Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Harper’s POV)

I couldn’t sleep. My head was so full of questions and scenarios. I couldn’t help going over all that I had heard over and over. I sat on the window seat in my room and just stared out of the window, not really seeing anything other than the thoughts in my head.

And those eyes! No matter how much the other things pushed forward in my mind. Those eyes, the deep black vacuum that I saw in them just kept coming back to me. I had seen a lot as an Elite Warrior but I don’t think I had ever seen anything like that.

“Hey, Harps?” I heard a voice and jumped slightly. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I had forgotten that Louise was still here. I looked around to see her sitting up in my bed, her hair ruffled and her eyes still full of sleep. “Did you sleep at all?” she asked.

“No, she didn’t,” a muted voice from the other side of the door answered. Marcus sounded disapproving as he spoke. “She wouldn’t eat either.”

I smiled. He had come in about an hour ago, offering to get breakfast for me. I had politely declined his offer, and he had grumbled something about me being difficult and stubborn. I smiled as we heard him mumble something similar now. Louise watched the door and laughed.

“Get used to it,” she said and looked at me smiling. “I think stubborn is our Harps’s middle name.”

I stuck my tongue out at her, and she laughed again. Then her face fell into her no-nonsense Louise look.

“Seriously though, Harps,” she said. “You need to sleep, even if just for a few hours.”

I looked at the clock beside my bed. It had only been a couple of hours since we had left Elias’ room. I sighed. “I can’t sleep,” I said. “To be honest, I think I’m getting a headache, but I can’t stop all these thoughts racing.” I rubbed my temples and stood up from the window seat and stretched. “I’m going for a shower,” I said. “See if I can clear my head.”

I headed for the bathroom. I took my time in the shower, letting the almost scalding water flow down my body in hopes of washing away the turmoil that was going on in my head. After about half an hour and when my skin was very red, I gave up and got out. I wrapped a towel around myself and delayed leaving the bathroom a bit longer by brushing my teeth and hair and whatever else I could think of. Sighing, I finally opened the door feeling the rush of cool air from the bedroom prickling my skin.

I walked into the room, and the first thing I saw was Elias sitting on the sofa. He stood up as soon as I laid eyes on him, and I fought the urge to step back. My mind was so conflicted. Everything in me wanted to run to him, to seek comfort in him but then those eyes, the ones I saw earlier. The thing that had taken over Elias’ body. That stopped me, and my b***d ran cold at the thought of it.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped without thinking and then closed my eyes and took a breath. I opened my eyes again to see him just watching me. I looked over to see Louise sitting on the bed, looking rather uncomfortable. She mouthed an apology, and I shook my head and smiled at her, so she knew that I wasn’t annoyed at her.

“Can we talk?” Elias asked, drawing my attention back to him. “Please, Harper, I need to explain.” He stepped towards me, and I stepped back involuntarily and shook my head.

“Sorry, I-” I stopped talking because I didn’t know what to say. Did I want to say that I was afraid of him? Was I afraid of him? No, I wasn’t, but there was something in him that I was afraid of. And I didn’t like that I had no idea what it was. “Okay,” I said quietly and saw Elias visibly relax at my agreement.

I looked at Louise and smiled, and she nodded. “I’ll just go see what my mate is doing,” she said and headed towards the door. She opened it and looked at Marcus, who was leaning against the wall, looking sullen. I could see a bruise forming around his left eye. I raised my eyebrows to Elias, and he just shrugged. “I’ll take this one to get some food too,” Louise said, and Marcus shook his head.

“Nope,“ he said, glancing at Elias and then at me. “I’m staying right here.”

“Marcus, she is safe,” Elias growled, and I couldn’t help the amused grin appear on my face.

“It’s ok, Marcus,” I said. “If he gets out of hand, I’ll throw him out of the window.” I winked, and Marcus grinned.

“Bloody deserves it too,” he grumbled but nodded. He glared at Elias one last time and then nodded again. He then let Louise pull him down the hallway. I walked over and closed the door, and turned to face Elias, suddenly nervous that we were both alone in the room.

I gestured for him to sit down again, and he sat down at the far end of the sofa. I smiled, knowing he did it to give me the illusion of safety. But I sat at the other end anyway. We sat in awkward silence for a good few minutes before I felt like I was going to burst if someone didn’t say something.

“So,” I said, maybe a little too loud, and Elias looked at me expectantly. “Marcus is pretty pissed off at you right now,” I said, and Elias chuckled.

“Yeah, just a bit,” he said, rubbing his face. “His type takes their job seriously. He is from a strong Gamma Warrior bloodline, so the second he knew you were my mate, you became his number one priority.”

“Wow,” I said. I knew that he was persistent, but not to this degree. “Even against you?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Yeah, he was pretty conflicted earlier in the office,” he said. “I know he is loyal to me, but everything in his b***d was telling him he had to protect you,” I nodded. I remembered the worried look on Marcus’ face and how he had tried to stop Elias.

