Page 78 of The Beta: Part One

Chapter 28

Talia

Someone is outside growling ferociously. At a quarter till midnight. Is that...my name? Is someone out there shouting about me?

I throw my sunflower pattern dress back on and run down the stairs to find out what's going on. I nearly crash into Bianca in the foyer. She's traded her pretty green romper for the most ridiculous one-piece pajama suit I've ever seen in my life.

I take the time to fully appreciate and laugh about it before I take another step toward the door. She shoots me a mean glare and hisses at me, “Shut up. It's cute and my alphas love it.”

I can't stop my eyes from rolling into the back of my skull but I still grin at her. I peek out the peephole and see Devon, of all people, taking a defensive stance because he's surrounded by my brother's entire pack.

I throw open the door and march right into the middle of them, putting myself in front of him. “What in the entire blue fuck is going on?”

Daniel barks at me to get back inside, but I absolutely will not.

I turn to face Devon, “What's wrong? What happened to Jasper?”

As the words leave my mouth I feel vomit threaten to come up like a fountain. There's only one reason he would track me down. Something has happened to Jasper and Devon came to tell me himself. He doesn't respond or look at me, and I slap him hard in the chest and scream his name to get his attention.

When he finally gives me his eyes I ask him again, “Is Jasper alright? Tell me now!”

I don't drop my eyes from his, and I hear my brother's pack take a few steps back.

After what feels like an eternity Devon answers me, his voice almost lost in a growl, “Jasper is safe, unharmed.”

I blink up at him and cross my arms under my chest, “Then why are you here?”

He shakes his head slightly as if to clear it, and I can see he's trying to reign himself in. “I'm here to take you back. To him.”

“Fuck that. No, you're not. You can go fuck yourself all the way back home,” Rory says menacingly.

I don't disagree.

If I wasn't suffering so intensely without Jasper I'd be the first one to tell Devon to fuck right off.

“Talia, please come back with me. Jasper's not doing well. He needs you,” Devon is actually pleading with me.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I look back at my brother who is glaring fiery daggers into Devon, but he softens his look for me for a moment. I turn back to Devon, “But the threat. I won't put him at risk.”

“It doesn't matter. Someone sent us an eyeball in a fucking box, a pretty blue one, and Jasper lost it. It's been bad enough, really fucking bad, but after he saw that he broke,” Devon's voice is so quiet by the time he finishes, I can feel the misery oozing from him.

Then I get angry, “You let him fucking see it! What the fuck is wrong with you?” Now I'm shouting.

“I tried to stop him!” Devon shouts back, and my brother issues a growl that should terrify me, but it’s barely a blip on my radar at this point.

Devon takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly before he grinds out through his teeth, “I tried to stop him, we all did. But you know how fast Jasper is sometimes. We couldn't move quickly enough. He's terrified, he thinks someone hurt you. He doesn't think you'll be safe anywhere but with him. With us. Please come back with me. I promised him I’d bring you back. I'll get on my knees and beg if that's what you need, but please get your shit and get in the car.”

What am I supposed to say to that? In what universe would Devon offer to get on his knees for me?

I'm staring at him, eyes wide, fists clenching and unclenching, thinking hard through my decision when growls break out all around me and Bianca's sweet voice chirps, “Oh, hush. She has to go and you know it. And Devon Johnson isn't going to touch a hair on my head.”

She shoves my bag into my hands and kisses me on the cheek, “I put that medicine and that...new weapon… in your bag, and all the knives I saw. One of us will bring the rest of your ridiculous armory as soon as we can.”

I'm speechless.

Daniel whisper-hisses, “Talia! What about...call Corso. Jasper isn't...he has his alphas. You could go to Corso's.”

Devon gives me a hard look and I'm about tell Daniel that I'll be fine, but Devon throws me for another loop. “If you want to go to Corso's I'll take you, I'll take you tonight, just please let Jasper see you for a little while first. So he can see you’re alright. Do you want me to take you to Corso's?”

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