Revolting

Chapter Seventeen - The Beta William

I leaned back against the counter while Daisy gestured excitedly. "Then this girl shows up at the back door, and her face is all scarred."

I straightened, "Hey, I think I know that girl. Gabe and I found her hiding in the woods one day-❞

"Yeah, she asked for you by name. She's the one that's been taking food from the gardens. Anyway, I invited her inside, and she starts to cry that her brother is dying." Daisy grabbed a dishtowel and started to wipe at the counter, scrubbing at invisible soil, "So I went and got Nina. We didn't know how bad it was, so Nina brought Raine... because we thought, well if it is just an arrow wound, Raine could help."

"That was kind of reckless," I said with a worried frown, "It could have been a trap." I couldn't imagine what Nina had been thinking, taking my precious little niece off pack lands, to see an unknown rogue.

Daisy shook the dishtowel at me, "Quiet, I'm telling this story. So the girl leads us out into the woods, past our border, and they've got this little camp set up. And under a lean-to is this man. And he was dying, Will. I mean like, I think they guy had just hours to live. He was all infected, and his face was turning blue, and oh-my-god he stunk like death."

"So Nina is like, this is super bad, we need a doctor, and we were trying to figure out how we could get him out of the woods quickly, when Raine walks right up to the guy, and puts her hands on him. She just, you know... did her thing. And all this gross stuff starts coming out of the guy's shoulder... I mean, really, really gross... like something you would see in a horror movie. And then she just pats him on the head and walks away, like it was nothing."

"So wait, what happened to the man?"

"He woke up when Nina disinfected the wound. He was mad as a hornet too." "Mad about what?"

Daisy shrugged, "I don't know, exactly, but if looks could kill... Nina tried to convince him to come back with us for treatment, and he was like hell-no. I think we'll go out and check on him in a couple days. But in the mean time, I'm going to pack up some food and supplies for Hannah."

"Hannah?"

"Yeah, that's her name, the girl. Well, I thought she was a little kid at first, she's so tiny, but you know I don't actually know how old she is." Daisy produced a wicker basket and started pulling out items from the fridge.

I eyed her warily. "Does Nina know you are feeding them?"

"Well, not at first, but she does now, and she approves." Daisy said airily. "I was thinking about making them some chocolate chip cookies."

"Hey, make me some chocolate chip cookies!" I protested in mock jealousy.novelbin

She patted my cheek and grinned at me. "You know I'll let you have the broken ones."

I pouted and pulled a bit of her hair playfully. Inside I was really happy for her. I don't know what the deal was with this brother-sister duo of rogues, but they seemed harmless enough, and they were giving Daisy something positive to focus on, something to distract herself from the problems she was having with Gabe. I'd been so wrapped up in my own romantic adventures, I'd almost forgotten my friends were having trouble in their own relationship.

"That's pretty amazing about Raine though," I said, pushing away from the counter. My niece was thoroughly amazing. "It seems like her power is practically unlimited."

"I know right??" Daisy pulled a package of hotdogs out of the refrigerator. "Nina didn't think she could handle it. Like the guy was already as good as dead." She stopped and frowned. "Hannah said the arrow was poisoned with something, something new they had never seen. And when that stuff came out," she shivered at the memory, "It was green, like nasty bile colored green."

I stored that bit of information. If someone was using a new kind of poison on werewolves, then we needed to be concerned. I would confer with Shane, but it would probably be a good idea if we made time to go visit these rogues, and interrogate them about the attack.

Daisy went on, "The Luna has said they can come on pack lands. She told the patrols to let them by if they try to cross the border."

I stiffened, "Does Shane know?"

Daisy scoffed at me. "Of course he does, Beta. Your the one who is out of the loop." She smirked knowingly, "How was your date with the Alpha, by the way?" Hannah

That baby with the magical hands had gotten the poison out of Heath's body, but he still had a lot of recovering to do. He was weak, and the wound was healing slowly. But at least it WAS healing now. He was as grumpy as an old woman, and frustrated by his own limitations. He wanted to move on, leave our little camp, but he didn't have the strength.

Secretly, I was glad we couldn't leave yet. I felt myself being constantly drawn back to the Rebel Moon pack. The people there were different. I was able to cross the boundary now in broad day light without fear, because the Luna had informed the guards to let me pass. I was still watchful as I scurried through the woods, but I wanted to trust them. It was like something inside me was urging me to.

I had learned their schedule. If I went early in the morning, I could watch them train. There were only about a dozen men and women in the back yard, going through the motions of martial arts training and conditioning, shifting exercises and running. I would sit at the edge of the woods and just watch. Daisy and the Luna also trained, and sometimes I saw the beta William too. I was fascinated by him. He was not like any beta I've ever met. He was funny and playful. I smiled to myself as I watched him tease the other pack members. It was like he never took anything too seriously, but at the same time, he worked just as hard as everyone else. He had slipped off his shirt, and his muscles were slick with sweat. My mouth went a little dry, watching him go through the motions, a perfect balance of grace and strength.

We had never stayed in one place long enough for me to notice a man. I think I had a crush on the beta.