The Beta's Arrival

Chapter 13

James’ POV

I went back home, just as my father had instructed. Just as I suspected, when I entered my father’s office, he told me the search was over. I was to stop and not make things worse than they already were. “Now you will make a formal apology to the Shadowlands Alpha and hope that they will allow this to remain a simple misunderstanding. Then we will get the trackers back and put this whole mess behind us.” He wasn’t making a suggestion. He was ordering me to let go of my chance of forever happiness.

“Father, you can’t be serious,” I started at him, but he raised his hand to stop me from continuing.

“Stop. I have indulged you long enough and now your actions have harmed the reputation of the pack as well as possibly causing a war,” he huffed at me.

“But...”

“Enough of this obsession of yours. We cannot start a war with the Shadowlands pack,” he hissed at me.

“We are bigger and stronger. What does it matter if we start a war with them?”

“This is why I have not handed the pack over to you and do not plan to in the near future,” he informed me.

“Not in the near future...” I repeated, trying to understand what he had just told me.

“Yes, not in the near future,” he confirmed.

“Being Alpha is my birthright!” I growled at him.

“It is unless you are not ready for it,” he snapped back at me.

“You will have to step down eventually,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I have to hand the title of Alpha over to you. There have been many Alphas that have passed their titles along to another member of their pack which did not come from their bloodline,” he responded with a smirk.

I was speechless. He couldn’t be serious. “Father, I am the rightful heir. Therefore, I won’t let you choose someone else.”

“You may think that, but if I find someone who is stronger than you and beats you in a fight they can take the title from you,” he told me, almost too happily.

“I'd like to see you try,” I hissed at him.

I turned to leave the room, but he quickly spoke up. “You better be going to your room, because if you try to go back across the border I will make sure your title is stripped from you and you will be labeled a rogue,” he warned.

“I'm no fool...” I muttered.

“Prove it,” he countered.

I decided not to continue this banter and went out the door. For a moment, I thought for a moment about going out the door as I passed it, but thought better of it. I needed my father to be on my side and give me the help I needed. I went upstairs, heading straight to my room.

Helen’s POV

I sat on the edge of my bed trying hard to calm my heart. I couldn't let my sister see me so frazzled after our breakfast with Vincent. I could hear my wolf pacing in my mind, but she didn't say anything. She didn't have to. I could feel her desire through our bond. “Just tell me what's going on,” I told her.

She was silent for some time before she finally decided to speak. “He's our mate, but you are trying so hard to shove down our feelings that I didn't say anything. I just wanted you to be ready.” Her voice was filled with sadness.

“I... I.... I mean I want a mate... but I'm not ready. Now is not the time. James will come and destroy everything,” I stuttered to explain why I didn't want a mate right now.

“James will not be able to take our mate away. He is already not in good favor with the pack we are in,” she tried to comfort me.

“You can't be sure,” I worried. “I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me. We are going to be leaving this pack soon. I just need my hands and feet to finish healing before we can go.” I needed her to understand that we can't have a mate. We have to keep moving. We have to keep those around us safe. The only way to do it is to leave. Become truly a rogue.

“Helen, we can't just leave. We need our mate. He is a treasure we were given,” she tried to reason with me.

She was right. I knew she was right. However, we still needed to keep moving. Diane will be safe here, and I'll draw those who want to take me away. It is the right thing to do. “We have to leave.” I needed her to understand that we couldn't stay. We can't have our happily ever after.

“We don't have to. We just need to deal with James and then we can be happy. We can live our mate. We don't have to leave Diane,” she tried to persuade me.

I knew she was right. This pack is strong. They have a chance at stopping James, but so many could be hurt all because of me. Someone who doesn't belong to the pack. Diane could get hurt as well. I couldn't live with myself if someone else I love gets hurt or worse... “We can't stay,” I finally said firmly.

“It'll take another day for us to heal. Maybe you'll change your mind by then and see reason,” she responded with a sigh.

The door opened and Diane walked in. “What's going on? You practically ran from breakfast,” she asked, concerned.

“Nothing. I was just done eating and feeling tired,” I responded nonchalantly or at least trying to sound it.

She looked at me, perplexed, but seemed to change her mind about what she was going to say. “The Alpha invited us to join him for tea,” she told me.

“What for?” I questioned.

“All he would tell me was that he needed to speak to us about something important,” she responded with a shrug.

“When is he expecting us?”

“Five minutes,” she answered.

Quickly, we headed out of the room and down the stairs. Soon we were standing just outside the Alpha's office. Diane knocked on the door and we waited to be invited in. “Come in,” he called from the other side of the door.