The Alpha & Beta’s Regret – Chapter 165
The Alpha & Beta's Regret
Rafe POV
They were all in his office directly after breakfast the following morning. Alpha Austin and Sloan herself wanted a formal and proper introduction to not just Luci, but the boys as well. Heâd stated it was official Council business, in order to get it. Pulled rank on he and Jack when theyâd both just looked at the man and hadnât really been willing to put her in front of him for the questioning
Silla was actually out in the lake. She had not come home with Alari, she had never been in a lake before and was out there all happy swimming about and playing. Alari had gone with her for a few hours after dinner and returned just on midnight.
Alari didnât think it was an issue to leave Silla out there, theyâd swam from the creek house to the lake itself. Silla knew where they were and would come back when she was ready. She had been all over the place, chased everything that moved in the lake and killed lots of fish to eat, had been very happy and didnât want to come back in.
Apparently, she spent like 90% of her time in that tank that Victor had provided for her. It was typical true Siren behaviour, and Alari expected that Silla would likely stay that way, unless she wanted company. Alari was used to letting Luci roam in human form. Two sides of her were land-dwelling creatures, so only swam at night or with the boys in human form. Or when it was needed
He did like knowing that Alari wasnât going to be in the lake all of the time. Made him happy, Addi had tried to keep the boys with her last night, so that he, Jack and Luci could spend the night together. Theyâd stayed at her home. Heâd done a lot of shopping last night while Alari was out in the lake.
Had ordered the omegas to go in and clear out not just the Alpha Suite, but the Beta Suite as well. Of all furnishing and all clothing, nothing was to remain at all. To take it out and burn it all. He wasnât taking any chances that there might be something left over from those two whoâd ruined all their lives.
So he and Jack had lain in Luciâs bed and shopped while they waited for her to come back. Alari had been off since just after dinner, agitated completely and had removed the twins from the packhouse after theyâd smiled down at an awake Jewel, âMamma.â They had exclaimed âlook at the babyâs pretty eyes.â And that had been all theyâd gotten out before Alari had just claimed them and taken them home.
No one knew why, all Luci could understand was that Jewel was not a Siren and Alari didnât want them claiming her as family. She thought they were attaching themselves to the little baby like they had Silla. âNot a Siren.â Was all Alari had stated, but shed also told the boys to stay away from the baby and sent them to their rooms. Not something she had ever done before.
Luci and Kali found it odd, but there was nothing they could do about it. And when Alari had come back, the boys had come right to their bedroom door and looked at her, and kind of hesitantly stated, âMamma?â it was late but theyâd either not been asleep or had felt her return. Gotten the impression that they did not like it when Alari was mad at/them.
Luci had waved them into the room, and his and Jackâs plans for the night had gone out the window, with the boys crawling into their bed and cuddling up to Luci, one on either side of her. Shed hugged both boys and told them everything was alright. Then had told he and Jack they had better get used to this. The boys always slept with her.
He wondered if the boys were still feeling insecure about being chastised by Alari, because this morning they had barely been more than 3 feet from Luci at any given moment, smiling and being very well behaved, heâd noted.
Had held her hand all the way to their office, and then walking into their office, both boys had tugged at Luciâs hands âMamma, thatâs where daddies kissed.â They had pointed right to the very spot heâd nearly claimed Jack for himself.
âOh, is that Daddies spot, is it?â Luci had smiled down at them and finally the boys had let go of her and stopped hovering, run off to sit with their grammy.
Though they had not sat still for very long, maybe 5 minutes before getting up to look around their office, touching everything and then sat spinning in his and Jacksâ chairs.
Alpha Austin was watching them, they were all actually watching them, âHappy and rambunctious, I see.â Austin had smiled
âThey areâ It was Addison. âTypical Alpha-blooded children.â
âI would say so.â Heâd nodded and then turned his attention right to Luci âYoung lady, I hear you are on the gifted side, a double shifter?â
Sheâd just looked at him âI have two beasts.â Sheâd stated simply.
âAre you a double shifter or something else perhaps?â
Sloan had asked her.
âSomething else is my bet.â Austin stated âHas a half witch, half wolf for a mother and a Siren for a father. What I feel is not that of a double shifterâ His eyes were right on Luci. âI would like to know exactly what you are. Iâve not felt anything or sensed anything like you in all my 200 years.â His eyes moved right to the boys âOr like them.â
Rafe had frowned at that, though his own father had told him a new species had to be declared. He debated if that was actually the case. Were they new? Hannah and her sisters had stated she was a Triune and Addi herself knew what that term had meant. So clearly, there were others out there in their world.
âWhy donât we leave that Alpha Austin, you also wanted to talk to Luci about Victor and what happened.â
âHm,â he nodded, âI do. Tell me Luci, what happened that day?â though he left the subject, Rafe didnât think he would let up on it, just being polite for the moment.
âVictor came to my place of work, tranquillised me, when I wouldnât go with him?â
âYou didnât want to?â
âNo. I do not like him. Iâve also known him a very long time.
âI see, so he was what, in your eyes k********g you?â
âYes,â Luci stated simply.
