Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Harper’s POV)

Colton turned around to face me. He had a big smile on his face. He looked thinner than I remembered and his entire head was shaved. I forced a smile onto my face, although it probably looked more like a grimace.

“I am so glad that you could visit me,” Colton said, and then he looked to the side and his smile dropped. A low growl rumbled through the speaker.

“Hello to you too, d**k,” Marcus said with a grin. He was happy that he had upset Colton by being here. I rolled my eyes at the pair of them.

“You asked to see me,” I said, and Colton looked back at me.

“You look good,” he said, “But I would expect nothing less from an angel.” I took a deep breath and tried to keep the forced smile on my face, but it was too early for this cheesy bullshit.

“Colton, I don’t have time to stand around and chat,” I said through my gritted teeth. “I have s**t to do.” He raised an eyebrow and smirked at me.

“You know, don’t you?” he asked, and I tilted my head.

“Know?” I asked, “About what?” I wouldn’t offer any information, so he would have to come up with the goods himself.

“About the seal,” he said. “You know it’s damaged. Did they tell you how it got damaged?” He was watching me closely, and I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Whatever he saw obviously told him what he needed to know. He nodded and smiled sadly.

“I’m sorry, but if it helps, you aren’t responsible,” he said. “Neither of you are. It would have happened. It’s just fate. Eventually, it would have happened.” He looked off to the side before looking back up at me.

“I just wish that it was my mark on your throat.” On instinct, my hand went to the mark of the mate bond that decorated my throat. When I touched it, I felt an angry tingle. I knew this wasn’t me and it must have meant Elias was awake and knew what I had done.

“You know, I would have made an amazing mate,” Colton said. “I would have looked after you so much, and we would have been happy.” I scoffed at his words.

“You had your chance,” I scoffed, “And if memory serves, you rejected me. Then you abused me and tried to pimp me out to your friends.” I almost spat the last part out.

“Yeah, I could have dealt with things a lot better.” he looked down at the floor, the look of sadness on his face. “He could have dealt with things better.” I furrowed my eyebrows at him. He? Who was he? Did he mean his demon? I felt like there was more to what he was saying, but his face cleared and he smiled back up at me again.

“Nonetheless,” he said, “That time has gone and now I have much to make up for your forgiveness.” Marcus grumbled something about Colton dying under his breath, and I shot him a glare.

“Why am I here Colton,” I asked, and he nodded.

“I have a warning for you,” he said. “Your man probably already feels the pull.” The pull? Elias had mentioned this last night.

“Whatever you do, no matter what happens, you cannot go back to Midnight Moon,” Colton insisted. Now things were getting interesting. Elias’ demon had said the same thing. I couldn’t understand why Midnight Moon was such a big issue suddenly.

“Why not?” I asked, and Colton shook his head.

“I mean it Harper, it’s not safe for you.” I could tell that he was serious about what he was saying. “And more importantly, he can’t go back. Promise me, Harper, please promise you’ll listen.”

“She doesn’t need to promise anything to you, d**k,” Marcus growled, and I glanced at him.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Why is it dangerous?” Colton looked up at me with serious eyes.

“Because he is waiting,” he whispered, “And the only thing he wants is you.” I felt a chill run down my spine. I stared at Colton for a minute.

“Who is he?” I asked, and he chuckled, “Ask your angel friends, they will know.”Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

“And how do you know?”

“Because I feel the pull too,” he said, “and it is all the other guy talks about. Even though it’s not our bloodline, we still feel the pull. Because if he gets what he wants, we are all free.”

“The other guy?” I asked, and he smiled. Of course, his demon.

“But he knows what is happening, and he’s telling you?” I asked, more out of interest. Elias’ demon seemed to be tight-lipped when he tried to get information from him.

“He wasn’t at first, but the stuff they give me and do really helps him to be more chatty,” Colton said.

“Stuff they give you?” I asked, and he nodded his head proudly.

“Yep, I am helping the Council,” he said. I glanced at Marcus, who was also looking concerned. We knew that Colton was being co-operative, but I assumed it was questioning. It seemed like there was more to it than Drake let on.

