Devon:The Beta's Double Trouble (3 page)

Casey went and checked herself in the mirror again before her father stood and announced they were leaving. Casey rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue when he had his back turned. He still thought she was a child, and treated her as such. She thought after she went to college and earned her degree, he would come around, and realize she was a grown up now. He was proud of her job as the head accountant for the Pack. His downfall was that he was very old fashioned.

Casey had remained home while attending college. Reggie had too, since they majored in the same thing, took the same classes, and drove to school together. Now they both worked for the Pack, but Casey had won the head accountant's job last year when she found a major error while running a routine audit. Her father insisted until she found her mate that she live at home. It suited her fine so far. Even though she complained about his over protective attitude, she knew her father would never interfere if she stood her ground and asked to move out. So far, she had not found a man worth the hassle.

In the last few months though, she had grown restless. She wanted to have a relationship; she wanted to find her mate. Following her father to the center of town where all the wolves congregated when they had a meeting, Casey thought about what she wanted to do with her life.

It may be sad, but she always felt like she was meant for something more. Every once in a while she would think about leaving the Pack and trying to find somewhere she would fit in better, but something held her back. So here she was, in the same Pack, and walking to another boring meeting. Their Alpha called it the Circle, and found it easier to make important announcements this way. Casey nodded and said hello to many of the people already there.

She looked for Reggie and his family, and finally found them standing under a tree in the middle of the circle. Her father and Casey moved their way towards the other family until they were next to them. Reggie’s mother scowled a little at them until she heard her father growl a little.

Casey chuckled to herself; she knew Reggie’s mom would never have allowed them to be so close if it had not been for her father. Jeremy nearly shoved Casey down her throat on more than one occasion.

“Hey.” She said and nudged her friend. Regardless of his parent’s feelings, Reggie refused to give up his friendship with Casey.

“You could have at least added a little color.” Reggie smirked.

She looked down at her black dress and then looked at him. Reggie was tall and thin, his haircut short to his head. Although he was bi-sexual, he tended to dress a little more towards the flamboyant side. He had black jeans and a bright, teal colored, button up shirt with a black tank top underneath. He had both of his ears pierced and sported his favorite diamond earrings and a nice chain around his throat. The kicker was his loafers that he wore. They screamed ‘gay man here’. Casey knew that her friend had been looking for a man lately. Since the girl he had been dating had laughed at him and made fun of him when he had said, he found a male movie star hot. It had been a serious crushing blow to his ego, and he told Casey he was going to concentrate on men from now on, women were too big of a hassle. Gods, she really hoped that his mate was a male, because if it was a female, they were going to have a hell of a time.

“Sorry, did not feel like being a beacon tonight, sue me.” She drawled. If she dressed like her friend she would look like a clown, and that is what she was avoiding. It was humiliating enough knowing her faults and being a virgin, she did not need to add to it.

“Hey, I wanted to make sure the visitors knew I swung both ways. Who knows, maybe I will find Mr. Right.” Reggie argued.

“Ha, more like Mr. Right now.” She rebutted. Heck, she would settle for Mr. Ten Minutes if it took care of her problem.

Reggie frowned at her but did not have a chance to talk again since the Alpha was taking the stage. Casey let her gaze wander over the men standing in the crowd, there were more wolves here than normal. It seemed like maybe her night was looking up a little.

“I would like to welcome our visitors tonight. The Beta from the Denver Pack and his Enforcers are here. I want all of you to make sure you answer all of their questions. Obviously, there are many changes coming to our community.” The Alpha started. Casey tuned out the rest of the speech as she craned her neck to see the people who he was speaking about. She could see a very tall man whose back was to her. He stood at least a foot over most of the men in the Pack, so it was easy to spot him. The men who were with him were just as large. Holy crap, where the hell did they grow these men? They were huge! Casey sighed knowing that none of them would even look her way. Hell, she would need a step ladder to even talk to them.

While she was thinking what a waste of time it was to be here, the crowd shuffled and moved back a little when the tallest man took the stage. Shit, he was beautiful. Long, black hair flowed over his shoulders and framed his perfectly chiseled face. High cheekbones and a wide generous mouth with a regal nose made the man seem like a picture from the romance books she had littered all over her room. He could have stepped out of a cover, and she would not be as surprised as she was seeing him in person. He was huge, larger than life. Casey felt a small tingle on her neck as she looked at the handsome wolf. She wondered briefly about the sensation, but her thoughts were drawn back to the stage before she could examine it further.

His voice rolled over her like a sweet caress. It was deep and sexy; she creamed her panties just hearing it. Damn it, she would have to go home and change if she did not get herself under control. The scent would be noticeable to any wolf that chose to sniff deep enough. Reggie groaned next to her, and she smiled. Obviously, her friend was having the same reaction to the man. Casey chuckled; sometimes they were so alike it was scary.

“Fuck me.” He whispered in her ear.

“You wish.” She replied and laughed a little.

“I know, that is why I said it. Do you think he would be opposed to a red boa? I can see him wrapped up in red feathers and lying on my bed waiting for me.” Reggie chuckled.

“Uh, no, he looks like a strictly leather and chaps type of guy.” She drawled and looked back at the man on the stage, what she wouldn’t give for a night with him.

Chapter 2

Devon stood waiting until the Alpha finished his speech. He was growing tired of being gone for so long from Denver. They had been on the road off and on for the last three months, trying to find the remaining wolves from the Prophesy. It was becoming increasingly clear the information they had was very outdated. Every place they were told one of the families had moved to after thinking Jo was dead and therefore the Prophesy also dead, had been wrong. The Council had been so dejected that Jo and her mother had been kidnapped and killed; they refused to mention the Prophesy any more. Out of sight, out of mind, he thought in frustration. That was the problem they were facing now, no one wanted to admit they knew of the Prophesy, to most it would be considered a death sentence. Quin and Jaden had decided not to release the news of the Prophesy; they were worried the Rogues would step up their attacks. So, they quietly traveled across the country, looking for the Chosen.

