Beyond Fate

Mina

Mina and I set about our day. I got her dressed and we headed down stairs.

Another reason I arrived early at the pack house was because I liked to take Mina down to eat with the pack. If I came at eight by the time she was dressed the maids would be sent up with a tray.

To say the alpha and Luna were overprotective of their grandpup was an understatement but they had their reasons, nothing had been the same since that awful day Rose had been taken from us.

I wasn’t defying them as such. They never gave me any direct orders about Mina’s care, besides I was her legal guardian as much as they were. The only real person that could say no to me was Mina's father Alpha Mitchell. Of course I was never disrespectful, I always consulted with the alpha and Luna before making any big decisions about Mina's care.

I just thought that it was important Mina felt part of the pack and everyone loved to see her. It was important they knew their heart hadn’t left them completely. Mina was an extension of her mother and she would be loved just as much plus it was good for her grandparents to spend those extra pockets of time with her given their busy schedules,

Mina adored them both but they had become a little withdraw from her recently, I knew they were just scared of loving her too much like they had Rose, it scared them that she had been taken from us so easily.

Mina was a beautiful little girl so full of life and mischief. The pack had felt dead inside the last few years but Mina brought light into their lives however fleeting a moment she was allowed to.

She was the image of her mother but she had inherited her father’s dark brown hair that and his alpha genes of course. Mina was incredibly strong willed and mischievous, whenever I did unleash her in the pack house she would play pranks on people or pinch sweets from the kitchen.

She reminded me of Johnny for that. I'm pretty sure my brother had been the one to teach her those tricks. It irritated some older pack members that she wasn’t refined and tame like other Alpha pups were taught to be but Rose had never wanted those qualities forced on her, she wanted her be her true self so I’d never stifled Mina’s outgoing, mischievous side by trying to turn her into what this old world pack deemed appropriate behaving pup of her high standing. She was perfect and I loved her for her bubbly personality. No day was ever the same with her.

I’d been taking care of Mina since the day we had lost her mother. I loved her like my own child. I thought about how much it would break my heart if her father were to suddenly decide to put another in charge of Mina's care. I couldn’t bare to think about it.

I took Mina's tiny hand in mine and We headed down stairs towards the dining hall. Everyone we passed had smiles for her as she let go of me to bounce and skipped in front ahead.

They didn’t always acknowledge my presence but I didn’t care. We walked to the kitchen first to collect Mina's breakfast. I always like to check over it to make sure Mina's food didn’t reflect their hatred of me. She was their princess and she would have the best even if I had to stand over them and make sure of it.

Once her food was ready I picked up the tray and we headed into the dining area. Not before receiving some glares from one or two omegas. The one that had scalded me for being late was sat at the counter painting her nails. Shirking her chores again clearly. Thankfully she was too distracted to notice me as I passed her.

The dining room was buzzing, mostly full of warriors coming in from the night shift at the border before going to bed. Pack days started late for anyone who wasn’t an Omega or on patrol. Even the worriers didn’t train early anymore.

Luna Jamie was at the head table speaking with a few higher ranking she wolves the ex Gamma and Delta females. It was part of the natural pecking order that the high ranking she wolves were best friends, seeing as they spent so much time working together running the pack it was unusual if they weren’t close. My mother would have sat at the same table with them if we lived in the pack house but my parents had always wanted a house of their own.

As soon as Luna Jamie saw Mina she beamed brightly waving us over, Mina ran straight into Luna Jamie’s waiting arms. She sat Mina on her lap while I sat Mina’s breakfast of smiley face pancakes and fruit down in front of Luna before stepping back.

I was Mina’s primary carer but when it came to Luna and Alpha I stepped into the background.

