I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please share your thoughts.
All characters in this story are above the age of consent. Just a heads up, this story will end soon. I will write one or possibly two more chapters. Thank you for reading.
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Chapter 6
At Welbern, Nials awoke early. He had duties and needed to make sure people were in place. Rosita got up and joined him. He smiled. For the first time in his life, he wanted to shirk his duties.
"I want to go with you?" Rosita whispered.
Nials smiled, "No, you rest. It's just making sure everyone is in place."
Rosa looked pensive. Nials smiled. "Come on, woman. Get dressed."
Rosa smiled and dressed to join her mate.
Nials had a lot of ground to cover. He started in the kitchen. Everyone greeted him, but got straight to work. The head cook, spoke with him and Rosita quietly. Rosita was amazed at the respect her mate garnered and the pure adoration many had for him. It sis not get past her though at a few if the females glared at her angrily. Not missing a beat, Rosita simply smiled and placed lopped her arm around her mate.
A few of the males noticed how they were acting and glared at the women. The females looked away and went to work. Then he had to check the alpha home, daycare, maintenance, and several other places. Nials noticed that Rosita was unusually quiet. Something was bothering her.
"What's wrong?" He asked
"The females here want you. Did you ever ...?" She paused. What he did before joining with her was not her business.
Nials sighed, "I will never lie to you. I've been with several of the women here. They weren't that serious, and most did not want anyone else to know that they'd been with me. I'm not that great of a catch, but that's over now. You have nothing to worry about where they are concerned."
Rosita smiled, He spoke the truth. She hoped that the women would realized he was taken and back off.
They arrived at the daycare. The cleaners were putting in supplies and Nials had questions. They explained that they were a bit lax but they would get back in top of things. Nials was about to reprimand them when Rosita took his hand. He calmed, and smiled. The workers were relieved. It seems the new Madam theta was just what their ticked-off boss needed.
They left the daycare, stopped by the elder care building, and then checked the stables, garages, and maintenance offices. Nials had so much responsibility, Rosita could understand why he was so serious all of the time. As they walked to the alpha home, Rosa noticed that several betas were returning from a run. The men joked with Nials and told him he should join them some mornings.
Nials smiled and refused. Rosita listened, but she heard the slightest hint of doubt in her mate's refusal. The betas then faced her, and introduced themselves. They were gregarious and friendly, and Nials began to grow a bit uncomfortable with the males addressing his mate. His hold on Rosita tightened. His body tensed.
The males sensed his displeasure and backed off. As Nials and Rosita walked away, they talked. Nials was no longer a theta. He was a beta and Alpha Nyric needed to order him to take the post.
"Nials, what was that?" Rosita asked. Nials gave her a stern look. Rosita laughed, "No, you'll find you can't make me cower. Now what was that about?" She demanded.
Nials sighed. He didn't want to appear weak in her eyes, "Nothing. I find I don't like sharing my mate." He added.
Rosita laughed, but knew he was avoiding giving her an answer. Not willing to let him placate her, she asked again. "No really? What was that?"
Nials sighed, "Rosita, it's nothing. Come on, didn't Madam Alpha Chandra want us with them for breakfast." He tried to deflect.
Rosita stopped. Nials was still talking and realized she had gone silent. "Am I the problem, Nials?"
"Babe, no. It's not that." He explained. Nials looked around. He spent his life projecting an image. Members of his pack respected him, and he never doubted himself as much as he did in front of this beautiful woman. Her father, brother, even her brother-in-laws were betas, yet he was theta, much lower in rank. In her pack, she was a junior beta as well. His rank brought her down, but she didn't seem to care about that.
How can I tell her without sounding like a wuss?
Nials thought.
"Then what is it? If you don't want me talking to anyone, fine. Just don't hide the truth from me." She whispered.
"The betas like to mess with me. They've been doing so for years. I'm not sure why, but I refuse to let them set me up." Nials stated.
Rosita froze. Her Grandfather Benson lost his life because a group of overzealous betas. His death led to a rough time in her family. Rosita froze. "Nials, what do they do to you?" She asked nervously.
Nials saw the fear in her eyes, and he had heard of the things that happened long ago. He sighed, "Babe, it's not that serious. I'm just supersensitive, that's all. When I was a pup, I wanted to be a beta more than anything. When Alpha Nyric made me theta, I was crushed. My mom told me there was nothing wrong with being theta and I decided to be the best. For years, I've tried to exude excellence in my post. The guys mean well, but I'm not a beta." He concluded sadly.
She got it, his nervousness at meeting her fathers, the way he was always so serious, the fact that he never seemed to relax, made sense to her now. He felt inferior. Rosita smiled. "Love, well, it's just a title. You are my King. You are everything I've always wanted and never thought I'd find. Never doubt yourself Nials. You are so much more than you think." She kissed his lips gently.
Soon they were at the alpha home and entered quietly. Nials took a moment to kiss his new bride properly, and make sure she knew just how much she meant to him. Just as Rosita proceeded to melt into her mate, a voice interrupted the happy couple as the alpha couple joined them. Soon, they adjourned to the private dining room the alpha home for breakfast.
