The Gamma's Birthright - Book 2

“I will”

Susan’s voice is raised as she runs down the steps of the packhouse, a large backpack over her shoulder.

“What …. Susan?.... No!” Delta Asher responds firmly

“I’m going with Gamma Woodfield, we arranged it this morning and I have permission from the Alpha to leave the pack for two weeks to seek my mate!”

She retorts, her eyes locking onto Toni’s trying to plead her case without words

Toni crosses her arms, letting her expression become firmer and colder, bringing herself into the persona of the Gamma of the Nightshade pack but withholding her aura.

It causes Susan to falter just a little before she straightens her back and stands firm, something Toni approves of, she was showing some backbone even knowing her reputation, she shows no fear.

Chief Delta Alek has a slightly glazed look before he starts to speak

“I’ve just spoken to the Alpha, he approved your time off pack land, but he stipulated that you may not go alone and since Gamma Woodfield was about to leave she wasn’t expecting you.

You have never left pack land Susan, it’s very different out there, but I’m disappointed that you tried to manipulate the truth.

We will be discussing this later, once Gamma Woodfield has left.”

Chief Delta Alek’s words are firm and Susan drops her head.

Toni’s own words come back to her, about how she’d decided to live a little, but did she know how to do that?

Susan was bubbly and with a normal upbringing, maybe she could help Toni experience a little of what a normal life would be like.

A smile hits Toni’s face.

“She didn’t”

The words are out of Toni’s mouth before she realises but it would be galling for the Alpha to find out that she was Susan’s escort, not another pack member.

Alek’s words hadn’t specified it had to be a pack mate, in a very small way, this was her putting two fingers in the air at the Royal pack, plus she'd enjoyed Susan's company at breakfast.

While she’d learnt not to blame Delta Alek and Beta Dan understanding they were following orders, the Alpha, well he was a whole different ballgame and fair game and if this was the smallest of digs at him, then she'd do it.

“We discussed it this morning, while Delta Asher was in a mind link, she had to get approval to travel and it slipped my mind after the events of today”

Both sets of Delta’s eyes are boring into her with Susan’s eyes opening a little wider at the blatant lie Toni had just uttered.

Try reading that lie Toni thinks, her wolf on show, calm and assertive, somehow approving of her actions but feeling superior to each of the Delta’s, giving off an air of authority as if daring them to refute her words.

“If you need me to contact the Alpha, to confirm that Susan was invited to come with me, I’d be more than pleased to do so.”

She smirked raising an eyebrow, challenging them to call her bluff, she was no longer some mere pup and she had no intention of backing away from a challenge.

“Let’s face it, she’s probably safer with me than another random packmate, people give me a wide berth after all.”

She isn’t sure why she’s doing this, except, if she has limited days to live, she’s going to follow her gut and try and have some fun, and ticking off the Alpha of the Royal Pack features highly on that list at this, precise moment in time

There’s a tense silence that fills the area

“Right, bag in the car if you are coming Susan”

Toni decides to take the lead forcing her voice into a cheery tone, the kind she’s heard around the pack.

“Delta Asher, I’ll get Susan to give me your number in case I need to contact you.

And does one of you need to escort me to the border, or does Susan qualify for that role?”

Toni goes to get into her car, a smirk on her face, her movement triggers Susan throwing her bag in the boot.

“Susan, you need to phone me daily, or so help me, I will be tracking you down”

Delta Asher’s face is unhappy at this turn of events, wishing he hadn't introduced them that morning.

“Brother, I’m an adult now, so chill.

I’m not the spotty twelve-year-old geek of a sister who used to get bullied”

The smugness can be heard in Susan’s voice

“That’s the problem” Delta Asher grumbles under his breath.

“Susan can be your guide to the gate, the guards will be waiting to check you both out of the pack”

Chief Delta Alek states, his arms are crossed and Toni can sense the frustration in his stance, and from him via his wolf, not truly believing Toni, but unable to read the lie.

Susan and Toni get into the car, as she’s buckling up, Toni whispers so quietly to Susan that she almost doesn’t hear.

“Say nothing”

Ten minutes after they left the Royal pack, not a word was spoken until Toni pulled her car over.

“Start talking before I turn round and drop you back at the gate”

Toni turns to Susan and raises an eyebrow

“Well Gamma, I thought since I don’t have my mate yet and you said you were looking….” Her words trail off

“And that was a reason to lie to two Deltas in your pack?

Tell me, what is the punishment for lying to not one, but two Deltas in your pack?”

Toni’s question has Susan dropping her head.

“For a first offence, additional work.” She replies

“And was it your first offence?”

There’s a lightness in Toni’s voice that causes Susan to lift her head.

“It wouldn’t have been my first offence Gamma”

“Technically, it’s still Gamma Woodfield to you.”

