Page 76 of Overcoming the Beta

‘That looks like someone being congratulated after winning a fight.’Zane catches up to me and mindlinks.

‘Did those three bastards run interference for Kate?’Kelsey stands on my other side and mindlinks.

‘I think so,’I mindlink in absolute shock.

‘Those fuckers are us!’Zane shouts through our mindlink.

‘No way!’Kelsey shouts through our mindlink.

What the hell did we just witness? All these years, we’ve never seen the fun-loving side of our fathers. Sure, there was laughter, but that was few and far between. They were busy trying to raise the three of us to fit in the perfect box they designed for the future leaders of this pack. Our sisters never have understood our issues with our fathers. They saw our fathers in an entirely different light. Seeing them in action today makes me wonder what trouble the three of them got into when they were younger. I wonder if they ever felt they weren’t good enough for their fathers, too.

Behind the closed doors of Alpha’s office, I hold Kate tight in my arms.

“I’m so sorry, Ian. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Kate says through tears.

“Embarrassed? For what? You’re not the one who got her ass handed to her.” Alpha says handing Kate a glass of whiskey. “Drink it. It will calm your nerves and stop the adrenalin shakes.”

At this point, I’m not even sure I know Alpha. What happened? Did the three of them get abducted and replaced by aliens?

“Listen, love. You didn’t embarrass me or anyone. If I hadn’t…” I’m interrupted by my father.

“Shut up, son. Stop being a pussy. Your mate just got the justice she deserved for the shitthatshe-wolf put her through for years.” He exchanges air-punches with Earnest Gamma, leaving me completely speechless.

“Who the fuck are you three?” Zane looks between the three of them with a confused look on his face. Kate breaks the silence by laughing, causing the rest of us to laugh as well.

Chapter thirty-eight

His Pain

**August 2004**

Kate

It’sbeentwoweekssince the fight. I’m not too sure what came over me, but I just snapped. I remember little of the fight past seeing Nikki’s blood splatter on my face. It’s like I have amnesia or something like that. Ian had to explain what happened, including how our fathers ran interference for me. Today I’m in Alpha’s office with Ian at my side, because Dante has requested that Alpha punish me for attacking his mate. Standing on either side of Alpha are Beta Charlie and my dad. Zane and Kelsey are also present.

Dante is not from our territory and as far as I know, doesn’t know any of Nikki’s history. He is from the Hidden River pack down in Texas. They met a year after Nikki transferred to his college. I’ve met him at the training grounds a couple of times, and he seems nice enough. Of course, after the fight, he looks at me with disdain.

“Thank you for allowing us this meeting, Alpha.” Dante sits tall in his chair, next to Nikki. Her face is almost completely healed. Normally, we heal fast. I must have caused more damage than I realized. Good.

“Of course. I’ll let you start.” Alpha Nathaniel stoically states.

“Alpha Nathaniel, as you know, my mate was brutally attacked two weeks ago in the gym by Kate. The attack came out of nowhere and was unprovoked. During Kate’s assault, she broke Nikki’s nose, cheekbone, and dislocated her jaw.” Dante wraps his arm around Nikki’s shoulder. She is playing victim very well, keeping her eyes down and her shoulders slumped forward.

Sasha and I giggle in my mind when we hear Nikki’s injuries. Is it wrong to laugh at someone else’s pain and suffering? Yes, but this is Nikki. She never cared about causing me pain, and now I feel the same about her.

“Alpha, I’m asking that Kate be publicly punished for her crime against Nikki.” Dante finishes and looks directly at me with pure disgust.

“Hmmm, I see.” Alpha Nathaniel leans forward, resting his chin in his hand.

The office is quiet, and the silence is deafening. Dante is right, I did attack Nikki. However, it was not unprovoked. Nikki has always bullied me, and I have always run away. I’m guessing that she assumed that day would be no different, but it was. I snapped.

“Fine. For Kate’s crimes, she will be given ten lashes with a whip… publicly.” Alpha Nathaniel leans back in his chair and I gasp.

“Alpha!” Ian shouts. His body immediately tenses up.

“I. Am. Not. Done. Careful boy, or I will double her lashes.” Alpha Nathaniel whips his head to Ian.

“My apologies Alpha Nathaniel.” Ian bows his head. “I have a request. Please allow me to take Kate’s punishment for her, since I’m the reason for all of this mess.”

---