Ch 1 Oriana
Ori was hauling her drunken future Alpha, Slade Southerland, up to his room on the top floor of the packhouse, because neither his Gamma Palmer nor his Delta Yuri, were in any kind of state to haul Slade’s heavy bottom back to his room. They were both passed out drunk in the pack’s nightclub.
She was not as drunk as they were. Being the Beta of their group, she had not drunk as much as they had. But all four of them had been out drinking, to celebrate them all turning 18 this week. Palmer and Yuri were hammered, and Slade was almost as bad. He could stumble along while leaning on her, that was at least something.
The Gamma and Delta could find their own way home tonight. Hopefully, they would remember where their new suites were; they’d all only gotten them two days ago. She was the most sensible out of the four of them today, it seemed. She was only just a little bit passed tipsy, she thought.
She hadn’t drunk as much as them, because she needed to be up by 7am and out of the pack by 8am. Ori had orders to follow, from her father, Anders: the current pack Beta. To get Slade off to Alpha College and then herself back to the pack, within a given time frame.
Apparently, doing this would show her father, the actual Beta, that she could be a proper, responsible and reliable Beta to this pack. When the time came for her to step up alongside Slade, when it was time for his ascension. Though that was a long way off. Years away.
She’d also been training her entire life with Slade, Palmer and Yuri. She was the same age as Yuri, born on the same day as him, 15 minutes earlier than he’d been born. Slade was two days older than she was and Palmer had been born the night before her and Yuri. Born all together like an Alpha, and his unit should be.
“Goddess Slade,” she muttered as she pushed the door to his new suite open, “Could you weigh anymore?” she grunted as he tripped over his own feet and down they went, sprawling on the floor just inside the doorway. He was laughing at her now.
Didn’t even seem to care they were on the floor. “You should have had one of the boys bring me home, girl.” He thought it was funny as she tried to shove him off of her, and over onto the floor next to her, so she could sit up.
She looked at him “Like either of their drunken аs could get you back here, and into your bed. They’re worse than you right now.” She muttered as she got up to her feet and stared down at him.
He was laying there on the floor smiling up at her all stupidly happy, she thought, his blonde hair all messy about his face. She reached down and grabbed him, tried to haul him up, only to have him laugh “Put your muscles into it girl.” But then actively resisted against her picking him up off the floor.
“Come on Slade, you got Alpha College in the morning.” She laughed down at him. “Help a girl out, won’t ya.” She shook her head as she grabbed his other arm, knew he was just going to be a right pain and lay there on the floor and not help her. Bloody drunken Slade, meant a lazy Slade. She dragged his as into his suite’s living area properly and went back to close the door. She couldn’t have his father, Alpha Roman, see his son in this state. Both she and he would get in trouble.
It was her duty as the future Beta to the pack, to keep Slade from doing anything dumb or getting himself into trouble, and she only had to do it for a few more hours, and then he was the Alpha Councils problem for a whole year.
She looked down at him and those merry light blue eyes of his so full of amusement as he smiled up at her, then laughed once more. He really did think this was funny.
“One more night.” She told him “Then you’re not my problem for a whole year.” She smiled down at him, and teased him.
“Hey!” He pointed up at her “You’ll miss me.” He stated with a pout.
“Yeah! Miss hauling your drunken bottom here, there and everywhere, to hide you from your own father.” She muttered “Get up, Slade.” She practically demanded him.
She saw those bright blue eyes of his lock right on to hers. “That’s not nice you know. I’m your future Alpha, Beta.” He shot right back.
“And you’re drunk.” She muttered and went to step over him to drag him to his bedroom, seeing as he wasn’t going to get up and help her at all. Only to have him grab onto her leg and then drag her down to the floor, and then he was up, and trying to pin her down “I might be drunk,” he laughed. “But I can still beat you in a wrestling match.” And then he was trying to wrestle her and pin her down, and she was fighting back against him “I’ll bloody win,” she laughed back at him as they rolled around on the floor trying to put each other down on the floor and hold them down, see who was the strongest when both were more than a little inebriated.
The Dаmed man was not only bigger than her, but stronger as well. Even in this state, it seemed, he could put up a good fight, and before she knew it, she was really trying to out muscle Slade. Trying to take back control of the situation, bloody couldn’t a moment later.
He was cheating, and it wasn’t fair, he was suddenly tickling her with one hand while the other hand was holding her now laughing and squirming body down. He’d found her one weakness. hll, he knew what it was, used it in training to get her to lose at times.
“You bаst3rd.” She laughed as she tried to get out of his grip and grab him. She was trying to shove him over to get the upper hand but couldn’t, with all the tickling. They were both laughing hysterically a moment later, just enjoying having a bit of fun like they always did.
When his mouth found hers, and he was suddenly kissing her all hot and hungry, she’d gasped unexpectedly, and his tongue was in her mouth, demanding she kiss him back, and she kissed him back without much thought in her happy drunken state.
Before Ori knew it, she was pulling at his clothes and he at hers, and they were barely covered body, his mouth on hers once more, their hands all over each other, touching and grabbing onto each other’s bodies, then his hands were pulling her thighs apart, and he was just buried deep inside of her.
A deep groan came from him right into her own mouth, as she gasped as pain shot through her at the sheer size of him, but it only lasted a brief moment as he started taking her. His mouth was practically devouring hers, and her hands were in his blonde hair a moment later, as she arched up to him as he took her. She gasped his name out, as a wave of overwhelming sensation coursed through her body, leaving her breathless.
He smiled down at her “f'k-, I want that again.” He growled at her, and crashed his mouth down on to hers and was taking her once more. She was all arched up to him, wanted more herself, wanted control, and she knew it, pushed at him as hard as she could and shoved him over.
He held her to him, and then she was on top and moving against him, his hands on her shoulders, and he pushed her up and back. A cry burst from her as she felt him so big and hard inside of her with the change of position, “Oh yes.” He growled at her “This is fcking perfect.” He told her as his hands slid down her body, cupped her hills briefly, then slid down to her hips, and he was helping her, get what she wanted holding her hips and thrvsting up into her as she started to ride him.
