Hiding from the Beta

Chapter Twenty

Andria’s pov

I woke up and looked over at Ray. Today we were putting Andy to rest. It’s been nearly a week and the autopsy is done. In a way I was thankful that I didn’t see him that night. Anna stopped me and had me help with Bridgette.

I sat up and walked into the bathroom. I quickly changed into some running pants and a sports b*a. I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing that my best friend was out there.

I quietly crept out and scribbled a note to Ray. I was just going to go for a run. I left it next to his side of the bed on the end table. I picked up my shoes and quietly tiptoed out of the room. I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

I grabbed an apple and jumped when I heard a voice. “Can’t sleep either?” A man’s voice said.

I whipped around and relaxed. Andy’s father was sitting at the table. “No, why are you up?” I asked him.

“Just couldn’t sleep. I had to give Roxy a sedative, she is so upset by everything right now.” Mr. Lotus said.

“I am so sorry this happened, Mr. Lotus.” My voice was barely a whisper.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t kill my son. I know who it was, I knew he was no good the moment they brought him into our pack.”

“Who?” I asked, I had a feeling I already knew.

“The Beta, Anthony. He was no good from the start. We lost alliances because of him, now he killed my son.” Tears slipped down his face as he pulled a picture of Andy towards him.

“I can’t imagine how much this must hurt you and Mrs. Lotus.” I pulled a chair out and sat down next to him.

He looked at me and wiped his eyes, “you can call me Tyler.” His voice was rough and he wiped his face again as he looked at the picture.

“How old is that photo?” I asked, it was obviously a long time ago. Andy stood in the picture smiling, with a younger child next to him.

“This was taken a few days before the attack that killed his sister and took me away. I fought so hard and I still couldn’t protect either of my children.” He turned and looked at me. This man was so broken from the loss of his children. My heart hurt as I watched him. “What did I do? Why wasn’t I enough? I failed them both.” He cried out.

“You didn’t fail them. This happened because there are people in this world that are horrible, cruel, and selfish. They don’t care that a person is someone’s child, or mother, or father, sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, or grandparent. This is not your fault, you are no more to blame than they are.” I said as I pointed to the picture.

“But I wasn’t there to protect them, that’s why I am here. To protect them, right?” He croaked as more tears fell from his face.

I shook my head as tears slipped from my own traitorous eyes. “You’re here to protect them, yes, but not from everything. Sometimes we do everything we can, and those who wish harm still manage it. This is not your fault Tyler. You did the best you could, and that’s all that matters. Unfortunately there are people who have the worst intentions and they break through our barriers.”

“If Anthony is ever found, I wish to speak to him.” He said in a low voice.

I nodded my head, “okay. I will talk to Alpha Raylan. Why don’t you go back to bed, I am going for a run.”

He stood up and nodded his head. “Thank you. You will make a wonderful Luna to this pack one day.”

I smiled as he walked away. Once he was out of sight and I heard their door close I leaned over the table. I allowed the tears to pour out of my eyes and the sobs to come in their full power.

After a few minutes I managed to calm myself, I walked out the back door and towards the forest. I needed to let my wolf out, she needed to break free and run. “Stay within the territory and away from the borders.” I told her.

“Okay, I can do that.” She said sadly.

I pulled my clothes off as the sun started to rise and shifted. It felt good to shift for the first time since Tahlia fled. Jacqueline took us on a path we had run dozens of times, the familiar twists and turns were calming.

I ran past a few guards who knew I was a pack member from my scent. Everything was great at that moment. I wish I could go back and keep all of this from happening. It’s terrible when you think of it.

I didn’t realize that we had stopped running at first. I looked out through Jacquiline’s eyes, sadness drifted through us again. There was a stage that had been set up, spots for flowers, hundreds of chairs. A large picture of Andy was set on the stage. He was happy and smiling, sitting next to him was his mate. Tahlia, smiling at him, I had taken that picture, not long before he left. Weeks before her eighteenth birthday.

