Page 35 of Beta Hybrid

Zenna gives me a pointed look. Down the bond I can feel her unease. ‘I don’t think of myself as above her,’ I tell Reagan, but really my words are for Zenna.

Silence stretches between us. Zenna claps her hands on her knees. ‘I’ll be your beta,’ she says firmly. She turns to Vale. ‘I didn’t ask you to come along. In fact, I don’t believe I asked any of you. Your lives are your own to worry about. I’m going to find one of my Origins, and if I need to, I’ll happily do it myself.’ Her blue gaze is hard. ‘I survived being kicked out of the pack. I paid my own way. I survived being abducted by my mate. I got myself away from the vampires, out of the Tomb.’ She rises to her feet. ‘I’m no damsel in distress. I can do this myself.’ She marches away, her long ponytail swishes angrily.

Jana tsks at me, then Vale. ‘Yeah, great job you two.’ She hurries after Zenna.

Divina levels a glare at us.

Reagan worries at his lip. ‘I think you made her angry.’

I get up and help him get the fish off before he burns it. ‘Yeah, little wolf. I think so, too.’

I know I should go after her, but I don’t know what to say, and until I do, I’d probably just stick my foot in my mouth and make it worse. I kind of wish my father was still here for me to talk to. Even though it was because of him that I initially pushed Zenna away. I know blaming my father is a cop-out. It was me who rejected her.

Of course that’s left gaps between us. If I’d accepted her like I bloody well should have five years ago, I would know her better. There wouldn’t be these walls of pain and distrust and misunderstanding between us.

But I didn’t.

And there are.

After a while, Divina gives a loud sigh, glaring at me.

I shrug. ‘I don’t know what to say to her.’

The fire is warm in the early-morning chill. Reagan has curled up in Divina’s tent and fallen asleep. Apparently he was up early, ready to hunt. I stretch my fingers, letting the flames heat my skin. I’m naturally always warm, but it still feels good.

Divina turns to face me. ‘When she told you she wanted to find the Origin, what was your first response?’

‘To her, or in my head?’

Her gaze darkens. ‘She can feel inside your head.’

Right. Shit. ‘That… I thought it was dangerous and risky to come out here when she has no idea where she’s even going, that it could be a trap. That against an Origin—’

‘She wouldn’t stand a chance?’ Divina hisses.

Even Vale shrinks back.

I run my hands through my hair. ‘Well, she wouldn’t!’

‘You did nothing but doubt her!’

I loose a growl, then hope I didn’t wake the little wolf. ‘Look,’ I say, my voice low. ‘Do you think I’m wrong? I’m worried for her—’

Divina holds up a hand. ‘That’s sweet, but she’s not a child or, as she said, a damsel in distress. She makes her own decisions. The last thing she needs is you underestimating her. She’s survived plenty on her own. And, I might add, her power is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You saw what she did to me.’ She raises a dark brow. ‘I would not bet against her. Your job, as her mate, is to make her stronger. To believe in her and have her back. Not want to hide her away like some delicate little doll. So, shove your macho bullshit, and go and tell her you’re sorry.’

Her words feel like a slap in the face.

And a wake-up.

Fuck.

I loose a growl. Why the fuck has no one ever explained these things to me before? It makes sense, spelled out like that. Hell, why didn’t I think of it? I march toward Zenna, hoping she’ll forgive my dumb ass.

I wander around the rocky woods until I find my mate. It’s the low, angry voices—mainly Jana’s—that help me, and my acute hearing. I try not to sneak up on them. I even step on a few twigs to let them know I’m here. The last thing I need is Jana glitter-bombing me.

Jana’s back is to me, facing Zenna. My mate is sitting on a boulder, knees drawn up, her arms loosely around them, showing off her vines.

Jana turns as I step on another twig. ‘Oh, look, the big, brooding beast has finally come to his senses.’

---