The Delta's Daughter Chapter 328

MIKE

On a normal week, I was scheduled to lead training today. However, with all the extra checks and security I needed to do, I passed that task off to my father. I was meant to meet Damon in an hour and go over our security systems and camera placements once more. Then Tyrone and I would go over our patrol rosters with lead warriors from the Elite division. They would be working with Rhett and his Enforcers.

With an hour to spare I head over to one of my favorite places. A place where everyone was happy to see me and welcomed me with the best smiles in the whole realm.

"Beta Mike!" A chorus of voices rang out as I stepped into the room. In no time my legs were attacked by a dozen pups, ranging between ages three and six.

"Have you come to play with us?" A little girl by the name of Darla asks me with hope in her eyes.

I chuckle as all the kids start getting excited, "Not today pups, I'm in charge of organizing the Queen's coronation," Some gasp in excitement and others groan in disappointment. "Well, we want to make sure the New Moons Queen is protected right?"

They all nod their heads, "Well that's my job, to make sure our King and Queen are protected. Because not everyone is good and we want to make sure they enjoy their special day right?" They all nod again but I see the look on their faces.

I've been visiting the daycare for the past year and come here at least twice a week. I'm a sucker for kids, and their jovial moods always made my wolf and I happy. "But just because I'm super busy, that didn't mean I couldn't come and say hi to my favorite group of people."

The boys puffed out their chests, feeling important whereas a few of the girls giggled.

Today I let them ask me questions and I asked them all if they would draw a picture for me that I could put up on my office wall. I chuckled when a few of the pups went to work on their art pieces right away.

I hung out with the pups until it was time to leave and meet Damon. Walking out with an extra pep in my step, the way I always did. The pups had a positive effect on me and I loved spending time with each of them.

In the summer and when I wasn't so busy, I would spend longer with them. Play with them outside and let them meet Duke who relished the attention the pups would give him.

I know Jonda has been to visit the daycare with Tala, but we have never come together. I know she loves children just as much as I do and seeing how she interacts with them… well let's just say my little soldiers ache to reproduce with her.

"Beta Mike," Damon stands when I walk into the control room, planting my large frame in front of the dozens of monitors lined up.

"Damon, how're things looking?" I nod to the screens, folding my arms across my chest and looking at each screen individually to see the camera's locations.

When Lamia was kidnapped three years ago, we had already started to use technology for security, she and Damon had established infrared cameras and alarms - No longer relying solely on our warriors. After Kellen's parents died we upped our game by adding more cameras around the Palace grounds and the main streets in the Capital's City.

If Lamia had stayed in New Moon, instead of going to the Golden Circle Pack, I guarantee they wouldn't have been able to snatch her so easily. If only we knew at the time what we know now.

Movement on one of the screens catches my eye and I look over. Cocking my head I peer closer and ask Damon while pointing at the monitor, "Is that Tawny?".

He doesn't need to answer my question, I can see quite clearly it is in fact, our little were-kitty. "Yep, border patrol reported she arrived with another werecat," He slides his chair down to the other end of the long glass desk, bangs on the keys of his computer, "a few days ago."

"Hmm," I watched the screen as Tawny walked down the center of New Moon's main street, with who looked like Mason. A werecat originally from MacTire. "I haven't heard from her. I didn't even know if she would be attending."

"She's staying with her father," Damon supplies.

"Makes sense," I say more to myself. Tawny hadn't seen her dad in a while, so she probably just wanted to spend some quality time with him. I still would have thought she would have told me or Kellen she was in New Moon.

"You going to see her?" Damon asks me.

"Ughh, yeah. Of course. I'll see her at the ball tomorrow night. I won't interrupt her time with her father." I tap a finger to my chin. I know Tawny has her own shit going on, but it's not like her to not announce or at least come see us if she was in town.

The last time I saw Tawny was back at the Battle of Riocht, but I didn't get a lot of time to catch up with her then. We went to war, there wasn't a lot of time for idle chit-chat. But I could understand if she just wanted time with her father. She had always had a close relationship with him and I knew he missed her. Since Tawny went down to Cambiador, and Uncle Marcus and Aunt Viv moved to Riocht to be with Lamia, Tawny's father and my father had become quite good friends. He and my mom had James Johnson over for dinner regularly.

I carry on with my inspection of the cameras, moving on from watching Tawny.

"Do you have a map of where all the cameras are located?" I turn to Damon.

