His Little Wolf
Chapter 16

Bethany

It’s been almost 4 hours since we left the parklands and usually, I would be ready to rip my hair out by now but I’m not even close, in fact, I don’t want the journey to end yet. Liam and I have chatted and laughed the whole way here, it’s crazy how much we have in common and how we can be in each other’s company without getting bored, well I can’t speak for Liam but it’s definitely that way for me.

We pull up outside the large house that we are visiting and I see him standing there waiting to greet us, I see Marcus, and very quickly reality sets in. My mind takes me back there, back to my original home, the place I lived until just 4weeks ago, where my family lived and where it all ended, the place I had to witness the lifeless bodies of my family and friends.

My chest starts to tighten up, my heart rate speeds up, my hands are clammy and I’m sweating as if I’ve just done a 20k run! Everyone has got off the bus by now and I’m pretty sure I’m all alone.

Jake: “Beth, are you ok?” I feel hands on my shoulders but I can’t see anyone, my vision is blurred as I try to catch my breath.

Jake: “Beth, what’s wrong?” He shakes my shoulders but I can’t speak, can barely breathe!

Beta Liam “What’s going on here?” I can feel my legs getting weaker as I try to hold myself up.

Jake: “I don’t know I was about to get out when I saw her like this.”

Beta Liam: “What the f**k have you done to her?” I can hear the anger in his voice but I can’t do anything, I start to slowly slide to the floor as I feel myself get weaker.

Jake: “I haven’t done anything, I swear!”

“Liam!” I use what little energy I have left to call out to him before my body crumbles towards the floor. Thankfully for me, I don’t hit the floor, strong arms catch me and scoop me up before I can.

Beta Liam: “Beth, what’s going on sweetheart?”

“I… can’t… breathe!” I manage to get out, my chest is hurting so much with how much my heart is pounding I swear I’m heading for a heart attack! He pulls me into his chest and starts gently rubbing my back.

Beta Liam: “It’s ok my little wolf, I’ve got you! just concentrate on breathing sweetheart, you’re going to be ok!” I concentrate on his voice and listen to what he says, working on my breathing and blocking everything else out.

Jake: “Is she ok Beta Liam?”

Beta Liam: “she will be, go get Alpha and Luna please!” I hear him shuffle off while I continue to work on my breathing and within seconds, I hear Brooke and Calvin’s voices getting closer.

Future Luna Brooke: “Beth sweetheart what’s wrong?” I try to talk but I can’t, I tighten my hold on Liam’s shirt and as if he can read my mind, he starts telling them what happened because he knows I can’t.

Beta Liam: ”I think she’s having a panic attack!”

Alpha Calvin: “I don’t understand, what could have caused it?” They are chatting amongst themselves when suddenly Liam completely stiffens up, I feel his fingers appear under my chin as he lifts it up until our eyes meet.

Beta Liam: “Beth, did you see Marcus? did he cause this?” Just hearing his name brings me back to square one with my breathing as I instantly start panicking while I nod my head to Liam still unable to speak.

Future Luna Brooke: “Oh Beth, I’m so sorry why didn’t I think about you seeing him again?”

Alpha Calvin: “Don’t blame yourself, baby, none of us thought about this!”

“It’s…not…anyone’s…fault!” I manage to spit out, I won’t have anyone be blamed for this apart from Marcus.

Beta Liam: “This isn’t anyone’s fault but Marcus!” He looks back at me and I haven’t taken my eyes off of him, he starts to rub gentle circles on my back while whispering reassuring words to me and after a few minutes of fighting I can finally feel my breathing calming down. Why does he have this effect on me?

Future Luna Brooke: “That’s it, sweetheart, keep breathing.”

It feels like forever since we got here but in reality, it has only been 10 minutes, but finally, I’ve managed to calm down. Brooke asked me if I wanted to go home, both she and Calvin even offered to take me themselves but I refused.

I’m not sure what Marcus is playing at whether he actually thinks I’m dead or whether he’s playing some sort of game but either way I need to find out. I need to know if there’s some sort of plan involving me and more importantly if he’s planning anything involving Bella.

As soon as I’m ready we all step out of the SUV coming face to face with none other than f*****g Marcus. I make sure to stand tall, shoulders straight and head up high. I’m am a warrior’s daughter, my family is…was full of top warriors, I was trained hard and always taught to never show fear, it’s not something I’ve had to do before but now the moments here and I’m ready to show everything I’ve got. We move forward quickly approaching him and I plaster on my best smile.

