BETAS, NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE

In the flurry of walking past the warriors, having the large doors flung open, and mostly smiling blankly at the line of warriors that bowed as I passed them, I barely noticed my convoy smoothly leaving the porch, or how all my betas were now walking behind me. Ben, Harvey, Ki… I also vaguely sensed my agents - at least I was sure we had Ink and Torque in tow. I suspected Cobra was in the vicinity too… and Ori who I had forgotten was still dwelling in my shadow. I hoped Uncle Louis didn't mind cats.

Wait, never mind the cat, why were my agents this particular "set"? Either my other agents were needed back home and they were all my betas had on hand, or they were preparing to support me should I plan to assassinate someone or steal intel or pretty much cause some kind of terrible trouble here.

None of my warriors were the friendly doorman type either. The security team that had come ahead to meet us were all proper strong wolves from the Underground Base. They made Neil and Jax look approachable.

Sigh… how should I explain this? I'm not here to cause trouble… Could we just uneventfully complete my first official mission outside packlands? This was my first overnight trip without Mum and Dad too. I wasn't going to blow it. They were going to see how I was so grown up now.

{Fun.} Boo reminded me of her sole purpose in life.

{No, Boo. We aren't here for fun. We're here on behalf of Dad and Night Leaf.} I told Boo (and myself) sternly. I don't know what my betas were thinking, but I was the alpha. They would follow my lead. If I were going to have a series of perfectly boring economic discussions, even the strongest hunting wolves would just have to pretend to be a statue and stand there till I was done.

"Sam, link up." Ben muttered under his breath.

Oh, right. I forgot about that. I did, and pretty much confirmed the wolves with me. I was right, Cobra was in the mix.

{Be careful,} Harvey was briefing everyone, {Alpha Louis has a gift of insight. Guard your thoughts whenever he approaches you.}

{Pretend like he's a vamp and block you links, or else recite the periodic table in your head.} Ben advised, {It's very annoying.}

He obviously had experience.

{What's a periodic table?} Jax whispered in the mindlink, but to EVERYONE so it wasn't a whisper at all.

{Beta means to just recite your grocery list or something.} Neil told him, {It doesn't really matter.}

{I find meditating on lycan poetry quite effective.} Ki added with his usual smile.

{Beta means to just recite song lyrics.} Neil translated for Jax before he asked again.

Beta Larson, Uncle Louis' Beta came out to greet us as he always did whenever our family came, but this time it was just me. Dad wasn't around.

"Welcome, Princess." Beta Larson was like a polite version of Beta Lucas, he even wore a politely muted brown suit, "I'm glad you managed to arrive in good time."

If I weren't the Alpha, my arrival would have been considered "fashionably late" but only because I was the Alpha's daughter. (Indeed the world wasn't fair.) Now that I was here representing my father, and standing as the heir and future alpha of Night Leaf, I was "in good time" because I was only expected to arrive "at my leisure" anyway.

But Beta Larson was truly grateful (and not being sarcastic) because even though I arrived later than planned, my betas did text him in advance, and I managed to arrive while HIS alpha was still in the office. If I had arrived an hour later, Uncle Louis would have had left for some business that would take all afternoon.

We followed Beta Larson to the receiving hall. (I did tell you that Night Forest was very traditional right?) This was what we always did even during our summer family visits here. It would be where Grandpa Alpha and Grandma Luna, and Uncle Louis would meet us so we could politely greet the Alpha and our elders at our arrival like good guests.

We met Uncle Louis as he was rushing to the receiving hall. Uncle Louis often appeared in a rush - even when he was just going to another part of the packhouse. It was like he would wait till the very last second to rush over.

This wasn't a very Alpha behavior, since everything was supposed to be done at the Alpha's leisure. Uncle Louis seldom appeared in a leisurely fashion.

"Ah, Sam. Good you are here." Uncle Louis shook my hand. It was weird because normally he would be clasping Dad's hand while Mum, Savy, and I watched and smiled politely.

"Alpha Louis is here." Beta Larson announced very politely from the side.

I was ushered into the receiving hall. Grandma Luna's plump armchair was empty. I knew she was abroad, but it was still weird that she wasn't here. Grandpa Alpha wasn't here either, which was weirder because for some reason, I kept thinking I would see him. I quickly pushed down the tide of memories that came flooding in now that I was standing here. I couldn't help but glance at the brown leather armchair that Grandpa Alpha would have been sitting in.

Uncle Louis sat down in the armchair and gestured to the sofa next to him, "Please. Don't have to stand on ceremony."

It was strange to come to a Night Forest without Grandpa Alpha or Grandma Luna around. It was even stranger because Dad, Mum, and Savy weren't with me this time. I was alone… okay, I had a bunch of wolves behind me, but still…

I forced a smile, "Thank you Uncle Louis."

And I sat down on the long sofa where I usually sat whenever we arrived at the receiving hall to greet the alpha, except usually, Mum and Savy would be sharing the couch with me.

I was trying not to think about being alone. Being the only one on this long sofa didn't help. I looked at my Betas who had dutifully taken their stand behind my sofa. What's the use of having so many betas if I still had to sit all alone?

"The Alpha Princess greets Alpha Louis." Ki stepped forward to declare on my behalf, "We bring greetings from her father, Alpha Kingsley and his lovely luna. On behalf of Night Leaf, we look forward to our cooperation. "

Betas. Never leave home without one.