Reborn as the Lycan Beta

Chapter 18. It Was Nothing, Really

Duke POV

Less than an hour ago

My gut feeling told me I had to hurry with my tasks.

Gut feeling, my a*s, chuckled my Lycan spirit, Miles.

I mentally rolled my eyes and quickly finished my reports in due time. Ori and the Luna Princess Morrighan were still resting; I had to ensure that the prisoners, especially the nobles, were given preliminary interviews.

They’re hard to break, Beta, grumbled one of our Lycan investigators currently assigned to do the interrogation. I was currently doing mind-links to the guys assigned to the dungeons. Those nobles, that is. Should we switch to doing the… you know?

No, I said. We’ll let Ori take care of them. His and the Luna’s voice will be more than enough. Any problems with those nobles’ subordinates?

None, Beta, replied another Lycan. It’s been confirmed it was their group who got Jenna and Doug.

Any way we can retrieve the bodies of those two? I asked.

Before the kidnapping of Ori’s Twin Sisters and his mate, not only was the Twin Princess’ home in downtown Amsterdam attacked, but prior to that was the disappearance of some of our own pack members. Jenna and Doug were just a couple of them, and it looked like that was how those corrupt nobles were able to find a way to capture the Twins, which subsequently led to Luna Morrighan’s own capture.

Unfortunately, Beta, they don’t know where the bodies are, one of the Lycans said. There were some of them who had been assigned to dispose of the bodies, but it was within Count Shipman’s pack union territory.

I sighed. This was going to be a pain in the a**e.

I’ll have to discuss this with Ori later, I mind-linked back, instead. In the meantime, continue with the line of questioning.

Yes, Beta.

Duke, came a mind-link from Gamma Ted. The guys are asking for a threesome.

A what?

A three-person mock battle, Gamma Ted chuckled. And some are even begging for a Lycan level two transformation.

Lycan transformation has many levels, level one and level two being their wolf form and their biped humanoid form. Ted most likely asked me because of my mate, but having heard what he’d done in our last operation against the slavers and in the rescue of the Twin Princesses, I decided to gamble a little bit.

Have them limit their morphing up to level two, but no more, I mind-linked back. My mate’s familiar with mystic arts. I’m guessing he did well in the warmups?

In fact, he did, Ted said, continuing to describe how Sebastian performed in the warmups and relays. The way he moves is similar to his cousin, Ted added. There were variations, and I’m guessing some of his movements are also influenced by the Hunters.

Then I think he’ll be alright with the spar, I replied. Just make sure that those guys don’t pull any surprise attacks. Like no projectiles, for example.

Alright, Gamma Ted said. I’ll have them do that.

I’ll catch up soon, I said.

Sure, but I’d rather you finish your tasks for today, first, Ted said. Tom will be barking my ear off if you don’t, especially those you need to forward to him.

Yeah, yeah, will do.

—

Unable to fully concentrate thinking of my mate, some minutes later, after submitting my deliverables to Gamma Tom, Ted’s twin and our pack secretary, I hurriedly closed, switched off, and locked my office so I could run all the way to the training grounds.

Deep down inside, I had this unsettling feeling.

Hurry, Miles said, as my Lycan spirit as he switched to his nth position. He had been doing that for a while now.

I didn’t bother to reply, for my gut was twisting as I hurriedly exited the packhouse and trotted along the main track to the training area.

Even as I neared the ground with so many smells from everyone’s sweat and various scents, I could still smell my mate’s distinctive aroma of freshly baked bread, oregano, butter, and basil. Only, this time, it was mixed with something else that wasn’t right.

Blood growled Miles. Hurry! Mate is hurt.

S**t.

My Lycan nearly overpowered me, but I had to hold on. There were people coming in and out of the training grounds, although some of them had somewhat paused to look at what was happening out there. Their faces and features, however, were a blur to me — all I wanted then and there was to reach my mate before my urge to claw everyone along the way took over. My gums and fingers were itching as my claws and fangs threatened to spring out, and I barely realized I was holding my breath in trying to hold back my growl.

As I sped up, I heard shouts from the center of the grounds.

“Y-y-you cheat! You used projectile skills!”

“Hey! That’s f**king cheating!”

