Filed to story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
“Sorry for the outburst, it’s not your fault. | don’t like being blindsided and this is being blindsided on the most epic level.”
| can feel my pulse quicken.
“You have a unique position. First you are top of your class, in everything, if my information is correct. Meaning you’re smart and can handle deep in depth conversations. Some of our smartest scientists can’t do that.
He gives me a side glance. “You are also in our Elite Warrior training program, meaning you are exceptional on the battlefield, again making your unique perspective valuable. You also managed to tear holes in a safety plan that our best warriors came up with only a few years ago, using a patio table, utensils and drinking glasses and zero practical knowledge of the area you were planning for.
To say that the Alpha King and his lead warriors and strategists were impressed is an understatement and they would like to pick your brain more after giving you access to real maps and schematics.”
“Oh, sh*t!” | clapped my hand over my mouth. “Are you serious? | have nothing prepared, what am | supposed to say? Are they going to just gril me with a ton of questions?
What if | say something stupid or something they’ve already tried and hasn’t worked? That’s a ton of pressure. And What about Xander? | thought | was assigned to him like some kind of protection detail. What am | really doing here tonight?”
“In a way you’re not wrong, you do provide an extra layer of protection for him, but not the way you think. We have plenty of warriors for the royal family’s protection, but most attendees are not dumb enough to try and attack at a function like this. Xander is in a unique position right now, he is 22 years old and hasn’t found the Goddess given mate that will produce the next heir. So, naturally many of our Elders and even some pack Alphas are trying to convince the Alpha King to force him into a chosen mate situation.
I nod my head, starting to understand. After What the Alpha King told me last weekend, | know why Xander is holding out
“With you by his side, a strong, smart, female warrior and being underage, the royal family can stall a little longer on the chosen mate push from the Elders. You do have a job to do and being friends with the Alpha Prince is helpful, he will naturally want to spend time with you.
And if the Elders start to think there is more and begin spreading rumors along those lines, none of us will stop them.”
He shrugs and smiles.
“So, let me get this straight. I’m going to go into meetings about pack safety, give my opinion to pack Elders and Alphas who are decades older than me, like what | have to say is more important and then c*ck block them from throwing their daughters at Xander”
“In a nutshell, yes. It’s a good thing you are strong willed and don’t mind giving your opinion freely when asked for it.”
He smiles at me again and winks.
“You are getting far too much pleasure out of this. What’s in it for you?”
| ask playfully.
“| have been with the Royal family since my mate died.”
A look flashes across his eyes, but before | can give him any sympathy he holds his hand up. “No need, it was a long time ago, but my wolf died with him and the Alpha King and Luna Queen took me in and offered me protection. | have become an adopted part of their family and | love Xander like a favorite nephew. | have seen what the ranked politics look like and how bad it really can get when wolves start messing with the Goddess’ plan. | don’t want that for Xander. | want him to have what | had with my mate. Even with all the pain that followed his passing, | wouldn’t trade it for anything. You seem to care about him and want nothing more than friendship, and just that has you in my good graces along with the Luna Queen.
| wonder if he knows the whole situation with my relationship to the royal family? | made a mental note to ask Luna Anne.
“So, am | going to be on my own all morning, or is Xander going to be with me, or you, or Luna Anne?”
“Someone will be with you at all times. We may be throwing you to the wolves,”
He laughs at his little joke, “but, we won’t let you go it alone. Your reservations are accurate with some of the Elders. A few of them are, how could | put this, old school? They don’t like women in the planning meetings in general, and you are young, but times are changing. We have two female Alphas amongst us now and as you have seen about a third of our Elite Warriors are female. It only makes sense that those same Elite Warriors would become part of the safety and defense team that keeps the Royal family, the Royal Pack and our surrounding kingdom safe.”
| nod in understanding. He basically confirmed there will be people who are going to actively belittle and degrade me, while also trying to not offend the Alpha King. Maybe it is better that no one told me, | would have been overthinking this thing the whole week.
We finally pull up to the castle, but instead of going to the front entrance like last time, we head down an semi-hidden gravel drive to a parking garage nestled into the mountain.
The stone facade made it blend so well, if | hadn’t seen the doors move, I never would have noticed them.
Seeing my expression, Barty smiles, “You get to use the super secret entrance from now on. Now more mundane front door entrances for you.”
– “What?!” | laugh at him. “Is this really necessary? It feels a little over the top.”
“You won’t think that when all of the elitist people here start trying to figure out who you are and where you come from.
And since you do have to go back to the training grounds eventually, it’s safer to have you come and go from the royal family’s private garage in a car that maintains your privacy.”
Oh, wow. This just got real. We step out of the car and | take a good look around the garage. The whole bunkhouse could fit in here, it’s so big. | can’t even count how many cars, motorcycles, four-
wheelers and other gas-powered toys there are in here. And on the far end, near what appears to be a second set of garage doors, there is an expanse of tools, boxes, bottles and other various things to maintain all of these toys. | just smile. All the guys must have a good time when they are here for training. It reminds me of the picture from Dakota’s room where they are all sitting on a log in front of the lake, looking wet and sun- kissed and like they are the most happy and relaxed | have ever seen them.
| jump when Barty’s voice startles me out of my thoughts. “I bet the Alpha Prince would love to take you around the territory sometime. There aren’t many people, let alone ladies, who would look at any of his toys with that kind of fondness.”
| laugh at his statement. “I am definitely not your typical girl.