Ori's head fell back as she felt that pleasure building once more. "f'k-, I’m cu'mming." She cried out as she felt her whole body flutter around his stick, his hands were gripping her hips tightly pulling her harder down on to him “Don’t you dare stop.” He gasped out, up at her still thrvsting up and into her.
She looked down at him as she put a hand on his chest to steady herself as waves of euphoria coursed through her body. Saw that devilish smile of Slade’s spread across his face, as he looked up at her. “Oh, we're not even close to being done.” He smirked up at her, and then she was just over and under him again. His mouth crashed down onto hers as he started to take her again, thrvsting in and out of her harder and faster.
She was reaching her peak for him once more, gripping at his arms as she cried out his name, felt him pull himself from her quickly and was just rolled over by him onto her stomach. Then he was pulling her up by the hips till she was on all fours. She cried out as he took her once more “Oh f'k-, I’ve so wanted this.” He groaned as she felt his arm lock around her waist, and the other was on the floor next to hers, and then he was just really taking her, holding her body to his as he movement furiously in and out of her, she was gasping as much as he was grunting and gasping in pleasure himself.
Pleasure was ripping through her body in minutes, and she was screaming his name as she came once more, felt her whole body get shoved down on the floor, his body so very hard up against hers, “f'k-.” He groaned as his hot sweaty body lay atop of hers.
She felt him slip from her body and pretty much just flop onto the floor next to her “I knew it would be good.” He murmured from his place on the floor next to her, his breathing as ragged as her own.
Ori lay there trying to catch her own breath, she didn’t even really know how they’d gotten to this, them both barely covered body and going at it. She’d known him her whole life, and they’d never even looked at each other like that.
She was just his Beta and he, her future Alpha. She’d never seen him look at her like he was attracted to her, not once. Yet here they were in his suite, and had just had drunken and very aggressive sx with each other.
Her eyes moved to Slade laying on the floor next to her a few minutes later, after she was settled, and her breath was back to normal, she bit her lip a little nervously. She didn’t know what to say to him about what had just happened.
The man, she realized, was out cold, he’d passed out, it seemed. She sighed a little, guess she wasn’t going to know what he thought. Ori pushed herself up off the floor and groaned as her body protested.
“Just freaking great.” She muttered to herself, that had been her first time, and not only was it just a drunken free for all, it was with Slade, her freaking future Alpha. She knew this man well. He was not going to remember anything, never bloody did when he was drunk.
He’d drunk way more than she had, and she’d seen him not recall things before, after drinking wolfen loaded alcohol. Which they’d all been doing tonight. She got herself up and looked about the room. It was a little out of place, though she didn’t think he’d care or notice.
On the bright side, he wasn’t going to remember, and she could plead ignorance, a Beta did not just hа've secs with her Alpha. That was a no-no. She looked for her clothes and found them, they were a bit on the tattered and torn side, as were his. She huffed as she realized she was going to have to make her way back to her room barely covered body.
She never thought she’d have to do the walk of shame, let alone from Slade’s suite to her own. It might only be across the hall, but still, this was not something she’d thought about, or wanted to do with the man. She closed her eyes and checked the hallway with her pack tether for anyone out there, or coming this way. There was no one, so she slipped from his room and dashed across the 15-foot-wide hall to her own room. She didn’t want anyone to know what had just happened between her and Slade.
Goddess, if her father found out, she’d be removed from her position, so quickly her head would likely snap off her body. That was not something that she wanted, though she knew it was something her younger brother Hayden would want. He wanted her position as the future Beta.
Slade
He woke up on the floor of his new suite butt as barely covered body; yet, alone. He frowned as he sat up and rubbed his aching head. He really did need to curb his drinking. It was starting to get out of hand.
Slade knew he’d been woken by his father, Alpha Roman’s voice inside his head, ‘Get up son, you’ve got Alpha College today. You’d better be all packed up there.’
He groaned as he stood up ‘I am,’ he told his father ‘I packed yesterday.’ His eyes moved about the living room of his new suite, the coffee table was turned over and there was a lamp on the floor. He shook his head only to incur more pain, the bloody hangover was going to kill him.
He righted the coffee table and the lamp, then frowned as he picked up his clothes. They were ripped and torn in places, kind of looked like they’d been ripped off of him. He looked around the rest of the room, no she-wolf in here with him. Though she could have just gotten up and gone home at some point.
He took a breath in, long and deep, to try and scent the room. His recollection of last night was more than fuzzy, he had some memories of getting dunk down at the pack's nightclub. He picked up Ori’s scent here in his suite and no one else. He closed his eyes and got a flicker of a she-wolf on all fours, and him holding her, taking her all hard and fast. He shook his head, couldn’t recall who it was.
His body did ache in all the right places though, so there had definitely been a girl in here with him last night. He shook it off and headed for the shower, washed up, shaved and combed his hair. Was, however, standing in his living area drying himself looking at the room; the spot he’d woken up actually.
He walked back to his bedroom, knew there was no she-wolf in there, and that bed had not been slept in, so presumably, the living room floor was where he’d hooked up with that she-wolf; they hadn’t even made it to his new bed.
Slade, dressed in casual jeans and black polo shirt, sat in the living area to pull his socks and shoes on, but still he could only smell Ori in this suite with him. It was weird to him.
He had a fuzzy memory of Ori half carrying him from the nightclub, getting in the elevator and then laughing a lot. So, he understood why he could scent her in this room. It wasn’t an uncommon thing for her to be in his room, she was his Beta. She’d been in here a couple of times and her suite was across from his. Perhaps she’d been in here this morning already, shooed that she-wolf away.
He pulled on that tether that was hers and Ori was not only up, but downstairs in the dining room already. Likely she was ready to drive him out to Alpha College, it was her job to do. She was, he knew, to drop him off and pick him up, each and every time he came and went.
Though as far as he knew, that would be just once, or should be unless shift hit the fan, he was coming home for his little sister to get her wolf, so the family could all run together and get to know her wolf. Bond as a family, it was what most families did.
He smiled at the thought of a year at Alpha College, freedom from his father and his demands and constant hounding of him. There were also going to be other Alpha wolves there, male and female, that interested him a lot. Though his father was hoping that he would meet his Mate at Alpha College, and bring home an Alpha female to the pack.
