The Beta's Alpha

Rayne I walk along toward the Beta quarters, smiling at the warmth of the sun as it touches my face. I have Stone’s birthday gift in my hand, a new set of training gloves, the kind cyclists wore, open fingertips, helped a person’s grip, I had his initials sewed into each glove as an added touch, his current gloves were held on by threads they had been used so much it seemed like a fitting thing to buy him. I shake my head at the fact that he turns 18 today, not sure where time has gone, and I remember our childhood as I strolled along. We were always together, Stone Jayden and I, the three musketeers dubbed after the famous trio written by Alexandre Dumas; I remember the three of us playing in this very backyard, our makeshift swords made of balloons as we pretended to be fighting pirates, rogues, and everything in between we could think of. Of course we had our fights’ when Jayden didn’t want his brother to play certain games because he was older and that meant stronger or when Jayden didn’t want to play my girly make believe things, pushing me into the mud once and walking away, Stone coming to help me up wiping my crocodile tears and when he asked what had happened I had told him that Jayden didn’t want to play Alpha’s with me Stone shrugged and agreed to it, so I declared him my Alpha and we spent the afternoon in our own little world. As we grew reality set in and make believe gave way to real life; I had Alpha training and the brothers had their Beta training, although Jayden did get a few Alpha lessons as his being my future mate meant he would be ruling the pack alongside me so my father had insisted that he join a few lessons when we were in the pack house which wasn’t often as I preferred to be in the Beta’s quarters more than in my own packhouse. Given my preference to always be at Jayden’s home, combined with the amount of time Jayden and I spent together, it was inevitable that we were meant to be and Stone,he was my best friend; when I used to get into trouble at school Stone would be the first to bail me out, if some twit decided to bully the Alpha’s daughter to see how well she would handle it Stone was there to protect me, just as Beta’s should and anyone with half a brain cell could see what a fine Beta he was going to be, top of his class in training, strongest of the warriors and amazing tactical skills. I knock on the gate of the yard and opened, this being my second home, I didn’t wait to be invited in, was actually told to stop waiting so now I don’t wait, I enter. There is a flurry of activity, the smell of charcoal assaults my nose and my stomach growls low, if there was anything I loved more than being the future Alpha it was barbeque,well to be honest coffee with a teaspoon of cinnamon mixed in came before BBQ but right now all I had was the grill so BBQ it is. I wave at Samuel and Joanne, spotting Jayden to my left with a few friends and Stone to my right talking to his parents, his eyes find mine and I smile, offering a small wave but his expression is strained as he simply nods, swallows and turns back to speak with his parents. I shrug it off knowing it was most likely due to his training,as of late he had been non stop in what we call the warzone, countless hours and the strain was obvious. I stroll over to Jayden and put my hand on his shoulder, his attention now on me, his smile wide, the two dimples on either cheek that I so love appear as a light brown strand of hair falls into his chocolate brown eyes and I lean over to kiss him. “Hi.” I say “Hi.” He replies. I take a seat next to him and he slides his fingers into mine. “Did you walk over?” “Yeah, so nice out, figured why not.” He hands me a red plastic cup and I raise an eyebrow at him “Relax Sainte Rayne, its 7-up.” I nod and sigh, Jayden laughs. “Sorry it isn’t coffee, would you like me to get you a cup?” I bat my eyelashes at him and he laughs. “Ok one coffee with cinnamon on its way.” He gets up and Charlie makes a whipping sound to which we all laugh. I am a few minutes into conversation with our friends at the table when Stone rushes past and I call out to him. He stops but only glances at me over his shoulder. “Are you leaving your own party?” I ask, getting up to walk toward him but he steps ahead to keep space between us. “Yeah Cade called, needs me.” Is the only answer I get as he takes off with little else and I frown, glancing back at his parents who look just as confused as I am. Jayden barely avoids colliding with his brother as he exits with my coffee, he too trying to talk to Stone but he too gets nowhere. “What is up with him?” I ask as Jayden gets closer. “No idea, something about Cade.” He replies and I nod, Cade was one of Stone’s closest friends apart from Jayden and I so it made sense if