The Beta Series: The Redeemed Beta

Chapter 10

~Unknown~

My arms wrap around my body as it shivers. I swear this sleeping bag is useless. It does nothing to shield me from the elements. I wish I were in a better, more comfortable place. I wish I were with Khalid.

I still don’t know how my brother is, and it’s eating me alive. I need to see him just to quiet my erratic thoughts. I want to beg and plead, but I know it will fall on deaf ears. “I guess you have decided not to give me a chance.” My breath catches. I didn’t even realize that he had come into the tent. Now that I’m paying attention, his disgusting scent is burning my nose and throat. I swear I don’t think anyone could smell worse, but then there are always rogues.

I shift in the bag, not expecting my position to get any better. I can only hope that he doesn’t invade my space like last time. I’ve made my decision, and no amount of pressure is going to change it. I just want to do this last job and leave here with my brother.

I feel his presence more as he gets closer. His body heat is almost suffocating, but I try to ignore it. I keep my face away from him and shut my eyes. I wish I could get out of this tent, or better yet, make him get out. Even though I know life isn’t that simple, it doesn’t stop me from wishing it were. “Your brother is alright, if you were wondering.” That earned him a scoff, and I almost scold myself the moment it escapes my lips. “What was that for?”

My initial thought is to ignore him, but maybe that isn’t the right move this time. “I’ve been wanting to see him, but you’ve denied me the opportunity, so excuse me if I don’t put much stock into your words.”

“Ah, she does remember how to speak!” I clamp my lips down, not wanting any more words to escape. I should have known it was a ploy to get me to speak. “As excited as I am for that, it’s time to listen.” I hear rustling in the room, but I still don’t move to look at him. “Your job is about to start.” I swallow, trying to rid myself of the fear creeping up my throat. “You are being sent into the Blackpaw Pack. Your objective is to get close to the Luna and her child. There will be a wedding three months from now. I want the child ready to be moved by then.”

My breathing is uneven, and my heartbeat is erratic. This can't be real, right? He can't be serious, can he? “How?” The sound of my own voice shocks me. I didn't intend to respond at all.

“Excuse me?” I'm in too deep to turn away now. I turn my body, as weak as it is. I put my eyes on him, hoping I have enough in me to keep the bile down.

“How can I do that?” I swallow, trying to ease my dry throat. “She's a gold wolf… she has powers. Her mate has powers as well. I'd never be able to get close, let alone take their child.” I may not know much, but I know about the gold wolf. Everyone knows of her existence and the powers her Alpha mate gained.

Their story spread like wildfire across all packs. It's so rare to have a wolf with powers. They are almost a fairytale in our own world. Everyone knows that others will most likely hunt down a wolf with powers, and she’s no different. I’ve always heard about attempts to take her and was always relieved to find out that they didn’t succeed.

I had no idea that the Alpha and Luna of the Blackpaw pack had a child, an heir. I thought it was just them. What he wants me to do is foul, horrendous. To lie to the Luna like that and try to take her child away… I can’t do that. I can’t be the reason why a child is separated from its parents.

I feel his hand on the back of my neck. His touch makes my skin crawl, but I’m too weak to stop him. Brackston yanks me up, the sleeping bag falling off my body. He throws me into the chair in the tent and places his hands on the arms of the chair. “Let me make this clear to you. You don’t have a choice. You WILL go into that pack, and you WILL prepare that child for me. You have three months to get it done. I don’t care how you do it, but you WILL do it. If you tell anyone what’s going on, if I even get a whiff that you told, I will kill your little brother.” His eyes are on mine, and I know that he’s serious. As heinous as this is, I know I have no choice.

Brackston stands up tall and rolls his neck. His eyes gloss over before refocusing. “Your name is Danny, short for Daniela. You have been running from your abuse pack, where they starved and beat you regularly.” My mind is working overtime to make sense of everything. One thing that sticks out is the beating. I’ve been starved since being captured, but no one has laid a hand on me.

The tent opening flaps, and I feel the presence of more men. Before I can move, the pain from a needle prick explodes on my arm. They’ve been giving me wolfsbane since I got here, making sure my wolf, Mona, makes no appearance. It was the best way to get my starvation to kick in so fast, on top of the fact that I was already starved from just living here. I made sure most of the food went to my brother. I got by on little to nothing and would do so gladly as long as he was okay.

Two men stand in front of me, with Brackston moving back. They have a gleam in their eyes that I don’t like. I don’t have time to dwell on it because a fist quickly connects with my stomach, pushing all the air out of my lungs. I receive several more hits on my arms and legs. “Make it look good, boys, but leave her face.” The hits rain down on me until I pass out.

I wake up here and there, my body burning with pain. I feel like I’m floating, but I’m too weak to open my eyes. I black out a few more times, not being able to keep myself aware. I open my eyes again and see that I’m on the ground. It’s cold, and I feel things crawling on my skin. I have no idea where I am, but I can guess.

I try to move, but my body has no strength. I move enough to determine there’s a blanket over me, but it’s so thin that it keeps no warmth in. I want to run… I want to give up, but I can’t do anything. I have to think about Khalid. I have to do what needs to be done to keep her safe. He’s the last image in my mind as my eyes close, and I let darkness consume me once again.