Page 10 of The Beta’s Heart (Five Fangs #5)

Tyler

The shopping center was full of people rushing from store to store, their laughter and conversations blending into a constant hum.

Definitely not my scene.

Em, Tris, Crew, Matthew, and I flanked the ladies as they walked around, chatting excitedly and pointing out various shops and window displays, but I could see the tension in luna’s posture. Her eyes darted around and her hands tightly gripped the hem of her pretty blouse.

I stayed close, but gave her space, knowing how important it was for her to feel some semblance of control. From the way she held herself, it was clear that she was trying to keep it together, trying to appear strong, but I could see the fear in her eyes every time a stranger got too close or the twins squealed too loudly or a motor revved or…

Or so many things.

It broke my heart. It really did.

We came to a small café, and Peri suggested they take a break and get a drink. As they picked a table, I studied luna’s face. She looked like she was holding her breath, and I had to do something to ease her anxiety.

“Luna, what can I get you to drink?” I asked, keeping my tone casual, like we were two friends chatting, and she looked up at me, her eyes wide and a little wild.

“Um, maybe an iced tea?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I know just the thing! You wait here. I’ll be right back.” I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.

Even if I had to DoorDash it here, Luna Posy was getting some Arizona Sweet Tea!

Fortunately, I only needed to go to the counter, order, and pay for it while the other girls visited the restroom. As I walked back to luna, I tried to think of a way to make her feel more comfortable.

“Here you go. I hope it’s to your liking.” I set the bottle in front of her.

“Thank you, Tyler,” she murmured.

She tried to get the lid off, but her hands were shaking too much, so I cracked it open for her, then moved to stand a respectful distance away as she took the first sip.

“Luna, I can see that this is a lot for you today,” I began the little spiel I’d rehearsed between the counter and here, “and I just want you to know that we betas are here to keep you safe, but we’re also here to support you however you need.”

“Sorry I’m so bad at hiding how uncomfortable I am,” she murmured, setting down the tea bottle. “It’s probably making everyone feel awkward.”

“Don’t apologize. You’re allowed to feel however you feel,” I assured her.

“Thank you.”

She gave me a little nod, and I realized that she was thanking me for giving her permission to feel. I knew that must stem from her father’s abuse, which made anger bubble up inside me, and I had to swallow it down to focus on her quiet voice.

“Everything is too loud and bright, and I’ve never been around so many people. I’m...”

“Frightened?” I finished for her when her voice petered out.

“Yes,” she whispered and curled her shoulders in, a defense posture if ever I saw one, and I couldn’t stand it anymore.

Crouching down next to her, which put us almost eye to eye, I wanted so badly to give her a hug, but knew she wouldn’t welcome it. She might sit through it in silence because she felt she had to, but it wouldn’t bring the comfort I intended, so I kept my arms to myself and settled for waiting until her dark blue eyes flashed to mine.

“Luna, no one will touch you while we’re with you, I promise,” I whispered. “I know you don’t trust us yet, but the alphas do, and you trust them , right? They hand-picked each of us because they knew you’d be as safe in our care as you are in theirs.”

“I’m sorry.” She dropped her head and sniffed, a tear skimming down her cheek. “I swear I’m not trying to be rude, but I can’t trust you all yet.”

“Hey, it’s all right. I understand,” I said as I handed her a wad of napkins. “Trust takes time, but I’m in no rush. We’ll take it one step at a time and guess what? We’ll be friends before you know it!”

“That would be nice.” She blew her nose, then flicked her eyes up to meet mine. “I hope none of you take it personally. I’m just scared of…”

“Me? Men in general?” I guessed.

“ Everyone ,” she whispered and sniffed again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the girls headed back to our table and linked the others to run interference with them until I could get luna to stop crying, knowing she would hate for them to see her upset when they were trying so hard to share a good day with her. As Em and Tris stood guard, Crew intercepted the twins and Matthew turned Peri and Lilah around, and I did my best to calm my luna’s frazzled nerves.

“Is there anything we can do to make ourselves less scary to you?” I asked gently.