Alpha-blooded wolves at his age were all just a bunch of excitemed teenagers, he was, he knew, going to thoroughly enjoy a year inside that Alpha College. Date any and all he wanted, it was an un-mated Alpha Wolf's dream place. He could already well imagine all that happened was sx, and a lot of it, with those that were willing. How could there not be?
Slade was actually looking forward to going. The only disadvantage to being there and not here, was that he’d be a full year behind in his university studies with his unit. When he got back, they would all have completed their first year, and be going into their second year.
He grabbed his suitcase which held all he was going to need for an entire year. Pulled it along behind him as he headed down the hall to the elevator. He saw Hayden leaning up against the elevator. The boy smiled right at him “Ori’s not here to do her Beta duties I see.” he clucked his tongue and shook his head, as though disappointed in his big sister. “I’ll take that for you Alpha.” He held his hand out for the suitcase.
“I’ve got it Hayden.” He commented, knowing that this boy, just six months younger than Ori herself, was in Beta training but not with him and his unit, with his own father, Beta Anders.
He had stated on more than one occasion, he was in prep for when Ori mated off out of the pack, while he was away at Alpha College. This boy was the second heir to the Beta bloodline, and he itched to be the future Beta.
Knew it was Ori’s actual birthright as the firstborn and that Slade, Palmer and Yuri had all grown up with her, trained with her and were already bonded to her as a unit should be. Hayden just thought he could push her aside.
“You want me to drive you to Alpha College?” he asked, “I got a solid night’s sleep, unlike Ori, who was out drinking with you and the boys.”
“I’m sure she’s fine, never drinks like we do. Holds her liquor.” He stated simply.
“I’ll be taking over for her anyway, Slade,” Hayden stated.
“Maybe,” Slade answered, “Till then, you’re the second, so let it go.”
“She’ll mate off easily, you should just...”
“Enough, Hayden. Ori might have a Mate here and if she does, you’ll still be the second. She’ll still be my Beta. I’ll be keeping her as my Beta, as is the pack lineage policy.”
“A female Beta.” Hayden shook his head.
“Is no different to a female Alpha. Watch your words, I like my Beta.” He shot at the boy “I also doubt she’ll Mate off out of this pack.” He stated as he stepped out of the elevator and walked his suitcase over to place it by the front door. Before heading off to breakfast in the dining hall.
His mother and father, Elise and Roman, were there with his little sister Dariah and his little brother, Clay, as were the current Alpha Unit and his own. He walked off to get food, and saw Ori’s eyes fall on her brother as they walked together. Her expression didn’t change, but he knew what she was thinking.
He left that boy by the buffet tables and walked back to the Alpha table. Ori kicked a chair out for him as she always did, and he sat across from her “You’re late.” She stated right to him.
“You didn’t wake me.” He commented as he looked at her, still found it more than odd that it was only her scent in his room, when he’d woken up, butt as barely covered body, and his clothes were in that state, someone had undressed him in a real rush to have him.
He had no actual memories of the girl, just that she was a brunette; as was Ori herself. He had no actual memories of doing anything he shouldn’t with his future Beta.
Though she was more than pretty, stunning to look at, with her long dark brown hair, though it was always pulled up in a ponytail or high plait. Her eyes were what attracted every wolf around to her. They were pale silver green, with a brilliant bottle-green around the outer edge, practically shined like neon even in natural light, and they were framed with long thick natural lashes. She also had nicely shaped and plump lips, a lovely complexion and a good athletic body from all their training.
He also knew that all the un-mated wolves here inside this pack ogled her, in training gear or after being shifted back from her wolf China; a large silver wolf with four black socks. One could tell she was a Beta wolf just by the size of China. Her wolf's eyes were blue, not the usual green. She got them from her mother’s bloodline. Her mother’s wolf also had those blue eyes.
Some lucky wolf out there was going to be mated to that girl, and get to see those amazing eyes of hers, open every morning and look at him, watch that mouth of hers curve into a sleepy, but happy smile, and fall in love with her every Dаmed morning all over again.
Slade sighed internally as he pulled his thoughts away from looking at his Beta, as though she was actually a girl and a stunning one at that. She was not a girl to him, Ori was his Beta, not something to play with, not something to bed.
Though the thought of her being mated off and out of this pack, that bothered him more than a little. He didn’t want that to happen and he knew it. He turned his eyes to his breakfast and away from the girl. No, she was 18 now, a woman, not a girl anymore, by wolfen law, she was an adult, a she-wolf of mating age even.
She was a good strong Beta, trained with him and his unit, just as hard as they all did. Put all the effort in, and he knew she wanted the position of his Beta as well.
“You should be responsible for yourself now. You have to be, for the next year. I won’t be there to wake your bottom up when you sleep in.” she interrupted his thoughts.
He smiled at her. “Certainly didn’t this morning. You left me on the floor of my suite, now, didn’t you?”
She just shrugged “Your heavy bottom, was too much for me, to haul into your bed.”
He heard both his and her father clear their throats, and he rolled his eyes. They didn’t like the way he and she spoke to each other sometimes. But his relationship with Ori was no different to that of his with Palmer and Yuri. “She put me to bed.” He turned and looked at them as he bit into his toasted croissant.
“He was drunk.” She shot right back. “Bloody heavy.”
He snorted as he looked at her, “Oh, too much for you to handle, huh.”
He watched those brilliant eyes of hers roll back in her head as she muttered “Well, if you didn’t drink so much, you could have walked yourself. You probably don’t even recall me dragging your bottom to your room.”
He shook his head and shrugged it off, “I don’t, not really.”
He got hit up the back side of his head by his father. “Son, what’d I tell you?”
“I’m sober now, and I got me a six-hour drive to get over my hang over as well.”
Slade heard his father huff with annoyance. “At least your Beta is reliable, keeps you in line.”
“Mm.” he nodded as he looked at Ori, it still confused him more than a bit, his state upon waking up and just her scent in the room. Though looking at her now, nothing seemed amiss to him, she was the same as always; same attitude as normal.
If they’d hа'd secs, surely she’d have found this morning awkward, and she didn’t seem the slightest bit different to him at all. He’d ask her if there was no one around.
But he also knew that he had a six-hour drive to nitpick at her about last night, and why he’d woken up aching in all the right places with half-ripped clothes in a turbulent looking room, and only her scent in there.
