Arise

The moment I reached the house, I was bombarded by Grace. “We need to talk.”

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I was on no mood to talk and if I stopped, I would be late to the match. I needed to change.

“My match is in twenty minutes, Grace.” I said as I ran up the stairs to the guest room that had unofficially become mine. I threw the hoodie over my head and tossed it on the bed.

“I’ll talk while you change.” She took a seat on the mattress and looked up at me patiently.

I opened my closet and grabbed a sports bra, tank, and leggings before walking to the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked exhausted. Even after the nap, I had bags under my eyes. My shoulders ached slightly from sleeping against the tree.

“I know what you’re going to say.” I dipped my hands into the sink and splashed water on my face. The cold water brought me some focus as I controlled my breathing.

“Good. Then you’re prepared for it.”

I switched bras and changed my leggings before putting the tank top over me. “Out with it then.”

“He’s my son, Rosetta. You can’t kick him out.”

I gripped my hairbrush before opening the bathroom door rather aggressively. “Why are you so quick to assume that I’m kicking him out?”

“Because that’s what you made it seem like in Alpha’s office.” She stood up and clasped her hands together. “I know you’re angry—”

“I’m furious,” I bent down to gather my hair and pull it into a ponytail. “You don’t understand what he’s done.”

“I do, and I thought you did too.” She placed her hands on her hips.

My jaw ticked. I could no longer stand this conversation. “Caleb gave this to me. The choice is mine. Not yours, not Sam’s, and definitely not Logan’s.”

She stepped up to me, squaring me up before snarling. “You may be Beta, but you’re still human. That position doesn’t belong to you. It never did.”

I faltered, taking a step back.

“Grace.”

We both turned our heads to Sam, who appeared the angriest I had ever seen him to be.

“Hon—”

“She has a match in ten minutes to prove just how capable she is as Beta. Insulting her isn’t going bring Logan back any sooner.”

Tears and rage welled into her as she strode away, passing her mate.

I steadied my breathing before grabbing a jacket. I no longer had time to get any of my shit together. I was just going to have to bring to the match.

“She means well, you know.”

I nodded but remained doubtful.

“Kick ass, Rosetta.” He said before leaving the room.

Five minutes. I had exactly five minutes to make it to the training division.

With wobbling legs, I walked over to the bed and sat on it, tucked my hands under my thighs.

I closed my eyes and rocked back and forth while trying to count.

One. I tried to steady my heart.

“I would never let you go.”

Two. I shut my eyes even tighter.

“Day by day, remember.”

Three. I dug my fingers into the sheets and breathed.

“I love you, Rosetta.”

I shook my head away from my thoughts.

Samuel was right: I’m going to kick ass.

I entered the center of the field, rolling my shoulders. “Go easy on me, Joann.” I pulled my arms to each side and pulled each of my legs back.

She frowned at me but smiled. “I can’t. It would defeat the purpose of the match.”

I shrugged. “Worth a shot, anyway.” I moved my head side to side; my neck still soar from sleeping against a tree.

We met each other halfway before she bumped my fist. “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. You just need to show how capable you are of protecting yourself and this pack.”

“No pressure,” I mumbled as I looked around us. The sun was long gone, and all remained was the moon and a small chill. Caleb and Val were standing next to CeCe and Shaw in the sidelines, all scrutinizing me. Sebastian and Travis, along with some other men and women were behind them and around them, surrounding me and Joann. They would all make up for the boundaries of the field. Samuel and Grace were nowhere in sight, probably staying with Logan, Bull and Tank most likely with them.

“Ready?”

I nodded.

Caleb stepped forward, addressing me and Joann. “I want a clean fight. The moment you fall, you have thirty seconds to get up. Give her everything you got, Rosetta.”

I stepped back a couple inches and widened my stance, arms up blocking my face. I didn’t hear him blow the whistle and Joann was already coming at me. Every hit she gave, I easily deflected and gave one back. She lifted her leg to kick me, but I ducked and swung my leg around her, causing her to fall.

