Page 3 of Just a Beta (Betas in Waiting)
Luna paused, got the purse out of a plastic bag, dug around, and got the phone out.It was cracked but still lit up.
She looked at the detective.“Your email?”
He handed her a card.She forwarded the files and watched the progress bar creep across the cracked screen.
She looked at him.“Do you have what you need?”
He nodded.“Yes.You will be here for a few days?”
“No.I am leaving now.The pack will have cancelled my insurance, so I don’t want to get left with a larger-than-average bill.”She looked at the doctor.“I will sign the AMA if you have it brought to me.”
“You have several untreated breaks and a lot of scar tissue.You need to stay.”
“They have diverted my pay and are keeping me under the power of attorney that my parents signed, and they keep renewing it against my will.They drug me and portray me as an idiot, so I am stuck as long as I stay here.”
Luna frowned.“They are taking your money?”
“And forcing me to live in the pack house.Mom and Dad wanted Augusta comfortable, so they got the pack to agree to my presence.When my grandmother died and left me everything in a trust, they spoke to my parents and transferred the power of attorney that was issued when I got my appendix out, and they kept renewing it to supplement Augusta’s spending out of my trust.”
The detective asked, “Your parents know?”
“Sure.They get a kickback.They are just happy that it isn’t their neck on the block if the pack gets caught.”
Luna stared.“Oh, god.We were supposed to help you with this.”
“I had hoped so, but you didn’t, so here we are.”She moved carefully and found the remote for the bed.It slowly sat her up, and she looked at the people in her room.“I think I have fifty bucks in my wallet if someone can get me a pair of sweats from the gift shop.Please.”
Luna paused.“I am calling you a lawyer.You are going to keep that butt in the bed.”
“Fuck you.”Em moved to flip the bedding back, and she suddenly went limp.Her bleary gaze locked on the doctor, who had a needle near her IV.“Fuck you, too.”
Everything went black again.
When Em woke up, she was in a different hospital room, and Luna was there, along with a dark elf with a fierce scowl.She croaked, “You don’t look suave either, you pointy-eared thundercloud.”
He blinked in surprise.“You can see the ears?”
“Yeah.What do you guys use for skincare?Your face has the texture of smooth leather.”
He stared.“You have seen others?”
“Yeah, there are over a hundred of you running around the city.Most of you are doting on someone small with surprising height at the same time.”
He blinked slowly.“That does describe our omegas.”
“Right.Why are you here?Am I being sued?You have lawyer face.”
“No.Not yet.I am here to start the paperwork to break the power of attorney.”
“Do you think we can do that?Augusta is a parasitic persuader.She can get anyone to agree with her.”
The man-elf whistled softly.“That explains the constant verdict in her favour.Do you know how to end it?”
“Sure.Find one of your people who is a judge or a judge who is resistant to it.”
“Do you know any?”
“I haven’t met any; therefore, I don’t know any.”She snorted.“It is hard enough to dodge them before court.They always catch me and wedge my jaw open while they pour the drug in.After that, the day is hazy.”
