Caged Between the beta & alpha

Once Like Brothers DAMON Night had fallen and I was in the packhouse , in Liam’s office , trying to look at the tracker families in
the pack – those who had the ability to hide their heartbeats – when there was a knock on the door .
” Enter .
” I had left the door unlocked since I was in here anyway .
The door opened and Robyn’s familiar scent hit my nose before I glanced up .
She seemed surprised to see me alone , glancing around the room as if this was a mistake .
She was dressed in figure – hugging clothes consisting of a black vest top and denim high waisted jeans .
” I won’t bite .
” I said , smiling slightly .
That emptiness in my chest that she had once partially filled had only grown since the rejection .
It hurt .
It fucking hurt .
I pushed the thought away .
I don’t think I ever had a chance anyway , I would always be second , whether that was simply because Raven and Liam always
had a stronger connection or because I couldn’t bring myself to fight for it and make matters worse .
One thing good about the rejection was that there was no holding on to hope that i It would never be .
There was no what if , or just maybe it could work .
It was done and I could look forward from here ... It’ll get easier ... I wasn’t the only one who had shouldered a rejection .
Only recently , Channing , Taylor’s brother , had rejected his mate .
It was different as their marks would remain until the end but they had weakened the bond by a lot .

But if say , Anna took a new mate , and marked them , the mark could be lifted from Channing’s neck .
The mate bond ... it wasn’t something simple ... ” I thought Zack was here .
He asked me to check the anti – scent spray supplies .
” She said , holding the file over her breasts .
” Leave it with me .
Thanks for your constant help , Robyn .
You’ve always been really hands – on and organised .
” I said glancing down at the desk in front of me , remembering a conversation from about six months ago that I had overheard
her having with her brother Rick ....
‘
You’re damn organised ....
Of course , I am ! Who knows , I may be a beta female ... It could just be in my genes to be organised and handle stuff .
The sound of her laughter echoed in my mind , and I knew back then that was the point where I should have told her I had a
mate .
Was this karma ? ” ” Yeah sure .
So , there’s nothing missing from the actual sprays , but there have been slight misses in the actual ingredients used to make
them .
My bet is that someone has been sneaking a little here and there , then making their own .
” She said , brushing a coiled tendril of her hair back as she placed the file down , pointing something out .
Her heart was racing at our proximity .

I looked at where she was pointing and frowned .
” That’s minimal ... Things get spilt when creating the sprays , are you sure it’s not just a miscalculation ? ” I questioned raising
an eyebrow .
She frowned , cocking an eyebrow .
” I don’t make mistakes when it comes to things like this .
Damon , trust me , I’m the one who checked the stocks for Rick last time .
” She replied snappily .
” Calm down , I’m just saying .
” I said , smiling slightly .
She almost said something , the beginning of a smile on her lips before it vanished , and she shook her head , closing her eyes
for a second .
” Yeah ... so ... I was thinking , maybe someone who has access to the supplies ... She said , smoothly moving away from me .
My chest squeezed slightly at her move , but I smiled softly as I stared down at the file .
I had lost everyone to the point where they walked away , and when it came to her , that was my fault , but I couldn’t just delve
into this fucking pain in my chest .
It was my choice to let her go , and to let Raven go ... Now I had to deal with the aftermath .
I nodded , and she turned away , hesitating before looking at me .
” Damon , are you ok ? ” She asked , her voice sounding unsure .
I looked up at her , nodding .

H ” Yeah .
She frowned , pursing her lips .
” I know you better than that , Damon .
You’re hurting .
Do you want to talk about i t ? ” She asked , fiddling with one of her rings .
I looked at her , I knew she was the one person I could lay my soul bare to ,
but it would just hurt , just as it would hurt Raven if I had told her how I felt .
Even though Raven talked to me daily , asking how I was and checking in on me , I couldn’t tell her that the pain in my chest was
crushing me .
Because I love her , and for her happiness , I let her go .
As for Robyn ... bond or not , she had loved me , I was not going to hurt her by abusing that .
” I’m fine , thanks .
” I said just as the door opened and Liam stepped inside .
I frowned , instantly realising there was something different about him .
What was it ... My eyes widened , realising there was n o aura around him .
Although I knew it was usually suppressed , you could still tell when an Alpha walked into the room , and right now I felt nothing
from him .
” Hi ... I’m not disturbing right ?
” He asked , glancing between Robyn and I.
” No Alpha , not at all .
I was just bringing the list for the supplies ... ” Robyn said before she walked past him towards the door .

‘ If you do want to talk , I’m here .
I know the three of you have a complicated situation , and I’m not trying to butt in , but if you just need an ear to listen ....
One who won’t ever judge ... I’m here .
‘ Her words came in my head , my heart thundered as I looked at her back .
” Thanks ... Raven and I ... We rejected one another .
‘ I said quietly .
Her heart raced , she looked down but she didn’t turn back .
‘ Oh ... I’m sorry .
Then she was gone , shutting the door behind her .
Liam raised an eyebrow .
” All , ok ? “
” Yeah .
” I said , I knew that he knew that w e had been mind linking .
” Cool .
” I glanced at him as he came over , picking u p the file that Robyn had brought in .
He hadn’t said anything about the rejection s o far ... I wouldn’t either , I’ll let him bring i t up first .
” You were out all day , and your aura’s different .
Or more like , there just isn’t one .

