Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
I scrub my hands over my face. Oliver just laughs at me again. We make it into the Alpha’s office and he’s the only person here. I don’t know what I expected, but I figured at least LunaAva would be here.
“Ah, Skylar, grab a seat. Oliver, can you wait outside please, this won’t take long. I watch him leave really unsure of what is going on now. “Did…did I do something wrong sir?” I’m starting to panic a little. I have never been called to see the Alpha before and with everything going on, I hope that I’m not a suspect. I wasn’t around when they found the severed fingers and had to lock everyone down. And with no unfamiliar scent leaving the territory they have to think it is someone from this pack There is no other explanation. Maybe the Luna was just being nice to me yesterday while they eliminated all other options, seeing if I would slip and say something incriminating. Maybe I am the only option left. I can feel my chest starting to heave as I try to control my breathing.
“Child. If you don’t shut down your thoughts I will Alpha command you. I bring my unfocused gaze back to him and force myself to look into his face. He is rubbing his temples like he has a migraine.
“You are not a suspect, you are not in trouble, but yes I do think you may have information or might be able to help us with this situation. I have now been given limited details of your situation. I wish you would have come to me, but I also understand vthy you didn’t. As a father, it hurts me to know that’s how little you think of all of us fathers because of your personal experience.
I will not force you to tell me, but know this, I can and will help you when you are ready to give me your whole story. It does not make you weak to speak out against people who are taking advantage of you or harming you to better their situation.”
He takes a deep breath before continuing.
“As for our most recent incident, you are correct, I think it is someone who is in our pack or on our territory with permission based on the lack of unfamiliar scent. The problem is there was no recent scent to go with.
The strongest scent was the patrol wolves that had run in that area about an hour before we found the package. Meaning they are masking it somehow.
It didn’t occur to me until too late that your unique sense of smell with regards to my sons might be helpful to us in our investigation. I am also aware that my mate and my sons would probably skin me alive for asking you to help since they are all convinced you might have been a target. But, since I am Alpha, I will do what I need to do to protect this pack as I believe you will. So here is my proposition for you.
I will bring you into this investigation as I see fit. I will not hide it from the Luna and I will only inform my sons if they ask I will not lie about your involvement, it just won it be a publicized thing.
I will leave it to you if you want to tell boys of your involvement yourself. Second, I want to la-low the next time you are harmed at school, no matter how big or little the injury. And before you argue, I have been watching from a distance and knew something was going on, but I couldn’t gather enough evidence to do any formal investigation. I still can’t, and my wolf and I are not happy about your situation in the slightest.”
“I am not tattling every time someone shoves me in the hallway. That does make me look weak, like I can ‘t handle myself. “Currently you are not handling yourself. You may be stepping in for lesser or weaker pack members, but you are a punching bag for those who are weak minded. If you were handling yourself you would treat those bullies the same as you treated your opponents during trials. He squares a look at me, that makes me want to shrink back, but I won’t, I won’t look weak now that pressure is being put on me. “I just get in trouble. Even when I only use words to defend myself. The headmaster never believes me and told me if I was in any more fights I would be expelled or at the very least suspended, and I have never actually been caught in a fight.”
I’m raising my voice, something I normally would never do, especially to our Alpha, but if he is in father mode then I feel justified in reacting like his teenage child.
“I can ‘t prove anything and I can’t afford to miss school, especially not now with Elite Warrior training camp on the line. I won it jeopardize my spot, because someone got handsy with me. I will not let anyone take that away from me, I have put up with too much to get to where 11m at.”
My breathing has picked up and I can feel my chest tightening, tears threatening.
“I have to get out of here, I need to find my purpose, my own way. I won’t let mindless bullies get in the way of that, they have already taken so many things. I am on the verge of tears and it just makes me more angry.
Knock, knock The door cracks open. “Bitty, you okay? I’m dying out here, it feels like an asthma attack Oliver calls in. I turn to see him grasping the door handle, knuckles white, his other hand on his chest and pain in his eyes. “I’m fine, sorry Oliver.”