He was now wondering if he’d succumbed in his drunken state to the thoughts that had been popping into his head about his Beta as both he and she’d gotten closer to their 18th’s.
He had found himself looking at her, and more than his Beta at times, those eyes of hers were killing him. Every time she bloody laughed at him or something he said that was funny, and he saw them really light up, he’d felt attracted to her; his own Beta.
He pulled his mind from her, he’d find out in just over a month's time if they were or weren’t Mates anyway. He wouldn’t be here for this coming full moon, but home for the one after that. It wasn’t that long a wait.
Slade shook it off, and reminded himself that he shouldn’t be thinking like that about her, that he didn’t want a Mate just yet. At 18, he was going to go to Alpha College, and was going to enjoy all those alpha females looking for some action. He’d be more than willing to give them.
Oriana
She’d woken up, dressed in boot-cut jeans, a simple easy-fit tee-shirt, her body still ached from last night or realistically a few hours ago. It had been nearly two in the morning when she’d gotten back to her room, and she had no idea how long she and Slade had, hа'd secs with each other. Though longer than she’d thought.
She was certain she’d gotten him back to his room before midnight, because she knew herself, that she needed to have a decent sleep for the long drive today. But in the end, she had only gotten like four and a half. She was still tired but couldn’t show it to anyone.
She had come down here without waking Slade on purpose, she was a little on the uncomfortable side, and could only put that down to how rough last night's secs had gotten right there at the end. That boy or man, she should now say, he was 18 now.
Had it seemed, some real sexual needs to be sated, alpha-blooded needs at that. He could bloody go non-stop for hours even when drunk. Though she’d been no better herself, even with it being her first time, that hadn’t stopped her from rolling around with him all over the floor in his suite. Her own need to be sated once it had all started, had been high as well. She'd always denied herself being with anyone.
She’d never gone out with anyone, she didn’t need anything stubid happening, or her father and Alpha Roman thinking she wasn’t up to being the Beta, and her dating, instead of training, would do just that. So, she’d always just stuck to schooling and Alpha unit training, that was all.
Now this little faux pa, and she didn’t want nor need anyone thinking something was wrong with her this morning, and walking had actually been uncomfortable for her. So, she’d made her way downstairs after a long shower; not that it had helped. She had come downstairs before everyone else had on purpose.
When Alpha Roman had asked her where Slade was, she’d already been sitting there at the Alpha’s table, with breakfast in front of her. She had looked at him and stated, “Still asleep probably.”
He’d huffed, and she’d watched him mind-link to his own son to get his as up, and his butt downstairs. She saw Slade’s eyes move right towards her as she kicked that chair out for him; like she always did. He was really looking at her this morning, not something he would normally do.
And a part of her wondered if he could recall last night, though she highly doubted it, he’d drunk a fair bit of wolfen loaded alcohol, more than he normally would even. Likely so had she, and that was how the two of them had wound up n8ked. They’d both just been drunk and all their inhibitions were gone.
She would not be rattled by his stare or his words, just replied like she always did, she could be all Beta all the time, and ignore most things, she didn’t rile up quickly most of the time. If she did, Hayden would be in the pack hospital more often than not.
That boy was always pushing her buttons, about her being a female Beta, and how that was just useless to the pack, because she would mate off out of the pack at some point in time, and leave this pack without a Beta. He constantly told her to just step down so he could take over the job.
She often wanted to punch him into his place. She was the Beta by birthright, and he was the second, yet he had started strutting around this pack like he was the next Beta. Over the past few weeks, since their father had started putting him through some Beta training separately. He wasn’t even old enough to take the job yet; he was only 17 and a half.
She wanted to strangle her father and her mother for having a sibling just six months after she’d been born. She even knew why they’d done it; because she was a girl and a pack Beta should be a boy was their opinion.
What a crock of horseshit that was. She could hold her own and did in fact hold her own, was out there taking on rogues when they attacked the pack. Took on border patrol as part of her training, her Wolf, China was an excellent fighter, big and strong like a Beta Wolf should be. They got in and fought like the rest of the unit did. Nothing held them back.
She got up from the table and took her plates to the cleaning area, stepped into the kitchen and collected the prepared food for the trip so they wouldn’t have to stop to eat, and delay the trip. It was an esky full of food, drinks and snacks.
She took it to her car. It wasn’t brand new, it was actually her mother's old car, something for Ori to drive for two years and then, at 20, she’d get a brand-new car of her own.
Her Nissan Juke was in the parking area where she’d left it a few days ago. She hopped into it and frowned, the seat was pushed back, and she had to adjust it forward to reach the pedals, only she drove it. It had been hers for two weeks now. No one drove it but her. She took a breath in and nearly snarled as she smelled her brother Hayden in there. That couldn’t be a good thing.
She drove it to the front of the packhouse as would be expected of her, to pick up the Alpha, and went and collected his suitcase. She’d seen it by the front door. Wheeled it outside as she hollered “Slade we gotta move.” Through the packhouse, she knew that his Alpha hearing would pick her words up.
She was just closing the boot after stashing his luggage when he walked out the front door, along with his father, her father and Hayden as well. Anders, her dad, strolled down the steps to her, followed by her brother, “Now, Ori. You know this trip is important; straight there, get Slade there on time and in one piece. Then straight back, you’re on the clock. Driving long distances like this is one of the things a Beta needs to be able to do.”
“I know, pull the hard hours and stay alert, focused.” she stated.
“That’s correct. I’ll be timing you...not one minute late to the 13 hours I’ve given you.”
“Traffic?”
“Not my problem, you have to make your own way around it. I’m giving you 1 hour for pit-stops and refuelling. That’s it.”
She nodded, knew there would be no leeway for traffic accidents or road works even. She had to be able to think on her feet, and work out the problems to get to her destination and back on time.
“You’d be better off with my driving him,” Hayden stated.
“Let it go, son.”
She looked passed her brother and to Slade, “Are you coming or am I leaving your bottom here, Slade.” She hollered, knew that clock her father had her on, would start the second he felt her leave the pack, and he would be feeling for it. Along with her return.
