Only Pretty Betas: A Shifter Paranormal Romance Series (Rebel Werewolves Book 2)

by Rosemary A Johns

I spluttered with laughter, whilst I hunkered down in front of Moon.

  Moon whined, as I slipped my arms around his neck. Then he shuddered at the sensation of my red, which stroked through his fur.

  In a spray of silver, he transformed back into a man.

  Moon and I lay together in the puddles on the marble floor, whilst his skin was wet against the palms of my hands.

  Moon wiped his mouth to clean away Lyall’s blood, grimacing. “Fur and fangs, she even tastes as bad as I always dreaded she would.”

  I nipped at his top lip. “Dude, I don’t want you to taste of anyone but me.” I blushed. “Wait, I mean…”

  He bit my lower lip, and I groaned as he licked at my blood. Would he kiss me at last?

  Holy hell, please…

  I licked him, trying to coax his tongue with mine, but he drew back.

  Why…?

  His lips were almost touching me; I needed to feel them.

  I groaned, gripping his curls. I was desperate to feel him even closer, as desire coiled through me. I panted, nudging my thigh between his, and…

  A dramatic cough.

  Reluctantly, I pulled back to look up into Amadeus’ teasing face.

  “Is this an orgy?” Amadeus stretched, showing a tantalizing strip of alabaster stomach. He peeked at me, assessing my reaction. “You take us to all the romantic places…”

  Well, that was one way to slap the haze of the joining with my Moon Child right out of me.

  I stared around at the crime scene — in the middle of the Re-education Center — and blanched. So did Moon, who whined. How much effort had it taken for him to rise up like that against an Alpha, let alone one who’d Bitten him?

  What in the witching heavens made him so special?

  Except, I knew that he was because I could feel it singing through my magic. If I was honest, I always had, which was why I’d picked him out in the Omega Training Center as my first Charm; I just hadn’t understood why.

  Yet Moon had.

  Moon pulled himself to his feet, yanking me after him. He hung his head, however, avoiding my gaze. “They’ll hunt my daft behind now. Nay, all of us. I’ve murdered—”

  “Hey, you defended yourself to break the dickhead’s forced bond. Let them hunt us.” My red raged, and I had to battle to pull it back inside. “This witch is ready.”

  Amadeus bounced on his toes with delight. “I knew that you’d corrupt me, see! This last year, the worst that I was thrown into isolation for was…” He wrinkled his nose. “…stealing a cookie and risking my perfect waistline.”

  Emperor sauntered back from the mirror, sliding his hands around Amadeus’ waist and making him sigh in pleasure. “It is perfect.”

  Amadeus squirmed, pressing against Emperor. “Well, I have to work to look this sexy, mind. But now I’m accomplice to murder.”

  “Would it be too much trouble to ask you not to look so thrilled?” Emperor arched his brow, but Amadeus only giggled.

  Then Amadeus wiggled his ass up and down like he was giving Emperor a lap dance, whilst singing “The Fun Lovin’ Criminal” in the style of Marilyn Monroe.

  Huh, so that wasn’t something that I’d ever figured on seeing. Plus, Emperor’s stuttered breath and wide-eyed expression…? Priceless.

  “We’re the bad boy princes,” Amadeus smiled slyly.

  And boy, did that make me want to taste his lips as much as Moon’s and show him that I could be just as bad as any wolf.

  Only, was the truth that it was as good as any wolf…?

  “Truly bad to wolfie bone,” Emperor agreed, dryly. Then he slipped away from Amadeus, after a final appreciative squeeze, and prowled to Moon. The two guys eyed each other, before Emperor dipped his head closer.

  Wait, would Moon allow Emperor to kiss him?

  Jealousy burned through me, even though I wasn’t the type of possessive dick that said I owned Moon’s lips but still…I wanted them first.

  Okay, maybe I was possessive of those adorable lips, go figure.

  Yet Emperor only kissed Moon gently on the cheek. “I’m relieved that you’re safe now.”

  The way that Moon raised his gaze to Emperor’s, before nuzzling against his neck in answer, you’d have thought that it’d been a poem wrapped in roses and chocolates.

  Okay, wolf romance was weird.