The other ladies looked adoringly at Mina while she ate her breakfast in her grandmother's lap Gamma Caroline was sat with her future daughter in law Katie, we had been in the same class at school, we had been friends back then until the unfortunate incident now she looked at me like all the rest, like I was an insect to be squashed under her six inch heels. Like me she had beautiful blonde hair but instead of having natural waves like me Katie’s hair had natural thick ringlets she used to tie back all the time claiming they got on her nerves but since she had found her mate she always wore it down. I knew it was because her mate liked to run his hands through her mass of curls, I’d seen him do it now and then when they’d been sat together in the dining room. I’d always thought it was sweet you could feel how much they loved each other just from that one look. It was how I’d imagined my own mate looking at me but I hadn’t been so lucky. Katie and Gamma Caroline looked to be deep in conversation giggling probably discussing mating plans.

Katie was Colton’s mate had taken over as gamma recently along with Nathan. Alpha Felix had wanted them already in their positions when alpha Mitchell took over so they could help him adjust. So Katie and Colton’s mating ceremony was a pretty big deal, as they would be the new Gamma couple of the pack. Colton had only just turned nineteen and had not long come home from training when he and Katie had met but he’d been over the moon to find out She was his fated mate. They were due to have the ceremony in just a couple of weeks time.

Mating ceremony’s were pretty simple compared to a lot of human and other super natural ceremony’s. The couple would pledge their devotion to their mate in-front of the Alpha and other pack members by swearing a blood oath much like when we accepted a new high rank official. Later the couple would then mate and mark each other sealing their unbreakable bond forever.

Gamma Caroline looked up at me momentarily nodding her head and smiling but when Katie looked up she couldn’t hide her distaste of seeing me present at breakfast. I couldn’t believe I had once called this girl my friend. I just ignored her I found people got board quicker that way. Delta Jane gave me a shy nod before going back to her breakfast too.

I actually respected the ex high ranking pack members they were leaders of war. Like my parents they came from a time when life was hard and luxuries were rare, they had been leaders in the most stressful of times where death had been a daily burden.Yet they had all worked hard to make sure the pack stayed together and it had thrived. I felt privileged that they always acknowledged me for their luna’s sake, everyone knew she was fond of me but a friendly smile and nod was pretty much the extent of it they still had my respect despite that though.

“ nana cind Ella?” Mina bounced on Luna Jamie’s lap with one of the lunas slices of toast hanging from her mouth giving her best puppy dog eyes.

Luna Jamie looked at me lost needing translation. Mina’s speech was still coming along. You had to be around her a lot to interpret some of her words sometimes.

“ Cinderella Luna, we’ve agreed to watch it after we practice our numbers” I winked at Mina smiling down at her as she scowled back at me.

I knew what my little monkey was doing. She was trying to go around me to get what she wanted right now. Mina was sweet and adorable to look at but she was a mischievous little thing, the word no didn’t exist to her she was determined to get what she wanted. It was the alpha blood in her.

“ Well let nana know when you’ve finished your numbers sweetie and maybe grandpa and I could watch one with you before we leave” I frowned at Luna Jamie’s mention of leaving.

“ Leave Luna?” I queried before I could stop myself. I had a time table of the alpha and luna’s schedule so I could plan Mina’s time with them better but I was sure they were here until their sons arrival.

“ Oh yes Alisha, I assumed Felix told you we decided to head to crescent lake pack, to pick up my son,” she explained with a smile.

I noticed Delta Jane visibly relaxed. Man, people were really on edge at the moment.

“ oh is everything ok?” I asked before I could stop myself.Again.

She smiled at me but that was the only answer I was given, clearly they were worried about their son coming back. Luna Jamie had told me they’d been asking Alpha Mitchell to come back and integrate himself into the pack a year ago but he’d refused he’d never even met Mina.

Now he was days away from taking over the pack yet no one had seen him in years. I had never known Mitchell personally; he was older so we hadn’t been in the same year at school. I'd only ever seen him here and there around the pack.

Mitchell had always hung around with Johnny and Nathan when we were young, He hadn’t even been much of a player either, he had female fans of course as most Alpha males did but he never acted on it. In fact I could only ever remember him having one girlfriend before he found Rose. People had always liked him though and obviously Rose had adored him. I had learnt a lot about Mitchell through my friendship with Rose. Everyone was confident he’d be a great Alpha. I think they were just nervous because normally a future Alpha would know his pack so well but Mitchell had avoided coming back for years. I couldn’t blame the Alpha and Luna for wanting to go and collect him just to make sure he did come back.