Slade strolled down the steps all casual like he always did. The dаmed man was annoying at the best of times. He was testing her patience, and she had little right this very minute. She was still sore from last night, and didn’t exactly know how sitting for so long was going to go. She was actually more comfortable standing up.
He got in the door she was holding open for him, as her Beta duties dictated she was to do, bloody old-fashioned rules. She snapped it shut the minute his feet were in, and walked round the car to get in behind the wheel.
Grit her teeth against the uncomfortable feeling of sitting, she still ached in her nether region, she shifted ever so slightly and looked at her father when he stated “Ori. Don’t scr'w this up.”
She just nodded, her eyes moved to her brother, and she saw a smirk on his face, and narrowed her eyes on him, and that smirk was gone the instant before her father turned to look at his own son.
She drove away from the packhouse more than annoyed. She could also feel Slade’s eyes on her, as she turned off the main road and headed for Lindal’s place, parked the car out the front. “Out.” She muttered to Slade’s raised eyebrow.
“What for?” he asked.
“Because Hayden did something to my car, to make sure I don’t make it back on time, we’re switching vehicles.” She told him.
“Why would he do that?”
“Why do you think?” she asked right back as she got out, mind-linking to Lindal, asking to borrow her car for the trip. The woman mind-linked right back with full amusement ‘That will be uncomfortable for Slade.’
‘He can suk it up.’ If she was uncomfortable, because of something he didn’t even remember, then so could he be.
“You want me to take a look at it.” She asked as she walked out the house holding her keys, and her garage door rolled up.
“Sure, put it out of sight too.”
She hauled Slade’s luggage out and the food and put them in the back of Lindal’s 2015 Mazda 3. It was a much smaller car, and she saw Slade get out of hers finally and state “I ain’t getting in that.”
“Yes you are, get in, or they’ll know something is wrong, they all know how long it takes to get to the front gate. That is Lindal’s pride and joy. There ain’t nothing wrong with it.”
“Got a brand-new engine and everything.” Lindal smiled at him “it won’t break down.”
He was just standing there staring at it with a frown. “Get in or Hayden will be your Beta.” She muttered.
She saw him sigh and finally get in the car. His height of six-three and broad shoulders didn’t suit the car, but it was a tricked out ride, looked brand new. Lindal’s dad was the pack mechanic. This car was likely the most reliable in the entire pack.
She knew Slade had a four-wheel drive of his own, to suit his much larger frame, but Lindal was only slight of build, not a warrior or even training to be. She was following in her father’s footsteps, going to be working on the pack cars alongside him.
Lindal’s car also didn’t bother her. Ori was only five-nine with an athletic build, she didn’t want to be an all-muscled up she-wolf, and actually didn’t really like that look. She worked out and was fit as a fiddle, had a nice four-packed abdomen, but was not looking to bulk up.
She had pure Beta blood flowing in her veins, didn’t need to be big and bulky to be strong and fierce, that came with her bloodline. She also knew it would come in handy later in life. The enemy would see her, a female Beta, with a slight build, and think she’d be easy pickings, when she was anything but.
Slade
He could smell Hayden in the car, he realised as she got out of it. Slade took a deep breath to smell it himself, it was faint, but yes it was there. It hadn’t been the last time she’d driven him in her car. Ori, he knew, had owned it now for two weeks, and that boy had a car of his own, a Jeep Wrangler; it’s what the boy wanted even.
The question was why could they smell that boy inside her car? He frowned and got out. She’d said he’d sabotaged her car; would her own brother actually do that, go that far to get her position as the pack’s future Beta?
Slade did know the rivalry for it was there, between the two of them, but his choice was clear for all to see. Ori was his preferred Beta, and yes, he’d heard, not only his own father, but her father as well, discussing the ascension of the future Beta. That by the time he was home from Alpha College, Hayden would be 18 and a half, old enough to take up the role as his future Beta.
He had to sit and listen to them debate it sometimes, he stayed on eаrth out of it. They knew his thoughts on the subject. They brought him into the room, just so he could hear them talk about who was the better choice. He also believed that they listened to Hayden go on about how Ori would likely mate off out of the pack, so it was just better to put him in as the pack's future Beta as soon as he turned 18.
Slade was of the opinion that Ori could make any mate she had, come here to be with her in this pack. She was the future Beta, his second in command, and he didn’t see her giving that position up, for any old wolf that scented her out. If she attracted an Alpha Mate, and she was to be a Luna to a pack, then yes.
But any other wolf, even Alpha ranked, if not the actual Alpha to a pack or the future heir to a pack, then she could have him come here to this pack. Stay on as his Beta. That was what he’d told them and that was, as far as he was concerned, the end of it.
Giving his father and hers, for that matter, food for thought, though he’d gotten an angry, annoyed look from Hayden himself, when he’d heard Slade’s opinion on the matter.
Now this?
He leaned on her car as he waited for her and Lindal to stop talking, and watched her put his stuff in that car. He wasn’t happy about it, he was not going to be at all comfortable in a Mazda 3, no matter how tricked out it was. He was too big and broad shouldered. Going back to get his Audi would be a better option. He could drive there, and she could drive it back, though he wasn’t allowed to. It was her duty to get him there and on time, she had actual rules from her own father, and he knew it.
He got in the small car. She was right, if they didn’t drive out of this pack in the next 5 minutes, her father would want to know why? That man knew how long it took to get out of pack territory.
hll, that man had even driven himself out to the Alpha College Slade was attending and back, non-stop bar fuelling up. It was how she’d gotten that time limit of 13 hours there and back; the man was testing his daughter’s endurance and ability to stay awake and alert.
Ori fell into line at every test she was given, completed them without complaint, because she wanted her position as the pack Beta, and he knew it. Knew she also wanted to prove she could earn it, not just be given it by birthright. So, did all her father’s annoying and what he thought were unnecessary challenges.
He’d yet to see Hayden be given a single one at all. That boy, if he was older than Ori, wouldn’t have to jump through any hoops, would just rank up as per standard pack laws, from Beta to Beta. Ori got Hll because she was a girl, and they all knew it.
They were out of the pack three minutes later and driving away, he watched her shift uncomfortably in her seat several times. Knew she wasn’t generally a fidgety person when driving, was actually relaxed behind the wheel. Had been having lessons here in the pack since she was 15, as they all did. Wolfen laws were different to human ones. And they all needed to be able to drive, and well by the time they were 18, in case it was needed for emergencies.