“I’m not scared of you . I like you the best so far.” She paused to blow her nose again, and my chest expanded with pride and happiness at her words. “Emerson was very scary at first, but then he smiled and called me little luna bunny, so maybe he’s okay? Crew has the calmest aura of anyone I’ve ever met, and I liked his smile. Tristan seemed like a nice guy with how he shook my hand and tried to get me to talk, so I’m halfway to thinking they’re okay, too. I don’t like Matthew, though. He’s a bully.”

“Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, luna. Not only am I glad that you like me already, I’m happy that you feel safe enough to talk to me!”

Despite the heat I felt in my cheeks and the tips of my ears, I gave her a big smile as River pranced around in excited circles and praised me with, Ty-Ty a good boy!

“As for the others,” I went on, “Emerson may be Beta Beast to us, but he’ll be a teddy bear for you. Crew is always calm no matter what’s happening, so you can depend on him, and Tristan is a nice guy. He’s so nice, you’ll be comfortable with him in no time! As for Matthew, he’s going through a rough time right now. His best friend was killed, and he’s still grieving for him. He’ll come around after he heals a little more, just like you. You’ll both move ahead at your own pace, okay?”

“Okay.” She nodded, then took another sip of her tea, her hands still trembling slightly. “This is good, by the way. I like it.”

“It’s my favorite,” I admitted with a blush as I stood up and stepped back since the girls refused to be distracted any longer, and they rejoined us with cheerful conversation and giggles.

Resuming my guard position, I stationed myself near luna, hoping it made her feel even a little safer to know I was right there.

Good job, pup, Emerson murmured in the beta link.

Try not to drip any of that smarmy schmooze on the floor, Matthew scoffed.

Shut up, Meanie Boy, Tris muttered. Goddess, I bet twenty bucks that you can’t go the rest of the day without insulting Ty in one way or another.

Bet! Crew piped up and Emerson echoed, making me roll my eyes.

As the girls continued shopping, I kept close watch on Luna Posy, offering a reassuring smile or a few calming words whenever she seemed overwhelmed. Slowly, she started to relax, her steps becoming a bit more confident. By the time the girls were ready to leave and find a place for lunch, she looked less like a deer caught in headlights and more like a young woman trying to reclaim her life.

It was a small victory, maybe, but, hey, they were worth celebrating just as much as the big ones!

In the parking lot, I opened luna’s door and held out my hand in case she wanted help getting in. Alpha Cole’s SUV needed some running boards for our tiny luna, and I linked my beta brothers to request some.

“Thank you, Tyler,” she murmured, but didn’t take my hand.

That’s all right, I told myself with determination. I’ll win her trust slowly but surely, just like I told her.

“Anytime, luna. We’re here for you. Always.”

She nodded with a tiny smile, and I was smart enough to recognize that, despite her reservations, she was warming up to me—and I was going to do everything I could to prove she wasn’t making a mistake to do so.

#

Peri

The outlets were bustling with shoppers, and we dove headfirst into racks of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Laughter filled the air as we tried on various outfits, shared opinions, and cracked jokes. It felt good to forget everything and enjoy each other’s company for a while, and I was happy to see Lilah and the twins getting along.

I kept a careful watch on Posy, who was a nervous wreck nearly the whole time, but Tyler had a talk with her when we stopped for a drink, and whatever he said made her comfortable enough to play with us a bit at the last store.

“Check out these shoes, Peri,” she murmured with a smile, holding up a pair of pink chrome platform sneakers with lights along the bottom. “They’re perfect for you.”

“I think they’re more your style!” I teased her back with a grin.

At noon, we decided to refuel at Roger’s Diner, a cozy spot often frequented by the wolves of the pack, so the betas linked him, and he cleared the place out for us!

Damn. The benefits of befriending the luna, Dove snickered.

I know, right?

As we settled into a booth near the window, Callie grabbed a menu, eying it with eager anticipation.

“I’m starving,” she declared, which made Keeley giggle.

“You’re always hungry, Sissy.”

We placed our orders amid more laughter and banter, enjoying the warmth of friendship and good food. Every once in a while, I caught Ty’s gaze on me, and his cheeks flared red whenever our eyes met. It sent a delightful shiver down my spine, which I tried to ignore, but couldn’t.

