His Guardian (MxM)

Chapter 24

Benjamin

Jackson and I were walking downstairs early in the morning. I woke up about thirty minutes before that, my head lying on Jackson's chiseled chest. I felt safe in his arms. Like no one could get through my Alpha mate to harm me.

He had assured me that we would find this girl after breakfast, which he insisted I have. I wasn't hungry, as I had grown accustomed to going without breakfast, as well as most meals. But I would attempt to eat as much as I could to make him happy. As we approached the kitchen, someone was sitting on a barstool at the island. Before I could get a good look at them, Jackson stood in front of me and spoke.

"Beth," he hesitated for a moment. "I apologize if I scared you the other day." Beth? Could this be her? I quickly peeked around my mate and what I saw made my jaw drop.

I instantly remembered flashes from my childhood, running and playing with Beth. She was in the same orphanage as I was when I was younger, but was adopted while I was still fairly young, so I didn't get to see her after that. She and I were practically tied at the hip as small children. Her presence was comforting during my time of mourning my parents. As children, our personalities were so similar that it was easy to get along so well with each other. Some would say similar personalities would clash, but it was the opposite for Beth and I. I wondered if it would still be the same now that we were adults.

"Beth?" I spoke out. Her eyes shifted from Jackson who was just speaking to her, to me, when her eyes widened.

"Ben!?" she proclaimed before she I and rushed forward and practically collided in a hug. I was careful not to hurt her with my short arm cast, but embraced her to the best of my ability. I felt tears beginning to sting my eyes from this reunion with my childhood best friend. I pulled back and saw her having the same reaction.

"I thought I'd never see you again," I whispered to her. She let out a half chuckle, half sob.

"My adopted parents were in another pack, but I moved back here when I turned eighteen. I was living alone, until..." her words trailed off. She didn't need to finish. I had already pieced it together.

"Oh, Beth. I'm so sorry," I murmured in a pained tone.

"No, no. Look at you, Ben. Are you okay?" I smiled at her.

"I am now that I'm with my mate again," I said as I turned back to look at a confused Jackson.

"Beth and I knew each other when we were kids. We lived in the same orphanage," I explained. His face lit up with understanding as he grinned at the both of us. I turned back to Beth and remembered the little detail Jackson had told me about. I looked down at her stomach, but didn't notice a bump as she was wearing a baggy, oversized shirt. My heart clenched in pain for a few different reasons. Mine and Jackson's child was torn away from us, and here was Beth, carrying my mate's child. And also from the fact that she didn't want this, and neither did he. This was forced upon them. But if Beth was not standing here, pregnant with Jackson's child, I would likely be dead. 

"Ben, I-" she began to speak when she saw my gaze move down for a moment.

"No, it's okay," I smiled at her. "I'm just glad we made it out alive. I'm so sorry you were forced into this." She said nothing as she embraced me once more, which I gladly accepted. She felt warm in my arms, and some part of me smiled at the thought that Jackson's baby would still be brought into the world, even if not by me.

Jackson

I left Ben and Beth to catch up while I spoke with Liam who had just showed up. He was around often, which I was grateful for. I needed my Beta in these times. I watched him approach the home from the window just a few feet from my mate, and decided to meet him at the door. When I did, he walked in and saw Ben and Beth from a distance. He looked at me, puzzled by their obvious closeness. I chuckled at him and quickly explained.

"Apparently they were childhood friends."

"Well, I guess that worked out," he muttered, looking no less perplexed as he watched them.

"I want to hire movers," I told him while keeping an eye on my mate.

"You're not staying in the Alpha's mansion?"

"No, I am. I just want all of this shit that reminds me of my father out of here. I want to paint the walls, change the pictures that are hanging on them, buy new furniture. I don't want anything in our home to remind us of him." Granted, my father had a lot of his things moved already, but there was still too much of him here. Ben deserved to live in a home completely free of his abuser.

So, the following weeks, I had our home changed completely. I asked Ben to pick out what furniture he wants, as well as paint colors, decor, I even told him we could do some remodeling if he would like. I just wanted him to be happy here. The Ward fortune would be more than enough to cover any expenses, so money wasn't an issue. He was hesitant with being handed so much control, but took it anyway; upon my insistence. 

He had chosen a hunter green paint for the main rooms and halls, paired with a honey colored oak floor to cover the cold marble my father had installed. The decor Ben chose was beautiful, and eccentric; much like him. Most of it had a more modern theme, which was refreshing compared to the stuffy, vintage bullshit I grew up around. It was near impossible to cover every single room of our home with changes, as the house was simply much too large for the both of us. So, some rooms remained empty, some with old, covered furniture. It didn't bother us, because we only ever used about a third of the home.

Ben wanted to go to the orphanage to see Ms. Tallie, though I insisted he heal more first. He treated the outing with an urgent manner, as he didn't want the older woman to worry. So, we went. He excitedly told Beth she should come to surprise Ms. Tallie as well, and she happily agreed.

Once we stood on the front porch of the orphanage, Ben having just knocked on the door, it opened to reveal Ms. Tallie. Her eyes landed on me first, as I'm sure I looked like a giant brute stood next to Ben and Beth. Her eyes widened in fear for only a moment before she noticed Ben. I wondered if she had been at the crowning ceremony. If she had seen me kill my father. Even worse, I wondered if she had brought the children with her. This made me cringe on the inside.

Once she saw Ben, however, her eyes lit up. She rushed forward and pulled him into a hug, and did the same to Beth when she noticed her. She held Ben's face in her wrinkled hands and lamented how worried she had been about him. He assured her that he is alright, and introduced me as his mate. Ms. Tallie was still hesitant about me, but invited us in for tea anyway. I wore a smile as warm as I could muster to comfort the woman. I wanted her to know the Alpha was not one to fear. I wanted the entire pack to know that, but it felt an impossible task to do.

After our visit, Ben was telling me how much he wished he could help Ms. Tallie. That with her old age, she wouldn't be able to take care of the children like she used to. I assured him that we could hire some help for her, and make sure she has everything she needs. This made him happy to hear. That woman was very dear to my mate, which meant she was very dear to me, too.

I had asked Doctor Green if he would mind terribly staying for a little while longer while Ben got better. He and Eleanor happily agreed. It comforted me to know that medical help was so close by for Ben. Just in case. His bruises were beginning to fade, and the open wounds were healing. It was almost time for the cast to come off, and he had actually gained a couple of pounds. I wanted to see results faster, but I knew it would be a slow process to start. He was still having nightmares regularly, but I was always there to care for him when he did. Some were worse than others. Almost all of them centered around my father. I had put that fucker in the grave and he still haunted my mate's dreams. I hoped, with time, the nightmares would fade like the bruises. I was just glad to have him with me to take care of.