The Beta AND I

Carsen's POV

My gaze was on Darren, who caressed his furrowed brows, his eyes squinting as if he were calculating a thing or two.

With that action, it was obvious that he was worried about something.

He lets out a sigh.

"D, what's wrong?" I asked as I leaned on the wall. Darren stood up from his office chair, packed a stack of papers from his large mahogany desk, and walked up to the shelf on his right and placed the papers neatly there. He shook his head and turned to look at me.

"Those damn humans," he cursed and gritted his teeth.

Oui, they are at it again.

"What's the matter this time," I asked, my gaze sweeping around the dimly lit room painted in dull colors, not like I mind it's totally Darren's kind of thing. The windows were closed, but still I could see that lonely deer ready to be killed for supper.

My gaze swept back to Darren; his dirty blonde hair was gelled to the back. His chestnut brown eyes seemed dull, and baggy circles were underneath, clearly stating he had overworked himself for the past few days. His chiseled jaw was free of beards; that only meant Sasha did a neat shave for him this morning. He placed his left hand in the side pocket of his trousers.

"That sly, Vaughn, is getting on my nerves. He's playing some tricks with my company, and it's causing a hell outta noise there," He replied.

It's him again, the lousy human who doesn't know how to accept defeat.

Vaughn Alexander Sterling is a business tycoon who is also into shady business with the politician in Ashbourne and also Darren's business rival, or so he thinks, because Darren is way out of his league.

"Should I get rid of him?" I asked, my claws elongating at the thought of killing that annoying human. He's also been on my blacklist, but Darren is always stopping me from doing things I'd planned to do with him.

"I wish I could, but no, let's leave him," He responded. Had it been Darren wasn't mated to Sasha, I would have said he had a weak spot for Vaughn or was probably romantically interested in him, but that's not the case.

He's deeply in love with his mate, and he loves her so much he could kill the entire human race if they dared touch his mate, our Luna.

"What does he know?" I queried, and Darren shot his head up, looking confused.

"Know what?"

"I don't get D; you are always letting him go when you ought to have broken a rib or two. Perhaps teach him a lesson that will make him never cross your path again, so I'm curious as to why you always let him go?" I press, itching to know if there's any secret between the both of them.

"Well, humans aren't worth spilling blood on. They are way lower than us; if we give them the satisfaction of our attention, then they'll leech onto us forever," He responded and let out a hiss.

I stood up straight and walked over to the window, my eyes scanning the surroundings; the deer was long gone, the pack was quiet, and guards were stationed where they were meant to be. I gazed at him.

"You can't leave Sasha here in the pack. She can't go through this trimester without you; our future Alpha is coming soon," I reminded him of his priorities.

Even though I am the beta of the Silvermist pack and Darren's best friend, I can't take his place forever. He is always the one who deals with the business in the city while I take care of the pack issue. I never for once liked going there; those humans are crazy and annoying as fuck, and I hate them with passion.

The more I inhale their scent or see them, it makes me want to snap their necks and kill them at a go. They are such snarky creatures, not to forget they are weak.

Even a wolf-less omega could kill them without having to exert themselves.

"That's why I called you here; I need you to help oversee my company in the city," he asked, and I let out a short laugh.

"You must be joking," I said in between the horrid laugh, but he had a serious expression on.

I frowned, "No, not interested. Let Garret go instead."

"Don't let me get started with Garrett; you know how childish he is. Sometimes I wonder how he became my Delta; even if I wanted him to go there, I would still ask that you follow him," He remarked, his gaze not leaving mine.

"Garret, he's strong, and I know you know he is the right person to be your delta. If you give him this task, he'll surely do it. Do not give me such silly excuses," I insisted,

"Garret can't leave here; he just found his mate," he replied, and I had a stoic face on. I didn't want him to see how affected I was, me being a 42-year-old wolf, and still I haven't gotten my mate.

I knew why he didn't tell me beforehand, and that's because Garrett is way younger than I am-just 22-and he found his mate. I was the only one that was old enough to have a mate but then didn't have a mate.

I craved my second half... I crave my fated mate.

I could have chosen a random person as my chosen mate, but nothing beats a fated one bestowed to you by Selene.

Knowing I have no option but to help my Alpha out, I agreed.

"Yes."

He moved closer to my direction and hurt my back lightly, "Thanks, Carsen," he said in an appreciative tone, and I shrugged.

I guess it's time for me to have a little break from the pack, go to the city where I hate most, and stack myself there with work.

"When am I supposed to leave?"

"Dawn tomorrow, I'll tell you everything you need to know about the issue. I trust you that no matter how annoying those creatures are, no spilling of blood," Carsen warns.

"I can't promise that."

Marcie's POV

I walked out of the exam room with Sarah beside me. Her vibrant aura radiated from every inch of her figure; she exuded warmth and confidence. Her bright smile and bright eyes seemed to light up the entire hallway, and even though the exam we had wasn't all that, Sarah just had a way of making things feel good and hopeful.