Now they were in South Carolina, with the Columbia Pack. It was one of the largest in the south. He figured they could base their search out of this area, and work the entire south if they had to. They had been in Florida just yesterday and had covered the entire state in a week. It had sucked, and they found nothing. Devon was beginning to wonder if they had been sent on a wild goose chase. The humidity here made him itch to go and shower for the third time today.

Gods, he hoped they found someone soon, this was getting ridiculous.

Devon stepped forward when the Alpha motioned to him. They thought that possibly the wolf born in April had moved here, to South Carolina. The Council had decided the best way to find the Chosen wolves, was announcing they were looking for wolves born on the first of every month. They figured they could weed out the years later. They did not want to tell the whole story to the Packs for fear the Rogues would get wind of what they were doing. It was bad enough they had to announce what they were, but to go to every household would take a lot longer.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. We are looking for any wolves born on the first day of the month. Recently, the European Council discovered certain documents that refer to these families. It has to do with a missing inheritance. We will be in town for the next forty eight hours and will be staying at the hotel. We have set up a desk for those who come to check in with us. We have specific information and will be able to tell you if you are on the list we have.” Devon said and then looked at the Enforcers who stepped up onto the stage with him, so he could make sure everyone knew who they were.

This was probably another lost cause. He was beginning to wonder if these people even existed.

This was really a long shot. So much time had passed; any one of the Chosen wolves could have been killed by now. He shook himself out of his thoughts and finished talking, and they moved off the stage to the hotel where they would wait. At least they had a dining room. He was getting sick of fast-food. It seemed like they were living on the stuff since this started. Quin and Jaden gave them plenty of money, but all of them were in a hurry to get done, and return home, so they did not stop for a long meal.

“Well?” Devon said to his friend and Enforcer, Mike. They were in the middle of the street when he felt a tingle on the back of his neck. Stopping he looked around to see what was causing his uneasiness but saw nothing in the maze of people. Shaking his head, he began to walk again.

“Some of the people looked about the right age, and they were shaking their heads. At least I think we should get a few people coming to see us. Not like the last place that had no one come.” Mike said and shrugged. “You know it’s a crapshoot anyway. Most of the wolves are too scared we are going to arrest them, so they don’t speak up.”

“Yeah, I know. Before we go to the next Pack, we need to change our plan.” Devon sighed.

“The inheritance thing was a good thought. At least they think we are handing out money.” Mike laughed. Mike stood before the table they had set up in the hotel lobby.

After just asking for people who were born on the first of every month and not giving them a reason why. They learned that most of the Packs were scared of them, and wanted to know why they were asking. Devon figured if they sweetened the pot, they may get a lot of fakes and phony’s, but at least people would talk to them.

Devon sat up straight when he heard someone clear his or her throat. He turned and looked at the line of wolves that had formed in the hallway.

“Well, let’s get started.” Mike said and motioned for the first in line to come forward.

After the first few people, Devon once again thought they were wasting their time. It sucked; they had to do all of this cloak-and-dagger shit. He pictured the people they were looking for to be the elite of the Pack. He thought they were going to find them in the leadership. That idea had been shot down. The Seer explained the Gods did not choose them because they were Alpha or Beta. They would each have special characteristics to contribute to the Council. He supposed it made sense, Quin was going to be the Alpha, and Jo was the White Wolf who was in touch with the emotions of the Pack. Devon was going to be the Beta to the Council, unless a stronger wolf presented himself, which he truly doubted.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost missed what Mike was saying.

“What was your name again?” Mike said and frowned down at the papers in front of him.

“Reggie Tarken.” The man said and Devon looked up. Holy shit, he thought and looked the man over. He was tall and fairly good-looking for a man, but hell, his clothes shouted ‘gay’. He could not be farther from what he expected when they started this search. Devon just assumed the children from the Prophesy, would all have larger than life's builds like he did. This guy was little, sexy, but little. Hell, he hoped that whoever his mates were they would be able to protect the little guy.

“Uh, that is, we need you to step aside for a few minutes.” Mike said scrambling to look through the papers.

“Okay, my mother and father are right outside. They are the ones who told me to get over here as soon as possible. Shouldn’t they be in here too? I mean they are my parents. They should be here if there is an inheritance.” The man stammered.

“Yeah, go ahead and get them.” Devon said, stood up, and looked out at the couple that was looking in the window. They nodded to him and he knew they had found one of the missing children. His eyes were drawn to the frowning small woman standing with the couple. She plainly was not very happy about what was going on if he understood the gestures she was making. There was something about her he was drawn to, and he felt the tingle again on the back of his neck.

He noticed the older woman looking at her strangely and kinda pushed her into the larger man who was standing a little further back. Whoever it was, the older woman did not want her to be involved with what Reggie was doing.

“Who is that?” He asked before he could stop himself.

“Oh, that is my best friend Casey. She clearly is pissed my parents shoved me in here without asking questions. She thinks there is more to it than just inheritance.” He laughed. When Devon did not respond, he continued. “Or is there?”

“Just, uh, take a seat Reggie, and we will check further. Do you have your parents first and last names as well?” Mike said pushing Devon aside.

The more he looked at her, the harder he was getting. Devon could not explain his reaction, unless it was because they had been on the road for so long, and he had been without companionship for the last few months. Of course, there had been women along the way. Since hearing about his future though, he felt at this point he had to find his mate soon and sleeping with someone else was kinda like cheating. Even though he had no clue where or who his mate was.