Beta Carlos

I honestly don't know what I was expecting. For him to magically fall in love with me and make me his Luna?

I wasn't even sure which was worse. The rejection or the betrayal.

Was that even supposed to be compared?

Of course, the betrayal took the cake. My heart and mind still couldn't fathom the hurt I felt from Mia's betrayal. It was really hard to process.

I sighed, painfully as I forced my feet to take me further towards the royal kitchen. The pain I felt in my ribs from the impact was consistent and it made it hard to breathe properly. It felt like he had broken something when he kicked my ribs.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I was walking down a long corridor when someone suddenly pulled me to the side. I yelped from the sudden force and the pain it brought about and I almost screamed from shock when a warm hand wrapped around my mouth.

My eyes finally met his.

Beta Carlos.

I let out a breath of relief from the revelation that it was just him. Beta Carlos, tall, handsome, bright blue eyes, long blonde hair and pink plump lips. The man any girl would die to have. He was beautiful. Admittedly.

But, I was in no way attracted to him.

He was more of my big brother.

Surprising? Yes.

But contrary to what you may think, Carlos is the complete opposite of Lucas.

Carlos hated the way Lucas treated us slaves. He always tried to help as much as he could.

He would sometimes help me treat my wounds so they could heal properly but the scars of the ones he couldn't help with still remained and some wounds were just too big to heal right.

Not just me though, he would help anyone he could in any way he could.

But I had it the hardest. I was Lucas' personal venting material, punching bag, rage object and sex slave. To Lucas, I was not a living thing, I was an object of pleasure in more sickening ways than one.

But Carlos, he was a literal angel. Although, everything he did had to be behind Lucas' back. Alpha Lucas was a hard man to reason with, he always did things his own way. He would ask for Carlos' opinion on something out of formality but go through with his own decision, and completely discard Carlos.

He doesn't care about anything or anyone but he is still closest to Carlos.

His hands slipped off my mouth and gripped my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes swimming with worry.

I nodded.

"Yes" I lied through my teeth.

I was not okay. I felt like shit.

He narrowed his eyes at me and I sighed deeply, about to convince him when I wheezed in pain.

He closed his eyes in frustration.

"Goddess" he murmured before looking at me again.

"Kieran, you need to get treated. The impact on your rib was too much and with the way you're breathing, you could actually die" he explained and I hesitated as I looked down the corridor that led to the kitchen.

"I have a lot of duties that I -" I started to argue… well, explain but then, he cut me off.

"I'll be right back. Stay here" he said and hurriedly made his way down the corridor that led to the kitchen.

I sighed as I looked at his retreating figure. There was no stopping him.

I leaned against the wall behind me as I thought back to the events from earlier.

Mia.

What she did still shocked my very soul.

Mia and I go way back. While she has her entire family in this pack, I was a slave from another pack, the only one that survived Lucas' wrath.

We bonded when we were kids. The field that oversaw the lake was my spot first and one day, she walked there while I was relaxing. Then, she started a conversation with me and we just bonded really quickly. We've been friends for four years, so it made it quite hard for me to be able to fathom the betrayal.

Like, I just could not understand why she would do it.

My heart told me there must be a valid reason but my head told me there was none.

Carlos appeared again and grabbed my wrist.

"Okay, let's go" he said as he tried to pull me but I hesitated, planting my feet on the ground.

"But, I -" I argued again and he sighed.

"I've taken care of it. Now, come on, your health matters most" he said and I sighed stubbornly and finally gave in, allowing him to lead me to Greta's room.

I could not go to the royal clinic,I dared not.

Greta was the lead nurse but she loved Carlos like a son, so she always helped him with me and she had somehow grown to like me as well.

We snuck past guards until we finally reached her room and Carlos knocked on her door.

She opened up shortly after and let us in.

She groaned.

"What the fuck the Lucas do this time?" She asked and I was genuinely surprised she had not heard. Nothing flew past Greta but then again, it only just happened.

Carlos sighed.

"The main thing is she had a forceful impact to her ribs and now, she's breathing weirdly. Could you please just check?" He asked and she sighed.

"Lie down, dear" she said and I did as Carlos finally let go of my wrist.

"Turn around, Carlos" she said with a strict voice as she turned to him and he did, without hesitation.

I sighed in relief as she bent over me and slowly raised my dress up and examined me, gently poking my stomach in certain places, making me either groan or hiss in pain.

"Oh dear" she said as she stood up and walked to her table.

"What?! Is it bad?!" Carlos asked from where he stood still, facing the door.

Greta sighed as she rummaged through some items and brought some medicine out with a cup of water.

I sat up and adjusted my dress as she gave me the drugs to use and I did.

Then, she turned to Carlos and called him so he could turn to her.

He did and glanced at me with worry.

"We need to get a lot of ice. She needs proper treatment but since we wouldn't be able to get that, this is the most we can do" she explained and he nodded.

"Lots of ice. Got it" he said before he left her room.

Greta turned to look at me and smiled softly.

"You'll be okay" she said and I forced a small smile in return.

I was anything but okay.