Welcome. Today starts the beginning of regular updates for The Beta and the jewel thief. I will be posting a chapter per day to start off with, except for on weekends. I don't post on weekends. It's been a long road to get here with a lot of life obstacles coming up. I hope you enjoy this story as much as the previous 5. This book is the beginning of the end that will bring us into book 7 and then the final installment of the series book 8.
LYRIC The tightness in my gut increased as we waited in the car outside another seedy motel, waiting for Shadows man to show up. I had never been so nervous about pulling a job in my life. Then again, there was a lot more riding on this than I liked. I can’t remember the last time I prayed to the moon goddess, but I prayed to her last night, and I silently prayed to her now. I prayed for the job to go smoothly. I prayed for my boy – that I would see him again. And I prayed that I could keep him safe. Bram checked his watch for the umpteenth time, letting out a loud sigh of annoyance. If Bram was anything, I had learned in the past few years he was punctual and hated to be kept waiting. A sharp rap on the car window startles me. I look over as Bram rolls down the driver's side window to a man dressed in black. His hair peeks out from under his hood, a shade darker than white, and his eyes are an eerie mustard yellow. An uncommon eye color if I had ever seen one. His pale, almost gre
MIKE Night of the ball I look at my watch for the thousandth time. 2 pm. Attendees have been arriving since the crack of dawn. Alpha’s, Beta’s, and other high-ranking werewolves, along with their entourage of either guards or family members. Between Jonda and I and my mother and father, we have been greeting the arrivals all morning. It wasn’t protocol to have to greet each arriving party, but it was expected for a ranking member to receive them. I cast an annoyed look at my father, rolling my eyes. Finally, he gives me the nod indicating I can leave my post to do the important shit. Make sure everything is in place and security knows when and where they are meant to be. Despite checking, double-checking, and even triple checking. I need to check again. Tomorrow is a big day for Kellen and Tala. Not just for them, but for our kingdom. Tonight, we celebrate, tomorrow we solidify the reign of a new king and queen of werewolves. I grab Jonda’s hand and pull her from the front of the
LYRIC I gave my watch one last glance before I took it off. 7 pm. It was time. Handing my watch to Bram I told him “I want that back when I come out.” Ignoring Twenty-Nine’s grumble in the back of the car. “There’s a gate on the east side of the palace. That’s where we will meet you.” Bram's face turned to a deadly look of seriousness, and his eyes bore into mine making it impossible to look away. “You have two hours Swift, don’t make me wait too long. Got it?” His fingers squeezed around mine tightly in a warning. Message received loud and clear. He didn’t trust the plan and wanted me in and out as fast as possible. I swallowed the lump of nerves that had settled in my throat and nodded “Got it.” Trying to portray with my eyes that I understood and shared his suspicions that everything was not going to go smoothly. The three of us piled out of the car. I wandered around to the driver’s seat because turning up on foot would raise suspicions with the guards. Bram and Twenty-Nine w
MIKE “Damn it,” I grumbled lowly looking at my watch. 7.00 pm. Kellen and Tala should have been down here by now. They missed their cue for their introduction. I glanced around the ballroom, filled with guests that were ready to greet their king and new queen. I pull my phone out and shoot Jonda a quick message: ‘Going to find the missing royals. I swear if they are fucking, I will personally kill them.’ I knew she was in the kitchen making sure everything was sent out and prepared correctly. I didn’t have time to go find her and explain myself. My phone dings, ‘They are probably just running late. Keep your knickers on.’ Jonda replies. I shove my phone back into my pocket and stomp through the growing crowd of people. From the corner of my eye, I spot Tawny and Mason talking with Tyron, his mate, and Damon. No time to stop and say hi right now. Once I have the elusive couple down here then I can go hug the tiny kitty. “Beta Mike, can I get a quote?” I half look toward the voic
MIKE I left the vault walking back outside with hurried steps, a new goal in mind. Through the hall where I could hear bystanders whispering; trying to guess who it was that had been murdered. Word traveled fast and I could only assume a member of staff had opened their mouth and now the guests were making their own assumptions. “And have someone tell the guests to stay in their rooms for the rest of the evening,” I said, needing the gossip mills shut down then walking out, letting my nose guide me. The scent led me outside side towards the forest line, towards the east gate. My footsteps hurried, and with no regard for my suit, I shifted into Duke. The suspect couldn’t have gotten that far but I should be able to catch up before the scent completely fades. Duke took off at high-speed weaving between the trees and bounding over dead branches and logs, through the light dusting of snow that tapered off the deeper we ran into the woods. Emitting a low growl occasionally as we tracked
JONDA I sat, somewhat patiently, waiting for Kellen or a doctor or even a nurse to come tell me what was going on. I couldn’t hear anything from the other side of the door. All I could do was pray that my recently discovered sister and the baby were doing okay. I had been here for hours; It was now close to becoming Saturday morning. In the next two hours, the sun would be peaking up over the horizon announcing the beginning of a new day. Tala came into our lives six months ago. An illegitimate sister of our long-lost father Teal MacTire. At first, I didn’t know what to make of her. Everything I had been told about my father, the image he had been painted in, had crumbled when I found out he had a child with another female. Once I had heard her story of how she came to be, once my mother and brother had accepted her as a MacTire, I too accepted her. With that acceptance came a new friendship, a sisterly bond that I had been forever grateful for since I let my walls down. Tala was
MIKE “Alright. Then discuss them. Starting with, what the fuck was that I walked in on?” I gestured with my head to move back down the corridor. We followed Hunji into one of the conference rooms, finding Morgan, Hunji’s mate already in there waiting for us. With a huff, I pulled out a chair and flopped down into it. I could seriously use a drink right now or a bottle. Hell, a few bottles. Anything to make me forget tonight. “Make it quick Hunji I’m about done with tonight.” “You and me both.” Hunji grunts. He takes a seat next to Morgan but then pulls her onto his lap, burying his nose into her hair and taking deep gulps of her scent. My stomach tightened and coiled at the sweet display of affection. My wolf whimpered in loss and anger that Jonda and my murdering thief of a mate had evoked. “Rhett is already aware, and I have reported to Queen Lamia, but as you also know the Kodiak Kingdom was attacked a month ago. Before that Alpha Xander’s convoy was hit on the way to Riocht.”
MIKE Stepping out of the elevator, I took a deep breath, holding it. Only releasing it when I saw Rogue standing outside the delivery room alone. I wanted to be there for Kellen and Tala. I wanted to meet my nephew, yet, the excitement I held before had almost completely vanished. I tried to muster up those feeling once again but it was hard. “Beta.” Rogue greeted me. “Fergus,” I tipped my head to him, using his birth name. We mostly called him Rogue because he hated his real name. But Rogue wasn’t a rogue anymore. And only Tala could get away with calling him by his given name. He gave me a half-hearted growl at the use of his name. Usually, I would goad him further. But I just didn’t have it in me right now. “Anything to report?” Rogue shakes his head, “Nah, cute little shit though.” He smiles, relaxing against the wall, a whistful look shadowing his eyes. I smelt her before I heard her. Every muscle in my body stiffened. I was hoping she had already left. I should have known