Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Harper’s POV)

I turned to Colton, a look of disgust on my face.

“So this is what your promises mean then,” I sneered. “Good to know.”

Colton shook his head, his eyes wide. “No, Harper,” he exclaimed. “I didn’t, I swear.” But I was so angry. I was angry at him, of course, but I was also angry at myself. I knew I should have gotten Louise out of here as soon as possible.

“Don’t blame him, dear,” Nathaniel said, his face full of amusement. “He held loyalty to you on this occasion, although I’m rather concerned that he held valuable information from me.” He then sent his own cold look Colton’s way. Colton shrunk back in fear. “But nonetheless, I have other sources for this particular little tidbit.”

“Who?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, and Nathaniel laughed.

“Harper dear, I know you know that I wouldn’t just give such a thing away now,” Nathaniel said with a chuckle, and I growled in frustration.

I would find out who it was, and then I would rip out their tongue so they couldn’t share any other tidbits. But I had to deal with the current matter at hand.

“So you expect us to just throw down and mate on the dinner table tomorrow night, then?” I asked with a sneer. “Not exactly a family-friendly activity there, Nathaniel.”

He chuckled again. “Well, no, my dear, tomorrow night, you will both set your intention at dinner and then consummate and complete it after dinner in your own private quarters, of course,” he said, and I relaxed a little. The council was meant to be here by tomorrow evening. I could say a few words and then stall the actual mating ritual easily enough.

“Of course, the standard-issue setting of intentions won’t be sufficient in this case,” Nathaniel said, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

“What do you mean?” I asked, suspicious..

“You will follow a much older, more stable tradition where the mating couple shares their bite in the intention,” Nathaniel continued, and my heart sank. This didn’t sound good at all.

“The bite will, for all intents and purposes, seal you both together, mixing your two separate bloodlines and connecting both the demon and angel lines permanently until you complete the bond later on.”

I rubbed my temples, knowing that my headache was coming back. I was starting to feel like the pressure was getting worse by the day. I noticed Nathaniel incline his head and look at me with interest.

“This is for you too, you know,” he said, and I shot him a blank stare. “I know the headaches, and the tiredness is increasing significantly, is it not?” I didn’t want to confirm what he was saying, but I could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn’t need it.

“Your angel is trying desperately to come to the surface, and when it does, it will consume you into nothing. The completion of the mate bond will hold it at bay, allowing you to hold on to who you are.”

“Why do you even care?” I asked. “I mean, I know this isn’t all for my benefit. What do you get out of this? Why does it have to be Colton? Why not Elias?” Colton growled, and I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t here to protect his bruised ego.

“Two reasons, my dear,” Nathaniel said, holding his hand up to Colton. “First, I am highly aware that my nephew is losing his grip on his own sanity. He fights his own demon daily, and it is wearing thin. The bond will ensure that he doesn’t end up like my own sister.” I looked at Colton, and he looked away, avoiding my eyes.

“The second is somewhat more of a matter of need,” Nathaniel carried on. “To break the seal under our feet, it must be my bloodline that mixes with the angel bloodline.”

“Your bloodline?” I asked, confused,

“As in everything else in this balance is key, dear Harper,” Nathaniel said. “Just as there are four angelic bloodlines on earth, there are also four demonic bloodlines. It is of utmost importance to which bloodline breaks each seal as to which reins on earth when the gates do finally open.”

My head was spinning with this information. There was too much for me to process.

“And Elias is of a different bloodline?” I asked, and Nathaniel nodded.

“Indeed,” he said.

“So this is just a pissing contest then,” I snapped, and Nathaniel chuckled again.

The headache was beginning to become unbearable, and I needed to sleep so badly. I stood up and wobbled on my feet. Colton jumped up to steady me, but I held my hand out.

“I can’t deal with all this now,” I said, and Nathaniel nodded.

“Of course, there is plenty of time to educate you once you are bound to our line,” he said and waved to Colton. “But I need your answer before you leave.” I glanced at him. “I have a man outside your room right now. Agree to my terms, or I will have dear sweet Louise dragged back to the cells so she can say goodbye to her lover.” I clenched my fists as I glared at him.

“Well, I guess I don’t have much of a choice now, do I?” I spat, and he smirked in response.

“No, dear, you don’t,” I sighed and nodded my head in defeat. I only hoped that Drake could get here soon enough to stop this. Nathaniel nodded to Colton, obviously satisfied, and I felt Colton’s hand on my arm. I went to move away, but his grip tightened.

