Chapter 194: The Beta title

Chapter 194: The Beta title
Vida's POV

I stood in front of Meredith, my hands smoothing the front of his attire for what felt like the hundredth time. I wanted him to look more handsome than everyone there, even more than the first time, he had his beta ceremony. "You are going to wrinkle it if you keep touching it," he murmured, his voice soft but laced with nervousness.

"I'm not," I replied automatically, even though I knew he was right. My fingers lingered anyway, my tummy almost pushing him backward, just three weeks after our wedding, three weeks since I became his fere in every sense of the word, both in the eyes of humans and werewolves, even in the eyes of the Guardians. Three weeks since I chose this life, not because I had to, but because I wanted to, because of Meredith, the man who held my heart right from the start.

So much had happened in such a short time, from Linda going to labor on my wedding day to our little friendship circles expanding slowly. I couldn't forget how I had wanted to leave the rest of the party to go be with Linda. Crazy how so many things happened on my wedding day but it still turned out a success, I could still remember the way, Linda had cried when she held her son, baby Nash for the first time, the way her entire world shifted in that single moment, I had watched every detail of it even when I was at my wedding.

Then there was Alpha Ryan, that man is a sharpshooter, barely a month since he found his mate, they were already expecting a baby, he announced that they were expecting a pup too casually, almost like he was talking about the weather and my wonderful friend, Roe, that turned into a brother, just last week had finally decided to open up about his feelings for Clara. That single announcement had made Akira so excited, and she opened up that the night I had picked Meredith over Roe, that night was hard for her family, that Roe almost lost his life, while driving home that night. I had told her, while she didn't tell me, but she had said, I had so much guilt in my innocent heart already and wouldn't want to add more to it.

Although I had felt bad about it, it was all good because right now, Roe is in the hands of the one he truly belongs to. Clara had told us that Roe is her fated mate. She, being a wolf, had made her able to identify the mate bond. I was just wondering how Roe will react when he finds out that the woman he thinks he is merely attracted to is a werewolf and the connection wasn't a mere attraction but a fate seal by the goddess.

And in the middle of all that, there is Meredith, the council, and its decision. I paused, my hands resting lightly against his chest, as I looked up at him. He was already watching me, his eyes moving from my bump to my face.

"You are thinking too much again," he said quietly,

I smiled faintly, "So are you," which earned a slight huff from him, because it was the truth; the past week had been a lot for Meredith, when everyone was having bubbles. When Meredith first told me the council wanted to meet him, that they had contacted him directly when he didn't give Alpha Logan a date to meet the council, I saw the fear in his eyes.

Not the kind of fear that made someone run, the kind that stayed, that kind that lingered, that kind that whispered old wounds back to life. He didn't want to go, he made excuses, avoided it, and delayed it. Anything to keep him from sitting in front of Alpha Clifford and the rest of them again.

And I understand his fear, they had taken everything from him once, that day they not just stripped him of his title, but his dignity and his place, I had cried the night he had told me what those men said to him. Those words were like a knife stabbed to the heart, they are a permanent wound that I don't think would ever heal. Facing them again meant reopening all of that, but eventually, after that night we talked about it, he went, not because he wanted to but just to make me happy. The incident reminded me of the day we had gone to the clinic, I know he didn't want to go, but went because of me. This was the same but a little different because that day at the hospital, nothing changed about his condition, but meeting with the council, everything had changed. "They apologized," he had told me the moment he burst through the door, still sounding like he didn't quite believe it. "They asked me to take the beta title back." I remember the way he had looked at me, not excited, not proud, but afraid, "What if you don't want this life?" He had asked quietly, "What if you don't want to leave the life you've known all your life for that? What if you don't like the wolf life?"

"Do I even know if I could still call myself a human girl?" He let out a small uneasy laughter.

"Even at that, you had lived in the human territory for eighteen long years and that is all you know"

I laugh and without even hesitating, I reply, "wherever you are," I told him, taking his hand, "that is where I will be." And I meant every word I said then, and till now, I still do.

And now, here we were, the day of the beta union, not just his but ours. I adjusted the collar of his outfit one last time before stepping back slightly, giving him a real look, Are you nervous?" I asked softly.

He let out a breath, I never knew he was holding, "If I say I'm not, that would be the biggest lie I've ever told all my life."

A small smile tugged at my lips, "That is honesty, huh?"

He gave a faint shrug, "When I had my first beta ceremony..." He started, his voice thoughtful, "I was barely sixteen." I listened quietly, "I wasn't scared then" his gaze dropped slightly, "This feels different "

"It's different," I said gently. He looked at me, "Maybe because you are not doing it alone, this time."

