Beyond Beta's Rejection

(Harper’s POV)

The battle seemed to dissipate after I killed Nathaniel. I didn’t know if seeing me slaughter their feared leader with the angel blade scared them or if it was just good timing, but there was no more fighting. I looked around to see the courtyard, a mess of dead and wounded.

“Harper?” I turned to see Tommy looking at me in disbelief.

“Hey,” I said and shrugged. He grinned, tears down his face,

“f*g hell, Harper,” he pulled me into a hug, and I laughed. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said. He pulled me to arms’ length.

“You look different,” he said, surveying me.

“Actually, I’m pretty much the same,” I said, and he narrowed his eyes. “I’ll explain later.” I nodded to Drake as he walked up, smiling.

“Good to see you made the right decision,” he said.

“Tommy!” a voice cried from the pack house, “Goddess dammit, put me down, you lug. I’m pregnant, not injured,” I grinned as I saw Louise struggle out of Marcus’ arms and run to Tommy, flinging herself in his arms. I looked behind Marcus and saw Colton walking while pushing my sister in front of him.

“You bastard!” Tommy shouted when he saw Colton and ran at him, but Louise stopped him.

“Tommy, don’t. He protected me.” I looked up at Colton and realised that he was staring at me, and so was Susie.

“Susie was trying to drag me somewhere, and it was Colton and his mum that stopped her.” She then looked at me and smiled before hugging me.

“It was Susie who told Nathaniel that my baby was going to be a Divine Warrior.” Both Tommy and I stared at her, and she shrugged. “I’ll tell you later. I’m really glad you are alive, though,” she said.

“You don’t seem surprised, though,” I said, and she smiled and nodded towards the house.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“No, she told me.”

I looked up at the steps and saw Caroline Stokes smiling. She saw me looking and waved at me before walking back into the pack house. Tommy looked up at Colton, who was slowly walking towards me. He stood in front of me and then dropped to his knees.

“Thank the goddess,” he said, and I smiled.

“Thank you for protecting my friend,” I said, and he shook his head.

“It’s not enough, nowhere near enough for what I caused,” I smiled again.

“It’s a start,” Tommy said and then nodded to a warrior coming up behind Colton. I watched as Colton was taken away. I saw another warrior place cuffs on Susie, and I walked over to her.

“Why?” I asked. “Why would you do that not just to me but to the baby, your own b***d?”

Susie sneered at me.“All you had to do was complete the mate bond. Then we would have been free. But no, little miss angel had to be all difficult and selfish,” she spat at me, and I heard Tommy growl.

I held up my hand. “Leave her. She can think about what she’s done and if she will see her kids again in the Council prisons.”

Susie’s face paled. “No, my kids, please,” she cried, and I nodded to the warrior who held her. He dragged her away as she wailed. I saw my mum stop the warrior at one side, and then she said something to Susie before slapping her in the face. Susie looked devastated after that and allowed herself to be dragged away.

“Mum,” I said, and I rushed over and hugged her.

“My beautiful baby angel,” she cooed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how we were hurting you,” I smiled and hugged her again. I wanted to ask more questions, but then I heard a voice that hit me deep in my soul.

“Harper,” I turned to see Elias running out of the clearing, his eyes wild, searching for me, “Harper, where is she? I know I saw her.”

“Elias!” I called, and he stopped, frozen in place. Tears streamed down my face as he slowly turned towards me. I couldn’t wait much longer, and I ran at him and threw myself into his arms.

“Oh my goddess!” he exclaimed. “I never thought that I would love the smell of strawberries so much in my life.” I laughed through the tears, and he smiled at me, the love clear in his eyes. He leaned in, and I felt his lips against mine. I wanted to melt into the k**s, but instead, I pulled away and hit him hard on the head.

“Ow!” he exclaimed, “What was that for?”

“I swear to the goddess that if you ever do that again, if you ever give up and allow yourself to die again, I will be the one killing you. Do you understand Owens?” I scolded, and he smiled weakly.

“I just couldn’t imagine living when you were not in the world,” he said, and I hit him again.

“Not good enough,” I said, the tears streaming. “I almost didn’t get to you in time.” He pulled me into a hug again. All the emotions over the last day hit me, and I sobbed onto his shoulder while he whispered that it was alright and he loved me repeatedly in my ear.

I don’t know how long I clung to him or when exactly we moved into the pack house. But it was breaking daylight when I finally peeled myself away from Elias to go for a shower. I scrubbed the b***d and ash from me and then soaked in the heat and sensation of the water for a while. I knew there was still so much to do, but right now, I needed to just be still. I finally got out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. I stepped out of the bathroom and saw Elias was sitting on the bed. His hair looked wet, and he looked fresh out of the shower himself. He must have snuck into one of the other rooms while I was in this bathroom.

