Chương 161: A BETA BY ANY OTHER NAME

"Sumsum!... Sumsum!... ALPHA!" Huh, what?

"She only answers to 'Alpha' now." Tim smiled. I blinked. What? I looked at Shannon.

"Did you say something?"

"I was calling you for ages!" Shannon, aka Shunshun, exaggerated.

"What are you doing later? Wanna hit town with us?"

"Shunshun's mum is giving us a ride out," Jessica, who was obviously paying attention, said.

"We were thinking of watching a movie." Shannon's mum drove a minibus, so sometimes if she had something to deal with in town, she would take us out and back again.

"I've got a project meeting for school," I said.

"Are you going Sa—" Savy kicked me hard under the table. What? I can't ask? Oh right. The nicknames. Savy was saving me from getting a warning. I was going to have to be careful not to use any names.

"Do you think your parents will let you go without Sumsum?" Lizzy asked Savy. Who's Sumsum? Oh right. That's me.

"Why won't they?" I asked. {Betas are near} Ben wasn't at the table. Was he still with Killion? Based on my Wolfie radar, I think they might be on their way over now. I ate faster to get all the food I needed into my mouth before Killion came to pick me up.

"They had never let Susu out of our pack unless you're with her," Lizzy informed me. Who's Susu? Ah right, Savy.

"Just try asking," I suggested. Savy shook her head. Oh. She already asked. Seriously? My turn to ask. Mindlink was so convenient. {Dad, why can't Savy go out with the gang?} I asked, and then I had an idea. {What if Ben was going too? And Jonah?} {Your mum isn't going to like this,} Dad mindlinked back. {That's why I'm asking you. Or Killion can play bodyguard,} I pressed. {No, you're going further. Keep Ki with you,} Dad said quickly. {Fine, tell Ben and Jonah to guard your sister. She has to be home before six. I'll talk to your mum.} {Thanks, Dad.} I grinned. {Betas approach} Just in time, too.

"Okay, Dad said yes," I announced to the gang. Lizzy squealed.

"We're going!"

"But Ben-Bunbun and Junjun are guarding and need to escort Sav— I mean— her home before six," I said. (What was Savy's nickname again?)"But Bunbun's not back yet," Jonah said. Ben and Killion entered the dining hall at this moment.

"I never thought I would be so happy to see my brother," Lizzy enthused.

"Yo, Bunbun, we got work," Jonah informed him. Killion snorted.

"Bunbun?"

"Get lost, dog," Ben told him. So Killion left for the kitchen.

"We're going to Gate City to watch a movie," Lizzy told Ben.

"Cool, okay," said Ben.

"What happened to band practice?"

"It got canceled," Shannon said.

"Dean forgot he had a dental appointment."

"We gotta guard Savy and return her home before six," Jonah informed him. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Or else she can't go," Lizzy said pointedly at her brother.

"So you better do your Beta job properly and guard us!" (This was serious talk, so I guess Lizzy allowed the nickname drop. She really wanted Savy to go.)"Yeah, sure. I don't mind," Ben said.

"So just the four of us?"

"No, Juju (Jessica) and us guys are coming too," Shannon corrected with a grin.

"But if Bunbun wants to double-date, we can sit separately."

"Shut up," Ben growled.

"Yeah, it's Beta Bunbun to you," Jonah added, and then all the guys laughed like it was hilarious. Even Ben chuckled at that.

"Let's go before my mum changes her mind," Shannon said. Killion reappeared with two brown paper bags.

"I got us doggy bags." He tossed one at Ben.

"I mean, bunny bags." More laughter around the table. Ben must have been hungry because he caught it and didn't throw it back in Killion's face.

"You don't get to call me that, dog."

"Yeah, you call him..." Jonah paused.

"What does he call you?" Ben shrugged.

"Dogs don't talk." He walked out. Jonah looked at Killion.

"Heh, nice doggie." And he left quickly after Ben.

"He's so mean to Ki." Lizzy crossed her arms. The other guys gave Killion a once-over, trying to decide whose side to take. But Killion took no notice. Instead, he shouted at Ben's departing back, "Beta Bunny! You forgot your VIP!"

"Oh s***," Jonah exclaimed as he U-turned back for Savy. I'm beginning to see my dad's hesitation now. Hahaha, poor Ben. I don't know why Killion riled him up so much. I stood up.

"Let's go, Killion." And I walked straight out with a careless wave back at my friends. Then at Jonah and Ben, I reminded them, "Don't forget, back home by six."

