Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Harper’s POV)

It was 2 am before I finally passed out from exhaustion. Louise had ended up staying with me all night as I screamed and cried in pain. At one point, she had gone storming down to Colton’s room, but it was empty.

Eventually, Louise had called Beta Stokes, who I remember briefly glaring at me in disgust before storming out again. Mrs. Stokes assured me that it was Colton he was angry at, not me. Doctor Roberts arrived after that and injected something into me. The pain was still there, but it was like I didn’t care about it anymore. That was when I was able to pass out into blissful unconsciousness.

The next morning, I was woken by a knock at the bedroom door. I stumbled over to answer and found Louise on the other side. She had slipped out an hour or so ago to get ready for school. I pulled her into the room quickly, not wanting to see anyone.

“Give me ten minutes to get ready,” I said and grabbed some fresh underwear from my suitcase.

“Are you being serious?” she asked, and I turned to see her looking at me with shock. “You went through hell last night. I think you can take the day off.” I shook my head in response.

“I’m fine, honestly,” I said, disappearing into the bathroom before she could say another word. Truth be told, I didn’t want to spend any more time in the pack house than I had to. And after last night, I didn’t want to run into Colton alone any sooner than was required.

I quickly showered and brushed my teeth. I applied some light makeup, mainly in an attempt to cover the bags under my eyes, and then headed out into the bedroom. Louise had gotten out my school uniform, which consisted of a silver, grey, and black plaid skirt, a white blouse, and a silver and black tie. The main school jumper was a mid-grey, but we had black ones since we were sixth formers. I dressed and put my hair into a French braid and then checked my appearance in the full-length mirror. I noticed the glint of the ring on my finger. Screwing my face in annoyance, I pulled the ring off my finger and put it in the bedside table drawer.

Louise quirked her eyebrow at me, and I shrugged. I didn’t think it was appropriate school wear after all. I grabbed my school bag, and we headed up to the dining room, where I could already smell the sweet smell of bacon and coffee. We walked into the dining room to see the Alpha, the Beta, and Mrs. Stokes all sitting at one end of the table. While to my dismay, Colton was sat at the other end with Damien and Alex. I glanced at Louise as I saw him, and she grabbed my hand and squeezed it in support. I felt Colton’s eyes on me as we walked down the other side of the table, sitting in the middle. Louise put herself closest to the boys in a symbolic protective position. I kept my eyes down at the table in order to avoid Colton’s stare.

Louise got us both a coffee and helped herself to breakfast while I suddenly felt sick, so I contented myself with taking sips of my coffee.

“Harper, dear,” the Alpha said, “How was your first night in the pack house? I trust your room is comfortable.” I glanced up and tried not to cry as I heard sniggers down the other end of the table. I didn’t know how to answer his question, but I didn’t have to, luckily.

“Well, she might have had a better night if she wasn’t in horrible pain all night!” Louise answered while glaring at Colton. I saw Mrs. Stokes also glare down the table and Beta Stokes watching me, his face expressionless.

“Am I missing something?” The Alpha asked, looking around the table. I noticed Beta Stokes mind linking him with the glazed-over look and saw the Alpha’s smile disappear. Glancing down at the other end of the table, the boys had all gone quiet and looked uneasy.

The Alpha came out of the link and glared down the table.

“What have I told you about screwing the staff?” he spat. I shrunk back into my seat as his Alpha aura leaked into the room, making me want to submit even when I wasn’t the object of his anger.

“If you want to act like children, you will be treated like children. Colton, there will be no more of this disgusting behaviour. You have a fiancee now, and you have a responsibility to her.”

“Are you sure about that, dad?” Damien retorted, smirking at me. “I don’t see a ring on her finger.”

I glanced up in time to see Colton glance at my hands, and fury crossed his eyes. I pulled my hand under the table and focused on the table cloth in front of me. I heard his chair scrape back, and he stormed out of the room. Everyone watched him go, and Damien and Alex looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

“I also think it is time you start looking for yourself a mate Damien,” the alpha said, still glaring, and Damien stopped laughing. “If you think that I am going to allow you to take the Alpha role without a responsible woman behind you, then you can think again, boy.” I looked up to see Damien glaring at me. Great, my future Alpha was going to hate me now.

“Don’t look at her son,” the Alpha snapped. “It is me speaking to you. Did you understand what I said?”

