The Alpha & Beta's Regret
The Alpha & Beta’s Regret – Chapter 16

Luci POV

Her days had gone back to normal, the boys were back in school and she was back at work. There were more border patrols around the pack than usual. And she’d seen a few roaming patrols on the northern side of the lake, where there were fewer human homes. No more rogues had been scented by Kali over the past week, either.

Alari stayed out of the water because it was now clear they were watching the lake and she was certain that Victor would also be trying to replace out about Alari as well. Likely why those wolves were wearing camera’s, trying to catch Alari and what interaction she had with the pack.

So, at this point, it was just Luci. Both Kali and Alari stayed put inside of her. She looked different, much taller now, so she should be okay. She had seen several wolves in town this week too, more than normal. She stayed on the other side of the road from them, and had purchased and wore a body mist spray that scented of rose and white musk, strong enough to cover her natural scent and alert them to her presence.

Had so far escaped their attention, it was likely that these wolves were in town on an order to check for Victor’s men, to keep a look out for more attacks that might be coming. Luci did not dress to attract attention, wore jeans and a loose-fitting tee-shirt most of the time. Unlike how she’d dressed in the pack, completely the opposite she supposed. But then she had always been trying to draw the eyes of her Alpha and Beta and it worked most of the time.

She, herself now, was on the lookout for rogues or unknown wolves. Did not want unwarranted attention for herself or the boys. Those two she had killed had likely been disposed of by her Alpha and Beta, but they would also know it had not been one of their patrols that killed them. It was possible they could pick up their own pack scent on her trail that night. The boys did have that pinecone scent of the pack, so it was likely so did she.

There had not been any patrols on her side of the lake, at this point. She was still hidden from her own pack. Had sat the boys down and reminded them, what to do if there was trouble, they had nodded and told her “go to our pack around the other side of the lake.”

It was something she did worry about. Especially since it had been Victor who had attacked the pack and seen Alari, and now that man with the camera had also seen her. It had creeped her out completely, the way he had looked right at her and laughed. Then mind-link to someone. It made her wonder if he had been looking for her. What if Victor still wanted her for his Mate, shuddered at the thought, did not want that man touching her ever again.

He had done once, and she’d not enjoyed it at all. Told him so, in fact, called him useless to his face and had stalked away from him.

Had not appreciated anything about s*x with him, hadn’t even been that attracted to him, had just been young and stupid at the time. Thought being that he was an Alpha male, he could help the itch she needed scratching. It had not. She had not liked being held down by that man, so he could have what he wanted for as long as he wanted, without a care for her needs.

Had told him he’d never be touching her again and she’d never let him, not once either.

Never going to be that man’s Mate. Pitied the poor creature that was his Mate if he had one. If not, hoped he wouldn’t get one at all. She’d seen how vicious he was, when dealing with enemies, he’d assisted in rogue attacks on her home pack and that man left nothing alive, took pleasure in torturing anything injured. Let his men have them for fun and games too. He was sick and twisted. Made her wonder how he was raised.

Had never gone to any of his Packs mating balls. Even though Victor had specifically written her name on each and every invite he sent. She had told her father “He’s not my Mate, I’ll stay and watch over the pack.”

He’d not been able to argue with her about it, she was not Victor’s Mate, he had been to plenty of mating balls inside Nightfall Pack, always eyed her off. She’d stuck close to her mother most of the time, or had already found someone to be with, mostly Alpha Rafe and his Beta Jack, when they had been there. A good pair to sit and talk with, made it always look like business talk, talked pack related things, her father had hated it, knew better. But to all others it looked completely normal.

He had not been able to stop her, she’d still held the position of future Heir to the pack. Thatcher had been way too young. He was 8 years younger than she was. Though Luci herself, had never expected to claim the Heir title that she was born into. It did get her plenty of time with Alpha’s.

As long as she had stuck to talking business with Alpha Rafe and Beta Jack, her father could not say anything. She’d often sit herself between them, though that was mostly to stop Victor from sitting next to her. Luci had never minded being between them. They knew that, and so did her father, unfortunately. It irked him to no end. He’d always mind-linked to her to remind her of the rules. Of which he knew deep down she was going to ignore the minute everyone went to bed.