For a moment, something softened in his eyes. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. I could feel the gratitude, the comfort, the love, and everything in between. "I'm scared," he admitted. He pulled back, this time, there was no hesitation, no mask, just truth. "I'm scared, I'll fail them again." My heart tightened, "I'm scared the council might strip me of the title again,” his voice lowered, "I don't want that, I don't know if I could take another blow like that again..." I stepped closer instinctively, "I saw the way the pack members looked at me..." He continued with his fist tightened slightly. "When I told them I wasn't the beta anymore." His eyes darkened with memory, "they asked me why. I couldn't answer." I felt my chest ache, "I saw the disappointment in their eyes," he went on, "when they tried to understand." His voice grew quieter, "They asked about my wolf, they asked if the rejections were what made my wolf go silent..." He swallowed hard, running his hand on his chest, I could feel Ruin, "and I had nothing to say." Silence filled the space between us, "and when I announced Riley would take over..." He added, his voice strained, "I saw fear in their eyes, betrayal, I felt like the demon who lured them to the devil..." His eyes pooled with tears, "and after everything Riley put them through..." He shook his head slightly, "I just felt..."

Before he could finish, I lifted my hand and pressed it gently against his lips, "Stop!" His words faded instantly, his eyes met mine, "It's not your fault," I said softly but firmly. I let my hand drop, resting it against his chest instead, "You didn't betray them, you didn't fail them. You survive something that should have broken you" My voice softened, "and you came back for them."

"What if they don't want me?" His voice low.

"Didn't you say they asked you to come back for them?" He looked at me, without answering, "They said they will wait for you, they want to see you back, they wanted to see their cheerful beta, with the beautiful female he couldn't replace," I saw a small smile, creep into his face, "and you promised to come back for them." He stared at me, "and you did, but this time..." I continue my fingers curling slightly against his shirt, "You are not alone. We are here, together, stronger and better."

For a moment, he just looked at me, really looked at me and then he nodded, a small, quiet nod, but it meant everything, "together and stronger," he whispered.

Before I could reply, a soft knock came at the door, "Hey!" Austin's voice called from outside, "They are waiting for you lovebirds!"

I huffed a small laugh despite everything, "of course they are."

Meredith shook his head slightly, a faint smile breaking through his nerves, "Ready?" He asked.

I slipped my hand into his, "always."

The walk to the pack clearing felt longer than it actually was, or maybe it just felt that way because everything was riding on it. I could feel the energy in the air before we arrived, the anticipation, the excitement, the weight of tradition, everything in between, and then we stepped into the clearing of the Gold Moon Pack and everything came into view, The crowd wasn't something I had imagined, almost all the pack members were gathered to watch.

My breath caught slightly, then I felt Meredith's hand tighten around mine, and I looked at him. He was smiling, not the forced kind; he was giving a real smile because in front of him stood father and mother, uncle Ramsey, and aunt Eleanor. I could see the pride in their eyes, and beside them stood Alpha Logan and his Luna, Akira. While at the other side, they were Linda and Catherine, Austin wasn't there, but he was taking care of the security. A small smile found its way into my cheeks. This was his home, his people, and they are happy he is here. It didn't take long before the ceremony began.

The air shifted when the elders stepped forward; their presence was commanding, sacred, and powerful. I stood beside Meredith, my hand still in his as the ritual began. Ancient words were spoken. Words I didn't fully understand, but I know Meredith did, and he wouldn't put me in danger. As the ritual went on, I could feel energy moving around us, when the ritual ended, the elder stepped forward, tied a rope around Meredith's wrist and mine, his voice carried across the clearing, "from this day forward, you stand as the beta of the gold moon pack" his gaze shifted to me, "and beside you, stand your mate and the female beta of this pack," a brief pause follow as he stared at Meredith and I. "You are not just bound by fate, but by duty, strength, and unity to uphold the interest of this pack here and around other surrounding packs." A wide smile reached my eyes, finding its way suddenly to my face. "Do you accept this responsibility?"

"Yes!" Meredith and I accepted without hesitation, then the elder raised his head.

"Rise and be recognized." When we turned and faced the crowd, the elder grabbed our hands, "By the power bestowed upon me by the moon goddess and this pack, I, thereby present to you, the pack's new Betas, Beta Meredith and his mate." And just like that, it was like the crowd had been waiting for this moment; in a second, the calm and peaceful atmosphere erupted with cheers, shouts, laughter, and petals filled the air. They kept throwing petals at us; these petals fell around us like soft rain.

“Welcome back, Beta!”

“Beta Meredith!"

“Welcome home!"

"We are glad you came back for us." My chest tightened as I watched it all. I saw the happiness in the eyes of the people he had feared to face welcoming him with open arms. Some rushed forward, pulling him into hugs, and one elderly lady came forward. She had said nothing but just grabbed me and peppered my face with kisses, and then turned towards Meredith.

"I see why you can't replace her." Meredith had giggled but had said nothing. No doubt, this was home, my aunt used to say, home is where your peace is, where people love you unconditionally. A single tear slipped down his cheek, he didn't hide it, he didn't try to wipe it out.

"I love you all he said."

"We love you too." The crowd had shouted back, I stepped closer, leaning slightly towards him.

"You made it," I whispered softly.

He turned to me, and through everything, through the tears, the noise, and the overwhelming emotion, he smiled, "No!" He said gently, his hand tightened around mine, "We made it."