Life of a Beta: Harley

--WINDCREST PACKHOUSE- Two men grabbed her by her arms roughly and threw her to the floor in front of their alpha’s feet. Harley was too tired to even lift her head to see the person in front of her. She heard the door close behind her as the two men who had mercilessly dragged her to this large room left. Minutes passed by before she could muster up the strength to balance on her feet. Harley put all her weight in her clenched fists to lift her upper body. While resting on her knees, she could almost see her reflection on the white marble floor. She also squinted at the blood stains on where her face rested. She then fixed her gaze on two crossed feet in front of her. “You’re a beta, right?”, said a man’s voice. “Yes. How did you know that?”, asked Harley. Her eyes were almost shut as she lifted her heavy head. Harley managed to get up from her knees to face the man in front of her. When she looked at his face, she was struck by dark blue eyes that seemed to stare straight into her soul and thick eyebrows above his cold eyes. His mouth was in a thin, straight line. An emerald green t-shirt covered his broad shoulders and outlined his upper body. Right above his shoulders was his pitch black, curly hair. “You smell like one”, said the man in a deep voice. “Wow really?”, said Harley while giggling nervously. She couldn’t look into his eyes. He was clearly an alpha, judging from his commanding voice. “Yes”, he replied, “I am Alpha Lincoln Windcrest, I take it you know that you’re in my territory. Now, care to tell me why you ran in here like a mad woman and attacked my guards?”, he asked. Lincoln stepped away from his desk and sat on one of the two black tuxedo couches in his office with his arms crossed. Harley scratched the back of her head before thinking of answering Lincoln. “It’s kind of a long story really”, she said as her eyes wandered around. “Well, go on beta, I have all day if you ask me”. He gestured his hand to the opposite couch so she could take a seat. Harley tensely limped sideways to the black leather tuxedo couch. She sat on an edge and didn’t lean back. Her hands were tightly clasped, and her body was still in pain, making it stiff. Her feet were also inseparable. Glancing at Lincoln’s expressionless face didn’t calm her nerves. “What is your name?”, asked Lincoln. “H-Harley” “Harley, please make yourself comfortable and sit properly on my couch. You’ll break your back further if you sit like that”, he maintained a grim expression. “I won’t bite you" he smiled as to advertise his distinct canines. "Harley, just tell me what brings you here and why you attacked my guards like that”. Harley let out a breathy, distressed sigh and leaned back onto the couch as Lincoln instructed. She finally let go of her tension and placed her palms on her lap. She looked straight at Lincoln and gave him an awkward smile. Lincoln continued staring at her patiently. “So… I’m from the Sunset Pack in the Meadows Hills and I am Alpha Mac’s beta, Harley Blake. Our long-term enemies, the Red Claws Pack, decided to execute a surprise attack on us since we were still resting from a previous battle, thus, worn out. As I was fighting beside my packmates, I heard a voice telling me to go to my room. It sounded urgent. And so, I left the training field where we were attacked and ran to my room. I felt a strong presence in there causing me to fall to my knees. It was suddenly filled with light and I couldn’t exactly open my eyes. I heard a voice again and knew that it was the moon goddess.” Harley paused for a moment to see a very interested Lincoln with his eyes much wider. He chose to keep to himself. She cleared her throat and continued telling her story. “It was really confusing at first, but then I managed to calm down. She told me that my pack was going to be destroyed and only a few would survive, including me. She said that the survivors would be scattered to the ends of Nermia among the neighbouring packs and I should go to the Windcrest Pack for refuge. After she finished talking and left, I immediately got up and left my room, finding my way there. Although, it wasn’t easy. I was attacked by a few werewolves from the Red Claws Pack. I attacked your guards because I thought they were from the Red Claws.” She looked up at Lincoln once more with teary eyes. It was as if she was fighting against them. Harley always preferred being calm and level-headed in such situations, though her tears betrayed such wishes. “I’m really sorry for attacking your guards, I didn’t mean to”, said Harley in a cracked voice. Tears began streaming down her bloodied cheeks uncontrollably as she broke down. Multiple flashes of the cries and howls of pain from her packmates clouded her in an instant. The gruesome scene with werewolves fighting each other to death. Each wolf with a strongwill to come out alive. In an instant, Lincoln was beside her with a box of tissues, “Here you go”, he said. He left it by her side and sat at his desk, he quickly composed himself soon after. All soft features of his face wore away. “Moon goddess, you say?”, said Lincoln. He had a concerned look on his face and propped his chin with his hands. Harley nodded in silence. “I see”, said Lincoln. He leaned back in his chair and looked up to the ceiling as if in deep thought. “Look Harley, I don’t know you, but I’ll try to help you”, said Lincoln reluctantly. Lincoln stood up and called for his beta, “Kyle!” Kyle was immediately at Lincoln’s door waiting for permission to enter. Lincoln nodded and Kyle entered. His eyes were locked on Harley before Lincoln cleared his throat to gain his attention. Kyle looked at Lincoln and bowed at him in respect, “Alpha”, he said. “Kyle, this is Harley Blake from the Sunset pack. She’s Alpha Mac’s beta. Her pack was attacked by the Red Claws and she claims that the moon goddess led her here for safety.” “What would you like me to do, Alpha?”, asked Kyle. Kyle was also suspicious of Harley, but even more than Lincoln. “Kyle. I want you to prepare a room for her and call Cassy to make sure she’s telling the truth and won’t turn on us.” “Yes Alpha”, replied Lincoln. He mind-linked one of the servants to prepare a room for the she-wolf, then communicated with Cassy. Harley’s clothes were torn and partially covered in dirt and blood. Her white maxi dress was no longer recognizable. Her sneakers were also filthy and worn out. She also had a few minor cuts and scratches on her arms and face. It was a rule for all unknown wolves to be isolated until Cassy, the Luna brings evidence of their innocence. The room she stayed in had black walls and a bed with only black bedding. There was no chair or table or any other kind of furniture. It also had a small rectangular window which had the beautiful scenery of a garden.