She’d known the bloody rules, wasn’t to go about sating her Alpha needs and disgracing him or the pack, and having a daughter who slept with one that wasn’t her Mate did just that. She herself, didn’t see the need for those rules, had always known that Thatcher was going to take over, not her. It was what her father wanted, only her mother was pushing for her to take over.

Her father had always sat Victor near her, had even asked her on more than one occasion over the years, to be nice to him. Told her once that Victor had expressed that he liked her. This had come after their one s****l encounter, and she’d stated flatly “I don’t like him.” Also knew that Victor wanted her to be his chosen Mate. He’d expressed that to her father as well when she’d turned 20 and was still unmated herself. Had not agreed to that at all.

She had hated it when her father had pushed her towards Victor. He’d always told her it was a good match for her, that he was a good strong Alpha male and was a very reliable allied pack. Not even her mother had agreed with him on this.

The day he had brought it up with her mother, about Mating her off to Victor, had turned into a yelling match between her mother and father, in the end, her own mother had been the one to put a stop to her father’s plans. Had told him she would not force her only daughter to be mated off to that man. That if he tried to do it, she would leave and take both her children with her and he’d have no Heirs at all.

Then they had argued over her threat to leave and take both Heirs away. Luci had been sent out of the office when that started, and they’d continued to yell at each other.

It had been one of the worst fights in her parent’s history, to the point where her own mother had moved into Luci’s room and stayed there until her father had come and apologised and promised he’d not Mate Luci off to Victor. Even then she’d stayed put for four more days. A full week and a half and she’d not once left the room.

Her father had prowled a lot in that week and a half, Luci knew her mother was not allowing him to mind-link to her either. Cutting him off every time he tried, he had told Luci herself. She would not bow down to him and he needed to learn she meant what she said. Though the man should have known that by then.

Though Luci had seen how much being away from him had hurt her mother, had caused pain for her to be separated from her Mate, she’d stood her ground. Orien had actually come and begged her to come back. Looked as tired and worn out as her mother had, their bond had been in trouble, Luci had thought.

She had even tried to get her mother to go back to him. Had relayed how her mother was doing daily to her father. Even told him she was worried and wanted them back together, and actively went out of her way to try and help her father. Even took some happy photos of herself with him to show her mother that they were getting along, that everything was all good and their fight had been all patched up.

Nothing had worked. Her mother was also Alpha-blooded and was so very stubborn and would not let anyone threaten her child. It had been a week and a half of misery for the both of them. Then, when she had finally allowed him to hug her and apologise in person, he promised to never do it again.

They’d spent three solid days in the Alpha Suite making up. Both had come out happy and looking much better. It had surprised Luci that she’d not gotten another brother or sister out of it.

It was just her and Thatcher and they were eight years apart. Though from her understanding of it, not for lack of trying. Perhaps it was just how the moon goddess wanted it. Who knew?

Luci pulled herself from the memory and tidied the hut that was her home. Not much to do really, but still had to keep it clean and orderly, so there was room for the three of them. She went outside and collected vegetables she was going to make with dinner, washed and prepared them. Left them in a pot of cold water, while she walked into town to get the boys from their school.

Crossed the road and stood just outside the gate with the other parents waiting to pick up their children. Chatted casually with the ones that she knew, some of these women and men, for that matter, attended the gym where she worked so they knew her. It was nice.

Shivered quite violently and glanced up the street, then turned very quickly to face the school as she saw the cars coming down the street. It was her father’s car. She would recognise that anywhere. A white Lexus LX luxury sedan. The number plate gave it away instantly. ‘Orien 1’ there was also another following it. Likely his whole unit was with him, she was mildly curious as to why he was here, but not so much she was going to concern herself with it. They were allied packs it could be for anything at all.

Hadn’t seen them in a long time now, thankfully she was taller, and her once chocolate brown hair was much lighter now, a golden brown in colour. They would not pick her from behind. Kept her back to the road till they passed and were gone.

Heard one of the women state, “The rich off to their private gated community.” Dripped with sarcasm. Needed to get her boys and head home fast. Where Alari could use her Siren call to divert any wolves away from them if they got too close to where she lived.