Life of a Beta: Harley

All places at once

"You will drop that stinky attitude of yours, and you will go out to look for Harley. When you find her, you will apologize to her. I don't care how long it takes, but you will not return here alone. Are we clear, beta?"

"Yes, my Luna."

"Now leave this instant."

The beta's shoulders slumped as he strutted across the dining hall to his room. Pairs of eyes followed his back until he was out of sight. A loud thud of a door being slammed could be heard moments after he disappeared.

He immediately undressed and stepped into the shower. His eyes filled with water as he leaned against the black ceramic tiles. Occasionally, wiping away the tears despite the water blending with them.

By the time he was out of the shower, his fair skin no longer exposed patterns of veins along his neck and forearms.

His wet hair stuck to his face, covering his eyes. He slowly dressed up while pondering about places to look for Harley. His hands tightened into fists as his chest rose and fell with sharp breaths.

The half moon illuminated the structure of the pack house, along with sparkles from the nearby lake. Leaves on the trees swayed swiftly in the slight breeze.

Kyle shifted into his animal form at will with only a thought. The wolf bolted across the land with no sense of direction. He scrunched his nose at the slightest scent of Harley, beside an unfamiliar one.

The wolf followed in the direction of Harley's faint scent until dawn.

- HADES -

Harley gasped for air with her hand around her neck. She squinted her eyes to scan her strange surroundings. She awoke in what appeared to be a cave. Dead and withered plants hung everywhere above her.

Harley inhaled once more and gagged at the stench.

Where am I? This place is weird.

In the far distance were the red flames of the inferno dying out and re-igniting without aid. Dried trees were spread across the field of blazing fires.

Their branches resembled skeletal outstretched arms and hands. Fingers like branches twitched once in a while as if alive.

This place is really creepy as hell. I must've hit my head somehow.

Harley dusted off the dirt on her black wide cut jeans and proceeded to stand up.

"Hello?", she said. With a slight breeze of hot air, only an echo of her voice could be heard.

"Hello, anyone here? I think I'm lost!", she observed from all directions but could detect no sign of life.

The gloomy sky above her displayed darker shades of red with its thick clouds being no exception.

"Goddess", she said under her breath.

"Goddess?", a voice said.

Harley turned around but saw no one. Her heart quickened, and her breath became short while rapidly fast. She closed her eyes in an attempt to calm herself.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you?" the voice said.

"That voice", said Harley. Her lips quivered, eventually curving into an enamored smile. Her round scarred face lit up.

Amareche towered over Harley, her brown leather dress hugged her well-built body. Her wavy black hair danced about in the humid breeze, almost imitating the surrounding flames.

"It's me pumpkin", she said softly as she embraced Harley.

"I see you've finally found your way to me, and you seem quite elated about it."

"Well actually... I don't exactly know how I got here or where I am", said Harley.

"It's alright pumpkin, I'm just glad to see you again", she said graciously.

"What's this place anyway?", said Harley. She broke away from Amareche's embrace and maintained a tight-lipped smile.

Harley stepped back further, she clenched and unclenched her fist while she held her head down. With a shaky voice she spoke, "Why did you leave me?"

- TAYERU-

"Sooo... is this your secret lair or something?", said Mac.

"Yeah man, you dig it?"

"Uhm yeah, totally. I've never seen anything like it."

Zweli smiled as he winked at the alpha,"I know."

Mac stared at him in amazement. "It's quite eccentric", he said.

Mac wandered around the place while Zweli got preoccupied with herbs and powders.

Zweli's underground house appeared spacious to Mac. The library had a thick wooden shelf loaded with ancient and worn out books of the same size. In the living room sat a long deluxe couch and a large television screen mounted on the wall.

"What's with the black aesthetic?", he said.

Zweli glanced over at Mac, "Hey dork! Quite invading my privacy and come back here."

He scoffed at Mac's expressions and shook his head.

"Alright, drink this big man, and you'll be as strong as Zalela", said Zweli. He held out a vial of purple substance and handed it to Mac.

"You want me to drink this?", said Mac. He furrowed his eyebrows while he reluctantly took the vile from Zweli.

"Go on", said Zweli. He crossed his arms and focused on Mac expectantly.

Mac eyed the substance suspiciously, "What is this?", he said.

"Just drink it", said Zweli, "It won't kill you. Unless, maybe, you want to crash outside."

"Outside?"

"Yeah, outside and not in this luxury", Zweli said, gesturing at his deluxe beauty. He raised an eyebrow as he turned back to a skeptical Mac.

"Uh, okay then", said Mac. He gulped down the substance immediately.

"No, did you just give me wolfsbane?"

"Calm down man", said Zweli, "Take some deep breaths big man, before you go dizzy on me!"

"It's a safe amount to help you heal and give you some energy."

"What?", said Mac with a raspy voice. He stumbled across the room regardless of his blurred sight. He grabbed onto random objects for balance.

Zweli's shoulders slumped as he watched the alpha being chaotic and unable to hold his own. "Well, here we go again, alphas never listen."

- WINDCREST PACK HOUSE -

"You know", said Cassy with a light chuckle, "I feel like we have two pups on our hands here. Kyle has gone completely beserk and Harley, she's really having a hard time settling in. We have things to do for goddess' sake."

Abe and Kassidy giggled as they heard what their Luna said. "You sound a lot like my mom when complaining about dad", said Abe.

"I'll be sure to let her know of her daughter's words", said Cassy with a straight face before bursting into laughter.

Lincoln walked into the meeting exhausted, "Alright people, enough fun now. Where's the rest? We have to start now."

"Right here, alpha", said Max and Troy as they bowed before Lincoln.

"You're late, but let's start anyway", he said without interest.

Everyone drew out their chairs and seated.

"I believe we're all aware of the current turn of events. Harley and Kyle are a handful-

"Alpha Windcrest, my apologies for my late arrival", said Dr Norris.

Lincoln sighed as he gestured Dr Norris to be seated.

"As soon as Kyle returns, we must begin planning our trip to the underworld. I, personally, am strained, and I just want to focus on the matter at hand. Harley is making things difficult for us all, and I honestly don't know what to do anymore. As an alpha, I feel defeated."

Cassy squeezed her mate's hand as she gave him a worried stare. His somber look distressed Cassy. His droopy eyes were red and had dark eye circles.

Let's have something sweet to eat after this, okay love?

I really need that thanks.

"Yeah alpha's right, there's so much going on that's distracting us", said Abe.

"I guess we just gotta count on Kyle now", said Troy.

Dr Norris shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he glanced at everyone. He cleared his throat as he clasped his hands in front of himself.

"Uhm everyone, we have a problem, and it's major."

Everyone stared at him with wide eyes.

"What now?", said Max.