Cade called and needed him Stone would go. We sit down and the afternoon flows with drinks, laughter and food, giving way to evening, a nice bonfire going but still no Stone and I yawn, knowing what the next day holds so I tell Jayden I will head out. “I’ll walk you back.” I shake my head. “Don’t be ridiculous, its not even twenty minutes, Ill be fine.” I argue but Samuel pipes in. “No arguments Rayne, its dark out.” I smile “Fine but you all do remember we live in a werewolf community not amongst boogie men?” Samuel raises an eyebrow at my smart mouth and I laugh, as I lean over and give him a quick one shoulder hug. “Kidding and thank you, I’ll most likely keep your son until morning, I mean can’t have walking home alone in the dark.” I pull back and wiggle my eyebrows at him and he laughs. “You are really too quick with your replies young lady, see you both.” We bid goodnight to everyone and enter the house, Jayden telling me he wants to grab some extra clothes from his room so I wait in the kitchen, flipping through my phone on social media wondering if I was the only teenager who thought this stuff was mindless and a great way to lose time. I hear Jayden and reply without looking up from my screen. “That was quick.” When I get no reply I lift my eyes to see Stone leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen alcove. “Oh its you, didn’t think I would see you again tonight,” I smile but he doesn’t, actually he doesn’t even look at me. “Hey you ok you look…off.” “Yeah fine.” He replies and I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you drunk?” I ask taking a step toward him and watch as he stiffens, insulted by my question. I stop and lift my hands in the air. “Sorry, no judgement just curious.” He sighs. “It is my birthday.” He says offensively and now I know he’s pissed, strangely enough though he has never been angry with me, not in this way. “Absolutely just not used to drunk Stone, this version of you is kind of a douche.” I reply haughtily, not liking his tone with me at all. Now his eyes find mine and I am shocked by the anger and contempt I see. “Sorry we can’t all live up to your standards Rayne." I recoil from his words, a deep hurt snakes through me, he must see the expression on my face and his softens, he opens his mouth to say something but I hold my hand up. “Tell your brother he doesn’t need to walk me home after all, he can stay here and deal with your sorry ass.” I push past him and out the door, guaranteed if anyone tried anything on me they would get a punch backed by so much rage their great-grandchildren would be bruised. My usual 20-minute walk is cut in half as I near run back to the pack house, fighting the tears that have surfaced; I refused to cry because Stone was a mean drunk but his words cut me deep. I get a text just as I enter the front door. Hey you make it ok? I send back a quick reply of yes, talk to you tomorrow and slip my phone into my pocket, heading toward my room when I cross paths with my mother. “Rayne darling everything alright?” “Absolutely.” I reply but my voice is thick. She simply stares at me and waits, if there was one thing my mother had ample of, it was patience. I sigh. “Stone went out and got drunk and it seems the not sober version of him is an asshole.” I reply and she frowns at my choice of words but lets it go when she sees how upset I am. “I see.” I nod and wipe at the tears with the heel of my hand. “His tongue is quite sharp even though his brain isn’t.” I look everywhere but at her “I see.” Same two words but the tone of voice isn’t the same and I drop my eyes to hers as they watch me. “What exactly was said.” I wave her off. “Nothing important.” “Yet here you stand crying.” I sigh. “It wasn’t what he said it is the thought that someone I have called friend for so many years could say something like that; how does they saying go, drunk minds speak the truth?” She smiles. “Yes and drunk lips often twist said truth.” I frown and she chuckles. “You’ll understand one day, get some rest, your father has much planned for you tomorrow.” She kisses my forehead and walks off down the hall, her light blue chiffon dress flows elegantly around her and I smile; if there was anything one could say about Melody Brookes it was that she was a graceful as she was cunning and believe me my mother was nothing if not graceful which made her quite the mental adversary. I hop in my shower and towel dry my hair as I check my phone, not sure what to expect but find myself disappointed when I see nothing from Stone, I had at least expected an apology. I lay my head down after turning out the lights and as I fall asleep without wanting to I feel the tear slip from my eye, snake over the bridge of my nose before falling to the pillow below me as sleep claims me.