"Sure do," comes his chipper reply, and slides back down the glass table in his chair and types away at his keyboard again. In seconds the largest monitor in the room that takes up half the wall changes and comes up with an ariel view of the Palace and New Moons city. Little red dots light up the screen, an indication of each camera we have placed throughout the city and the Palace grounds.

"What do we have inside the Palace?" The screen switches to a map of the palace and little yellow dots indicated where cameras had been placed. Mostly in common corridors, the cells, holding cells, and outside the vaults. Only one camera sat in the outer vault. The back and inner vaults were camera free. There was no need for them. It would take a bigger genius than Damon to get past the security measures we had in place.

"Any blind spots?"

Damon shakes his head, "Only blind spots we have are on the border and Tyron has doubled up our patrol in those areas."

I bob my head with satisfaction. "Good. Anything you need from me or are we all set for the weekend?"

"We are all set, my man," I roll my eyes when Damon holds out his fist, in the most awkward fashion possible. I don't leave him hanging and bump my knuckles against his.

Damon can be so socially awkward and sometimes he tries to act all cool and it just comes out as geeky as all get out. But that's Damon, a genius Omega who doesn't let negativity bring him down. He's still one of us though, and once you shift through the awkwardness and strangeness that is him, you will find a stand-up wolf who loves his pack and his job just as much as I do.

After finalizing our checks on the cameras and other security systems, I shot the shit with Damon for a few before heading off for my meeting with Tyron.

I found Tyron and our lead Elite Warriors already in the strategic planning conference room. I walk in the middle of Tyron going over each lead Warriors position and objective.

"Commander Pike," Tyron acknowledges me formally, the lead warriors greeting me as "Beta Mike." Both are just as formal.

"Men," I say gesturing with my hand for them to carry on as they were.

I listen to Tyron finish up delegating duties and expectations. Handling his position like a pro. I know Kellen offered the position of Delta to Rogue, who turned it down in favor of becoming Tala's personal guard - I gotta say, Tyron fits the role of Delta down to a tee. Tyron's father was a lead Elite Warrior, whose life ended too soon the night New Moon was attacked. The same night Kellen's parents died. We lost too many that night.

Just another thing to add to my guilt. That I wasn't here to defend my home the night I was needed the most. I was in MacTire with Kellen when Orion and Oliver attacked our borders. Shooting venom-filled needles that killed our people, turning them into vile creatures.

"I don't think I need to add anything, Delta Tyron has covered everything," I tell the lead warriors once Tyron is done speaking and looks to me, to see if I have anything to add.

We talk through who will be paired with a group of Enforcers and address any concerns the lead warriors may have about working with an outside organization, not to mention some of the Enforcers are hybrids or former rogues.

Werewolves by nature are pack creatures, and they tend to pray on the weak. And they don't like outsiders. "I expect you all to play nice. The Enforcers are here to aid our security. Fill in the gaps and boost our numbers. Due to the number of high-ranking guests, who will be bringing their own security, we need people to keep an eye on them. This was not only a request from the council, but it was a necessity I backed."

"Beta Mike," One of the lead warriors interrupts, "We have fought alongside some of these men, We have no problem working with them - if that's what you are concerned about?"

"Humpf" I sound out with respect. "Alright," I bob my head "I hope all the warriors think like that. I appreciate your honesty, Ethan." I tell the lead warrior. I should apologize for assuming, but as the Royal Beta, I won't.

We dismiss the lead Elite Warriors and as soon as they are out of earshot, Tyron arches a dark brow at me. "Delta?" He says questioningly.

I shrug my shoulders, "what? It's just a matter of time."

"You can't call me Delta when I haven't been given the position officially Mike." He scowls.

"Come on Tyron, the position is yours. Just wait until after the coronation. Kellen is going to officially name you as the Delta." I say passively.

"Don't give me that shit, Mike. I was always going to be Delta, even named me his Delta over Lamia. But he offered it to Rogue without question." I see Tyron's face scrunched up with disgust.

"Is this why Rogue didn't get the message with the security details?" I question him, remembering that I had to resend them to Rogue. "Do you remember Rogue didn't even want the position?"

"What? No! I don't have anything against Rogue!" Tyron defends his words, brushing his hand over his short tight curls and down to the back of his neck. "My issue is with Kellen, Mike."

My hairline rises and my heart rate slows down waiting for his next words to pass over his lips. Kellen and I have been friends with Tyron for as long as we were friends with Lamia. But he had better be careful with the next words he speaks; Kellen isn't just our friend anymore. He is our King, our ruler.

