Bringing Agony to the Beta (Beasts of Arizona Series #2)

Chapter 5

The clubbing never happened because the men of the pack needed to go to the west part of our territory as it is reported that there were rogues roaming round.

When Caitlynn got pregnant, Ambrose was even more cautious. He would be alarmed even with the simple existence of a rogue—even with just one—inside our zone would freak him out. And that’s what they are doing right now.

“Where are you going?” Ceira asked me. “Alpha Ambrose and the men are gone. We need to stay here just in case.”

I smiled. “I’ll just walk to around the garden,” I replied. “I know I am not allowed to leave. Don’t worry,” I assured her and she calmed down.

“Caitlynn is upstairs and she said she’s feeling some contractions now,” she said. “Elisa told her that she would be able to give birth earlier if it continues.”

I narrowed my eyes and sat on the long wooden bench inside the receiving area of the packhouse. “Is that normal? Would the baby be affected?” I asked, worried because I haven’t heard anything like that before. Humans can probably have premature babies but I don’t know if that’s the same cases with creatures like us.

Ceira smiled and nodded. “Fortunately, the baby is healthy. The contractions come and go but we’re just monitoring her because she’s on her eighth month now.”

I heaved out a sigh of relief. “The most we could do now is to make sure that she’s safe in the packhouse.” 

“Yeah,” Ceira sighed. “Ambrose brought her back here before joining the boys in hunting the rogues.”

I shook my head. “What’s with the rogues, anyway? They have been coming around more often these days,” I commented. “Last week, we had an encounter in the eastern border, too.”

Ceira sighed hard. “I know,” she mumbled. “I wanted to go with them and see what the real deal is but they don’t want me to come.”

“I understand why they don’t want you to go,” I told her. “You’re a woman.”

“I’m the strongest in here because I have powers and you all don’t,” she retorted a little too snarky that I couldn’t help but laugh. “I can burn the wolves alive in a blink. No sweat.”

I shook my head bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing at her. I don’t want to experience her burning touch. “Yeah, but I think you’re better off with us girls here so there’s someone who could save us, right?” I tried to console her because I feel like the men have stepped on her ego.

She’s right. She’s the strongest here. I can only remember when we were up against Caitlynn’s former pack. She made sure the bitches couldn’t get out of the ring of fire she made. She was badass and she was the hero of the fight.

She sighed and finally nodded. “Well, now that you said it, I think it actually makes sense now,” she muttered.

I chuckled and shook my head. “Of course, I am right,” I told her. “Now, go and look after out Luna while I take a breather in the backyard. Being in the packhouse is actually suffocating these days.”

She scoffed. “That’s because you’re acting like you don’t like him when it’s so obvious that you do,” she replied.

I glared at her. “I don’t like him. My wolf does because she thinks he’s still my mate.”

“He’s still your mate.”

I raised my brow before shrugging. “He denied me.”

“He hasn’t rejected you yet,” she shot back. “Which means, you’re still his mate.”

I gave her a look. “I don’t think that’s how it is,” I told her. “The mere fact that he’s finally denied me as his mate tells a lot about his feelings about me being his mate.”

Ceira stared at me with her innocent eyes. She looks like a real goddess—fair skin, almond-shaped eyes and long blonde hair. At times, she also looks like an angel, especially when she talks. Her voice is soft that even when she’s angry, she still sounds so kind.

“We don’t know yet. He might have his own reasons.” She shrugged.

I scoffed. “Easy for you to say because you’re not in my position,” I told her before leaning on the backrest of the wooden bench.

I can remember the despair I felt the moment his mother told everyone that his son has finally found his mate. And it wasn’t me. Aside from the fact that it’s annoying because it’s an outright attack on Ambrose’s position, I felt devastated because I hoped it was me. I am his mate. My wolf tells me so. I’m pretty sure my eyes shimmered the moment I realized that fact.

But he chose someone else.

I never really like his mother even though she’s the sister of the former Alpha Andreus who was so nice to me because he’s the best friend of my father who I never had the privilege to know because he died before I was born. My mom has mental issues so she needed to be confined in an institution so I basically grew up with Alpha Andreus and Luna Roselyn.

Rania McMillian, on the other hand, seemed to have not liked me one bit. She always stares at me like she’s disgusted at me every time we cross paths. For some reason I know nothing of, she seems to hate my existence. I don’t remember doing anything to her but she treats me like I did.

Maybe that’s why Pyro hated me, too. Maybe that’s why he decided to deny me.

I know Pyro. He’d do everything and anything to please her parents and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tells me that he hates me because his mother does the same. And to be honest, I don’t care. I don’t give a f**k over a man who has no balls. I just need my wolf to stop fancying him because it’s not healthy for me, too. 

