Miranda POV
I can't believe the audacity of this girl. I know she doesn't realize anything about mates, but even if Rose was just Beckham's girlfriend, her actions are crazy. Hell, borderline stalker if I'm being honest. Lily is holding onto me for dear life. "It's alright sweetheart. No one is going to hurt you."
"She scared me, Nana" she says with a tremble in her voice. It takes everything in me not to walk over and smack some sense into this woman who banged on my door. "Charlie will be here in a minute," Rose says after she cuts the call.
Lorna, my wolf, perks up but doesn't say anything. She is as in love with our granddaughter as I am. I'm sure she wants to protect our pups, which now includes Lily. She has been distant since we left Cain even though she agreed with the decision. She is trying to heal just as I am.
As much as I hate him, a part of me still loves him. Loves the man that held my hand when we were newly mated. Kissed my forehead when I labored with each of our pups. Held me at night when we were alone and talked about our lives.
How could it have all been a lie? I push thoughts of Cain away and focus on Lily. "I don't understand why he wants a mousy thing like you. You're not even pretty. You are pathetic," Holly screams at Rose. I can see that Beck is losing patience and fighting his wolf for control. He wraps his arm around Rose. Her eyes are dark, and I'm sure that Zora is ready to tear into Holly. They are trying to calm each other down.
"You're a big meanie. Don't call my mommy a mouse. She isn't a mouse, she's a girl. She is a very pretty girl," Lily screams as she starts to wiggle out of my hold. Rose rushes over and scoops Lily into her arms. "It's alright Lily bear. We don't let the opinions of mean people bother us," Rose says. Lily wraps her arms tightly around Rose's neck.
"What the f**k? Did she just call you mommy? What a f**king joke? You've been dating for a few days, and you have her calling you mommy," Holly says with disgust. Rose turns handing Lily to Beck before she whirls on the b**ch on the floor. She bends and whispers something that makes all the color drain from Holly's face. Holly looks around the room with fear in her eyes, causing me to chuckle. I wonder exactly what my daughter just said to shut her up and cause that look on her face.
A firm knock on the door has her scrambling to her feet. "Remember what I said, Holly. Leave me and Beck alone," Rose says. She pulls the door open and a large man who looks like he could be a wolf scowls down at her. He is almost as tall as Beckham. I breathe deep expecting to catch his human scent, but instead my whole body freezes. Lorna is losing her sh*t as the scent of honeysuckle invades my nose. "Mate" she says, and my heart damn near stops beating.
I grip the counter to stop myself from crumpling to the ground. This can't be happening. He's human, and he looks like he's only in his thirties. He is never going to want a woman of my age. It's not like I can say hey Mr. Hottie, we're mates. Lorna growls, not liking my thoughts. "He is ours. We deserve a mate that looks like that and can please us for longer than ten minutes. This is the goddess's gift to us after our f**ked up first mate," she says.
"Mom, are you alright" Rose asks. My eyes snap to hers before I look back at the man that is staring at me with concern. He must have been talking to me, and I was busy panicking. "Miranda, I am so sorry about my cousin's behavior. I assure you that there will be consequences for her treatment of Rose." His warm deep voice washes over me. "I appreciate that, but you are not responsible for her actions. Thank you for coming so quickly."
Lorna is pushing me to step closer, but I stay rooted to the spot. He is a human, and he won't feel the pull to be with me. The closing of the door brings me out of my thoughts. Lorna whimpers and I take a deep breath. I look up and Mindy smiles at me. Rose comes to stand in front of me and places her hands on my shoulders. "Mom, is Charlie your second chance" she asks. I fight the urge to cry as I nod.
"That's amazing, mom. Why do you seem sad? I know it hurt you to break your bond with Cain" she starts to say, but I cut her off. "I promise you this has nothing to do with Cain. After all he did to our family, I have never regretted breaking our bond. Hearing about his betrayal solidified that I made the right decision." "So why aren't you more excited about finding Charlie? Do you not want a second chance at happiness? You deserve that mom," she asks.
"He is human sweet girl. He is also probably ten years younger than me. Do you really think he is going to want me? He won't feel the pull of the bond. He won't realize that the goddess has chosen him as my second chance." I watch as a tear runs down her cheek and I wipe it away with my thumb. "Besides, we need to focus on dealing with Robert and Cain." I pull her into a hug and breathe in my pup's scent. My heart is aching but right now, keeping her safe is what's important.
Jayden POV
The door to my room opens and one of Waller's cronies steps inside. "Take a f**king shower and put these clothes on mutt. The council member will be arriving any minute," he says before leaving my room. I grab the black dress pants and dark maroon button-down shirt before heading to the communal bathroom, the omega's share. I step inside, and I'm grateful when I see it's empty. Atlas still hasn't returned and the wounds on my back haven't healed yet.
The water rushes over them, making me clench my jaw at the burn. Blood-tinged water swirls around my feet as I finish washing. Once I'm washed and dried, I gingerly pull my undershirt on in case the wounds continue to bleed. Once I'm completely dressed, I make my way to Corey's office. I refuse to refer to him as Alpha. I knock twice, and he calls out for me to enter.
Waller is sitting on the couch that my brothers and I used to sit on when we were little. My father wasn't always a ba**ard, but after our mother died, he became one. "You clean up well. You almost look like an Alpha. Too bad, you'll never get the chance to actually be one," Corey says with a laugh. I stay quiet and remind myself I am doing this for Jacob.
"Come stand next to me. The guard is bringing councilman Barrett to my office now." I move closer and a few minutes later the door opens. A man I've never met before steps inside. He's large and muscular. If he isn't an Alpha he should be. "Hello gentleman, it's good to see you. I presume you are Jayden Forester" he says, extending his hand to me. "I am, it's a pleasure to meet you sir." "Alpha Corey, it's good to see you again. I know you were expecting Orick, but he had family matters to deal with" he says.
"That's fine, I welcome all members of the council to my pack" he says. "I'm sure you mean our pack, since Jayden is the rightful heir since his brother is gone," he says. "Of course, my apologies. Jayden will be the next Alpha when he is ready to take over," Corey says.
"That's part of the reason I'm here. The council is questioning why he hasn't taken the title yet. We appreciate you doing your duty as Beta when Jayden wasn't of age, but he is now twenty-one. It is time the pack was taken over by a Forester with Alpha blood." I wish I could smile and fist pump the air, but I stand silent watching the faux Alpha squirm as Barrett waits for an answer.