-Tavyra's POV-

My muscles started to cramp when I stopped. I sat on top of the table as Zannic massaged my calves from a cramp about 10 minutes ago. The pain had subsided, but Zannic insisted to avoid more in the future. Tyson came up to us, seeming exhausted but still trying to be friendly, "Zan? You massaging somebody else? That's a first." He chuckled. 

I asked him, "Has he never massaged before?" 

Zannic was simply shaking his head as he listening to the conversation, "Let's just say I got massages often." He finished the conversation quickly as Tyson sat beside me. 

We watched the crowd relax themselves as we rested. For some reason, the crowd wasn't near the royalities, were they scared of us? I leaned over to whisper into Zannic's ear, "Hey? Why are we isolated?" Zan turned around and saw what I saw. 

It didn't seem to click in his mind that something seemed off about us having our own table for the three of us while the other tables were almost unseeable from how many people were around. Zannic looked back at me, unable to put the two images together, "I don't understand." 

I sat up and looked back from Zan and Tyson, "Do you not go and talk to your pack?" 

Tyson shrugged, "The offical Beta and Alpha are treated like untouchable figures around here. It's just always been there." 

Zannic agreed and wrapped his arm around me, "That's alright. It means they show respect." 

I wanted to hold my tongue but that's where I had a different perspective, "So you never just talk to them like...they're your equals?" 

They looked at me like I had nine heads. I rolled and eyes and hopped off the table, heading over to the closest table full of people. Only a few of them noticed I even came up and I didn't mean to intrude on their small talk conversation, but I spoke to the small group, "So how are we all doing over here?" 

There was a few mumbles and nods, but no one exactly looked me in the eye, or even my direction. Did they not like me? Did I say something wrong? There was an awkward quietness that I seemed to cause. I had to think quickly before my anxiety started to set in. "I'm so glad that you all could join us on this dangerous mission. As we'll be together for the next three days, I'd like to get to know all of you. I'll start first. My name's Tavyra, I'm new around here, and don't know almost any of you." I scratched the back of my neck in nervousness, "Oh, and I happen to be hanging around Alpha Zannic a lot more."

There was a slight silence. "Are you the Alpha's mate?" A woman asked me. She looked like a former veteran, maybe in her mid 40's but in great shape. She had graying brown hair and brown eyes that seemed to match. She looked about her wits and it was almost comforting to know she was on this mission with us. 

I blushed, not exactly knowing what to call what me and Zannic are, but "Yea, I guess we are mates." I smiled. 

There was an older man who leaned over and elbowed his buddy in the ribs, "I told you, Scott. Now pay up." The group exploded in hardy laughs as Scott took out his wallet and payed the man his bet. I had never thought about the fact that we've never officially announced our titles to everyone, but I couldn't help but laugh with them. 

The same older vetren gave her hand out for me to shake, "My name's Alice, and that over there-" She pointed to the older man with salt and pepper beard who won the bet from Scott- "That's Robbie." 

Robbie got up from his seat and shook my hand, "Nice to meet ya." He shone his teeth at me and I could see the spots of missing teeth. He looked like he couldn't hurt a fly. "Lemme introduce you to the rest of the gang." Robbie started to go around the circle and say everybody's name, followed by handshakes and pleasant greetings.

-Zannic's POV- 

I watched the group adore Tavyra, I don't know how you couldn't. She was so loveable. The group welcomed her so openly. Maybe I should be taking notes from her. I couldn't help but smile. 

She's the most beautiful thing in my life. I simply can't lose her.

The sound of a phone buzzing knocked me out of my thoughts. It wasn't my phone. It was Tyson's. I looked over at him and he looked both anxious and excited. It seemed like a phone call. "How are you getting service out here?" I asked him. I know I lost serivice about two hours ago. 

He glanced up at me and shrugged, "Uhh, I dunno dude-I'll be right back." He quickly got up and ran into the woods. Where was he going? To take a phone call? What was so private that he needed to run away from his Alpha. Maybe he's in trouble? 

I slipped off the table and decided to follow behind him quietly. If he would want to hide something like that from me, I don't think he would want me around. I tried to focus on my transformation, isolating it only to my ears so I can eavesdrop much easier. It seemed to work as everything suddenly got louder and I could hear everything. 

I found Tyson standing behind a tree. He was talking, but I could only hear the crunching of leaves under him. I tried again and heard the falling leaves. I was far enough from the crowd where conversations were simply murmmers, but I couldn't hear Tyson. I took a deep breath and tried once again. 

"I'll come back, I promise." I could finally hear him. I tried to see if I could hear who was on the otherside, but the voice was too soft, I couldn't understand them, "I'm sorry for not telling you, I really am. I just..." Tyson trailed off. 

I didn't know what was going on, but I was trying to pick of bits and pieces, maybe he didn't tell someone he was going on this trip. But who would care that much? 

"Baby..." Then it clicked. His mate. I forgot Tyson found his mate. I got overly excited and couldn't help but grin. "I promise to you, that I will come back alive. Just for you, okay? Okay. I love you. Bye." 

I didn't do a good job at hiding from Tyson as when he hung up the phone and turned around, there I was, prouder than ever of my Beta. Tyson on the other hand did not feel the same way. I closed the gap between us and hugged him tight, "Man. I totally forgot you had a mate."

"Yea..." Tyson didn't seem as trilled. Was it someone I knew? 

"Com'on, man. What's her name? Tell me about her." 

Tyson was nothing, but nervous. He stared at me for a long time in silence before he said anything, "I-I can't do that." 

My smile disappeared as I realized something was wrong with him, "She's your mate. What do you mean, you can't tell me her name?" I've never seen Tyson this antsy and nervous about something he's been waiting for a long time for. "Is she...bigger?" I've seen his one-night stands and I know he prefers a thinner type.

Tyson scoffed, "Nah, man. That'd be so vain." 

Now I was so confused, "Then why won't you tell me anything about her?" I watched his jaw quiver as he looked at me once again, "Ty?" I asked for some type of response, but I got nothing as he turned around and walked away from me and back to the camp. 

The years of trust and friendship between us didn't feel true as he walked away, as he held this secret from me like this. We've never kept secrets from each other. Not as best friends and espcially not as Alpha and Beta. This is a new side of Tyson I've never seen before. And honestly, it kinda scared me. 

I made my own way back to the camp. I had to admit, I was pissed. I don't know at what, but I was mad. I might as well just not have a Beta. Tyson was nowhere in sight. 

Probably hiding in the bathroom like the coward he is. 

I walked over to Tavyra, talking to her new friends of older war vetrens. They were having a good, laughing time, but that didn't stop me from getting her attention. I didn't warn her that I was coming up behind her, I simply commanded in her ear, "Get ready to go." 

She looked back at me with a look of confusion. She could tell that my demeanor had changed from the time we sat down. She turned around from her friends and told me, "We still have like another 15 minutes." 

I glared back at her and scolded her with a hush tone, "I don't care, I said let's go." 

She didn't like that. There was a moment of hesitation before she began moving out of her seat and over to our table where our stuff was placed. The war vetrens understood my tone and started to pack up their stuff anyway. I turned to the rest of the relaxed militia. 

"Get ready to move!" I barked at them. Everybody took me seriously, getting their stuff quickly as I grabbed my and Tavyra's bag and started to continue walking.