I nearly lost it when I identified another scent — wolfsbane.

“YOU GUYS DARE say he cheated and used projectiles when you yourselves are no better,” Ted’s hiss, loud and angry, fortunately, came first before I lost control of my Lycan. “I see what you three did there.”

Somebody whimpered. As I finally reached the border of the open area, I saw the Lycans frozen in their places, with scents of worry or fear emanating from them. Some had anger and protest on their faces, others flabbergasted or apprehensive, and still others a certain paleness. Three Lycans, however — all of them Jena’s friends, with two of them near my mate — looked rebellious and protesting at Ted, while my tiny wolf, my handsome Mr. Cop, stood at one side, clutching an arm, his face pale yet defiant at the three.

“You dare defy me?” Ted roared, to which many of them knelt and bared their necks. He then turned to my mate and nodded. “Beta, please go to the infirmary.”

He then switched his attention to one of the Lycans who I identified as the Luna’s teammate in their past inter-team simulation skirmish. “Jack, escort him to the hospital and do a preliminary aura check on the way.”

“Yes, Gamma.”

“I can go on my own,” my mate said, raising his hand. It wasn't easy to observe from their point of view, but I could clearly see his arms shuddering as he struggled to appear strong. “I —”

“You will do no such thing,” I growled. It was time to step in and set the record among these people straight. I let my Lycan exude his anger, too. Let’s see who among those who tried to harm my mate will try to cross me. “Jack, I’ll take my mate from here.”

My dear wolf straightened his back. He looked so brave trying to defy me, but I will have none of it where his health is concerned.

“I can manage myself, thank you,” he said stiffly. He turned as if deliberately not wanting to look at me. Why? What did I do wrong now? Pain spread and took hold of my chest, but I merely clenched my jaw and sighed.

“Bastie..” I tried to call him out with an endearment.

And there it was — apparently the name made him emit luscious pheromones that got the blood rushing all the way to my groin.

Only… it was short-lived. The smell turned sour as ar***al turned to pain and regret. His brave step also seemed to falter.

S**t. He must have some unpleasant memories along with it.

Panic overtook my own desire; in a few quick and long strides I caught up to assist him.

“Beta…”

F**k this b**ch. Whatever her name was. How dare she try to call out even with what she and her friends had done to my mate!

A loud reverberating growl echoed all throughout the training ground. At least that was the least I could do… for now. Whimpers and whines came from those who harmed my mate; I could even smell someone’s p*e. Ha! Let that be a warning, f***ers!

“At least let me escort you to the hospital,” I said to my mate gently and tried to reach out to him. Pain clutched my chest once more as Bastie increased his walking speed as if trying to avoid my touch.

I sighed but continued to follow him as we went toward the packhouse area.

—

Sylvan POV

Duke had reached my side and silently led me to a different wing of the packhouse, an adjoining building separated only on the ground and top three floors. As we approached, the area smelled of disinfectant, one less astringent to a shifter’s nose.

We went directly to the emergency room, where we were greeted by a couple of nurses one of them staring at Duke as if about to eat him.

“Netz,” the older nurse, a man who looked just a couple of years older than us, commanded the younger one. “Go get Dr. Kübler.”

“Why her when we can —”

A glare from him stopped her from voicing any further. With disdain on her face, she turned to get further into the hospital to get the doctor — but not without turning one more time to give a hungry look at Duke.

This time, I could no longer hold my growl despite still suffering from the after-effects of the wolfsbane.

“My apologies, Beta,” the senior nurse bowed to Duke and then to me. “I’m sorry for the young one’s insolence.”

“Heads up, Moswen,” Duke smiled. “My mate here needs some help. He got injured during training.”

Akila didn’t comment; he merely bowed once more then quickly assisted me to sit on one of the beds before grabbing the necessary tools and some emergency medicine. He did a preliminary checkup; his hands were cooler than most Lycans soothing to my touch.

“If you don’t mind me making the necessary preliminaries, Betas,” she said as she checked my pulse and breathing. I nodded.

“It was nothing, really,” I said in a small voice, shrugging. “Just a minor welcome party from—”

“Poison,” he said. “And my guess would be wolfsbane, although a small dose.”

—