnit, I’d let my f*cking guard down when she’d kissed me.

I’d made sure it was her and not me who initialized the contact. Had to be sure that she felt it…wanted me the way I f*cking craved her. And she did. It was obvious in the desperation of that kiss, the crushing relief of our contact.

It was the hardest I’d c*m in years, in my pants like a teenager. It didn’t matter. I’d felt her shuddering, climaxing, drenching my crotch with her juices, and I’d f*cking lost it.

I knew it was just as incredible for her. Of course it was. We were mates. Made for each other. So why the hell was she working so hard to push me away? I’d ask if I could get her to f*cking talk to me.

I’d forgotten. How it felt to be with the one who was perfect for you. She touched me like she knew my body as well as she knew her own. We fell into perfect sync instantly. Our bodies, heartbeats, souls.

I had more than enough memories of sharing the same unity with Nomi. Crushing guilt threw a blanket of ice over my arousal. Nomi. Was I a d*ck for being so wholly consumed with my second chance mate that I forgot to think of my first? Was she watching from the Otherworld? Did she hate me for being so obsessed with Ivy, comparing our connection to the one I’d had with her?

I conjured an image of her in my mind, as I’d done a million times before. Strawberry blonde hair, sarcastic expression, eyes full of laughter and yet constantly looking at me like I was a loveable dumbass. My heart throbbed. Yes, I still missed her as much as I ever had…Mother above, it was all so confusing.

I was allowing myself to get distracted. I sat at the desk in front of my windows and slid my unfinished training plans towards myself, turning on my desk lamp. I’d started writing out plans to detail the days' lessons. It was my only mode of communication with Ivy, as she’d refused to even speak to me long enough for me to relay those plans. She was a great fighter. Amazing, actually. And a fantastic trainer. I wouldn’t be able to keep up without her help. But it didn’t lessen the sting of being so close, every day, and yet, so far.

By the time I was finished, I could detect the barest lightening of the sky through my perpetually open curtains. Wanting to shake the haunting dreams of the night, I yanked on some sweatpants and went for my morning run.

I had to admit, training was going much faster with Ivy’s help. The recruits were improving. But still, not quite fast enough. The summer sun beat down on us, and I had to keep reluctantly ducking under the shade of the training building before my skin became red and blistered. Ivy faced no such issues, remaining under the sun’s full glare for the entire three hours, her cinnamon skin glistening with only the faintest coating of sweat. I had to fight not to become distracted by the way the light gleamed off of her toned stomach, collarbones, thighs…those dimples above her ass that I burned to kiss…I wondered for the millionth time where she had gotten the small, puckered scar under her shoulder blade…wondered if we’d ever be close enough for her to tell me.

I trudged back to the pack house, my stomach cramping with hunger, but I needed an update from Gage, so it would have to wait. As I jogged up the steps to the door, however, a needling feeling in the base of my skull had me slowing, stopping. I turned slowly, scanning the front gardens, the long, palm-lined drive that rolled all the way down to the thick iron gates at the entrance to the pack house. No deterrence to wolves, of course, but would halt any vehicles that got lost or curious.

Those gates were swinging open now, and I squinted as the heat made the distant ground shimmer and reflect shapes and colours into the air. A car was coming down the lane. The tickling, needling got stronger, even though the car was still miles away.

Footsteps approached from behind and I noted Stohn’s scent. Spicy, like his daughter’s, but much stronger, sharper, deeper, like saffron and tarragon.

Ivy herself was approaching up the walk, her gorgeous face perplexed as she noted me, standing stock still on the front stoop, as her father came up to stand beside me, his beta a step behind.

“Good. You’re both here.” I glanced at Stohn, who’s eyes were also on the car. Ivy looked over her shoulder to note the subject of her father’s attention.

“We have a visitor?” She assumed, stepping up the stairs with us. She slid her hands over her bare, sweaty stomach, likely self-conscious about her appearance. I opened my mouth to reassure her that she looked beautiful and then remembered that such a comment would likely earn me a fist to the teeth.

The tickling feeling was extending, stretching into more of a slight pull…a tether. My confusion turned to elation in an instant as I recognized that pull, that tether…that person.

DAWS?! I threw my thoughts forward, extending them down the long drive down which the car was still only a quarter of the way.

His chuckling mind brushed against mine a second later. What’s up, brother?

I could have done a f*****g backflip.

You asshole…You complete d*ck face!

Well, hello to you too!

Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were coming?

And miss this sweet, loving reaction?

I tried not to bounce with anticipation as the car crept closer. It had been so long, too damn long since I’d seen anyone who truly knew me…I hopped down the stairs to the driveway. I could feel the Lin’s watching me, but I didn’t give a s**t. Dawson was here.

The connection to my Alpha only got stronger as the car approached, the sound of it finally meeting my ears. It seemed to take forever to make it to the house, but an eternity later, the car was slowing, stopping in front of me, and the door pushed open, my cousin stepping out with an ear-to-ear smile.

Unable to help myself, I barrelled into him. He clapped me on my sweaty back, gripping me tight with a laugh.

“Well s**t, don’t bother getting all dressed up for me, Khase.”

“I didn’t know you were coming, jack-off!” I shoved him and he ruffled my damp hair.

“You stop showering since you got down here?”

I couldn’t stop grinning. He looked good. Maybe a tad thinner than when I’d left Blood Moon. Maybe a bit more tense…his eyes more serious, less light. But otherwise healthy! Mother’s t**s, it was good to see him.

Cuffing me on the shoulder, he stepped past to do his actual job and greet Alpha Stohn. Meanwhile, Noble climbed out of the front seat, and I threw my arm around his neck, scrubbing my knuckles against the top of his head. He shoved me off with a laugh, then bumped his fist against mine.