She fell to the ground with a chuckle. “My mate has been training you well.” She rose up, cracking her neck and came at me again.

This time she charged at me with tooth and nail. Much more aggressive, meaning she wasn’t playing around anymore. Her fall was just to see how I was and now she knew. I deflected and ducked, but I wasn’t getting any hits in. She was too fast.

She knocked me down. “This one’s for Sebastian!”

I groaned as my body hit the dirt. Tiny pebbles dug into my shoulders. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She shrugged. “I’m trying to make it more interesting.”

I blinked.

“It makes the hits more dramatic.”

She was a special kind of crazy.

I pushed myself up and spat out the blood pooling in my mouth. “What happened to a clean fight?”

“It got too boring.”

“Brat.” I launched myself at her, but she moved away to fast. She tapped my shoulder and punched my stomach when I turned around. I keeled over.

“You love me.”

I narrowed my eyes and made for a left hit. She sensed and moved but didn’t expect me to come at her from the right. She stumbled back just as my elbow connected to her rib cage. I shoved her.

She coughed before smiling wildly. “How about I bait you?”

I tilted my head.

“Joann don’t,” Sebastian’s voice rang out behind me.

“The point of this match is to test your limits. Let’s see how far I can push you.” With her wolfish speed she was on top of me. I tried getting out of her hold, but she was pinning me down. “Were you hoping Logan would be here?”

I wriggled. I should’ve expected her to start with Logan.

I had thirty seconds to get back up.

“I wonder why he ran away from you.”

Twenty-five seconds.

“Maybe he left you because you’re a pathetic human.”

Twenty seconds.

“I guess we won’t ever find out since you’ll be shipping him to another country.”

I froze.

Ten seconds.

I let her think she got me. I blinked a couple times to make it look like I was going to cry. When I felt her hold loosen, I lifted my knee into her stomach. I rose up and pushed her away from me with a kick. She groaned as her body rolled away from me.

It had been less than a couple hours since Caleb told me I would make the final decision and people were already on my case. I was tired from hearing everyone’s opinions. I was tired of talking about it. I knew what my choice would be without a doubt in my mind.

I rose my arms up. “You want to talk? Back it up.” My chest moved up and down. Beads of sweat dripped down my neck.

Her eyes glinted as she made a move at me but stopped. She smiled mischievously. “Congrats, Beta. You pass.”

I dropped my arms. “Seriously?”

She walked over to me and stuck her hand out. I reluctantly placed my hand in hers.

I felt the tug in an instant. She tried to trick me, but my body moved faster. I moved into her, digging my shoulder into her and with quick reflexes flung my head back into her nose. She stumbled, disoriented.

Ignoring the pain at the back of my head, I pulled her toward me, throwing her off balance and flipped her over.

She landed with a groan that was quickly covered up with a laugh.

The back of my head throbbed. “Are we done now?”

Caleb chuckled as he made his way to us, stepping over Joann. “We told you not to bait her.”

I reached an arm out for her and she took it rising. “Next time you want to bait me, use someone I actually care about.”

Sebastian helped her up as she dusted off her clothes. “Truce?”

“You are absolutely ridiculous,” I said shaking my head.

After the match we had dinner at the pack house to celebrate and then went our separate ways. Tomorrow was the big day after all. Sam and Grace were already asleep by the time I returned home, so I tiptoed to my room and shut the door behind me.

I turned on the shower and stripped off my clothes before hopping in. Steaming hot water hit my strained muscles, bringing me some relief. I ran my fingers through my hair and breathed.

It had been such a long day. Other than the nap I had earlier, I hadn’t gotten a moment to my thoughts. There were too many thoughts running through my head. In just twenty-four hours, I would decide Logan’s fate. And I was nowhere near a decision.

Why did it have to be me?

Caleb explained earlier, but I didn’t want to accept that. It shouldn’t be my decision, but Caleb had said he was exhausted.

Was I not exhausted either?

I had been going around for months with an empty feeling in my chest. A gaping hole that expanded every day Logan was gone.

He lied to me. Had thrown such cold, harsh words at my face and then walked away.