I take a deep calming breath. I have to remember he is sensitive to my emotions all of a sudden for some reason, especially extreme ones. I take another breath and scrub my hands over my face, just another reason to keep my emotions in check When I look back at the Alpha, he has a curious expression on his face. “How long has he been able to pick up on your emotions like that?”
“Uh, I’m not really sure, he was able to find me yesterday when the Luna told me about what was in the package and I was… afraid.”
I couldn’t tell him what really went through my head. “He said he felt’ it in his chest. And he couldn’t sleep the other night after the celebration, that he had a weird vibe and the only thing that made him feel betterwas sleeping on my floor next to my bed. I mean all the guys were in my room, but the twins were with me in the bed and he was on the floor next to me. Is that weird?” “I’m actually not sure, I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anything like it. But another thing and the real reason I brought you in here is the Alpha King, Warrior Nickolas and Warrior Brogan want you to train with the Elite Warriors. They want you, soon too. I haven’t told anyone except the Luna, Kyle and Brett about this either. Not even your father.”
He stops and just stares at me, letting that information sink in as I just stare at him. “WHAT!! ARE YOU SERIOUS? WHEN? HOW? WHAT?! I can ‘t even form a coherent sentence. I am so excited! “AHHH!” I jump up and run around his desk to jump in his arms. He’s quick and saw me coming, standing to catch me and wrap me in a hug. I let the small little girls in the backof my head the fleeting thought that this is what a father should do before I stuff it back down in the darkest corners of my mind. I squeeze the Alpha tighter, hopefully putting all my joy and appreciation into this hug. “Delta Kyle was not lying when he told you that you went against the most opponents both days. The warriors were trying to see when you would break You not only didn’t break, you outmaneuvered most of the top warriors and the ones who would have eventually worn you down, were properly tired after their session with you. You even gave Xander a concussion that took a few hours to heal from.”
His chest bounced up and down with a silent chuckle. I pull back quickly to look in his eyes, to see if he’s lying to me. “What? No I didn’t, there’s no way.
He’s an Alpha King, the strongest wolf around. He didn’t say anything to me yesterday or today.”
“Well, I should say not. I would take that secret to my grave if it were me. But, unfortunately, he chose to challenge you in front of all his trainers, his father, our whole pack and visiting packs. He’s just lucky that no one really knows what his wolf looks like yet, so he can stay somewhat anonymous. His trainers have been giving him a hard time though and will never let him live down getting beat by a female warrior who just learned to shift, is a quarter his size and weight and three years younger. And you, my dear, beat him, submitted his ass, and now you can choose to let him thinkyou have no idea or rub it in at the perfect moment. “I really have to process all of that, but when do I get to go for training? I thought they don’t take anyone until they’ve graduated school. “You are a special case, my dear, not only are you a year ahead on your studies but they have never seen anyone like you and don ‘t want to waste any time. You are correct though, they want to give you a little more time here, so they will corne out at the end Of the next school year and decide then when you will go, but you will go to training.”
He smiles ear to ear. I am so proud of you, we all are, I hope you know that.”
My eyes fill up with tears and I hug him tight around the waist again. I didn’t know how much I really needed to hear that, but the weight that lifts from me as I sob into his shirt tells me and him how much that one little phrase means to me. They are proud of me. The Alpha and Luna, Gamma Brett and Delta Kyle are proud of me. They see me, my efforts, my accomplishments, my drive. I made someone proud. The door flies open and bangs on the opposite wall. Okay, Bitty, I can’t handle it anymore, what happened? Cam and Kota are out here asking what’s wrong too. You are on some kind of emotional roller coaster, and I’m gonna throw up.’ “You aren’t the only one, I have a massive headache. What did you do to her dad?” Cam asks, moving into the room, and close behind me. I can smell the citrus wrap around me like a soft blanket on a chilly night. Tiny, come here please, my wolf needs a hug from you to knowyou’re okay so he can settle down.”
smile into Alpha Lucas’ shirt and sniffle in. I turn and hug Cam around the waist and feel his body relax into mine, then I turn to Oliver who seems to have been on this ride with me the whole time. I rest my forehead on his chest and let him wrap me in a gentle hug. And finally I moved to Kota sitting in the chair I vacated. I sit in his lap and hug him around the neck Do they know? I ask Alpha Lucas over the mindlink, unsure of whether or not I can say anything.
