The Beta Series: The Redeemed Beta

Chapter 33

~Danny~

This is not the worst place I’ve ever been, if you can believe that. I sit on the edge of the bare-bones cot in the room and look around. There’s a bucket in the corner, and I don’t even want to imagine using that. The walls are stone and have stains all over that look like they could be alive.

There’s a dripping sound somewhere in the distance, making me wonder if it’s coming from a sink. I let out a sigh, wishing that I had Mona with me, even though we’ve been at odds lately. If she were able to communicate with me, it would keep me focused on something that isn’t my current situation.

Before I can indulge in more self-reflection, footsteps sound beyond my cell. They get louder and closer each second, and my body tenses up. I have no idea what to expect right now or who this could be. I know if it were me….

Let’s be real, if I had a pack to run and I had a traitor in my midst, there’s a lot I would do. I would probably make use of torture to make sure I get the needed information. I’m under no illusion that being mated to the Beta is going to keep me safe from torture or anything else they deem necessary to get the answers they are looking for.

I would say that I’m ready for such a fate, but that would be a lie. Who could be ready to be in pain? I don’t think that’s even a thing, so that I won’t lie to myself.

The footsteps stop, and I feel a presence in front of my cell. I can’t look because I’m pretty sure that I know who’s standing there. Are they that cruel that they’d have him be the one to torture me? It isn’t that I’m claiming it to be unfair to be tortured by my Beta mate. I’m thinking more about him than anything else. I’m not sure he would be able to survive it, and I don’t think he should have to deal with it. “Are you okay?” I scoff and shake my head, his voice washing over me, the bond making this harder than it needs to be.

“Does it matter?” I turn and look at him. “You didn’t trust me from the beginning, so this should make you happy. I’m locked away, nowhere close to anyone I can hurt.” Dominic sighs and runs a hand down his face.

“This isn’t what I wanted. If I wanted this, this is where you would have been since you woke up in the clinic. I don’t think you deserve this.”

“You don’t even know me. What would you know about what I deserve?” Dominic shifts on his feet and looks past me.

“I may not know you, but I doubt the Goddess would pair me with someone who was dangerous.” I let out a dry chuckle, not finding anything funny.

“You must not really know the Goddess then. I AM dangerous. I’m dangerous to everyone here. There’s nothing that can be done about that. It’s better to let whatever the Luna has planned happen.” I look away from him, trying to keep my emotions in. I don’t want to break down in front of him, I really don’t.

“I know the Goddess has our best intentions at heart. I know that whatever is going on with you isn’t something you’ve done to yourself. I’m confident that if you just tell me what’s going on, I can help you. Please, let me help you.”

I really do want to tell him. I want to let him in and tell him everything that has ever happened to me. I want to rely on him to solve my problems for me and help me get my brother. I want to trust him and believe that he can do this for me, but I can’t. I really can’t put him in this mess or put my brother in more danger than he’s already in. “You can’t help me. You ca- no one can help me.” Neither of us makes a sound about that. The silence between us gets thick and starts to feel uncomfortable.

I hear rustling and a long sigh. I take a chance and look toward the cells. Dominic is sitting down in the hallway between my cell and the cell across from me. I’m confused because he looks like he doesn’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know, but I know this is where I need to be.” I open my mouth to respond, but I have absolutely nothing to say. I settle back on the cot, my back resting on the stone wall. He needs to go, I know he needs to go, but I selfishly want him to stay.

~Dominic~

I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway. I know I’ve been suspicious of her from the beginning, and clearly that wasn’t unfounded. I just can’t believe… I’ve never believed that she had malicious intent. Gideon doesn’t think we should be worried at all, but the Beta in me needs to be careful and safe. The pack relies on me, and I can’t mess that up. We will sit here.

For how long, Gideon?

For as long as it takes for her to trust us. I sigh, but I’m still here. As annoyed as I am, I can’t bring myself to leave or tell Gideon that he’s wrong.

I get as comfortable as I can on the concrete floor. We weren’t planning for this, but we are here. I can’t lean back against the cell bars behind me because they weren’t built with the safety of shifters in mind. There’s a bit of wolfsbane mixed in the metal. It isn’t enough to do major damage, but it’s enough to cut off the wolf of whoever is housed inside.

I don’t even want to try to get into how that works. These were built so very long ago, and I have no idea how they did it. I just know that being inside the cell messes with you. If you stand outside the cell, you’re good, and you don’t want to hang onto the cell bars.

I let my arms drop into my lap, and my head fall. There’s so much going on right now; everything feels so heavy. I don’t know what to do… what’s right and what’s wrong. All I know is that I’m going to do what my wolf suggests and sit here for a while. Finally, you listen to me.



Don’t start, Gideon. I don’t even know if I’m being stupid or not. I’m just tired. I’m tired of trying to figure it out, and I’m tired of trying to stay away from her. Gideon has no response, and I’m happy about that. Maybe now I’ll get some peace.