The Beta's Alpha

Chpater 3-Friends Lost

Rayne

A year later.

I am standing above Corrine smiling and she has a frown on her face. “When did you get so good?”

I laugh. “I learned from the best,” A see a smile stretch across her face. “John has been giving me some extra pointers, the man is really on the ball when, ow…” I grab my arm where she has punched me.

“Nice Rayne, real nice, didn’t know John had so much free time.”

I smile awkwardly at her but she does not notice, John had more free time as Jayden had started training more and more in the Alpha group and as for Stone. I stop my thoughts from going there, thinking about my ex-best friend makes me sad. I glance out over the training grounds, hands on hips as I try to remember how it all went sideways.

After his 18th birthday Stone did a hundred and eighty degree turn; his drinking got worse, he dropped out of the Beta program, he was always getting into fights, most of which he would start and whenever I would go over to see Jayden I could hear him arguing with his parents from down the street, most of the time I would text Jayden to let him know that I was a block away and he would meet me, the strain of the whole thing clear on his face.

As for Stone and I, we have barely said two words to one another since that night of his party and I mourn the loss of my friend. Corrine waves her hand in front of my face and I snap out of my memories. “Enough for today, I need to recuperate.” She says and I smile sadly knowing she could handle a lot more, she just knows where my thoughts are, where most of the thoughts go to with the older trainees, they have lost a comrade and no one really knows why.

“Sure, sounds good.” I pick my water bottle from the ground and we both head inside the packhouse. Jayden greets me from the staircase. “Hey, so I just finished kicking her butt and she can’t handle anymore so I have some free time.” I get a swat on the back of the head as Corrine heads to the kitchen and Jayden laughs, kissing me.

“Sorry but Alpha has called.” My shoulders slump. “I know but he is in charge, plus I have to make a good impression on my future father-in-law.” That gets a smile out of me and he kisses me once more. “Come by the house tonight, we can go to the movies or something?”

“Sounds good, I’m going to shower then sit in the library for a bit.”

“ OK, I'll text you when I’m done with your dad, we can go back together.” I nod and he kisses me once more before heading to the kitchen for a bite before returning to the Alpha and I climb up to my room, stripping the sweaty clothes off me, the bruises far less but somehow even though I have fewer the ones I do have seem to mock me even more. I step under the hot water and melt into it, loving the way it relaxes my sore muscles and I stand there far too long, having to wash my body with lukewarm water and rinse my hair with ice-cold water, cursing and wondering why the packhouse didn’t have a better system, I couldn’t be the only person who enjoyed hot showers, bigger tanks must exist.

I pull on some warmer clothes, the early September weather seems to have seeped into my bones or maybe it was the damn cold water, either way I am in a pair of blue jeans with a large black, warm hoodie as I make my way to grab some coffee, waving at a few wolves as I stir in my cinnamon before heading to the library. I enter and set the cup down next to my favorite reading nook, a fairly large bay window that overlooked the gardens and I browse the rows of books wondering what I should r******w, the last of a fabulous vampire trilogy just finished a few days ago and I am saddened to know I won't be amongst familiar friends this afternoon, smiling at how silly that seems but I couldn’t help it, to read was to live the lives of the characters and when that story was over it felt as though I had been robbed of something, a hole created inside me that needed to be filled once more, at least this hole I could fill, the loss of my friend was something different completely but he had made his choice.

I find myself at the back-end of the library, the section on our pack history, pack traditions and folklore. I grab a random book and settle in the nook knowing starting a novel was a bad idea, I wouldn’t have the time to really dive into it. I read up on the traditions some of the information I know from the countless hours with my father, other things are new and I am about to put it back when I spot a chapter on the Sorodna Dusa, or as most people would say, soulmates. I am intrigued as although wolves have mates very rarely do two wolves share a Sorodna Dusa, I lean back and read up on the topic, my curiosity is peaked and when my phone chimes with a new text message I all but throw the book.

All done, ready to go?

On my way

I put the book back and pick up my cup, Jayden waiting outside my father’s office as I descend the stairs. He spots my coffee and smiles. “Enjoy your time off.”

I sip the empty cup. “These need to be bigger but otherwise yes.” He laughs and I lean over to kiss him.

“You do realize when you are pregnant with our pups you will have to give that up.” I freeze for a second but laugh it off, we were young, pups were far in the future.

“True but werewolf pregnancy is much shorter than humans so I’ll try to survive.” He rolls his eyes smiling. “Ready?”

“Lead the way.” He replies and I have one foot on the first step when my father pokes his head out.

‘Rayne can I talk to you for a minute.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and Jayden chuckles relieving me of the empty cup. “I’ll bring this to the kitchen for you.”

“Thank you, you might want to get home, I’ll meet you there, his minutes can be long.” Jayden’s eyes go wide as he nods his head and we both laugh before we pull apart and I head into my father’s office and he does not disappoint, his minute becomes two hours and when I am finally free I text Jayden.