“Don’t be stubborn,” he hissed. “Let me help you.” I would have fought it, but my energy was bottoming out. I sighed and leaned into Colton as we headed out of the office and down the hallway.

It was late at night, so I didn’t expect to see anyone other than warriors. So I was very surprised when we turned the corner for the stairs to see Susie talking to the redhead receptionist, Kylie, I think. Susie looked over and then quickly looked away. I stared at her as my confusion cleared, and it became clear exactly what she was doing here. I growled as anger took over, and I flew at her, slamming her against the wall.

“You!” I snarled as I felt the rage twist my face. “It was you who told him!” Susie’s face paled, and her eyes widened. Then a look of contempt crossed her face, and she pushed back against me.

“What do you expect, Harper?” she sneered. “All our family has done has been for you, and you can’t even do this for us. We lost our Alpha rank to protect you. Dad died to protect you. I am sick of living less than we really are because of you and your precious ideals.” She shoved me back, and I crashed into Colton.

“So yeah, I took matters into my own hands. My children will grow up with good rank and without being tied to this stupid town and that damn seal, just like Tommy has.” She smoothed her clothes down. She looked at me. “Personally, I don’t care if you do burn up and die, but I want more for my family and me, and if you are the way to go about it, then so be it!”

I narrowed my eyes at her as I stalked back towards her. I got as close to her in her face as I could.

“You forget something, sister,” I spat. “If I am going to be stuck being Luna of this damn place, then I will make damn sure that you will get nothing. In fact, I would run and hide now because the second I get my full strength back, I am going to hunt you down and rip you apart piece by piece.”

Susie laughed. “Harper sweetie, you and I both know that the Luna is just a figurehead here. You won’t hold any power at all. And I highly doubt that our new Alpha will be as inclined to punish the very person who got him what he wants.” I wanted to smack her right in the face, but the last bout of anger had drained what energy I had left, and it took Susie barely a push for me to fall back again. I would have fallen on the floor, but Colton caught me and swept me up into his arms.

“Well, you doubt wrong,” he said, and Susie looked at him, shocked. “When I become the Alpha of this town tomorrow night, you will have one day to gather your things and get out of my territory.” Susie paled again, and I blinked in shock at Colton. “I don’t want traitors in my pack. Consider yourself exiled from the Midnight Moon pack Susie Kirby.” And then he stalked past an open-mouthed Susie and Kylie towards the stairs to the second floor.

We were in the hallway, headed towards my room when I finally broke the silence.

“She was right, you know,” I said, and I felt him take a deep breath. “You are getting exactly what you want because of her.”

“I know,” he said.

“And you know that I don’t love you,” I said quietly.

“I know.”

“In fact, I hate you.” He stiffened slightly. “For what you did to me and what you did to Louise, how could I not hate you?”

“I know,” he said again.

“So why, Colton?” I asked, and he sighed.

We had reached my room, and Colton nodded at the warrior standing outside the door. The warrior looked between the two of us before shrugging and heading down the hallway. Colton dropped me gently to my feet.

“Because of what I did,” he said, looking down the hall. He then looked at me, and his eyes glistened. “I could pretend that I didn’t hold blame, that I unknowingly let the demon in me control my actions with you and Louise. But it isn’t true.” he shrugged, “Hell, Harper, I didn’t even know I had the demon in me. I never heard him talk like others do. I just knew that sometimes I blacked out, and then when I woke up there was destruction,” he looked away again.

“But it’s not an excuse, it was still me who did those things, and I know that no matter what I do, I will ever make up for it.” He looked back at me. “But I would rather you hate me than feel nothing at all for me because just like everything else in this f****d up situation, it’s all about balance. And hate is a powerful emotion, as powerful as love.”

“I won’t ever love you,” I said, and he nodded.

“I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up to you my atrocities. And if I could, I wouldn’t make you do this bond,” Colton said, and my eyes widened.

“Then don’t,” I whispered, and he smiled sadly.

“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple,” he said. “It’s not my sanity that I care about. I would rather go mad than hurt you or let the demon take over. But despite what he says, Nathaniel has no love left in him. He is consumed by his demon and the greed for power he so desperately wants. He has my mother’s life dangled in front of me and has made it clear that if I step out of line again, then he will put her out of her misery.” tears fell from his eyes as he spoke, “I have already lost you, Harper, call me selfish. Still, I can’t lose her too.” he looked at me again, “and for that, I am sorry for what I have to do,” Colton leaned forward, and I felt his lips on my cheek briefly before he pulled away again. He met my eyes one last time before turning and heading down the hallway.