Beauty and

Chapter 25 Bailey

I was taken aback by my brother. That was not how he normally acted. Could him meeting his mate have changed him? As happy as I am for him that he has met his fated mate, his sympathy and kind thoughts all feel a little too late. He had been acting like I was some sort of social pariah for years. Like I was something to avoid, like the plague, all because I preferred to read rather than hang out by the football field cheering for them. All because I preferred something different.

I never intended to embarrass my brother, or my family by being the way I was. I just wanted to do well in life. I wasn’t aware that it was such a crime, yet the way my brother and sister had spoken over the years, you would think it was first degree murder I had committed. But, I guess I should be grateful now he was showing some remorse. Maybe it was a sign he was growing up? The worrying thing was, what would happen when he confronted Miles? Because that was bound to happen. And, I doubted that it would go down well when Miles discovered that I had shared this with yet another person. Especially one so close to him. One that he held in high-regard. He would hate to lose the respect of my brother. My brother was meant to be the next Beta.

Jordan, can you not say anything to Miles about this please?’ I mindlink him before he leaves the pack. He had only just set off, so he still had to be on the packlands by now.

‘I will need to speak with him at some point about it all. And Dad. Likely his Dad too. He broke the rules, Bai. Not to mention treating you terribly. He replies.

“That may be the case, but as I see it, it is in the past now. I tried hard to dismiss it, so focused on the future that Harley had promised me. I don’t want that to be put at risk. The things Harley had spoken of had given me a chance of an escape from Miles. From this pack. From everything I had struggled with for years. Harley respected me for who I was. I could be me around him, and he liked me for that. I could not put that on the line!

‘It will never be in the past. It needs facing up to. Jordan’s tone through the link was terse.

“I just want to be able to move on. Have a future. He won’t let me have that.’ I explained.

“Well, maybe you should take that job without telling him. Leave without telling him. Let Dad deal with the aftermath.” Jordan suggests, and I am shocked that he would even suggest it, he is telling me to go against the orders of the upcoming Alpha. Everything he had previously been telling me not to do. Something had definitely changed in my brother. This was so strange…

“That is disobeying a direct order, Jord” I link, my hands trembling, and the thought of what could even happen.

‘Yeah, but I, as future Beta, am giving you an order. And I imagine when you tell Dad all of this he will tell you the same. They are orders to follow. He broke the rules, Bai. You need to do what is right for you for a change. I hate that you were hurting for so long and never said a word. Don’t think of anyone else now. Think of you. Right? You worked hard for that degree. Everything you dreamed of, so go do the job you worked your a*s off for. Don’t let him ruin that.’ I can hear Jordan’s determination through the link, and I find myself smiling.

“I will think about it’© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

*No, not thinking. Doing. Talk to Dad, please. I will call when I arrive at Gia’s pack to make sure

you do. Okay? I am not letting this go now, Bai. I failed you before. I won’t do it again. You haven’t got a mate to have your back, so you need us to have your back instead, more than ever now. We haven’t had it properly so far, and we should have. Time we made up for it.’ Jordan links.

I take in all the things he says, and I wonder if he is right. Maybe I do need to put myself first. Could I actually do that?

“Tell your mate I said hi.’ I told him, with a smile. ‘And tell her good luck, she will need it with you for a mate.

I hear him laugh through the link. ‘I sure will sis, and I will speak soon. Do not let him bring you down. He obviously never deserved you in the first place.

The link cuts out, telling me he is either out of the area now or he is ending the link. I guess I should go and find my Dad and start to explain this mess to him. I put my sneakers back on when I receive a mindlink.

‘Bailey?’ a voice I do not recognize comes through the link, completely confusing me. Who would be mindlinking me?

‘Hello?’ I responded, a little uncertainly.

“This is Ruth, Harley’s Mum. I am sorry to link, but I have heard a lot about you lately, and know you and Harley have spent some time together. So I thought I should let you know he is in the pack hospital. He has been attacked. He has some serious injuries and is currently in surgery. My heart feels like it is shattering at the link as the words she tells me sink in.

‘What happened?!’ I almost so b through the link, though I have a sinking feeling I may already

know.

“We don’t know, they believe it could be a rogue attack. He was found in the forest, so lucky to be. found as he was losing so much blood…’ Harley’s Mum links, her voice trembling even through. mindlink, as I run down the stairs of my house, ready to head to the hospital. All thoughts of speaking to my Dad were put to the back of my mind. I need to go and see Harley. See if he will be okay. For if my thoughts were right, he was likely not meant to survive…