I sighed, I needed to see her. I knew Apollo had spoken to her, he said we shouldn’t contact her, but I need to see that she is okay. I need to know that she is safe.

We turned around and made our way back towards the spot we left our clothes. Once we were dressed I walked back to the pack house. Once I walked in everyone froze, they all looked at me surprised that I was even there.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Ray is looking for you.” One of the girls said quietly.

I nodded my head and made my way upstairs. I walked into our room and was instantly wrapped in his arms. “Don’t ever leave like that again.”

I shook my head confused, “what’s wrong?” I asked.

He pulled my face to his so our foreheads were touching. “We received a threat, you are to stay by my side at all times, do you understand?”

I nodded my head, “who threatened us?” I asked.

“My guess would be Anthony. They said hand over information regarding Tahlia’s current location, or they would take pack members one by one. They said they would start with Tahila’s closest friend. That’s you. We are supposed to leave it on the north border in the old sitting tree, just outside of the territory.”

I looked at him confused, “when did this happen?” I asked.

“While you were out for a run. They left it on one of the western border patrol’s body. He is in surgery now, we don’t know if he will make it or not.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked.

“You stay with me, only me or my brother. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ray, I understand.” I told him.

“They want Tahlia more than we realized.” He said softly.

“Well, they can’t have her, or me, or anyone else.” I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and he relaxed a little. “Remember we are both trained fighters. It’s not just up to you guys to keep us safe.”

He smiled at me before he grabbed me and threw me onto the bed, “I love that you’re a fighter.” The growl in his voice caused goosebumps to erupt onto my skin.

He jumped onto the bed and I yelped in response as he shoved me down onto the bed and started to kiss my mark. The tingles that erupted all over my body felt amazing, I would never grow tired of this feeling.

Angelica’s pov

I bit the inside of my cheek as Bartholomew paced back and forth angrily. “What do you mean she got away?” He yelled at me.

“Exactly that sir. When the beast tried to force her to go with him she threw him across the room without even trying.” I told him.

He looked over to Mykel, “so even he is no match for her?”

I nodded, “sadly, we may need to find another way.” I knew it was risky to say anything that I felt in front of him.

“No, this is the last chance.” He stormed over to my possessor beast, “I need you to gain her trust. Follow her for a few days before you initiate any more contact with her. Figure out what makes her comfortable, what calms her. Do you understand me?” Bartholomew said quickly.

The beast looked at me and I nodded at him. He looked back at my master and nodded. “Yes sir. I will keep my distance and learn about her. I will report back in three days.” His voice was firm and monotone.

“Good, make sure you check in with this host's sisters. I don’t need them figuring out what’s going on and coming after you.”

He nodded his head and vanished into thin air. Bartholomew instantly started to pace back and forth again. “How can it be so hard? Her mate was even killed, she should be weaker, yet she seems like she could take on anything right now.”

“I don’t know sir,” I didn’t know what else I was supposed to say.

“You don’t know? Maybe you should get out there and start searching in whatever book or database you can and figure out what is going on with her. Her powers should not be growing this fast.” His pacing increased in speed.

“Sir, what does the seer say?”

He stopped and looked at me, “the seer said once she is with child our chance has surpassed.” He started to pace, yet again then quickly stopped. “Who was that man with her?”

“I don’t have a lot of information on him. I know he works as a handy man doing oddball jobs around the town.”

“I want him dead. Make it happen.”

“Yes sir.” I turned and started to walk away.

“Actually, kill any male she may become close to. We need to keep this whole thing on track.”

“I understand sir.” I turned again and walked away, this time I successfully left the room.

I briskly walked down the hall and outside into the sunshine. The warmth was amazing on my skin, I just needed to give him what he wanted, so then I could be free.

Nathaniel’s pov

I walked back into the hospital and straight into my beta’s room. When I walked in it was a shock, he was black and blue from head to toe. He had multiple stitched up wounds all over his body.

“Are you just going to stand there and stare?” Seamus asked.

I relaxed slightly and walked over to him, “how the hell did this happen?”

