The Mark of Betrayal (Samara and Roman) novel Chapter 76

Samara

When Roman’s parents arrived, they were surprised to see how Sloane and Slade had attached themselves to Alpha William and Luna Jasmine.

“So you’re the Alpha we need to thank for saving and protecting our precious Samara?” Alpha Sterling asks over dinner.

“As I’ve said before, I did what any Alpha would do. I took in a pup that needed help,” Alpha William says.

“A pup who also needed protection. You gave her that as well. That is important and not something every Alpha would have done, considering what happened to her family,” he says.

I see Alpha William glance at Sloane, a gentle reminder to be careful of their conversation in front of her. Sterling takes the hint and changes the direction of the conversation.

“How are things in the south?”

“Hot,” William says, laughing.

“How hot?” Sloane asks. I know from experience that the southern packs are considerably warmer than those here in the north.

“Well, for starters, we very rarely get snow and if we do, it doesn’t last nearly as long as the snow does up here,” he tells her.

We talk about general things, including my plans for the Luna ceremony and which Alphas and Lunas will be attending, until we finish dinner.

“Sloane, I have some more work to do, would you help me?” I ask her.

She turns and looks at Alpha William. “Will you still be here when I get back?”

“I’m not planning to leave until Sunday. I’m here until then,” he tells her. She gives him a quick smile then follows me.

“Alpha William is wonderful, isn’t he?” I ask her as we begin to go through the rooms, making notes of what still needs to be stocked for our guests who will start arriving tomorrow evening.

“I really like him.”

I know he’s asked her to come stay with him and my purpose of asking her to help me was to give her an opportunity to talk to me about that.

“He was very good to me when I was young. Will is nice as well. Well, he was kind of like a little brother, and you know how that is,” I say. She nods, giving me a small grin, smaller than the ones she gives Alpha William, but I'll take it.

“He invited me to come stay with him,” she finally says. Her voice is so quiet that I barely hear her.

“Did he?” I ask, not making a big deal about it.

“What do you think about that?” she asks me.

“Well, I lived with him for nine years. His pack was my home for half my life. I think the better question is, what do you think about that?” I ask her.

“I’d like to go,” she says, her voice so quiet that I need Ayla’s enhanced senses to hear her and even then we can barely hear her.

I stop what I’m doing and walk over to her, crouching in front of her. “If you would like to go back with Alpha William and Luna Jasmine, that is your choice. Uncle Roman and I are still going to become your parents, or guardians, or whatever you want to call us. But Alpha William adopted me. That makes him your grandfather. It’s not uncommon for pups to visit their grandparents and spend time with them. The southern packs are very different to the ones up here in the north. But they’re beautiful in their own way. And it might be good for you to get out of the north for a while, to have a change of scenery and be in a pack that has a softer feel to the one we have here. I don’t want you to feel pressured to go or to stay. But I don’t want you thinking that you’ll be living there forever. This is a visit, but we can make it an extended visit if you like it there and you’re doing well. What do you think of that?”

“I’d like that.”

“Are you going to be nervous about leaving Slade and Aria here?” I ask her.

“No, but Slade might want to come too. Could he come if he wanted to?”

“That would be up to Alpha William and Luna Jasmine. But I think Slade needs to stay in one place long enough to adjust. And I’m not sure that Scarlet will be allowed to go visit Alpha William with you. So you may want to consider how much time you want to spend with Alpha William and still have time to spend with Scarlet before school starts again. Just some things for you to think about sweetheart. If getting away helps you to heal, then I’m more than happy to let you go. But this is your home. I want you to know that. I want you to know that your Uncle Roman and I love and you and we want you here with us. Okay?”

She nods and I open my arms. She walks into them and hugs me tightly.

“Thank you, Aunt Samara.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I love you. Uncle Roman loves you too. I know you’re going through a lot right now. We’re here for you in whatever way you need us to be.”

We finish taking our inventory and then she rushes to find Alpha William, telling him excitedly that she’s allowed to go visit him.

“That’s wonderful!” he says, scooping her into a hug.

After movie night and putting the pups to bed, Roman and I meet with William, Jasmine and his parents, letting everyone know what’s going on with the three packs, and that Sloane is going to go visit Alpha William. We also let Sterling and Devi know that we’ve entered into an alliance with William and Jasmine.

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