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Chapter 3

last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-12-23 14:04:10

~‘A’~

My thoughts have been a mess since that lady was at the diner. It has been a few days, but it was too much for me. Something about the entire experience haunted me, and I have no idea why. I don't have anyone to talk to about it because I have no one in my life.

I avoided the diner for a few days, not wanting to run into her again. I wasn't sure that I would, so why risk it? I got tired of skipping out on the diner, though. I never got that bacon cheeseburger, and it became too much for me to continue to pass up.

I got off work early and decided to get some food. I work in construction, and it can be grueling work. For some reason, I'm really strong, so working in construction just makes sense. I don't necessarily like it, but it helps me keep a roof over my head and food in my belly.

I walk into the diner and immediately go to the counter. I don't have to wait long for a waitress to ask me for my order. It's Poppy today, and I must admit I missed seeing her. She's a petite woman compared to me at 5’5. She has long blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She's always flirty with me, and sometimes, I flirt back. I've never gone out with her; hell, I haven't been out with anyone. I don't know who I am, so the thought of going out with someone is weird to me. “Hello, handsome. You've been gone a few days.”

“Yeah, I felt weird coming in here.” She nods and moves closer to me.

“Is it because of that woman last time?” I give her a half smile, not really wanting to talk about it. “Who is she?” I shrug my shoulders; that same question has been in my head since the incident. “Well, she was here again today. She had some man with her. If I….” Poppy chuckles, and I look up at her. “No, it's just that if I didn't know any better, I'd say the man looked like you.” Something inside of me seized up. Why would some man I don't know look like me?

I turn and look around the diner, not being subtle at all. “Are they still here?” Poppy clicks her tongue and shakes her head.

“I think they left not long after you walked in. It was weird because they were here for a while before that.” I nod absently, looking around one more time. I sigh and sink onto my bar stool. I order my meal to go, anxiously waiting for it to be ready. When it’s brought out, I take it and leave a big tip for Poppy. I have no idea what's going on in my life right now, but things are weird.

I return to my place and sit on the worn-out couch to enjoy my meal. It's good as always, but I just can't fully enjoy it. My mind is plagued by my last two encounters at the diner. Something is definitely up, but I have no idea what it is. Something is telling me that I need to find out, but I don't know how to go about that. The only thing I can do is hope they show up again.

~Eddie~

It was a struggle to get Shawna to leave the town, but I was able to impress upon her the importance of talking to Blake before anything further takes place. She doesn't have to worry about me; I’m a believer. I know, for a fact, that it was our son. I would notice him anywhere. I wonder how long he's been so close to us.

When he first disappeared, we looked everywhere. We reached out to all neighboring packs and sent people to search the human towns, including that one. No matter where we looked, we came up empty. We then looked further out, not knowing whether he had traveled. Again, we found nothing. Eventually, we had to stop looking because we were taking up too much of the pack resources.

Blake and I started to search on our own without telling our mates. Any time we heard of a wolf turning up having been lost or an unidentified body being found, we would go check it out. We did this for about two years or so before it became too much for me. All of that hope getting dashed each time ate away at me. That's why I did it without Shawna knowing. I wouldn't allow her to go through all of that pain.

While I went out and tried to chase down any lead that could bring us to our missing son, Shawna stayed in the packlands with Luna Trina. She leaned on her while trying to come to terms with our missing child. I'm grateful she had her because I barely held it together.

When we arrive at the pack, I send Shawna to our home and straight to bed. Her emotions have been all over the place; the best thing she could do was rest. I watch Shawna walk into our home with a warrior escort. Alpha, are you busy?

Eddison, you’re back. I didn't expect you back so soon. I was just wrapping up in the office.

Can I come to see you? It's important.

Sure, I will wait for you. I take one last look at our home before turning to make my way to the packhouse. I should probably wait until tomorrow and spend the rest of the night with my mate. The problem with that is that I can't rest. My soul is unsettled, and I won't be able to function until I have a solid plan.

