The Beta Series: The Redeemed Beta

Chapter 2

~Dominic~

I throw another rock over the edge, watching it fall into the water below. There’s a cliff of sorts that I found. It was by accident, one of the days I was trying to run away from my demons. It overlooks a small lake, nothing major. I’m not even sure if it’s still our land or not, but I just know that it’s peaceful here. No one comes out this way, and that’s the way I like it. I get to have time to myself to think and figure out my life, and I’ve been doing that a lot lately.

It’s been a little over two years since everything happened. I’ve been trying to make up for all the wrong I did during that time. I know I should have never been made Beta, and I question that decision every day.

I know why Katarina and Aston decided to make me a ranked member, but that doesn’t erase everything I’ve done before that point. I often think of all those years and how I conducted myself. I think about how others viewed me.

I’m ashamed, and that’s the least I can say. I did and said things that I can never take back. I can’t blame everything on King or the Alpha command. Truth be told, that isn’t the sole reason why things happened as they did. I made my own choices, and I’ve been trying hard to make amends. “Uncle D!” I turn my head just in time to see a small blur barrel toward me. As soon as it makes an impact, my arms encircle the mass and tighten. A small giggle reaches my ear, and I practically melt.

“Skye, what in the world are you doing all the way out here?” There’s a general concern in my voice. The truth is that she shouldn’t have found her way out here. It isn’t a clear path, and it’s much further from the packhouse than she should have been. I look behind her to see that she’s alone, which is even more disturbing.

“I smelled you.” I lean back and look at the little girl. She looks just like her mother with Aston’s eyes. It’s actually uncanny how much they look alike. Aston loves it. He loves that his daughter looks just like her mother. He loves catering to them both. They have him wrapped around their finger, and he loves every second of it.

I sigh and stand with Skye in my arms. I won’t lie, Skye has me wrapped as well. She’s an extraordinary toddler, and I love spending my time with her. I’m just concerned because she shouldn’t have ended up out here. “Even though you caught my scent, you shouldn’t have followed. You are alone in the woods, little lady. That’s dangerous. Something could have happened to you.” I look down at her face as I walk toward the packhouse. Big Mistake.

Skye’s bottom lip is poking out, and her eyes are big and glassy. My heart constricts as I consider the fact that I crushed this little girl. I know it’s irrational, but the last thing I ever want to do is hurt her. She’s much too precious to experience any type of pain.

I pull her in closer to my body and tighten my hold on her. She wraps her little arms around my neck, and the emotions threaten to take me over. I breathe silently and as steadily as possible. I say nothing else as I walk with Skye through the woods. I’m sure her parents are losing their minds trying to figure out where she could be.

Katarina and Aston are amazing parents. Running the pack never comes before Skye and her needs. I can’t recall how many times Skye has been present in a meeting with Aston because she refused to leave him, or Katarina needed time for whatever reason. Someone complained only once, and Aston quickly put them in their place. He’s a total family man and dares anyone to question that.

I look at Katarina and Aston, and it hurts. I want the love that they found with each other. Add Skye to the mix, and I’m downright envious. They have a loving family, a tight bond, and I want that. I probably don’t deserve it after everything that happened with Tatiana and King, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting that love.

As we get closer to the packhouse, I see a flurry of activity. I tap into the pack link and am almost amused at the chaos. Skye has definitely been missed, and Aston is tearing the pack up to find her. I shake my head and look down at my little friend. I almost laugh out loud when I realize that she’s fast asleep, clinging to me. I open a mindlink to Aston and Katarina. I believe you are looking for something.

Have you found her?

Yes, Luna. Skye is safe and sound, in my arms.

Thank the Goddess! Aston’s voice is rough and strained, but no one can blame him for that. I step past the treeline to find them rushing toward me. They stop right before they can bulldoze over me.

“She’s asleep,” I whisper. “She said she caught my scent and followed it. Isn’t it a bit early for that?” Katarina lifts Skye off my body and secures her in her arms. Skye only shifts slightly, but sleep still has a hold on her. We watch them walk to the packhouse.

“I don’t know, man. Katarina said she felt nothing while she was growing up, so she doesn’t think she should have any powers or anything.”

“What did Elder Nadia say about it?” Elder Nadia has been living the dream around here. She gets full access to Katarina and Aston to further her research into special wolves. She keeps saying how there’s no first-person account of a gold wolf, so this is a first. I’m excited for her, but I can’t help but wonder if this is a bit too dangerous for our pack and our leaders.

“She said there’s nothing to guide us to anything conclusive. It’s all just trial and error at this point. We’ve found nothing that sheds light on anything about Skye at this point.” I shake my head, just trying to wrap my mind around everything. “So you went out there to be miserable again.” I startle and look up into Aston’s eyes. There’s a lot of emotion in his gaze, but pity is the one I hate the most. I don’t need him or anyone else to pity me. It’s totally uncalled for.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” I sigh and walk forward, not waiting to be followed.

“Don’t look at me like I’m some broken man that you want to fix. I’m fine, okay? I’m completely fine. I was out for a walk.” We’ve had this talk way too many times, and I don’t want to have it again. I hate when we discuss my disaster of a life and the means by which we can fix it. I don’t want to be bothered with the maybes and some days. I’m in a position I don’t qualify for, and I still have a lot to make up to people.

Aston’s hand clamps on my shoulder, but I keep my eyes forward. “No one thinks you’re broken, okay? I’m not trying to fix anything. I’m just showing concern for my friend. How is it a bad thing to think about others? Isn’t that kind of my job?” I don’t respond, refusing to let guilt or logic alter the course that my mind is on. I continue to walk forward with Aston on my heels. I think I will lock myself in my office. I know I have work to do.