The Mark of Betrayal (by Cooper) novel Chapter 81

Sloane

Being in Alpha William’s pack has been good for me, better than I thought it would be. First, Alpha William introduced me to his pack as his granddaughter. Then he went on to tell them all about Aunt Samara and how I was her adopted daughter, just like she was his. He didn’t say a word about my parents or why I was being adopted, just that I was.

Then he introduced Scarlet as my best friend here to visit with us. It was really nice that no one here knew my story. They didn’t look at me, or whisper when they thought I couldn’t hear them. I know Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara would be angry if they knew that their pack did that, but it’s not worth the trouble. The things that they’re whispering can’t be worse than what my parents did.

The first week with Scarlet was all about exploring everything in the pack. Well, that and Scarlet flirting with Will. He’s nice and all, but I’m just not interested in all of that. I was sad to see her go when her mom came to pick her up, but that gave me a chance to approach Will privately.

When I called out to him, he raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re not going to start flirting with me now that your friend is gone, are you?”

“Eww, no,” I say.

“Eww? I don’t think I’m eww,” he says.

“I just mean I’m not interested in you like that.”

“How are you interested in me then?”

I look around, making sure no one is watching us. Just to be sure, I pull him against the side of the packhouse.

“Are you sure you’re not flirting with me?” he asks, giving me a look.

“Positive. Listen,” I say, ignoring his jab. “My uncle won’t let me spar because I don’t have my wolf.”

“Nor should he. You could get really hurt, Sloane.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t go all Alpha on me. I need to be strong so that when I get my wolf, she can be strong too.”

He frowns. “That’s why you start sparring as soon as you get your wolf, so they can get stronger.”

“No! I have to be strong before I get her. Will you help me, Will?”

“Why do you have to be strong now?”

“I just do, okay?” I say.

“No, it’s not okay. If you want my help, I want to know why.”

I stare at him, not sure if I want to tell him. I don’t know what he does and doesn’t know about my mother losing her white wolf.

“I won’t tell anyone. I swear,” he says softly.

Because I do it with Scarlet all the time, I hold out my pinky. He frowns at me.

“I’m not doing a pinky swear.”

“It’s a bestie promise.”

“Well, since I’m not your bestie, how about I give you my word as an Alpha. I won’t say a word. Ever. I’ll take it to the grave.”

I sigh. I really need his help while I’m here.

“Fine, but if you ever tell anyone ...”

“I won’t. Not ever,” he swears.

I tell him about my mother being a white wolf and the Moon Goddess taking it away because she killed her fated mate.

He whistles low. Obviously, he didn’t know.

“Okay, but what does that have to do with me sparring with you?”

“I need the Moon Goddess to see that I’m not like my mother, that I’ll appreciate the gift of being a white wolf. It was supposed to be my destiny, my legacy. And now ... I have to do this, Will. Please, will you help me?”

He sighs, running his hand through his hair.

“Fine. But you don’t tell anyone what we’re doing and if you get hurt, I’m going to kick your ass.”

“I won’t, because you’re teaching me!” I say excitedly.

Every day for the last three weeks of my visit, Will and I found time to spar. At first, I went to bed every night covered in bruises. I hid them from Alpha William so he wouldn’t stop us from sparring and I never complained once to Will. But at the end of those three weeks, I felt stronger. I felt like I could hold my own in a fight. Now I just have to figure out how to continue my training once I return home.

Samara POV

“Hello, Alpha William. We’re calling to speak with Sloane, but also to let you know we’re halfway to your pack and we’ll be there tomorrow,” I tell him.

“Good, good. The pack is excited to see you again, Samara.”

“I’m excited to see them too, Alpha.”

“So, while I have you and Sloane isn’t around, I wanted to let you both know some things.”

I look at Roman. “Alright.”

“Did you know that Sloane wanted to learn how to spar?”

“Yes, she asked me when she first moved here. I told her that she couldn’t spar until she got her wolf,” Roman says.

“Well, as soon as Scarlet left, Sloane convinced Will to teach her to spar.”

“Did she get hurt?” Roman asks immediately.

“Nothing that she couldn’t heal from. Will was very careful. He doesn’t have the control that a more experienced warrior would have, but he knew that he needed to be gentle with her. I’m telling you this because if you don’t train her, she will find someone who will, and she could end up getting badly injured.”

“I’ve missed you too. Will I ever be able to come back here?” she asks, her voice hopeful.

“I’m sure we can work it out that you can visit on your school holidays if that’s what you want.”

“I do. I’d like to come visit. Grandpa William and Grandma Jasmine are great.”

“Hey, kiddo. I’m looking forward to having movie night again once you’re home,” Roman says to her.

“Oh, we’ve watched some good ones while I was here,” she says excitedly.

“Start making a list. I want to see them all. Slade is very excited that you’re coming home.”

“Oh, I’ve missed him. How’s Aria?”

“No! Oh, I can’t wait to see her.”

“There’s one more thing, Sloane. Alpha Waylon is having his Luna ceremony for Judith Saturday night. They’ve invited us to come. Did you want to join us?” I ask tentatively.

When she doesn’t answer right away, I jump back in. “You don’t have to. It’s completely up to you.”

“No, it’s alright. I’ll go.”

“I’ll let them know. We’ll stop in on our way home. I love you, Sloane, and I can’t wait to see you,” I say to her.

“I love you too,” Roman says.

“I love you. See you tomorrow.”

I hang up and look at Roman.

“Are you really going to start training her?” I ask him.

“Yes. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it, except maybe Austin and Adrian, but Adrian is too busy helping me find a new Gamma and now that Pheobe is pregnant, he’s going to be even busier.”

I rub the baby bump that has popped out over the last month. “Did you hear that, Teddy? Daddy says that mommy being pregnant gives him more work?”

“That’s not what I said, Samara, and you know it,” he growls playfully.

“Well, that’s what I heard, so you’d better come over here and make it up to your pregnant mate before you hurt my feelings.”

He growls that low, deep growl that makes me shiver.

“Remember later that you asked for this,” he says, before reminding me once again why I’m so happy to be mated to this man.