True Beta

A life for love

Brea’s POV

The staff brought out my favorite dinner! James must have set this up. Axel was still grinning as we ate. They were picking on James. He was so sweet. I knew I loved him, but I was falling in love with him even more. He was holding Reese, bouncing him on his lap making silly faces. Reese thought it was hilarious. James loved our son, just like he would love our other children. It didn’t matter that he didn’t come from his blood.

James handed Reese to Kara, standing up. He had a beer in his hands. “Everyone knows I have found my mate. She is now our official Luna!” He bellowed; pride etched in his face. He waited until the cheers died down before he continued. “She has given me a son, your future Alpha. Though he might not be born of my blood, we all love him, nonetheless. I have a question for my beautiful mate.” He pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket before dropping to one knee.

I gasped; my eyes immediately filled with tears. I never thought I could love someone so much as to be bound to them in all ways possible. Though he had already adopted my son, we had never talked about marriage. For most wolves, it was unnecessary. A mark was more permanent than a marriage.

“Brea, I knew from the second I saw you, I wanted to keep you in my life. Gray had never been so protective of anyone besides his Alpha. Now you’ve got me on my knees, begging you, marry me. Make me the luckiest Alpha in the world.” He asked.

I couldn’t speak, so I nodded. He broke out into a huge grin as he slipped the ring onto my finger. He pulled me up by my waist, crashing his lips into mine. I relished his taste, his smell, the way his fingers ran under my shirt, setting my skin on fire. He pulled away from me, nuzzling me. I smiled at him, tears flowing freely. He cupped my face in his large hands. He kissed the tip of my nose, wiping my tears.

We finished dinner; Axel kept a smile on his face. Lacy and Kara kept asking to look at my ring, making their mates groan. Axel was one of those who believed marriage was pointless. He and Lacy had been together for 2 years, he marked and mated her the first week. He wasn’t expecting her to be so infatuated with a piece of jewelry. His smile slowly faded as Lacy kept throwing not-so-subtle hints about Axel getting her one. James thought it was hilarious. Ky was also dropping not-so-subtle hints about already having one for Kara, who blushed deeply. They still hadn’t mated, but if he married her, he wouldn’t need Lukas’ blessing. Lukas had been very picky about Ky dating his sister.

James ended dinner. Carrying a sleeping Reese to our room. Reese had begun sleeping with one of James’ old t-shirts that Kara had made into a stuffed bear. It calmed him down and allowed us to sleep through the night. I quickly changed into my pajamas, climbing into bed. James changed into his pajama pants before climbing into bed with me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. We fell asleep planning our wedding.

Days passed, James and I had been planning our wedding. We wanted it to be as soon as possible. We had just sent the final wedding invitations to a few of the surrounding packs. James had agreed to allow his Alpha, Delilah, to marry us. Since I didn’t have any male relatives, Axel was going to be walking me down the aisle, and stand in as James’ best man. Lacy would be my maid of honor, and Kara and Mya were my bridesmaids.

I was trying on dresses. I had tried on several, but I couldn’t find the one that popped out to me. I was in the middle of changing when we got a mind-link.

Alpha, Luna. Alpha Alexander and his… mother are here. They claim we kidnapped his siblings. A warrior linked James and me.

James rushed through the packhouse, finding me. He grabbed my clothes, helped me get dressed. He kissed my forehead. Just as Axel, Lukas, and Ky stepped into the room. Axel checked over his mate. Alexander’s name just set us all on edge.

“Who the hell is he talking about?” Ky asked.

Lukas looked at Kara, who shifted uncomfortably, “We are. Alexander is the eldest and I am the second-born. Lukas is somewhere in the middle.”

“Why does he think we kidnapped you?” Ky whispered. He felt defeated. His own mate had kept a secret from him.

“He threw me out when I couldn’t shift and refused to be used as a breeder. It’s not unusual in packs like Blackwood or Blackstone. Most of their pack is ranked blood from about seven or eight breeders. Only the Alpha’s breeder is untouchable.” Kara said. She reached out to Ky, who wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed the top of her head.

“Why would he come now, if you have been gone for two years?” Axel asked.

I looked down at Reese who was still sleeping in his playpen. His arm was wrapped tightly around his little bear. He refused to sleep without it. Alexander had already sent rogues to get me and my son. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him throw some other bullshit out to get to us. Axel’s face dropped and he became incredibly serious. Kara gripped Ky tightly, the blood dripping from her face. Lukas shot up, pulling his sister behind him.

James kissed my forehead, “Lukas, take Lacy and your Luna to the safe room. Do not leave the room until I come to get you.”

I raised my eyebrow at him. I knew he wouldn’t like what I was going to say, but I was his Luna. He couldn’t command me, “I’m going with you.”

He shook his head, Gray flashed forward. “No.”

I crossed my arms across my chest, Gray whimpered but trotted back into James’ head. “I’m your Luna. I want to go with you.”

James pulled me into the hallway, “Luna, please. If he thinks we kidnapped his siblings, we are in for a possible fight. Lei is strong and she has great instincts, but Reese needs his momma. Just as much as I do.” His had brushed my cheeks.

I sighed deeply, leaning towards him. He pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist. He kissed the top of my head. “Please just stay with our son. I have Axel and Ky. I’ll be back, my love, and then we can talk about our wedding.” He kissed me softly.

“Fine. Promise me.” I whispered.

He kissed me again, his tongue sweeping over my lips. I opened my mouth, letting him explore. He deepened his kiss. A promise that he would come back to me. He pulled away faster than I wanted him to. He pushed me towards the stairs.

“How about I keep the link open, and you can hear everything?” He compromised.

