Chapter 84

☆ ☆ Beta Morgana (Greed) ☆ ☆

I escorted Layla out back to go on a walk and speak in private. The matter seemed urgent. When we got further from the house, I asked, "What did you want to discuss?" She seemed anxious, so I prodded some more, "It's okay; you can talk to me." She looked at me timidly as we walked toward the woods, then inspected our surroundings to ensure we truly were alone. 

Once she was confident enough, she said, "I've heard rumors about the werewolves enlisting the help of a witch." I looked at her, seemingly confused. I had only briefly overheard the Ulfric and his healer discussing it, and I was sure they weren't ignorant enough to reveal their plans. Besides, I had only relayed that information to Pride and hadn't heard anything further.

I responded, "Where or who did you hear this from?" Layla bit her lip nervously. I placed my hand on her shoulder and looked deeply into her eyes. I said, "You can trust me; we're on the same side." She breathed in profoundly, summoning the courage to speak; she whispered, "You can't tell anyone. Promise me right now. Swear on the moon goddess."

The moon goddess was not a deity that held any significance to me, so I nodded, "I swear on the moon goddess." She divulged her secret. She cleared her throat, "I'm not a traitor by any means, but my loyalty lies with Kara, and I have been in contact with her. Kara and James said that Sylas had found this out, but they need to know what they're up against.

It clicked. Pride must have given Sylas an update on the intel I had gathered. I nodded, "I only heard the Ulfric and his healer speak in hushed tones about enlisting the help of a witch, but it wasn't for assistance with the battle. The Ulfric wants their help to try to reconnect Darius to his wolf.

Layla's eyes widened. "Do you know her price?" I shook my head; I hadn't heard anything further regarding the matter. She asked, "Can you find out for me, please? They need to know just in case." I guess I was gathering intel for everyone now. The longer I stayed here, the higher risk I was putting myself at. Thankfully, most werewolves weren't too bright.

I inhaled deeply, "I'll keep my ears to the ground, but I won't flat-out ask." Layla nodded, accepting my response, "Thank you so much, Beta Morgana." I smiled, "Of course, I don't want to see her unjustly murdered at their hands either." Layla seemed relieved after our conversation. 

We continued to walk around the surrounding forest. I asked, "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Layla shook her head, "No, you've already helped me so much; it is nice to walk around outside and feel the sun on my skin despite the frigid air." I smiled and replied, "Well then, we can walk around a little longer, but then we should head back; I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to us." 

We walked around a bit longer before heading back toward the pack house. Before we got too close, I added, "I'm not going to ask how you are communicating with someone who is in North Carolina. However, I have a pretty good idea." I paused, "Make sure you are deleting the message trail. I'm not trying to get caught up in a treason charge."

Layla nodded, "Of course, I'll do that as soon as I get a chance. I have to wait until Jayce falls asleep and in between the guard's rounds." At least she had half a brain and was at least being discrete. Alpha Kayn was just as much at fault for slipping the phone to her in the first place, but the hopeless romantic in me wanted to see Kara and James make it. That was really why I was going to help Layla.

I knew that I would never find anything like their connection or the connection that Morgana and Darius had shared. Wrath was just a fuck, and sometimes a lousy one at that, but being in Pride's elite clan, there weren't many options, and I enjoyed it too much to become celibate.

Besides, Lust was already all over Envy, Gluttony, and Sloth, and I knew she and Wrath still fooled around from time to time when I was doing missions like this. It wasn't like it bothered me; it was purely physical between him and I. Pride was celibate, keeping her temple pure, and all that. She said that sex clouded her visions, whatever that meant.

Layla interrupted my thoughts and said, "Hey, you okay? You spaced out there for a minute." I came too, and I hummed, "Mm-hmm." We were just a few feet from the pack house now, and I asked, "Are you ready to return to the basement?" Layla sighed, "As ready as I'll ever be." I chuckled and said, "Understandably so."

I led her back down and locked the cell door after she entered; I gave her a quick wave and said, "I'll talk to you soon." I almost didn't notice Morgana's sister giving Jayce his daily once-over in the other cell. But she cleared her throat as I was about to exit. I responded, "Sorry, Luna, I almost didn't notice you there; I was just going to check in on Darius." 

She said, "That's alright. Mind if I walk up with you?" I shook my head, "Not at all." She stood from her knelt position and patted Jayce, "You're as healthy as a horse. We'll be traveling to North Carolina soon so that we can get your mate back from those leeches." Her comment irked my nerves, but I remained calm. I would settle the score later when we went through with Pride's plan. 

She exited the cell, and I held out my hand, insisting that she take the lead. I followed her up the basement stairs and out to the kitchen. She grabbed a glass of water and asked, "How are you holding up?" I replied, "I'm doing as well as I can. I'm just burying myself in my Beta duties and caring for Darius." 

She nodded and smiled weakly. I did the same and said, "I'm going to go check on Darius now. If that's okay?" She waved me off, so I headed up to the first flight and down the hall to the guest room where he was staying now. I knocked lightly, announcing myself before entering his room. I saw the Ulfric's healer and asked, "How is he? Any change?" She shook her head.

It's not like I expected anything to be different, but I was curious about the witch. If they did accept whatever deal she wanted, what would happen to him? Would he remember everything? Would he know that I wasn't really Beta Morgana? I needed to get out of here soon if that was the case. 

I walked over to Darius and knelt beside him again, putting on a show for the audience. I grabbed his hand and stroked my fingers through his loose curls of dark brown, almost black hair. It must have been perfect timing because the Ulfric entered shortly after. His voice boomed, "Beta Morgana, I need to speak with you." 

I looked over at him and bowed my head, "Yes, Ulfric Draven?" He cleared his throat, "As things are, once this battle ends, you will be taking over the role of Beta at my pack, and I need to discuss the future, your future with my pack." I nodded, "Of course, Ulfric Draven, would you like to meet in my office?"

He grunted, and I took that as a yes. He and his brother were just alike. I led him down to my office. When we entered, I asked, "Would you be more comfortable sitting behind my desk?" I thought it might be awkward to sit behind the desk, seeing as he was my superior. He replied, "Either way is fine." I sat across from the desk, allowing him to sit behind it.

He began, "Given Darius' inability to function normally and since you have mated when all this is over, you will move back with us and resume his duties. I nodded, already understanding that this was the expectation, although he would be very disappointed if I disappeared into the night. 

I asked, "Do you run your pack drastically differently or something? Or should I expect similar duties to my Beta role here?" He shook his head, "It should be a smooth transition." I looked at him, confused, "Then is there something else you wanted to talk about?" He inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh, "Beta's also advise the Alpha, as I'm sure you are aware, I need to ask you about a very sensitive matter."

I looked at him perplexed, but I had an inkling of what he was about to divulge. I listened diligently. He said, "If there were a way to restore Darius to his former state, would you do it?" I replied as though I hadn't overheard him and his healer, "Of course, did your healer or your elder discover a way to reconnect his wolf?"

He grimaced, "Not exactly. Unfortunately, we couldn't find anything to help him." I feigned confusion, "Then what are you talking about?" He sighed again and said, "I have less than eight hours to make a decision, and it was eating at me all night." I changed my demeanor from confusion to that of concern, "It must come at great expense for it to weigh so heavily on you."