He had left me with unanswered questions and anger that festered.

I didn’t want him anywhere near me. I didn’t want him to look at me, talk to me, or even touch me.

But I let him touch me today.

I let him near me, let him look at me with those beautiful gray eyes and see the pain and concern.

In that moment, I had felt so alone. I had missed everything about him. With him so close, I almost flung my arms around him and cried. I wanted to voice my worries and doubts. I wanted him to hold me and kiss me and tell me everything would be alright. That we would just have to take it day by day. I had almost given in. Almost.

Instead, I pushed him away.

I gripped the shower bar.

I am tired too, Caleb.

“I have gathered all of you here because there is one issue we need to discuss before the run,” Caleb addressed to the pack. “Logan has returned and endured a week of trials.”

Logan stood behind him, next to his parents who had both refused to even acknowledge me at all today.

I stood next to Val as she held Caleb’s hand for support. We stood on the uprooted patio while the pack members gathered around us.

The full moon had risen but they wouldn’t run until Logan’s fate was decided. Until I told the pack my answer.

I pulled the cardigan I was wearing tighter to my frame. Wisps of red hair blew into my eyes as the wind swept through.

“You all know that the decision would be based on your choice. That decision will be made by Beta Rosetta.” Caleb gestured to me.

I had immediately felt a thousand eyes on me. I kept mine on Caleb as he spoke.

“The floor is open to anyone who would like to speak.”

The pack broke out into whispers as they glanced between Logan and me.

“He helped at the daycare a couple times. The kids like him.”

“He’s been kind to all of us.”

“He helped make the food for tonight.”

“He hasn’t done anything to make us think he’s dangerous.”

One by one, some members used their voices, and expressed their feelings towards Logan. To my dismay, no one said anything ill about him. They loved him and had already forgiven him. They wanted their Beta back.

I crossed my arms over my chest to silence the sound of my heart pounding against it.

Caleb lifted his arm, and everyone went silent. He turned to Logan and asked, “Would you like to say anything?”

Logan cleared his throat and stepped forward. He was wearing a loose dress shirt and pants. Loose enough to ease out of during the shirt but not loose enough to fall off his physique. “This pack has been my home for as long as I can remember, and I am sorry for abandoning it. I am sorry for making you all paranoid and question the safety of your families. I was your Beta and I failed to uphold its principles and values, and for that I am truly sorry.

“I am sorry, Alpha and Luna. My best friends whom I have betrayed beyond repair. I will do everything in my power to right every wrong I made. I meant no harm but have caused so much damage.”

“Rosetta. God, I don’t even know where to begin, but I promise you I will spend the rest of my life making it right.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want him to continue. Not here. Not now. I wasn’t going to be made a spectacle in front of all these people.

“Just move on with it, Caleb.” I looked at him.

He nodded and looked over to the crowd. “What have you all decided?”

I stared at his parents. His parents who had been lost for four years.

“Let him stay!” Someone somewhere within the crowd shouted. After the shout, many soon followed, agreeing.

Their eyes added weight to my shoulders. All of them stared at me, waiting for my answer. I shifted my feet.

“It’s all you, Beta,” Caleb said, wrapping his arm around Val.

I scanned the pack in front of me. My eyes landed on CeCe who gave me a thumbs up. Shaw remained stoic next to her.

I tapped my foot nervously and looked away. I couldn’t hold in my answer any longer, but I didn’t want to say it out loud.

Every moment of silence added more weight to my shoulders, more guilt, and more discomfort. My gaze shifted to his parents. They looked at me worriedly, holding their son’s arms tightly. They were hoping my answer would allow him to stay, but they expected me to say otherwise.

I stared at Logan.

The love of my life. My mate. The man who had turned my world inside out.

There was so much left unspoken between us.

It hurt to look at him with love. It hurt to look at him with so much hate, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was still angry.

He had done this. It was all his fault.

My eyes hardened, and he blanched.

I couldn’t keep them waiting any longer.

I turned to Caleb and gulped. Wrapping my arms around myself, I allowed the words to choke out of me. “He can stay.”