“Good evening, Alpha Marcus, I don’t believe we meet while I was at your pack with Brooke, it’s a pleasure to officially meet you!” Calvin is in Alpha mode and I know we’re all grateful for it.

“Good evening, Alpha Calvin, no I don’t believe we did, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I was hoping we could maybe talk about a possible working relationship before you leave?” Calvin agrees to his request and I’m praying it’s all for a show, Marcus goes on to make introductions with everyone and then his eyes meet mine.

“Bethany…Bethany is that you?” He seems generally surprised to see me but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s all an act.

“Yes, Marcus…I mean Alpha Marcus it’s me!” I’ll play along for now.

“How are you here? I don’t understand, the attack, everyone died!”

“I thought the same, how did you survive? I got out but I couldn’t find any other survivors!” I pray no one mentions Bella to him, it’s best if she is kept a secret, for now at least. He goes on to tell me that he turned up after the attack which is why he’s alive and then he tells us that he had help cleaning up everyone’s bodies so he didn’t know my body wasn’t found.

I’ve got so many emotions running through me that I just don’t know where to begin but one thing is for sure though he’s defiantly lying.

He escorts us all through the house that he has rented and out to the back garden and I must admit it looks beautiful here. There’s a huge dance floor in the centre of the garden with a platform behind it with a large table for Marcus, the Elders, and whoever else he’s planned on accompanying him.

There are round tables with blue table cloths placed around the dance floor, a large outdoor bar to one side of the tables, and there are fairy lights hanging from trees surrounding the whole party. It’s getting darker now but the sky is clear from clouds and the stars are beautiful and if this wasn’t such a s**t situation, I think I would seriously enjoy myself here.

He says goodbye as we all head for our table, the tables are quite large and we have allocated seating, I read through the table cards, Alpha Calvin, Luna Brooke, Beta Liam, Top Warrior Richard, his mate Hailey, and last but not least their daughter Sarah.

There’s no place card with my name on it, no seat for me at the table, and the reasonable side of me guessing it’s because he didn’t know I’m alive but the logical side of me is thinking different, that this is all part of his plan.

“Brooke, there’s no seat here for me.” She double-checks the names before Calvin disappears in the direction of the Alpha’s table. He quickly returns with Marcus on his tale and I know I’m going to hate whatever is said next.

“Please forgive me for this mistake Bethany, as I wasn’t aware of you being alive, I didn’t have a place set for you at the Alpha and Lunas table but please don’t worry, I have a spare chair at my table and I am more than happy for you to join me.

There it is! I knew he had something planned, there’s never any room at an Alpha’s table. I don’t want to sit by him, it’s hard enough being in the same place as he never mind being at the same table, forced to make conversation with him.

“Alpha Marcus, I am more than happy to accompany you to your table and allow Bethany to stay with her family,” Warrior Richard bows his head with respect towards Marcus as I silently pray to the goddess that he lets me stay here.

“That’s a kind offer warrior Richards but it’s no bother I only have room for 1 more person at my table and you are here with your mate and daughter, it doesn’t make sense for you to leave them.”

He’s right, I know he’s right but it doesn’t lessen the sinking feeling that’s taken over my stomach, somethings not right.

“Alpha Marcus, I’m also happy to accompany you to your table this evening, it would be an honour!” Liam tries his luck next.

“You are the Beta, I couldn’t expect you to leave your Alpha, Beta Liam.” Again, he’s right and Liam looks like he’s getting pissed so I quickly admit defeat and plaster on a fake smile.

“It would be an honour to accompany you, Alpha Marcus!” I manage to get out the words while swallowing down the bile rising in my throat. I say goodbye to everyone as I start following Marcus over to his table, I look back at my pack before sitting down and everyone looks seriously pissed off. Marcus pulls out my chair for me and I send him a small smile while thanking him reminding myself to use my manners instead of what I really want to say.

Strangely the meal went by fine, I chatted with Marcus and it felt just like it had back at home when I was around his house with Carly, we actually used to be quite close back then. He introduced me to everyone at the table, they were all very friendly and welcoming and I was shocked to learn that they are Rogues, well just until Marcus is Alpha and they are sworn in.

We laughed and joked and talked about a lot of fun times from the past and slowly any doubts I had about Marcus having some sort of evil plan were forgotten, how stupid could I be?