Oh, girl, don’t be a fool, I cautioned myself.

Then Lilah’s expression suddenly shifted, her knuckles gripping the edge of the table as she shut her eyes tightly.

“Tall Pines,” she whispered in a panic. “I smell Tall Pines wolves!”

I realized what that meant and quickly linked the twins that it was most likely her old alpha, who was responsible for all the bruises on her neck and arms.

He’s trying to kidnap her? Keeley squeaked with wide eyes.

Luke told me yesterday that he was afraid Alpha Halder would stop at nothing to have his revenge on her, I replied, so I wouldn’t put it past him!

And now we—and luna—are caught in the middle, Callie growled, Finch underscoring her voice.

It’s not Lilah’s fault! I defended her hotly.

No, I didn’t mean it like that, Callie huffed. I meant, this dick alpha needs to die!

Well, why didn’t you just say that? I rolled my eyes. Cole told me it’s one of the reasons the king’s coming today. They’re going to—

“Luna, go to the bathroom and lock yourself in.” Beta Emerson spoke from Posy’s side, his dark eyes glinting with his wolf. “The rest of you are her last-ditch guards. Keep her alive as best you can.”

“Yes, beta,” the twins chorused as I nodded.

Without hesitation, we followed his instructions, running to the restroom and locking the door behind us. Tension twisted my stomach into knots as I listened at the door and heard the betas’ fading footsteps and the angry rumbles of their wolves.

Well, we’re not going to sit here and wait with only a thin piece of wood and a deadbolt between us and death, I decided. The betas can do their part, and we’ll do ours.

“Okay, we know help is on the way, but the betas are outnumbered.” I gathered my girls into a tight huddle. “We need a plan in case they can’t hold the line until the others get here. We can’t let anything happen to the luna.”

“Behind the diner is an open field that leads to the woods,” Callie said. “As soon as we hit the trees, we’re on pack territory. I say we go through the kitchen, out the back door, and book it for the border.”

As we quickly roughed out a plan, I kept my eyes on Posy. She was crying silently, her breath coming in little pants, and she shook hard enough to rattle her teeth.

“Luna’s not going to be able to run, Per,” Callie said, pointing out what we all could see.

“My wolf is a large one. I’ll carry her,” Lilah said with determination in her mismatched eyes. “The three of you run guard around us. If we’re attacked, buy as much time as you can for me to get her back on pack lands.”

Sounded like a good enough plan to me, so I nodded and linked Cole to let him know what was happening.

#

Tyler

The air crackled with tension as we lined up outside Roger’s Diner, ready to face whatever threat came at us.

“What’s the plan, boys?” Roger Poe stepped between me and Crew, rolled his neck, and cracked his knuckles. “Wolf, human, or half-shifted?”

“Go back inside, Rog,” Emerson rumbled. “This is beta business and—”

“The hell I will! Brook and I got beta blood the same as you.” As Em opened his mouth to continue arguing, Roger threw up one hand. “And don’t even try to order me out of this fight. Alpha Cole himself gave me permission to defend my diner any time I needed to and in any way I saw fit.”

“They ain’t coming for your diner, old man,” Tristan told him with exasperation. “Get your ass behind your grill and stay there!”

I never would have spoken to an elder like that, but Roger was Tris’ great-uncle on his mother’s side, the Poes having been one of the smaller families from Dark Woods while the Harringtons had always been powerful warriors for the River Rapids pack. I didn’t really know too much about family dynamics, so maybe it was okay to talk like that between relatives?

“You get that bass out your voice ’fore you talk to me again, son, or you going to learn better over my knee!” Roger fired back, so maybe it wasn’t okay? “You ain’t so big I can’t whup you for sassing me!”

“Hey, let’s focus on whupping the enemies and not each other,” Crew intervened, jerking his head toward the parking lot. “Rog, stay close to me and link one of us if you get in trouble.”

As Roger muttered about kids these days getting too big for their britches, the Tall Pines wolves kept tumbling out of the two mini buses, their snarls and aggressive postures a clear declaration that they weren’t leaving without a fight.

