The Outcast Is My New Beta

On my third night in Crimson Springs, Lisa, the Pack's Beta, cornered me at the local werewolf bar.

She had seven or eight werewolves with her, blocking me against the counter. "Hey, newbie. You’ve been in Crimson Springs for three days and haven't bought us a round yet?

Don't you know how things work around here?" One of her lackeys chimed in, "Exactly! What’s so hard about buying us some drinks?

If you don't like it, get the hell out." I looked at them, said nothing, and set my glass down to leave. Lisa slammed her hand onto my shoulder, locking me in place. "What?

You think you can just walk away? You’re buying those drinks tonight, whether you like it or not." She turned to the bartender and yelled, "Give everyone a round of whiskey!

Put it on her tab!" The bar erupted into cheers. I shook her hand off my shoulder and walked out without looking back.

They had no idea that their Alpha had personally hired me as their elite combat trainer. The next morning, I headed to the Pack's assembly hall.

Before he left, Alpha Brown had told me to check out the daily affairs of the Pack whenever I had time.

Just as I reached the entrance, Lisa Johnson blocked my path. "Stop right there. You’re an outsider. What are you doing here?" "Today is an internal Pack meeting.

Outsiders aren't allowed." I stopped and looked at her. "Alpha Brown asked me to come." Lisa let out a sarcastic laugh. "Alpha Brown? Did he tell you exactly what time to come?

Did he say you could join today’s meeting?" "You just got here.

Who knows what you’re really up to." She eyed me up and down, then suddenly lunged to grab my canvas bag. "What’s in the bag?

Let me see." Before I could react, she snatched the bag, ripped it open, and pulled out a folder. "What is this?" She flipped it open, and her face went pale for a second.

Inside were the financial records I had accidentally discovered—records proving she was embezzling the Pack’s public funds. But she recovered quickly, sneering at me. "Well, well.

An outsider carrying our Pack’s financial records. Which Pack sent you here as a spy?" "No wonder you’ve been sneaking around.

You’re here to steal our secrets." She tucked the folder under her arm, looking down her nose at me. "Want it back? Sure.

Pay the threethousanddollar bar tab from last night first." "Otherwise, I’ll lock you up as a spy and kick you out of Crimson Springs." I looked at her, completely calm. "Give me back the folder.

You still have a chance to make this right." Lisa burst out laughing. "Are you threatening me?" "I’ll give you three days. Pay the money, and then pack your trash and leave.

Otherwise, I’ll take this straight to the Alpha, and you won’t be able to leave even if you want to." With that, she threw the folder on the ground right in front of me and stepped on it. "Oh, I forgot to tell you.

I had someone shut down your computer earlier. Whatever files you had on it are probably gone by now." Anger flared in my chest.

I crouched down, picked up the dirty folder, and patted off the dust. "First, I have no obligation to pay you anything.

Second, you broke my things, and you will be the one paying for them." Lisa looked like she was about to explode. She immediately called the Alpha to complain. "Alpha!

This new girl is completely out of control! Not only is she refusing to pay her bar tab, but she’s also sneaking around.

I think she’s working for another Pack." "Alpha, you need to kick this outsider out right now!" The phone went silent for a moment before Alpha Brown’s confused voice came through. "A newcomer?

Has Jessica arrived already? She came early, and I haven't received any notification." The call was on speakerphone, and everyone in the hall froze.

Someone next to Lisa panicked and grabbed her arm. "Wait... could she be the elite warrior the Alpha invited...?" Lisa’s face turned white, and her lips began to tremble.

But Alpha Brown continued: "Probably not.

If it were her, I would have already arranged a private house for her." Hearing this, the crowd slowly relaxed. "Oh, so she's just some random nobody.

Let's just delete this Jessica Smith from the Pack registry.

I'll take the blame if anything goes wrong." "In all my years as Beta, I’ve always hated people with mysterious backgrounds." What they didn't know was that Alpha Brown had entered my information into the Pack registry weeks ago just to secure my contract.

That was why the local registry showed my name, even though Alpha Brown didn't know I had arrived early.

Lisa glared at me, her expression twisted. "This is what happens when you cross me. I’m giving you two choices now.

Either give me the three thousand dollars, and I can act like none of this happened, or I will make sure you can't even step foot in Crimson Springs tomorrow." Seeing that it was getting late, I grabbed my bag and stood up. "I’m not paying a single cent." "But let me warn you, don't lose the files in that folder.

Otherwise, you’ll regret it." Ignoring her curses, I walked out.

The next morning, I went to town to buy some bread and milk. When I got back to my cottage, I saw a crowd gathered around my front door from a distance.

Lisa Johnson was standing on the porch with her arms crossed, waiting for me.

My belongings—my cups, my room decor, my photo frames—were scattered all over the lawn, smashed into pieces.

My laptop lay in the dirt, its screen completely shattered. "You’re back?" Lisa saw me and tilted her chin up. "Perfect.

Saves me the trouble of looking for you." "The Alpha has agreed. You are banished from the Pack.

Clean up your trash and get out of Crimson Springs by the end of the day." I didn't even look at her.

I knelt down and sifted through the wreckage. "Where is the folder?" I looked up and asked. Lisa laughed mockingly. "You seriously have the nerve to ask for that folder?

