The Beta's Arrival

Chapter 14

Helen’s POV

I stepped into the Alpha's office and took a seat in front of his desk. “You wished to speak with us?” I asked as Diane sat down next to me.

“Yes, it's about what happened yesterday,” he began as he set down his pen and looked up at me. “I am happy that you are safe and that no one was injured. However, I've been contacted by the Alpha of Silvertooth...” his voice trailed off.

“Diane can't go back there,” I quickly told him.

“No, WE can't go back,” Diane corrected.

I looked over at her. “Diane, if I have to, I will go, but I want you to stay here. They will protect you. I need to know you are safe,” I told her.

“I am safer with you,” she responded. I knew that look. She was going to be stubborn on this matter. She wasn't going to let me force her to stay or at least she was going to try to fight me over it.

I turned and took her hands. “You have to. Because no matter where I go, I will not be safe. So you won't be either because I won't be able to always keep you safe,” I tried to explain.

Determination was written all over her face. “I can protect myself.”

“I know you think you can, but you don't have your wolf. Those who are sent after me will. Therefore, you will be in immense danger,” I tried to reason with her.

“But...” she started.

“Please, Diane, you have to understand I'm not doing this to get away from you. I am doing what's best for you,” I cut her off.

Before Diane could try to respond to me, the Alpha spoke up. “I never said I was kicking you off my packland,” he told us with a chuckle.

“Oh... you aren't?” I asked, peering at him confused.

“No, if you had let me finish, then you would know that the Alpha from Silvertooth has apologized for what happened. He also asked that I release the tracking wolves that we captured. " He finally finished what he had been trying to tell us from the beginning.

“Are you going to?” I asked.

“I've been thinking about it. From what I understand, they were just following orders and meant no harm to my pack. What do you think?” he asked for my opinion on the matter.

“I agree. They were merely following the orders of their future Alpha. I think it would be understandable if you released them,” I responded.

“I'm glad we are on the same page.” He smiled happily. “Now onto the next topic of discussion.”

“Vincent seems to have taken a liking to you, so I was wondering how you were feeling about him?” he asked out of the blue.

“What...” I didn’t know how to respond.

“He seems to think you are his mate, but he is confused since you aren’t responding to the bond that he is feeling between you two,” he explained further.

“I think it is something for him and me to figure out...” I responded, trying to push the topic aside without being rude.

“Usually it is, however, since it is Vincent, I may be a bit more invested than the average wolf. He is a Beta in my pack, mind you, he is the younger brother of the current Beta, but still, a Beta nonetheless,” he answered my unasked question about why he wanted to know what was going on.

“I see, but I would prefer to speak with him if I wanted to discuss the matter.”

“Fine, I will leave it between the two of you,” he relented but still appeared to want to press the matter further. Luckily, he did not.

“Was there anything more you wanted to discuss?” I asked, hoping this meeting was over.

“No, I will inform you when I have released the trackers from Silvertooth. I also want to reiterate that you are more than welcome to remain in this pack. As long as you are here, we will protect you as if you were a true member of this pack.” His words put me at ease. I knew at least if Diane were to remain without me, she would be safe.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I said as I stood and bowed.

“Yes, thank you,” Diane said as she mirrored my bow.

We left the office and headed down the hallway. “You aren’t going to leave me, are you?” Diane suddenly questioned.

“You would be safer,” I responded honestly. “James would leave you alone because you wouldn’t be with me. You would be safe here.” I chanced a look at her and saw tears ready to fall.

“Please don’t leave me,” she told me, trying hard not to cry. “You heard the Alpha, we’ll be safe here. He promised.”

“I know he did, but that kindness can only extend so far. I worry that James will cause enough trouble, that the Alpha will regret his promise.” I knew my words were hurting her. We still hadn’t really had time to accept our parents’ murders. Let alone being separated from each other.

She stopped walking next to me, bringing her hands to cover her face. I turned to see she was trying hard to muffle her cries. “I don’t want to leave you, but I need you to be safe,” I tried to comfort her as I walked back to her and pulled her into a hug.

“Please, I’ll become stronger. You won’t have to worry about me,” she sniffled.

“Let’s not worry about this now,” I tried to hush her. I knew if we continued, she would have a complete meltdown.

“Okay, but you can’t just disappear,” she mumbled as she wiped her tears away and tried to calm herself down.

“I won’t,” I responded, but it felt like a lie.

Diane finally calmed herself and headed out to the main area wanting to mingle with some of the other she-wolves while I went back to our room. “We have to go now,” I muttered to Celestria.

“I thought we agreed. You can’t leave Diane and our mate,” she responded, fear in her voice.

“I know what you thought we were going to do was stay, but it’s more evident now that I should go while they are still willing to take care of Diane,” I tried to reason with her. “My only focus is keeping her safe.”

“She doesn’t want this.”

“Sometimes we have to do things that others don’t want to make sure they stay safe.”

“You can’t be sure that James is going to come back,” she tried to reason with me.

“You can’t be sure he won’t,” I snapped back. “It’s my fault that Mom and Dad are dead. It will not be my fault that Diane dies too.” She didn’t respond.

I pulled out a bag that was in the room and threw in a few things I thought I would need. In a matter of minutes, I was packed and out of the room. Slowly, I made my way down the stairs and headed out of the packhouse using the backdoor. I could hear Diane talking and laughing with some of the pack members only a room away. I stopped for a split second, reconsidering, but then pushed open the back door and headed outside.

I made my way to the forest and started to slip out of my clothes once I was under the cover of the trees. I slipped each piece into the bag and then shifted. I picked up the bag in my mouth and started to carefully make my way away from the packhouse toward the end of the territory.

Moments later, I crossed over and headed for the mountains. Once I crossed over them, I would be safer. James would follow me, but the mountains would make it harder to keep coming after me. After an hour of running at full speed, I had to slow down as my paws began to ache. I hadn’t given them the time to heal that I should have.

Soon, I came to a stream where I stopped to rest and have a drink. After resting for a few moments, I stood to begin running again, but then I heard something approaching me. Quickly, I did my best to hide behind bushes. I saw a wolf walk through the trees and into the small clearing. The wolf appeared familiar to me, but I wasn’t sure if they were friend or foe. Either way, I needed to continue putting space between myself, Diane and James.

Turning, I tried to silently continue walking away from Silvertooth and Shadowlands. “Helen, please wait,” I heard a familiar voice, but tried to ignore it. “I know you are just trying to keep your sister safe, but this can’t be the only way.”

Still, I couldn’t stop. I knew if I turned back, I wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done. “Please Helen, don’t go,” he pleaded with me.

For a split second, Celestria gained control and forced me to look back to see Vincent in his human form. I could see he was distressed and trying hard to control his emotions. “We’re mates,” he breathed. “I can’t live without you.”

We couldn’t link. We weren’t part of the same pack. So, instead, I stood there and stared at him. “I will keep you both safe, believe me,” he said as he stepped toward me. He came close enough to place his hand on my head, sending shock waves through my body. I wanted to stay. I want to be with him. I don’t want to go.

Without giving it a second thought, I shifted back and dropped the bag at his feet. He didn’t give me a moment to breathe before he wrapped his arms around me. “Stay,” he begged. “Stay with me.”

I didn’t think the bond could be so strong. I have heard others talk about the pull and the desire. They talked about feeling whole with your mate, but I thought it was all simply flowery language. But now... now I know the description has not given the word “mate” justice.

“Okay...” I muttered.

“Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll stay,” I said, breathing in his calming scent.