“ Right then, little monkey, why don’t we get moving so nana and grampa have time to watch Cinderella” I bent down to talk to Mina. She had a mouthful of food still, she looked like a little hamster with her cheeks poking out. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. She nodded before jumping off Luna Jamie’s lap waving as we headed upstairs to start her lessons.

An hour later I was crouched in Mina’s playroom with my hands over my eyes.

“ four..five..six..” Mina had worked on her numbers for a little while but had gotten board, too excited to watch Cinderella with her grandparents.

Luna Jamie had mindlinked me that they were finishing packing so to pass the time I’d suggested playing hide and seek.

“ nine..ten... Ready or not..here I come!” I sang out, taking my hands away from my face.

I looked around the room knowing straight away that Mina wasn’t in there anymore. Her scent engulfed everything in the nursery but it was faded which meant only one thing. Looking towards the open door confirmed my suspicions. Yep the little monkey had run off to hide in one of the other rooms.

I hugged getting up off the floor stomping out of the room. I wasn’t worried. Yes, it was a big house and a lot of places for a little pup to hide but my heightened sense of smell helped me to locate my little monkey easily enough.

I descended the stairs in the pack house following the scent of strawberries and cream. I liked this time of day when no one was around to glare at me. With no one around, scents had faded and you could smell the pine wood and floral scents of the forest just outside. Being in the pack house felt like home. I suppose it was just my wolf sensing her place was here being the Beta’s mate, I’d of been living on the top floor with him along with the gamma and Alpha family once we had mated.

I followed mina’s scent all the way down to the bottom floor, I figured she’d just gotten bored and started watching T.V but became alarmed when her scent went past the living room heading further down into the omegas sleeping quarters.

I hadn’t been down here since the day I had left to go back home. My mom had gotten injured during a patrol one night, she had been jumped by three rouges at once. She’d managed to kill them but her injuries had taken time to heal after we found she’d been injected with wolfsbane by one of them.

The woman never ceased to amaze me with what an incredible warrior she was defeating three rouges alone and on wolfsbane.

After mom had recovered Alpha Felix had never brought up me moving back in with the other omegas and I’d been grateful for being out of Nathan’s reach. I was safe with my family protecting me even if they didn’t know what they were protecting me from.

I walked through the corridor following Mina’s scent she’d clearly been running round down here her scent was everywhere and it was becoming disorientating, especially as my heart rate was starting to increase from being down here again. There were too many bad memories of unmated males paying other omegas nightly visits, having to listen to girls like Astrid have s*x with three or four males a night has been scaring for an innocent omega that I was back then. Worst of all we’re the memories of my own nightly visits from Nathan pretending to have changed his mind about being my mate, filling my head with lies just to slake his lust for me. It made me feel sick how naive I'd been back then, just a young pathetic girl with ideas of her mate loving and cherishing her forever. What a fool I’d been.

I stopped at one door where Mina’s scent was strongest pushing it open and going in before I realised which room it was. When I saw it was my old room I froze. Petrified. Turning back into that scared little girl that used to spend her night sat against the door crying hoping that her mate wouldn’t pay her a visit that night.

(Flash back four years earlier)

I sat on the cold stone floor with my knees pulled up against my chest sobbing into them feeling like a complete fool.

Maybe he will change his mind again maybe he’ll come back to us. My wolf tried to reason.

No you know he won’t.

No Alisha ,don’t lose hope he’s our mate.

He used us. You heard him,he just wanted to sleep with us. He went straight back to her. I sobbed and my wolf howled in pain.

Nathan had come to me last night. I’d wondered if he would. It had been over a week since we’d found we were fated mates.

