Scarlett to the Rescue

Giselda
I stepped out of my bedroom with the intention of sneaking out of the house without anyone knowing that I was leaving. The last 24 hours had been nothing but training with my still furious father and having people bow to me. Our sleuth members bowing to me would be one of the first things I asked Logan to put a stop to. I was over it. I never thought that I was any better than even our weakest omega, and I refused to change the relationship I had already developed with the sleuth just because there was now a new word in front of my name.
“Beta Giselda,” I muttered angrily as I carefully peeked around the last corner between me and freedom.
Seeing nobody there, I hurried around it, my eyes glued to the front door. ‘Goddess, I was so close to escaping. Please, let me make it,’ I thought to myself.
As I reached out to unlock the door, I glanced over my shoulder, double-checking for anyone that would tell my parents that I was leaving, which was basically everyone. I silently stepped out of the house, celebrating my victory excitedly. Angel wanted to run, and my parents, along with my uncle, had purposely done everything they could to keep me trapped inside under their hateful, watchful eyes. But I needed to get out. I was so anxious about the upcoming challenge, and Angel was going crazy. We both knew that if Logan lost, our lives would be over. Our uncle would not hesitate to kill me for challenging him.
“Giselda, goo—”
I spun around, shooting my hand out to wrap around the person’s throat before slamming them against the wall, growling menacingly. Scarlett’s breath was expelled in a rush, but she didn’t struggle. Upon realizing who she was, I immediately let her go.
“I’m so sorry, Alpha Sow Scarlett. I didn’t realize it was you,” I apologized as I backed away.
She smiled at me as she straightened up. “It’s nice to know that you have reflexes good enough to make me feel more comfortable with Annie being here. I figured you would want to go for a run today. I was hoping that you would join me,” she told me.
“I—of course. I—”
“GISELDA! Where do you think you’re going?!” My father snarled as he leaned out of his bedroom window. “Get back inside.”
“Actually, Darryl, I asked Giselda to meet here this morning to take me for a run. As I’m sure you are aware, a future alpha or alpha sow on another sleuth’s land must be accompanied by either the current beta or alphas, or the future beta or alpha.” Her back straightened as she met his eyes. “And as my mate is a tad crazy over me and does not trust you, your wife, alpha, or alpha sow, that leaves me with very few options. So, I asked Giselda.”
He narrowed his eyes on her, and I knew he was furious, but he couldn’t say anything. At least not without starting a war with her sleuth. It was made worse by the fact that Alpha Falcon, Alpha Sow Natasha, and future Alpha Osprey were here. I glanced around, looking for Osprey, who I knew was never far from his mate’s side, yet I didn’t see him.
“Giselda, you have permission to escort future Alpha Sow Scarlett around the sleuth, but return as soon as possible. There is work to be done,” my father ordered, drawing my attention back to him.
Scarlett uttered a little growl. “She will return when I decide I am done with my run, and not a second sooner. Or do I need to tell my mate that you are trying to override my order?”
“N-not at all,” my father stammered. “When you are back, come find me.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.” He glared at me for a moment before slamming his window shut. “Thank you, Alpha Sow Scar—”
“You may call me Scarlett, Giselda. If we are to be family and our sleuths are to lean on each other, we should do away with formalities, don’t you think?” She told me as she linked her arm with mine before leading me off the porch.
I glanced at her. “What do you mean by family?”
“I’m curious about something, Giselda. You said that your fated mate was after Annie, correct?”
I tensed as I thought about how best to answer her question before deciding that the truth was the best way to go. “Yes. He is. He’s basically insanely obsessed with her.”
“How do you know he’s obsessed with her?” She continued to question.
“Because I’ve seen it. The way he looks at her. The way he is around her. The way he chose her over me,” I admitted sadly. “There’s also been a few deaths at the school that I am more than 100% sure that he is responsible for.”
“And why do you think he’s responsible for them?” She asked.
“Because they were all people that were bothering Annie. Everyone thinks that he is not involved, but I have no doubt that he is.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because I know how strong his aura is. I have no doubt at all that he aura’ed them to fight or kill themselves. He seems to be trying to hide exactly what he is doing. I’m not sure why though. The only thing that I am sure of is that it is connected to Annie.” When we reached the forest, I stepped behind a tree to disrobe. I didn’t want to disrespect Scarlett by potentially seeing her naked.
“Hey, Giselda?” She called out.
“Yes, Scarlett?”
“Just assume that I want to know why you think the way you do about everything I ask you,” she said, making me smile softly.
She may be new to the alpha role, but she was already a successful alpha sow. “I think it’s connected to Annie because everything he does has been since I met him.”
“And how did you meet him?” She asked.
“I was at school. He was there with her, and when he saw me, he turned his back on me so he could walk away with her,” I confided softly. “When he did, it hurt me really bad. Meeting my mate definitely did not go like I thought it would. I always thought he would walk up to me, pull me against his body, and kiss me, but he didn’t. Instead, after he shook my hand, he wiped it off on his pants while he pulled Annie closer.”
“Giselda, you have permission to link me. I want to finish our conversation, but I also want to respect your desire to run.”
I smiled gratefully as I let Angel out to shift, which she did quickly before walking out to wait for Scarlett’s bear. She sauntered out from behind a tree a few moments later, with a larger male bear hovering behind her. A pang of jealousy went through me as I realized it was Osprey’s bear. I knew he had been close, but I expected him to remain out of sight. Angel nodded her head toward a path on the left that went deeper into the forest as she searched for Scarlett’s link through the new beta and alpha links that we had been given access to when we defeated Alicia in the beta challenge. Finding it, we opened it.
‘Come on. This way. There is a beach we can go to and sun on,’ I told her.
‘After you.’ We walked silently for a few minutes before she spoke. ‘Is your fated mate Annie’s boyfriend, Giselda?’
I continued walking before answering. ‘Yes. And before you ask, no, I am not mad at Annie because she’s dating him. She had and probably still doesn’t have any idea that we are mates.’
‘If they ever separated, would you take him as your mate?’ Scarlett asked.
‘No. I don’t think so, anyways,’ I answered.
‘Why not?’
‘Because he would have to come here where Annie is, and I would always wonder if she gave him an opening, would he choose her all over again. I don’t want to live like that. I deserve to be happy too.’
Her bear turned toward Angel. ‘Osprey and I heard what Logan said to you about losing his mate. Did he find her?’
Angel’s head dropped as we argued over whether or not we should tell her the truth. After a few minutes, Angel grunted as I responded.
‘Yes. And he was right about losing her too. I wish I could give you more information, but until his aura is gone, I can’t.’
‘Alright. I have two more questions for you.’ She bumped into Angel’s shoulder. ‘Is his mate safe?’
‘I don’t know. I pray to the Goddess that she is. Considering Logan’s mated with her, I’m assuming he’s also marked her. With that being said and the fact that he hasn’t been brought to his knees, I’m assuming she’s safe. Or at least not dead or being tortured,’ I said softly. ‘I pray to the Goddess multiple times a day that she is.’
‘Hmmm…’
When we reached the small beach, Angel walked a little ways into the water before flopping down with half of her body covered by the water. Scarlett’s bear sat down next to us, staring out over the water. We sat silently for a moment, relaxing a little before she turned toward us. Angel immediately became alert again at the intensity in Scarlett’s eyes.
‘Giselda, is Gerry your mate?’