Beyond Beta's Rejection

HarperProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Colton watched me quietly for a moment before nodding to Tommy behind me.

“We need my mum,” he said. He then looked at me. “And your witch.” I turned to look at Tommy and he nodded.

“Not here though,” he said and his eyes glazed over. I waited until he was back with us and he gave me a grim smile. “I suspect that we might have some compromised people. I want to make sure that what we say is completely confidential.” He looked towards Damien’s cell as he said it.

“He was right about Lily,” I said with a shrug.

“I don’t care,” Tommy said, “I don’t trust the prick.” He then looked at Colton and frowned. “I don’t trust this prick either, but at least he can explain some of his s**t with the demon. Damien is just a prick.” Colton laughed, and I raised an eyebrow. He shrugged.

“Can’t argue with that,” he said. I shook my head at the pair of them.

A couple of minutes later Greg Henderson came into the cell.

“It’s all set, boss,” he said to Tommy and Tommy nodded. He turned to me.

“I had him set up the library,” he said. “It’s soundproof and has wards in place so we know who goes in and out. I believe your witch girl can seal it fully once we are in there.” Smart, I thought. I had no idea that the library was warded, but it made sense as all the Divine Order journals that the pack had were in there.

Greg handcuffed Colton in silver and we all made our way out of the cells. Tommy spoke quietly to the guard on duty before leaving. I watched them as they spoke, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. We all walked in silence as we made our way to the pack house. It wasn’t really the time for small talk, and to be honest I was exhausted. I hadn’t slept in two days, and then it was broken sleep.

It was quiet as we went into the pack house. I looked around. Normally there was someone around, but the place was empty. Tommy noticed me looking.

“I sent a message to tell everyone to go home,” he said. “I said that they had the morning off. They will be back later.” I nodded as he spoke. The library doors opened and Drake stood in the entrance with a sombre expression on his face.

“How are you doing?” he asked me and I just shook my head. I felt more than fragile at this point and didn’t want to let my guard down. I needed to be strong right now. So we could save Elias. The room was pretty full. Aaron was sitting in one of the chairs, with Katie on his knee. Alex and Brianna were on the sofa next to them and I saw they were holding hands, which made me smile a little. Caroline was standing by the window, looking out at the view. We filed into the room and Greg placed Colton in one of the chairs and handcuffed him to the arm. Colton looked amused by the whole thing, and I didn’t blame him. Even with the silver shackles he would be able to break the chair if he wanted to. The man was here voluntarily, that was something I was certain of.

He looked over at Katie, and guilt crossed his face. I saw Katie slightly straighten up but turn her head away from him. Colton had spent a lot of the last ten years using Katie at a w***e. He would make her dress up in a dark wig and wear strawberry perfume and pretend to be me. What made it worse was that Colton’s father had coerced Katie into complying with threats against her family. She had later told me that Colton wasn’t the only one she had to deal with and The Alpha, Beta and Gamma had all visited her against her will on more than one occasion. Elias had been helping Aaron to use the mate bond to help Katie with her trauma, just like he had with me.

“Katie,” Colton said, and she stiffened. Aaron glared at Colton and growled.

“Don’t talk to my mate,” he growled and Colton nodded and hung his head. I went over and took Katies hand and she forced a smile on her face as she looked up at me.

“If it’s too much, you could spend the day with Louise,” I suggested and she squeezed my hand.

“I’m okay,” she said. She glanced towards Colton but not at him. “I have Aaron.” I felt a flash of pain as she said it, and my eyes prickled with tears. I felt empty with Elias by my side. Katie must have seen my reaction because she squeezed my hand again.

“Harper,” she said,” What’s wrong?” I tried to send her a reassuring smile but I couldn’t do it. I took a deep breath and turned towards the group.

“We have reason to believe that one of the Horsemen has taken control of Elias,” I said out loud. There were varying reactions from the group. Katie squeezed my hand again as she gasped. Drake nodded with a sad look and Aaron looked angry.

“War,” Colton said.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s the Horseman,” he said. “Elias’ bloodline is from War.”

“And what is yours from?” Aaron shot at him and Colton grimaced.

“Famine,” Caroline answered as she looked away from the window. “Our world is consumed with greed, because we are always hungry for more.” Drake nodded thoughtfully.

“That makes so much sense,” he said.

“I’m glad it does to someone,” Alex mumbled, and I smiled.

“So why is the demon boy here?” Aaron asked and then he looked at Caroline. “I mean, no offence to you. You seem okay.” Caroline smiled and Colton huffed.

“He’s here because he said he knows how to help me get Elias back,” I said and Aaron suddenly looked interested.

“And you’re willing to help us?” he asked. Colton nodded and Aaron frowned. “Why?” Colton looked up at his mother and she smiled and nodded her head.

“Because we renounced our master,” Colton said and Caroline clapped her hands.

“Finally,” she said. She walked over to Colton and kissed him on the cheek.

“Can you do that?” Drake asked and Colton nodded.

“If there is a master that is more powerful, then our demons can choose to swear loyalty to them instead,” he said. He looked at me. “It was probably why your mate’s demon was more compliant. If you hadn’t completed the bond, he could have cut the ties.”

“Why does that make a difference?” Aaron asked.

“Because once the initial bond is completed then that Horseman will fight like hell to get his crown,” Colton said. “I argued with my other guy for most of my life. I wanted to renounce Famine as soon as I couldn’t fully reject you.” He looked at me as he spoke. “I swear I only rejected you because I didn’t want you to be caught up in all this. But as soon as the other guy heard who you were, he pushed me to the back. I tried to get control back.” He looked at the ground with shame clear on his face.

“Or at least I thought I did,” he said. “But I let the greed consume me and I only wanted one thing in life.” He looked back up at me. “You.”

“And now?” I asked.

“I still want you,” he said. “But like I said we renounce our master, and we will do anything to help you.”

“Why?” Alex asked. “Why would you suddenly be so willing?” Colton chuckled.

“You know for all the questions you have, you aren’t asking the one that matters the most,” he said.

“Who is your new master?” Tommy asked and Colton nodded with a smile. He looked at me and his smile grew. My eyes widened as I realised what he was saying. Everything suddenly became clear in the most horrible way. The dream I had with the Horseman, the reason that the demon bloods at the camp would talk to me only. Why Elias’ demon was so compliant with me. I shook my head at Colton and he gave me a grim smile. I looked around the room.

“Me,” I said quietly, and I felt the startled expressions from around the room. “I am his new master.”