C10. Lying To The Beta

Nathalie's POV:

     "Crossfit Zone on fifth street! This is Lou speaking, how can I help you?"

     "Hi, my name is Nathalie. I was wondering if I could speak to the manager about aquiring the gym for a private session today. I'm sorry this is last minute."

     "I'm sorry we're closing early today."

     "Is your manager around?"

     "Ma'am, I said we're closing early."

     The phone beeped to alert me the call was dropped. I growled and pulled the phone away from my ear. What a rude person! I snorted and glanced at the time on my computer to see it was time to close up the diner. I already did all the tasks early so I could get a jump on finding somewhere for Jossie to trasform at safely. But, I came up short. Looks like I'll be clearing out my office of anything valuable and putting Jossie up in here for the night. Come to think of it... Jossie didn't call me today.

     I felt immediantly worried as I pulled up the phone number for Motel Off Main. I waited for Jered's familiar voice to answer. "Is this the delicious pie maker? What are you calling me for at this hour?" Jered's rusted old voice asked me through the phone. Looks like he saved my number.

     "Hey, can you direct my call to that cute girl's room?" I asked.

     "The one I sent to your diner?"

     "That's the one!"

     "Okay, darling."

     The phone trasfered suddenly and I waited as the phone buzzed in my ear. It was the sound you got as it tried to connect the call. After the nineth attempt to buzz it went silent as the call was dropped. The phone didn't even reach the phone to ring. I pulled the phone away from my ear and felt a gut feeling something was wrong. I got up from my desk and threw my things into my purse. I ran out to the kitchen to find Marlowe still shutting down the kitchen.

     "Marlowe, I'm heading out early. Can you lock up after yourself?" I asked. I already trusted him to. He looked at me and gave a smile.

     "Sure thing boss," he said and waved me off.

     I went out to my car and got in it fast. I didn't even put on my seat belt as I drove over to Hotel Off Main. I stopped by the office to find Jered sitting behind the desk. He looked surprised when I walked inside.

     "You forgot my pie," he said playfully. I smiled sweetly as I walked up to the counter and leaned over it. He exposed his cheek and I gave him a quick kiss.

     "You know I wouldn't if I had a good reason. I'm worried about my new hire. Can you give me her room key so I can check in on her?" I asked and begged him with my eyes. He frowned instantly and looked upset I had asked him. But, he also seemed to debate with himself. He finally handed over a master key.

     "You can find her in room fifteen. It's around back on the second floor. Mid- building. I hope she's doing ok, she's supposed to work this weekend. Oh, and don't tell anyone I'm doing this for you." I spun on my heels and ran for the door as soon as I got the key from him. "I'm not supposed to just be handing over room keys to random people. It's bad for business!" I was out the door and back in my car. I drove to the other side of the building and found a familiar truck I could recognize as hers. I parked next to it and followed Jered's instructions. I went up to the second floor. I found her door and knocked on it heavily. After a few minutes of no answer I used the key to get into the room.

     Rats. I could smell that rogue's scent so clear in the room. He was here. Jossie's room was kept tidy. Everything was tucked away. I could smell puke coming from a mini trash can by the bed. She must have puked something up. I walked over to the bathroom to check and found it empty. Shit. Did they go somewhere? Why would she invite him in here after I warned her to stay away from him? No... he must have taken her by force. I walked up to the trash can and scrunched my nose up. The beer can was tossed in there as well. She defintely drunk it. Meaning she used it to easy her trasformation. Maybe she meant to call me. I looked towards the phone to check on its condition. I had to be sure. I picked up the head piece and listened in to silence. I looked at the cord before leaning over behind the nightstand and gasped when I saw the cord was disconnected. Like it was cut. I slammed the head piece down and glanced around the room. He did it. I know he did.

     I better give Jered the master key back. I'll tell him not to worry and that everything is ok. He doesn't need to worry about this. My phone buzzed in my pocket as I got a text. I pulled it out as I hoped to find a text from Jossie. But, it was from the beta.

'You're summoned to the pack house. Come now.'

     That's just great timing! I groaned as I felt worried something even worse could happen. It must have something to do with the text I sent last night. It's not about Jossie. I took in a deep breath. I can't openly defy him. He'll become suspicious and come to find me. I'll have to make the meeting with him quick. I can sum it up to nobody being avaible to watch my daughter tonight. I decided to send him an agreeing reply so he wouldn't text again.

'On my way.'

     I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me. I got wind of their faint scent. I followed it towards the edge of the woods and looked in at the snow covered forest. I couldn't see a trail that would lead me after them. Whatever they're doing... That rogue better not harm her before I can get to them. Wait for me Jossie. I took the keys back to Jered and assured him everything was ok. I summed it up to her being asleep and didn't dare mention what happened to the room's phone. It'll come out of Jossie's pocket eventually. Better it wait for later. I promised to bring Jered an extra pie when I got off work tomorrow just to soothe his mind. He'd be only thinking about the extra slice now. 

     The pack house was a gigantic manor. It was updated within the last decade from everything between interior decor to the out side electic fence. The pack house was for important matters only. Since it also tied into being the werewolf king's home. The bottom feeders of the pack worked there as servants. They were also bred, fed, and raised there. The king's family recided there. They often held a birthday ball for Camren. I never met him in person. In fact... I never met the beta in person. I've only been to the king's home when they crowned him. It must have been four years ago... When he turned eighteen.

