Beasts

by Angelina Kanan

  “Well, if you want to discuss business, I should probably introduce you to some people first. I told you we brought some warriors in to train with, right?” I nodded for him to continue. “I think you should meet them, since you’ll probably be working with them the most.”

  “Who did you bring in that you think is stronger than an alpha with lycan blood who’s trained with a lycan warrior for years?” I didn’t realize how arrogant I sounded before the words came out of my mouth, but it was too late to stop them. Most of the alphas I knew were arrogant, so why shouldn’t I be?

  “If we’re going to get into that, we might as well go to my office. Their leader isn’t here right now, anyway, so I’ll just introduce you when he comes back from his run.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Apparently, the wendigos they were encountering lately had been like the ones we had found. They often were seen in groups and seemed to show intelligence. They hadn’t heard of any submitting to an alpha, but no one had seen a wendigo face off with a lycan before. They weren’t behaving like the crazed beasts they were supposed to be. A few weeks ago, Jax had a meeting with a bunch of alphas. They had all agreed that it seemed like the wendigos were targeting stronger wolves. Not necessarily alphas, but definitely those with alpha or beta blood. If that was the case, they were trying to do the most damage they could as quickly as they could. This might be worse than we originally thought.

  Jax was waiting to hear from the reaper council. He thought it might be a good idea to host something publicizing powerful wolves coming together. He wanted to see if they could somehow use themselves as bait to draw out the threat. He thought my return would be an excellent excuse to do this. He could host a welcome back party, inviting some surrounding alphas, and make it public for all to come. I wasn’t certain it would work, but I was willing to try it.

  “So, I’m assuming the warriors you called in are willing to help with this party idea of yours? To up your security?” I asked Jax.

  He sat behind the desk that used to belong to my father, looking very different. I smiled, thinking about how mature he’d gotten. I was proud of him. This pack had not been the best to him, but here he was. He’d gained their respect and was now the alpha they loved. Leith and I were in chairs across from him, while Eli was lying on a couch by the wall. I quickly learned that Eli had taken up the beta title, as he had always planned to with Gabby.

  “I actually haven’t mentioned it to them… I was hoping they would just agree because who doesn’t love a good party, am I right?”

  I rolled my eyes, a smile coming onto my face. “Who exactly are they, again?”

  “Oh, right,” he yelped. “I still haven’t told you. Well, to be totally honest, I’m not sure how you’ll react.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Not everyone has taken very well to the idea. This could eventually come back to bite me in the ass, but I don’t see any other person coming up with a better idea. I had no other choice. And it’s a smart idea. Even if it might be dangerous and I really want you on my side here, so I don’t want to scare you off with who I brought here. So please just bear with me and hear me out before you freak?”

  Who the hell did he invite? “Just tell her.” Leith cut in. What’s his deal?

  Eli sat up, “Yeah, Jax, tell her all about your bright idea.”

  “I’m working on a treaty.” Jax started, taking a deep breath. “When we had our meeting a few weeks ago, we video called the council of reapers for permission to create this treaty and most of the alphas agreed with it.”

  I nodded. “Who would you need a treaty with?”

  “The lycans. We have agreed that if they help, it will end their exile. It will allow them to leave Lunar Island to find their mates, or to just live out life peacefully somewhere else. In return, they’ve sent over a group to enter packs and train them to fight.”

  Could Gorgeous be one of them? My wolf started yipping with hope. I whipped my head around to Leith. “Did you know about this?”

  He had the decency to look ashamed. “Why do you think I was so adamant about you coming?”

  “Is he here?” My voice came out angry. If he was here and Leith knew, then he knew how close I was and didn’t do a thing about it. But I also couldn’t stop the excitement toward seeing him again. This time I would find out exactly who he was.

  “Is who here?” Jax asked.

  “Maybe.” Leith responded as if Jax hadn’t spoken.

  “Are you referring to The Deserter?” Jax asked again.

  I grabbed the front of Leith’s shirt and pulled him forward. “Leith, I swear to the moon goddess, if you don’t give me a straight answer right now you will be sorry.”

