Page 57 of The Beta: Part One

Alpha Pratchett, who is not aware of who my family is because I made sure of it, leans into me and whispers into my neck, “Like to keep it in the family, do you? Elizabet might have something to say about that.”

The sound of my mother's name coming out of his mouth makes me want to rip out his throat. And him not knowing my relation to my father and brother has opened the door for disgusting implications. I ignore him, he's just trying to goad me into a reaction and this is not the time for it.

But my brother is just as much of a heathen as I am and I hear him teasing Devon, “Your beta thinks I'm more handsome than you, Devon. Better get to work on that physique,” but his face darkens when Devon tells him firmly that I am not officially his beta and I can think whatever I want about him.

Daniel shoots me a look and I blow him a kiss.

Once everyone is quiet again, Alpha Crane sends his turn to Jasper, “For my first turn, I'm giving Jasper a dare.”

Going by Jasper's guarded expression, this most likely won't be pleasant.

“I dare you, Jasper, to publicly apologize to my son for your beta's violent behavior toward him at the last function we attended.”

“Veto,” Kaleb says calmly, and holds Alpha Crane's eyes in a stare that neither breaks from. “I am not required to give reason for my veto, but in this case I feel it is necessary. Talia did nothing wrong, she was protecting Jasper from Mitchell's inappropriate and unwanted attention. You may pick something else for your turn.”

Alpha Crane doesn't look pleased but he thinks for a few moments before coming up with something just as awful, “Fine. Then I dare Talia to go to my son right now and kiss and make up, to show there are no hard feelings.”

“Veto,” my eyes snap to Jasper.

He shrugs, “Sorry Alpha Crane, but, respectfully, there are hard feelings. Pick something else.”

Now Alpha Crane is irritated. He switches direction, making it clear that his goal is to cause Jasper emotional hurt, “A truth then, Jasper. Why are you so opposed to allowing your alpha's to bond a female into your pack to produce heirs? I've spoken with some of their fathers at length, and you are the only reason their lines will end. It is a travesty and I hope there is another reason behind it other than your own selfishness.”

“I'll call this veto,” I say flatly, “What an inappropriate question.”

Jasper smiles over at me, “That's alright, Talia, save your veto. It's looking like we're going to need it, and I don't mind answering this question.”

I don't know what he's going to say. He's at least a little intoxicated so whatever it is will be blunt and I'm not sure anyone is ready for his answer, myself included. “If my alphas want to produce heirs all they need to do is say the word. I am not opposed to bonding a female into our pack, and I might enjoy producing my own heir as well. No rushing the heir part, though, just the producing.”

I can't stop the laughter from bubbling out of me. Of all the answers I expected, that isn't one of them. Jasper starts laughing, too, and even Kaleb's mouth twitches. I glance at my mother, who looks positively thrilled, and very discreetly roll my eyes.

I reach over to grab my water, wishing it was another shot, and accidentally press my knee against Alpha Pratchett's very hard dick.

I shoot him a look over my shoulder and he smirks at me, “That's why you were sent to Seth's pack, after all,” he says only loud enough for me to hear.

Yeah, motherfucker, I'm aware.

Alpha Harris, who is probably the nicest man at the table other than Jasper, decides to ask Jasper a dare. “I dare you, Jasper, to show me where Talia is hiding her weapons, because I can't see a place where they could possibly be hidden and god knows she doesn't go unarmed.”

One look at him tells me that he knows Alpha Pratchett is being a dick and he wants to call attention to the fact that I am armed. I'm tempted to walk over there and kiss him.

“Talia isn't armed,” Jasper says, pushing the empty glasses in front of him to the side, “But we all know she doesn't really need to be. Besides, Trent is right there and he is more than enough weapon, don't you think? I'd hate to be the one trapped between those two.”

I could kiss him, too, because Alpha Pratchett is literally positioned between Trent and myself. I would feel any attack before he made it because I'm in his lap.

“Oh indeed. That would be a very unfortunate place to be caught,” Alpha Harris says and smiles at me.

I really might give him a kiss before I leave here tonight. I am not technically armed, the sharply pointed sticks holding my hair in place are sold all over the world as ornamental hair pieces, so Jasper has honestly met his dare and no one can say otherwise.

“For my turn,” Alpha Tomas begins with a smirk, “I will ask Talia a truth. Talia, are you really a beta? You don't look like any beta I've ever seen, and you don't submit like a good beta should, either. Your personality flaws have gotten you rejected from every pack you've ever attempted to join. Any good beta would do what they could to fix those flaws for the chance to be bonded into a pack. You haven't tried to fix anything or apologize for any of your ill-tempered behaviors. You look like an omega, and you carry the same sense of entitlement as one, but here you sit claiming beta status. So, give us the truth. Are you or aren't you a beta?”

I lean forward to brace my palms on the table, ignoring Pratchett's obvious excitement and the attention to my displayed cleavage, “Refusing to submit to you, Jacob, does not make me ill-tempered or a bad beta. It does, however, speak volumes about you. But to answer your question, yes, I am officially registered as a beta. You are more than welcome to check with the council.”

I sit back from the table and try to keep a neutral expression, regardless of the tightness coiling in my stomach.

“You could put anything on that registration form, that doesn't make it true,” he's really going for it, isn't he?

I'm about to say something witty and rude but Alpha Johnson speaks quietly, menacingly, from where he’s standing next to Devon, “Are you questioning the integrity of the council, Jacob Tomas?”

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