Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)

38

Tonight has been hectic. Packing bags, yet trying hard to act like nothing was amiss. Keeping my block up against any mindlinks from Miles had been a priority because I knew he had wanted to say something the moment he had seen me with my Dad. He had been on edge, and my Dad had likely made that worse with the way he had dealt with him. But, I can't blame my Dad for how he had treated him, he truly needed taking down a peg or two. This was one big mess, and I knew it was only going to come even more out of control when Miles realized that my Dad, Ellis and my brother all planned to go and discuss this with my Uncle, our Alpha.

Alpha Marshall could not simply dismiss this like he had dismissed so many of Miles's other errors. There were too many things he had done this time. They would have to seriously consider his place within the pack, because if this got out, then many of our pack members could seriously question if he was the one they wanted to take over from my father. And, even if my Uncle did what he did best, and made excuses for his son, there was a big difference this time; my Dad and Ellis were going against him. They both disagreed with everything that had happened. They wanted Miles dealt with appropriately.

I don't think Ellis was particularly bothered about what Miles had done to me, but I think it had shocked him to the core that his own brother would attempt to kill one of his own pack. That was just not the thing you expect of someone you love and care for.

My Mum had helped me pack a few extra things, and I swore there were even a few tears in her eyes as she looked across at me. "Are you sure about this Bailey?" she whispered.

I sighed. "Mum, you have been telling me I make things worse for myself. Well, this time I am doing what is right for me. I am getting out. Standing up for myself."

I know she doesn't yet know the whole truth about Miles rejecting me. My Dad has asked me to keep it quiet, and told me he will explain it all when I have left. I don't truly know why. Maybe because my Mum would be unable to control herself and be straight around to their house to give him what for and spoil our plan... so, we were acting like it was all down to the constant bullying I needed to get away. I only hoped my Mum would forgive me for keeping secrets when she discovered the truth.

"But it seems so drastic, Bailey. So far away." Mum says with a shake of her head. I don't think she thought me leaving my pack was the right thing. But, she was not going to make me change my mind. "And you never thought to come and speak to me about it all before making the decision?"

I look helplessly toward the door, desperately needing my Dad to come and save me now. He would tell her it was not her choice to make. Because I am terrified I will say the wrong thing and give something away. But, my Dad is monitoring next door to see when Miles leaves for his usual nightly outing. The moment he has gone, we will begin to prepare to leave ourselves.

"Mum, it was last minute. I am a grown woman now. I took my degree, you had to know there would be a chance I would get work out of the pack?" I said with a shrug as I zipped up my final holdall.

"But this is your family, your home, until you find your mate. Only then would it be deemed okay to move. I don't see why you feel the need to leave your home." She sounded desperate. Yet, so many times over the years, she had sounded so irritated by me, even to the point it sounded like I was more an inconvenience than anything else. Little did she know my fated mate had been in this pack. So, finding my mate would not take me away from the pack I had called home. But, I wanted this fresh start. I needed it. And, nothing she said was going to change that.

"Mum, I am not doing this. I have a job. It isn't like I can't visit. One day all your kids will move out, get used to it." I say with a sarcastic grin, and she rolls her eyes at me. I know she hated the thought of us all growing up. And now Jordan had found his fated mate, I would assume he would be moving into his own home now too. So, very quickly she was losing two of her children from her home. I perhaps should have a little compassion I suppose, but at times my Mum made it difficult.

I wandered away from my Mum, to find my Dad, and discovered him in the front bedroom looking out of the window with a pair of binoculars aimed at our neighbor's house. The Alpha home. Not suspicious at all. "Hmm Dad, that doesn't look dodgy much." I joked.

*They are from warrior supplies." He tells me, without so much as looking back. "Need to be certain it is the little shit that is leaving.

"Well, if he leaves in his car you'd know it was him, right?" I question.

Dad simply shrugs. I think a small part of him may be liking this acting like a spy, albeit a far from discreet one. Definitely not the next James Bond. "Everything packed, Bai?" he asks me, like he was trying to change the subject.

"Yeah. Mum is trying to convince me to stay." I explained.

He chuckled. "Her little girl is leaving, of course she will. I will explain it all once I have spoken to your Uncle. Don't worry. She will see why this is for the best, sweetheart. Go and say goodbye to your sister."

I nodded, despite the fact my Dad couldn't see me, as his eyes are still stuck to the binoculars, desperate not to miss anything, and with a smile I walked to my sister's bedroom and just as I was about to knock on the door, I realized she was on the phone, as I could hear her talking.

"Mmmm, you look good, do that again. You know that sounds fun. So, when are you actually going to make this happen? All these promises and no action yet..." Morgan says with a giggle, and I realized that the conversation I had caught part of may be somewhat inappropriate and probably not one I want to be listening to, and most certainly not one my sister would want her family to hear!

Just as I turned to quickly walk away, deciding to come back a little later to talk to her, the person Morgan is speaking to replied, and it made me freeze. A voice I was definitely not expecting. Why? Of all people...

"Morgan. So impatient! I am worth the wait." Miles almost purred at her, over what I could only assume was a video call or else they would be mindlinking, surely. And my stomach felt like it had dropped through the floor. Miles and Morgan?! This could make things a lot more complicated...