Beyond Beta's Rejection

Elias

I stared at my mum in shock. No, I couldn’t believe that my sister was related to that bastard.

“But, how?” I asked and my dad shrugged.

“Your mother was already pregnant with your sister when we met,” my dad said. “I didn’t want her to lose the baby because of me, and I didn’t want people to treat your sister differently. So we decided we would tell people that she was mine.” My mum started mumbling to herself. I couldn’t quite get what she was saying.

“Anyway, after an incident with Lily we started to realise that having two demon b***d parents very much made your sister different,” my dad said. I watched my mum as I listened to him.

“What incident?” I asked, and my mum looked over at my dad sadly.

“She tried to kill you,” my dad said and my eyes snapped to him.

“What?” I asked, “I don’t remember that.” My mum shook her head and started to cry again.

“You were young,” she said. “Around five or six years old. You were in the bath and Lily tried pushing your head under the water. I got there in time to stop her, but just started screaming about how you couldn’t be Alpha.” All this was news to me. I had no recollection of this event at all. I always idolised my sister, she was seven years older than me and always seemed so amazing.

“We kept an eye on things for sometime,” my dad said, “But then your mother found some letters in your sister’s room.”

“She had somehow found out that James wasn’t her father and had sought out Nathaniel,” my mum said. “In the letters she had talked about the plans for you to take the Alpha position and Nathaniel told her to stop it from happening. She had made plans to kill you again.” My mum looked apologetic, “That was why we sent you to the Council,” she said and my eyes widened. “We needed to figure out what we could do with Lily and keep you safe.” This was all a bit too much for me and I didn’t know what I should be thinking.

“What were you going to do?” I asked and my mum glanced at my dad.

“I got in touch with a coven of witches,” she said, “They knew about the Order and the demon bloods and were going to try to help me with suppressing the demons.”

“Is that even possible?” I asked and my mum laughed.

“Of course it is,” she said. “Have you heard from your demon since you arrived here?” I thought about it and she was right. Everything had felt lighter and quiet. I didn’t even realise that it was because the demon in my head was absent.

“This entire area is spelled so no demon can function in here,” my dad said. I looked at my mum and she smiled. She tapped her head.

“It’s been quiet up here for years,” she said, “Which is nice.”

“Wow,” I said. “And you planned to do this with Lily?” I asked. My parents both nodded.

“We hoped that without her demon b***d influence that she would realise that what she was doing was wrong,” my dad said.

“But she found out,” my mum said sadly and then shuddered. “She was fuming. She said that we were trying to take a part of her away and that she planned to let the demon take over. A week later Nathaniel attacked.” A tear fell down one of my mum’s cheeks. My dad reached out to her again, and she went to him. He sat down and pulled her into his lap.

We sat there in silence for a bit. I didn’t know what to say, and my parents seemed to need that space. Finally, my dad looked up at me.

“After the attack we found out that it was Lily who called Nathaniel,” he said and my eyes widened again. “She had given everything he needed to plan a successful attack.” I shook my head. No way could this be true. I remember how much my mum had broken down after Lily died.

“But we searched for her,” I said and my dad nodded.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“We did, but it was beginning to consume our lives,” he said. “Your mother was drowning in guilt because of what your sister did, and how many people died because of it. We knew we had to put this all behind us.”

“And her body?” I asked and my dad shook his head.

“I don’t know,” he said. “When we found her body, we were relieved. I have no idea who it was that we found. I guess she planted the necklace on whoever it was so we would stop looking for her.”

“Where is that necklace?” my mum suddenly asked and my dad shrugged.

“I haven’t thought about it in so long,” he said. I looked down at the floor and then back at my parents.

“I took it,” I said. They both looked at me with interest. “I kept it on me for a while.” My mum smiled.

“That makes sense,” she said, and I furrowed my eyebrows. “The necklace is spelled. That is probably why I didn’t feel your demon. Do you still have it?”

“Sort of,” I said, “I gave it to Harper.”

“Of course you did,” she said. Then her smile widened. “Is she really an angel?” I smiled and nodded.

“She is,” I said. “The most beautiful one I know.”

“Good,” my mum said. “Then the necklace belongs to her. It will help to keep her safe.”

I thought about that for a moment. Finding out my sister wasn’t who she said she was, was bad enough, but the idea of having to tell Marcus that his mate is dangerous was not something I was going to look forward too. Though the most pressing matter was how dangerous Lily actually was.

“Lily is there right now,” I said. “She is at Midnight Moon with Harper.”

“Oh no, Elias,” my mum said. “Then you need to go and protect her. She doesn’t know how much danger she is in.” I knew she was right. I would have to leave as soon as possible. I stood up with the intention to go pack my things. But then I stopped and looked at my parents.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and they both looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“What for, son?” my dad asked. I shook my head.

