The Blacklisted Rogue
Chapter 11

Alpha Jordan POV

Seething, I knocked on my Beta's bedroom door.

I could tell that he was in there, even though it was four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Christian dammit. If you don't open the door in the next three seconds I'm seriously coming in!" I called out.

I heard shuffling, then Christian opened the door, shirtless, with a sheet wrapped around his hips.

Behind Christian, I spotted a girl lying in the bed. I could tell by the smell exactly what they'd been up to, which enraged me even more.

"What's up, Jordan?" Christian grinned and I sighed, internally cursing him.

What would the punishment be for strangling my own Beta?

"The warrior briefings? Ring a bell?" I raised my eyebrows.

I was hoping to get some kind of realisation from Christian, but he just chuckled.

"Oh yeah. When's that again?"

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Two hours ago."

Christian's eyes widened.

"Oh really? Sorry dude, I lost track of time."

I resisted the urge to punch him in the face.

"If it was once, then fine. But this is the third time this week! From what I can see, using your title to get laid seems more important to you than pack matters."

I shook my head and slammed the door shut in his face.

A drink would be great right about now.

I had been Alpha of the Blue Eclipse Pack for seven years. Christian had been my Beta from the start. We grew up together, trained together and fought together.

After a while I realized that Christian liked the title more than the responsibilities, and I had to cover for him several times a month while he was out partying, sleeping with girls or was just too hungover to do anything.

I had put up with it for a while, but now my patience was running thin.

Roberta, my mate and Luna of the pack, suggested a long time ago that I could try to replace another Beta. My Gamma Barry had suggested the same. He also had to step in for Christian, going way above and beyond his responsibilities as Gamma.

I headed for the Blue Eclipse Bar and asked the bartender for a whisky.

"Make it a double please." I added.

"I everything alright, Alpha?"

I glanced at the bartender. He was quite new to this pack. He came here with his human mate a couple of months ago. So far I heard a lot of good things about him. He had become very involved in the pack and volunteered in the pack activity center for pups. "It's a long story."

The bartender put the glass in front of me and said:

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I pondered if I should tell him or not. It wasn't really a good thing to just pour all my problems on a random pack member. "What's your name?"

"George, Alpha."

"Well George, you don't happen to know any Beta wolves that might need a job? It seems like I am currently in the market for one." George stared at me.

"Are things not working out with Beta Christian?"

"Let's just say that we have our differences at the moment." I laughed bitterly.

"You could basically choose any wolf you'd like, but the possibility of replaceing a wolf with physical strength to defend you in a potential attack would probably be lower if you choose someone lower ranked than Beta. Do you have anyone else in the pack with Beta blood?" I narrowed my eyes.

"You seem to know a lot about being a Beta."

George shrugged.

"My brother is Beta in my old pack. My father was Beta before him. I guess I grew up with it."

I stated at him. Of course!

"Then maybe I should make you Beta." I exclaimed. "Are you interested?"

George's eyes widened.

"I-I'd be honored Alpha, but I am sure that you can replace a wolf better than me."

"Why is that? Do you doubt your ability?"

George looked down.

"I'm a coward." He mumbled.

"What happened?" I asked.

George shook his head.

"I can't really talk about it. I'm sorry, Alpha."

I sensed it was more to the story here. But figured I couldn't force him, so I just nodded.

After downing my whiskey I took out my wallet, but George stopped me.

"On the house, Alpha."

I placed my wallet back in my pocket and learned on the counter.

"Thank you George. The offer still stands, why don't you think about it?" George smiled sadly.

"I really appreciate the offer, but trust me, you don't want me as Beta."

I highly doubted that he could be worse than the one I had at the moment.

George POV

I unlocked the door to the cottage we had moved to after leaving Red Ridge.

"Alex?" I called out.

Alex had started to work at the pack hospital and had been on the morning shift. He should be home.

"In here." I heard from the living room.

I walked over and slumped on the couch next to Alex. I pulled him to me and buried my nose in the crook of his neck.

"Guess what happened today." I said.

"A customer being rude?" Alex joked.

I laughed and shook my head.

"The Alpha came in for a drink and he asked me to become his Beta."

Alex stared at me.

"Really? What did you say?"

"I thanked him for the offer, but I told him I couldn't."

Alex's stare turned into a frown.

"Um... Can I ask why?"

I frowned back at him.

"What kind of Beta would I be? Like a coward, I threw my own sister under the bus to save myself. If he knew, he would never have asked me."

The guilt clawed at my heart every day. Sometimes I would wake up with nightmares about Sally being hurt or killed, alone and scared.

Because of me.

Alex put his head on my shoulder.

"You don't know that." He said softly. "Why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe if he actually made you Beta, you could convince him to replace Sally and maybe he would welcome her into this pack too if he knew the truth." "That could risk us getting kicked out." I buried my head in my hands.

"Don't you think that Sally has risked enough on our behalf? Besides, Alpha Jordan seems like a empathetic guy. If you explain what happened, I think he might understand."

I sighed. Alex had a point. I was just afraid that we'd be exiled and Sally's sacrifice would have been for nothing.

Alex rubbed my shoulders.

"If Alpha Jordan decides that we are no longer welcome here, we'll go together. I know your wolf won't feel well without a pack, but we'll figure something out. There's two of us while Sally is all alone. We'll be fine."

I jumped out of the couch.

"You're right. I'm gonna go talk to him."

Alex waved at me.

"Go, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."

I bent forward and planted a kiss on his lips.

"I love you."

Alex smiled.

"I love you too. Now, go be fabulous!"

I chucked before I left for the packhouse.

When I got closer to Alpha Jordan's office, the knot in my stomach became almost unbearable.

No.

Don't be a coward.

You can do this, George.

You have to do this.

I gave myself the peptalk of the century before I knocked on the door.

I heard Alpha Jordan say: "Come in".

I entered the office and bowed my head.

"Alpha." I murmured.

Alpha Jordan chuckled.

"You know, we don't do that around here."

I fidgeted with my hands, unable to look at him.

"Sorry." I said softly.

"I'm guessing that you're here about my offer to become Beta."

I nodded.

"I'm glad you changed your mind."

I sat down on the chair in front of his desk.

"I actually wanted to tell you about my... reservations about becoming a Beta. I truly don't believe I would be worthy, and if I tell you why I think that you would agree."

Alpha Jordan smiled and learned forward in his chair.

"Okay you got me curious."

I looked at him and asked:

"Could you promise me something?"

Alpha Jordan's eyes narrowed.

"That depends on what it is."

"If I tell you my reasons, and you feel like there should be any repercussions for this, please don't let that affect my mate. I will accept whatever punsihment you deem fit, as long as my mate won't be affected. Please." Alpha Jordan frowned.

"Okay, but why would I want to punish you."

I took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.