Standing beside her, I felt almost doll-like with my petite frame structure and delicate features that made me fragile. I was what I would call average height, but because I was beside Sarah, people would describe me as short, and that's because Sarah was gifted with height, and I wasn't. I took my mother's height; almost all my physical appearance was from mom and dad-only won with my stubbornness and eyes. I had his eyes-those unique multicolored blue-gray eyes that I'm grateful, I inherited.

Sarah, being enthusiastic, pulled me into an embrace with her ginger hair stuff into my mouth as she crushed me. I could barely breathe as she carried my petite body and turned around.

"I can't believe we are done with this semester; I can't wait to leave the campus," She beamed happily, dropping me to the ground.

While I rolled my eyes sarcastically, of course, I knew why she was beaming so happily, "Or you are excited to meet your sweet little church boy," I teased, and she faked a frown.

Her lips pulled up in a pout that seemed to make her look like she's some super hot chic, "No, Marcie. Tom's not a little church boy; yes, he is holy and a devoted Christian. It doesn't make him little; it only makes me more fond of him; you know how much I really like someone who's devoted," She prattled. Here she goes again. Losing herself and talking about Tom as if he were some prince charming.

I could almost block my eardrums if that's the only way I would stop hearing her talk about Tom. Sarah is such a romantic girl. I'm so happy that she found the one. Tom is cool, respectful, nice, sweet, and he is very cute. Fits Sarah's sexy appearance, and he's overall serious with her, and I'm so happy for her.

But you know, sometimes when you are single and you have to hear your best friend/roommate talk about her boyfriend in this manner, you just have to zone out.

"Okay, Sarah, I get it. Enough about Tom," I cut her off when I realized she was about to tell me how much she missed him and the things they do during the holidays since Tom lived in town 8 hours away from college.

Sarah tucked her hair to the back childishly as her face turned red due to embarrassment, "I'm sorry," she murmured.

"C'mon, it's not your fault that relationship isn't for me; besides, I'm the one always breaking up with them, not the other way around, and please let not spend the rest of the remaining minute we have here sulking about the issues of boys. We have a few minutes before you go meet your boo," I said, and then her face lit up as if she wasn't feeling guilty a moment ago.

That's my girl.

"True, so now are you going to go back to your dad's house, or perhaps you'll continue working in the cafe? " She queried, her arms locked as we walked back to our dorm.

"Nope, I decided to intern for a company this holiday. I feel it's better I do before Dad locks me up again," I responded, and she stopped in her tracks. She cupped my cheek and sent me a pity look.

"Sighs; sometimes I envy you, and sometimes I don't. You are such a cute little thing, and yes, you have so much to explore, and I'm glad you decided to do something," She cooed. I removed her hands from my cheeks and glared at her.

"You need to stop talking to me like I'm your child; just because you are graced with height doesn't mean I'm your younger sister," I warned jokingly, still a fake glare on.

"I still see you as my child, poor, poor Marcie. I'm sure you love me calling you my younger sister," She teased, and I pointed a finger at her, but she held it, measuring my hands with hers.

"See how tiny those fingers are," she teased again, and I stormed away.

"Hey, short legs wait for me, alright, alright-fine, I won't tease you again. Wait for me," she yelled and then walked over to my side. I opened the door of our dorm, and we walked in.

"So where do you want to Intern," She asked, and a sly smirk curled up on my lips.

She gave me a knowing look, "Okayyyy, tell me what it is you are hiding from me. I know that smirk, and it screams you are planning to work with a company your daddy won't agree with," She said, and then sat down beside me on the bed to hear whatever it is I had to say.

"Well, bestie..." I trailed off and held her hands, squeezing it tight. I smacked my lips and let out a short laugh.

"You are right, Sarah, but you have to trust me in this; once I get the approval, then I might tell you," I insisted, and she groaned.

"Hey, don't do that to me. We don't hide anything from each other," she pleaded, and I decided to act like I wasn't hearing her. She stood up abruptly, and then before I knew it, she started tickling my stomach, a very weak point of mine that got me cracking on the floor.

"Okay, O-okay, fine," I gave in.

"Promise?" She muttered, still tickling me.

"Promise," I replied, and then she stopped.

I adjusted my clothes and shifted far away from her, "I applied to work at Kingston Enterprise as a software developer," I confessed, and her eyes widened.

"The heck! Marcie, are you insane? You know your dad won't let you do that," She half-yelled. Sarah was shocked, flabbergasted, and, more importantly, not impressed with my decision.

Of course, people might think I'm crazy, but I just want to know why that company makes Dad out of his mind. Well, I know one of the reasons, but that can't be why he is so worked up about them.

"Dad won't find out; I changed my identity, and besides, nobody knows who my parents are, and don't forget I'm a hacker. One of the best in history," I reminded her, but then Sarah wasn't having it.

And that's why I didn't want her to know in the first place; she would be so worried.

"It's going to be fine, Sarah. Trust me, okay," I reassured.

"Promise you would call me every day to tell me every detail about your life there," she brought her pinky fingers. I smiled at her and locked mine with hers.

