The Mark of Betrayal (by Cooper) novel Chapter 19

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.

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 mate 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.

“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.

“Oh, I like you. You and I are going to be very good friends,” Samantha says, her voice a soft purr. The way she says it makes my eyes snap back to her. Pierce growls softly, a possessive growl warning her to stop flirting with my Beta.

“You can stop that right now, Pierce. Do not think I won’t pop your nose right here in front of your entire pack,” she growls before linking her arm through Austin’s. “Beta, why don’t you introduce me to your pack members,” she says expertly steering him away from me.

“A moment,” I say, standing up and facing the pack. She stops and turns to look at me as if daring me to come clean in front of the pack.

I sigh. “It is true that I coerced your Luna to return to the pack with me,” I say and almost as one, the pack gasps, then they turn their attention to Samantha. I can’t see her face because she’s facing away from me, but whatever she does has them relaxing before they return their gaze to me.

“There are things between myself and your Luna that I will not share with you. But suffice it to say, she agreed to come, although unwillingly, and while she isn’t happy with me, she seems to have no problem with all of you.”

“Those of you that I’ve met so far are quite lovely and I just know we’re all going to get along well. Beta Austin, would you do the honors of introducing me to the rest of your pack?” Samantha says, basically dismissing me in front of my own damn pack.

I watch as she begins to weave that magical spell over my pack again. My Beta is already completely taken with her and as I watch, the warriors who drove with us, even Andrew and the other warriors she fought outside the hotel room are there, falling under her spell.

Fuck, if I’m not careful, she’ll overthrow me and take over my pack.