FORTY-EIGHT
**-Beta Jeff’s POV-**
I ran for a few hours, I know exactly where to go. I’ve investigated this route with Alpha before. I also had the time to think about a plan. It’s now almost diner-time, Hunter and the others are probably still not searching for me. It’s not the first time I’m away for a few hours to cool off or run with my wolf. And because they think that’s exactly what I’m doing now, they probably did not inform the pack in the South about my outburst. So I’m going to use that to my advantage…
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**-Indy’s POV-**
I’m not sure how long we’ve been asleep in this position. I still feel comfortable, lying against the fur of Raki. I can tell that Buwan is pleased to have such time with her mate, she’s purring. I try to wake her up.
*Buwan! We’ve probably slept all day! Wake up!*
*.... Uuuhhh, I’m so comfortable. Shhh, Raki is still asleep too. Just a few minutes, please…*
I sigh. It’s hard when you don’t have control over a body. Although I’m awake, I don’t have a sight when Buwan is not opening her eyes.
*BUWAN!*
*Darn, Indy, you don’t have to yell! You’re giving me a headache..*
I immediately feel sorry. *Ooh, I’m sorry Buwan! But I really want to have the control back. I need to check on Raki’s records and I want to know how it went with Hunter and Beta Jeff, please.*
*Fine! I’m happy I had so much time with Raki, so thanks for that. I think he’s feeling much better - but I’m tired. I think our body healed him with being so close to each other. So don’t be surprised when our human body is feeling tired as well.*
*Thanks, I’ll make sure I’ll rest early tonight too.*
Soon I feel the power is given back to me and I jump off the bed. I stare at the black wolf, who’s still asleep, and I shift back into my human form. I stretch my arms and legs, feeling a bit stiff from the curled up position my wolf was. I quickly put on some clothes and Buwan was right: I ám tired…
I mindlink Scott: *Hey, I have my body back. How did it go with Hunter? Has he arrived safely?*
*Babae! Good you’re awake, how are the wolves doing?*
*Good, good.. Buwan and I are tired, I think we shared a bit of our healing with Raki. Raki’s still asleep but looks a lot better. But what about Hunter?*
*Well, speaking about the devil. We haven’t spoken with Hunter about the talk with him and Jeff, but he did arrive safely. I wanted to ask for an update 30 minutes ago, but I got a mindlink from Storm: Beta Jeff arrived at our borders. I’m here with him, waiting for Ryan. Do you want to join the talk, or..?*
I think about it. I’m glad Hunter did talk to him, the fact that Jeff is here right now is a good sign, isn’t it?
*What does Beta Jeff want?* I ask Scott.
*I’ll ask him…*
I wait for a moment, staring out of the window. You can definitely see that it's almost spring. Some of the trees are getting their leaves back and it’s not that cold anymore when the sun is shining at day.
*Indy? He - uhhh - wants to talk with you, alone. What do you think? Is he ‘safe’?*
I frown, why does he want that? I can hear the worry in Scott’s voice.
*Well, he is a fair guy and I guess you can say that he’s safe, but I don’t understand why he wants to, to be honest.*
*He insists, though. He said that he wants to know about the whole situation, why everything happened. He wants closure, he seems very much in grief.*
*That makes sense. The Alpha was not only his Alpha, but they were childhood friends too. Alright. I’ll be in the packhouse soon.*
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I walk into the packhouse and I feel Beta Jeff is here. His aura is familiar, but different. I walk to Scott’s office and walk in. I smile when I see him and walk over to Scott to kiss him. “Hi, babe.”
I then turn my head around and nod at Jeff. “Beta Jeff. Welcome, good to see you again. I’m sorry for the loss of your Alpha and friend. I wish there was another way…”
I closely watched his facial impressions and I swear I saw a bit of anger on his face, but that was quickly replaced by grief. “Thanks, Luna Indy. I have to say: it’s weird to see you like this, all… grown up? You look good, better.”
Scott growls softly and I tap his arm to calm him down. “Thanks, Beta. Life can be strange, isn’t it? Anyway, I heard you wanted to talk with me?” I say as welcoming as I can.
He nods. “Yes, you - I understood you were his mate. I have questions, you know? And with all due respect, sir..” Jeff looks at Scott, “... I don’t know you. Indy is still a familiar face. She belonged to our pack once. I feel comfortable around her, and I need to know.”
“I understand, Beta Jeff. We can use the orangery? In the evenings it’s gorgeous out there, with the sunset. We can talk in private and still be close to the comforts of the packhouse.”