  I bumped Emperor’s shoulder. “So, what’s the plan now? Get out of the center and back to Stella?”

  Emperor’s brow furrowed. “You still only have until the full moon to convince your aunt that the House of Blood are responsible for the mage boy’s death. You are the rogue witch, and we are the disgraced princes. Yet if we bad wolves and witches can’t convince your aunt that this boy Kolby wasn’t killed by wolves, then there’ll be a Second Wolf War.” His jaw clenched. “How many shall die then?”

  I marched to the shards of the doorway, booting them until they exploded to powder. “Then I’ll have to prove that I’m worthy.”

  Moon dragged on a uniform of leather trousers and top that were neatly piled by the towels. They must’ve belonged to the guards but by Hecate above, Moon in leather was hot enough to melt my panties…as was the glower that he shot at me; I shrank back. “Nay, you won’t, furless. You only have to prove your worth to yourself. No one else. You once thought that I wasn’t doing my duty by being in the REJECT cell. But I was, even if you hadn’t chosen me, and I’d been executed.” I gasped, but he shook his head. “Will you understand now? As a reject rebel prince, I stand for something to every other Omega. What are you, if you don’t stand for something that matters? If you let something else…your aunt, past, or the role that you were born into…decide your worth…?” He strode up to me, gripping onto my shoulders hard enough for his claws to sink in. I stared at him, shaking at the strength of his words. I’d never expected that it’d be a werewolf who’d make me understand how little I’d ever thought of myself, rather what others needed from me, and how rarely I’d challenged the truth of how they saw the world. Moon rubbed his nose against mine, before saying, softly, “Who will you be, Crimson?”

  “Yours,” I whispered, glancing around at my three Charms. “I’ll be the Wolf Charmer who protects her pack. I’ll stand for pack, however I freaking can.”

  Moon’s eyes sparkled. “Then let’s move our behinds.”

  “Wait.” I snatched his hand. “Can’t we save the other Omegas too?”

  I hated the idea of leaving them here to suffer like Moon. I remembered the Alpha whacking the teenager, and it chilled me.

  Moon stiffened, then suddenly I had an armful of cuddling wolf. This was the snuggling goodness that I’d missed, as he nuzzled at his favorite position on my neck. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve dreamed of someone wishing that.” Then he pulled back, and his eyes gleamed with tears, although he didn’t let them fall. “But not like this. On Moon Oath, I swear, we’ll rescue them…but only when it’s certain to be every last one.”

  I shivered at the determination in his voice. There was no way of doubting him.

  Okami poked his furry nose out of my pocket. “Aw, wolfie, you missed all the excitement.”

  Okami whined, affronted, before flying out to wind around Moon’s neck above his collar like a shimmering scarf.

  “I missed you too, Wolverine,” Moon smirked.

  When Okami bit him, he laughed indulgently like it’d been a hickey. Maybe it was the wolf equivalent.

  I led the way out of the bathroom, weaving back through the now silent corridors, before peering into the courtyard.

  That’s when I got why it was so quiet

  I grinned. Yep, my bees were epic warriors. They’d pinned the Alphas down in one corner, whilst the Omegas laughed and joked, watching their guards cower and howl.

  That was called witchy karma, assholes.

  I sauntered into the courtyard, waving at the bees. “Thanks, my fuzzy sweethearts.”

  The bees flew up in a humming swarm, looping the loop, before bowing and flying
back like a storm cloud towards the line of the ancient wood.

  The Alphas growled, scratching at their stings and staggering to their feet. I didn’t give them the chance.

  My shadows shot out like webs, hanging them, as if they were in hammocks between the arches.

  Let them feel helpless prisoners for once, at least.

  The honey blond Omega clapped in delight.

  When I hummed the Spiderman theme tune, I glanced at Emperor from underneath my eyelashes.

  He raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Really?”

  I grinned, finger walking up his side. “Dude, these webs are in honor of you.”

  “How thoughtful,” Emperor gritted out, batting away my hand. When my red finger walked up his inner thighs, his eyelids fluttered with desire. “Damn you, I’ll deny with my dying breath that you just made that sexy.”

  I whispered hot against his ear, “But I did, right?”

  Moon strode towards the Omegas, who circled him with surprised delight. The moon’s beams shone across his skin, whilst his magic swirled in pirouetting spirals.