His mind moved back to his room as he watched her shift again for like the sixth time, how he’d felt, what he’d smelled upon waking up, nothing but Ori. “Sore are we?” he asked casually as he put the seat back a little and tried to make himself more comfortable. There was not enough legroom in here for him to stretch out like in her car, or his.
“No, why?” she answered, but sounded a little on the defensive side to him.
“What happened last night?” He asked, keeping it as casual as possible, even closed his eyes and rested his head back on the head rest as though he was relaxed.
“What do you mean?” she asked him.
“I woke up barely covered body on my living room floor.”
“So? Is that not normal for you?” she murmured.
“No, I like my bed. Not only was I barely covered body, my clothes were strewn about and...well, a little ripped and torn. The only scent I got in there was yours.”
“Yeah, so, I was the one to haul your drunk bottom home.”
“My nakedness.” He inquired simply.
“Why ask me any of this?” she questioned right back, and he could hear the frown in her voice.
“I’m curious, you were there, Ori, so answer the question. My room kind of...” how did he put this without shocking the woman, and she was a woman now, not a girl anymore, she had turned 18 two days after he had. “Looked, let's say, like I’d hа'd secs with someone. The furniture was out of place.”
He could feel her eyes on him now, and there was silence for a good 10 seconds. “And so you think what exactly? That we hooked up?” she snorted, sounded fully amused to him now. “We didn’t, just so you know, you were very drunk.”
“Hmm...that doesn’t really mean I couldn’t hа've secs.”
“I didn’t say that.” She shrugged it off as he looked at her.
“Then why avoid telling me what happened?”
“You really want to know all the boring details of me getting you to your room. So drunk you need me to fill in the blanks for you, hey?”
“Humour me.” He nodded.
“Alright, it’s pretty boring though. I hauled your heavy bottom back to your room, and while I was trying to get you through the doorway, you tripped over your own feet, took me down with you. Freaking landed on me, you even thought it was very funny to boot.” He watched her shake her head. “I shoved you off, and you told me and I quote you here ‘You’re gonna miss me Ori, while I’m gone.’ All sweet like.”
That snapped his eyes wide, and he was frowning at her now, muttered “I seriously doubt that.”
“Oh, and what do you remember to refute me? I was not as drunk as you were. More than a little tipsy, that was a certainty, but not drunk off my bottom like you.”
“Like I would ever state that, you're not a girl to me, Ori, just my Beta and nothing more.” He muttered.
He watched her jaw tighten as she stared down the road, and saw her knuckles go white on the steering wheel, “Then you started just ripping your clothes off, even while I was trying to put your bottom in your bed, you fell over again near the coffee table, and took me down with you a second time.
“I had to struggle to get your as off me. You were still pulling your clothes off and going on about how I’d miss your n8ked sixy bottom. I punched you one, and you passed out on the floor. I left your barely covered body as where you passed out on the floor in your living area. That is it. Anything that happened, after I left is on you. You and I, nothing happened other than taking a tumble or two, you were out cold when I left your room.”
He caught the slight edge to her voice. At the beginning of her statement, she’d been annoyed about him stating she wasn’t a girl to him. He’d insulted her, and he knew it, but he didn’t actually recall all the details that happened in his room, or the bloody girl either. Just knew there had been one.
The rest of her statement had been all sarcasm, especially when she’d stated ‘my barely covered body sixy as’ and he still didn’t know what to think, but the way she was uncomfortable, sitting over there in the driver’s seat. He did know he could be very aggressive in the bedroom, very demanding in the sating of his own needs, especially when drunk, he lost control when he was drunk.
He’d had she-wolves tell him they were uncomfortable down below afterwards, when he’d gotten all rough and raw with them, though he had learned to contain that part of himself, understood they weren’t his mate and couldn’t handle all of his needs. He only lost control when drunk.
He was still confused, turned and looked out the window. He knew Ori had never had a boyfriend either. So he was willing to bet she would be uncomfortable after a night of drunken secs with him, and he did; despite telling her he didn’t see her as a girl, actually see her as a girl, and one he wanted to pull into his bed, but couldn’t touch her, not ever.
Was it possible that in his very drunken state he’d told her what he felt, that she would miss him, because he would miss her? He didn’t bloody remember, but it was possible and the more he thought about it.
A drunken night with his Beta. , he knew if he ever got that girl into his bed, he’d have had her for hours upon hours. She was more than attractive to him, bloody smoking hot, and she had the perfect body, was completely his type. Not that he’d ever let it show; he was attracted to her.
The question now was, how would she react to them hooking up in a drunken stupor? Which, if they had, would likely have been all it was, and if that had happened, she clearly remembered it.
It would also have been her first time. That thought wasn’t very nice, though he leaned back in the chair once more as something struck him. He needed a minute to think about that thought. “I’m gonna sleep till we get there.” He told her.
“Go right ahead and do that.” She murmured.
“Got me a bunch of excitemed alpha females to f'k- for a whole year.” He stated, just to see what her reaction was.
“I’m sure they’ll all love your n8ked sixy bottom.” He didn’t have to look at her to know she’d rolled her eyes as she said it, her tone belied her words, she sounded bored to him, not annoyed.
He settled in that seat and tried to recall exactly what he’d smelled this morning: her scent, that was a definite, it had been light but there, which indicated she’d left the room hours before he’d woken up. There had also been no scent of arousal left, again, which just meant she’d have left hours before he woke.
Slade
He pictured himself sitting up as his father mind-linked to him, focused right on that very memory, which was the first clear memory he had, since being in the pack’s nightclub. It was all hazy even in the club after a certain point. At one point, he’d just been too drunk to recall even what he did there.
Focused himself on his living room and the actual moments after he woke up, sat there in that chair and tried to recall every single detail and there it was, he caught the faintest scent of blood, that was what had struck him, that he smelled blood.
Ori was a virgin, she’d never even looked at a boy, wouldn’t, her father would see it as a distraction from her duties and tell her it was irresponsible, so she’d never, not even to his knowledge, kissed a boy.