“About earlier,” Elias said, suddenly looking nervous as he looked down at his fingers. He looked up at me, and I could instantly see the sadness in his eyes. “I can’t apologise enough. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I feel sick that I hit you and what I was willing to do. I should have listened to you.” I held my hand up to stop him from talking.

“Don’t,” I said. “I get it. You were protecting your pack. I’m a warrior, Elias. I know the dangers.” I chuckled and shook my head. “Hell, I’m more annoyed at myself than you.”

He looked at me in surprise. “Why? I mean, I’m the one that acted rashly without thinking,” he asked,

“Yeah, but I’m an Elite warrior, trained by one of the best organisations in the world. I am meant to be one of the best warriors, and yet I let you get the drop on me,” I said. “I was trained way better than that,” Elias looked at me like I had gained an extra head or something.

“I hit you, knock you out, and threaten to torture you, and you are annoyed at yourself?” he asked, and I shrugged. He let out a laugh that was laced with relief, and I smiled. Sure, I could have been angry at him but let’s face it, I was a threat in his eyes, and I would have probably done the same if the situation had been reversed.

Elias looked at me and smiled. “So I’m forgiven?” he asked tentatively, and I laughed.

“Oh hell no, prepare to have your a*s kicked sometime soon. A woman needs to defend her honour,” and he laughed again.

“Okay, I can deal with that. I am curious as to how I would fare against one of the top Council warriors. And maybe a little proud that that person also happens to be my mate.” He leaned toward me, and I couldn’t help but flinch and move away. Elias looked shocked again and hurt. I sighed and rubbed my temples. The headache that had been forming seemed to have dissipated a little, but I was sure it was just on the other side of something waiting to get through again. I stood up from the sofa, headed to my suitcase, and pulled out some panties and a pair of jeans. I shimmered into the panties before letting the towel drop and pulled the jeans on. I could feel Elias’s eyes on me the whole time and even felt them when he moved from the sofa to stand behind me. I was frozen in place with a bra in my hand when I felt the tips of his fingers run down my back. Part of me wanted to move away, but the strongest part, the one that felt the current from the mate bond, wanted to lean into him so badly.

“What is it?” his voice was barely a whisper in my ear, “Why do I scare you then?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“You don’t,” I whispered, and I felt his hand, firmer on my arm.

“You’re lying, Harper,” he said. “I can tell that there is something else, and it has you terrified.”

I turned around to look at him. I looked into his beautiful blue eyes and marveled at the clear blue in the centre that was circled by the dark inky blue around the edge. They were something I could get lost in, unlike… I shivered at the thought of those empty black eyes again.

“There,” he said, his fingers under my chin while his other hand traced my arm that was now covered in goosebumps. “That fear, what is causing it?”

“I don’t understand it,” I said. “But while you were interrogating me, it was like something took over your body,” I said, and his eyes widened.

“He showed himself to you?” he asked. “Did he hurt you?” I shook my head and stepped back,Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

“He?” I asked, “You know what I am talking about?”

He nodded. “Yes and no, I know what you’re talking about, but I don’t know what he is. He appeared around the time my wolf did, around the attack on my pack. Just before actually.” He looked over my body again and stepped forward. “He’s a destructive force, but other than that, it’s like there is someone else living in my body.”

“Like another wolf?” I asked, “Is that even possible?”

“For a single body to have three dominant entities…” He shook his head. “It shouldn’t be. Goddess only knows I have done enough research on it. But I’m coming up empty. I just try and do my best to control him.” He rubbed his face again. “I was hoping that The Order would be able to help me figure it out. That’s why I have been helping them with the Circle. Well, that, and getting my revenge on the man that took my sister.”

“The Order,” I asked. That sounded familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. “Who’s that?” and Elias suddenly shifted uncomfortably in his spot.

“Erm, that’s who told me of the Circle’s presence in the pack,” he said, his tone dismissive. “But are you certain that he didn’t hurt you?” he asked, clearly changing the subject. I narrowed my eyes at him. I was going to have to find out more about this Order business. I sighed and shook my head.

“No, actually, he told Marcus to protect me from you, or he would,” I said, and Elias’ eyes looked like they would pop out of his head.

“What!” he exclaimed, and I shrugged. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. I resisted for about half a second before allowing myself to melt into him.

“Well, I just can’t understand it, but goddess, I am so glad that neither of us did something that I would regret.” I felt him sniff my hair and moved my head so I could look up at him. My whole body was tingling with the bond, which felt stronger than ever. I leaned up towards him, and he reciprocated, and I felt his lips graze mine.

I pushed against him and began to deepen the k**s when the door to the room suddenly burst open. I jumped back in shock and covered my bare top half as the room suddenly filled with Council Warriors. Elias was pulled forward and slammed against a wall by two of them.

“Elias Owens, you are under arrest for the act of treason and murder, by order of The Council.”