That was fine with me. River had been longing for some new playthings—and play with his prey he did. While most wolves prided themselves on how fast they could rip out a throat, mine liked to toy with his, giggling to himself when they foolishly started to believe that they could beat him, that they would live.

So far, none ever had.

“This is your one and only warning,” Emerson’s voice rang out, authoritative and firm. “Turn back now or face the consequences.”

“Step aside, Five Fangs filth,” sneered their obvious leader, an unusually tall shifter with a cruel sneer. “We’re taking back what belongs to our alpha.”

With a low growl, I exchanged glances with the others, and we all nodded. We knew what needed to be done.

Half-shifting, we bulked up until our clothes split at the seams, fur sprouted everywhere, and our faces elongated into wolf heads until we looked exactly like the creatures that humans pictured when they heard the term werewolf.

All right, boys, let’s show them what happens when they threaten our luna, Em murmured in the link, and we all growled our agreement.

The first clash was an explosion of flashing fangs and tearing claws. I kept my moves calculated and precise, River and I working together to separate each shifter from his head.

Don’t miss a single one, I told my wolf.

Me kill them all! he roared back, adrenaline flooding us both.

Although we were greatly outnumbered, we held them back, Em’s strategic commands guiding our movements with an efficiency and ferocity that they couldn’t match. Not only were we five betas—and one old man—from the second most powerful pack in the kingdom, but we were also protecting our vulnerable luna, a combination that spelled their doom before they even realized it. Even if they had brought along twice as many wolves, we would not have fallen or faltered in our duty so long as they threatened Luna Posy.

Then the air shifted, and we renewed our efforts, buoyed by the knowledge that the alphas had arrived, and they weren’t alone. The king himself was here, along with his younger brother, Ranger, and two wolves I didn’t recognize.

Alpha Jay had shifted into his big, white wolf, and Quartz didn’t spare a second before he launched into battle and began ripping out throats. Alpha Cole’s wolf, Topaz, immediately darted around the side of the dinner, making me wonder why, but my curiosity was cut short when a Tall Pines wolf lunged at me and I had to focus.

Border patrol’s here! Em’s voice cut through the link, signaling we were about to change our strategy with the arrival of reinforcements.

After that, the tide swiftly turned in our favor, and we fought the intruders until they were all dead or taken captive, bound and gagged and ready for transport to our cells. Once we’d shifted back to fully human, Matthew took over the prisoners, barking out orders and making sure they were secured for questioning later.

Quartz wasn’t so ready for the fight to end and roared his fury as Alpha Mase and a few others tried to calm him down, but I was more focused on the news that Peri and the girls had fled out the back of the diner and across the field towards our border.

My heart clenched with worry for both my luna and Peri, then a thunderous roar brought us all to our knees as the king’s unique triad of royal, moon, and alpha power rumbled around the impromptu battlefield.

“ WHERE IS SHE? ” King Julian’s voice boomed.

“Forgot to mention the king scented his mate at our place,” Alpha Mase grunted.

When the tension popped as suddenly as a balloon, Crew looked over at me and smirked.

“Looks like he found her, too,” he snickered.

I nodded, but was too jacked up on adrenaline to talk.

“Ash, Wyatt, and Topaz are with Posy,” Alpha Mase called out next, making all of us breathe a sigh of relief before his next words dug into me like razor-edged claws. “She’s unconscious. They think she hit her head.”

We should have protected her better! I berated myself.

Girls not wait like Em told dem to, River disagreed, back to his happy baby self now that the fight was over. Bad girls not listen.

They did what they thought was best to protect luna.

And keen.

Keen? I echoed.

One of the hardest things about sharing headspace with River was his poor communication skills. I’d tried over and over to improve his speech, but none of my lessons or activities made any difference, and I often felt like I was interpreting a foreign language.

Keen, he repeated, bouncing around in my head. King Julie’s mate.

Ohh! The queen . I huffed out a chuckle. Yes, I guess we have one now.

Yep-yep, Ty-Ty. Keen Lilah. Pretty, pretty keen for King Julie.