I smiled. He knew exactly how to make me happy. His eyes flashed black as he heard my thoughts. “I do. I plan on making you very happy for the rest of our lives.”

Lacy was still holding Reese. Lukas escorted us to the saferoom. He locked the door and posted himself outside. James had opened the link, Axel was standing behind him on his left, Ky was holding on to a shaking Kara. Ky was already trying to shift, barely being held back by his Alpha’s command.

“Why are you here, Alpha?” James bellowed.

“I told your warrior. If they cannot communicate, then that is another failure you have as an Alpha,” Alexander sneered.

“My warrior told me what you wanted, I want to know why you are here. They are my pack members. You cast them out.”

“No, I cast the b***h out. She is wolf-less. I do not need a wolf-less she-wolf.”

Ky snarled pulling Kara behind her. James held his hand up to stop the Gamma from shifting.

“It doesn’t matter. You can’t have her. Lukas ran away. He was rogue when he was bonded to my pack. I have sent the appropriate paperwork to the council,” James said, calmly.

“I want my brother back now, mutt.”

Gray pushed himself to the surface, fully shifting. He snarled, going for Alexander’s throat. Axel grabbed his scruff, throwing him back towards the house. Ky climbed onto Gray’s back, trying to subdue him.

I banged on the door, “Lukas let me out!” I used my Luna command.

I could feel his hesitation, but he couldn’t disobey me. I quickly ran down the stairs, standing in front of Gray. I held my hands out to him. His snarls increased at the sight of me defending another man. He bared his teeth at me, before realizing what he had done. He whimpered as he looked at me, nudging my palm with his large muzzle. I rubbed his snout softly, calming him down.

“We don’t want a war, big bad wolf,” I whispered so only he could hear.

He snorted. He stood tall as he looked back at Alexander, who was rolling his eyes. He had his arms crossed over his chest. Just as I turned to look at him, the wind blew. Alexander’s eyes grew wide, he shifted and snarled at me. Gray shoved me behind his large body, just as Alexander’s wolf charged. Gray had a split second before Alexander’s wolf bit at his hind leg. Gray let out a painful howl, Lei whimpered as she felt his pain.

She would do anything to save her mate. Anything. I fell to my knees, “Alexander, let him go! If you let him live, I’ll go with you. You can breed me. Please just let him go.”

Gray looked up at me, his eyes wide and full of tears. He shook his head at me.

Alexander’s wolf let go of Gray, dropping him to the ground. Gray couldn’t move. Alexander shifted back, “Bring me, my son. I will spare his life if you bring my son.” He spit at Gray.

Gray whimpered, still unable to move. I could smell his blood; Lei was a howling mess. She wanted to keep Reese as far away from Alexander, but she couldn’t lose her mate. She submitted to Alexander. I could feel her sinking back into my subconscious. Alexander grabbed my wrists in his one hand, throwing me to the ground in front of his SUV. Axel must have mind-linked Lacy because she stepped through the front door, Reese was sleeping soundly in his car seat.

James shifted, his leg was finally healing, but he would have to stay off it for a while. “Please, Brea. Don’t go. Baby, please.” His tears were falling. His face was pale from the blood loss.

“I can’t lose you.” I cried. “Let me save you.”

“Say good-bye, James,” Alexander commanded. He didn’t know that James couldn’t be commanded.

James softly kissed Reese’s head. He whispered something in his ear before pushing Lacy towards me. He looked at me, his eyes pleading with me. I gave him a small smile. I waved at him, taking off my ring. I handed it to Lacy. I gave her a hug, my own tears spilling. She handed me Reese, who had woken up, his eyes searching. Alexander snatched him from me, Reese’s wails filled the air. Alexander threw me into the SUV, strapping Reese onto the back seat. A strange woman climbed into the back seat with him. She started humming a lullaby, which just made Reese more upset.

“Shut him up! Now!” James commanded. The woman whimpered, trying to soothe Reese. He didn’t like it, any of it. The louder she hummed, the more he wailed. I reached behind my seat, softly touching his cheek.

He settled down quickly, falling asleep with a coo. I turned back around, “He misses his father’s scent.”

Alexander growled, “I am his father.”

I didn’t say anything.

We pulled into Blackstone’s territory. I could sense the ranked blood all around us. A man that resembled Alexander was standing on the top of the steps of their massive packhouse. It was gray stone, 5 floors tall. There were gargoyles on either side of the steps. The entire place reminded me of an episode of Scooby-Doo.

“Get out,” James commanded.

I didn’t want any trouble this early being here, so I did as I was told. The woman had Reese’s car seat. I snatched him from her. I might not have my mate, but no way in hell was another woman raising my son. Alexander shook the man’s hand before reaching behind him and grabbing Reese from my hand. He showed the man, my son. The man muttered his appreciation before Reese woke up and started wailing again. Alexander half threw the car seat back at me. I gave Reese a small smile while I pulled him out of his car seat. I held him close to my mark, it was the closest thing I had to James’ scent.

Alexander led me through the packhouse, before showing me into a room. It had a full-sized bed with black sheets, a small crib in the corner. There was a small dresser that held a mirror and the necessary hair things. Inside, the dresser was full of skimpy outfits and stockings. I looked into the closet, it had boxes of diapers and wipes.

“This is where you will be until you are ready to be bred. I have a mate, and since you have already given me an heir, I have no use for you. You will keep my son long enough until he walks, then I will raise him.” Alexander closed the door. I climbed into bed, pulling Reese into my chest, sniffing his head.

I would not cry. I was the mate of a True Beta. I can handle this. It would be excruciating, but I would not let them see me break. I would not let my son see me break. I would be stronger than my mother. I fell asleep, promising my son I would protect him.