A Beta's Beta (Book 6 In Equaliser Series)

Chapter 5

Jay was confused. Wasn't his mate supposed to yield to him submissively for his every need and want. Jay's wolf balked at the idea that he would force his wants on his mate. Jay's very traditionalist families views were being tested before his eyes. Mabel had yet to give into him, it was as though she kept a shield of ice around her at all times.

Even now a week after she'd arrived they'd barely spent any time around each other. Mabel and the alpha female seemed to be hitting it off though. Part of him understood that she was trying to get used to him and her new pack but the rest of him was starting to get frustrated. He was pulled out of his thoughts as Mabel moved in the bed next to him snuggling closer to him while she slept.

His heart jumped at the sight, so free and unguarded, her platinum blonde hair haloed around her sleeping face. A smile split his face as his frustrations started to slowly melt away.

"Don't you have patrol today" Mabel's sleepy voice made him jump as her beautiful blue eyes fluttered open.

"I do" Jay hummed in reply, not moving to get up as Mabel was letting him hold her.

"You'll get in trouble with Cedric if you blow off official duties" Mabel sated softly worry seeping into her voice.

"Will you come with me today then, we still need to have that run together" Jay murmured, breathing in Mabels scent.

"Can you promise no macho bullshit" Mabel sighs as she snuggles into Jay's chest before leaning back to stare into his eyes.

Jay's heart stuttered several beats as she stared into his eyes, hers cool and distant, he longed to soothe away the hurts in her heart but he didn't know how.

"I'll try" Jay finally responded, blinking as he let go of his mate, an effort and a half to let her go.

"Thats all I ask" Mabel smiled as she got out of bed, stretching as she rose.

Jay's mouth went dry at the sight. She was so beautiful. Jay's wolf forced a whine out of his mouth as he watched Mabel stand up. As she turned and grinned at him Jay couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man alive.

"Jay, I'm sorry" Mabel started as she rounded the bed "I'm not making this easy for us am I"

It took Jay a minute to realise what she meant as she took his hand in hers.

"I don't think I am either. I think we need to talk" Jay sighed squeezing her hand in his, before bringing it up to his mouth and placing a kiss on the back of her hand.

His ears picked up when her heart skipped a beat and hope rose in his chest as she looked at him less guarded than before. Her soft scent washing over him like a soothing balm. His pulse thundering as his desire for her climbs higher.

"Later, I promise, now let's get this patrol on the way" Mabel agreed, tugging him out of their room.

They were going to shift so neither of them changed their clothes as they treaded through the house. It was early morning. So early that most of the pack wouldn't be awake for a few more hours. Jay let Mabel take the lead her bare feet making no sound as they left the pack house. Jay swallowed another whine as she let go of his hand to shimmy out of her night dress and shift. Swallowing down a spike of desire as her bare back disappears into her fur as she falls onto four legs.

Golden blonde fur as light as her hair in her wolf form. Jay longed to reach out and stroke her and snuggle her. She looked so regal. Head and tail held high in clear confidence. Following suit Jay quickly removed his pyjamas. Welcoming the shift Jay fell forward as a wolf. Yipping in happiness as Mabel bounds over to rub into him. Mingling their scents as their fur rubs together. They tussle for a few minutes before Mabel nudges him to take point.

"This way" Jay speaks into the mind link, trotting away a few paces.

Mabel's pawsteps echo behind him as she sticks to his flank. Shaking his head Jay steels himself to the job at hand. Every inch of the territory needed patrolled when the warriors changed shifts so that nothing would be able to get passed their boarders. Nothing had in a long time but it never hurt to be cautious. The pack might be expecting an heir soon if Jay's alphas kept going at their pace. Huffing at the thought of a little Cedric running around Jay could only hope he might be a father one day. But he was still fucking up the whole mate thing. What should he do to win her approval.

A nip to his tail pulled him out of his thoughts as Mabel motioned to to armoured wolves with her nose.

"Warriors, we got the armor from the Black crimson war pack" Jay explained as the two warriors tucked their tails and bowed their heads as they passed.

"Really! My sister an her mate are that packs alphas" Mabel exclaimed into his mind, the sound causing his ears to pin down from the volume.

"Alpha Alexa is terrifying. She's your sister?" Jay shuddered, remembering his first meeting with her.

"Yeah, her twin Elena is the alpha of the healing pack too" Mabel bragged chest puffed out in obvious pride.

"The spirit crystal pack too" Jay whined his tail tucking under him. He'd met alpha Elena before as well. While not as quick to anger she was also terrifying.

"Yeah" Mabel agreed tail wagging as she thought of her strong and noble sisters.

Underneath that excitement Jay could see a young wolf who idolised her sisters so much that she didn't see her own worth. It was part of the ice around her heart.

Your just as incredible as they are. Jay though to himself but didn't say into her mind for fear she'd take it the wrong way. They just walked in a comfortable silence stopping occasionally to let a pack mate pass or to take a drink from a stream. Their conversations short but meaningful. It was the most peaceful time Jay had gotten to spend with his mate thus far.