BETA'S ALPHA QUEEN

CHAPTER 7

Rhey broke into a run, all her thoughts on one person, her uncle. After hearing about Logan's dire injury she couldn't think straight. Fear of losing her beloved uncle clouded her mind and anger she didn't think she was capable of, surged throughout her body. Damn that Arthur! She thought of a thousand painful different ways to kill him.

Rhey arrived at the pack's infirmary and met Michael and her father pacing anxiously.

"Papa," she called out tentatively trying to read their expressions.

"He is in surgery," the retired Alpha answered his daughter's unasked question. She moved forward straight into Michael's arms. They hugged fiercely drawing strength from each other.

"He will be okay, " she murmured, "he has to." Her voice cracked as she fought to reign back tears that were threatening to fall. Michael tightened his hands on his niece.

The theater door opened making Rhey step out of Michael's embrace. They all turned to Dr. Lily expectantly.

"We were able to patch him up," she began making them sigh in relief. "All we can do now is wait for him to wake up from the coma."

"Coma?" Michael screeched since they had no idea that Logan was in a coma. He was still conscious when they brought him in.

"We had to put him in a medically induced coma, otherwise we would have lost him." Dr. Lily responded.

"How bad is he?" Ryan asked in a croaked voice.

"I will do everything in my power for him to get better," she answered instead stepping forward and wrapped her hands on her lover. She pulled Ryan in for a hug right there in front of his disapproving daughter. Ryan had told Lily how Rhey wasn't ready to have her mother replaced. But at that moment, Lily didn't care. The man she loved was in pain and she wanted to comfort him. Funny enough Rhey didn't mind either. Her sanity was solely on her uncle.

****

After leaving the infirmary, Rhey called for an emergency meeting of the pack's head. She was fed up with Arthur and his rogues. It was about time they paid him back, handsomely.

Everyone in the conference hall looked pensive. Apart from Logan, there were other casualties and deaths. It was a bad day for the Rwirwe pack. Apart from the witches, everyone else was already there.

Even Tommy's parents who were a part of the council. Rhey saw them approaching and braced herself. From their faces, she could tell that Tommy had already told them the truth.

"I don't know if I should kiss or slap you hard right now." Nora, Tommy's mother began when they stopped in front of Rhey. The Alpha queen shifted uneasily willing anyone or anything to come to her rescue.

"Darling, she has already punished herself enough." Gerald, Tommy's father asserted.

Nora grabbed Rhey's hand and pulled her in for a hug.

"I couldn't be happier that you are my son's mate." She murmured in Rhey's ears. "But please, don't hurt him again." She begged tightening her hold on Rhey.

Rhey exhaled shakily, "never again." She promised.

Nora stepped back and it was Gerald's turn to hug their daughter-in-law.

"I am happy for you and Tommy," he kissed her head. Rhey's eyes welled up. The love she was receiving from Tommy's parents made her feel like the worst individual ever. She felt unworthy, especially when Nora added, "I always knew you two had something special. My grandkids will be so beautiful, right honey?" She gushed making Gerald nod warmly with a smile.

"Why are you not mad at me?" Rhey asked softly wishing they were. It would make it easier to deal with her guilt. Nora and Gerald have always been good to her. And she repaid them by hurting their only son.

"We are not exactly happy with what you did." Nora began, "but we understand why you did it. If I were in your situation there is no guarantee I couldn't have done worse." Rhey swallowed hard and for the first time since the truth came out about Tommy and herself, she felt hopeful.

She attempted a tiny sad smile and shot Tommy a quick glance. Nora followed her gaze, "he will come around."

Rhey sighed deeply but said nothing. Nora grabbed her hand forcing her to lift her chin, "My baby has loved you even before he knew what love is. Be patient, he will forgive you." Rhey didn't seem convinced.

"She is right," Gerald added kindly, "he loves you too much not to forgive you."

From the corner of his eye, Tommy could see Rhey talking with his parents and wanted nothing more than to join them. For as long as he could remember, he always looked forward to the moment when he would introduce his mate to them. He knew they would be happy for him and they would love his mate no matter what.

But Rhey took that from him. Just as she took away the precious recognition moment. He was supposed to scent her, find her, and then claim her. Thanks to her, he will never experience that priceless instant recognition.

His line of thinking got him angry fast he started shaking. Julian who was seated next to him whispered, "calm down dude."

He breathed out deeply through the mouth and straightened his back. "I'm so mad at her I could kill." He rasped,

"I can understand," Julian comforted, "but try to reign your anger. It won't do any good."

As if on cue Akoko the pack's head witch entered the hall followed by other coven leaders.

"Sorry we are late," she announced going around for hellos. Everyone started taking their places on the table ready for the meeting to begin.

Rhey took her place at the head table next to her mate, who completely ignored her as he kept his gaze forward. The meeting began.

"I vote we storm over there and f**k them up!" Michael seethed dangerously after a heated debate on how to deal with the troublesome rogues who had taken over the Ankora pack.

