Page 7 of Beta Hybrid

Savannah mingles with the shadows in the corner behind her alpha instead of standing proudly by his side in chastisement. I don’t miss the curl of her upper lip, though.

‘Well, you know, wolves and our tempers.’ Noah gestures for Vale and I to take a seat. ‘Something witches or half-breeds can’t understand, right?’ He offers a smile.

I wish Zenna were here for me to hold her, to lick her wound clean and wash away the hurt these people caused her. I should have ripped the Savannah’s throat out the moment her claw broke Zenna’s beautiful skin. I grip the back of the offered chair, the opposite head, and tear it to kindling in my grasp. ‘She is my mate.’

Noah stares between us for a moment. ‘Mm.’ He runs a hand over his face. ‘I can see you and I have been raised very differently, cousin. Even so, you and your… pack, are welcome here.’

Vale catches my gaze, urging me to move on. There are other things to discuss.

‘Thank you,’ I grind out. Vale removes the remnants of the chair and offers me his. I take my seat, willing myself to calm. ‘I should tell you. There’s a vampire locked up in my truck. One that nearly killed my mate. I want to question him.’

Noah blinks. ‘Right, then. As long as you kill it afterwards.’

I pause. Zenna asked me not to. ‘Not a problem. My mate risked her life to feed me intelligence on the vampires while she was kept underground. She told me of their Origin.’

Noah inhales, his first sign of unease. ‘I’ve heard plenty of stories about that evil creature.’

‘She’ll do anything to rule over the other three Origins. We need to find them, get them to side with us. As we go, I intend to find my mate’s estranged parents.’

The alpha tosses his head back. ‘She’s got you wrapped around her little witchy fingers, doesn’t she? See how she controls what you do. Look, if the vampire beast were with us now, sure, I’d kill her. But there’s no need putting my pack, or yours, at risk for such things.’ His voice softens. ‘Mordecai, your people have been through enough. Find a new home. Settle down, rest. Hell, if you’re so determined to keep your mate, breed her. Have pups, give your mother some grandkids to look after. You don’t need to find trouble.’

My grip on the table turns my knuckles white. He’s lucky I don’t shred it, too.

‘I’m not asking you to risk you or your wolves’ lives. But if you have any help or knowledge to offer, I would appreciate it.’

I watch as Noah works this over. ‘Mordecai, let me ask you something. What do you think your father would do? Risk his life to protect witches and halflings, or settle down somewhere and run a real pack, teaching your pups how to shift, run and hunt? I have three young boys. Ours is a better way of life than chasing old blood feuds.’

I shake my head. ‘Our bloodlines are part of the reason they were risen from the dead. We cannot be left out of this. Drusilla will hunt us down, whether we are ready or not.’

‘You will not be.’

A low growl escapes my lips.

‘I’m sorry,’ Noah says. ‘But you won’t. Half your pack are witches! They’re weak, they’re women.’

My claws split my hands, digging into the table, sending large cracks down the wood. ‘Take that back.’

Vale sets a hand on my shoulder. ‘Alpha,’ he addresses Noah. ‘I understand your position. I do. But we also have a Dark Witch. She holds great power. And with all due respect, Mordecai does as he pleases with his pack, as you do with yours. Can you help us or not?’

Noah stares up at my Second and scoffs. ‘You let this pup speak for you?’ At my growl, Noah sighs. ‘Fine. We will see if we can be of any help. I’m sure my wife would assure you of it, anyway.’ He throws his hand up. ‘Alright, cousin. But let’s make one thing clear. This is my home. My pack. You will adhere to me or leave right now. Understood?’

Vale grips my shoulder tightly, warning me.

Unable to voice it, I lower my head in a nod.

I only hope Zenna won’t be too disappointed. I’ve let her down by bowing to him.

Vale trails behind me. The woods, surrounded by rocks and trees and no other alphas. That’s where I need to be. As the rocks slice up my feet—healing as I walk, then wounded again—I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know this place.

Despite the hosts, though, I find the area itself soothing. I walk until the steam and anger start to ebb from my mind. Until I can trust myself to speak again. The wolves here have hearing just as good as my own. I can’t afford to say something I will regret. Something which could be overheard.

My Second keeps a few paces behind me, letting me fume and calm down at my own pace. I wonder if he’s angry, too. Noah talking about Zenna like that. About everything, really. As though this coming war is something we can just ignore. If we don’t prepare each other, it will come and find us.

Eventually I stop walking. It’s either that, or swim across the bank. I was so focused on my raging thoughts I didn’t hear the rushing water until I was nearly on top of the base of the stream. Downhill, where it thins out, is where Zenna and I bathed earlier.

Now, I stare out at the water, wondering where she is. If she’s okay.

If she blames me for what that little beast of a wolf did to her.