Ok prison break, omw

I receive a laughing emoji followed by

I’ll meet you there shortly running an errand for mom, just go in.

I text back a thumbs up and make my way over to his place. I knock on the door and step in, amazed that even though I have spent a little less time here it still feels so much like home. “Jayden, it’s me” I call out as I walk toward the kitchen but there is no answer I assume he is still out. I step in and flip the light switch on expecting an empty room but instead I am greeted by Stone who winces at the light, a near empty bottle of whiskey next to him.

“Great, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He slurs and I roll my eyes without even answering him. “What cat got your tongue or are you too good to talk to me now.” He spits out and I blame my anger for even addressing him.

“Really, that’s what you’re going with? A whole year of you avoiding me, not saying a damn word to me but I’m the one on her high horse, have another drink Stone, don’t think your brain is fried enough yet.” I counter with and watch as his jaw tightens. “Yeah that’s what I thought, all talk.”

Quicker than I thought him possible he is out of his chair and has me pinned to the wall. I am frozen in shock at his actions, never in a million years would I have thought Stone capable of being physical with me and my chest is heaving as I wait for whatever his muddled brain will deliver next, locked in this position for a few seconds before I see recognition flash in his eyes and he steps away from me, remorse written all over his face, his lips part to say something when I hear Jayden call my name and he steps into the kitchen, glancing between the two of us; one look at my face and Stone’s Jayden is on the defense.

He talks to me but glares at his brother. “What did he do, did he hurt you?” Stone scoffs and I shake my head no. “Ok.” Jayden says knowing I am not lying but not telling him the complete truth either and he leans over to kiss my forehead when a loud angry growl erupts and we both look at Stone, the icy blue of hiseyes nearly all black and I am shell shocked to understand Stone has his wolf, this could only mean he had found his mate. Maybe she rejected him and that was the reason for his actions over the last year, it would make sense but I am not given the chance to ask when Jayden takes my hand and another growl erupts from Stone and this one makes me mad.

“Stone what is wrong with you?” I all but yell.

He keeps his eyes on his brother but answers me, rudely. “Shut your mouth dew drop.” He lashes out and by using his childhood nickname for me in such a mean way hurts far worse than anything he could have possibly said.

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Jayden says defending me stepping into Stone

“Or what?” Stone replies now an inch from his brother’s face

“Enough.” I yell out but it falls on deaf ears, well deaf for Jayden.

“I said shut your mouth.” He yells and that is the final straw for me, my anger explodes inside me and I feel something funny take over as I pull Jayden away from his brother and I take his place, surprise written all over Stone’s face as he takes a tiny step back.

“You need to watch how you speak to me,” I reply far more calm than I am feeling, my tone of voice leaving no room for misunderstanding, “And before you even reply what that hazy brain is telling you to, let me make one thing crystal clear for you; it isn’t because I am the Alpha’s daughter or even future Alpha to this pack that I am warning you to watch your tone but rather because of the history we have,” I hold his gaze and his eyebrows dip down but he is unable to look away from me. “I know you better than everyone in this pack, have countless memories of us playing, laughing, arguing and crying in this very house, I have supported you, encouraged you and been an avid enthusiast of almost all of your decisions as a best friend should be, why you chose to discard that relationship is beyond me but that was your choice not mine so again I will remind you to watch how you speak to me because after all we have been through I have earned the respect you have blatantly forgotten to give me, clear?”

He nods but says nothing and I step away breaking eye contact, the strange feeling replaced by pure exhaustion as I see that Samuel and Joanne are now in the room and I excuse myself as I hurry out of the kitchen and out onto the front lawn, breathing deeply, hands on my knees, slightly bent over as I try to regain some composure. Jayden joins me but says nothing for a few minutes, allowing me the time I need, finally breaking the silence. “ You OK?”

“Yeah surprisingly I am.” He nods.

“What was that back there?” I shrug.

“No idea, he made me angry, really angry and,” I cannot finish because I really can't explain it and the anger has gone replaced with a deep sadness in the knowledge that I have officially lost my best friend. I straighten back up and turn to face Jayden, fighting the tears hating that they are even there. “Listen how about a rain check, not really feeling up too much anymore.”

“Yeah of course, honestly me neither, mom and dad are going to want the whole story and best if the don’t just get one drunken side.” He replies and I frown.

“Jayden that’s uncalled for; he needs help not belittling.” I reply and Jayden scoffs.

“You’re going to defend him?” He puts his hands on his hips.

“Of course and so should you, you’re his brother,”

“Maybe but why are you defending him?” His question sounds more like an accusation and I do not like that one bit.

“Because he is my friend.” I state and realize what I have just said, a deep sadness hits me as I correct myself. “Was my friend.” The past tense is so painful to admit that tears fall and wet my cheeks and as I lift my eyes I glance past Jayden to see Stone standing in the doorway of their home, our eyes lock and for a brief second I hope but the moment passes and he lowers his gaze away as more tears fall and I know with certainty that my best friend is lost for good.