“Everything,” I said. “I gave you such a hard time about leaving the pack and not going after Nathaniel.” My mum got up and gave me a hug.

“Tell you what,” she said. “Bring that sweet girl to see us and we will call it even.” I smiled and nodded my head.

“Deal,” I said as I hugged her back.

I was back in the car and on the road within the hour. It was already late, and I had a good few hours of driving before I could get to the pack. I still didn’t know how I was going to tell Marcus. But I knew I had to get back as soon as I could. I was about a mile away from my parents when all of a sudden I heard the demon screaming in my head.

“STOP IGNORING ME!” he shouted, and I was so shocked that I almost lost control of the car. I swerved to the side and stopped the car. I thought to myself I was pretty impressed with the spell that the witches had done.

“Whoa,” I said. “Calm down.” The demon stopped screaming.

“So now you talk to me you useless piece of meat,” he hissed, and I rolled my eyes.

“Spell,” I said and I could feel his confusion. “My folks have their home spelled. I couldn’t hear you. Was rather peaceful actually.”

“f*****g witches,” the demon hissed, “The first thing I’m gonna do when I get out is destroy the lot of-”

“Okay I get it,” I said, “You are pissed off.”

“Well, you would be too if you were trying to stop someone from hurting your mate and you were being ignored,” he snarled.

“I know I’m on my way back now,” I said, and the demon snarled again.

“You shouldn’t have left,” he growled. “She is in danger and you leave her with that psycho.” I was beginning to feel frustrated. I couldn’t drive with him snarling in my head.

“If you shut up long enough, then I can get back,” I said.

“You won’t be in time,” he said.

“How do you know?” I asked. I was starting to feel really anxious.

“Because I know,” he said, “I can get us back quicker. But I need control.” I shook my head.

“I don’t think so,” I said and pulled out my phone. I saw the time was after 3am, as I dialled Harper’s phone. It rang for ages, but she didn’t pick up. I hung up and dialled Marcus instead.

“Yeah?” he said, his voice full of sleep. “Geez man, do you know what time it is?”

“Do you know where Harper is?” I asked. He g*****d, and I heard him moving around.

“You seriously interrupted my sleep so you could speak to your mate?” he asked. I heard knocking and then another voice.

“Oh right, yeah thanks,” Marcus said.

“What’s going on?” I asked impatiently.

“Oh, Tommy said that Harper wasn’t in, that she had gone out. She’s probably just gone for a run,” he replied.

“Told you, she is in danger,” the demon urged.

“What about Lily?” I asked and Marcus made a huffing noise.

“She is out too,” he said, “But she likes to walk in the woods at night.”

“Now do you believe me?” the demon insisted.

“Marcus, I need you to go and find Harper now,” I said. “She could be in danger and I am on my way home.”

“What is it?” Marcus asked, but there was no way I was going to tell him that his mate was the danger on the phone.

“Just get her and keep her close till I get home, please,” I said, and he grunted again.

“Okay boss, I’m on it,” he said, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I hung up the phone and went to start the car.

“Tell me,” the demon said. “Who would you protect over your mate?” I stopped and thought about it. I couldn’t think of anyone more important than Harper. If it came down to it, would Marcus even be able to stand between her and Lily.

“f**k,” I exclaimed.

“I told you, I can get us there quicker,” the demon said. “I just need full control. Are you really going to risk her life just so you can be the hero?” Dammit. I knew he was right. But the idea of willingly handing over control felt wrong. But I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Harper. I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Fine,” I said, and I felt a jolt from the demon.

“You have to say it,” he said. I didn’t like the eager tone in his voice, but I really had no choice.

“You give back control when you get us to the pack?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said. I nodded again.

“Okay,” I said. “I give you full control.”

The demon laughed as I felt a sucking feeling and I was pulled into the back of my mind. It was pitch black. So black that I couldn’t feel myself. It felt cold and isolating. I hated it. Then I heard a noise. I could make out a shape not too far away from me. I tried to stand to move closer, but it felt like I was caught on something. I reached down and felt something around my ankle. The noise happened again, and I heard a whine. My eyes adjusted enough that I could see a cage and in the cage was a black wolf.

“Jax?” I asked, and the wolf whined again. What the f**k was happening. Why was he in a cage, and why was I tied up? Then I heard a chuckle and my b***d ran cold. At the other side of the space was another shape. I could tell it was also tied up.

“Well, you stupid meat sack,” he hissed. I shook my head. No, if he was here, then who was in control of my body. I screamed against the dark and the chain holding me and tried to pull on it and the demon chuckled again.

“It’s too late, dumbass,” he said. “The master has control now.”