Tyron chooses his words carefully before speaking. When he is ready, I see his eyes lower, unable to look at me. "Not as a King, but as a friend, I'm disappointed with Kellen. It makes me look like a chump the way he passed me over for a wolf who he had only known for five minutes." Tyron stands, his back to me. I can clearly hear in his voice how much Kellen's choice has affected him. "The three of us have been friends since school, so to be passed up and not even spoken to beforehand was a real kick to the balls."

"Tyron…" I start, ready to defend Kellen. But I stopped. Wondering which Kellen I should be defending. The King or our friend. At times I class them as one and the same. Here though with Tyron speaking to me as a friend, I had to agree with him. Kellen was an asshole. Tyron should have never been overlooked. So, I get why he's butthurt by his friend's actions. "Do you want the position? When it's offered to you again, will you take it?"

Tyron turns to face me again, determination shines in his eyes as he replies, "Yes I want the position, I want to defend our Kingdom and its King and Queen." His shoulders lump a little. "I want to defend my friend and serve him well, Mike. But the fucker owes me an apology first."

I crack a smile and start laughing, Tyron follows suit, "Yeah, he's acted like an ass where your friendship is concerned. I won't deny that. But Tyron, you were always meant to be Delta. Not Lamia, not Rogue. You. Why Kellen asked Rogue… I have no idea. He should have come to your first. As your friend, not your Beta, I will agree that fucker owes you an apology."

We discuss his mate Maria, and he asks me how things are going with Jonda. I open my mouth to tell him how great things are when his eyes glaze over. A weird smile crept over his dark features. "Rhett's here."

"That's my cue to leave," I stay standing, heading for the door.

"He's heading to the holding cells!" Tyron calls after me.

I open my mind and establish a mental connection with Rhett, *Hey asshole, why didn't you link me when you were at the border?*

Rhett chuckles through the link, *I figured you had enough going on and would see me when you had time.*

*I'm headed over to the holding cells now.*

*See you shortly.* He replies, and I cut the link.

Waving off Tyron, I head over to my next destination to brief Rhett on the events of this coming weekend.

As I walk from one end of the Palace grounds to the other, I greet pack members who are already preparing decorations on the outside of the Palace. Lights are being strung through trees, and canopy tents are being erected for those who come out for fresh air. In one of the royal gardens that lead to the ballroom staff are adding extra benches and tables for those who wish to catch the cool night air.

Everything is coming together great. It makes me smile to think all this was organized by my mother and Jonda. As the female Beta, Jonda was stepping into her role slowly but beautifully. And I couldn't be any prouder of my love.

Speaking of, I spot her delegating instructions on where to hang a few lanterns. Making my way over, she doesn't notice me until my hands are snaking around her waist, pushing her hair to the side so I can plant a soft kiss on her neck.

Jonda mewls at the sensation, turning in my arms she wraps her arms around my neck. "What you up to handsome?" She asks.

"Stopping to pay my favorite girl some attention." I stoop to brush my lips against hers. "I was on my way to the holding cells to meet Rhett, then I spied this beautiful female with the most luscious ass, so I had to stop to pay her some attention." My hands slide down and I grab the perfectly round cheeks lifting her off the ground slightly.

She giggles, a melodic sound I love to hear. "It's like that is it? You think you can just go around grabbing any female's butt?"

"No. Not any females, just yours." I husk into her ear, nibbling on the lobe. "I was on my way to meet Rhett. He arrived not too long ago. Come with me, I can't wait for you to meet him."

She sighs, "I wish I could, but I still have a lot to do and if I step out on your mother I'm pretty sure she will strangle me."

"She loves you; she would never do that!" I laugh but my mom could be a controlling she-wolf when it came to organizing events.

"I'm excited to meet Rhett, he's the only Knight I haven't had the pleasure of meeting. I will let you boys do your thing and I can meet him tomorrow at the ball." She says.

I do really want her to meet Rhett, but one more day isn't going to hurt. I know how busy she is and how much responsibility my mother has tasked her with. I also know how overbearing my mother can be. "Ok, sweetheart. Don't work too hard. I have plans for you tonight," I say with a wink loving the way her eyes light up at the prospect of sex.

"I think those handcuffs are getting a little dusty, they might need some cleaning." She says lowly so only I can hear. My dick twitches at the mere idea of tying her up and torturing her with my tongue.

"Yeah, is that so? I think I would be willing to dust them off with you." I give her another quick kiss, the broad grin on my face a permanent fixture now I have something to look forward to and think about for the rest of the day. "I'll see you later," I kiss Jonda and give her ass a quick slap before leaving her to carry on with the decorations.