“Damn, I leave for three months, and you get demoted to chauffer? And I thought I was the f*ck up.”

“Eat a d*ck, Vargas.” He muttered with a grin.

“Missed you too, man.”

I looked up to find Ivy staring, no, gaping at me like I’d grown another head. Perfect lips parted in astonishment as she watched my easy comradery with my friends. It was likely she’d never actually seen me…well be me.

I wished she would get to know me for real. Form her opinions based on the truth, rather than her own misconceptions.

I moved back up the stairs to flank Dawson, the position I’d occupied ever since he became Alpha. His right hand. It was like I’d been walking in someone else’s too-tight shoes for months and had finally donned my own again.

“Alpha Stohn. Thank you for having us.” Dawson said formally, extending a hand to shake the other Alpha’s.

“We are honored, Alpha Dawson, to have you.” Stohn replied smoothly, his voice calm and quiet as a gurgling stream, as usual. “This is my Beta, Forrest, and you know my eldest daughter?”

Ivy bent slightly at the waist, looking stiff. “How nice to see you again, Alpha Dawson. I trust your Luna is well?”

Dawson’s back tensed lightly, making me frown. Was something wrong with Gaia? Or was there something I didn’t know about her and Ivy? Clearing his throat, Dawson said, “May I introduce Noble Carrington, my Gamma?”

Noble inclined his head from Dawson’s other side, respectful and far more reserved than anyone else in Dawson’s inner circle. He’d always been that way. You had to draw him out, tease him to grin, to relax, to let loose. Or at least, he’d been that way for the past few years, ever since his mate had reached maturity, breaking up his happy relationship with his fiancée, and pretty much destroying any levity he’d ever possessed. That being said, there was only so much reverence any of us were capable of, save for perhaps Dawson himself.

“Welcome to Summer Hunt. Please, if you’ll accompany me, there is refreshment set out in the Alpha dining room.”

Stohn glanced at me yet again, eyeing my sweaty bare chest and workout pants. I rolled my eyes. Dawson was my Alpha. My cousin. He’d seen me naked more often than he’d seen me clothed. I hardly needed to change for him.

However, when he turned that hard gaze on Ivy, she stiffened, her cheeks pinkening slightly. “If…you’d all excuse me for a moment, I’ll just…go freshen up.”

“I believe your mother was asking for you. You’ll find her in her rooms.” His meaning was clear. Don’t bother coming back.

I stiffened right along with her, my expression only slightly more outraged than hers. But after a moment, she simply bowed and strode off into the house, her ears and neck red with embarrassment.

I itched to smack her father in the back of the head. She was every bit as important as his ever-silent Beta, and he knew it. Why dismiss her, humiliate her like that? Treat her like nothing more than a child?

Trouble in paradise? Dawson asked with a raised brow as we followed Stohn up the stairs, into the mercifully cool house.

I debated how much to say. He just…treats her like a lackey, sometimes.

Oh? And how should he treat her?

I gaped at him. Like his right hand! Like the capable fighter and brilliant strategist, she is! Like his f*****g daughter!

Alright, alright, enough! Relax! We filed into the Alpha dining room, finding a table laden with fruits, cakes and pastries, crackers and cheeses, various sandwiches and pitchers of juices, sides dripping with condensation. My stomach roared. Khason, just because you are hardwired to see the best in her, doesn’t mean Stohn will. Or has to. I’m sure she is capable and intelligent, but she is not his right hand, his Beta is. He is her Alpha and her father, and may rule her in whatever way he wishes. That’s the way it’s always been, and the way it always will be.

But-

Khason. He is her Alpha. And you will not be disrespectful. Fix your face.

I couldn’t believe what a d*ck he was being. I wanted to storm out. To go to her and tell her that my cousin was just as much of an asshat as her father was. But I schooled my features into something less furious, bidden to follow the command of my (asshat) Alpha.

I hope you haven’t been making an i***t of yourself down here. You’re here to help them defend their territory, not to interfere with the Alpha’s choices. Remember, you are a representation of Blood Moon, of me.

I flopped into the chair on his right, ignoring him. I knew he’d ask Stohn for a report, anyway. But if he didn’t trust me, why send me down here? He was acting like he had before he’d found Gaia. Stern, stoic…a d*ck, really. Not exactly what I needed at the moment.

All things considered, this visit was very quickly turning shitty. I snatched up a sandwich, not caring if I was being rude, and crammed it into my mouth.

“I hope your journey was a pleasant one, Alpha Dawson.” Stohn relaxed into his seat and his Beta scooped fruit onto Stohn’s plate. “I was pleased to hear you’d be visiting.”

Dawson gave him an easy, albeit insincere smile. What was up with him? “I wanted to be sure my Beta is being an asset here. And, of course, see if there is anything I can do to be of assistance.”

“We need not get into such matters right away. Please, rest, relax.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Alpha Stohn, but I would be interested in hearing about the state of things. I am afraid I cannot spend more than a couple of days within your lovely lands.”

I snapped my eyes to his. He was leaving so soon? He just got here!

“Hmm. Of course.” Stohn looked disapproving. He plucked up a grape from his plate and waved a hand at his Beta.

“We are facing regular skirmishes on both our eastern and southern borders.” Forrest launched into a very boring debrief and I let my thoughts wander. After all, I knew all of this already.

I wondered what Ivy was doing. Despite my time here, I’d never met her mother. Her sister, Faith, might as well have been a clone of Ivy herself, but her personality was bubbly, girly, effervescent. That difference had to have come from somewhere.

I should check in with Gage. I said quietly to Dawson, not wanting to interrupt Forrest’s speech. Dawson dipped his head imperceptibly.

Touch base when you’re done.

I stood smoothly, inclining my head in excuse, and left.