The Mark of Betrayal (by Cooper) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Austin’s Outrage

Roman

Samantha’s kindness was unexpected but very welcome. I’m not used to others looking out for me like that. Yes, the pack takes care of each other, and yes, I know my warriors would lay down their lives for me. But at the end of the day, I’m the Alpha. It’s my job to protect the pack and set aside my feelings and emotions to look after and protect them. When we had gotten in the car, I’d felt raw from our conversation about Theo and his family. Rather than use that against me like I expected she would, Samantha had proven to me that she is all Alpha and beyond worthy of being my Luna. She’d engaged. Eric in pleasant conversation, giving me time to collect myself

I step out of the car, seeing the pack members already assembling. I’m not surprised. My pack would have heard about me being in a room with Samantha long before Sawyer did.

“What’s this?” Samantha asks as I walk around the car to stand beside her.

“The pack heard that I had an unknown, unmarked female in a private room alone in my restaurant. Since that’s not

something that I’ve ever done, they’re curious and they’ve probably guessed your importance to me,” I say, seeing Austin, my Beta, walking up to me while everyone else stays back.

“Alpha, we weren’t expecting you home quite so soon,” he says, his eyes flickering from me to Samantha

“Beta Austin, please meet my mate and your future Luna, Samantha,” I tell him.

“You found her,” he breathes. I know the whole pack was secretly hoping that I’d finally find my mate.

“Don’t get too excited, Austin. She’s not happy to be here,” I say, low enough that only he can hear me.

He frowns and looks at Samantha.

As if proving me wrong, she smiles that fucking brilliant smile and holds out her hand. “Hello Beta Austin. I’m Samantha Chapman.”

“Alpha William’s daughter?” he asks, frowning and looking at me. He knows Alpha William only has the one heir, a male who

is twelve.

“Adopted daughter,” I clarify.

“Ahh Well, welcome to our pack, Luna”

I raise an eyebrow waiting for her to say that she’s not his Luna. She surprises me yet again by not saying anything. Since she doesn’t, I step behind her, putting my hands on her shoulders and facing my pack.

“Everyone, I have found my mate,” I say and the entire pack begins cheering. I feel Samantha tense under me and I rub my thumbs into her shoulders, letting the pack howl their excitement while I subtly relax my mate.

“Do you want to introduce yourself, Samantha, or do you want me to do it?” I ask quietly, leaning down to her ear

“You can,” she says, turning her face so that our lips nearly touch.

I hold her gaze, daring her to pull away in front of our pack

When she doesn’t, I smile. “Okay.”

I stand and refocus on the pack. “Please welcome Samantha Chapman to our pack.”

“Are you okay saying hello,” I ask her softly

*Of course,” she says, pulling away from me

+25 BONUS

Almost as one, the pack pushes forward, anxious to meet their new Luna. I growl softly, letting them know they shouldn’t crowd her. Once again, my male surprises me by turning to me and growling softly, as if saying ‘Butt out, I’ve got this‘. Then she turns back and begins charming my pack. I stand back, leaning against the SUV, crossing one ankle over the other and my arms across my chest as my mate weaves a magical spell over my pack. There’s no other way to describe it.

I knew they’d be excited when I brought her home, and I’d seen how Alpha William’s pack had adored her and how she’d taken time with each of them when we left, but I had no idea how quickly and easily she could make my pack fall in love with

her

Just wait until she turns that effort onto us,‘ Pierce purrs happily in my head

I chuckle. I’m already doomed, totally infatuated with this woman. Once she gives herself to me, I will tear this world apart and burn it to the ground if necessary to get revenge on those who hurt her. No one will ever hurt my mate again. Ever

“Um, I’m really confused right now, Alpha,” Austin says, coming to stand beside me and watching my mate as she slowly makes her way through the pack members, taking time to get to know all of them, touching the omegas so they feel safe and calm, smiling brilliantly at the pups, all of whom seem to want her to hold them. “You said she didn’t want to be here, but she looks pretty happy to be here.”

“I forced her hand to get her to come. I threatened to start a war against Alpha William,” I say and Austin sucks in air, growling and looking at me.

“The fuck you say?”

Samantha’s head turns to us, pausing to take in our interaction. I wonder what she would do if Austin attacked me. Would

she help him or defend me?

“Your Luna doesn’t like you growling at me,” I say, my eyes never leaving hers.

ving to make her hate you?” he growls, ignoring

“Why the fuck would you threaten a war to make her come here? Are you trying

my comment

Samantha’s eyes go between me and Austin who is glaring at me and still growling. A slow smile is spreading across my face knowing that Austin won’t attack me, but surprised and pleased that Samantha is taking such an interest. Austin is my Beta for a reason. He is meant to be the one to challenge me when he thinks I do something wrong and that’s what he’s doing right

now.

“I need you to start looking into pack wars starting about eleven years ago, I say.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he growls, his voice getting louderas he ignores my comment again.

I finally tear my gaze from her to look at my Beta. “She was hiding as an omega in Alpha William’s pack. Apparently, her family was murdered in a pack war, and she got away. She made a piss poor attempt to reject me in a room full of Alphas because she was and still is unwilling to give me her real name. If William gave her his name, it was to protect her. The only way I’m going to be able to help her see that she can trust me is to find out who killed her family and help her get the revenge. she deserves. I couldn’t do that with her in William’s pack and I wasn’t going to leave her to run the moment I left. As you can see, she is quite an amazing Alpha female. I’d have been lucky to ever find her again.”

“So we’re holding her hostage,” he growls, still angry.

I turn, just as Samantha walks up. “Is there a problem? Your growling is disrupting my ability to introduce myself to your pack, Beta. Do you have a concern about me being here?” she asks Austin

He turns to her. I have a concern about the methods my Alpha used to get you here, Luna I apologize for my Alpha’s behavior. No matter how warranted he thinks his actions were, they were wrong,” he says

I look behind him and see the pack watching us closely. This could go south very quickly. I underestimated how fast this pack would fall in love with Samantha and how adamantly my Beta would resist me bringing her here against her will.

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