  Leith tried laughing it off, but I could see the panic in his eyes. He wanted to tell me, but loyalty bound him to my stupid mate. “Princess, I promise if you just have patience, everything will fall into place.”

  I growled, pushing him away. “Where would these lycans be right now?” I turned to Jax, knowing I probably looked crazy right now.

  “Why?” He asked slowly.

  “I have unfinished business with one of them.”

  “Are you going to fight someone?” He frowned.

  “I don’t think so.” I turned to Eli, knowing he’d help me. “Where are they?”

  He smirked at Jax, imagining the fight they both thought I’d have. “Training grounds.” I had been there earlier and hadn’t seen them? “The ones outside.” He clarified. “They don’t like to train inside, they-”

  “Say they get too rough to train inside?” I finished for him. He nodded, grinning.

  “Sound familiar?” Jax gave me a pointed look. I rolled my eyes. I knew he was referencing when I used to train with Gabby. The two of us had been so wild together that we weren’t allowed in the indoor training room.

  I sprinted from the room before anyone could stop me. My wolf was going crazy, determined to find her mate. If he’s not here, I might just reject him. My wolf growled at the thought, but I was sick of waiting. Was he not as desperate to get to know me as I was with him?

  ✽✽✽

  He wasn’t here. I felt my heart drop. A team of lycans came to my old pack, and he didn’t make sure he was one of them? I looked around at the training men and women. There were only 10 of them, and they were all wildly going at each other. If Leith was head warrior, why didn’t Lord Drakov demand he come join them?

  Thinking it was time to get answers, I walked over to the lycan surveying the training. He stood on a block above the ground, high enough that he could watch and shout commands at the training lycans. I looked up at him, uncertain if I wanted to shout to him or not. I left and went inside the house to find myself a stool or something I could stand on. Once I got to the stool, I placed it next to the block and climbed up.

  The lycan glanced at me for a second before looking back at his pack. I stayed there looking at him until he turned back to me, confused. “Yes?”

  “Hi,” I smiled, laughing slightly, knowing I was losing my cool. I didn’t even care at this point. Six years of nothing was too much for me. “I was expecting to find someone here, but I haven’t. Are all the warriors that came with you here?”

  “Who’s asking?” He said suspiciously.

  I laughed. “You’re right! I’m sorry, where are my manners? I am alpha Selene Night. You are?”

  He looked surprised for a minute, before bowing slightly. I had thought it was weird until I heard what came out of his mouth. “I am Cain, my lady. I’m head guardian for the lycans.”

  I had flashbacks to meeting Leith. He had been just as formal and had also claimed to be head guardian. Did his alpha kick him out because he had joined my pack? If he had, why didn’t I have Leith’s full loyalty? I was getting more questions than answers, and I wasn’t happy. I deserved answers.

  “My lady, is something the matter?” Cain asked.

  “Stop with the ‘my lady’. How are you the head guardian?” I was angry
and confused. Poor Cain was on the receiving end of it. After the crap with my father earlier and then my mate not being here, this was too much.

  “I fought for it, as all head warriors do.”

  “So, you fought Leith for the position?” I was skeptical. Leith had never left my pack, so he couldn’t have fought him.

  “Leith?” He was very confused. “Why would I fight Leith to be head guardian?”

  What the hell? “Because Leith is head guardian of the lycans?”

  Cain froze, and I could tell he was mind-linking someone. It was probably my scheming mate. I growled viciously. “Leith isn’t head guardian, is he?” I questioned; teeth clenched.

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I can’t tell you that.” He looked down.

  “Selene, calm down!” Leith’s voice called out as he jogged over. My brother and Eli trailed behind him.

  I shook my head, trembling all over. My wolf was ready and waiting. She was sick of the games and the challenges. She wanted blood, and if she couldn’t get it from her mate, Leith would do. He had lied to us for years. He had all the answers I wanted, and he refused to give it to me. These past few weeks had been a stupid mistake for him. Ever since Alpha Dylan had come, he’d been pushing buttons and challenging my authority, and it was time he learned who was in charge.

