Game With the Beta

Onyx Onyx glared intensely at Cole, Talon, Trick, and Michael, casting a scowl that spoke volumes of his frustration. He couldn't help but repeat, "She's not my mate." Despite the enforcers' attempts to lighten the situation, Onyx was too agitated to find any humor in it. Could there even be a funny side to a situation where a woman claimed him as her mate to her seven protective brothers who were out for his blood for supposedly "abandoning" her? Teasingly, Trick leaned back in his seat across the long oak table, remarking, "All I'm saying is that you guys looked cute together." Just as he finished his cereal, Grace, the renowned cook with unmatched culinary skills, promptly cleared his bowl, shooting Trick a scolding look for his jest while managing to conceal a smile, as Onyx observed. "Indeed, you two made a good pair," chimed in Michael, sporting his trademark wide grin that could charm most females while simultaneously irritating Onyx to no end. Onyx looked at Michael incredulously. "So, I matched well with a supposed agent of Satan?" "C'mon, someone has to handle that agent of Satan," Cole replied innocently before taking a sip of his coffee. Trick offered Onyx a seemingly sympathetic smile that didn't hold an ounce of genuineness. "Don't worry, I'm sure she'll eventually forgive you for 'abandoning' her." The mention of "abandoning" struck a nerve with Onyx, just as much as the false claim itself. He would never turn his back on his mate, even though he wasn't actively seeking her out yet. It wasn't that he didn't feel the absence of that connection in his life—he did, and so did his wolf. But it wasn't as straightforward as that. When his mate did appear, she would rightfully demand his complete devotion, wanting to be the focal point of his life, and expecting his unwavering loyalty above all else. For a Beta like Onyx, this posed a challenge. Currently, his loyalty lay with Trey, and his life revolved around his responsibilities to the pack. A Beta's role extended beyond being the Alpha's trusted companion and advisor on political matters. Onyx, as a Beta, held the immense responsibility of safeguarding and ensuring the well-being of the entire pack. He devised plans and strategies, acting as a mediator when negotiating with other packs. Additionally, he trained and commanded the enforcers. Betas took on the grim tasks that others shied away from, including interrogations and executing enemies—a reputation that Onyx had acquired for his exceptional skills as an Interrogator. Each day, Onyx dedicated his time to various responsibilities within the pack. He joined the enforcers on patrol, handled paperwork, and made important calls to ease Trey's workload. Additionally, he served as a supportive listener for any pack member facing difficulties. Onyx recognized that his role extended beyond ensuring the pack's physical safety—it encompassed their emotional well-being as well. He maintained constant communication with the enforcers, staying informed about any activities near the pack's borders. Despite the weight of his responsibilities, Onyx embraced his position as Beta and felt honored to hold it. However, Onyx knew that his future mate wouldn't be satisfied with sharing him. He had witnessed this scenario unfold many times before. Initially, the females were content, as it meant they held the esteemed position of Beta female in the pack. But as they realized the sacrifices involved, they eventually presented the ultimatum: "Your job or me." Onyx's own father had faced the same choice, opting for his job and resulting in a miserable existence. If his future mate were to issue such an ultimatum, Onyx couldn't make the same decision his father had made. It would require him to relinquish his position as Beta, a step he wasn't prepared to take just yet. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with a complicated woman," Michael interjected, replenishing his plate with more food. It was remarkable how he stayed in good shape despite his constant eating. Taking a sip of his coffee, Onyx responded, "Personally, I prefer females who, like me, are uncomplicated." Rhett scoffed in response. "Someone like that would bore you to death, and you know it. Deep down, you're far from uncomplicated. You may appear easygoing and laid-back, but beneath the surface, you're complex." Onyx gestured towards Ralph, the serious-looking wolf sitting beside him, the only enforcer not participating in the ongoing "let's irritate Onyx today" game. Ralph, a man of few words, grunted and redirected his focus to the food in front of him. "Ralph is certainly complex," conceded Rhett. "So are Trey and all the enforcers. It's part of what brought you all together as friends. Like attracts like. But we're discussing you now. Ever since you assumed the role of Beta as a young adolescent, you've always put yourself second to everything else—the pack, our Alpha, your responsibilities. You're a workaholic in the truest sense. You need to find a balance between work and play. You should protect yourself as fiercely as you protect others." Onyx had a strong urge to punch Rhett. Despite his genuineness and loyalty, Rhett had a tendency to analyze people's every move, deconstruct them, and uncover what made them tick. It was his geeky, analytical nature at work. Annoyingly, he couldn't simply let people have their problems; he felt compelled to "fix" them. That's why Taryn referred to him as a "psychological mechanic." However, Onyx didn't need fixing. He was dedicated to his job, but he wasn't addicted to it. "Easy there, Dr. Freud. Are you going to tell me I secretly wanted to have s*x with my mom during my upbringing as well?" Grace silenced Rhett with a sharp look, prompting him to relent. He sighed in resignation, acknowledging that Grace believed he was right. "Now, can we return to the original topic? Why would Glory falsely claim that I'm her mate? She must know it won't make me want to be with her," Onyx inquired. "Perhaps her pride is hurt because she expected more than just a one-night stand, and now she wants to cause trouble to get back at you," suggested Talon, the Head Enforcer. "But I made it clear to her even before we were intimate that I didn't want anything beyond that," Onyx sighed. "Why would she expect more?" "Some people refuse to accept what they don't want to hear or see," sympathized Rhett. "Yeah," agreed Cole. "She'll probably be satisfied once her brothers deal with you." "See, an agent of Satan," Onyx remarked. It wouldn't be the first time a group of brothers targeted him, but at least this time they weren't his own. "They're all massive dudes, you know," Trick grinned. "I've heard they're a wild bunch, not just 'eccentric' crazy, but 'we, the jury, find...' kind of crazy. If I were you, I'd definitely be a little nervous." "What should I be nervous about?" Tasha asked as she entered the room and took a seat at the table. The redheaded female had recently joined the pack and was a close friend of Taryn since childhood. Typically, Trey wasn't keen on adding newcomers to their relatively small pack of sixteen. Apart from Taryn, it mostly consisted of individuals who had left their previous pack, BrightSun, with Trey when he was banished. However, Trey had accepted Tasha at Taryn's request, and he had also allowed two members from the BrightSun Pack to switch with Selma and Kirk when they left Phoenix. Trick smiled at Tasha. "We're just congratulating Onyx on finding his mate." Sensing Onyx's rising frustration with Trick—more for amusement than loss of control—Talon quickly clarified, "Someone who had a one-night stand with Onyx doesn't like being labeled as such and has decided to claim she's his mate to her brothers and instigate them against him." Tasha winced. "Taryn won't be pleased when she finds out. Good luck to Trey in keeping her out of it." Talon turned to Onyx. "What are you going to do? If I were in your shoes, I'd want to confront her." "That's probably what she wants me to do. I'm not going to play her games," Onyx declared, finishing his coffee. "We'll meet Roman Midnight at Mo's Diner as he requested. As her Alpha, it's his right to resolve this situation before it escalates further. Refusing him that opportunity would jeopardize our alliance with his pack. No spoiled little princess is worth that." "At least Roman had the decency to inform us about Glory's actions," Ralph commented. "Do we inform our Alphas about this before the meeting?" Talon inquired.