I walk to the second floor and down the hall to the Alpha office. His door stands open, and I walk in without knocking. I quietly close the door behind me, this not being a conversation for everyone. I walk over to Blake's desk and sit opposite him. “Eddie! What can I do for you at this late hour?” I slump further in the chair and throw my head back. “Judging by the look on your face, everything is not alright. Where did you even go?” We decided not to tell anyone where we were going. To be honest, I stayed quiet out of concern for my mate. If she had been mistaken, I didn't want that harsh scrutiny to fall on her. No one should be mocked for grieving.

“He's alive, Blake.” Blake sits straighter in his chair and places both hands on his desk.

“What did you say?” His voice is barely above a whisper, but there's no hardship in hearing his words.

“He's alive. My boy, Aston, is alive. I saw him with my own eyes.”

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  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 4

    ~‘A’~I went to the diner every day for a week since I last went and was told that the woman had been back. Maybe, against my better judgment, I decided it would be best just to find her and figure out what all this was about. I've been horribly unsettled since the first time I saw her, and I can't continue this way.As soon as I got off work, I returned to the diner, leaning my car seat back and getting comfortable. I have no idea what makes me think this woman will be back, but something is calling me to see this through. I usually sit here until dark before heading back home, and today will be no exception.I scroll through my phone, mainly reading news articles. I have no social media presence, so I don't spend much time on it. Since I don't know anyone, it seems like a waste. Reading these news articles makes me feel a real disconnect, which is weird. I should be more in touch with what's going on around me.I lose track of time, but something catches my eye. I look up and notice

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-24
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 5

    ~Eddie~I'm not sure how I did that. How the hell did I speak to my son without pulling him into my arms and never letting go? Every fiber in my body has been begging me to do just that. It wasn't just me; my wolf Jett was begging me to do it. He knows his pup even after all this time.I have Shawna's hand tightly in mine; our mate bond is swirling with our feelings. “Did Sable recognize him?” Shawna's sharp intake of breath gives me the answer I'm looking for.“Yes, she did. She said that Jett did too.” I nod in agreement. “She said she couldn't feel Dario. Do you think he's still there?”“I believe he is. He still smells like a high-ranking wolf. Maybe we need to just find where he was buried.” I'm getting ahead of myself. There’s no guarantee this will go past us seeing his place today. I need to reel it in and remain calm.Aston was right when he said he wasn't far from here. I don't like the look of this neighborhood, though. It's clear that he's barely surviving, and that doesn'

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 6

    ~Shawna~The color seemed to drain from Aston's face. I can only imagine what a shock this is to him. He truly has no idea what his past life was like or about where he came from. He will even have to be introduced to the werewolf world, and that's why we spoke to Blake before coming back. Aston coming into the pack will be akin to bringing a human into the fold. It's a risky situation, and we need to be prepared for every eventuality.Eddison timidly placed his hand on Aston's arm, trying to calm him in light of this news. I can't imagine what's going through his mind, and as his mother, I wish I could make this all go away. He's going to need me and his father as he navigates his new life. There's no guarantee that he will even remember who he was, but we had to try. “What now?” I look at Eddie, and he nods at me.“We were hoping you would come with us. There are things we need to tell you about us, about yourself. We know this situation is crazy for you and that you don't know us,

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 7

    I scoot my chair back, trying to come up with the best way to bolt from the room. “I can show you.” I turn to Eddison and watch him stand up behind his chair. He starts to strip his clothes, and I'm ready to fight. I just got pulled into some type of sex games. What a fucking idiot I am!Before I can get up and run, Eddison changes on the spot. One minute, a man is standing there, and the next is a giant, dark gray wolf staring at me. When I say huge, I cannot stress just how big it is. If I had to guess, I'd say that it stands at 6 or 7 feet tall. What wolf has anyone ever seen that was that damn tall?The crazy thing is my body isn't going through the typical fight or flight response. I'm actually pretty calm. There's a pull in me that is pushing me to get closer. This is the craziest thing, but I can't fight it. I stand up and slowly walk toward the massive wolf. I reach my hand out and watch the wolf slowly lower his head.I let my hand touch the top of his head, and I'm pleasantl

