Chapter 26 Exit Strategy
1253words
I swiftly picked her up by the waist and placed her on my desk. I could see she was mortified, anger and hurt swirling in her eyes. "Well, this better be important, Jax," she stammered, annoyance clear in her voice.
"It is, Beverly, and I ask you to really listen to me," I began, ensuring my tone was soft and calm. "I am indebted to you for your service to both me and the pack. You took on the role of Luna to Midnight Moon so selflessly, with zero regard for finding your mate. The pack came first for you, and your nobleness has been noted. It pains me to tell you this, Bev, but we won't be proceeding with the mating ceremony."
In an instant, her eyes hardened, and her chest rose and fell rapidly. It was clear she was hurt by my words. "Does this have to do with that slutty mate of yours?" she spat, disgust panging through her words.
I was shocked that she knew Adeline was my fated mate—the one saving grace I had been holding onto—but she somehow already knew?
"Beverly, first I need you to understand that I will not tolerate you or anyone else calling her names except for Adeline," dominance leaked through my voice. My wolf wanted to rip her apart for using that language about our mate, anger fueling him despite my control. "But yes, Adeline is my fated mate. I'm just as surprised as you are. I wouldn't have wasted your time if I knew it was even possible I had a mate. Honestly, I don't deserve one. I've fought with myself and my wolf over the last couple of days. I know the sacrifices you've made, but I can't deny my one true mate from the Moon Goddess."
She grabbed the glass of whiskey sitting on my desk, stood up, and hurled it against the wall, shattering it. Glass shards fell onto the floor. "Are you fucking kidding me, Jaxon? I've given up my life, rejected my mate, and stood by you through every battle like a good Luna would, all for you to meet a weak little she-wolf who spread her legs for you and YOU BAILED?" she screamed. "I've worked fucking tirelessly to be a good enough Luna for you, even before your dad died, and I don't even get a chance?"
My mouth dropped open at her words. I was stunned. "Rejected your mate? What? When did you even meet your mate? You never even told me about this, Beverly." Genuinely, I felt like the biggest douchebag to have ever walked the earth. I had assumed she hadn't met her mate.
"When? It doesn't matter when. I did it for you and for Midnight Moon," anger pooling within her to infinite depths. "AND I EXPECT YOU TO DO THE SAME OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY, ALPHA JAXON!" She slammed the door behind her.
I stood beside my mahogany desk with fury blazing through my blood. "You did this. You allowed that crazy bitch to do what she pleased and always turned a blind eye to avoid a fight. Now she's refusing to take orders from her Alpha; you may as well hand her the fucking pack," my wolf reprimanded me. We were both pissed that anyone in our pack would dare speak to us that way.
I suppressed my wolf as deeply as I could. I knew he would finish her off with one clamp on her throat. I opened the door and saw her still walking down the hallway, tossing paintings off the wall. Grabbing a strong hold on her wrist, I felt my eyes darken to complete black and steadied my voice. "WHO do you think you are speaking to? One wrong move, Beverly... You've seen me rip out throats for less than disrespect."
I was seething with anger. If there hadn't been a part of me that felt I owed her for her years of service to the pack, I would have ended her in that moment.
Her legs started to tremble, as if she couldn't handle the dominance flowing from me. A thud echoed down the hallway as she dropped to her knee, baring her neck. "Alpha, please accept my humble apologies. There will not be a second time of disrespect."
Turning the corner, Beta Don and a few of my enforcers came running down the hall. I could see Beta Don's confusion at Beverly's submission on the floor. An enforcer stepped forward first. "A-Alpha, is everything alright?" he stammered.
I glared at him amused, feeling my old cruel ways ignite inside me. "Has everyone in this pack forgotten how to mind their own fucking business?" With one sudden swipe of my arm, he flew into the wall across the hall. Gasps of fear escaped everyone's mouths, enthralling me even further.
I looked down to see Beverly still trembling in fear. I reached out, grabbed her wrist, and in an emotionless tone demanded, "Beverly. My office. Now."
Before the last word could leave my lips, I felt her jolt up and follow me to my office. Standing at my office door, slightly ajar, I shot a look at Beta Don and nodded at him, expecting him inside the office immediately. Before I could sit back in my chair, I heard someone enter and gently close the office door.
Tears raced down Beverly's face, and I struggled to feel bad. I couldn't find an inch of compassion anywhere inside. She sat in the chair opposite me, holding the sides of her face in her hands while choking on her sobs.
"I think we can agree that was unnecessary and will not happen again unless you have a death wish," I gritted my teeth. "Beverly, as I have already thanked you, you have been an integral part of Midnight Moon and will be rewarded with a high-ranking position. Any suggestions you have can be addressed directly to Beta Don. The mating ceremony is canceled, effective immediately."
"And—if I hear any more taunting to or about my mate, there will be no second chances," I snapped as I watched her let out a sob. "You are both dismissed."
Beverly pulled her red hair to the side of her head and began to stand, but then I noticed a tinge of accomplishment in her body language.
"Alpha, if I may," she spoke softly, her eyes still red and swollen. "I understand your decision to cancel the mating ceremony, sir. However, announcing it during the coronation may not be the best decision for the pack. If the pack sees unusual behavior from you and me, it will signal weakness, and we could risk an unnecessary attack."
I let out a loud sigh, thoughts of Adeline running through my mind. Beta Don stepped forward. "Alpha, I agree with Beverly. We have every Alpha in the United States here, along with several who traveled from Europe. We must show a united front. I suggest waiting for our visitors' departure before making any such announcement." He spoke firmly, power escaping his words as a true Beta should.
My wolf wasn't happy with this idea. He wanted his mate and his mate only. As Alpha, though, I knew the pack came first at all costs. "Very well, then. But Beverly, remember what I said about Adeline—not another fucking word."
I nodded at both of them, watching as they rushed out of the room and disappeared into the faintly lit hallway.