No, they don’t, but you can choose to tell them or not. It’s not a secret you have to keep, but can if you want. They clearly know something is going on with you. I look up at all of them. This is exciting news for me. Something I have wanted for myself for so long, I don’t remember a time not dreaming of this day. I am so excited I don’t want to keep it from them. I finally have people to share things like this with, accomplishments that have been in the works for years. I beam at the Alpha then each of my friends. The Alpha King, Warrior Nickolas and Warrior Osiston want me to train to be an Elite Warrior.”
I basically squeal. Kota stiffens under me. Cam grips the edge of his fathers desk, knuckles going instantly wthite and Oliver’s face drops and he sinks to his knees, breathing heavily. “Bitty, I thought we talked about this. He breathes in deep like it’s difficult. “You can’t leave. We need you, can’t you see that?” Why is he pleading with me? This is good news. I move to get up, but Kota’s iron grip won’t let me move an inch. I try again, pushing with my hands this time. He’s not looking at me, but at his father, with a glare that would bring a lesser man crumbling down. I reach out to Oliver, wanting to ease his obvious pain. He doesn’t move, just stares at me in disbelief. ‘[I’m not leaving now and it’s not forever.”
I try and reason with them, “It’s just training. You guys all know I want to train to be an elite warrior, this shouldn ‘t be a shock They won’t even let me start for another year at the earliest, but I didn’t want to keep it from you. This is exciting news!” I try to sound cheerful, but their reactions are not what I expected and it’s tough to keep up my enthusiasm. “Besides, you are all leaving in a few weeks, even Sierra, you can’t be upset that I want to go train to be my best self too.”
When none of them relax and their sad and angry expressions stay the same slump against Kota’s chest, feeling angry as my own revelation sinks in. They are all leaving and leaving me behind. And they are totally okay with that. What hypocrites, they are all going to leave me here alone while they go off and learn how to do a job that the moon goddess designed for them, but they want to keep me here under lock and key like a fragile flower and go off to have fun and adventures. They are no better than my dad with his baby factory thoughts. 2 I can feel the tears burning the back of my eyes and normally I would blink them away or run and hide so they won’t see them, but the more I think about the injustice of their motives the more the angry tears build and I eventually just let them fall. I don’t sob, Pm not wracked with heartbreak, I’m furious. Angry tears just fall at the revelation that they want me stuck here too, with no ambitions of my own, only what they allow. Just continue on the well worn path that they are comfortable with, caged like a pretty bird only for display, never allowed to spread her wings and see what she is capable of. I am the trophy to show off as a party trick when other high ranking wolves come to visit. The freakshowthat they can use to make the pack look better. I stare at the window, letting my dark thoughts spiral, a strong longing to be in the forest outside hitting me, feeling the walls closing in on me suddenly. My body starts to shake with the anger coursing through me, boiling in my veins. I push at Kota’s arms again, the steel embrace keeping me firmly in place. “Move your arms Dakota and let me up before I break them.”
I say it as calmly as possible, but the anger is definitely there.
He hesitates for just a moment before he snaps out Of whatever trance he ‘s locked in with his father and slowly loosens his arms. “We need to talk about this Smalls, you can’t just leave us to go off on your own, it’s not safe.”
“No!” I stood up, breaking his hold on me with more force than was probably necessary. I kind of hope I leave a mark for at least a little while. Alphas tend to heal quickly. I backed toward the door like a caged animal ready to strike. “You all can talk about this. Talk about how to wrap your tiny minds around this. I point at the three of them. ‘[When the Alpha King calls for me I will go. Until then keep your distance, all of you. No more nicknames, no more slumber parties and hanging out. I am not your play-toy or your property. I am a warrior of this pack and will be treated as such. My name is Skylar and you will use only that. You are all leaving for training, leaving me behind, it’s bullsh*t to think that I can’t do the same. You are no friends of mine if you can’t see what I truly want for my life and be supportive. You are a bunch of hypocrites. I don’t raise my voice or yell at them, just state the facts.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.