     Alpha Camren is very handsome. His hair was a natrual platinum blonde and his eyes were the color of diamonds. He's tall and has pale skin from the lack of sun. He wasn't delicate. He was built like a stalion with muscles wider then my hands put together. He must've worked out daily. Despite being a golden figure of popularity amongst the female pack members... He had a terrible personality. In fact Alpha Camren is a white wolf. Something Alpha families were known for in this area. Thanks to our fur adapting to the arctic enviroment.

     Beta Ethan looked nothing like his Alpha cousin. The two didn't share any similar appearances. Besides being just as built. In fact he was kind of wider in size. He was a natrual red head with green eyes. His face was sprinkled with freckles. He didn't look like any of his living realatives. They say he looks similiar to the royal Ramirez family. The same family Camren's father descendes from. He's a red wolf. I've met his wolf before once in the woods. It was when we were young. Maybe sixteen at the time...

     I parked the car in front of the gate. A valet walked up to me as I got out of the car. He gave me a number to keep and I shoved it into my purse. I was let into the grounds of the estate where I had to walk to the entrance alone. Once there I was greeted by a servant at the door. Once I explained I had a meeting with Beta Ethan and who I was... I was brought into an empty waiting room. It was luxurious with leather couches, arm chairs, and a glass round coffee table to center the room. There were rabit fur blankets and pillows to decorate for comfort. There were brown coffee colored built in book cases filled with werewolf lore. I knew then this was for business.

     Beta Ethan walked into the room not long after I sat down. He gave me a huge smile as he sat down on the couch by me. I tensed up at how fast he was. I didn't even have the chance to bow out of respect. He took my hand into his and pressed his finger up against my vein. As if to put me under a lie detector test. He would keep track of my pulse.

     "Nathalie! It's good you could make it before the full moon. I got your message early this morning and ran it by Alpha Camren. We're going to investigate the area tonight where you sighted the rogue. Do you have any more clues that could help us?"

     Shit... I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to leave and track down Jossie.

     "Only what I messaged you."

     "You said he was harassing your restaurant guests. Was he harassing anyone specific?"

     "I don't know. I didn't see if he did. I just caught he was a rogue and suggested he leave."

     "Would you be willing to hand over any footage your store caught of him?"

     "I tried to look back myself and found it missing. He must have broke in and got rid of the evidence some how." He let go of my wrist and frowned as he seemed to be thinking of something.

     "If we find out you're lying... you will be trialed," he warned me. "The number one rule in this pack is to report any rogue encounters and try to hold them until authorities can come and make an arrest. If we find out there is more to your story then you're letting on..." My pulse must have told on me. He suspects something more is at play.

     "I know," I whispered. I can't let them find out about Jossie. They'll think she's here with that rogue and will ship her back to her pack when they find out who she is. I can't let that happen. She has to be introduced a different way.

     "We suspect the rogue you're talking about recently killed the Alpha of Rabidcrest. That means if it has any accomplices you need to speak now. Was that rogue talking to someone?"

     First of all... how would they guess its the same rogue? How would they know? I didn't see the wolf's form. All they're going on is his description and my word that he is a rogue. If that f-bomb is smart... he will stay out of the woods tonight with Jossie.

     "Just harassing my customers for extra change," I whispered. I will not tell him about Jossie. Why isn't the town talking about the death of Rabidcrest's alpha? If they know... then the whole city should know.

     "Did you see a female about five eleven? She would have black hair and blue eyes. About a hundred and twenty five pounds." That's what Jossie looks like.

     "No."

     "You'll report to me first if you do," he told me firmly. Why? Why! Why?

     "Yes Beta," I said quickly. "The... female..." I trailed off as I was trying to be careful on how to ask. "Is she in leage with the rogue I've described?"

     "She's a daughter of the alpha family from Rabidcrest. Her missing person report showed up in the system recently. Considering there is a rogue that recently killed their alpha... we think it would be best to keep an eye out for both of them. Rather they're working together... or she's truly just a runaway that will possibly be in danger. If she came this way she could be in danger of that rogue. He might want to kill her." I can't tell what he's thinking. Would he really believe she could be in league with that rogue? It's impossible. Jossie is innocent. But, she is in danger. "Anything is possible really. We'd like to find her and take her home. She's only seventeen." Jossie lied to me about her age? I guess she did it so she wouldn't be denied work. I'll forgive her for that.

     "Yes sir. I'll keep an eye out for the girl you described."

     He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture suddenly of Jossie's truck. He then showed me some family photos of Jossie and what looked like an older man with her similar hair color. It was a family photo of just the two. It was her dad, I was sure of it.

     "This is the girl... and this is the truck she took off in. Let me know if you see either of them. We really want to talk to her. She's got a lot to say, I'm sure of."

     "Yes Beta," I mumbled as I watched him put his phone away. I will not give away Jossie.

     "Maybe you should come with us on the hunt tonight," he suggested.

     "I believe I would only keep you behind in finding him," I jabbed. "My daughter is waiting for me to pick her up." A lie. I made sure she would be able to spend the night at Cheryl's. I was sure I could get back to Jossie before her first trasformation tonight. I wanted to be there to walk her through it. I need to get back to those woods and find her. He stood up and sighed.

     "Then I better not keep you from her much longer," he decided. "Thank you for your help. You've been a huge help, Nathalie." I blushed as I stood up.

     "I just wished I had more information to give," I whispered and bowed politely. He turned away from me and rushed out of the room. He looked like he was on a mission. Or, maybe the Alpha called for him. I just hope he couldn't tell how many lies I was feeding him.