Her voice sterner

She corrects Susan only to see if it changes how she deals with her, she hopes it won’t, but she's testing this girl's resolve to be with her, easier to turn around now, if she thinks Susan is uncomfortable.

Susan just smiles at her comment.

"Whatever you say, Gamma Woodfield, names don't stop us from having fun!"

Toni looks at her carefully.

“All I can say is I hope to hell your mate isn’t in the nightshade pack, you wouldn’t cope, lying to a ranked wolf involves lashes and the size of the lie doesn’t change the amount of lashes you take.”

Toni’s response catches Susan out, but her voice is lighter than she expected, glancing over she sees Toni has a smile on her face

“So, I won’t be heading onto pack lands, because….

Well, mostly I’m not welcome unless we have an alliance with them.

Even then, packs are uncomfortable with me being around, but since I’ve been on most that we have an alliance within the last year, I am also pretty sure my mate isn’t there.

Also, all I had planned to do was chill and relax in neutral territory for a week or so.

If you don’t want that, speak now and I’ll turn around and drop you off at your pack gates, explaining I was called away on business and you didn’t want to stay out alone in defiance of your Alpha’s terms.”

Toni is looking intently at Susan.

“Gamma Woodfield, I don’t believe your reputation is actually who you are, so I’ll stay around because I enjoyed talking to you this morning.

Plus, there are some great clubs in the Neutral Zone!”

Susan’s face is alight with mischief, Toni shakes her head smiling

“But why did you lie for me”

Susan is a little curious about her question, concerned Toni may change her mind.

“Your Alpha annoyed me today, and it amused me that this arrangement would annoy him right back and he can’t use it against you.

He will be spitting feathers over the fact you chose to travel with me, his wording, his fault.

Plus, I figured I could learn from you, about living a normal life, even if only for a week or two.”

Toni lets a small smile reach her face.

“Are you game Susan?”

“Hell yes Gamma Woodfield!” she squeals her reply

“Ok, so here’s how this will go...” Toni lets some of her command aura seep out, but it feels less dark than usual.

“From now on, you will only refer to me as Emma or Emma Marshall.

You will treat me as an equal, just an ordinary friend of yours until you are back on your pack land.

My real name comes with a lot of pre-conceptions and added risk towards you if people know it.

If anyone pushes, I am Emma Marshall, Protector Designate

Do you understand?” Toni is looking her in the eyes

“Yes Emma” Susan replies

“Sorry to make it a command, I just have to protect us both from mistakes.”

Toni shrugs as she restarts the car

“And I’m not sure we’ll be going to clubs; I would stick out like a sore thumb!

Oh and finally, that’s the only time I will lie to your pack for you…

And I train daily, I will expect you to do so as well, no excuses, it’s part of the agreement.

Are you still game?”

She adds grinning as she pulls back onto the road.

“Oh Emma, we’re going to have so much fun together!”

Susan grins testing out the new name

“You won’t regret lying for me, honest!

But um… do you have anything other than those clothes?

Cloaks aren’t kinda the norm and your outfit, well….

It screams Gamma of the Nightshade pack, everyone and I mean everyone knows that look, I doubt anyone would dare dress like that in public in case you found out.

You even had people dressing up like you in our pack, for our movie fright night!”

Toni sighs

“Seriously?” she asks

“Sure, but it’s not a bad thing.”

Susan pauses briefly

“Well not all bad, it’s kinda like a form of respect, girls that choose your outfit did so because you are a badass and no pushover!

But best you change or everyone will know it’s you.”

“I don’t have any other clothes yet, I meant to buy some in your pack shops, but, well, let’s just say I got distracted.” Toni shakes her head

Maybe she’d have been better off just staying in no-mans-land, but then lying has a consequence and today, that was being responsible for Susan.

But Susan’s comments brought her back to her father’s eighth rule

‘Rule number eight – Hide in plain sight, the more you can make yourself noticed, the easier it is to hide by changing the smallest things, give yourself a uniform, a fixed haircut and be known for it.’

That’s pretty much what she’d achieved with just her black uniform and cloak if what Susan had said was true.

“It can wait,” she says finally

“It will have to as I only have my uniform and sleeping attire”

“It really can’t Emma”

Susan is a little taken aback that’s all she owns, wanting to ask why but stopping herself, not convinced she’ll answer.

“I have some clothes that should fit you, you’re taller and more athletic, but, stop the car, let’s hide all that stuff of yours and give you a temporary makeover, one Emma deserves.

Promise me you’ll go with it?” Susan gushes at the idea

“I promise I’ll go with your makeover!”

Toni sighs, there’s something about Susan that makes it harder to resist agreeing, she has this bubbly energy that makes it feel like she’s known her for a while.

It strikes her, that she’s a female version of her childhood friend James, who while quiet on the outside, was lively once you got to know him.

But most of all, Susan is treating Toni on how she appears to be, not on her reputation, one of the first since she became an adult to do so.