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 8

    ~King~“What's on the agenda today?” I lean back in the chair across from my father's desk. I cross my legs, letting my right ankle rest on my left knee. My dad will be stepping down soon, and when he does, he will pass the pack over to me. Katarina will be my Luna, and I can't wait for all of that to be the case.His office door opens, and Dominic walks into the room. He walks over to me, nodding to my dad before sitting in the seat next to me. Dominic will be taking over as the Beta when I get in place. We are both excited to carry this pack.“I wanted to give you two a heads-up.” The look on my dad's face tells me that whatever he wants to say to me is extremely serious. I'm starting to get nervous. I sit up straighter, letting my feet hit the floor. I feel Dominic shift next to me, but I keep my focus on my dad. I swallow, trying to keep my breaths even. “Eddison and Shawna have found him; they found Aston.” I'm on my feet before I can even register to move.“Where is he?! I have

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-29
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 9

    ~Katarina~“Mmm.” I turn my head toward the warmth next to me. I snuggle my head, but it isn't on anything soft. It's on a hard surface, but it smells so good. I blink my eyes open and am looking at a red polo shirt. I let my eyes travel up and am met by the soft brown eyes of King.“Hey, baby. How are you feeling?” I close my eyes again and let out a sigh.“What happened?”“You were in the garden with Tatiana, and you passed out. She told you some news.” My eyes pop open, and I turn my head to look at King. There's nothing but love and kindness in his eyes.“She told me that Aston is back.” King nods, and my heart clenches.“How do you feel about that?”“I don't know. I mean, I liked him in school. I liked him a lot, and the day he disappeared, we were supposed to go out.”“You were friends too, right?” I feel a smile grow on my face at the memories of Aston and me when we were younger.“We were. I loved our friendship.”“My dad told us that he's back, but he doesn't remember anythin

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-30
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 10

    ~King~I know what Dad said, but I just can't help myself. I've known Aston all our lives, and his being gone made everything feel off. I just need to lay eyes on him myself, and I think I'll be okay.I take a deep breath and knock on the door of the Beta house. I've wanted to come to see Aston since Dad told me he was back, and even more so after talking to Katarina. I don't really know what to expect, so I'm nervous.The seconds tick by with no response, which already adds to my anxiety. The door finally moves, not opening completely. Shawna peeks her head out of the door. When she sees that it's me, she quickly steps outside and pulls the door almost closed behind her. “Alp-” I quickly shake my head at her. I don't need any ridiculous formalities right now; we're family. Shawna nods and smiles. “King, how are you?”“I…I'm anxious, if I'm being honest. I know he needs rest and whatnot, but I'm aching to see him. I never thought I'd see him again, you know?” Shawna sighs and steps aw

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31
  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 11

    ~‘A’~There are hushed whispers as I open my eyes and look around. I'm in his room, but I don't feel uncomfortable. I hear a door open and close, along with footsteps coming up the stairs. A light knock on my door causes me to shift in bed. “Come in.” The door opens, and Shawna steps in the doorway.“How'd you sleep?” I sigh and stretch, sitting up in the bed.“I slept okay actually. I feel pretty good.” She smiles and nods.“Well, Eddison went into work today so it's just us.” I should have figured they had jobs. I can't keep them from that, even though I walked away from my job.“I'm sorry to keep you from working. You can leave me if you must.” Shawna smiles and walks over to the bed. She silently asks if she can sit, and I nod slightly. Shawna moves to sit at the edge of my bed.“Don't worry about me. My job is more flexible than most. Besides, there's nowhere else I want to be right now. I want to help you find yourself again, if possible.” Shawna takes a deep breath and lets it

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-01

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  • The Missing Beta   Epilogue

