Beast Within - Part II Sneak Peek

The winter months had come and gone, and the promise of spring sweetened the air. Every paired couple looked forward to spring and the fertility gatherings that would happen in stages. The newly mated couples would begin the Spring Festival season with a full weekend of being at one with their mate in nature. The fields were already set with borders of fabric that kept everyone else out and gave the couples what little modesty could be provided on an open stretch of land.
 

After their weekend of thorough mating, the next group would celebrate, and on it would go through the entirety of spring until eventually the Elders themselves would have their turn. It was in its essence what Lena had dubbed a sex festival. Long before she ever participated in the Mating Run, Lena had taken a great deal of pride in scornfully reminding her mother that it was a glorified orgy.

Of all the objections and heated arguments she’d had with her mother over the years, Lena was surprised by how quickly the chess board had been flipped. In light of Kara Danvers being her mate, suddenly Lena needed to be chaperoned everywhere by her older brother Lex, or worse, her mother.
 

While every other couple had spent months getting rigorously and intimately acquainted with their mate, Lena had been thwarted left and right by her own family, and her frustration was building to combustible levels. Every plan she made with Kara was hindered, from simple dates to more romantic dinners, and their relationship felt distinctly long-distance with most of their talking being through text.
 

Though Kara hadn’t complained, Lena could feel the tension growing between them. The animosity of her mother and brother wasn’t exactly helping, though they of course thought otherwise.
 

With only one day to go before the Spring Festival began, Lena finally cracked, and packed a bag with the intent to sneak out of the house to go to Kara. She made it down the steps and across the lavish foyer, but her hand had no sooner eased the door open than Lillian’s voice echoed through the house, disembodied and ominous like the ghastly omen she was.
 

“Why on Earth are you creeping around in the middle of the day like some common home invader?”

“To increase my chances of escaping without you or Lex glued to my side.” Lena called out to the sharp footsteps now approaching her from the hallway.

Lillian appeared with a sarcastic slant to her lips and a haughty raised eyebrow as she looked Lena over. “The last time I let you out of my sight you brought home a stray.”

Lena was appalled by the flippant remark and sputtered incredulously, “Kara’s not a stray. She’s—”
 

“Fine,” Lillian cut in smoothly, her hand dragging through the air as she compromised with a note of disgust, “She’s a mongrel. Which is why I’m trying to influence the Elders into allowing bereaved spouses the chance of finding a new mate among themselves on a separate run. By my calculations you can have someone more befitting your stature in another year or two.”
 

Lena laughed, a sardonic and hushed exhalation that conveyed her emotions succinctly. “I’d say you’re out of your mind, but this is just normal behavior for you at this point, isn’t it?” She accused, the jut of her chin sharp enough to be considered a threat. “I like her, and that more than anything should be your main concern.”
 

“Just because you like something doesn’t mean it’s worthy.” Lillian sighed in that dry, dramatic way that just oozed disapproval and leveled Lena with a look that said she should know better. “I’m simply looking out for your best interests.”
 

“You mean your money and reputation.” Lena fired back as she dropped the bag from her shoulder to cross her arms. She stared defiantly at her mother as if daring her to deny it and scoffed when Lillian rolled her eyes.
 

“Don’t be so naïve, Lena,” Lillian shrewdly persisted with pinched lips and narrowed eyes. “These are direct benefits you indulge in, and one day so will your children. Then you’ll understand why it’s important to find the right mate. Someone who fits.”
 

“Someone who fits.” Lena mocked right back and squared her shoulders to stand her ground. “You were perfectly content to let me be hunted down by those brutes and now that I have a mate that I’m actually happy with, you want to upend all of the laws and traditions you insisted were the pinnacle of our society.”

Lillian looked amused at her outburst, and Lena had half a mind to continue, but that would mean less time with Kara and that felt worse than losing an argument with her mother. “No, you know what? I’m not going to stand here and discuss your hypocrisy. I’m going out.”

Lillian’s gaze flicked to the door, then the antique clock on the wall, and she smiled as if that actually pleased her in some way. “Well, if you must, I can’t stop you.”

That set alarm bells off in Lena’s head and she could practically taste the machinations that must have been afoot as she insisted stubbornly, “I won’t be back until very late.”

“Suit yourself.” Lillian stated, and motioned towards the door as if to encourage Lena out of it faster.

Lena’s eyebrows furrowed into a dark frown and she hesitated with one hand outstretched towards the handle. Lillian didn’t even flinch, and Lena huffed out a breath and spun on her to hiss, “Why aren’t you fighting me on this? What am I missing, have you done something to Kara?”

“Paranoia doesn’t look good on anyone Lena, even a Luthor.” Lillian berated, and went so far as to pick up Lena’s bag to hand it to her with an airy, “I haven’t done anything to your unfortunate alpha.”

“Not yet at least, but all in due time.” Lex stated as he strode down the stairs in a crisp new suit and smirked at Lena as if he was in on a private joke.

Naturally that sent Lena’s hackles up and she bristled instantly. “And what’s that supposed to mean? What horrible plan have you concocted?” She demanded crossly, her eyes darting from her brother’s smug face to her mother’s more glacial one.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you, sis?” Lex asked innocently, his head tipped to the side with a slow grin as he informed her wickedly. “Mother invited Kara over for a family dinner. Mercy should be here any moment.”
 

“I changed my mind,” Lena deadpanned with a sickening lurch in her stomach. “Death’s kinder than subjecting Kara to this.”
 

Lillian’s eyes lit up at the suggestion and she smiled wider when Lex muttered, “If that’s the case I can always add a dash of something special to her meal.”