Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Louise’s POV)

I looked over at Alpha Daniel, who was staring at the other Alpha, a look of fury on his face. A large man walked into the room and handed something to the Alpha. He looked down at it as pack members began to panic. I watched as the warriors were quick to reseat anyone who looked to be standing up or causing trouble.

“I’m still waiting for your response,” Alpha said to Alpha Daniel without looking up from the papers.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Beta Eric bellowed, and I glanced down the table as he and my father jumped up. My father moved in front of the Luna and me as if to protect us. The Alpha finally looked up from the papers and sighed. He looked positively bored with his surroundings.

“Do you accept the challenge or not, Alpha Daniel?” he asked, and I looked past Luna to the Alpha again. He looked absolutely terrified. I shook my head in disgust. His pack was under attack, and the man looked like he was about to faint.

“Fine, we’ll do it the hard way,” The other alpha turned to the man next to him and nodded towards our table, “Him and the heir, and their Lunas too,” and there was a sudden swell of activity in the room.

Alice turned to me and smiled and gripped my hand as two warriors roughly removed us from our seats. We were ordered to move out into the court in front of the pack house, and I followed along behind Alice with Damien behind me. As we were forced to our knees, Damien grabbed my other hand.

“When I say so, run!” I looked at him in shock. I knew he was a weasel, but I guess all his bully posturing was for nothing, even when his family was concerned.

“I would rather die right here on my knees than go anywhere with you,” I sneered at him and he glared at me.

“Fine, you slut, you’ve made your choice” I was seconds away from informing the warrior behind me that my husband planned on running when there was a fight of some sort behind us. I turned to see Colton shifted into his wolf and trying to rip through a warrior or two. Damien took that moment to run. He had shifted into his wolf form before he hit the trees. The Alpha shouted commands to subdue Colton and to find Damien. He walked over and stood in front of me. The look of disgust on his face as he looked down at me.

“Where did your husband go?” I smiled as I looked up at him.

“I wouldn’t know,” I said, “and I don’t care either.” he shook his head and turned to the crowd that gathered.

“As your Alpha, the supposed protector of your pack, had refused to accept my challenge, I have no alternative but to take control of the pack by force.” he walked over to Alpha Daniel and pulled a dagger from his pants. With one swift movement, he sliced the knife through the air and the Alpha’s throat. Gasps ran through the air as the Luna screamed and doubled in pain as her mate died.

“As the b***d spilled by my hand soaks into the ground, so does my claim on the Midnight Moon pack,” I felt as the bond to Alpha Daniel shifted into something unfamiliar.

“Return to your homes, nobody is permitted to leave the territory, and you will all be processed and required to swear loyalty in due time.” The warriors jumped to life and began to steer the crowd down the drive. The Alpha started barking orders as I tried to comfort Alice. It wasn’t until I looked closely that I realised that she was laughing and not crying.

The Beta and my father were dragged in front of the Alpha and forced to their knees. The big guy that had given the Alpha the papers whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was pissed him off, something strong because he snarled as he looked down at the two. He didn’t even say a word when he sliced through the Beta’s throat.

“Please, I’ll do anything you want,” my father started begging, and the Alpha shook his head.

“You should have thought about that before this,” and he shoved the papers at my father. My father’s eyes widened, and he started sobbing. I watched closely as the Alpha slashed his throat too. I leaned forward as my father dropped forward to the floor, and his eyes stared blankly ahead. I felt a calm come over me knowing that that monster was dead.

A now sedated Colton, still in wolf form, was carried away somewhere. The Alpha nodded behind me, and I was dragged to my feet. The Alpha stood in front of me again and looked me up and down.

“Now, my dear,” he sneered. “Let’s try this again. Where did your husband go?”

“Hopefully straight to hell,” I spat, and I felt a sharp sting across my face as one of the warriors stepped forward and slapped me. I struggled against the hold that the other warrior had on my arms.

“Try that again when your buddy isn’t holding me back, you impotent mutt,” I snarled at him, and the warrior stepped forward again. The Alpha put his arm out in front of the warrior and shook his head.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Take her to the cells until she co-operates,” the Alpha called and the warrior holding my arms started dragging me backwards.

***Present Day***

“And I’ve been here ever since,” I said, glancing up at the man who killed my father. He was leaning against the door, his face impassive as if he wasn’t listening. But as I told Harper my story, I noticed shifts in his body movement that said he was listening and wasn’t happy. I looked back at Harper, who had tears in her eyes and fury on her face.

“I swear to the goddess I am going to kill Colton,” she hissed. I couldn’t believe the difference in her. She was my Harper, my best friend. She looked exactly the same as she did the last time I saw her, maybe leaner at most. But she held herself completely different, and the spark in her eyes was not the timid, sweet girl I had known all that time ago.

“I would rather you just leave and get out of here,” I said, “You can’t underestimate Colton. He kept saying you would be back. Like he knew!” Harper shook her head and glanced at the Alpha before looking back at me. I looked down and noticed the gold band on her finger.

“Don’t worry about me. Trust me. I can take care of myself,” she said.

“Really?” I asked and snatched her hand up to reveal the stone of the engagement ring that Colton had given her, “Take this off then,” I said, and she growled and pulled her hand away. She then glanced over to the Alpha again and back to me.

“Ok, it’s complicated,” she sighed.

“Why did you come back?” I blurted out, and she grinned.

“What? Not happy to see me or something?”

“No, I am. I would prefer to see you outside of this damn place,” I glared at the Alpha again, and Harper looked around at him, and he finally made eye contact with her. His usual expressionless features slipped into something close to how Tommy looked at me. I looked between the two of them. I could tell they weren’t mindlinking, but something emotional was going on.

The Alpha sighed and then looked at me. He shook his head and walked out of the cell, and Harper got up and followed him. I heard them arguing in hushed tones outside, and then it went quiet. I sat and watched the open door. Finally, a head popped in through the door, and I recognised the man who had been with the Alpha that night.

“Hey, you’ve made bail,” he said with a big grin, and I looked at him confused, “well are you coming, or should I shut the door again?” I jumped up quickly and rushed out of the door into the hallway. I stopped short when I saw Harper and the Alpha down the hall, locked in a full-on makeout session! The man stood next to me and sighed dramatically.

“I’m feeling left out again, guys,” he called, and Harper pushed the Alpha away and grinned.

“Ok, Marcus, you can have him back,” and the Alpha rolled his eyes before turning and walking off down the hall.

The man, Marcus, and I caught up to Harper, and she linked arms with me as we walked out of the cells towards the exit.

“Erm, Harps?” I asked, and she smiled.

“Oh yeah, Elias is my second-chance mate,” I couldn’t contain the shock on my face as she laughed.

“Yeah, I might need to catch you up on a few things,” she said and laughed again.