The Beta's Missing Mate (Book 16 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 20

Bianca Simmons sat on the window seat in her bedroom staring off into the distance at Lake Michigan. The lake was beautiful today, blue and welcoming. Hiding away it's secrets of the death one could find in its depths. She still appreciated its beauty even though it had taken from her the love of her life. Her soulmate. She couldn't help herself. 

Brian had been a member of her own pack, a warrior who had a very bright and promising future. She'd found out they were mates on her eighteenth birthday. Brian had been two years older than her and Bianca couldn't be happier. She'd had a crush on him from the moment she'd started noticing boys. 

They'd been happy too, and planned a bright future together. They were in the middle of building a house and had started talking about pups. Bianca loved children and she'd wanted five pups. Brian had thought she was crazy, but he liked to indulge her in any way he possibly could. He'd spoiled her, bringing her small gifts frequently and always sneaking her away so that they could mate. She'd absolutely adored him, and he her. 

But then one day, it had all ended. His life had been snatched cruelly away from him by the lake, leaving Bianca alone and broken. They hadn't been able to find his body, and she had contemplated walking out into that sea herself and not stopping until she joined him in death. 

She'd felt like her life had ended on that day eight months ago. All of her hopes and dreams had been washed away, washed out into the depths of Lake Michigan along with her soulmate. 

The pain from losing him had been unbearable, and she could understand how those who had lost their mates had barely survived it. She'd barely survived it herself. A large part of her didn't want to still be around without him. But here she was. 

Bianca had no idea what to do with herself now. She was existing, barely. Her family had been patient with her though, her father and brother checking on her frequently. The house she and Brian had been building sat half completed. She'd moved into the pack house, not wanting to be alone in Brian's small home. 

A movement caught her eye, and she watched one of the pack SUVs pull up to the pack house. Her father got out a moment later. He opened the back and she saw his gaze dart up to her. He knew where she spent most of her time. His face softened, then he looked back at the men getting out of the SUV. 

Bianca knew who they were. She'd half listened to the men's conversation last night around the dinner table. Their pack liaison was showing up two months early for their pack visit and there had been quite a bit of speculation as to why. Bianca had been rather bored with the entire conversation. 

Both the Alpha's son, and her own brother, Baz, spent as much time running the pack as their fathers did. They would be taking over soon, and their fathers stepping down. She knew they would all meet with the liaison today. 

Bianca watched the two men exit the SUV quietly. They actually had two liaisons. Aiden Asgrim and Xavier Remington, but Xavier didn't seem to be there. She frowned as she eyed the other man. She wasn't sure who he was. 

She recognized Aidan though. She'd had a crush on him when she was younger. He was very good looking and very powerful. He was nice though, and had smiled at her and flirted with her a little. He didn't look much different, though from her position on the third floor, she couldn't see his face that well. 

The other man with him was also very good looking. His hair was a few shades lighter than Aiden's, though he was close to the same height. He was just as well built and she watched his gaze dart up to her window for a brief moment. His eyes were a beautiful shade of blue she noticed. She swallowed as she stared at him, then blinked and looked away. 

Bianca slipped out of her seat and walked over to her bed, throwing herself down on it. She should just stay up here their entire visit and avoid them. She didn't want their condolences or to discuss the loss of her mate. They wouldn't stay long. Probably until tomorrow at the latest. 

Bianca? I need you to come down to the Alpha's office. 

She froze at the mind link from her father. She almost asked why, but then thought better of it. Evidently her father wanted her to meet the liaisons though she had no idea why. A feeling of dread built up in her stomach. She didn't want to, but she didn't have a choice. She couldn't just ignore them. Aidan Asgrim would be the Royal Beta one day. And who knew who the other guy was. He could be a member of the Royal Family. 

Be right there. She hurried over to her closet and threw up the doors, then pulled out a pair of jeans and a soft sweater and slipped them on. She ran a brush through her dark hair and eyed herself quietly, forcing herself to smile. It looked more like a grimace. She sighed. Well, they were just going to have to deal with her. She wasn't happy. That was just the way it was. 

Bianca hurried out of her room and down to the Alpha's office. She knocked on the door, then opened it and walked inside. She immediately felt everyone's eyes on her and cringed. She hated being the center of attention anymore. Besides the Alpha and his son, her father and her brother, the Gamma along with his daughter were also present. And of course, Aidan Asgrim and his companion. 

She bowed her head to them both, then let her gaze move over them quickly. Aidan looked the same, though she noticed the sadness in his eyes. She could relate, and wondered what had put it there. Hopefully nothing mate related, but she really had no idea. Especially after the last eight months. The world could have burned down and she would have been unaware of it. She was too caught up in her own sorrow to care about anything else.

Her gaze drifted to the other man, the one she didn't know. He was just as gorgeous up close as he had been from her window, and he was staring at her very intently. He was beautiful, and Bianca found herself wondering who he was. A Beta as well, she realized and her gaze darted between him and Aidan. Were they brothers?

Her father stood and approached her, then turned to the two men. "Beta, my daughter Bianca." He turned to her. "Bianca, I believe you've met Aidan Asgrim before, and this is his brother, Zane."

She nodded to them both. She'd been right. "Nice to meet you both." Now could she leave? She wasn't sure why her father had made her come down here to meet them. Surely it could have waited until dinner.

"Bianca, the Beta would like to speak with you alone," her father said. 

Her lips parted and she almost asked why, but then thought better of it. Where?

Take him outside and down to the beach or something. Don't feel like there's any pressure on you to do something you don't want to, because there's not. Do whatever you want to do. You have my blessing either way. 

Wait, what? She stared at her father with a frown. What kind of cryptic nonsense was that? Her gaze darted up to the Beta who was staring at her intently. Was he offering her a position at the Royal Pack? It was the only thing she could think of, but she knew she needed to say something. "Beta, would you like to go outside?"

He gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course." 

She turned and left the Alpha's office, aware of him behind her. She headed down the steps and out the front door, grabbing a shawl on her way out, then walked across the front yard and down a path towards the beach as she wrapped the shawl around her shoulders.

Aidan followed behind her, and Bianca turned once she was on the beach to look at him. "You wanted to speak with me?"