MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"A Beta and his Vampire Princess" Chapter 3

The packhouse was quiet by the time Greyson made it back inside. The Alpha and Luna were most likely asleep, or otherwise engaged, and he would not dare to disturb them. He knew he would have to table his conversation for first thing tomorrow morning. Greyson used this time to prepare himself for leaving the packhouse. He packed a bag with his clothing, bathroom supplies, and personal items. Tossing the bag on the floor, Greyson laid back on the bed. He was wide awake, too energized by his exchange with Gena to sleep.

Greyson crossed her arms behind his head and leaned back on the pillow. He thought about what he would say to his brother, but he wasn’t nervous. He knew Noah would support him, especially when it comes to the matebond, Lucy, his sister, would too. Jack, his younger brother, would be the one to cause a fit. He was too young to understand the call to your mate, too immature to see past the age-old feud between vampires and werewolves. One day he would, though, and Greyson could hold out for that day.

Then, there was Toby Landry, their traditionalist father. There was no use in even trying to convince him. He was, in fact, responsible for the attack on Luna Evie. To be frank, Greyson didn’t give a damn about what his father thought. He betrayed the pack when he moved against Evie, a woman Greyson already saw as his beloved sister.

Greyson hadn’t realized he’d fallen asleep until he was blinking his eyes against the sun streaming in through his windows. He groaned and rolled out of bed, quickly showering and getting dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans and a plain, maroon V-neck shirt. Greyson quickly dried his hair off and fixed it in the mirror, wanting to make sure he was put together for his next meeting with Gena. Then, he hurried off to Noah’s office.

Noah’s office was vacant, to Greyson’s frustration, so he had to mindlink his brother. Greyson was pacing the room when Noah finally arrived.

“Greyson? It’s 6AM.” Noah looked both amused and irritated.

“Is it?” Greyson honestly didn’t know.

“What’s wrong?” Noah’s expression changed to concern as he watched his brother closely.

“Gena came around yesterday.” Greyson confessed and Noah’s eyes went wide.

“Oh?” He tried not to react too strongly, not before he knew how Greyson felt about it.

“I tried to fight off the connection, but I couldn’t. Not after she helped Evie. The connection is too overwhelming for me to ignore.” Greyson rambled.

“I told you, it was your choice. I don’t care that she’s a vampire and neither should you.” Noah said, nodding his head as he walked around Greyson and towards one of the large chairs.

Noah plopped down in the chair and rested his hands behind his head, looking up at his brother expectantly. Greyson grumbled and sat down on the chair beside him.

“I asked Gena to give us a chance.”

“That’s good, Grey.” Noah smiled.

“She said she’ll be kicked out of the vampire kingdom if she does.” Greyson continued.

“She’s more than welcome to stay here.” Noah offered what Greyson knew he would.

“Thank you. I told her that but she doesn’t want to stay here, she doesn’t feel comfortable with it. Not yet, anyway.” Greyson said,

“So, then what?” Noah asked.

“I offered to go away with her for a while, to be alone somewhere.” Greyson fidgeted in his seat, looking nervous.

“You want to be excused from the pack, relieved of your duties as my Beta?” Noah c****d an eyebrow.

“For now, yes. I understand if you need to find a replacement Beta and I understand if that change has to be permanent.” Greyson avoided eye contact with his brother.

“Grey, of course you can go and of course you’ll be welcomed back as my Beta. You're my brother, I just want you to be happy.” Noah chuckled, earning a glance from Greyson.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

“How could you even think that, that wouldn’t be my response?” Noah asked, almost looking offended.

“My duty is to this pack, to you, as the Beta. You chose me as your second in command.” Greyson said,

“Your duty is as much to yourself as it is to me. You’re no good to me if your head isn’t on straight and it can’t be if you’re not with your mate.” Noah clapped his brother on the back with a cheeky grin.

“Thank you, Noah.” Greyson sighed in relief.

“I’ll let the pack know that Gena is a welcomed guest so she doesn’t have to sneak around.” Noah said,

“She’s supposed to be here at noon.” Greyson said just as the door opened and their youngest brother, Jack, walked in.

“The guard is reporting a vampire on the grounds.” Jack said quickly. Greyson’s eyes went wide and Noah sighed,

“Guess I was too late.” Noah mumbled, “Inform them that she is a guest of the Beta.”

“A guest?” Jack looked horrified.

“Yes, Jack, it’s Greyson’s mate.” Noah lowered his gaze on Jack, speaking to him sternly. Jack huffed in frustration but nodded, leaving the office without another word.

