Page 71 of The Beta: Part Three
“Got it.”
Not being able to see what's happening inside is hell, but I'm where I need to be. There are still men coming from the field and it is my job to kill every one of them before they make it to the manor. Pratchett is no longer shooting, he's fighting his way to the center of the fray to stand with Devon.
“Jasper. One your way,” Corso says, and I'm genuinely shocked when nobody argues. Not even Talia.
“Copy.” Jasper doesn't sound or feel concerned. If anything, our bond feels tranquil. Maybe even bored.
The three people emerging from the field take little more than a breath to drop, then my attention goes back to Devon. He and Pratchett are nearly facing each other now and are making quick and easy work of the rest of the intruders surrounding them. Pratchett is still shit, but I'm glad he listened to his son and came to our aid tonight. He and the men he brought have been the difference between life and death on two different occasions.
“Jasper. Sending another through.” How many intruders are inside the manor for Corso to send now two threats to Jasper? I'm still catching people as they become visible, but I'm in the front.
“How many are inside the house?” Hopefully someone will be able to answer.
Nathan answers. “Ground floor is swarming, but it's mostly betas. We're going through them fast, there's just a lot of them. Any sign of the COTs?” A scream sounds in the background and it abruptly cuts off. “Jesus, Jasper. Fuck.”
“What happened?” I don't want to panic, I can still feel Jasper through the bond, and I don't think that was him screaming.
Pride blooms through Talia's bond and it's apparent in her voice, “Jasper hung some prick across the banister by their guts. That was hot. We are winning.”
“There's my girl,” Alex croons.
“Of course you think it's hot. I'm killing people too, you know.” Trent is grunting between words.
“I've been watching the whole time. You're hot, too. Two on the left.”
Jasper's voice comes across, “Alex. How bad is Kaleb?”
“I'm fine. Just need to catch my breath. Devon?” Relieved doesn't begin to cover how I feel hearing Kaleb's response. Two more people come from the trees and they stop behind one of the stupid bushes somebody planted here at some point. I'm pulling them up. To make way for the moat.
“Coming in,” Devon clips. “Pratchett, too.”
Then something unexpected happens. Panic bordering on pure fear pours into me from Talia.
“Leave him outside, Devon.” Jasper hisses.
“He'll help clear these assholes out.” Devon's focus is more on getting every threat out and away than Talia's reaction to Pratchett being in the house. I know this because I trained with Devon. He eliminates threats by order of priority. In Devon's eyes, the men actually attacking his pack are a much bigger threat right now than anything Pratchett has done. He's right. Even I want Pratchett with us in this moment. The more help the better.
“If he steps into my home I will kill him. Understand that,” Jasper says with zero emotion.
“Shit.” Devon says into the mic, and I watch his jaw tick through the scope. I see him motion for Pratchett to stay outside, and Pratchett's chest rises and falls with what might be a frustrated sigh, but he nods. Devon steps through the door into the kitchen entryway and he's out of sight. I switch to check on Kaleb and shoot the lone runner trying to make it across the lawn. I hope that's the last of them.
“Nathan. The back door,” Alex warns.
“On it,” Nathan replies, then after a few seconds, “more coming in from the back line. I'll bottleneck. Why so many? It's ridiculous.”
“Because we're a large pack with a reputation?” Trent offers to the sound of furniture breaking.
Kaleb gets to his feet, “coming inside. Don't shoot me.” Then disappears into the house, leaving me to watch the property, and Pratchett.
“Not too many coming from the back,” Talia says. “They look like betas. Nathan, are you ready?”
“I'm good.”
I don't hear or see anything else for a bit, then the yelling and shooting begins again. It lasts for a few minutes then things go silent.
“What's happening?” I ask, holding my breath for a response.
“Nathan's shot, in the shoulder. Alex has him. Kaleb and Devon are beaten all to hell, but they'll live. Corso is pulling bodies off the stairs. Jasper is still upstairs, he's checking the monitors with Talia. I'm going to open the front door and start throwing these dead assholes out in the front yard as soon as you give me the go ahead. And where the fuck are the COTs? Devon called his dad directly. This is complete bullshit. Is it clear out there?” I usually enjoy Trent's petulant sarcasm, but at this moment, it might be one of the best sounds in the world. If he's okay enough to be more irritated than anxious, I can be ecstatic.
