Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)
44

44

Chapter 44 Jordan My stay with my mate had been shorter than I had intended, and my mind had not been as on heras much I would have liked. As terrible as it may sound, my mind has been on my sister for a greatportion of the time. The conversation we had had before I left had been replaying within my mind.The things I had learned tortured me. How can we not have known the pain she was in? All of ushad failed Bailey as a family, yet she never once complained…. Not only that, I had put my friend first far too many times. Like so many others in the pack did, asthe upcoming Alpha, it was an easy mistake to make. He knew the control he had. I should haveknown better, but I had looked up to my best friend. Saw him as quite the lad. The womanizer.Never realizing that in the things he was doing he was hurting my sister. They seemed such anunlikely pairing. Tales of matebonds always seem to suggest that matebonds of fated mates are with couples thatare well-matched. Perfect couples. But, with Miles and Bailey, they were far from that. Miles hadfound. Bailey an irritation since she began high school. Looking back, it was likely because she wasmore intelligent than him… not that that was difficult. But, she made him feel s**d, I guess. And,even when he tried to belittle her, she seemed to have a way with words that made him look like thefool. So, he turned to vile words. Bullying words to attempt to break her.. And, looking back. I know now that it was nasty, I was a terrible brother. But, Miles was my bestfriend. He and I were due to be the next Alpha and Beta. We were meant to be close. Like brothers.So s**dly, I allowed my loyalty to lie with him. And it had done until I learned of this. And that onlygot worse when I spoke to my Dad. The shock at the things I had learned was overbearing. Howcould I not have known that this was the Miles I had grown up alongside? Hearing that Miles wouldhurt one of our own pack altered the way I looked at him. Hurting that warrior because of the things he knew and the fact he was close to Bailey was not rightno matter how he may want to twist it, and it made me concerned about the state of mind Miles wasin. But, deep down, I know that it is the power of his role as the upcoming Alpha that has gone to hishead. I have heard him speak of the things he planned to do as Alpha many times, and he saw

himself in that role as a** l *most g**d-like figure. He saw himself as untouchable as the next Alpha.Too powerful. And that made him dangerous…. When Dad told me that Bailey had found a job and had finally got away, I was relieved, she neededto, but I knew that the difficult thing was what was to come after that. Dealing with Miles, andensuring he stayed away from her. Because, I am not so sure that our current Alpha, and my Uncle,would believe his son was capable of all the things we were saying he was. And, if he didn’t takeour word for it, then we were going to have a fight upon our hands. But, it was a fight we werewilling to battle out. This needed dealing with…. “Hey handsome.” Gia wrapped her arms around my waist, the scent of her filling my s senses and instantly soothing me and my wolf. Being with my mate was truly wonderful, and Icannot believe I had ever coped without her. She has filled a void within my life; so much so, that Icannot contemplate being without her now. So, that in itself has made me replace it hard to understandhow Miles could ever have considered rejecting the mate fate had chosen for him. The draw to herwas so powerful. The need for her overpowering.. I turned to look at the beautiful girl I was able to call mine, and smiled. “Hey you. We all sorted to geI asked, knowing my Dad would be expecting us soon. I had told him we would collect him from mysister’s new pack, which had allowed him to travel there with her to ensure she had arrived safely.Yes it meant my stay with Gia in her pack was shortened, but in truth. with everything that washappening 1/2 Chapter 44 Jordan Finished within my pack. I was needed there now. I needed to step up for both my family and my pack now.And, thankfully, Gia had understood. “Everything is sorted. I have said my goodbyes.” She kissed my shoulder softly. “Are you ready forthe troubles ahead?” she asked, sensing my worries, “I am not sure, baby. This is not going to be easy. Miles is not going to take this lying down.” Iexplained to her, but she knows all of this. I had not held back in confiding everything to her. She is

my mate, and I have held nothing back from her, and she has been a wonderful listener, and awonderful support. I wanted her to understand the situation she would be arriving into when wearrived, so she was not shocked by it, especially if I was suddenly not to become Beta, as I knewthere stood a big possibility of that if Miles was to have his title taken away from him. “We will take things as they come.” She reached for my hand, and squeezed it reassuringly, restingher head upon my shoulder. “Now, had we best not get on the road? I think your Dad will be waitingfor us, will he not?” “Yes, he likely will. Though it will give him another opportunity to chat to his friend, the former Alpha,there so I doubt he will have any complaints, or he will be spending some time with Bailey.” I toldher as we left the room we had been staying in, and moved toward the stairs. Our things alreadyhaving been placed in the car. This was going to be a long day. One I am not entirely sure that I wasready for. But, I knew these coming weeks were going to be a challenge. A challenge I needed toface, and hopefully, I could prove myself as both a leader for my family and as an upcoming Beta,so that even if Miles does have his title taken away. I may still be considered for mine…