“
I asked as he dropped onto his chair .
He glanced up at me and frowned .
” I got a seal or two put on me ... just in case ” He said quietly , after a moment’s KEP pause ... I frowned .
Didn’t his dad say he was just going into town ? That meant he probably went to see Rayhan ... ” Does your Dad know ? ” ” No ,
only you and Raven .
“
He said , frowning as he tossed the file down and looked up at me .
” I owe you a lot more than an apology ....
but I’ll start there .
I’m not going to justify my shit , because even now I can’t think of sharing my mate ..
but my behaviour ... it was wrong .
I fucked up a lot and in the process lost a lot .
” I watched him , sensing the guilt roll of him as he stared at his hands , his elbows resting on his legs , his head hanging .
” What I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry for treating you like shit ... That I saw and still see everything you did for me ,
Damon .
I’m a total prick , but you bent over backwards to make me happy .
You’ve always put yourself aside .
You sacrificed everything for me and I realise I broke the very first promise I made to you years ago .
” His voice was hoarse , and I could hear the guilt laced with pain in it .

Promise ... Yeah , I remember it .
( FLASHBACK FOURTEEN YEARS AGO ) “
Liam , you won ! ” I gasped , catching my breath , looking at the boy who was a little younger than me but was already slightly
taller .
He smiled .
” I’m sure you will win next time , Damon .
Rematch ? ” ” Ok ! ” I said , ” Three , two , ONE ! ” We broke into a run , our feet barely hitting the earthy ground as we raced
towards the line of trees .
I glanced at him , realising he was falling behind .
” I’m winning , Liam ! I’m going to win ! ” I slammed my hand against the tree trunk ,
bursting into laughter as I stuck m y tongue out at him when he reached me moments later .
” Yeah , you did ! ” He said , high – fiving me .
” Is it bad ? You’re the Alpha .
You will always be number one .
You should be number one ! ” He smiled at me , his eyes sparkling brightly .
” We are brothers .
There won’t be a first or second , we will always be a team .
I promise .
” He h Call ended out to me and I took it happily , noading .
” Yeah , we are brothers ! ”

( END OF FLASHBACK )
I realised years later that he let me win here and there ... I was never stronger or faster than he was but he let me think that , but
that was Liam for you ... Until that blood moon ... ” I’ve treated you like shit and even then you have stuck by me ...
You haven’t made a move on Raven ... But I still hate you for it ... I acted like I’d always share everything , and then I realised
that she was the one thing I couldn’t ... I hurt you , and I know you’re probably mad at me , which you should be , but I’ll try to do
better .
I’ll make it up to you ... or I’ll at least try to .
” He said , running his fingers over his head , messing up his perfectly styled hair .
His words resonated in my head and I could hear the sorrow and vulnerability in his words , yet the strength and confidence of
his determination to fix things shone through .
I moved away from the table , taking a seat in the chair opposite .
” I didn’t mind any of your crap until you marked her ... that was my limit , and what was worse was I couldn’t do anything I just
watched .
“
” I know ... But it’s not your fault ... You couldn’t do anything .
That’s something I won’t ever be able to forget .
Ever .
” He said , his brows furrowed .
” I know you let me lash you so I can vent my anger .
” I said quietly .
” I’m not stupid , deep down I know my best friend and brother is in there ... I’m seeing him coming out , a little by little .
I just hope that he fights this darkness and realises that his actions are hurting those around him .

” He nodded , looking across at me .
” I’m going to try , thank you for being a friend , one I don’t even deserve .
” ” That’s what brothers are for ... We deal with each other’s shit and are there for one another .
You were there for me when Dad died , Liam .
I won’t forget that ....
But I still want to punch you .
” I said , despite smiling at him .
” No one is stopping you .
.
” He replied , smirking .
I shook my head , ” Who would have thought a girl would be the reason for our conflict .
” I said , feeling that stabbing pain inside of me .
*** ” Yeah ... I love her ... and I know you do too So I’m not going to stand in her way .
I’m not an angel who is going to say yeah , I’ll share ... because I really can’t
, I have fucking tried to get my head around it .
Considered it even , but I can’t .
I won’t expect her to choose me , I have to deal with the fact that I’m not the only one in the running .
It’s late ... I know ....
It’s really late and I have a head start , but go for it .

Fight for her if you want to , if she wants you ...
I won’t lie and say that I will be happy for you , I’ll fucking be jealous ... but I’ll accept it .
You are my beta and r my brother Damon , I don’t want that to change .
Even if I’m fucking too late to say i t or maybe I’ve destroyed any hopes of that , to a point of no redemption .
” My heart was racing , his words echoed in my mind , but it was his remark about Raven that threw me off .
Liam didn’t know we had already rejected one another .