He coughed, “well, they figured out who I was before I realized they did. They also knew I was watching them. I was standing there one minute, next I was on the ground with nearly a dozen rogues on me.”

“A dozen rogues did this to you?”

He chuckled half heartedly and shook his head. “This was the work of our dear old friend, Anthony Starwaski.”

“So you did find him then. He is with the rogues.” He nodded his head.

“Yeah, and they have some big plans going on. They want Tahlia and from what I heard they are planning on attacking the night shadows pack.”

I laughed, “they would be stupid to do that.”

“They aren’t going to do it now, they are going to do it later. After they build up their army.”

“Army?”

“They are killing any rogue that refuses to join their ranks.” He sat up and adjusted himself with a grimace.

“Do you have any idea how long until they attack?”

His head rolled back onto the pillow as he shook it. “Sorry, no.”

“That’s fine, you just focus on getting healed up.”

A nurse walked in and he smiled at her. “I will do just that.” I shook my head as his eyes raked up and down that woman’s body.

“Stay out of trouble.” I told him firmly.

“I don’t think I could stir up any trouble if I wanted to.” He groaned as the nurse dabbed some cream onto a particularly nasty looking batch of stitches.

“I will see you later.” I walked from the room and headed back up to my office.

Once I was in my office I plopped down into my chair. I knew it was going to be a long day, so I opened the computer and started to dig through my emails. The majority of them were the basics, information for members that found mates and wanted to transfer. Or supply orders that needed to be signed off on, things like that.

I sighed and grabbed the phone, I dialed Alpha Cullen Jameson's phone number. It rang three times before he answered. “Jameson.” He said dryly.

“Hello good friend.” I said.

“Heep, how are you doing?” He asked lightly.

“I have seen better days, how are things there?”

“They’re okay, I am pleased to report that a certain person has decided to stay.” He sounded quite pleased with this.

“Well, I don’t know if that is such a good idea.” I told him.

“What do you mean?” His tone was more business like now.

“I have some troubling news. Seamus was attacked, brutally. He found Anthony, and he heard through the grapevine while he was out there that your pack is in trouble.”

“How so?”

“Vincent is planning to attack, we don’t know when. We just know that he is planning on getting an army together to take you out.”

The phone was silent for a moment, “this isn’t news to me. I have already been informed by another alpha. In all honesty, let him come. I will take him on alone if he wants.”

“We will give you added support. You should call your other alliances and tell them what is happening.” Suddenly there was a beeping on my phone, I looked at the number. “Cullen, I will call you back, Raylan is calling.”

He didn’t say a word and just hung up. I clicked the button to answer Raylan. “What can I do for you?” I asked.

“They just threatened my pack. Specifically the future Luna of this pack.”

“Well, we will gladly help. What would you like me to do?”

He sighed, “it’s not the greatest idea I had, but maybe we should send some of our pack members to your pack.”

“Who did you all have in mind?”

“Lois and Apollo, the mother and brother of Tahlia. Then my son Ray and his mate Andria, as well as Jonathan and Anna.”

“Would you be coming as well?”

“No, I need to stay here for my pack. But I don’t have the, um, resources you do.”

I knew exactly what he was talking about. “You mean because you don’t have the strength I do.”

“Yeah, will you take them?” He pleaded, I could tell he was really worried.

“What about the rest of your pack?”

“They don’t care about them, they only care about the ones Tahlia was closest with.”

“Send them in, on the next flight. I will have my Gamma and some guards pick them up from the airport.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, we may need your help in the future. We have received word that Vincent is planning on building an army and taking down the Night Shadows pack.”

“We will help in whatever way we can, I already told Cullen this.” He hung up.

I sighed, “what am I going to do?” I asked myself.

“You know what you have to do, same thing you did last time.” My wolf said, menacingly.

The last time something like this happened I actually allowed my wolf out and to take control. I used to have a normal wolf, but after my mate died, that changed. My wolf is relentless now. He murdered an entire pack of rogues on his own. It took fifteen of my warriors including my beta and gamma to control him and sedate me.