As they talked, the alphas got to known their newest pack member. Both were pleasantly surprised to see Nials relaxed and not so buttoned down as well. Madam Alpha Chandra was fascinating to Rosita. She was familiar with Madam alphas because of her relationships with madam Elise and her stepmom, madam Iyoka. She had no problem submitting to her leadership immediately.
Chandra was equally impressed and could see why Nials adored Rosita. The girl was small, and had a spirit about her that lifted her everyone around her. The Madam Alpha realized that she wanted to really get to know her, and of course find out about how she recognized Nials as her mate. He quite literally was the packs most elusive, reclusive bachelor.
Chandra wanted to walk, so she and Rosita left the men alone and journeyed to her garden Rosita loved it, and Chandra simply laughed. Soon, some of the other women journeyed from their post and the women just chatted. Soon, Nyric and Nials came out to find them and the women scurried back to work.
Rosita frowned. Her mate was too serious. He needed to smile more.
Nyric and Nials talked quietly. As Nyric and Nials talked, Nyric wondered how to share some important information with the stoic male. Soon, Nyric decided to just tell him. "Nials, you will be moving. Your apartment will belong to Madge and her daughter. Madge is now head theta. You've been elevated. You and your mate are being relocated to Belfast Lane."
Nials froze. Rosita grew concerned. "Alpha Nyric, I'm not sure..."
"Yes, well I am. You have been beta for decades now. You just refused to let me elevate you. Well, now you have no choice. The pack demands it, as your alpha I demand it, and your mate deserves no less. I decree you, Beta Nials Sommerville. Your ceremony will be held in a few days." Alpha Nyric declared.
Rosita was quiet. She searched their bond to find that he was stunned. Then he smiled. Rosita laughed and hugged him, congratulating her mate. Chandra and Nyric were stunned at the raw emotion that leaked from the quiet stoic man. Nyric and Chandra smiled. This was good. This was right. Nials Sommerville was finally taking his rightful place.
*****
Pastor Henry prayed. As he prayed, two deacons stopped by. "Pastor, those people are not right. Are you sure fooling with them is wise?" One asked.
Pastor Henry sighed. He was old and growing tired. People needed to let stuff go.
Will we ever grow beyond this small-mindedness?
He wondered. Pastor Henry sighed. He had to help them to understand. "When I was a boy, my cousin visited from Mississippi. He didn't come here for fun. He came to save his life. You see, back then black men were killed for sport. So my momma agreed to let him come here. He was always into something. One day, he wandered into the forest and walked up on old frank. Frank was mad; a black boy interfered in his ceremony. He was gone shoot him. I ran out and begged for his life. He wasn't listening. He pointed his gun at us when a huge wolf charged and knocked him down. We ran. I looked back, and I saw Alpha Jermiyo fighting him. It was then that I decided that it was not my place to judge. God made all creatures. If God made them, then I will do his will and help them." He added emphatically.
The deacons nodded. They were ready to help the pastor in any way that they could. The wolves they could accept, but the bloodsuckers, they were not so sure. Henry smiled. "Not so long ago, people didn't see us as human, did they? In some places blacks are still struggling. Keep that in mind, gentlemen." He paused to let them think. The men were pensive, then they seemed to get what he was saying.
*****
Everyone arrived back at Oman and Mia's home. Kalen and Christiana faced Keeley. Everyone was quiet. Finally, Kiana spoke. "What are you?"
Keeley faced her. She smiled. "I'm Keeley. Just Keeley. Gammy and Gampy told me I had special gifts and they taught to use my gifts wisely. I have the gift to discern spirits, and I can help. I know it's strange, but please let me help my family, and I promise to never bother any of you again." She added facing Oman, Alpha JaMal, and the others.
Kalen moved. Christy spoke. "Her name! You know her name."
Keeley faced them. "It came to me. After Gammy and Gampy said goodbye, it just came to me. Christy, she knows her time will end soon. Stay strong, she will try to harm you."
Kalen stiffened. "We'll stop her."
Keeley smiled, "How? She's a spirit. She is inside your cousin. Christy has to force her to leave. I'm here and I will help." Everyone was silent. Keeley closed her eyes. Lilim would need a new host. The adults could resist her, but a child would be an easy target. Kajika was at risk. "The baby, send him to visit your friends. She will look for a new host. A baby would be perfect for her. Kalen, we need to force her to surface. Call your Uncle. Her hatred of him will force her to surface. We don't have much time. She's stunned that I called her by name, but she will regroup."
Navarro stood. "Is Christy in danger? I won't stand here and allow her to be harmed."
Keeley looked at him and smiled. "Navarro, you are just the strong male we will need. Oman, Jamal, Marcus, and Kiana we need to surround her. Lilim needs to be called out and the Uncle will do the trick."
Within seconds, Gernick Ivanov appeared. Ja'Mal tensed. Marcus and the other wolves recognized the vampire as old and powerful.
"What's wrong?" Gernick demanded.
Christy smiled, "Uncle Gernick, um. I need your help.'
Gernick looked directly at Navarro. "Really, don't worry Christy. We will take care of your problem." Navarro grew tense.