“Colton,” I asked, “What do they do to you?”

“You don’t need to answer that.” I looked over at the new voice and saw Drake leaning against the wall. Of course, the vampire was able to sneak up on us. He had three thousand years of practice, the undead bastard. Marcus didn’t like it though, and growled at him. Drake just raised an eyebrow at him and an amused smile played across his lips.

“What the hell?” I asked, and Drake turned his gaze to mine. “Are you torturing him?”

“Of course not,” Drake said, “Although I suspect his demon might have a different answer. But I assure you that Mr Stokes is not doing anything he hasn’t agreed to.” I glanced over at Colton, who nodded his head in agreement.

“He’s not too impressed,” he said with a chuckle. Then his eyes flashed through black but cleared back to his hazel eyes.

“Strawberries,” he sighed, “I’ve missed you so much.” I narrowed my eyes and glanced at Drake before looking back to Colton. He had a sinister smirk on his face, one that reminded me of ten years ago and sent shivers down my spine.

“Come on, baby girl,” he purred. “Get them to let me out. I want to taste strawberries and cream again,” he licked his lips, and I screwed my face in disgust. Marcus growled and stepped forward, blocking my view of the man in the cell.

I glanced at Drake again.

“Demon?” I asked, and he nodded his head without saying a word. I walked around Marcus, much to his displeasure, and up to the glass. I looked into Colton’s eyes and shook my head.

“But his eyes aren’t black.” He grinned at me as I moved as close as I could.

“No, the demon takes on the human’s eyes for the most part unless they are particularly emotional,” Drake said, “But you should know that you are mated to one.” I turned and looked at Drake again.

“Elias’ demon doesn’t have Elias’ eyes,” I said, and Drake raised an eyebrow. Despite maintaining the casual position of leaning against the wall, that one eyebrow told me he was suddenly very interested in something. I looked back at Colton, who was scowling.

“That’s because his demon is too weak,” he said with a growl. “You should have been with me. Not that pathetic thing. It should be my master rising to the throne.” I inclined my head.

“Your master?” I asked, and he growled again.

“Don’t try to play me, little girl,” he smirked, “I’m centuries old and this meat suit may be mine now, but I would willingly give it to him.” he empathised the him at the end.

“But you’ll know soon enough,” he smirked again. “And when war is on earth and we are set loose, I will split you open and taste your sweet fruit juices in my true form.” He leaned closer to the glass. “And what’s more, you will beg me, screaming, to do it more.” He licked the glass and laughed as I stepped back. Marcus growled again and Colton, or the demon, just laughed.

“I killed enough of your line over the years boy, don’t for one second think that you can scare me.” He crashed his fists against the glass and laughed again.

“I think you have had all you will from young Mr Stokes,” Drake said. “Often this thing,” he inclined his head towards the glass, “He will hold on to the control for a day at least.” The demon chuckled again.

“Hey Strawberries,” he said, and I looked at him, “Remember when I took control of your body? When I had you riding my desk? When I-” the sound cut out and I saw that Drake had moved to switch the speaker off. He smiled weakly at me. Before nodding down the hallway. The demon had realised that he had been cut off and was rampaging around the cell in an eerie silent rage. Something about what he said struck me. He was talking about the office at the pack house. I knew the time he was referring to before he was cut off. Could it be that it was the demon and not Colton that I was with? I shook my head. Elias had once said to me it was like one answer gave ten more questions. But Drake was right, I wasn’t getting any more from him. I nodded and with one last look into the cell, I set off down the hallway towards the exit. Marcus followed closely behind me, with Drake bringing up the rear.

I was almost halfway down when I caught a movement from one of the cells. The inhabitant rushed forward and started banging on the glass. Despite the silence, the urgency made me stop. I looked over and my eyes widened. I recognised the inhabitant immediately. Her blond hair was longer and unkempt, but her blue eyes still shone with determination. This was the first time I had seen my sister since she betrayed me six months ago. She stopped hitting the glass when I stopped and she was pleading with me. I looked behind me at Drake and he shook his head.

