Page 7 of The Beta's Heart

As the queen bees’ flirting became more inappropriate, I squirmed with discomfort, a blotchy red blush rising up on my cheeks and spreading to my ears. As for the Hall twins, their anger was clear in their clenched jaws and narrowed eyes, not liking how the girls were completely ignoring Bram any more than they liked them making eyes at us.

“Ladies, can y’all move on with your day,please?” The little omega’s patience had finally reached its limit. “No one here is interested in what you’re selling, so—”

“Selling?” Heidia screeched and put her hands on her hips. “What are you implying, Bram?”

“I am not implying anything. I’m flat out saying to go peddle your well-used wares at another table because you’ve worn out your welcome at this one!”

“Tyler!” Korine shrieked, and I automatically bolted upright in my seat, wondering whatIhad done. “Are you going to let this fruity little—”

“Stop right there,” I warned her as Becks stood up, his wolf, Crimson, flashing in his eyes. “Bram’s our friend, and we won’t hear a word against him.”

“We didn’t ask you to come over. We never do.” Bowie’s voice was rough and gravelly as his wolf, Scarlet, pushed for control.

Hint, hint,I thought, but these girls were either as stubborn as mules or so dumb, they could throw themselves on the ground and miss.

“Aren’t you going to say anything, Bowie?” Olivia whined.

“I’m Beckham, and, no, they summed it up nicely.”

Their eyes going wide and their jaws dropping, all three girls let out shocked gasps, then finally flounced away.

“Thank the Goddess,” Becks said as he slowly sat back down. “Those three always manage to get my goat.”

Before any of us could agree, all of our attention went to a sudden ripple of shock and grief that surged through the pack bond, and every wolf shifter in the cafeteria went dead silent. I looked around, my heart pounding as I wondered who had just died, and Keeley Breckenridge jolted to her feet with an ear-piercing scream. Seated next to her, Callie seemed frozen in shock.

Beta Everett’s dead?

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and a fume of worry overlaid my sorrow. On our ride into work this morning, Mr. Barlow told me that Alpha Jay Carson had taken a team of warriors to one of our allied packs when Alpha Liam Swift of Crystal Caverns had called for aid. Beta Ev and my friend, Gamma Reuben Ford, were among them.

What was happening over there? And who else would die because of it?

Please, Goddess, no one else,I prayed for my friends.

Sure, Alpha Jay’s wolf, Quartz, was a brutal barbarian and Gamma Reuben’s wolf, Larch, was an awesome fighter, but even the best could be taken down by sheer numbers.

“What can we do to help them?” Bram’s eyes flooded with tears as we all gawked at the Breckenridge girls.

He was right. We needed a plan, and fast. If the Hall twins or I interfered after already pissing them off today, the queen bees would only target Keeley and Callie more than they already did, so none ofuscould go over.

That left Bram.

I took a few seconds to plan out my words so they didn’t come out as orders that, as an omega, he would be compelled to follow.

“Bram, could you help Keeley and Callie’s friends get them out of here? It would be best to take them to their car and, if you can, drive them home. If you can’t, would you find someone who will and can stay with them? Oh, and if any of us can link Coach Hall, ask him to send a delta or gamma to their house.”

“Got it.” Bram nodded, his eyes wide with understanding.

“Beckham, Bowie, make sure no nosy humans follow them.”

“On it,” they replied in unison, moving to cover the doors.

As for me, all I could do was intercept the principal, Mr. Varner, who was making his way toward the ruckus. He wasn’t exactly wise to the fact that there were werewolves period, let alone in his school, but he’d been around the block a time or two and been here long enough to understand that some us students were … different.

“Mr. Varner, the Breckenridge twins just received news that their older brother has died. They need to leave.”

“Everett? Oh, my Lord.” Pressing his hand to his heart, he took a minute, then nodded solemnly. “Thank you for letting me know what’s happening, Ty. I’ll mark them excused for the rest of the day and follow up with them tomorrow.”

Bram scooped Keeley up in his arms as Peri and her friends helped Callie stand, then followed Bram out of the cafeteria, and I felt a pang of guilt. I wished I could do more, but for now, this seemed to be the best way to help them.

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