  Moon gazed at his gleaming palms in shock. When Emperor and Amadeus exchanged a secret glance, I realized that I was witnessing something extraordinary…and special enough to make Moon shake.

  Then the Omega with honey blond hair tentatively stepped forward, touching his palm to Moon’s — the one that I hadn’t branded.

  Moon straightened his shoulders, raising his gaze, whilst his eyelashes were matted wet, to meet the blazing pride in his fellow Omegas’.

  “Moon Prince,” the teenage Omega asserted with awe, before calling out in a fierce chant (where were the submissive Bitten Omegas now?), “Moon Prince, Moon Prince…”

  The other Omegas took up the chant, which was dark, joyous, and uplifting:

  Moon Prince. Moon Prince. Moon Prince…

  The Omegas were taking turns to press their palms to Moon’s, as if in allegiance. Why did I ever forget that he was a prince? Unless, you know, it was more even than that. It was respect that he’d earned not just because of his title, or by magically being born the Moon Child but because he’d suffered for his people and they knew that he’d die for them.

  That was loyalty.

  “They love him,” Amadeus breathed. “They don’t hate him for being the Moon Child.”

  Shocked, I glanced at him. Emperor’s face was tight like he was trying to hold back tears.

  Who’d hated…or hurt…Moon for his magic?

  When Moon’s gaze caught mine, he swaggered towards me with a nod towards Emperor. I hadn’t expected the way that Emperor snatched him, holding him hard around the neck.

  Uh oh, Alpha alert…

  “Enough of the war between us,” Emperor commanded. “You’ve always been a magnificent Moon Child and mine. I shan’t allow anyone to separate us again. How many times shall I apologize?”

  “As many times as I need,” Moon rasped, even though he melted under the insistent circling of Emperor’s thumb along his neck. Then Moon grinned at me. “Don’t worry, I’ve saved some of my wolf loving for you, Crimson.”

  I snorted but dived into the hug, throwing my arms around both Moon and Emperor. Their breaths gusted across my cheeks. Amadeus whooped, snuggling into our warm cuddle, whilst the Omegas cheered.

  “My pretty peach, I warned you not to be tricked by the shifters’ sinful bodies and angelic eyes.” I stumbled backwards out of the safety of my Charms’ arms at Stella’s bellowed rage.

  I stared around wildly. Holy hell, where was she?

  “My aunt hasn’t found her way back into my freaking head? You can hear that too, right?” I asked.

  The Omegas whimpered, huddling against the wall with fright.

  My aunt had that effect on wolves.

  “Unfortunately, loud and clear,” Emperor replied.

  “Don’t you remember the fabulous heart-to-heart we had in the House of Seasons about Claiming your Charm and acting like a traditional Wolf Charmer?” Stella’s voice shook the Re-education Center. I stumbled, whilst my crimson withdrew from the Alphas, letting them fall onto their howling asses as well. “Did you think that I wouldn’t sense in my visions you leading a riot in one of my orderly centers? How’s that becoming worthy?”

  I clenched my jaw. “Your center?”

  “Like witches don’t own everything.” I could almost hear her shrug. “I let the Wilds play at outlaws, but who do you think supplies so many willing Omegas? Wait, even I can’t swing the willing part. They smoothly supply the animals, and luckily for the House of Blood, the Re-education Center has plenty of the most disobedient hotties for rougher play.”

  The honey blond Omega crouched down, clutching his arms around his knees, as he ducked his head.

  I hated it.

  “I don’t think so. This center is closed for business.” I waved my hands at the skies like Stella could see me. “So, shoo.”

  “Interesting choice. A pretty little bird told me that you’d burned your bridges with the House of Blood and been thrown to the wolves…?” I flinched at Stella’s smugness. “My delicious niece, even I can’t allow that fate for you, although I am cross enough to take back your birthday present.”

  My gaze shot to Moon, who’d frozen. Stella had given him to me on my twenty-first birthday like he’d been no more than a glittery gift.

  There was no way on earth she was taking him back.

  “Ivy was wrong,” Stella’s voice became steely, “witches deal with their own problem kids. It’s a thing. You’re not a mage and you shouldn’t have been thrown to the wolves. The House of Seasons upholds the ancient laws of the covens and it punishes criminals…like you.”