“We really should be going,” he said.

“She’s my sister,”

“She betrayed you,” Marcus growled, “And the pack.” He was right. Susie had been working with the Circle and when it was evident I wasn’t going to fall in line and get her the Alpha rank she so desperately wanted, she turned on me. Her actions led to Nathaniel killing me, painfully, and to Louise and her baby being put in serious danger. But still, she was my sister. And I wasn’t like her. Family did matter. Drake nodded again and sighed, his only indication that he didn’t like this. He clicked the intercom and immediately my sister’s voice floated through the speaker.

“… beg you, please Harper, just talk to me,” she pleaded.

“What do you want?” I said, and she jumped a little at my voice. Then she smiled.

“Oh Harper, thank you so much,” she said, with tears in her eyes. “Please, I am so sorry. I made a mistake.”

“Damn straight you did,” I scoffed. “A big one.” The smile wiped off her face. She tried to recover it, but I could tell that she was already realising that her smiles and charms wouldn’t work.

“Harper, I was to atone for what I did. I need you to forgive me,” she looked away from me and glanced at Drake.

“I keep asking them to let me speak to you and to Tommy, but they won’t pass on the request, please I need to explain.”

“They passed on the request.” I looked towards the new voice a few steps down the hall. Tommy was standing there with a look of fury on his face. “They pass all of them on. I just denied every single one.” Susie’s chin trembled as she looked at Tommy. I could see she was trying hard not to cry.

“Why?” she asked. “Tommy, we are family.” I scoffed and Tommy let out a short, bitter laugh.

“Family?” he asked, “Family? Family means nothing to you, other than a vehicle to get your own way.”

“No,” Susie protested, “That’s not true. I promise, I did what I did for my family, my babies.”

“You let your own little sister get killed, and you put the life of my mate and my child at risk,” Tommy spat, “and not one part was for family. It was because you were bitter and jealous and shallow. Nothing you did was for anyone other than yourself, you selfish bitch.” I raised an eyebrow at his words. Tommy was normally more easy going. I guess a traitorous b***h would do that to you.

“Please, Tommy, please,” Susie begged. “I just want to see my babies. Please, I will do anything.”

“The only thing you will be doing,” Tommy spat, “Is spending the rest of your life rotting in this cell. And even if I would be so stupid as to let you near those children again, James has made it very clear that he wouldn’t come. In his eyes, his mother is already dead.” Ouch! I felt that one. I saw the flinch and the horror in her eyes as Susie’s mouth fell open. I nodded over to Drake and then looked at Susie.

“Goodbye Susie,” I said and turned to walk away. I saw a flash of rage in her eyes as I turned and heard her smash against the glass.

“You f*****g b***h,” she screamed, “This is all your fault. I wish you had stayed dead. It should be you rotting in a grave, not dad. I hope when he comes he takes you whole and rips your life apart and takes everything that makes you-” The rage filled screams were cut off and I glanced at Drake, who was glaring into the cell with his hand on the intercom.

I shook my head and headed towards the exit. I saw Tommy glare at the glass one more time before turning with me. We walked down the hallway in silence until we reached the inner door. Tommy looked up at a screen and the light flashed green and the door clunked open.

“I’m sorry,” I said to Tommy, and he smiled weakly.

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “She hurt you more than anyone. I should be the one that is sorry. If I had seen through her, then we might have stopped…” he trailed off. He was there when Nathaniel killed me. He saw how painful, how terrifying it was. Hell, Elias still had nightmares about it. Me, not so much. I felt cold towards the incident, like it held no emotion in my mind.

“Well, you know,” I said with a little forced humour, “Good thing it didn’t take.” I tried to force a grin, but Tommy held onto his seriousness. I guess it was too soon for him as well.

The outer door opened, and I was momentarily blinded by the fresh morning sunlight streaming in. But as my eyes adjusted, they fell on something else. Elias was standing by the guard box, talking to the guard. As the door opened, he looked over and our eyes met. From the look on his face, I had a feeling I was about to be in big trouble.