I watched him as he looked lost in his own thoughts, and they looked like sad ones. He finally looked up, and his eyes lit up. He smiled, but I could still sense the sadness. I walked over and stood in front of him and stroked his cheek. He leaned his head into my hand and then wrapped his arms around my torso and pulled me closer, burying his head into my stomach. I ran my fingers through his hair, and he g*****d at my touch.

“Elias?” I whispered. “What is it?” He looked up at me and smiled.

“Nothing, baby,” he said and pulled me down so that I was straddling him. I leaned in and brushed my lips against his. He g*****d again and pushed against me, putting pressure on my lips and pushing his tongue into my mouth. I accepted willingly and deepened the k**s, pushing my whole body against his. I could feel that he was hard beneath my towel and his sweatpants, and I rubbed against him. He growled into my mouth and flipped us, so I was laid on my back on the bed, and he was on top of me, between my legs. I gasped for breath as his lips left mine and began to travel down my neck and body. I shivered as his teeth grazed my marking spot and didn’t even stop the m**n that escaped my lips.

“Elias,” I gasped as his hand found its way under the towel and between my legs. He found my clit and began rubbing slowly in circles. I arched my back and pushed against his hand, and he chuckled.

“Elias, please,” I begged. I exposed my neck, and he kissed against my marking spot again. “Please, Elias, I want to.” Elias slowed and pulled his hand away. He buried his head in my neck and took a deep breath. Then he pulled himself away from me and sat up.

“Elias?” I sat up, unsure of what was happening. I moved to the end of the bed until I could see his face. There were tears in his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked, a feeling of dread in my stomach.

“Harper,” he said as he turned to me and stroked my cheek. “I love you more than life itself, and I have every intention of making you mine completely.”

“But?” I asked, and he smiled sadly and shook his head.

“But I’m not good enough for you.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

“Harper, you are part-angel. We don’t even know what that means, and me…” he said and lowered his head.

“And you what?” I asked. He looked back up at me, his eyes shining.

“I have a demon living inside me or something.” He took my hand. “How could I possibly be good enough for you?” I pulled my hands from his and stood up. I felt like crying but pushed it into the anger that was brewing, too.

“Because I said you are,” I shouted. “Elias, I don’t care what you are. I love you for who you are. And the goddess saw fit to connect us with the mate bond.” He shook his head and held out his hand. I stepped back and shook my head.

“No, I’ve been rejected and then played with already,” I cried. “I won’t allow this to happen again.”

I looked down at him. “Elias, do you love me?” I asked, and he nodded.

“More than life itself,” he said, and I nodded.

“And do you want to do this?”

“Yes, I want to so very much make you mine forever,” Elias said.

“Then please, don’t reject me,” I cried, tears running down my face. “Please don’t let me feel that pain again,” he put his head down again, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I shook my head and stepped back again.

“I’ll give you some time,” I said and headed towards the door. I need to get out of here. I needed to control my emotions. I opened the door and went to step out when I felt a hand on my arm again. I was pulled back into the room and pushed against the door. I looked up to see the empty black eyes of Elias’ demon.

“Elias,” I called, and his eyes bled back to the dark inky blue that I loved. He nodded at me and smiled.

“I’m here,” he said and pulled the towel away from my body. “The thought of you leaving me was too much to bear. It took a demon to remind me of that.” I searched his eyes and saw only l**t.

“I’m probably going to hell for this,” he said as he buried his head into my neck. I felt his teeth graze my neck and gasped as he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pushed his sweats down and lined up against my entrance.

“Then we will go together,” I said, and he growled against me.

“Dear goddess, Harper Kirby, I love you so much,” he m****d against me, and I gasped as I felt his tip push into me.

“I love you too, Elias Owens,” I gasped and then screamed as he simultaneously pushed into me and bit down on my marking spot. I gripped him, panting and digging my nails into his back as he stilled there for a moment. Then he pulled back out of me before slamming into me again, and I cried out again. I could feel the pleasure rising already, coming fast as he worked his way in and out of me. He carried me to the bed still inside me, and we landed on the bed. He began to push harder into me, and my breathing quickened. I quickly exploded around him, the pleasure riding through my body. I pulled him towards me, found my way to his marking spot, and bit down. He growled against me, and I felt as he exploded inside me. I gasped as I felt the bond come alive inside me, connecting me to Elias. I felt the difference between Elias’ energy and my own. It was like hot and cold and black and white, and all the opposites, but again the perfect balance between us. I felt the rush through me, and everything clicked into place. I let go of Elias, and we both collapsed to the bed, both panting. It was quick, and it was messy, but it was passionate and perfect.

Elias pulled me onto him, and I burrowed into him, and he sighed.

“You’re mine now, forever,” he growled in my ear. “Whatever the consequences,” I smiled against his chest.

“Yep, you are stuck with me now,” I said as I yawned. I suddenly began to feel very tired, the last few days finally catching up with me.

“Baby, go to sleep,” Elias chuckled, and I smiled and snuggled into him and let my eyes droop.

“I love you,” I murmured against his chest.

“I love you too, forever,” Elias said. It was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.