“He’ll come around eventually, right?” Greyson grumbled, looking after him.

“Yes, once he understands the importance of a mate.” Noah nodded before following after Jack to make sure that he did his job correctly. Greyson quickly followed, wanting to ensure his mate’s safety.

Gena was hiding in the treeline near the packhouse, watching as the wolves chased their tails trying to find her. They must’ve caught her scent, and about time too since she’s been hiding out here all night. She was just starting to think that she was a fool for trusting Greyson when a dangerous howl echoed through the bayou.

The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon, casting dimly lit shadows and a beautiful pink hue around the packgrounds. Gena shivered at the sound of the howl, it chilling her deep down to her bones. She was about to make a run for it when a familiar figure planted himself in front of her.

“Why are you hiding in the trees?” Greyson asked, his face flush like he’d been running.

“I didn’t want the dogs to eat me.” Gena scoffed.

“Noah was just about to announce to the guards about your arrival when they caught your scent. You’re here early.” Greyson explained, gently taking Gena’s hand in his.

“Actually, I’ve been here all night.” Gena shrugged.

“All night?” Greyson’s eyes widened, “You’ve been out here?”

“I told you that I’d be exiled from the kingdom. I had nowhere else to go.” Gena said, trying to sound casual.

“I told you, Gena, you’re welcome here. You should’ve come to the packhouse.” Greyson pulled Gena to his side and she let him, taking comfort in his closeness.

“Your Alpha agreed to let me in?” Gena thought back to his earlier statement, about Noah making an announcement to his pack about her.

“He did.” It wasn’t Greyson’s voice that replied.

Gena looked around Greyson to see a man standing in front of them, completely naked. She recognized Alpha Noah by his kind eyes and contrasting menacing features. Greyson looked over his shoulder and growled at the sight of his naked brother.

“Noah!” Greyson snarled, blocking Gena’s view.

“Sorry, I just wanted to make sure that she wasn’t harmed.” Noah shrugged, not even bothering to look embarrassed.

“She’s fine. Go away.” Greyson didn’t sound amused, but Noah laughed anyway.

“Alright, alright. I’m going. But, Gena,” Noah said, earning another growl from Greyson, “This is your home now.” He stated plainly.

Gena didn’t try to look around Greyson this time, not in a hurry to see the naked Alpha again. She nodded, even though she knew Noah couldn’t see her.

“Yes, yes, thank you.” Greyson dismissed Noah with a wave of his hand. Noah chuckled, shaking his head as he walked away.

“I’m going to kill him.” Greyson grumbled to himself.

“He’s awfully kind.” Gena argued.

“Oh, kind is he?” Greyson c****d an eyebrow at her with a mischievous look in his eyes. Gena glared at him,

“Yes, kind.” Gena wasn’t in the mood to deal with a jealous werewolf today.

“Come on, let’s go inside for a bit.” Greyson said, tugging on Gena’s arm.

“Inside?”

“It’s okay, princess, I promise.” Greyson smirked, tucking her hand inside his elbow and giving it a comforting squeeze, “Just until we can decide where we’re going.”

“Did you speak to your Alpha about leaving?” Gena asked hesitantly as she followed him towards the packhouse.

“I did, this morning. He basically told me I should’ve left last night and worried about him later.” Greyson laughed shortly.

“He did?” Gena sounded surprised.

“My brother, Jack, is the only one who will dare to say anything against us. Just ignore him. He’s immature.” Greyson’s eyes darkened as he spoke of his brother’s attitude against his mate.

“I remember him from when we first met.” Gena said,

“He’s too young to understand the importance of the matebond, yet, but he will.” Greyson glanced down at Gena with an odd kind of expression.

“You have a sister, as well, don’t you?” Gena asked and Greyson smiled, excited that his mate was interested in him.

“I do, Lucy.” He replied.

“What does she think?” Gena knew sisters had a way of being even more protective than brothers.

“She has hearts in her eyes.” Greyson smirked and Gena knew what that meant.

Lucy was a romantic, idolizing the idea of finding her mate. She would never speak out against her brother’s choice of accepting his mate.

“And, of course, you know all about Noah’s persistence towards the matebond. He’s taken a human mate and basically declared war on the Council.” Greyson added.

“The Council and my father seem to see eye to eye on the topic of species mixing.” Gena grumbled bitterly.

“I don’t care what they think.” Greyson stated. Gena glanced up at her mate, a smile twitching on her lips, but said nothing.