"Yeah. Okay," Jonah acknowledged. Ben growled but managed a curt nod. I grinned. I can't help it. Whenever Ben's wolf surfaced, I always felt happy, like it was the perfect time to do something fun. Unfortunately, I was going to have to give it a miss. I needed to be at Henry's. Killion took out my coat at the door and opened the door. Outside, parked and waiting at the front porch, was a dark blue coupé. Killion opened the passenger door for me. Whoa.

"Is this my car?" It was. I knew it.

"Yes, goddess. Arrived this morning. You like?" I settled into the soft leather seats.

"Yeah."

"So did your dad and Beta Lucas. I doubt you'd ever be short on volunteers to drive you around in this, goddess." Killion grinned. I laughed at that.

"Well, only if you're too busy." Killion was a surprisingly good driver. I wondered if it were a Beta thing. I took out my project file and tried to remember my previous notes. Luckily, I was too lazy to copy out all the long strings of web links and had saved them as info links in my phone. I couldn't write in the car, but I could type. So I ended up typing most of it in a notepad on my phone. It went quicker because it was the second time around going through all the material.

The ride was pretty long, but it was smooth sailing over the expressway. Before I could ask, Killion answered, "About 30 minutes more, goddess." I laughed.

"I was going to ask what I missed this morning."

"Oh, in that case, goddess, would you like the executive summary or all the juicy dets?" Killion asked obligingly.

"Both?" I hazarded.

"Excellent choice, goddess," Killion agreed.

"Exec summary: we nailed it. Those guys nearly died of fright. Beta Bunny filmed it. It included a confession of a pack member's involvement in my family's murder. Alpha sent the video to Alpha Lorent; he will be coming later in the evening."

"Oh yes," I suddenly remembered.

"You know the magazine you were safekeeping for me? I kinda need it for the meeting later."

"Noted, goddess. Is there anything else I can prepare for you?" Killion asked.

"Probably just to make sure you remain hidden," I told him. Killion nodded.

"Understood."

"Just for now, Killion," I said.

"Yes, goddess." Killion kept his eyes on the road. Okay, I know he was driving, but...

"What?" I asked.

"What what, goddess?" Killion asked mildly, but he wasn't fooling me.

"What are you not telling me just now, when you... I don't know, when you didn't smile or look at me? And don't say it's nothing. Spill it," I ordered.

"Why do you call me Killion?" Killion asked.

"Because that's your name," I answered.

"You call Beta Bunny 'Ben,'" Killion said.

"I call Harvey 'Harvey,'" I said.

"Why only Ben?" Killion asked.

"All right, so what should I call Ben?" I asked.

"By his given name, like you do us," Killion said.

"That would be a problem," I had to admit.

"In what way, goddess?" Killion asked. His tone was still light, and he smiled at me for good measure.

"I don't know his given name," I admitted at last. Killion paused and then suddenly burst out laughing.

"You can't tell him, okay?" I said.

"I've known him since forever as Ben. No one told me any other name." Killion was still laughing.

"And here Harv and I were popping ourselves up over why..."

"Why did you think?" I asked.

"We thought you were less comfortable with us, with our age gap and all... Harv was trying hard to be less formal. I was trying to be cuter and more lovable," Killion admitted.

"You certainly became well-loved by everyone," I told him.

"Thank you, but I only wanted your love." Killion grinned. He was back to his usual self.

"Pop, that wasn't what it sounded like."

"Why? What was it supposed to sound like?" I asked.

"Never mind... But I'm so not telling Harvey," Killion laughed evilly.

"Let him figure it out himself." Killion was an adult, but sometimes he behaved like a kid. I shook my head with a rueful smile, and then I had a thought.

"Why is Ben so mean to you?"

"Benedict," Killion informed me.

"Your Beta's name is Benedict." Oh. Like the eggs Killion made for breakfast?

"And yes, I do know why. He's your Beta, but he's stuck in school or watching movies with friends while I'm driving you out," Killion smiled.

"Well, he can't drive yet," I said.

"He can't drive, can't shift..." Killion said.

"He already has to watch the Morning Light Beta step in to attend meetings with you and set up your schedules, and run with you into battle... And then I pop up out of nowhere. Of course he hates me."

"Did he tell you that?" I asked.

"Like he'd say something like that aloud." Killion shrugged it off.

"So you're just guessing?" I said.

"Yes. All right, that's just what I think," Killion said.

"Okay, thanks," I said. What Killion said made sense, but Ben was deeper than that. I've known him for years. He wasn't that easy to figure out. But then Killion started retelling the morning's events, and I really need to turn a new page to write this down, because hahaha... Oh, I wish I were there!