Austinâs eyes moved back to the twins. âChildren, could you come and answer me a few questions please?â
Both boys looked at him and came over âThe man who tried to take your mamma.â
âA bad man.â Both of them stated in a low and quite menacing snarl. Rafe saw both of their bodies go rigid and felt Alari rise to the surface, just thinking about Victor and that moment, agitated the boys, it seemed.
âYes, he was.â Alpha Austin stated gently âIâm going to punish him.â he told them âGo and play.â He waved them off âI donât think questioning them is wise.â He murmured as the boys walked away.
âI wouldnât tick them off.â Rafe stated. âHannah would be the best one to discuss that with at this point, has an understanding of them, I believe. But is a witch and getting her to talk?â he shrugged.
âA near impossibility if she doesnât want to.â Austin nodded though he looked at Sloan and she shook her head as if to say she wasnât going to.
He watched Austin lean back in that chair. âA witch of royal b***d, has better knowledge of them than their own parents.â He commented almost casually as he looked at each of them in turn, before his eyes landed right on Luci herself. He didnât believe it, thought Luci knew more than she was letting on. It was entirely possible.
Sloan snorted âAustin, stop playing with them and ask the question you really want an answer to.â
âI could.â He nodded and was quiet for another minute.
Alright, Luci, you are a Triune, not a double shifter, correct?â
Rafe saw the direct focus Sloan now had on Luci, and when she didnât say anything, it was Sloan who spoke âHe means you no harm child, or your boys for that matter, is simply curious as to whether he is right.â
âHe just stated he didnât know what I was.â Luci commented âDid he lie?â she challenged right back.
âNot really, I know what you are,â Sloan stated simply. âI also know that the twins are also Triunes.â
âHow?â Rafe interrupted her.
âIâm 500 years old and have seen a lot in my travels. also met two Triunes before, know the power when I sense it.â
âAre you?* Alpha Austin asked, actually wanted to hear it from Luci, Rafe thought.
âYes,â Luci stated flatly âWhat concern is it of yours? Of the Wolfen Council?â
âNone, pure curiosity on my part. I would like to register the three of you to the Triune registry. It doesnât need to be known to our world who you or the children actually are.
We never put a pack or the name of the Triune to the registry. You can imagine why. Only the council members of the three species it correlates to would have access to it.
A magical book that will cross the information to the Triune registry of all species realms involved, is all.â
âTIl think about it.â Luci stated
âWitch, Wolf and Siren, I donât think Iâve seen that combination before. Very rare, I would imagine.â
âYouâre going to punish Victor?â Rafe changed the subject.
He could actually feel both Kali and Alari getting uncomfortable with the line of questioning, he didnât think they wanted to be registered. And heâd seen the way Jack had suddenly slid his hand to her back. Heâd picked up on it as well.
âYes, I have gotten plenty of evidence from this pack and Patrick and Marrian, two other council members, are currently in the Wandering Moon taking detailed statements from those Victor held captive and their treatment from him. Including the children.â
âSo, youâre what, just going to imprison that savage?â Addison asked.
âYes.â
âA prison is too good for him,â Luci muttered.
âHeâll not see daylight or his wolf in centuries. His list of crimes is long. Will have to wear a silver collar for the rest of his natural life and work in the kingâs mines, not a pleasant place to be.â
âAnd if he dies, before then?â Luci asked almost casually
âYou want revenge then?â Austin asked directly
âI demand it.â Alari pushed forward and looked right at him.
âFor the harm to my son.â
âIf he dies before we haul him in,â Austin shrugged âOne less savage in the wolfen world.â
Austin didnât, it seemed, care if Victor died. âWhen are you planning on going in and getting him?â Rafe asked now.
âHmmâ¦thatâs tricky. I hear heâs pulled allied to him, they started arriving yesterday afternoonâ¦It is actually up to me though, my decision when to go inâ¦âve not decided, but have him under surveillance.â
âYou donât know when?â Jack asked with a deep frown.
âNoâ¦â the man looked at his steepled hands, âIt could take meâ¦Oh.â He looked at Rafe and then Jack âLetâs say what, three days to stroll down to his pack, with all my evidence in handâ¦âve never been in this pack over a full moon, could find my Mate here, might wait till after that.â He smiled right at them.
âThree days?â Luci frowned âIf you have evidence.â
âMm, I think 3 days young lady, is that enough time forâ¦oh I donât know you to confront the man? Before I take action against him.â
Rafe got it, Austin was not going to stop them from killing Victor, was doing his job as a member of the council but letting them know he would give them time to take war to Victor before that
âYouâve got eyes on him?â Jack asked.
âCurrently yes. His numbers are growing but not as much as I think he would like. I hear Nightfall is currently with 5 allied 4 of them shared with Victor as well. Theyâve chosen to stand against Victor, it seems.â
The room was quiet for a long time, theyâd not heard from Orien in a few days. It looked like that man had found 4 packs like himself that wanted out from under Victor and were willing to risk his wrath over it.
Austin was not looking at him or Jack though, but at Luci and Addison and it was Austin that spoke next. âI think these two ladies would like the opportunity to punish him themselves.â
âI already have.â Addison commented with a chuckle.