The Beta Series: The Redeemed Beta

Chapter 37

~Dominic~

I pace back and forth, pretty sure that I’m wearing a groove into the floor. I wouldn’t even know how to sit still if they made me. I don’t know what to do right now, and Gideon is no better. “So what is it that you want us to do about this?” My feet stop on their own, and I turn to the couch where my Alpha and Luna are sitting.

Katarina is looking at me with a bored expression, and Aston looks like he’s contemplating rearranging how the world has been set up. “Are… are you joking with me right now?! You’re joking, right? You have to be playing with me right now!” Katarina sits back on the couch, looking like she wants to be anywhere but here. Aston places a hand on her leg as he puts his attention on me.

“I think what Katarina is trying to say is-”

“No, don’t speak for me. We have a very real threat here. What? Did he think that he would bring us this sob story and we wo-” Katarina stops abruptly, and her eyes gloss over. I’m going to take that as a win because the more she spoke, the angrier Gideon was getting. Katarina is my Luna and the mate to my best friend. I can’t imagine going against her, but he’s talking about my mate like she’s trash. I’m pretty sure I will have no trouble committing treason over her.

Her eyes clear up, and she huffs while crossing her arms tightly in front of her. “I think the Luna and I need to have a word.” Katarina’s mouth opens as if she wants to say something, but Aston squeezes her leg, causing her to stop. “Maybe come back to us in twenty minutes or so, and we can talk then.” I look between both of them, wondering what could be going through their minds. At this point, it doesn’t really matter. I have some pent-up anger and worry that needs to get out in some way.

I turn and walk out of the office as fast as I can. Gideon wants to go see our mate, but I think I need some time first. I need to calm myself so I can be the best mate for her. I hurry out of the packhouse and to the treeline, barely making time to strip down before turning into my wolf.

~Aston~

“What the hell, Aston?!” Katarina shifts next to me so that her body faces me. I continue to look in front of me, trying to wrap my head around everything. “Why did you stop me?”

“I’m pretty sure that you were going to say something that you may regret later.” Like calling me by my name, not one of the many nicknames she has for me. She’s mad, and she’s letting that anger cloud her usually clear judgment.

“Why does it sound like you are letting that man be a danger to our daughter?! Why the hell are you acting like you don’t care if something happens to Skye or not?!” And there she goes, saying things that I know, for a fact, she will definitely regret later. I sigh and reposition myself on the couch so I can see her clearly. Katarina is so lost in her feelings that she gets up from the couch and starts pacing. I turn slightly so I can watch her.

It’s funny to see this right now. She has no idea how similar she and Dominic can be at times. A part of me considers pointing that out, but I refrain. I know that now isn’t the time. She won’t hear me clearly at the moment, and I understand why. I clear my throat and try to control my voice as best as I can. “I’m going to allow you this moment because I know how… stressed you are. I’m not going to take your accusation to heart for the moment. I will pretend that you didn’t just accuse me of not caring about the well-being of my child. I’m going to pretend that you didn’t say that I want bad things to happen to the second light of my life.”

I watch my words have a physical impact on Katarina. I know that’s just the start, and the more she thinks about what she said, the more impact it will have on her. “We know how your premonitions work. If nothing is done, they will come true. The more things that are changed, the more likely it is that we can change what was going to happen. We know the truth from Dan- Jamorea’s own mouth. We can either let fear take over and end up fighting a bigger battle at the last minute, or we can take her truth and use it to our advantage right now. She seems to be in a situation that was thrust upon her, not one of her own making. We’ve never been the people to allow others to suffer when they don’t have to. I like the people we are, and I don’t want that to change.” I stand and smooth my clothes out. “I’m going to go check on Skye. I’m sure we will talk later.” I don’t wait for an answer, and I walk out of the office, leaving Katarina to her thoughts.

~Katarina~

I completely feel like sh.it, and I know that it’s my own fault. Did I really just say those things to my mate, my dreamboat? Yes, you really did say those things. You should be grateful that they love us so much.

Saying that I’m grateful is an understatement. Aston is never anything other than patient with me, no matter how horrible I get. I just accused him of not caring about our child enough to save her. He didn’t yell, and he didn’t try to hurt me. He said what he needed to say and left the room.

I let my body fall to the couch and let the previous conversation wash over me. I’ve been horrible since I had that premonition, and I know that for a fact. I’ve been accusatory and just plain mean. I guess I can say it’s the fear that’s getting to me. My daughter is in real danger, and I never wanted that for her.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that no one ever wants their child to be in danger. I knew that being a gold wolf would bring dangers that no one else would ever have to deal with. My goal was to make sure my child could grow up safely and regularly. I didn’t want what I was to interfere with that, and I didn’t want to have to wrap her up in plastic wrap all of her childhood to keep her safe.

I thought we were good. She’s two years old, and I believed that there was nothing to worry about. I hadn’t encountered any issues, so I let myself assume that everything would be okay. I guess that’s what’s getting to me the most. I let my guard down simply because things had gotten quiet for us. My softness put us in this situation, and I hate myself for it.

I lean forward with my elbows on my knees and let my head rest in my hands. The level of guilt I feel is out of this world, and I don’t know how to push it away. I don’t know how to keep it from clouding everything I do and how I interact with those around me.

An idea hits me, and my body immediately reacts. I move with it rather than second-guess things. I need something to go right for me, and I need to do what I can to keep my daughter safe. If this is the way, then I need to explore it and let it lead me down the right path.