Page 65 of Overcoming the Beta

I’m a bundle of nerves driving to the townhouse. I hope I don’t cave to the mate bond and back out at the last minute. When I arrive at the townhouse, I park in an inconspicuous spot and wait. I know that Zane and Kelsey have a class earlier than Ian does. We designed our schedules that way so he and I could have some alone time with each other. I don’t have to wait long before I see Zane and Kelsey leave. I continue waiting longer, contemplating if I should just go into the townhouse.

Then I spot a familiar face, Cindy. She makes her way down the sidewalk and to the front door. My heart races at the sight of her. This is another bitch that doesn’t care whether Ian has a fiancée, she only cares about her needs. I fight the urge to kill her where she stands. Sasha reminds me that the human world operates differently than our world. Soon the door opens, and I see a smiling Ian completely nude grab her and pull her into the townhouse while she giggles wildly. Rage runs through my veins.

I don’t waste time before making my way to the townhouse. Standing at the door, I hear music and the two of them talking and laughing. It doesn’t take long for the talking and laughing to turn into moans and for the chest pains to start. I take a deep breath and use my key to let myself in.

I push the door open hard. As the door flings open, I catch them both on the couch in the living room, both naked. Cindy is on her knees bobbing her head up and down on Ian’s dick. My chests heaves and my body shakes violently with rage at the sight. Ian’s eyes are wide. There is fear in his eyes as he pushes Cindy off him. Standing there eye to eye with Ian, my heart races. His fresh scent fills my nose and I’m quickly lost in the haze of the mate bond. What was I thinking? I can’t reject him. I love him so much. Suddenly and without warning, Sasha pulls me back and pushes forward.

“I, Kate,” Sasha shouts, “of Blue Moon Pack reject you, Ian, of Blue Moon Pack as my mate.” Sasha pushes her shoulders back as Ian jumps to his feet, rushing towards us.

“NO!” He screams at the top of his lungs. Watching this play out is chaotic and I feel like I might get sick. We just rejected the only man I have ever loved. The one that I dreamed about being mated to since I was fourteen.

Sasha gives control back to me and before Ian reaches us, we both drop to the ground in pain. This pain is comparable to the pain of my first shift. Ian groans and cries out in pain while Cindy screams for help at the top of her lungs. Sasha helps me push the pain aside so we can leave before Ian recovers. I want to be long gone when he does.

I’m not too sure how long I’m on the ground in pain, but from Cindy’s screams, I know Ian is in and out of consciousness. Once I get to my feet, I slowly walk out of the townhouse, and a ping of guilt hits me, thinking that Ian may not survive the rejection. After returning to my car, I sit and process what had just happened. Tears flow down my face, knowing that my dream of a future with Ian is now gone. As I wipe my tears, a wave of relief hits me. Now I can close this chapter of my life, and I feel like I can finally find happiness.

Ian

Seeing Kate bust through the front door was the biggest shock of my life. She doesn’t look like her normal sweet self. There is fire and determination in her eyes. Before she started speaking, I knew what she was there for. This thing with Cindy took a life of its own and even though I knew Kate could feel the betrayal, I continued. I figured when I finally got done with Cindy, I could just use the mate bond to win Kate back over. It’s worked like a charm every time so far. Why would this time be any different?

Then Kate said the dreaded words, I reject you. I tried to stop her, but I couldn’t get to her fast enough. Next thing I know, I’m on the ground dipping in and out of consciousness, with Cindy screaming bloody murder next to me. Shortly after Kate left, I had the strength to pull myself up on the couch. Running my fingers through my hair, I think to myself,what have I done?Cindy cries next to me while I sit on the couch, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. I have lost the only woman in the world that I love… the only woman I could ever love. I have felt nothing for the women that I’ve been fucking on the side. Kate… Kate is different, and I used and abused her… now she’s gone.

I see the front door open again. Looking up, I’m hoping it’s Kate ready to take me back. Nope. It’s something much worse.

“Who the fuck are you?” Cindy shouts.

“Hello son,” my father flashes an evil smile at me. Standing beside my father is Alpha Nathaniel, and behind them, three warriors.

“You,” Alpha Nathaniel points at Cindy, “you get dressed and get the fuck out of here.”

“I’m not going…” Alpha Nathaniel interrupts Cindy.

“Now!” The thunderous roar of his Alpha tone shakes the walls of my small townhouse.

“Please, just go.” I’m still trying to catch my breath.

“They look dangerous,” Cindy protests.

“That’s my father and uncles… get your shit and leave.” I snap and growl. Cindy stands and slowly puts her clothes back on, looking between each of us in the room. She grabs her purse and heads to the door.

“Say goodbye,” my father grabs her shoulders and spins her to face me. “Tell Ian it was nice knowing you and that you never want to see him again.” He shakes her shoulders, and she cries.

“Father, your grievance is with me. Please, just let her go.” I run my fingers through my hair, “Cindy it’s over… lose my number.” I stand and put my jeans back on. She turns away and runs out the door sobbing.

I fully expect what is coming next. My father is furious with me. I can see the rage seething from his face and body. He’s so furious his face is red, and he is panting.Fuck.The warriors close and lock the door and stand guard. These are the same warriors that I’ve trained with for years, and now they’ll be the ones who help hand out my punishment. Even if I had the strength, I wouldn’t fight back. I deserve what I have coming. I just hope for my mother’s sake they don’t kill me.

My father and Alpha take off their designer suit jackets and roll up their sleeves. They’re taking turns telling me what a fucking idiot I am before knocking the shit out of me. They tag team me, taking turns dishing out my punishment. I don’t know how long they beat on me, but when they’re done, not one part of my body is untouched. Everything hurts and I can’t see anything through the blood in my eyes. They leave me on the ground in front of the couch and stand behind the front door. They know Kelsey and Zane should be back from class any moment and they’re waiting to ambush them.

“Holy shit, Ian!” Zane shouts, running through the door.

“Bro, what happened?” Kelsey is on Zane’s heels. I try to warn them by pointing at my father and Alpha, but by the time they realize that I’m trying to warn them, it’s too late, and they’re jumped from behind by the three warriors.

I fade in and out of consciousness during the fight between the warriors, Zane, and Kelsey. Kelsey and Zane stay in human form during the fight. They haven’t assessed the situation before fists are flying. They don’t know if these are humans or shifters. All they know is that I’m on the ground in a bloody mess and someone jumped them from behind.

As the fight rages, Kelsey and Zane start to get the upper hand… until my father and Alpha step in. My father and Alpha have trained together since they were ten, just like Zane and me. Just like the two of us, my father and Alpha are a well-oiled fighting machine. If I wasn’t losing so much blood, I’d be watching them with pure admiration. Within minutes, Zane and Kelsey are overtaken by our fathers, and the real punishment begins.

Alpha is angry that his son and Blue Moon’s future Alpha would allow such disrespect to happen to a mate, and for not correcting my indiscretions. He’s furious that the two of them covered for me, while Kate was slowly dying from the pain I was causing. All three of us were told we didn’t deserve our titles for showing disregard to a gift from the Moon Goddess. Zane and Kelsey’s punishment is not nearly as bad as mine, but it will still leave a lasting impression on them… hell on all three of us.

When they are done with us, I’m left with broken ribs, nose, fingers, and collarbone. Zane and Kelsey are left black and blue. This by far is the worst punishment any of us have received from Alpha and my father.

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