Brynn's Beta

Harper's Story--Part 1

18 Years in the Future

“Harper! You need to hurry. It’s almost time to go. You don’t want to keep Maverick and Aspen waiting,” my mom, Brynn, yelled for me from downstairs. Dropping my makeup into my carry-on, I zipped it shut and arrived downstairs just as Luna Aspen and Alpha Maverick came out of their suite with their luggage. I was excited but nervous for this trip. I was attending the Alpha’s governing council annual forum as the future Beta of Silvercrest and working as Alpha Maverick’s second since my parents, Jace and Brynn, had to stay at the pack and take care of things.

Maksim, the oldest child of Alpha Maverick and Luna Aspen, was coming along to observe as part of his Alpha training. He was a year younger than me and we were close friends. As the older one in our friendship, I knew he wasn’t my mate, but I was pretty sure both our parents were holding out hope that we would end up together. I’m not going to lie, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t feel anything for Maks once I turned 18. He was a good guy and he would be a fantastic Alpha someday. Plus, he was extremely attractive. He had dark blonde hair and dark green eyes like Uncle Maverick. We crushed on each other for a while when we were 13-14 and he got my first ever real kiss. After a while, the feelings faded and we ended up deciding we were better off as friends.

Maks was still protective of me though, which I thought was cute. Not that I needed it, I was a bad ass warrior on my own. Maks was close to beating me in our sparing, but hadn’t yet—something I had teased him about relentlessly for years. He just growled at me and trained harder. I like to think I was pushing him to be the best Alpha he could be, but I knew as soon as he got his wolf, he would definitely beat me. My mom thought it was too much and that I should be demurer and “lady-like,” but I disagreed. That wouldn’t be true to myself, which mattered more than anyone’s opinion of me. Plus, every time I beat Maks, Uncle Maverick would just smirk at me and wink and my dad, Jace, would cheer me on.

Quickly, I glanced in the mirror to check my hair while we waited for Maks. Right now, my dark brown hair was in a cute pixie cute, highlighting my eyes which were the same blue color as my mom. It was a short flight to the forum, so I took the time to put on a little extra makeup and a cohesive outfit. Since I was mate-less, there was always a chance I could meet my mate and I wanted to make a good impression with the council for Uncle Maverick’s sake. I overheard my parents talking, and there was a rumor that he might become head of the council once Maks took over as Alpha. I thought Uncle Maverick would be great. He was fair, but firm and the pack ran like clockwork.

Both Uncle Maverick and Aunt Aspen were wonderful to me and my siblings. As part of my training, I had visited a few other packs as the presumed next Beta of Silvercrest Pack so I knew that Uncle Maverick was an outstanding Alpha. It made me proud and I wanted to do whatever I could to carry-on the reputation he and my Dad had built.

“Maks!” Aunt Aspen shouted, “hurry up!” She looked at Uncle Maverick exasperated. “I swear, that boy …” she muttered. I giggled to myself. Maks got along pretty well with his parents, but he was close to getting his wolf, so he was pushing his boundaries all the time. Last week, a group of us stayed out all night and partied a little too much. We were approximately 30 seconds late for training that morning, and I didn’t think Aunt Lia caught it, but I was wrong. Uncle Maverick showed up a few minutes later and we were punished, hard. Several puked and I have never actually been sore from training since I got my wolf—at least not until that day.

Maks finally made his way downstairs at the exact time his mom told him to be ready, with a sheepish look on his face, “Not late am I?" Maks asked innocently.

Aunt Aspen smacked him upside the head with a laugh, "You little drama king. Always have to make an entrance!"

I rolled my eyes behind Aunt Aspen’s back. Maks could definitely be drama, but I think sometimes he did it just to annoy his mom.We headed out to the SUVs for the quick ride to the airport. Maks nudged me as we walked out, “ready for your big showcase as a future beta?” he teased. I shrugged, “sure,” but I was excited and a little bit nervous.

I hugged my parents who were waiting on the porch. “Young lady, I better be your first text if you meet your mate,” my dad whispered in my ear. I kissed his cheek and winked, “sure thing, daddi-o.” After hugging my mom, I jumped in the back seat of the second SUV next to Maks. My mom had her arms wrapped around my dad, his arm was around her shoulder and he kissed the top of her head as we drove off. Inwardly, I sighed. I only wanted a mate if I could have a relationship like my parents or Uncle Maverick and Aunt Aspen. Nothing less, but I was young and would prefer to wait for a few years. I liked my independence.