At first I’d been so happy he was my mate. For that split second I was actually stupid enough to believe my luck was finally turning around. I had run up to him and wrapped my arms around him instantly. Our bodies had fit perfectly and I’d been surrounded by his intoxicating scent of citrus fruit. For that brief moment I had felt so much happiness. I’d known for sure that Alpha Felix would have to change my rank and see that I was meant to hold my Beta title now I was fated to be the future Beta of the pack, he would make everything better.

My moment was short lived as I was wretched away from my mate by the evil barbie that had ruined my trials.

“ Stay away from my man,b***h!” she spat, slapping me across the face.

The impacted had sent me flying in front of everyone in the pack house. I’d expected my mate to do something: shout, scold, punish, growl..anything, but he didn’t. He just stood there with his head down embarrassed. I looked up at him clutching my cheek, tears sliding down my face while everyone laughed and pointed, I was begging him with my eyes to do something, help me.

Kelly smiled smugly wrapping her arm around his bicep pulling him along with the rest of their group into the gardens. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed there but by the time I got up I had no more tears left to cry. I'd made my way back to the omegas quarters finding Astrid in our room.

Astrid had rubbed my back while I lay on my bed feeling numb,the one thing I thought would never happen to me. My mate didn’t want me. I appreciated that Astrid cared enough to attempt to console me but it did nothing to sooth the crippling sorrow I was feeling in my heart.

It was later that night I had felt the most horrific pain imaginable. It gripped my body like a vice that wouldn’t let go. I wanted to die. I had lay on my bed writhing in pain and screaming long after my throat was raw feeling the horrific pain of Nathan betraying the mate bond by being intimate with another female. Kelly.

It wasn’t till the following day he’d come to see me. I hadn’t wanted to see him. I was weak and my wolf had disappeared, retreating back into the depths of me. I was so worried I’d lost her for good. The night before had felt like my insides were being ripped apart. But I hadn’t wanted to appear weak to him so I forced myself to face him with my head held high for what I assumed was the rejection. He told me he couldn’t accept me because I was an omega.

“You have to understand I’m am the future beta of the pack I can’t have an omega for a mate”

His words echoed in my head as I sobbed harder into my knees remembering the awful words that had broke me. Even my own mate hadn’t wanted me.

I thought that would be the end of it but Nathan had left after making it clear he wouldn’t accept me, he walked away without officially rejecting me. It had stupidly filled me with hope he’d change his mind but every night I kept feeling the agony of him being with Kelly. Despite all the pain and suffering I never gave up hope he would come around.

Then last night he came to me I hadn’t seen him in over a week I’d been too sick to go anywhere because of the pain so I’d been excused from my duties around the pack house.

Nathan had come to my door in a state he was drunk and sobbing about how he’d made an awful mistake. He told me how he’d wanted to be with me. I was stupidly caught up in the romance of my soulmate wanting to be with me. I was over the moon. I thought he was finally accepting me. But I was wrong. So utterly and completely wrong.

We’d spent the night talking and cuddling. It was wonderful. I felt like I’d known Nathan my entire life. We fit together so completely and we hadn’t wanted the night to end. That was the night I’d given him everything heart, body and soul but by morning he’d thrown it all back in my face.

“ We made a mistake” he’d said, more like he’d gotten what he’d come for and threw me back to the wolves, quite literally actually.

I cringed at the memory of lying naked in the fetal position that morning, feeling exposed and humiliated for being so stupid as Nathan just walked away once again like I’d meant nothing to him.

My sobs became louder and I couldn’t take the shame.I just wanted to d……

“ Hey,you ok in there?” an angelic voice came the other side of the door. It was familiar but I couldn’t place it.

“ Hello?” I croaked back tears streamed down my face blinding my vision but I could still see the shadow of someone’s silhouette on the other side of the door, to my surprise a tissue slid under the door seconds later.

I had tissues in my room but I accepted the gesture from the kind person non the less.

“ t..t…th…thanks” I hiccuped trying to get my words out, wiping my tears from my face.

“ Hey us high ranking mates have to sticks together” realisation hit me at who the sweet voice belonged to Rose Smith. The future Luna of silver moon pack.

