Caged Between the beta & alpha

Once Like Brothers DAMON Night had fallen and I was in the packhouse , in Liam’s office , trying to look at the tracker families in the pack – those who had the ability to hide their heartbeats – when there was a knock on the door .

” Enter .

” I had left the door unlocked since I was in here anyway .

The door opened and Robyn’s familiar scent hit my nose before I glanced up .

She seemed surprised to see me alone , glancing around the room as if this was a mistake .

She was dressed in figure – hugging clothes consisting of a black vest top and denim high waisted jeans .

” I won’t bite .

” I said , smiling slightly .

That emptiness in my chest that she had once partially filled had only grown since the rejection .

It hurt .

It fucking hurt .

I pushed the thought away .

I don’t think I ever had a chance anyway , I would always be second , whether that was simply because Raven and Liam always had a stronger connection or because I couldn’t bring myself to fight for it and make matters worse .

One thing good about the rejection was that there was no holding on to hope that i It would never be .

There was no what if , or just maybe it could work .

It was done and I could look forward from here … It’ll get easier … I wasn’t the only one who had shouldered a rejection .

Only recently , Channing , Taylor’s brother , had rejected his mate .

It was different as their marks would remain until the end but they had weakened the bond by a lot .

But if say , Anna took a new mate , and marked them , the mark could be lifted from Channing’s neck .

The mate bond … it wasn’t something simple … ” I thought Zack was here .

He asked me to check the anti – scent spray supplies .

” She said , holding the file over her breasts .

” Leave it with me .

Thanks for your constant help , Robyn .

You’ve always been really hands – on and organised .

” I said glancing down at the desk in front of me , remembering a conversation from about six months ago that I had overheard her having with her brother Rick ….

‘

You’re damn organised ….

Of course , I am ! Who knows , I may be a beta female … It could just be in my genes to be organised and handle stuff .

The sound of her laughter echoed in my mind , and I knew back then that was the point where I should have told her I had a mate .

Was this karma ? ” ” Yeah sure .

So , there’s nothing missing from the actual sprays , but there have been slight misses in the actual ingredients used to make them .

My bet is that someone has been sneaking a little here and there , then making their own .

” She said , brushing a coiled tendril of her hair back as she placed the file down , pointing something out .

Her heart was racing at our proximity .

I looked at where she was pointing and frowned .

” That’s minimal … Things get spilt when creating the sprays , are you sure it’s not just a miscalculation ? ” I questioned raising an eyebrow .

She frowned , cocking an eyebrow .

” I don’t make mistakes when it comes to things like this .

Damon , trust me , I’m the one who checked the stocks for Rick last time .

” She replied snappily .

” Calm down , I’m just saying .

I said , smiling

almost said something , the beginning of a smile on her lips before it vanished , and she shook her head , closing her eyes for a

access

chest squeezed slightly at her move , but I smiled softly as I stared down at the file

where they walked away , and when it came to her , that was my fault , but I couldn’t

and to let Raven go …

turned away , hesitating

you ok ? ” She asked , her voice sounding unsure

looked up at

H ” Yeah .

frowned , pursing

you better than

You’re hurting .

you want to talk about i t ? ” She asked

at her , I knew she was the one person I could lay my

, just as it would hurt Raven if I had told her

me daily , asking how I was and checking in on me , I couldn’t tell her that the

love her , and for her

had loved me , I was not going to hurt

I’m fine

the door opened and Liam

there

, realising there was n o aura around him

it was usually suppressed , you could still tell when an Alpha walked into the room , and right now I felt

Hi … I’m not disturbing

He asked , glancing between Robyn and

, not at all

supplies … ” Robyn said before she walked past

do want to talk

complicated situation , and I’m not trying to butt in , but if you just need an ear to listen

judge …

Her words came in my head , my

Raven and I … We

said

raced , she looked down but she didn’t turn back

…

gone , shutting the door behind her

an eyebrow

All ,

” Yeah .

, I knew that he knew that w e had been mind

” Cool .

, picking

anything about the rejection s o far … I wouldn’t either , I’ll let

You were out all day ,

like , there just

“

dropped onto

glanced up at me and frowned

on me … just in case ” He

say he was just going into town ? That meant he probably went to see Rayhan … ” Does

“

frowning as he tossed the file down and looked

lot more than

start

going to justify my shit , because even now I can’t think of sharing my

… it

lot and in the process lost a

sensing the guilt roll of him as he stared at his

sorry for treating you like shit …

Damon .

but you bent over

always put yourself aside

and I realise I broke the very first

hoarse , and I could hear the guilt laced

… Yeah , I remember

FLASHBACK FOURTEEN YEARS AGO

gasped , catching my breath , looking at the boy who was a little younger

He smiled .

sure you will win

I said , ” Three , two , ONE ! ” We broke into a run , our feet barely hitting the earthy ground as we

glanced at him , realising

to win ! ” I slammed my hand against

tongue out at him when he