Deserving

Running

Kaia's POV

Ryan was showing me around the packhouse area, pointing out features he knew Sioux had mentioned as cover for her bringing me here incase anyone suspected anything. I made sure to look interested and pretended to flirt with Ryan for any observers. I knew what the rumors were like of this pack and their Alpha. Very old school and traditional, lots of pure blood families and absolutely no homosexuals. I think had Sioux not been the daughter of the Alpha, and been smart enough to focus on anything but her sexuality, she may not have been around to meet her mate.

I am only half listening to Ryan prattle on about the perimeter sensors when he stops and clutches his chest, all around me wolves are doing the same. I have only ever seen that when a wolf has their bond severed with a pack, and given the way he was clutching himself, I had a feeling that it was Sioux who had just been cut from the pack.

'Ryan? Is everything OK?' I asked tentatively.

'f**k, I think he cut Sioux off, I can't mind link her!' He looks frantic, like a man who has no plan B because plan A is always enough.

'Let's go find her then!' I state. 'Come on I don't know the way!' I half shout at him.

He snaps too, and we rush to the pack house, out storms the Alpha before we reach the door, he doesn't even look our way as he shifts and runs into the pack lands around us. What I can only assume are his Beta and His Gamma follow him out.

'Dad? What the hell just happened?' Ryan asks the tall blonde man.

's**t son. He banished her from the pack. He has literally given her 6 hours because she refused the offer of marriage he gave her to Jermaine.'

'Jermaine? What the hell does he have to do with any of it?' Ryan looks confused, like he's trying to piece together a puzzle without all the jigsaw.

'He's the next Alpha Ry. After Sioux's confession 2 weeks ago Alpha Francis decided it would be best to have Sioux take a lesser position of Luna with Jermaine as Alpha, as he had already lost his mate, a chosen mate would be fine. Sioux wouldn't get one anyways, and at least this way no one would ever find out her secret. They could have a pup and no one would be the wiser.' The beta said. I couldn't get my head round it. And by the look on Ryan's chiselled face neither could he.

'Firstly I would like to mention that without a Luna, and Alpha is nothing. So Luna is not a lesser position. Secondly, there is nothing wrong with being gay. A mate is a mate and she will lead my pack alongside me as my equal.' I reply to his comment. The Beta suddenly looks shocked.

'Your pack? You're her mate? what do you mean with your pack?' He stutters out, suddenly looking worried he had offended an Alpha. Well he has indeed offended an Alpha.

'Alpha Kaia DeCecco. Midnight Sun.' I state back at him, staring this homophobic Beta into submission.

Ryan butts in 'Kaia, we need to get to Sioux, her dad will not have given her long.' I turn to face Ryan and follow him to the pack house up to my mate. I could feel her anguish from here.

Ryan POV

Shit. s**t s**t s**t. I knew this would happen, but I didn't know what exactly has happened and so quickly. As I led Kaia into the house, my mind was reeling. I couldn't be a Beta to a man weaker than I was. Let alone one that was going to force my best friend into something that she would never want. How could he ever agree? Had losing his mate sent him that crazy? Or did he just want the power. His dad was always trying to climb ranks. By the time we got to Sioux's room, she had a whole host of our Omegas packing into boxes, and another bunch running out with some boxes to her truck. I watch as Kaia rushes to her side and kisses her. Sioux inhales her scent and calms her worried face, It made me realise I really wanted my own mate.

'What's the plan then boss?' I ask, breaking them out of their moment.

'Well I am going to fill the truck and take me and Kaia back. I only have a few hours to get this all sorted.' Sioux sighs at me. I know she is thinking about all her toys in the garage. She would have to leave them behind, and I was sure that her dad would just sell them to make money. I don't think he realises how watertight the contract Sioux has for her company and sending money to the pack. They were about to loose 70% of its income which was bad news. Jermaine wouldn't want to run a broke pack.

'I know that part. I mean, you are not going alone. If you are not in this pack, I have no reason to stay. Why would I stay somewhere that takes away what my best friend has worked her whole life towards? Plus if you pick which toy you want to take, I can drive the truck and you take the fun ride.'

'Ryan you can't just leave with us, you are the next Beta, your ceremony is next week!' Sioux says shocked.

'I can and I will. I am meant to be your Beta. Not Jermaine's.' I calmly say back to her. She runs and hugs me.

'I am taking the F50 then.' she grins. Her room is almost empty at this point, and the last few boxes disappear with the Omegas. We were packing the truck ourselves, as Sioux wanted to try and take a bike too.

'One last thing guys.' Sioux says. We watch as she heads to a large painting of the pack grounds on the wall, taking it off and pushing on the wall till a hidden panel pops out. I didn't even know that was there, but it reveals a huge safe.

'Sioux, what the hell do you keep in that?' I ask.

She reaches in, pulling out a few weapons, some letters, paperwork, cash and finally a box.

'Evidence.' she replies.

'Evidence for what?' Kaia asks.

'Evidence that my father has been capturing, torturing and killing l***q members of the shifter communities.'