    “BlackPaw Pack! I’m so glad to see you have survived and are supporting each other. You have done what a pack is meant to do. The traitors you had among you have been dealt with as have the poisonous Alpha family that was in charge for decades. You are free of the lies and need someone more honorable to be in charge. That being said, let me welcome your new ranked members to the stage so they can say their vows and take their rightful places.”“I, Aston Wiley, promise to protect and serve the BlackPaw Pack as Alpha. I promise to…”“I, Katarina Harris, promise to protect and serve the BlackPaw Pack as Luna. I promise to…”*Six Months Later*~Aston~It’s been six months since we’ve been sworn in as the ranked members of this pack in a ceremony that took place two weeks after the end of King. I took over as Alpha, with Katarina as my Luna. We made Dominic Beta, and Deacon agreed to be our Gamma. Before you get upset about Dominic, just hear me out.I’ve known Dominic all my life, and he w

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 88

    ~Aston~I blink, feeling like I’m losing my mind. That has to be the case because there’s no way this is real. I close my eyes and silently count to three before opening them again. Nothing has changed, and absolutely nothing is moving.I reach out to the wolf in front of me, but there’s no movement at all. I feel like I could tip the wolf over, and there’d be no stopping it from falling. I am miffed right now because this is something that should only exist in our wildest imagination. “ASTON!” I turn to find Katarina running toward me.Katarina’s hands are on my face, igniting sparks along my skin and shivers up and down my spine. “Did you do this?” I gesture to the frozen wolves around us.“Uh, yeah, I think so. I don’t know what it is or how.” I look around again while shaking my head. Damn! My girl has some nice ass powers. I think I’m a bit jealous, if I’m being honest. I thought my powers were cool, but now I see they were nothing.“How long do you think it lasts?” Katarina shak

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 87

    ~Katarina~Aston wastes no time running out of his room after being called out by King. I don’t want him to go, but I know this has to happen. I run after him, not wanting my mate to have to confront him on his own.King is standing outside, and Tatiana isn’t that far behind him. I have no idea who let that bitch out of the cells, but heads are going to roll. Aston rushes out in the field, stopping a few feet in front of King. I notice some wolves are coming out of the shadows, but it has me on edge. Some seem to be moving to the side where I’m standing close by Aston, and others are standing on the side that houses King and Tatiana. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before, but we have a serious loyalty issue. It looks like some pack members are still loyal to King, and that’s probably how he’s made it into the pack the last two times. It may even be how Tatiana is free right now.Speaking of Tatiana, her eyes haven’t left me since I got out here. She looks like she’s ready to

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 86

    ~Aston~I know this will get me some crazy looks, but I was so turned on when I watched Katarina end Chandra. I know how sick that sounds, but I can’t help it, and I refuse to lie. She was poised and confident and I was definitely responding to that.There wasn’t much to do once Chandra was dead. Topaz let us know that they found her lab and were going to raid it. I figured there would be no answers for me there, and Topaz promised to let us know if she found anything useful.She brought us back to packlands, and we are walking hand in hand to the packhouse. I want a nice hot shower, to talk with my dad, and time with my mate. It feels like we’ve been on the go for a while now without stopping. I know it’s due to all of the emotional upheaval we’ve been dealing with, but it’s still a lot.We walk into the dining room to have all eyes on us as we step through the door. Katarina snuggles against me, and I guide her to our table. Mom and Dad are already there and snuggled up together as

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 85

    ~Topaz~I didn’t know what to do while I waited to talk to Eddie. I walked the perimeter of the pack, making sure our wards were in place. I tweaked everything, making sure to keep the pack accessible for the proper individuals.I look at the time as my nerves set in. I’m scared, I can’t lie. I don’t know how this talk is going to go, and that scares me. I know that if I don’t give it a try, I will regret it for the rest of my life.I’ve tried to rehearse the words in my mind, but I changed them a bit each time. I really don’t know what to say, and I don’t know what he’s going to say. I know what I’m attempting to do, and I know that most will view it as the worst thing I can do. I get that, really I do. I just can’t help my heart right now. I have to know for sure that it’s really over between us.A sound behind me shakes me out of my thoughts. There’s a giggle that is filled with nothing but love and happiness. Something is telling me not to look at the scene behind me, but I’m comp