Once we were on the plane, I sat across from Uncle Maverick to review the agenda. It was a two and a half day meeting, but we were staying an extra day to enjoy the lodge and snow board. A few of the pack warriors were accompanying us, including Vaughan, a warrior I occasionally hooked up with. He winked at me across the plane, which Maks of course saw. I would hear about this later. Vaughan mind-linked me, “Is this trip all business or will you have some time for pleasure?”

I coughed and excused myself to grab a bottle of water and cover up my blush. “It’s business,” I hissed back. “No more flirting. I told you, we’re casual. If you can’t respect that, we are done.” I let out a little bit of my beta aura as I headed back to my seat to further emphasize my point, and Vaughan tilted his neck just a little in submission. Fortunately, Uncle Maverick’s back was to us and he missed the whole exchange. I didn’t think he would judge me, but I definitely didn’t want to have an awkward conversation with him about my love life. Plus, I wanted to be taken seriously, as an adult, who could carry the full responsibility of the pack if needed. This trip was all about business and proving myself.

We landed behind another plane that was deplaning. I pulled on my parka and grabbed my luggage. As soon as we were in the fresh air, I took a deep breath. There was snow in the air and it smelled delicious. The mountains of Colorado were breathtaking in their beauty. Maks nudged my shoulder and motioned towards the plane in front of us. A young woman with long, reddish blonde hair was climbing into the SUV, but just before she did, she looked over her shoulder and made eye contacts with Maks. “Who is that?!” he hissed. “She’s gorgeous. I have to meet her. HAVE TO.”

“No idea. Do you think she’s your mate?”

Maks shrugged, “Who knows. There’s just something about her eyes.”

“I’ll get into it and let you know what I find.”

After we settled into our rooms, I went to one of the “junior” level meetings while Uncle Maverick and Aunt Aspen headed to the welcome reception. One of the hardest things I was learning was the politics behind the packs and such. It was a nightmare and completely exhausting. I was happy to sit in a mindless meeting about some amendment to a treaty instead of reading subtext during a social interaction.

I signed in and noticed a name I didn’t recognize “Sophia Stone.” Finally! Another woman at these things. I was used to being the only female in the room, but it was tiresome. The guys were more interested in posturing for power and measuring their d**k length than getting anything done. It was maddening—always the same sh!t. About time the power balance started to change.

As soon as I walked into the room, I saw the familiar blonde hair. It was the girl Maks saw on the tarmac. I sat in the seat next to her and introduced myself, “Harper Marks, future beta of Silvercrest Pack.”

“Sophia Stone, future Alpha of Emerald Woods Pack,” she stuck her hand out and we shook. “Are you sure you’re a beta? You have a really strong aura,” Sophia commented.

Before I could answer, the meeting was called to order. That was curious. Sophia must be a hybrid of some sort. Maybe she was a witch. I started to text Maks, but decided to wait a few minutes to see what kind of person this Sophia was. I was pretty protective of Maks since I would likely be his Beta someday. This meeting was typical of the others I had attended. Most of the attendees hadn’t read the treaty amendment we were discussing and were discussing nonsense, not getting anything accomplished. After one ludicrous suggestion, I finally spoke up, “Guys, that language isn’t even present in the document. This is a simple change and will make it easier for packs to develop trading partnerships. Let’s approve it and hit the bar.”

The same guy (some future Gamma of a tiny pack of which I was unaware) who hadn’t read the proposed language started to mansplain the concept of a treaty to me but Sophia interrupted. “Out of curiosity, since I’m new here, how many treaties does your pack---what it’s name—have?”

Oh! I loved her. She was throwing shade and taking control.

The future Gamma stuttered and mumbled something no one could understand. Sophia didn’t let it go, “how many?” she pushed.

“It’s irrelevant. We should keep the process the way it is,” the i***t argued.

“It is relevant. Now answer my question,” Sophia insisted and released a bit of her Alpha aura. Wow! She was strong. Everyone in the room tilted her neck and several almost fell to their knees. It took all my strength to stand up to her command and it wasn’t even directed at me. The future gamma folded like the weakling he was and muttered “three.”

“Three?” Sophia and I burst out laughing. I knew her pack was large because I was familiar with the larger packs and mine was huge. I knew Silvercrest had dozens of treaties with various packs relating to business, passage of pack members through territories, hunting ground, land preservation, all of it.

“Why are you even in this meeting?” I asked. “I move that members of this committee who have ten or more treaties be allowed to vote. If your pack has less than ten, none of this is relevant.”

“Second!” Sophia agreed.

