Page 7 of Convincing the Heartbroken Beta

“Sorry! It was an accident, I swear.”

Sascha chuckled. The noise was so foreign to him after so many months of misery, it almost made him forget why it had burst out. “Calm down. I won’t tell.”

Cameron’s jaw dropped and he appeared so mortified, Sascha laughed louder.

“Don’t joke! Alpha Brandon could rip me in two with his bare hands. He wouldn’t even have to bother shifting to shred me.”

Cameron’s shoulders slumped as his head dropped, and Sascha was ashamed of himself. He hadn’t thought the beta would take it so seriously.

“I’m sorry. I’m being sarcastic because it’s no big deal. At least, it shouldn’t be.” Unease settled in Sascha’s belly. “Is Alpha Brandon mean? He seems scary, but I assumed he’d be okay overall, that he just puts on that gruff attitude.” Sascha swallowed hard. “Am I wrong about that? Should I be concerned?”

Cameron lifted his head. “No, please don’t worry. It’s not that I know the guy personally, but I’ve heard good things. The Denali Junction Pack was always a popular choice when betas were requesting assignments at the Guardian Pack. There’d be waiting lists and everything.”

“Because of Alpha Brandon?”

“Yeah. No offense, but no one wanted Yukon Delta detail.”

Sascha snorted. “Who can blame them? I sure as hell didn’t want to be there either, and it was my home.”

“Oh.” Cameron wiggled in his seat. “Sorry. I didn’t realize it was that bad for you.”

Sascha shook his head. “It’s okay. But that’s part of what I wanted ask you. Do you know what happened to Jasper? We’re close friends and I’ve been so worried about him, didn’t know he’d gotten away until you guys showed up to rescue everyone. I mean, that’s what happened right? He let everyone know about the prison and is back home with his mom and sisters?”

A slight flush climbed up Cameron’s neck and filled his cheeks. “Yes and no.”

Sascha waited for Cameron to elaborate, but instead of speaking, he turned away and stared out of the driver’s side window. Sascha gasped. It sounded as though Jasper told everyone about the prison right before he died. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he be back at the pack and why would Cameron be acting so weird?

“Oh gods, he’s dead? He didn’t survive?” Sascha’s choked back a sob.

Cameron whipped his head back around, his features twisted. “No! That’s not what I meant at all! He’s totally fine, I swear. He’s at the Wolf Creek Pack with—” Cameron rubbed the back of his neck. “With a former pack member of mine.” Cameron frowned. “At least I think he’s former. The Guardians definitely don’t want him back.”

“Don’t want who back?” Sascha needed Cameron to spit out whatever it was he wasn’t trying very hard to say. “Let’s pretend I’ve been imprisoned for several months and have no idea what’s been going on in the packs then go from there.”

Cameron hung his head. “You’re right. I’m making this about me, and I shouldn’t after all you’ve been through. Jasper is totally fine and doing great. At least that’s what Hawk says. Hawk is my former Guardian Pack member and also the one who got shot during your rescue. He and Jasper are fated mates.”

Sascha’s jaw went slack. “But…” About five thousand more questions assailed Sascha’s mind. “Jasper’s an omega.” He slapped a hand to his mouth. “Oh no. And Hawk killed Jasper’s father.” He couldn’t believe what was happening. “This is all so crazy. I know you told me the guy—Hawk—who got wounded would be okay, but are you sure?” Sascha wrung his hands. “Poor Jasper. After everything else he’s suffered, it would be so unfair.”

“I swear, Sascha. Hawk will be fine and so is Jasper. When Hawk found Jasper, he risked everything to protect him. Before the battle, when we were still waiting for it to get dark, Hawk told me that he and Jasper were so happy together, that their connection was what he’d always wanted in a mate.”

While Sascha was relieved and thrilled for Jasper, his friend’s status also shone a light on his situation with Brandon. There was zero connection there.

“Okay, that’s a relief. Thanks for telling me.” So many questions still plagued him. He didn’t want to overwhelm Cameron, but he’d been kept in the dark both literally and figuratively for so long. “Do you have a cell, so I could maybe talk to him?”

Cameron shook his head. “Can’t get a signal out here. We only have the walkies. But don’t worry, you’ll be seeing him real soon.”

Sascha tilted his head. “Huh? Why?”

“Oh, uh…” Cameron drew his eyebrows together. “I guess it’s no big deal if I tell you. I’ll be honest, Alpha Brandon makes me nervous too.”

Sascha smiled, something easing inside him when it came to this beta who’d been thrust into his life. “We can be nervous together. Then it’s not as bad. Don’t you think?”

Cameron smiled back. “Yeah. You’re probably right.” He rubbed his hands along his pants. “So, after whatever wrap-up Alpha Brandon is doing, he’s going to take you with him to the Wolf Creek Pack for a meeting with the Alliance council. You’ll get to visit with Jasper then.”

“That’s awesome.” A portion of Sascha’s tension drained from his body. “Did Brandon say anything about me getting to see my mom?”

“Not…specifically.”

The tension returned. “Can you please quit being so cryptic about everything? I have a right to know what’s going on with my own life. Just because I’m fated to some Alpha doesn’t mean I get to be his prisoner now. Tell me what’s going on or…or…” Sascha pressed his lips together. “Or I’ll take this truck and leave!”