  When the air was flooded with the copper tang of blood that wound out of the quaking building itself, panic rushed through me. Stella was calling to me with the stink of blood magic, which would drag me back to the House of Seasons.

  My three Charms gripped onto me, whilst I shook, even though I tried to push them away to save them, at least. Yet they grimly held on, refusing to let Stella summon me back to be judged alone.

  My chest ached, even through my fear, that I had pack who’d never leave me.

  Then the blood magic wound out of the arches like an infection and snatched my Charms and me, hurling us across a scarlet path with such force, that I screamed.

  Perhaps, I’d already been judged and this was our execution…?

  The fourth time that I’d ever traveled by the stench of blood magic, I closed my eyes and waited to die.

  CHAPTER SIX

  When my eyes fluttered open, my dazed mind reeled with the shock that I had died.

  I stared down at Oxford’s city center with its domes and spires, which sparkled like jewels in the sun far below, whilst tiny humans scurried along the streets.

  Huh, so I was an angel on a cloud…?

  Yet I’d always thought that it’d hurt less in the afterlife; my fevered temples thudded, whilst my blood bubbled like Champagne. A copper tang was caught in my nostrils.

  Hold up, bubbling Champagne and copper…blood magic….?

  This wasn’t a cloud but the floor of the Clocktower in the House of Seasons, whilst I was looking out through the glass clockface onto the city below. I must have a bitch of a concussion, although I also had a feeling that maybe angel duty would’ve been easier than whatever Stella had planned.

  Still: yey life…

  I groaned, rubbing my sore temples, as I shoved myself onto my knees. The room swam, and I swayed with dizziness.

  I was going to hurl.

  “Ah, you’re awake, sleepyhead. Did you have sweet dreams of sinful shifters?” My head shot up at Stella’s voice from across the room, then I bent over again, as lights flashed in front of my eyes. Stella tutted. “No puking in my fabulous house. My Omega has been working hard today, and with your constant screaming about wolf rights, it’d be mean of you to give him another chore. Unless you get off on the idea of watching him playing maid…?
”

  I peeked up through my blurred vision. Stella was sprawled in a metallic throne-like chair across the bronze Clocktower, which had in its middle the map of the three wolf kingdoms. Her ass must’ve been numb as witching hell. Her fiery curls spilled down over her bronze velvet dress, which made her appear like a mechanical doll, whilst her silvery gray eyes were too knowing.

  Leashed at her feet was the Ambassador to Wolf Kingdom: the werewolf who’d once belonged to mom.

  The Ambassador was barely more than a teenager and a pretty Omega with neat strawberry blond hair. Just like last time, he was dressed in only a pair of panties, although for variety now they were pink silk.

  Yep, Stella respected the ambassadorial position.

  I knew that she wouldn’t believe me, but her mistake was to think that she could continue to treat the wolves with such disrespect without consequences. She was terrified of them and yet didn’t know how to do more than shame or hurt them.

  But hey, I was slumped on my ass, whilst my ears rang, trying not to throw up on my boots, so it wasn’t like I was doing any better…yet.

  Because I would.

  “Screw you, like I get to choose if I lose my breakfast, which I didn’t even get, by the way. You’re the reason I feel like this,” I panted. “Shouldn’t you be taking me to hospital or something?”

  “Or something,” Stella smirked. “I just pulled you out of the Wilds because you’re a criminal.” She leaned forward. “I only ever role-play as nurse.”

  “Holy hell, I’m not the criminal.” I staggered to my feet. “When you dragged me here last time, you were all about me solving Kolby’s murder by the full moon or…what was the threat…? Oh right, you’d go to war with the wolves again. Hmm, let’s see, what’s happening tonight…?”

  I stumbled towards Stella, catching myself on the map of Wolf Kingdom to stop myself falling.

  Stella adjusted her curls. “Don’t stop now, I’m about to nibble my gorgeous nails off with anticipation.”

  My eyes narrowed. “It’s the full moon. Trust me when I say that my Charms and I sacrificed to get you this intel. The mud on the mage’s fingers matched the banks of the Thames behind the House of Blood.”