I shook my head as he turned that into a little song and happily sang it to himself.

As soon as Alpha Wyatt came around the side of the diner carrying luna, my beta brothers and I hustled over to his side to see her with our own eyes. Not liking the bloody lump on the side of her head at all, I let out a little growl that blended in with the other betas’ sounds of disapproval.

We followed alpha to the SUV they’d arrived in, and I opened the door for him as Alpha Ash and Topaz bounded over and climbed in, too. Only after our luna was safely on her way out of here did I allow myself to focus elsewhere.

“I’m going to see what’s happening in the back,” I said. “Make sure the other girls are okay.”

“I’ll come with you,” Em told me and waved one hand around the diner’s parking lot, which was full of dead bodies. “The gammas are going to help the pack’s corps of deltas set up an emergency first-aid station, so we’re free of duty for the moment.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I was a blur of movement as I hustled off, leaving Beta Beast to eat my dust.

#

The aftermath of the battle still buzzing through me, I rounded the corner of Roger’s Diner, eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger or wounded. The tall, scrubby grasses rustled gently in the breeze, a stark contrast to the chaos we’d just endured.

The border patrol were doing the same thing I was, combing the field for survivors in a grid pattern, so I went to the far side they hadn’t gotten to yet, my nose hard at work as I tried to scent a certain someone.

And sure enough, I found a she-wolf that smelled like Peri Barlow, right down to a faint whiff of Miss Dior perfume.

“Dove?” I called out. I’d never met her before, but River was insisting that was her name.

My heart clenched at the sight of her lying motionless on the ground, my fingers trembling as I checked for a pulse. Relief washed over me when I found it, and I carefully picked her up in my arms.

“I’ve got you, girl. Hang in there, little fighter.”

Running as fast as I could without jostling the injured she-wolf too much, I spotted the emergency station bustling with activity as deltas tended to the injured, although Roger Poe seemed to be resisting all attempts to stitch his right ear back on.

As I was running, I spotted Em carrying a she-wolf in his arms, too, her fur matted with dirt and blood, and River identified the wolf trotting beside him as Sparrow, Keeley Breckenridge’s wolf.

“Finch, Callie’s wolf,” Emerson called out, confirming what I’d already guessed. “Got knocked around and seems unconscious.”

“Dove, too.” I nodded, adjusting the she-wolf in my own arms as we made our way to the deltas. “She’s not badly injured, but she needs help.”

The deltas immediately took over, their hands gentle yet firm as they grabbed the she-wolves from us and began assessing their injuries. I moved several yards away to give them room to work—and because the scent of antiseptic mixed with the metallic tang of blood was getting to me.

Brought back too many bad memories.

Like a boxer warming up before a fight, I started bouncing back and forth from foot to foot, trying to work out the last of the adrenaline.

“What a mess, huh?” Em said as he came to stand next to me.

“Yeah, you could say that.” I chuckled, a humorless sound.

“I know they did what they thought was best, but why the fuck did they leave the restroom?” he asked, scratching the top of his head. “We didn’t let a single Tall Pines wolf breach the front door!”

“One thing you should know by now is that our she-wolves aren’t afraid of anything!” I laughed, then raised my voice to mimic Charlie Nelson’s. “Aww, look, a rabid, half-drowned possum. I’m sure he just needs some loving, bless his little heart. Let me fetch a box and carry him home, and I’ll have him right as rain in no time.”

“They’re some brave bitches, all right,” Emerson chuckled, glancing over at the deltas working on Finch and Dove.

“Stubborn, too,” I agreed, remembering how Charlie was simply not going to give up on that freaking possum before it conveniently ‘disappeared’ one night.

“So are we,” Emerson laughed, a genuine sound this time. “Some might say there’s a fine line between stubborn and stupid, but whatever it was, we sure as hell weren’t going to let those bastards lay one finger on our luna or anyone else.”

“True, but let’s be real, Em. We both know we were lucky today.”

“Damned lucky,” he said with a nod. “Next time, let’s try to avoid getting into a situation where we need to rely on luck.”

“Definitely.”