The Beta's Blood: Rewritten

Chapter Twenty Five

Jessica’s smile was sunshine in motion. “Good morning, Beta!” she chimed, one hip propped against the community center counter, a stack of forms in one hand and baby Noah trying to eat her necklace with the other. “Feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Ace laughed, the sound soft but real. “That’s because you haven’t. Your Alpha has been playing ‘let’s see how long I can stay out of town’ lately.”

She signed where Jessica pointed, quick and efficient, then traded clipboard for baby. Noah squealed like he’d won the lottery. He smelled like powder and milk and that warm, sweet scent only pups had. Ace tucked him against her chest and bounced him, pressing a kiss to his downy hair.

“Hi, handsome,” she cooed. “You getting big on me?” Noah immediately lunged for the floor, little legs kicking. Ace set him down and watched him waddle toward his sister, who was stacking blocks with two other pups. The community center hummed around them, wolves chatting near the pantry, the faint clang of donated clothes being sorted, music low in the kitchen. It was ordinary. It was home.

Then Alice’s voice brushed her mind, quiet and professional. ‘Beta, the Alpha has arrived… and I think he’s… unwell.’ Ace straightened. ‘How unwell?’ ‘He didn’t stop to speak with anyone. He went straight up. He looked… pale. Sweating. I didn’t want to call the healer without your say.’ ‘You did good. I’ll handle it.’

She gave Jessica an apologetic smile. “Duty calls.” Jessica waved her off, already wrangling Noah again. “Go on then.” Ace was already out the door, boots crunching over the tamped-down snow and salt on the path to the pack house.

The cold bit at her cheeks, but it was the kind of mountain cold she’d grown to love. Clean, bright, bracing. Still, as she crossed the lobby, something in her chest tightened. Kai rarely let anyone see him less than perfect. If Alice was worried… something was wrong.

She took the elevator up, watching her reflection in the mirrors. Hair tidy, sweater straight, expression calm. When the doors opened onto the top floor, the hallway was quiet, the usual staff absent. She paused before his suite and smoothed her hand down her blouse once, then knocked.

Silence. She frowned, then knocked again. “Alpha?” Nothing. Her link brushed out to him, gentle. ‘Alpha? It’s Ace.’ No answer. “Okay, we’re doing it this way,” she muttered, testing the handle. It turned. The door swung inward to darkness.

The Alpha’s suite was never dark. He liked natural light, open curtains, windows cracked for cold air. Today, the place felt… heavy. Stale. Like the air hadn’t been moved in hours. Ace stepped inside, letting the door click softly behind her.

“Alpha?” she called again, softer. Her toe hit something... his suitcase, half unzipped, clothes messily tucked inside. Shoes beside it like he’d kicked them off the moment he walked in. That wasn’t like him. He was a creature of tidiness, of deliberate motion. Her concern sharpened.

She slid her hand along the wall until she found the switch and flicked it. A warm pool of light spilled over the living room. Kai was slumped in his chair, head tilted, throat exposed, one arm hanging off the side. His shirt was half-buttoned, jacket still on, collar twisted.

A light sheen of sweat glistened along his temple, darkening his hairline. Even from here, she could see the dullness in his skin. “Oh, Kai,” she breathed, all formality gone.

She crossed the room in a few steps and dropped to her knees beside him. Up close, he looked worse. Tired in a way that wasn’t just travel fatigue. His scent, normally crisp and cedar-clean, was frayed around the edges with illness and exhaustion.

“Alpha,” she said, voice low, hand on his shoulder. “Kai. Wake up.” His eyelids fluttered. He forced them open, focusing on her like she was very far away. “Ace…” he rasped, trying to straighten, but even that seemed to take effort. He gave her a weak, crooked smile. “I was… gonna call you.”

“Liar,” she said softly. “You were going to pass out on this chair and pretend it never happened.” His huff was half laugh, half wheeze. “I didn’t want to… worry you,” he murmured.

“You always worry me,” she scolded, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead. His skin was too warm. “You can’t run yourself to death, Kai. You have an entire pack depending on you. You have me. Use me.”

He let his head fall back. She eased his jacket off, tugging carefully at each sleeve. He didn’t resist, just let her do it, too tired to protest, and that scared her more than anything. Kai never let people fuss over him.

“Come on,” she said, looping his arm over her shoulders. “Let’s get you off this chair. I am not letting the Alpha of Winter Moon sleep sideways like a drunk wolf.” He was heavy, all muscle and height, but she was stronger than she looked, and he trusted her enough to lean his full weight. She walked him slowly toward the bedroom, each step careful.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “Stop apologizing,” she said. “You’re allowed to be human. Well. Wolf. Creature.” He huffed again.

She eased him down on the bed, propped the pillows, pulled the blanket up, tucking it around him like she’d done for him once before in her suite. The memory flashed in his eyes too; she saw it. Saw relief, too.

“Rest,” she murmured. “I’ll have someone bring tea and fever meds.” He closed his eyes, lashes casting shadows over his cheeks. “Thank you… Beta.” She was smoothing the blanket when the door to the suite banged open.

“Kai, you bastard!” The rage in Amelia’s voice was a physical thing. Ace turned, brow arching. Amelia swept in like a storm. Glossy hair, sharp heels, fur-trimmed coat, two attendants behind her trying to keep up. Her perfume hit the air like an assault. Her eyes, however, went straight to Ace.

“Oh,” Amelia said, lips curling. “You.” Ace stayed exactly where she was, beside the bed. “He’s sick,” she said calmly. “This isn’t a good time.” “Who the hell are you to tell me what time it is?” Amelia snapped, stalking forward. “He cut my card off. He embarrassed me in front of my friends. He thinks he can control me from mountains away-”

“Amelia,” came a weak murmur from the bed. “Not… now.” “Oh, now he speaks,” Amelia scoffed. “No, Kai. Now is when we talk. Because I will not-”

The sound cracked the room. A sharp, open-handed smack. Ace spun back so fast her vision blurred. Amelia stood over the bed, arm still slightly raised, eyes burning. Kai’s head had turned with the blow, jaw clenched, eyes shut in pain.