“ thank you for your kindness Luna….but it’s not necessary i'm not a high rank” there was silence for a moment and I thought she’d probably gone realising I wasn’t anything special.

“ I know things seem hopeless right now but he’s a good guy at heart, he will come round my Mitchell will see him straight when he comes home and I’m here for you until then”

“ Why would you do that?”

“ come on, I’m the future Luna your the future Beta, it’s fated for us to be best friends” she chuckled and I couldn’t help doing the same.

That was it. Like everyone else that met her I also fell in love with the future Luna. Rose was beautiful inside and out. She had this uncanny ability to see the good in everyone. Even Nathan. She believed he would see sense and come around. I wasn’t so optimistic about it any more but she help me take the brunt of Nathan’s treatment, making life bearable again.

We quickly became great friends every night Rose would come and sit outside my door after I was locked in. Nathan would still have me locked in every night even though I was no longer innocent and no one but him would have a key.

I quickly came to realise why he’d extended me my own room under lock and key; it hadn’t been to keep unmated males away from me. It was to keep me accessible to Nathan. He kept paying me visits when he could each time I tried to resist him but each time my body had betrayed me and given in to the bond. I was grateful for Rose's visits. Some nights I’d hear her argue with him when he’d clearly come down for one of his nightly visits. Thankfully Rose being outside detoured him and he came to me less and less.I was sure that had been Rose's plan all along. We’d listen to music bond over our love of art, sliding each other drawings we’d done under the crack in the door. Rose would talk non stop about her mate Mitchell. I already felt like I knew him so well. But it was bittersweet reminding me how my own mate would never love me the way Mitchell loved Rose.

(End of flashback)

Alisha pov

Still staring at the spot on the floor by the door of the room where I had made the most wonderful friend whilst crying about my own shitty mate. I felt pain in the pit of my stomach and I couldn’t stop the tears falling.

It was one of the happiest times of my life if you can believe that. Rose was like sunshine. Like her personality,her appearance was also bright and beautiful. She had a delicate thin frame, white porcelain skin tone, big doe eyes and flaming red hair she had dyed blood red making her look even more beautiful. She always reminded me of Ariel from the little mermaid. She loved Disney movies and before finding out Mitchell was her mate she had a dream of drawing animation for comics or T.V shows. She brightened up everyone’s day and she had made it her mission to brighten up my life until as she put it “ Nathan saw sense”.

I shook away the memories feeling the familiar sting in my chest. I missed her so much. Every time I thought of her it was like an old wound opening up inside my chest.

Rose had been such a wonderful friend to me in the short year that I’d known her. I’d never had a chance to tell her how grateful I was, even in death she had left me the most wonderful gift in Mina.

Somehow she was still looking out for me knowing I’d need Mina as much as she needed me. I only hoped she was proud of the person I’d become and the job I was doing with Mina. I loved her like my child but I never acted like she was. Mina knew who her mother had been. I reminded her of Rose every single day.

I was pulled from my thoughts at the sound of giggling down the hall. I'd only caught a slight sound so I wasn’t sure if it was Mina or someone else but I went to investigate.

As I walked down the corridor I got a mindlink from Luna Jamie.

Alisha, we are ready for Mina now.

Shit! I started to panic. Now I needed to find the little monkey fast. Before the Alpha and Luna realised I’d let Mina loose and lost her. I wasn’t worried about Mina she knew not to leave the pack house without me, she liked to create mischief now and then but she was a good girl and knew the rules but I knew from past experience if Luna Jamie caught on that I had lost sight of her she’d have me keep Mina locked away in her room.

The last time, Mina had wandered away from me to play with some of the pack children. She hadn’t gone far and she was fine but Luna Jamie had been with us and all hell had broken loose for those 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

Yes Luna we are just playing a game we will be right with you.

I headed to the room where I’d heard the sound as I got closer I heard more giggling and mina’s scent was strong so without a thought I pushed the door open wide, walking into the room before I stopped dead at the sight I’d never wanted to see.