The Beta's Arrival

Chapter 16

Jame’s POV

Midnight was drawing close, causing my excitement to come to the surface. I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the schoolwork I had been putting off, but it was useless. The closer the clock came to twelve, the slower its hands moved. Focus... focus on the papers then time will move faster. Time has to move faster.

Finally, the clock struck twelve and I was out of my seat and heading toward my bedroom door. Just as I pulled it open, I was met by my mother. “Where are you going so late at night?” she asked while holding a tray with cookies and milk.

“For some fresh air,” I quickly responded. The sound of the clock ticking away was deafening.

“It is a bit late though.” She appeared worried.

“It is, but I’ve been in my room for hours and want to get out before I head to bed,” I answered, but even I could tell she didn’t believe me. She seemed to know that I was up to something, but she didn’t know what.

“Be safe,” she said with a weak smile. “I’ll just put this back in the kitchen.” She motioned to the tray in her arms.

She turned and went back down the stairs. I gave her some time to go first. I didn’t feel like making small talk with her much, all the way to the first floor. Once I knew she was nearly down to the first floor, I made my way to the stairs. Soon I was out the back door of the packhouse and heading to Holand’s house. However, he didn’t seem to be back. The house was dark and no sounds were coming from inside. Midnight, that was the agreed-upon time. He should have been here. I went around the side of the house, looking in the windows. Still, I saw no signs that anyone was home.

I went back around to the front of the house, trying to decide what to do. I wanted to find out where he was, but there was a small chance he had been caught. “Damn it,” I groaned as I sat down on his front steps.

I must have sat in front of his house for the better part of an hour and still, he had not returned. I pushed myself back up onto my feet and headed toward the border hoping I would see him returning. However, the closer I got, the more I felt as though he had failed the mission. He was supposed to be good. He should have been back at midnight as promised, but he wasn’t. That could only mean that he had been caught or was dead.

I came up to the border and stopped at the line. It was quiet. No motion and no sound. Completely quiet. I debated crossing the line, but if I were found on the other side, then not only could it start a war, but there was no doubt my father would take away my seat as future Alpha. I stood there like an i***t for about thirty minutes before I decided it was time to go back to the packhouse. I would find out what happened in the morning.

Just as I turned to leave, I heard something or someone coming through the trees. Holand emerged from the forest with someone slung over his shoulder. He was covered in blood, cuts up and down his body and his clothing torn, but he was still walking. “You’re late,” I told him as he crossed the border.

“Sorry about that. It was a little more difficult to get the girl than I had anticipated,” he grunted as he set her down gently on the grass at my feet.

Looking down, I saw that it wasn’t Diane. It was Helen. “How did you manage to get Helen?” I asked, trying hard to keep the shock out of my face and off my face.

“When I had Diane, I was on my way here, but she managed to track me down before I reached the border. In our fight, I lost hold of Diane and instead, managed to knock Helen unconscious and brought her in Diane's place,” he explained shortly.

“I’ve sent trackers after her and she managed to escape them, but you, she couldn’t escape you?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“She was alone,” he said with a shrug.

I could easily see that he was trying to make it sound simpler than it was. She had put up a good fight. “I want you to take her back to your house. Confine her there until I can figure out what my next step will be,” I ordered.

“The deal was I bring the girl, and you pay me,” he grumbled.

“It was, but you brought the wrong she-wolf. Now I have to think of my next step. I can’t just bring her kicking and screaming into the packhouse. I need time to get her to get used to me as her mate. She’s been brainwashed,” I explained to him.

“Fine, but it’s going cost more,” he huffed as he bent down and picked her up again. He slung her over his shoulder and started toward his house.

I walked with him and went into his house to make sure he made her somewhat comfortable. “Wolfsbane,” I muttered.

“I don’t have any,” I responded. “But I can get you some.”

“I’m going to need it to keep her sedated,” he told me.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said as I rushed out the door. I headed for the hospital where I knew there was a stock of wolfsbane. I managed to slip in and out of the hospital without drawing too much attention to myself.

