Charlie & Her Beta

One

“The west side of the camp is clear, no prisoners, 2 wounded and healing.” Beta Nolen mind linked the soldier back “Good. North, East and South of camp have been cleared. We're clearing the large structure in center now, standby until further instruction.” “Copy Beta.” the wolf replied as Beta Nolen closed the link, bringing his attention back to the building that had been harboring a few hundred rogues. He feels a mind link and opens communication “Beta the building is cleared with exception of an electronically locked room in the basement. The material is a thick steel that we haven’t been able to break through. Standing by for further instruction.”

Nolen walked forward into the old warehouse building, the putrid smell of filth and mold filled his nose as he reached the stairwell. He walked straight into it and seen the center team lead standing in the dimly lit basement in front of a large metal door, that went from floor to ceiling. “What the hell did they need this for?” He thought to himself as he allowed his eyes to study the door for a moment.

He knocked on the metal and immediately knew it was solid and would take one hell of an explosive to open up. “What's over here?” he asked, noticing an adjacent room beside the door. “A supply room Sir.” The Lead answered following him inside. Beta Nolan grabbed one of the flimsy metal racks, littered with old cans and trash and moved it to the side away from the wall.

He ran his calloused hand down the rough concrete and knocked a few times. Nolen looked back at the center team lead. “Let’s try to knock this wall down, with any luck they didn't place steel behind the concrete or at the very least we can hope it won't be as thick.” The center lead nodded, then turned and began giving commands to set up the small explosives, while Beta Nolen and the rest of the men filed out of the warehouse to give them space to work.

When he got back outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air, then called the Alpha on his Cell to update him on their progress. Just as Beta Nolen ended the call, he heard men shouting to clear the area. Not even 10 minutes later, a loud bang echoed from the warehouse. The center lead waited for the dust to settle before going back in. Shortly thereafter, Beta received another mind link from the Center Lead. “Beta we broke through the wall, we have one hostage and an infant.”

The sound of a gunshot rings through the link and out through the warehouse. ‘Make that just an infant, I’m sending a man out with the child now.’ The center Lead states before Nolan closed the link, cursing. They had no hostages. This was the first time in his life he was in a situation where all the rogues they captured killed themselves or got themselves killed by refusing to surrender.

When the soldier reaches Beta Nolen he hands over the infant, and the Beta checks the child for any wounds and the little girl giggles and her emerald, green eyes light up. Her eyes reminded him of his late wife’s, and he touched the baby's soft cheek with his calloused finger. Beta realized the soldier was waiting for further instruction “I’ll take the child to the Alpha myself,” he told him, and when the soldier turned away, the Beta spoke softly to the baby. “It’s going to be alright now little one.”

17 years later

“Dad!” Charli called as she kicked her tennis shoes off and flung her heavy book bag onto the leather sofa. “What is it Arli,” Beta Nolen’s deep voice called from his home office. Charli slid in her socks, across the wood floor in his office, bumping into the chair that sat in front of his desk.

She quickly fixes the chair back to its prior position, smooths out her cheer uniform and fixes her emerald, green eyes to her father's. “They are going to let me fight Alisha’s wolf dad!” Nolen brings his calloused hand to his temple, closing his eyes for a moment, “Arli, love, we already talked about this, it’s not safe. You don’t have a wolf an-”

Charli cuts him off. “I know, but Coach M. said I am faster than half the kids in my class that have a wolf! I must be some sort of mutant or something.” She teases and her dad replies right away “you're not a mutant.” He states unamused, Arli doesn’t respond and just looks at him expectantly, waiting for an answer.

The excitement she displays is radiating, and she can barely hold still as a moment of silence passes. Nolen lets out an exasperated sigh “fine Arli, but I’m going to speak to coach M. right now and make sure precautions are taken.”

Charli couldn’t help the grand smile that came to her lips. “Ok! But please don’t embarrass me, I just want an opportunity to prove m-” He held up his hand to cut her off “You have nothing to prove to anyone Arli, you are perfect just the way you are, you are my-” “first and favorite daughter.” Charli finishes his sentence, rolls her eyes and giggles, trying to ease his tension. “I’m also your only daughter.”

Nolen gets up and gives her a side squeeze, then places a kiss on top of her Brillant blonde hair, that was currently tied up high with a black bow. “I’ve thanked the goddess every day since I found you, my perfect little pup.” He reaches over and grabs his aviator jacket off the coat rack and goes to walk out, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a coach to strangle, I mean talk to,” he says playfully.

“Oh! And your brother is coming for dinner tonight. If you wouldn’t mind whipping something up, I’d be grateful.” Charli steps over and fixes the collar on her dad’s jacket for him, “. Of course, I took some pork chops out yesterday. I’ll fry them up!” and with that she pushes her dad out the door. She grabs her bag off the couch and heads upstairs to start on her homework.

“CHHAAARRRLLIIII” Reid yells as he walks in the door of his childhood home. “Wherefore Art Thou Charli!” he yells again as he hangs his coat up on the rack. Charli rushes down the stairs to see her older brother. He picks her up and hugs her super tight so she can’t breathe. “You’re breaking my ribs!” Charli groans, making Reid chuckle, and he lets her go.

She looks up at his face and notices the stubble he’s grown, ‘probably from being too lazy to shave’ she thinks to herself, then flicks his chin. “Are you going to shave this?” She asks and he shakes his head, “Not a chance, I’m going to grow it out like an old mountain man.” he teases. “Gross,” Charli replies shaking her head.

“I’ve missed you, it's too quiet since you moved into the pack house." Charli tells him as she walks towards the kitchen to begin setting the table. “Where’s dad?” Reid asks as he takes a seat at the large country style kitchen table. “He went to talk to Coach M.” Charli says with excitement. She places the cast iron skillet on the stove top and turns on the burner letting it warm up as she tells him all about what happened today. The two talk about what's going on and joke with each other and just as Charli is finishing up, their dad make it home.