Everything in Ace went white. “Did you just hit my Alpha?” Her voice was low. Deadly. Amelia turned on her, sneer ready. “This is between me and-” Ace moved.

She didn’t shift, she didn’t snarl, she just stepped in and shoved Amelia back, hard enough to knock her two steps away from the bed. One of the attendants gasped. Amelia stumbled, eyes flashing in shock that someone had actually touched her.

“Don’t. Ever. Put your hands on him again,” Ace said, voice low, eyes locked. Her wolf rose just beneath her skin, but she held it, kept it in her gaze instead. “I don’t care who you are. Mate or not... he is our Alpha. You do not strike him.”

“You...” Amelia hissed, taking a step forward. “You think because he’s made you his pet Beta-” “Ace…” Kai’s voice was weak, but she ignored him.

“I think,” Ace said, shoulders squaring, “that you’ve taken advantage of a good man for too long. You want to talk to him? You do it without laying hands on him.” Amelia’s chin lifted, eyes going cold and calculating. “You don’t know what I am,” she said. “What I’m capable of.”

“Maybe I don’t,” Ace said. “But I know this, if you touch him again, you and I will find out together.” They stared at each other, tension thick as smoke. And for the first time since Ace had met her, Amelia faltered.

Not because Ace was stronger than a Lycan, she wasn’t. But because Ace wasn’t afraid. She stood between Amelia and the Alpha like she’d been made to, like the position was already carved into her bones.

Amelia’s mouth tightened. “This isn’t over,” she spat, spinning on her heel. “You can’t keep me from my mate.” “Watch me,” Ace muttered under her breath as the woman stormed out, attendants trailing like rattled shadows.

The door shut. Ace exhaled slowly, only then realizing her hands were shaking. She turned back to the bed. Kai was watching her through heavy eyes, mouth curved in a faint, amazed smile.

“You okay?” she asked, all steel melting to concern as she crouched again, fingers brushing his jaw where the skin was reddening. He caught her hand, weak but warm. “You… defended me,” he rasped, half teasing, half in awe.

“Someone had to,” she said simply. “You can’t keep letting her do that.” He closed his eyes, pain flickering. “It’s complicated.” “It’s cruel,” Ace corrected, tone gentler now. “And I’m not going to stand here and watch it.”

The door burst open again. “I’m here!” Brad practically shouted, chest heaving like he’d sprinted three floors. “Where’s the fire, oh.” He took in the scene, Kai in bed, Ace crouched close, the tension still buzzing, the smell of Amelia’s perfume still lingering. “Well. That explains why the receptionist was pale.”

Ace snorted. “That was fast.” “Alice linked me with ‘Amelia’s mad and Ace is with the Alpha,’” Brad said proudly. “I ran.” Ace patted his shoulder. “I appreciate the faith.” Brad tilted his head, sniffed. “Did she hit him?”

“Yes,” Ace said, jaw tightening. “And I might’ve shoved her.” Brad’s eyes gleamed. ‘It’s about time someone stood up to that b***h,’ he linked privately, grin wicked. ‘You should hear what she’s done to Gamma James. She thinks she can do whatever she wants because she’s Lycan.’

‘Yeah, well,’ Ace linked back, ‘she’s going to learn Winter Moon has a Beta now.’ Brad looked past her. “Alpha, you good?” Kai rolled his eyes and let out the ghost of a laugh. “You two do realize I’m still here. You can talk out loud.”

Brad smirked. “You sound sick, boss.” “Brilliant deduction,” Kai rasped. “And now I suppose you’re going to tell me I can’t go anywhere tonight.” “Oh, you can’t,” Brad said, delighted. “Because I’m taking Ace to Lush.”

Kai blinked. “Lush?” He repeated, like the word itself offended him. Ace shrugged, lips twitching. “Brad says I need a proper city night. I’ve only ever been to the community center dances. Apparently those don’t count.”

“They don’t,” Brad confirmed. “You need loud music, ridiculous lighting, overpriced drinks, and bad decisions you’ll laugh about tomorrow.” Kai groaned and rolled gingerly onto his side. “You think clubbing is a good idea for the Beta of Winter Moon?”

Ace’s eyes sparkled. “Don’t worry, Alpha. We’ll take care of everything. You just rest.” Brad puffed his chest out. “I will personally guard her virtue,” he said solemnly. Ace snorted. “I don’t have virtue.” “Then I will guard your drink,” he amended.

Kai gave them both a long-suffering look that was too soft to be real disapproval. “Fine. Go. But take two warriors.” “We’ll take four,” Ace promised, tucking the blanket one more time. “I’ll leave a healer on standby, and I’ll have Alice send lunch up in two hours. Sleep.” His eyes were already drifting shut, the fight and the pain and the travel finally catching up to him.

“Ace…” he murmured. “Yeah?” “Thank you. For today.” She smiled, brushing his hair back once more. “Always, Alpha.” She dimmed the lights and stepped out with Brad, closing the door softly behind her. Out in the hall, she leaned against the wall, letting the adrenaline drain.

Brad eyed her, impressed. “You really shoved her.” “I really did,” Ace said, almost disbelieving herself. Then she smiled slow, fierce, the way a wolf did when she’d finally chosen a side. “He’s ours, Brad,” she said simply. “We protect ours.”

Brad grinned. “Then let’s go find you a dress that will make every wolf in that club forget their name.” Ace laughed, lighter now. “Deal.”