Jeff’s eyes lit up: “That would be great! The Orangery, it’s close to the gardens, right? The view must be amazing too..”
I smile. “Yes, indeed. Come, I’ll lead the way.”
I stare at Scott. “Is that fine by you, Alpha Scott?”
“Perfect. I’ll order the staff to bring you something to drink later. Diner will be ready in 30 minutes. If you’re not finished talking, that’s fine. You can join later.”
I nod. “Alright. Follow me, Beta Jeff.”
I lead him the way to the Orangery, we’re not saying anything. I open the glass doors and let him walk in first. I then follow and close the doors behind me.
“Take a seat.” I say nicely.
Jeff looks outside and I take a seat too. We’re both watching the sunset and the amazing view in front of us.
“I had no idea, you know.”
I raise my eyebrow, but I don’t ask.
“About you being the mate of Alpha Khal. He never mentioned it before. Hunter told me this afternoon. I couldn’t believe it at first, but it made all sense when I thought about that day. The day you came by the packhouse and stole the keys. The day Khal banished you and went mad for no reason after you left... “
I feel tears on my cheek, thinking about that day. It was one of the worst days of my life. How could he? I sigh softly.
“... What happened, Indy? Hunter told me he’s dead now, but I don’t feel it. I don’t understand.”
He now looks at me and I swallow the lump in my throat. I must be strong, I’m a Luna now - well, almost.
“You knew about the fight between him and Alpha Scott, right?”
Beta Jeff nods.
“Well, he got injured and couldn’t remember a thing. But that changed along the way, although he never told anybody. I started to visit him, I wanted to get to know him. He indeed was my mate, you know. And as you probably can tell, he practically rejected me by banishing me from the land, from the pack. He hurted me a lot. But I wanted us to work, I wanted him.”
I sigh and I hold my hands in front of my eyes, I indeed feel very tired. I can tell my body is weakened by healing Raki. I want to sleep.
“But he was dark, his aura was dark, and it darkened every day. I still sensed some good in him, by the way. That was his wolf and…”
“Wait!” Jeff interrupts me.
“What? Darkness? Aura? What are you talking about?”
I sigh, this is going to be hard. Is it OK to share the information about me being a Royal? Having powers? I think so…
“Jeff, listen. I know you won’t believe me, probably, but it turned out I’m not a ‘normal’ werewolf. I have powers and one of them is to sense somebody’s soul. I can see if somebody is good, or not. And Alpha Khal’s soul darkened, I couldn’t help him. That darkness had completely consumed Khal’s soul. There was no ‘real’ Khal anymore… It frightened me.”
Beta Jeff listened all this time and many emotions are spreading on his face. “YOU? A werewolf with powers? That’s insane.. Why?”
“I’m a Royal, Beta Jeff.” I whisper.
“Those don’t exist anymore.” He simply replies.
Fine. He doesn’t have to believe me, I don’t have the energy to fight him right now. “What do you want from me, Beta Jeff?”
“Answers… Did you, or did you not kill Alpha Khal?”
“Yes, I did.”
It’s like fuel to his anger that’s obviously showing on his face right now. He steps a bit closer to me. “And how? How can a weak werewolf like you kill such a strong Alpha like Khal?”
“I told you before: I’m a Royal, I have powers.”
“But why? Why did you kill him?” Jeff’s voice is now dark and that’s not the only thing I notice. His aura is slowly changing from neutral to dark. This is not good.
*Sc-...?*
I try to mindlink Scott, but Jeff notices and slaps me in the face. “You little bitch, nobody is going to save you today. I want answers, *pig*, I deserve answers. You killed my Alpha!”
His hand is closing around my neck and I can barely breath.
“He just couldn’t accept me as his mate. I was not good enough. He offended me and my Alpha’s and I knew he could never let this all go. I had no choice…”
If he wasn’t a werewolf, he couldn’t have heard any word I said. I’m barely whispering and I see dark spots. I won’t have much time left before I pass out.
“Let me go, please… The Alpha’s are going to kill you when they find out that - ..”
Beta Jeff looks at me and he smiles. “By that time we’re already gone for hours. Sweet dreams, princess…”
I feel a sharp pain on my head when he hits me and darkness surrounds me.
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Author's note: *Thanks for reading and your support! Indy's not getting a break, is she? Altough the story is slowly getting to an end, there's just one obstacle to overcome...*
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