My Mate and Brother's Betrayal
Betrayal 56

56 Coward

Beckham POV

Gideon is pushing to the surface as we stare down this smug ba**ard. "What the f**k have you done to my brothers?" "Your brothers are no longer your concern. You abandoned them.

This is my pack. You no longer have any right or claim to it or your brothers. You can either leave and never return or I'll have my guards end your pathetic life," he says. "Do you think for one second I'm a coward like you? I'm not leaving until I see my brothers. So

you have a choice to make Beta. You can let me talk to my brother, or I can snap your neck

and take my title from you." As much as he tries to hide it, I see fear flash in his eyes. He takes a step back from the gate and his eyes glaze over. My eyes move to Waller. He hasn't changed much besides gaining some muscle on his lanky frame.

He is staring me down as he puffs his chest out like a hollow boned bird, which makes me smile. I take a step closer to the gate and release my aura. Waller drops to his knees and bares his neck. My eyes meet Corey's as ten warriors come to stand behind him. He is fighting against my aura, but his wolf recognizes its Alpha.

He starts to bear his neck when a loud deep voice interrupts the moment. "What the hell is going on here?" The man has to be an Alpha wolf. He looks to be about 6'5" and as broad as a tank. "Barrett, I am handling the situation. Please go back to the pack house," Corey says. My eyes shift to the man standing next to him.

My heart feels like its being squeezed in my chest. My brother was eighteen when I left. He was just starting his intensive training and hadn't yet built muscle. He has filled out his tall frame with muscle now. We share many features that I know we got from our sperm donor, but he has our mother's eyes. I hate the anger I see in them as he stares at me. "Beck" he says my name so low that I'm not sure if he even meant to say it out loud.

Barrett's eyes

shift between us before they finally land on me. "You are Beckham Forester" he says. "He is, and I want him punished for what he did to my daughter and the former Alpha without the sanction of the council," Corey says before I can respond to Barrett's statement. I growl, Gideon begging for me to give over control. A soft warm hand slides into mine, helping to calm both myself and my wolf.

"We will continue this conversation inside the pack and no harm will come to Beckham or his companions. Am I clear Alpha Corey," Barrett says. I can't help the growl that escapes me hearing him called Alpha. Barrett turns toward me, raising his eyebrows in question. "You may not like that he is Alpha, but for now he possesses the title and I will show him the respect the

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55 Coward 

title deserves. Now am I clear Alpha Corey," he asks again.

-10 Bon 

"Yes, Councilman Barrett. Open the gate," he says to the guard. He turns to the warriors he summoned. "Return to your assigned posts until I call on you again." Once the gates open, I hold Rosalyn close to my side. As we make our way toward the pack house my stomach flips. I look over at Jayden several times, but he continues to stare straight ahead.

Pack members are staring as we pass through the foyer. Some look pissed to see me, while others just look confused. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I need to be here. "How dare you come back here" says a familiar deep male voice. I release my hold on Rosalyn to face

the person when a fist connects with my jaw.

I stumble but manage to stay upright when I come face to face with a man I considered my best friend. A man that was meant to be my Beta because I refused to accept Waller. Rosalyn steps in front of me and growls at Brent. He immediately takes a step back. As angry as he is with me, he would never hurt a woman. "Brent, I'm," I say, starting to apologize, but he cuts me off. 

"Don't you dare say you're sorry. You abandoned us. You don't get to be sorry," he says before he turns, walking out of the pack house. "Did you expect a warm welcome? Everyone here loathes you. You should never have returned," Corey says. "Enough, this is not the time or place for that discussion. We need to talk about the more pressing matters in the Alpha

office," Barrett says.

I look around at the pack members that have gathered before I turn back toward the stairs. Rosalyn wraps her arm back around my middle as we make our way up the stairs to the Alpha floor. Memories of my childhood and teenage years flood me when we reach the floor. Despite the horrific way I lost Deborah, I had many good memories in this pack house. I allowed my pain to cloud those memories for far too long.

When we step inside, Corey takes a seat behind the desk my so-called father once used. I look around the office and not much has changed except for the pictures. Waller stands behind his father glaring at me. Jayden stands stoically by Barrett's side. Everything in me wants to walk over and pull him into a hug, but his anger is palpable.

I hate that he probably doesn't realize why I had to kill that pr*ck or why I ran. Goddess only knows what Corey has told him or the pack. "As I said before, I want this mutt punished for what he did to my daughter. He had no right to take her life without her having a fair trial. He was not the Alpha of the pack and had no right," Corey says, his eyes flashing back and forth

with his wolf's.

"I understand that losing your daughter was upsetting, but I would like to hear Beckham's

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.10 Sonus

55 Coward 

account of the events that day since you were not actually present at the time of your daughter and the Alpha's death," Barrett says. "I mean no disrespect, Councilman Barrett, but shouldn't the entire council be involved in deciding what happens to this murderer" Corey

says.

"As the head of the council, I will keep the other members informed of my replaceings, but since I have the final say, I don't require the whole council to be here," Barrett says. Something flashes in Corey's eyes. "You seem confused, Alpha Corey." "I was just a little shocked when you said that you are the head of the council. I thought Orick held that position, Corey says. I keep my face impassive even though I'm smiling inside.

"Unfortunately, Orick no longer holds a position with the council at all." He offers him no other explanation as he turns back to me. "Before I tell you what happened the day I left can I ask about Jacob?" I'm shocked when Jayden growls at me. "No, you don't get to ask about him after you abandoned us to be abused by these pr*cks for the last three years," Jayden screams at me. What the f**k did he just say?

My heart shatters into a million pieces as I see not only anger but pain in my brother's eyes. Barrett lays his hand on Jayden's arm before he turns back to me. "I'm sorry to inform you, Beckham, that Jacob was killed by rogues a few days after you left." I feel like the air is knocked out of my lungs. My baby brother was killed. No, that can't be right. Jayden just said these pr*cks abused them, not him alone.

Before I can stop myself, I release the full strength of my aura. Waller immediately drops to the floor and Corey is practically breaking his neck in submission. "Tell me where the f**k my brother Jacob is now," I say using my Alpha command. I pull my aura back, allowing the pr*ck to speak. His eyes look panicked as they shift between me and Barrett. "He is under guard on the Beta floor," Jayden growls out before Corey answers.

Barrett looks at him and I swear I see pride in his eyes. "I believe we have a lot more to discuss than I originally realized. First things first, Alpha Corey, I want Jacob Forester brought to this office immediately." "Councilman Barrett, let me explain," Corey starts to say, but Barrett raises his hand to stop him. "Not another word until the young man joins us." "Waller go get Jacob" Corey says.

Waller takes a few steps toward the door before Jayden steps in front of him. "No, I don't trust him near my brother. Barrett, please have Fredrick bring him to the office?" I swear it happens in slow motion. Waller swings but Jayden is quicker and lands a punch to his nose. Blood begins to run down Waller's face as Jayden steps closer. "Your free shots are over a**hole." This time I let the smile spread across my face.