I managed to get back to his house before she was conscious. “Here, but make sure to use it sparingly. I don’t want her harmed,” I instructed him.

“I’ll keep her safe,” he agreed with a huff.

“Good. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I went out the door and back to the packhouse.

A few minutes later, I was back in my bed, trying to sleep. She was here! I finally had her within my grasp. Now all I need to do is to get her to realize that we are mates. Then everything will work out in my favor. It won’t matter that I orchestrated a k********g. She’ll be grateful I had. Sleep did not come so quickly for me, but eventually, it did.

The sun shone into my window, waking me. I sat up immediately more than ready to get the day started. I was out of bed and heading to the dining room to find breakfast sitting on the table waiting for me. “Where are you going in such a rush?” my father questioned.

“School, of course,” I said with a shrug as I sat down and started shoveling food into my mouth.

“Really?” he asked, skeptical.

“Yes, really,” I responded nonchalantly.

He seemed to let it go and I finished eating. Just as I stood to leave my mother spoke up. “Have a good day,” she said with a small tight smile. She seemed to think that I was up to something but didn’t want to say anything in front of my father.

“I will,” I said as I leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Then, I headed out of the dining room.

I went to my room for a moment to grab my bag to make it look realistic that I was indeed going to school. Then I went quickly outside, trying hard not to appear to be in a rush. I slipped into my car and headed toward school, but then made my way back to Holand’s house. Parking my car, I stepped out and went to the front door. I raised my hand to knock on the door, but it suddenly swung open. “Come in. She’s awake,” Holand told me as he stepped aside to let me pass by him.

I went to the room he had directed me to and there she was, sitting on the bed, confused. “Where am I?” she whispered as she peered around the room.

“You’re at my friend’s house,” I told her. “You’re safe.”

“Who are you?” She peered at me, trying hard to remember.

“I’m your mate,” I said with confidence as I came to stand in front of her.

“My mate...” she repeated, her voice trailing off.

“Yes,” I confirmed as I took her hands in my own.

“Why am I here?”

“You were taken to another pack. My friend, Holand, just got you back and brought you here to his home. You’ll be safe here. I promise,” I told her as I knelt down to be able to look her in the eyes. “I promise.”

“Am I not safe in my own home?” she asked, seeming to be coming out of the wolfsbane daze.

“No, someone attacked your home and killed your parents. So, I brought you here to a place that no one would think to look for you,” I explained to her.

“My parents... are dead...” her voice caught in her throat.

Quickly, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest. “Shhh... I’ve got you,” I whispered in her ear.

It felt so good to feel her in my arms. She was warm. This made me feel whole. “What about my sister?” she sniffled.

“She’s still in the pack that caught you,” I told her sadly.

“Why didn’t you save her too?”

“There wasn’t time. I could only get one of you out and you proved to be the easier target when it came down to it,” I tried to explain to her.

“Will you go back and get her?”

“Of course.” I wanted to stay like this forever, but I could sense she was coming back to her senses. I needed to inject her soon. I needed to have her more compliant in order to get her to see the truth and bypass all the brainwashing her parents put her through.

“Holand,” I called over my shoulder.

He came into the room and while she was in my arms, he quickly injected her. “What was that?” she muttered, startled, but already starting to go back into a daze.

“Nothing, just some medicine to help you heal faster,” I told her as I rubbed her back.

“Okay,” she mumbled and began to slump into my arms.

“Sleep now. I will be back later to check in on you,” I promised her as I picked her up and laid her gently on the bed.

I turned my attention to Holand. “Tie her to the bed while I am gone, but do not tie her too tightly. When she starts to come to, make sure to keep up with telling her that I am her mate. Stick to the story I told her,” I ordered him.

“Of course, future Alpha,” he agreed with a slight bow.

As soon as I saw that he understood, I headed out the door and to my car. I was going to be late for school, but what else was knew? At least I now knew I had more than a chance to help Helen realize that we were meant to be mates. That we were destined.