  My canines extended, and my claws came out as I lunged off the stool, tackling Leith to the ground. I was his alpha and he would submit.

  CHAPTER 13

  Leith cried out as I made contact with his body, rolling us around until he landed on top of me. His arms pinned mine down and he looked me dead in the eye. My wolf howled in anger at his disrespect. She wanted him removed from my pack immediately, but I held back. He was a good wolf, one I trusted with my life. He’d just gotten out of hand lately and needed to be shown who was in charge. “Selene,” his growl came out as a warning not to fight him.

  I snarled before my hands wrapped around his shoulder, my legs wrapping around his body to flip us over again. I landed on top of him, holding his shoulders down. I placed my hand on his head, exposing his neck to me. I was ready to bite it, when his arms found my legs and shoved me off him.

  I landed a little bit away from him, rolling over to face him. I was crouched down low, my eyes watching his every move. He stood up, towering over me as a scare tactic. He had done this to me countless times. He wanted me to rise to my height, so I would be disadvantaged. I stood no chance against his height, but if I stayed low, he had a harder time reaching me.

  We circled each other slowly, a dance that we were familiar with. This time, I was out for blood. I wasn’t looking to learn anything from him; I planned to teach him, instead. Leith’s claws extended with his teeth before he lunged forward. I rolled under him, slicing one of his arms as he missed me. My nails carried away pieces of his flesh, and I smiled. That would not be all he would lose today. He turned, his arms swiping at me. I wasn’t expecting his quick retaliation, and felt his claws dig painfully into my shoulder, shoving me over.

  I felt his hand wrap around one of my legs, dragging me over to him. I waited until he thought he would get the upper hand before I wrapped my other leg around his neck and twisted us around. My thigh had a firm hold on his neck, as my other knee landed on the ground next to me, out of his hand. If I squeezed any more, I would snap his neck. Instead, I grabbed his hair with my hand and held his head on the ground, until I was sure he’d given up. I unhooked my leg from around his neck, still holding his head. We made eye contact, and I thought I saw pride reflected back at me. Why? He didn’t wait for me to do anything further; he thrust his neck to the side, submitting to me.

  I stood up, offering him a hand. Leith shook his head, sitting up and feeling the back of his head. It came away bloodier than I had expected. I refused to apologize, however, and shrugged at him. “You lied to me. And you’ve challenged me on multiple occasions.”

  Leith bowed his head, kneeling in front of me. I raised my head and spoke slowly, making sure he wouldn’t forget. “I am your alpha.”

  I heard some gasps from the lycans and realized that we had acquired an audience as we had fought. The lycans who had been training earlier had paused to see Leith fight the female alpha. I didn’t know who he was to them, but they seemed very surprised to see him submit.

  “You are.” He admitted creating uproar. Lycans were growling angrily, not liking that he admitted allegiance to someone other than The Deserter. “Hush!” He commanded, looking around. “For years you’ve just been the alpha who took me in, and I pledged to train. I’ve been waiting for you to show me the lycan inside of you and today you did. Not sure where the hell you learned that, but I’m impressed.” He held his hand out to me and I assumed he wanted me to help him up.

  Leith pulled himself up on one knee, and then bit into his wrist before holding onto my hand and looking up at my face. “I, Leith Dorrel, Beta of the lycan Lord Sebastian Drakov, pledge myself to you, Selene Knight. You have my service from now until I am no longer able.”

  What? Shit, shit, shit. I couldn’t have the beta pledging himself to me. The Deserter got his own father killed, and as far as anyone else knew, killed his mother, too. He’d kill me for taking his beta! This could not be happening. Way to go, Selene.

  “Are you rejecting me as your beta?” I’d never seen Leith look so sad. What the hell? Why would he think this is ok?

  “I-I can’t.” I stuttered out. I could feel the lycans holding their breath. I looked up at Brett for help and noticed that Jackson stood with him and Eli. They all looked confused.