The rest of the group agreed and the three idiots who were belaboring points about which they didn’t even understand begrudgingly sat down in the back of the room. The new language quickly passed and the majority of us headed to the bar. Sophia and I walked over together.

“That was great!” I said. “I’m still new to these, but that was the most productive meeting we’ve had.”

Sophia laughed, “Leave it to the women to get sh!t done. I’m impressed that you were in the meeting. I’m used to being the only female around official meetings.”

I chuckled, “Me too. How come we haven’t met before?”

“My pack is just prepping to join the council. My dad, Alpha Xavier Stone, held out for a long time because he didn’t like the structure, but he likes the new guy … Maverick something, so he’s checking out the process.”

“Uncle Maverick is my Alpha. I’m actually here training to take over as Beta from my dad once the two of them retire in a couple years.”

“Really?! Cool! I like that you’re getting the job. I hate all the stupid misogyny in our world. I’m still surprised you’re a Beta. I’ve never seen someone who can stand up to my aura like that. It’s cool.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, “You’re really strong and you’re not even 18 yet, I’m impressed. Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Shoot.”

“Are you a hybrid or something? Because you keep talking about my aura and that sounds like a witch thing…”

Sophia laughed, “I am. I’m half magic of some sort. I turn 18 in a week and my parents are letting me decide if I want to be Alpha or chose magic as my path. My dad had me come along so I can see what the council is like because if we join, and I decide to become Alpha, this will impact me much more than him.”

“Pretty forward thinking of your dad. No wonder he likes Uncle Maverick. It sounds like something he would say to me. Who will be Alpha if you choose your magic?”

“Oh I have a couple of brothers. Probably my brother Maddox. He’s sixteen and already super strong. Not as strong as me, obviously, but he would do a good job. I like the idea of being a female Alpha and breaking through the stupid glass ceiling and the ‘old boys club’ but magic makes me come alive, so it’s a tough decision.”

By this time, we were at the bar and snagged a booth in the back corner so we could keep talking. I grabbed us a couple of drinks from the bar.

“I agree. I decided a while ago that I wanted to be Beta in our pack for the same reasons. I like Uncle Maverick and think he’s progressive for his generation, but real change only happens when different people take over and build their packs differently. We already have a female Gamma and she’s a total bad ass. I like to think I could go further than her because of what she has done.”

“A female Gamma? So cool!” Sophia agreed, “by the way, my friends call me Sophie.”

I grinned, “Hey! My friends are hanging out at the hotel because their stuff just finished, do you mind if I invite them to join us?”

“Would love that. I thought this meeting was going to be a bunch of old men. It’s already way better than I thought.”

I texted Maks to let him know I found the girl and where to meet us. Then I mind-linked Uncle Maverick to let him know as well. Maks showed up a few minutes later with Vaughan and another warrior tagging along. Until Maks had his wolf, he usually had a warrior with him since he was less able to defend himself. Even though things were peaceful, Uncle Maverick worried about his family becoming a target if he was head of the council.

As soon as Maks entered the bar, he and Sophie made eye contact and kept it all the way across the bar until Maks slid in the booth right next to her.

“Sophie, this is Maksim Conway, future Alpha of the Silvercrest pack. Maks, this is Sophia Stone, future Alpha of the Emerald Woods pack.”

Maks stuck out his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

Sophie grasped it and blushed a little, “You as well.”

Vaughan and Brian sat at a high top a few feet away from us, keeping an eye on things.

Maks completely turned on his charm for Sophie, to the point that I don’t even think he remembered I was there. Sophie tried to include me in the conversation for a while, but as soon as Maks leaned in to whisper something in her ear, I was out. I knew exactly where this was headed and I decided to give them their privacy. Sophie and Maks clearly had some sort of connection—what kind I wasn’t sure, especially since Sophie was half magical. I wasn’t familiar with her particular kind of magical traditions and if they had a mate concept. Since both of them were close to getting their animals, it wouldn’t be that weird if they were mates and felt something before the full bond could be recognized.

I wandered over to the bar, avoiding the side where the future Gamma and his buddies were hanging. I tried not to be a snob because my parents had ingrained in me the value of every member of the pack, plus my mom was a former Omega, but I was definitely judging those small-minded, backwards guys who barely ran a pack a fourth the size of Silvercrest. As I waited for my beer, the door opened and I caught a whiff of something incredible. It smelled like all my winter dreams come true—the perfect combination of campfire, pine, and clove. Whipping my head around, I looked for the source of the scent as my wolf started pacing in my head.