So, if they had hooked up last night, and it had been her first time, then he should have smelled her blood, from when he broke that hymen of hers. It wouldn’t be much, a small amount only.
From what he recalled of the smell, it wasn’t a strong or overpowering scent, slight, and he’d nearly missed it, so not a lot of blood. He didn’t recall seeing any in the room; his carpet was pale blue, and blood, dried or fresh, would have been noticeable. Slade knew if he’d seen blood in his suite, he’d have asked a butt-as load of questions of her at breakfast. , he’d have actually smelled it real good to find out whose it was, the questions would have been to find out why it was there.
He couldn’t recall if it was his or her blood, he hadn’t really paid that much attention, what with his throbbing head and hangover and his father telling him to get up, and going on about being all packed and ready to go.
‘Hail?’ he asked, waking his wolf. The bloody beast was still sleeping it off.
‘What?’ his own wolf growled at him.
‘Whose blood did I smell?’
‘I don’t know, you smelled it, not me.’ He was told.
‘Did I sleep with our Beta?’ he asked his wolf. He’d been drunk on wolfen loaded alcohol last night, which also meant his beast was affected as well. If he was drunk, so was his wolf unfortunately, but he might know or have some memories of the night he did not have himself.
Hail had been sleeping if off still, till Slade asked him that question, but he needed to know the answer. He couldn’t just assume that could be very bad, especially if he said they did, and they actually didn’t.
‘I don’t know, I was sleeping, don’t recall even going to our suite,’ was the reply.
Just bloody great, neither of them knew ‘There was blood right though, I smelled that, yes?’
‘Likely if you think it, then there was, stop yabbering at me, you drank. I now suffer for it, don’t drink so bloody much if you want us to both remember things.’ His wolf sounded more than annoyed with him, nothing much he could do about that though.
He sighed he did know that wolfen loaded alcohol affected both the human and wolf alike, but it was the only way to actually get drunk for any wolf. He’d also just turned 18 and was legally allowed by wolfen law to go and drink it, not sneak around to do that.
He was finally allowed to drink of his own free will, and so was his entire unit, so they had all gone out together, the four of them to do just that, celebrating their turning 18 all together. Even their fathers, all of them, had stated they could go let their hair down. Though they had also told them to drink responsibly.
One night of partying with his unit before he was off to Alpha College for an entire year. So, a night out with them was pretty much a given. Though he wasn’t going to be home for the full moon after his birthday, it was only three nights away, but nope. Once you turned 18, you went off to Alpha College the next day. He’d gotten two days' leeway so they could all celebrate their 18ths together was all.
His father believed, and had told him at 17, to prep him for this very day. “Son, if someone inside this pack is your Mate, you’ll find out the full moon after you get back at 19. She won’t go anywhere if she’s a pack member.”
Then he had told him, “It’s best you just go and get Alpha College out of the way, and before you find your Mate.” He’d not really understood that and had his father further explain it to him to try and understand it himself.
“If you scent her before Alpha College, it’s delayed again because then you’ll have to wait for her heat to come, which could take a week or more for that to happen, and a heat goes up to 7 days, so again Alpha College is delayed another week. And then you’ll be separated from your Mate while you're away for an entire year. You’ll actually feel that, son. It won’t be pleasant.”
He'd sighed “Even now I don’t like being away from your mother, it hurts, you actually feel physical pain with distance, son.” He’d shaken his head.
“It’s why most packs just send their heirs the day after they turn 18. Things can get scr'wed up if delayed, you’ve got all of that to contend with and then there's the possibility of a pup coming from the heat as well. It doesn’t always happen but can do, and then you're either away for the birth of your heir, or come home from college in time for it, if you’re lucky; to see your pup born. Then, son, you don’t get to go back to Alpha College at all, never finish it, due to being a parent.”
He’d stared at his father and sighed, a lot apparently could go wrong if it was delayed, he’d finally understood why it was best to go before the full moon after you turned 18, saw the logic in it. He did know that no one wanted to be separated from their Mate for a whole year. So, he’d stopped asking and just accepted that he’d be going.
Though he was now coming back for the full moon after next any way, for his little sisters first shift, she was born in the same month as him but the week after him, he was on the 10th, and she was on the 17th and the moon this month set on the 15th. So, she had to wait until the moon after next, for her first shift.
They’d not really realised it, and his father had sent in his admission papers without looking at the moon cycle, and he was expected to attend on the day his father had originally allocated it to. Then he had realised what was going to happen, and their pack laws had come into play.
Their pack laws state: that all family members who already had their wolves must be in attendance for any and all siblings, getting their first shift. So they could bond properly as a family. Run together as a family for the first time. So, he was coming back for his little sister Dariah’s first shift in just over a month.
Apparently, that was acceptable to Alpha College rules and regulations, they upheld each pack's traditions, and some time-off could be granted. It just meant for him that each time he came home he had to add those days to his year at Alpha College was all.
He was only going to be home for three days and two nights. It was no big deal in the grand scheme of things, and he only had one sibling to shift for the first time while he was at Alpha College. So nothing else should affect his time at Alpha College unless there were serious issues arising within the pack itself.
He was a bit restless in that car, couldn’t really get comfortable and his mind was ticking away, as he tried not to think too much about everything. He had no proof he and Ori had hooked up. It was just his thoughts, though he was mostly convinced now that they had.
The problem was how was he to get her to admit that they had. Why was she so stubborn in not saying anything? He’d waited until they were alone in the car, off pack territory and actually away from it, a good 10 minutes away even. So that there was not a single iota of a chance that anyone could overhear this conversation.
They could normally talk about anything and everything, another reason why he believed he was right. She rarely ever lost memory when drunk, didn’t drink to excess like he and the boys did, was way more sensible; responsible and reliable. He corrected himself. Because that was what her father expected of her at all times.
The girl never rebelled at anything, she was going to explode one day. All that pure Beta blood she had running through her veins was going to burst out of her at something; likely her father said, or her brother did. She was so controlled all the time, had to lose it at some point over something.
He was hoping it was not at him, likely going to be at her brother. They’d come to blows a few times over the past year, more so of late, he was an annoying little sht that wanted what was her actual birth right. Regardless, he didn’t put in the effort she did.