"I promise, now cheer up and let go and celebrate before I go to work."

Carsen's POV

My eyes glazed as I listened to the monotone voices in the meeting room. Another pointless decision about quarterly sales and marketing strategies.

My mind wanders, drifting to the stacks of papers awaiting me back in the office. Just two days in this damn human city, and I am already going out of my mind. This is ridiculous; even the pack issues aren't mind-wracking.

"... and we need to increase our online presence..." someone droned on.

How much longer?

I wondered how long I was supposed to endure all this with the humans surrounding me. My gaze drifted out the window, watching the cityscape. I hope things are good in the pack.

I had the urge to call Darren to check up on him and Luna. I hope we don't have any issues with those rogues; I can't just help but be worried.

Maybe because I miss the pack and everything in it. It's so much different than this place; cars here and there. Noise pollution everywhere, nothing like curfew or silence.

Just messy.

Finally, the meeting was adjourned. I stood up, my face masked in relief, and my assistant, Logan, a werewolf that I personally picked since I do not want any humans beside me, fell into step beside me.

"Sir, you have a meeting with the market team at 2 p.m." He reminded me, and I groaned internally.

I badly wish we could not have any meetings, but then it's important. I nodded my head curtly.

As soon as we stepped into the elevator, I loosened my tie. The elevator clung and then opened when it reached the third floor. A woman-a human-walked in immediately, but what got my attention wasn't the human but a scent hijacking it.

My heart skipped a beat.

It couldn't be.

Forty-two years. That's how long I've been yearning for this scent. The scent of my mate.

It was a chocolate mint scent laced with a fresh woody smell.

My instinct roared to life. Rowan, my wolf, kept stomping in my head, telling me to go after the scent. Before the elevator could close, I stepped out of it.

"Sir, is everything alright?" Logan asked, concern mixed in his voice.

I didn't respond. I was too busy scanning the area, so I burst into one of the offices filled with workers. Their attention was on me; all of them stood up suddenly as an act of respect. I was trying to pinpoint where the scent was coming from.

But there was no one.

'I was sure I inhaled that scent,' Rowan said in my head.

Confusion and disappointment warred within me.

'She shouldn't be far,' I muttered inwardly, leaving the office without acknowledging them and striding towards the corridor. My senses were on high alert,

"Sir, perhaps we should-"

"Not now, Logan," I interrupted my voice in an authoritative tone.

I checked each door and even went as far as getting close to the toilet, but it seemed that her scent vanished into the thin air.

The only thing I could decipher was maybe she was a witch.

I couldn't shake the feeling that she was close by.

I let out a sigh, looked at myself in the mirror, fixed my hair and tie, and walked back into the elevator, my mood already becoming sour.

Just a tiny bit of hope was crushed; how could I have lost her like that? The thought of not meeting her again washed through me.

I hope I do see her, because once I do, I'm going to tie her up and bring her to the pack with me. She is not going anywhere.

She's made me search through how many packs for years, and now she shows up and disappears.

~Marcie~

I boarded a cab immediately after I got out of the Kingston Enterprise, internally singing in my head.

I can't believe I passed their interview just like that; this was like a dream come true.

I can't wait to get to the dorm and give Saraha a call, but first I had to go to the café and work. This week was my last week at the Whisk and Warmth café. I really am going to miss my boss. She's such a sweetheart, but then again, I can't overwork myself since this internship is from 9-5 and I need to have some to-do list to complete.

Getting out of the cab, I paid the cab man and strided into Whisk and Warmth. This place is bustling with customers waiting for their order. I went in through the backyard, changed into my work clothes, and into the counter to help Teddy out.

"Good evening, Marcie," Teddy greeted me, and I replied with a warm smile.

"Sorry," I mouthed. I was ten minutes late, but that didn't seem to bother Teddy. He's such a hardworking and charismatic guy, and the customers love him apart from those grumpy ones who lack manners.

I took over the shift and started attending to the customers. When I was done with work, I let out a groan. My whole body aches; standing for five whole hours wasn't easy.

"Good job, Marcie," Mrs. Smith, my boss, praised. I put my work clothes back in my locker, then turned to face her.

"I am going to miss you, Marcie," She said, and I bent my head.

"Me too," I responded. She pulled me in an embrace, hugging me softly.

"Don't forget this place is still open for you when you want to resume next semester," she smiled, and I nodded my head.

"Thank you, Mrs. Smith; it was nice working for you," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude, and then excused myself. I needed to talk to Sarah before drifting off to sleep.

~~~

"I knew you were going to get the job. Of course, you have the brain. Go girl," Sarah bragged over the phone. I could hear the joy in her voice.

"Congratulations, Marcie," Tom yelled, and I chuckled.

"Guess this is when I have to say goodbye; make sure you enjoy your time with him and don't forget to tell me every single detail," I urged, emphasizing the word every detail.

"Fine, goodnight Marcie, sleep tight," she cooed.

"Goodnight, Sarah," I muttered.