Page 58 of The Beta: Part One

There's a hush, and Alpha Tomas apologizes, “Of course not, Alpha Johnson. I meant no disrespect to the council.”

“No, of course not. Just toward Talia,” Jasper says inspecting his nails, then looks at me, “I cannot wait to get home so you can tell me all about your visit with Alpha Tomas' pack. I'm sure it will be highly entertaining.”

He has no idea. My stay with that pack wasn't great, but it wasn't the worst, either. I refused to give Alpha Tomas my submission, but I wasn't rude about it. I just wouldn't lie down belly-up for him and accept the way he treats his pack, especially his omega. He expected immediate and total subordination and I didn't have any of that for an alpha who abused his strength and power.

“Alpha Zaphir, we're back to you, if you'd like to participate in another round,” Kaleb says.

I watch him weigh it. This is quickly turning into a very tense situation, one he likely didn't sign up for. Finally he sighs, “I wasn't going to jump on the heavy road this whole thing is heading down, but since we've decided to ask the questions that stay in the back of our minds, I'll ask Talia for a truth of my own.” He looks at me, and there's no anger, not a single trace of animosity, just curiosity, “Why did you leave my pack, Talia? I didn't demand submission. I didn't want to make your life any more difficult than it already is. I wanted you to strengthen my pack and possibly provide something we were missing. I understand if it was just a bad fit for you, but we would have done well by you.”

Of all the terrible truths being demanded of me tonight, this one actually hurts.

I turn back to speak to Alpha Pratchett, “This deserves my full and physical attention. I am not abandoning the dare you put to me, I am going to speak to Alpha Zaphir and then I will return.”

He drops his hands to his sides and I get up and walk around the table to take Alpha Zaphir's hands into mine. He really would have treated me well, but he needed something from me that I couldn't give him.

“Alpha Zaphir, my time with your pack was the only positive experience with a pack I've had before coming to Jasper's pack. You treated me fairly and well, but you needed something I couldn't provide for you. You need an omega to fill your needs, to hold your pack together, and it would have been completely unfair to you and to your pack for me to try to fill that role. I could have stayed with you, I could have probably even given you the children you all want, but I was not enough to be the heart of your pack. I should have told you that when I left, but I didn't want to hurt you even more than I already was. I apologize for letting you think it was something you did or didn't do.”

I lean down and kiss his cheek.

He squeezes my fingertips and whispers to me that it's alright and I fight the urge to cry. Corso Zaphir wanted me to join his pack as their beta, but he wanted me to be what amounts to his mate, their mate. He wanted a partnership with me and a home and children. I could have stayed with him, other packs have taken betas as mates. I'm pretty sure that was my mother's intention when she pulled strings to get me placed with Jasper's pack. I just couldn't do it without hating myself. Corso is a good alpha, and he deserves more than a beta stand-in for his pack. He deserves an omega worthy of him, and the rest of his pack.

I've taken just a few steps back around the table when Corso says softly, “You will always have a place with us, Talia.”

I take a shaky breath and keep walking. I can't do anything more for Corso's heart tonight.

Alpha Pratchett is very smug when I sit back down and it takes all I have to put my weight on more than just his knees. He makes a move to wrap his hands around my waist to help me settle and I can't stop my snarl.

“Temper, temper, Talia,” he murmurs, and puts his hands on the table where they belong.

Alpha Dennison has another whispered conversation with Danielle then takes his turn. “Let's try to lighten the mood just a little, shall we? Jasper, Danielle and I have been having fun thinking about something since we saw you and Talia dancing those few weeks ago. I dare you to walk over there and kiss Talia like you mean it.”

Jasper laughs lowly, “I always knew you had a voyeurism kink, Alpha Dennison. But thank you for donating so generously so I can give Talia the kiss she needs.”

Then he walks over and yanks me out of Pratchett's lap and gives me a kiss that leaves me gasping and burning, and just a bit unsteady on my feet. He keeps hold of my hips until I give him a nod, then he helps me back into my super comfy seat like a gentleman and practically skips back to his own seat.

“Very nice, my boy, very nice. Money well spent, wouldn't you say, Danielle?” Alpha Dennison asks his blushing omega, who emphatically agrees.

“Good show, Talia, good to see that talented mouth that I've heard all about,” Alpha Pratchett says into my ear and I fight the urge to slam my head into his face.

“My turn, now,” he announces loud enough for everyone to hear, “A truth from you Talia, and if it's good enough I'll double the price for it.”

How very generous.

“What's the truth that's worth four thousand dollars to you?” I ask him, forcing my voice into neutrality.

“You had a trial run with my son's pack, but he rejected you. He never put the official reason in the paperwork. I want to know if you decided to sabotage his standing with the omega registry before or after you fucked him. Whatever you told them has kept him barred from placing even an inquiry, much less applying for any meets. I think you were so jealous that he didn't want you after your little sleepover that you wanted to ruin any chance he had at claiming an omega.”

I feel my blood simultaneously turn to fire and ice in my veins.

I'm going to fucking kill Seth for this. I search him out in the crowd and find him glaring at me. I match his glare with my own and speak very calmly, very clearly, “I never fucked your son. He fucked me. There is a distinct difference, and he needed help to get it done. No female would volunteer to fuck a man like your son.”

His hand wraps around my throat before I can stop him, “Seth told me all about how you begged him to take you, how you followed him around like a moon-eyed teenager trying to get his attention. Then once he gave you what you wanted you wouldn't submit to his rule, and tried to ruin his pack.”

There are low growls coming from various points in the room, but I don't drop Seth's hateful glare. I didn't submit to him then and I won't do it now, “Your son is a spineless coward. He is a weak alpha, who doesn't deserve my submission. I have never said a single untruth about him to anyone. Now take your hand off my neck before I consider you a fucking threat.”

He doesn't move quickly enough and the chorus of growls increases in volume and intensity. Seth, the weak bastard that he is, looks away first and the next set of eyes I seek out is Jasper's. He looks like he's about to leap over the table, and Kaleb is staring hard at the hand around my throat.

Pratchett isn't afraid, he isn't even bothered. I know he isn’t because I feel his dick jump against my thigh, and that’s more than I can tolerate, “Control your cock, Pratchett, or I will remove it.”

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