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 84

    ~Eddie~I follow Shawna home, letting the events of the day swirl around in my head. So much has happened in a short amount of time. The entire situation is crazy to me, but it’s also heartbreaking. I had no idea my best friend was capable of such evilness and selfishness. If it hadn’t been for him, my family wouldn’t have gone through the pain that they suffered. I don’t know if I could ever make it up to them, but I’m sure as shit going to try.Sparks on my cheek break me from my thoughts, and I look at my surroundings. We are standing in the middle of our bedroom, and I didn’t even realize we had walked this far. Shawna is standing in front of me, looking worried. “I’m fine, love. I’m just a bit lost in thought.”“You’re fine?! You’re not fine, Eddie. You’ve gone through something traumatic at the hands of someone you trusted.” I suck in a breath, not wanting my emotions to overwhelm me. “I know you, and I know what your thinking. It wasn’t your fault. You had no idea that Blake wa

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 83

    ~Eddie~We all make our way into the packhouse and my office. So much has gone on since I stepped foot on packlands; it’s hard to wrap my head around everything. Besides needing to talk to the kids, I want to put my hands on my mate.Her scent hits me before I can see her face. A blur comes at me, and my body hits the floor. Sloppy kisses break out all over my face and neck, but pain also erupts in my stomach at the same time. “Goddess! I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again!” I manage to roll my emotional mate on her side, and I secure her to my body. I take deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain I feel. “Eddie?! What is it? What’s wrong?” I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. There’s no need to worry anyone right now.“Dad? Is something wrong?” I open my eyes to Aston standing over us. There’s worry in his gaze, but I’m able to give him a stiff smile. He reaches his hand out, and I grab it, allowing him to help me up. Shawna is by my side, holding onto my arm. I walk over to the

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 82

    ~Katarina~I turn to see Tatiana glaring at me. I'm overwhelmed right now with everything: seeing that Aston is truly alive and okay, almost being snatched by King, and feeling the loss of my Alpha and Luna. With all of this, there's no fucking way that I'm going to deal with this bitch. I’m sorry, Hope, but I’m sick of this!I’m with you. This isn’t the same Titi we’ve been friends with all these years. Even if Hope hadn’t agreed, I’d be doing this anyway. It just feels better that we are on the same page.I balance on my feet and meet Tatiana head-on. Tatiana stops right in front of me, but I don’t move a muscle. “You always ruin everything! I fucking hate you!” All I can say is that the anger has accumulated, and it's come to a boiling point. My fist connects with her throat, causing her to bend over, sputtering and coughing.I crouch down in a fighting stance as I watch her try to suck in air. “Bring it bitch! It’s time to end this shit!” It doesn’t take long before Tatiana mirror

  • The Missing Beta   Chapter 81

    ~King~The moment I saw my father kill Aston, I knew this was the time to get what was mine. I took off and shifted into Conan, letting him take over and take us back home. I don’t know what Dad’s plan is, but I plan to make moves before he can mess me up.It was beyond easy to get on to packlands. I already knew the routes and patrol groups. Some people are still loyal to my family and me, so letting me in wasn’t a huge issue.I have to say, Katarina made it easy for me. Conan caught her scent, though it pissed him off that it was mixed with that loser’s. We watched her pace back and forth for a while before I decided to go in.I shifted to my human form and put a pair of shorts on my body. I kept myself quiet and snuck up behind her. I grabbed her arm and turned her body toward me. The shock written all over her face didn’t deter me in the slightest. “King?!” I pull her body close to mine, making sure there’s no room between us. “Wh…what are you doing here?”“Seriously?” I look down

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