I won’t beg for anyone’s attention. Not even my mate.

“Well, I know that because I can read his mind,” Ceira told me. “Do you want me to tell you what he’s thinking?”

I pursed my lips, slightly contemplating at the tempting offer. “No,” I decided. If Pyro doesn’t want to tell me anything, I shouldn’t know what’s going on inside his mind. It would only hinder me in my goal to move on from him.

“He’s not a bad guy, D. He just has his own issues.”

I gawked at her, wondering why she’s telling all these things. She doesn’t need to tell me that. I know that Pyro is not a bad guy. But he’s annoying to me because of what he did. And I refuse to be convinced otherwise.

“I know you are hurt but he, too, is going through a hard time,” Ceira continued. “He had to be the sacrifice when his parents wanted him to be the next alpha—which of course, they failed. And now, he has another one—you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Why would I be an issue to him? It’s not like I am begging him to be my mate. It’s not like that, Cei.”

She sighed and looked at me intently. “Well, you’re not begging him to but you’re ignoring him and I think that’s the worst thing that you have done.”

Now, I’m confused. “Would you rather I beg than move on?”

She shrugged. “You could move on, sure. But do it after making sure that everything has been settled. Remember, nothing is settled until you talk it out with him. If you keep ignoring him, then your wolf will keep on longing for him because there’s no proper rejection.”

I pursed my lips. I don’t understand where this conversation is going. And why do I feel like Ryder is the only person who understands what I am feeling? Everyone is telling me to give Pyro a chance. What chance should I give him in the first place? He’s supposed to make it up to me and not the other way around.

I’m not even being irrational. I just know my worth.

“Talk it with him, alright? Ignoring him won’t solve anything,” Ceira advised.

I c****d my head to the side. “Why are you always telling me that? Ambrose also told me to do that. Did Pyro ask you to do it for him?”

I know Ceira. She’s kind and it’s not a surprise if she’s doing Pyro a favor. Ambrose, too. Even though they seemed to have a little misunderstanding because of the Alpha position, Ambrose never treated Pyro as an enemy. He was rational and I guess that’s what makes him a good leader.

She shrugged. “I can’t say for Alpha Ambrose but Pyro doesn’t talk to me so it’s impossible for him to be able to tell me anything. I’m just telling you all this because you’re my friend and it hurts to see both of you like that.”

I furrowed my brows at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told her. “I’m happy with my life now. I have a stable job and I can date whoever I want.”

She raised her brow and smirked. “I don’t think so,” she said before standing up. “Anyway, if you finally found it in you to admit everything to yourself, I’ll be all ears to listen about how happy you are.” She smiled. “I better go up and check on our Luna.”

I scoffed and was about to ask her something when someone barged into the front door. It’s Arnold, a member of the pack. He was panting hard and looked like he ran a mile. He looked alarmed when he saw me.

“Dionessa,” he uttered, catching his breath. “Pyro is hurt.”

My eyes widened and looked at Ceira who also heard it. She immediately rushed over outside to see Pyro. “Go and check on Caitlynn first.” She managed to tell me an order before finally vanishing from my sight.

Arnold followed her and led her to where Pyro is.

I craned my neck, followed them but stopped by the door as I tried to see where they were but they both ran towards the infirmary. My heart suddenly pounded against my chest and I couldn’t help but feel worried about what could have happened to him.

Arnold’s face looked so urgent. Elisa went out with Roselyn so there’s no doctor that would see him right now. I want to go there but I know that Ceira could help him more than I am.

I don’t know what of rogues they encountered but for Pyro, one of the best fighters of the pack, to be injured, I think they are powerful. I wonder if the rest are okay. For sure, the wolves they face are stronger than they have expected.

Those rogues probably have the capacity to face our pack because they had the guts to enter our territory even with all the signs all over the borders.  

I pressed my lips together and sighed hard before walking upstairs to check on Caitlynn because that was what was tasked to me. My mind is still wrapped around the thought of Pyro inside the infirmary. He’s hurt.

“Oh, my god! Pyro!” I heard a loud shriek coming from the basement and here comes a running and panicking Wynona who rushed towards the door but not without giving me a glare.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

Aira came running next but she’s way, way, way calmer than her friend. She smiled at me and I just nodded. She ran after her friend who certainly went to the infirmary to check on her mate.

I should leave him be. He already has someone who’s going to take care of him. But I am praying that he’s fine. Even after everything, I still hope he’s safe. I still hate the thought of him being in pain. I still hate the thought of him getting hurt in a fight.

Moving on would probably be a pain now because no matter how much I wanted to resist him, I still end up longing for him and wishing him all the good things in life.

I sighed and shook my head. I really should work hard on trying to flush him out of my system.