  I knew he sensed my distress, because he shrugged before I had time to ask him for help. “He’s pledged himself to you. He’s yours if you want him.”

  I turned back to Leith, very much not wanting to deal with an angry lycan alpha. Then something else occurred to me. “How the hell did I end up with the lycan beta? And why lie about it?”

  “I can’t tell you that.”

  I growled at Leith before catching his smirk. He could tell me if his loyalty was sworn to me, I realized. I maintained eye contact with him, making sure he was doing this because he wanted to. When I found no hesitation, I spoke. “I, Selene Knight, accept your allegiance, Leith, and name you Beta of my Luna Pack. I will afford you all the protection and guidance I can in return for your loyalty and counsel.” I leaned over and licked up the blood on his wrist, sealing our agreement.

  Did I just get demoted? Maverick’s voice filled the pack bond.

  Yes, you did. Leith threw back smugly. I looked at him, confused. He had always been an excellent friend to me, but I didn’t expect him to be this happy.

  Finally. Maverick said.

  For a second, I thought there were tears in Leith’s eyes as he got to his feet, but I ignored it. There was no way he was that happy to be my beta. Leith pulled me into a hug. “He is here. You will see him later, soon probably. It is not my place to tell you who he is, exactly, but I promise he will.” He pulled back to look at me. “I’m sorry I lied; I was under orders. We believed if you thought I was a weaker wolf; you’d be more comfortable. You had to tap into your lycan strength yourself. If your wolf had known she was fighting a beta lycan, it could’ve had any number of results.”

  I shrugged and glanced at Cain. He didn’t seem thrilled to be referred to as a weaker wolf, but he wasn’t about to act on that anger, either. He turned around to the lycans who were still staring at me and Leith. They didn’t look very pleased with what had just occurred. “Back to training!” Cain called out.

  “I’m not going to get answers before he wants me to, am I?” I questioned Leith.

  “I’m sorry. I promise you’ll find out soon.”

  I nodded and turned to my brother. “I’m sorry I ran out like that. I met my mate a few years back and haven’t seen him since.”

  Jax’s eyebrows rose, “Your mate is a lycan?”

  “She’s a lycan, too.” Leith
pointed out. “It’s the dominant side of her.”

  “Always knew you were special, big sis.” He smiled.

  ✽✽✽

  I went through the house I had grown up in, feeling nothing but sorrow. It was almost like I could still feel her. They hadn’t touched her room; Eli said he had wanted to keep it this way in case I ever came back. He didn’t think I would want anyone else touching her stuff, and he felt that I was the only one who would know what she wanted.

  I could smell Eli all over the room and knew that he had spent a lot of his time in here, trying to find traces of her scent. I closed my eyes, willing the tears to go away. How had he survived all this time?

  I sat on her bed, holding one of her pillows close. I stared down at the comforter, remembering when we had picked it out together. It was black with gold hearts polka-dotted on it. She had been 17 when she picked it and I had made fun of her for the hearts. I had been so determined not to like stuff that would be considered girly. I had wanted to be the tough girl, but Gabby never cared.

  The amount of time we’d spent in this room together was devastating. I’d never cuddle and watch movies with her again. I looked around the room at the photographs on her desk. There was a picture of my mom, holding the two of us when we had first been born. I smiled, picking it up. Gabby never hated Dad for letting mom get executed. She felt bad that he had lost his mate. I had never had the same kindness she had. I turned the picture over. There was another picture of Gabby and I throwing Jackson into a pool. We had been troublemakers together. There had never been a dull moment when I was with her. I sighed heavily, turning that picture over as well and made my way to her closet.

  She had always been one for clothes. She insisted on dressing up for her own damn execution, saying if she didn’t look better than everyone there, was it even worth dying? I still wanted to slap her for joking about her death. I touched one of the dresses, remembering that it had been something she’d stolen from me. She had always been borrowing it, claiming it was lucky. Eventually, I stopped asking for it back.