Page 23 of The Beta: Part One

I sigh, “Your father is the one who suggested it. She was ready to send a team to come get us and secret all of us away somewhere to ride it out because she’s got it in her head that we’re some kind of big happy family since I’m still here. But Alpha Johnson knew that wouldn’t go over well, so he suggested that we handle it.”

Devon’s ears are turning red and his frustration is a cloud around him. “I haven’t heard anything from my father about any of this,” he says.

I do understand why he’s upset, really, but it isn’t my fault. “I was on the phone with one of my dads when Alpha Johnson got there. That’s the only reason I know before you do. I thought I’d talk to you about it so we have time to decide what we’re going to do.”

“You keep saying we,” he’s saying it to be mean, I know he is, and it is mean. Just like this morning, Devon wants me to fully understand that I am not part of his pack.

“Yes,” I reply coolly, “I do keep saying we. My mother and your father want me with you on this because they both know my skill-set and my strengths, you don’t. You keep me in this little box of kitchen work and guard duty, and that’s fine any other time, but this is one time that you’re going to benefit from me being involved. And if you think I’m letting Jasper out of my sight while all this is going on you’re very sadly mistaken. If you want me to bow down to your orders you’ll have to bond me into your pack, and I’m no more willing to do that than you are.”

I should be afraid of the vein throbbing in his neck and his ticking jaw, but I’m too angry and disgusted. I try to give him a heads up and information to help us keep Jasper safe and all he wants to do is remind me that I’m separate. It’s ridiculous.

Kaleb hums, “You really shouldn’t be talking to an alpha like that.” But he doesn’t look like he’s reprimanding me, so whatever.

“Shall I move on to the next bit, or would you like to call your father for confirmation?” I ask Devon with the most neutral tone I can manage.

Just then his phone dings and he grits his teeth so hard that I hear them grinding together from across the table as he reads the text. He closes his eyes and takes a very deep breath before he looks at me and says, “Please continue.”

I fight back my smirk with no small amount of effort. “There is a charity benefit auction in two weeks. Your father is hosting it this year. I know you don’t usually attend these types of things, but every council member will be in attendance; and my mother believes that Jasper and I will be enough of a distraction to keep anyone from noticing the four of you moving through the crowd doing whatever it is you do to gain the information you are so good at finding.”

Nathan cuts in, “What do you mean you and Jasper will be a distraction? We’re not taking Jasper to anything that could potentially put him in danger.”

I don’t disagree. I made the exact same argument when it was suggested to me. “I don’t like it, but you saw how everyone was watching us dancing at the last function we attended. Mother wants to have us perform. She suggested that if it was known that the two of us would be providing entertainment at the auction anyone who is involved with this entire mess will definitely show up. Alpha Johnson said he would put additional security on Jasper while you are all working the crowd. Plus, I’ll be right beside him, and no one will get past me.”

Nobody is happy with any of this. Probably for a lot of the same reasons. I don’t like it, but I’d want us to take this job, too.

“What would we perform? I can’t imagine us giving a demonstration on how to beat people to death and bleed them out being an acceptable form of entertainment for this type of event,” leave it to Jasper to zero in on the most important part of this job.

I smile at him, “I’ve had more than combat training and cooking classes, you know. My mother made sure to get me to every class and seminar under the sun, so there’s not much I can’t do at least functionally. Whatever you feel comfortable doing I can work with it.” He doesn’t look like he believes me but he doesn’t say anything.

Devon gets another text and he rolls his head on his shoulders to pop the tension from his neck. “Are we going to do it?” he addresses the table, and they have some kind of silent vote and I nod at him when he looks at me. “Alright. I’ll let my father know. Nathan, see what you’ve got as far as tech stuff, we’ll have time to track down anything you don’t already have. Trent, you take stock of the armory.”

“And I’ll order Talia a dress,” Jasper pipes in. No, no dress. Not for this.

“Suit, Jasper. I can’t get tangled up in a dress, and I’ll need places for my weapons, all of them.”

He looks disgusted, “I’m not providing any type of entertainment or distraction if you’re wearing a suit. You get a dress. And not the same one, we won’t be a distraction if you’re in the same boring dress.”

Nathan starts laughing like we haven't just decided to go on a secret mission to ferret out traitorous council members and leans over to give one of Jasper’s dark curls a tug, “Baby, sometimes your priorities are terrifying,”

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