He glanced at her, under his lashes and nearly sighed out loud. She was just driving, one hand on her steering wheel and the other arm leaned on the door, she actually looked bored to him. Normally, on trips they would just chat, not today she was definitely avoiding talking to him.
There was no actual reason for that unless they had, had drunken secs, and she was annoyed he didn’t recall it, or ticked off she’d lost her v-card while drunk. It could also be that it was to him as well. He didn’t bloody know, not unless she actually told him, and it was clear she was not about to admit anything to him, about what he thought had gone on, but had no bloody proof of it.
He couldn’t actually refute her words, and she could just be pissed off about Hayden trying to sabotage her car, to get her position. , he knew she was mad about that, of course she would be. He wasn’t so happy about it either, though there was no proof of that yet either. He was certain if something was wrong with her car, Lindal would find it and tell Ori.
Maybe nothing had happened between them like she said, and she was just mad about Hayden, and was stewing over there thinking about it.
“Ori.”
“I thought you were going to nap.” She replied.
“What do you think Hayden did to your car?” he asked.
“I don’t bloody know. But definitely something. He smirked right at me when dad told me that last time not to mess this up. Stopped smirking the moment dad turned to look at him.”
He sighed “I missed that.”
“Most do, he’s good at making sure dad never catches him.”
“How bad do you think it would have been? Cause you actual harm?”
She sighed now. “I don’t know, I doubt it, because that would mean the possibility of you getting injured, and I’d report what I thought, if you were injured, and your father would order the truth out of him.”
“Agreed.”
“So, nothing drastic, just something small that would make my car die, or play up, need to be repaired is my guess. Lindal will source the issue and tell me, and I’ll likely go put a beat down on him.”
He smiled at that, it seemed she was back to normal. That was a good thing, she could just talk to him, likely it was just Hayden that had her on edge, as well as this trip and that clock that was ever presently ticking away. “I’ll nap and stop bugging you now.”
“Good.” She murmured.
Oriana
She was glad when Slade actually fell asleep. She didn’t want to talk about last night at all, it seemed that he’d let it go as well. In his words, he didn’t even see her as a girl. That had hurt more than she’d liked.
She was a bloody girl and that man next to her, her future Alpha, had been all over her last night, she’d certainly been a girl to him in his drunken state. She wondered how he’d feel if she told him she didn’t see him as a man. Was just an Alpha and nothing more. She bet he would be more than insulted by those words.
But she also knew that if she had said them back to him, he’d likely come to the realisation that his instincts were right and something had gone on between them. So she’d kept her mouth firmly closed on that retort, that had itched to be unleashed back upon him.
It was very clear that he thought something had happened between them, but she also knew that he didn’t know exactly what either. It might be secs in his mind, it might be just a bit of getting hot and heavy, or it might be that he was just digging because he was butt bottom barely covered body on his floor when he’d woken up.
He had no proof of anything, and without proof, something she wasn’t going to give him, what could he say or do? Nothing was what! She would never say anything to anyone about it. Never tell a soul. It was now her dirty little secret, she supposed. Because she did not want her dad to ever find out.
She drove all the way to his Alpha College and didn’t stop once. This car had a full tank of gas, she would have to gas up upon leaving, that was a certainty, and she would stop to fill it up before giving it back to Lindal as well.
Slade slept soundly, and she didn’t bother to wake him for anything. If he slept she didn’t have to talk to him, she was uncomfortable around him and she knew it. Bloody drunken sx, that he didn’t recall, was going to ruin their Alpha Beta bond if she couldn’t forget about it.
Ori nearly sighed out loud at that thought. They did normally have a good relationship, got along well, and now it was going to be all scr'wed up, because of one night, that only she could recall. Was going to be scr'wed up from her end, he was going to be gone for a year.
Slade would come home in a years' time and have forgotten all about this moment he’d tried to get her to talk about. Let it go and push it aside as nothing until he actually forgot about it. It probably wouldn’t take that long; out of sight, out of mind.
She had to put it behind her, and quickly so, or she was going to be the one to ruin the Alpha Beta bond they had, and he wouldn’t understand what had happened either. But how could she do it so soon, like now on this trip? It was harder than she’d thought it would be.
Had thought this morning to just let it go and not think about it, he wouldn’t remember so she’d never have to think about it. Then he’d gone and brought it up, now she was thinking about it. Had to console herself with the knowledge that after this morning, she had an entire month before she had to come back and pick him up again.
A whole month to get over it, let it go and deal with the fact that he, her future alpha, her best friend, had popped her v-card in a drunken f'k-, and he didn’t even remember it. Didn’t, in his sober state, even think she was a girl worth looking at.
She pulled up in front of the gates to Alpha College. She’d never been here before, and she was now parked in front of a very grand set of gates. All wrought iron with intricate swirls, that kind of reminded her of the wolfen filigree that was given when wolves marked each other.
They were attached to massive concrete posts on either side and there was a guard box with a man or wolf sitting in there. This place was making one of a statement to the human world.
To humans, she knew they would see it as a very exclusive boarding school for the world's super wealthy children and getting in here was too Dаmed expensive or too Dаmed hard, she supposed.
She announced herself to the gate guard, and he looked passed her into the car as she spoke “Oriana Vale, future Beta to Alpha Slade Southerland of the Highland Hills Pack.”
“Is he dead or sleeping?” the guard snorted full amused, likely saw it all the time.
She turned and looked at Slade, shook her head and punched him one right in the arm. “Hey Slade, wake up, you’re here. Greet the guard.”
She saw him frown at her and rub his arm, and she smiled all sweetly at him, then he looked passed her to the guard “Slade Southerland reporting for Alpha College.”
“Mm, he is alive I see.” the guard smiled at her “Go on in, drive up the main road, don’t deviate and park yourself in the white arrivals zone, can’t miss it...” he looked at his list and ticked something off it. Then he looked back at Ori, “You made good time, I see, almost an hour ahead of your scheduled drop-off.”
“Good.” She nodded, was actually happy to hear that. She drove through the massive gates and up the very long winding driveway. This place was massive, all neatly mowed lawns and hedges. As the actual college came into view, it was like a bloody castle. All luxury for Alphas, she supposed.
“An hour early, you sped?” Slade asked.
“Yes. Goi...
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