“Yes sir!” Damien growled, and I could still feel his eyes on me.

“Good, and I will see all three of you boys in my office by 10 am.” The Alpha stood up, walked around, and placed his hand on my shoulder. “I apologise for the boys in this family. Hopefully, a good mate such as yourself can put some sense into that boy, and it will leak out to the imbeciles who are meant to be the leaders of this pack one day, so help me, goddess.”

I smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Alpha,” I said.

“Please, while we are in a private company, call me Daniel.” His smile reached his eyes as they crinkled in the corner. “I will ensure that Colton puts extra effort in for your date tonight.” With that, he walks out of the room.

Louise glances at me and mentions the time, so I finish my coffee quickly, and we also head out of the room to leave for school. We are halfway down the hallway when I feel a hand on my arm, and I am pulled into a room with a yelp. The door is slammed shut, and I am pushed against it. I looked up to see Colton grinning at me. I barely opened my mouth to tell him to let me go when he crashed his lips to mine and pushed his tongue straight in. His hands started running up and down my sides as he pushed his body, with his very obviously excited state, against me.

One hand stroked down my leg and then pushed back up under my skirt and along my inner thigh. I tried to squirm away as his fingers brushed against my panties. I managed to break the k**s and push him away.

“What the hell, Colton?” I shouted.

“What the hell?” he asked, his eyebrows raised. “What the hell? You are my mate, and you have responsibilities to perform, didn’t you hear the Alpha?” he sneered.

“I think that was directed at you,” I said, and he growled menacingly at me.

“Well, my dear, Sweet Strawberries, if you performed your responsibilities, I wouldn’t have had to find mine elsewhere?”

I looked at him in disbelief, and tears fell from my eyes. I felt awful. How was this my life? How was I expected to continue like this? Your mate was meant to love you and cherish you, not reject you and betray you.

Colton’s eyes softened, and he moved close again.

“Hey, hey,” he said softly, and I flinched as he moved to lift my chin with his hand. I closed my eyes as he tried to make eye contact with me.

“Baby girl, look at me, please,” he said and cupped my face in one hand and wiped away the still falling tears with his thumb. I knew that he was the cause of my tears, but the stupid bond had me leaning into his hand and welcoming the comfort.

“Come on, baby, please open your eyes.”

I complied, knowing that they would look glassy from the wetness and the blue-grey.

“There she is,” he cooed and wiped away more tears. “I’m sorry, Strawberries, I didn’t mean to do it. I’m just not used to having my mate, but that is no excuse for the behaviour or causing you this horrible pain,” he said. “Could you please forgive me?”

Colton had such a sad, sincere look in his eyes, and I found myself nodding before I even thought about it. Did I forgive him? Then his face lit up, and he smiled.

“Aw, Strawberries, whatever did I do to deserve such a beautiful angel for my mate?” He leaned in and grazed my lips gently as if he was asking for permission, and I could help but melt into the k**s this time. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me in tightly against his body and explored my mouth with his tongue.

He pushed me against the door again as he deepened the k**s and began caressing my h**s with his hands again. I pushed my pelvis against him, and he g*****d into my mouth and responded by grinding himself against me. I was deep into the k**s when there was a knock on the door, and I yelped in surprise.

“Erm Harper, we are gonna be late for school.” Louise’s voice floated in from the other side, and I quietly g*****d and pulled myself away from the k**s.

“To be continued, Strawberries,” Colton purred into my ear while nuzzling my neck. He pulled away, and I moved to open the door while straightening my skirt. Before I could open the door, though, Colton grabbed my hand.

“By the way,” he said, “You forgot something.” Then, he slipped my engagement ring onto my finger. I glanced at him quickly, suddenly feeling guilty. “Do not let me see you take this off your finger again. Do you understand, Strawberries?” His stare was so intense that I found myself nodding.

“Yes, Colton,” I whispered, and he smiled and bent to k**s me on the cheek

“Good,” he whispered in my ear. “Because I want everybody to know that you are mine!” he ended with a growl, sending shivers through me.

He moved away, and I fumbled with the door handle, finally getting it open and rushing through.

“Have a good day at school, dear,” Colton called after me. “Oh, and Strawberries?” I glanced back at him. “I am looking forward to our date tonight,” he said with a wide grin that looked like he wanted to eat me.

I nodded quickly and found Louise at the end of the hall, and, ignoring her raised eyebrows, we headed off to school.