Rhey shot his usually calm uncle a sympathetic glance. She understood his anger, it was warranted. She too wanted to lay her hands on Jonathan's bastard, Arthur, and make him pay for what Logan was going through.

"We have to be sensible, taking the fight to them means we risk getting outnumbered." Ryan the retired Alpha voiced reasonably.

"Then we outsmart them," Julian interjected casually.

"How?" Gerald asked sounding skeptical. "For all we know we might be walking into a trap."

Murmurs rose around the table, mainly the elders pointing out the cons of Michael's suggestion.

"Enough!" Rhey bellowed bringing the chatter to a halt. Everyone turned their gazes on her. "Look at what happened today," she began bitterly, "they breached our parameters and came for us." She spoke each word with conviction and paused to watch their reactions.

"We will take the fight to them, and we will win." She boomed confidently her eyes glowing.

"That's what I am talking about," Julian chipped in raising his fist dramatically. "We need to show them that they messed with the wrong pack."

"Kids, let's not get carried away," Akoko spoke up calmly. "I am with you, but I suggest proper planning."

"Full moon is in two days, that's our shot." Alpha Rhey suggested.

"When our wolves are in control?" Nora asked warily as if that was the most outrageous concept she has ever heard. It was common knowledge that during the full moon, a werewolf is more animal than human. It's a dangerous time for anyone who is around them.

"What's a better time than when we are twice as strong," Tommy spoke up for the first time since the meeting began. "Plus they will not be expecting us on such a day." He added quickly with a shrug when Rhey shot him a grateful smile.

"They put my mate in a coma and killed sixteen of our warriors. The more we wait the higher the risk of another attack. I am with them on this." Michael said eying his brother-in-law, Ryan; the retired Alpha.

"We will take a vote," Rhey announced getting on her feet. "Anonymously,"

She retrieved some A4 papers which were stacked on the copier and began distributing them around the table.

****

It was voted they attack on the full moon.

"We can do that," Akoko guaranteed at Ryan's request to have a few witches accompany them, to aid cloak and hide their presence until they have successfully breached the enemy's territory.

"Good, the rest should stay here and keep the civilians safe, just in case," Rhey concluded making most nods.

The meeting was adjourned shortly after and each head was tasked with readying their team. "Beta..." Tommy heard Akoko call and sighed helplessly. He already knew what she wanted even before the older woman opened her mouth. Guilt was written all over her face.

"I am sorry," Akoko began knowing such simple words can't suffice considering what Tommy went through. Though she wasn't to blame for Rhey's decision, Akoko cast the spell which helped the latter hide in plain sight. And she felt bad for that.

"Did you have a choice?" Tommy asked with a raised brow.

"No, but..."

"Then you are not to blame," Tommy rasped pinching his nose lightly. "See you around, Koko." And he left.

Using her pet name only intensified Akoko's guilt and she wondered if she could have done things differently that night. Maybe if she had turned Rhey down she could have spared Tommy the heartache. But she knew no one in their right minds went against Alpha's orders.

****

Rhey slipped back to the infirmary. She opened Logan's private room and peeked inside. Luckily no one was inside. She stepped inside and strolled towards his bed. She stopped just a few steps away and just stared. Logan looked pale, she noted, with all the tubes sticking out of his body.

She didn't even realize when tears started flowing down her cheeks until she stroked her palm over her face and felt the wetness. She used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe the tears away harshly.

"I need you," she sobbed. Before she could stop herself she stepped closer and held his hand. It felt lifeless against her's.

"You can't leave me too, you are not allowed." She whispered stroking his fingers.

The door opened to reveal a disheveled-looking Michael. Rhey let go of Logan's hand and attempted to move but Michael stopped her. "Stay, he needs us."

*****

Back in Gerald's homestead, Tommy lost his cool and yelled, "I don't want to talk about it." Nora and Gerald exchanged odd gazes before Nora spoke up.

"Baby, we love you, and that will not change. Just like we know you can't change how you feel about Rhey."

Tommy wasn't the one to snap at his parents. Talking about Rhey with them only seemed to rile him up. "I'm not sure I can get over her deception," he told them honestly. "Every time I see her I'm only reminded of how insignificant, I am to her."

"She loves you, I am sure of that." Nora insisted, "I know love when I see it."

"Yeah, she loves me so much she had to mask her pheromones for years to avoid being my mate." Tommy scoffed angrily getting on his feet and stormed out of the room. Nora would have tried to stop him but Gerald held her back.

"Let him be honey, he is hurting."

Nora slumped on the nearest couch. "He can't go to war that angry, he will be reckless."

"He won't," Gerald countered walking to her and sat on the armrest.

"How can you be so sure?" She asked earnestly leaning on him.

"Rhey already marked him, their bond will keep him grounded. His instincts will be to stay alive, for her. It's a wolf thing, you already know this." Gerald explained calmly.

"Will he be okay?" She asked shakily looking up at her life partner and mate.

"They will both be more than okay," he kissed her on the lips lightly. "Now smile for me woman," he demanded with a mock growl.

Nora did better, she chuckled.