It took months for me to learn how to control him. I can shift into my wolf, I can use the majority of his strength, but I can never allow him full control anymore. Whenever he is loose, all he wants is blood, and he doesn’t care whose blood it is.

Jada’s pov

“What do we all know about possessor beasts?” Ash whispered.

“Not a lot, I looked in the family book, come here.” I showed her the page and she quickly read through it.

“Well, we just need the witch that cast the spell and Mykel. Then we should be able to take the beast out and seal it in a jar.” She said as she looked at the page.

“In theory yes, but how are we going to get Angelica to come here?” I asked her.

A grin formed on her face, “we pretend that we want to put our differences aside, take her out on the town for a day then roofie her drink. When she wakes up she will be tied up along with Mykel.”

I looked at her shocked, “have you done this before?” I asked.

She shook her head, “nah, but how hard could it be, dozens of people are roofied a day.”

“fine,” I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Angelica’s name. I quickly sent her a message. ‘Hey, was wondering if you’d be able to meet us for dinner? Ash and I just want to talk, maybe we can go get our nails done afterwards?’

“What did you tell her?” She asked.

I handed her my phone and she read the message. “That should work.”

My phone dinged and she raised her eyebrows before she handed me the phone back. “That was quick. She wants to know where.”

“The bar and grill, that would be best.”

I nodded and typed it out. Within minutes she responded again. “She said okay. We need to gather our supplies. We will be meeting her in a few hours.”

I walked out into the kitchen and found a mason jar, I grabbed some spices for the sealing ritual. I heard the door slam and jumpe. In doing so I smacked my head on the cabinet, I put my hand onto my head “ouch!”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.” I froze when I heard the voice. It was a voice I never thought I would ever hear again.

“O’rian?” I asked dumbfounded. I looked at him and he looked completely different. His once tan and smooth baby face now had hideous scars. He had one eye that was light blue and probably blind in it, the other was his normal deep ocean blue. He had a long cape around him with his hood up.

“Jada, what’s going on?” I heard Ash call out from the other room.

I walked over to my half brother and touched his arm. Tears streamed down my face, and I wrapped my arms around him.

I could hear footsteps as Ash came closer to the kitchen. “Jada, what’s goi-“ She stopped mid sentence frozen in the doorway.

“Hey Ash.” He said in his deep voice.

“O’rian? How?” Tears were already falling down her face.

He held his arm out to her and she ran to us. After a few minutes he released us from his warm grip. “How?” I asked.

“He tried really hard to kill me, then he threw my body in a river. My wolf did a good job protecting me. I have some magic, not a lot though. I was able to transport my horse and myself a few miles away from here. Right now I need to know what’s going on with Tahlia.”

“She won’t come with me, I tried to talk to her but she threw Mykel through a door. She wasn’t even trying.” I told him.

“She has a lot of magic then, and found her mate?” He asked.

I sighed, then filled him in on all the details we knew. “That’s why we need her to come here.” Ash added.

“I will try and convince her, what are you going to do about the possessor beast?” He asked.

“That’s what we are working on. We have an idea of who it was.”

“I need you to send me to the Night Shadows pack. I need to see Tahlia. I tried to keep an eye on her but by the time she was two I wasn’t able to sneak in and see her. I doubt she will remember me.”

“You never know, I will help you get to Night Shadows. But I need to come right back. We have a plan to work through.” I said.

He nodded and Ash ran up to him and gave him another big hug. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.” She said.

“Well, I will be back, and things will change.” She nodded and stepped away. I followed him out the door and down to his horse.

I grabbed the horse's mane and O’rian’s hand. In seconds our surroundings had changed, we were just outside of the little town. “It’s about a mile up the road, then you turn left into the woods, you will walk directly into the pack border.”

“Okay, thank you Jada.” He wrapped his arms around me.

I pulled out my amethyst and broke a small piece off. “If you need me, hold this and focus on me. I will come to you immediately.”

He nodded his head and climbed onto the horse. “Thank you Jada.” He clicked his tongue and instantly the horse started to trot away.