MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"A Beta and his Vampire Princess" Chapter 2

That night, Gena went home to speak to her father and brothers while Greyson went back inside the packhouse to speak to his Alpha and Luna. They made a plan to meet up at noon the next day, just outside the packhouse. Gena still wasn’t sure about Greyson or the idea of taking a werewolf as a mate, but she was, it would seem, incapable of saying no to him.

Gena sulked through the swamps until she reached the magical barrier between the human realm and the vampire one. The vampire kingdom was inside what’s known as a pocket realm, a place that exists inside another place. Unlike the Fae realm, which existed outside the space of the human realm and was only reachable through a portal, the vampire kingdom was easily accessed by anyone who knew where to look. Only uninvited humans would find themselves diverted away from the barrier, unknowingly being redirected from the shimmery bubble that kept the vampire realm hidden.

Once inside the kingdom, Gena entered the castle and went straight to the throne room. No one suspected that she had helped Blood Moon during their attack a few days ago, nor did they think she was actually serious about her werewolf mate. They were in store for the shock of their undead lives.

“Gena, my daughter, where did you find yourself this evening?” The Vampire King asked with a jolly laugh as Gena entered the throne room.

The Vampire King was hundreds of years old. In his prime, he was a merciless, disgusting, vial vampire with a deadly past. He was responsible for hundreds of mass murders explained away by humans, the deaths of thousands of werewolves during the famous war of the species, and known for murdering famous human figures. He was feared by many and questioned by none. That was, until the last century when the Vampire King became comfortable with his status and too lazy to keep up with his reputation.

Gabriel and Gideon were the backbone of the kingdom now, keeping up with the hideous reputation of the vampire realm and making good on any of the Vampire King’s old threats. So, when Gabriel and Gideon made a deal with the disgraced Alphas without the permission of the Vampire King, no one even blinked an eye. The Vampire King was quick to smooth over the altercation, too old and too tired to go to war with the werewolves, again.

“Yes, sister, where have you been?” Gabriel stood from the throne of the high prince to approach his sister. He was menacing looking, ghostly and red eyed, but Gena knew better than to be threatened by her eldest brother.

“I’ve been to see the werewolves at Blood Moon.” Gena answered honestly.

“Why?” Gideon leaned forward on his throne curiously.

“To make sure that the Luna returned home safely.”

“Why do you care about their Luna?” Gabriel hissed.

“Why do you care so much about Blood Moon?” Gena asked, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring accusingly at her brother.

“They made us look like fools!” Gabriel shouted.

“No, Gabriel, you did that by making a deal with two immature, disgraced Alpha pups.” The Vampire King stated plainly, like he was speaking to anyone other than his son. Gabriel looked at his father with hatred,

“Those werewolf mutts think they’re so much better than us and you just let them.” Gabriel said,

“We have peace with the wolves.” The King said, leaning back on his throne comfortably.

“We only have peace because we stay hidden in our kingdom.” Gideon spoke up.

“Enough, I won’t hear anymore of this.” The King waved his hand dismissively.

“I’m leaving.” Gena said, cutting through the argument.

“What’s that?” The King asked in a bored tone while the princes looked at their sister with wide eyes.

“This is about that pup who claims to be your mate, isn’t it?” Gabriel sneered.

“He is my mate and his name is Greyson.” Gena snapped.

“No princess of the vampire realm will be mated to a werewolf. I may not want a war with the dogs, but I don’t want my daughter fraternizing with one, either.” The Vampire King showed emotion for the first time.

“Then I shall no longer be a princess of the vampire realm or your daughter. I will dismiss myself and leave the kingdom.” Gena answered, her voice unwavering.

“You would give up your family for a dog? Do you honestly think that he will give up his wolf, his pack, for you? His pack will kick you out, if you’re lucky. If you’re not, they’ll stake you in the heart and set you on fire.” Gabriel spat.

“No, Blood Moon isn’t like that. This Alpha is different, he’s understanding. I’m welcomed there.” Gena argued, “Besides, we’re not staying at the packhouse, either. We're going somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else? Like where? Where can you go?” Gideon’s tone was mocking.

“That’s not any of your business.” Gena stated.

“You will not be welcomed back here on the arm of that dog.” The Vampire King said, seeming to be ignoring his sons’ tantrums.

“So be it.” Gena nodded her head once.

“When you have come to your senses, or he dies, which he will, you may return.” The King added, earning startled expressions from Gabriel and Gideon.

“She may return?” Gideon gasped.

“An eternity is a longtime to hold a grudge with family, Gideon. When her allegiance returns to the kingdom, so may she.” The King said, looking at his son.

Gabriel said nothing, looking distraught and enraged. He made a sound of annoyance, his eyes red and his fangs threatening to push free from his gums. He shook his head and stormed from the room, without so much as a second glance towards Gena. Gideon slumped back on the throne, holding his head in his hand. The King looked unmoved.

“Thank you for your mercy.” Gena forced out between her teeth, not wanting to earn any more bad will between her and the King.

Above all, Gena’s father was the Vampire King. Gabriel, Gideon, and Gena were heirs, defenders of the throne, advisors to the crowns; their only purpose was to do the King’s bidding. They were not raised with love or emotions, empathy or compassion. Gena was used to her father’s cold and distant behavior, keeping to diplomatic pleasantries and standing on ceremony. It was because of that, that Gena knew staying on the King’s good side was for the best. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever want to return to the kingdom, but she certainly didn’t need to have a vengeful king on her back.

Gena left the throne room and hurried up to her room, not wanting to delay. She quickly packed the biggest bag she owned with clothing and other personal items she couldn’t replace. She had enough money to buy whatever else she would need. Heaving the heavy bag over her shoulder, she scurried down the steps and out the front door of the castle.

“I won’t welcome you back.” Gabriel said, standing in the shadows. Gena jumped and spun around.

“Gabriel.” Gena sighed.

“If it’s up to me, you won’t ever be welcomed back here. And, believe me, I will do everything in my power to make sure that it’s up to me.” Gabriel’s voice was threatening.

“This isn’t about you, Gabriel.” Gena snapped.

“No, it’s about the kingdom and you’re disgracing it by getting involved with our enemies.” Gabriel spat.

“Our enemies? We’re not at war.” Gena cried out, trying to make him see reason.

“Not yet.” Was all he said before turning around and vanishing back into the darkness.

Gena watched Gabriel leave before she could no longer see him with the help of her heightened senses. She shook her head in his absence. She knew he would make good on his threat, one way or another. At last, she turned her back on the castle and ran out of the kingdom that had always been her home. She walked away from uncertainty to chase after a mysterious future. She had no way of knowing just how far reaching the consequences of her actions would be.