An outsider holding our Pack’s financial records is proof enough that you’re a spy!" "I’ve already destroyed those records.

Consider this a warning to you and whatever Pack is backing you. Next time, it won't be this simple!" Without waiting for me to reply, she spun around and walked away.

Three minutes later, she sent me a video on Snapchat.

In the video, she pulled the documents out of the folder and ripped them to shreds, page by page. "That's what you get for being a spy.

Go back to your Pack and tell them you failed." I didn't bother explaining. I cleaned up the trash on the lawn and carried what was left of my things back inside.

Just as I sat down, my phone buzzed. Someone had tagged me on the Pack’s local Snapchat story. I clicked on it.

It was a post from Lisa. [There’s a spy from another Pack in Crimson Springs, but I’ve already exposed her. Everyone stay alert!

Don't let outsiders take advantage of us!] The post was already trending, and the comments were blowing up. [Oh my god, a spy?

Who is it?] [No wonder I’ve seen a strange face wandering around town lately.] [Great job, Lisa!

We need to throw people like her out!] Lisa replied in the comments with fake modesty: [Don't worry, everyone. I’ve handled it.

She won't be a threat to our Pack anymore.] I closed the app and sighed.

Seeing a message from Alpha Brown from ten minutes ago asking how I was settling in, I texted him back. [Alpha Brown, your people just kicked me out.] [I guess the training program is on hold.] [Let me know how you want to handle this.] My phone rang instantly.

Alpha Brown was calling me in a panic. "Jessica, I am so sorry! I’m already on my way back. Can you tell me what happened?" "Please, give me a chance to fix this.

I promise I’ll give you a satisfying answer, okay?" Hearing his sincerity, I agreed. "Alright, Alpha Brown. We'll talk when you get here. Don't disappoint me."

Alpha Brown texted me as soon as his flight landed. After a quick reply, I walked over to the Pack’s assembly hall to wait for him.

As soon as I reached the steps, Lisa Johnson blocked the entrance with her hands on her hips. Emily Davis and a few other lackeys stood right behind her.

The main hall was packed with people looking out through the glass doors. "Oh, you still dare to show your face?

What, did you bring the money?" Seeing that I remained silent, she gritted her teeth. "Fine.

If you won't pay, I have plenty of ways to make you." She stepped closer, scanning me up and down, then turned and shouted to the crowd inside the hall: "Everyone, look!

This is the outsider I was telling you about!" "Alpha Brown never told anyone she was coming.

She isn't even in our active directory." "An unidentified person has been lurking around our Pack for days.

Who knows what she’s planning?" The crowd began to murmur in worry. "She’s not in the directory?

Then how did she get in?" "I knew there was something sketchy about that new face." Lisa smiled at the crowd's reaction, then turned back to me. "You claim Alpha Brown sent you.

Let me ask you this: when did Alpha Brown ever notify the Pack? I know exactly what he ordered before he left. He never mentioned your name once." She was telling the truth.

To keep my mission confidential, Alpha Brown hadn't told anyone. And that was exactly what Lisa was exploiting. "So, who are you really? Who sent you?

What are you doing in Crimson Springs?" I said nothing. Lisa sneered and reached for my canvas bag again. "Silent?

Let’s see what you’ve got in here." She yanked my bag away, dug through it, and pulled out the folder. As she flipped it open, her face tightened.

Inside were the documents showing her embezzling the Pack's public funds. But she quickly covered her shock, tucking the folder under her arm. "Well, look at this.

An unidentified stranger carrying our Pack's financial records. Which Pack sent you to spy on us?" "No wonder you've been acting suspicious.

You're here to steal our secrets!" She turned to the crowd. "See this, everyone? She’s a spy.

If I hadn't stopped her, she would have stolen everything our Pack owns!" The crowd erupted in anger. "Throw her out!" "She doesn't belong in Crimson Springs!" Lisa raised her hand to quiet them down, then looked at me with a smirk. "Want this folder back?

Sure. Pay the threethousanddollar bar tab first." "Otherwise, I'll treat you as a spy and run you out of town myself." I looked at her, completely unfazed. "Give it back.

You still have a chance to walk away from this." Lisa laughed out loud. "Are you threatening me?" "I’ll give you three days. Pay the money and get out.

Otherwise, I’ll spread the word to every neighboring Pack.

You won't find a place to hide." She then pulled the documents out and ripped them to pieces right in front of everyone. "Oh, by the way, I had someone shut down your laptop.

Everything in it is gone now." My chest tightened with anger. I knelt down, gathered the shredded paper, and wiped the dust off my hands. "First, I don't owe you anything.

Second, you destroyed my property, and you will pay for it." Lisa’s eyes flared with rage, and she immediately dialed the Alpha to report me. "Alpha! This newbie is out of control!

She refused to pay her bar tab and stole our financial records!" "Alpha, you need to come back and banish this spy immediately!" The line went quiet before Alpha Brown’s voice filled the room. "A newcomer?

Jessica is already there? She arrived early, and I haven't been notified yet." The speakerphone was on, and everyone froze in shock.

The person next to Lisa panicked and grabbed her sleeve. "Wait... could she be the elite warrior the Alpha invited...?" Lisa’s face drained of color, her lips trembling.

But Alpha Brown continued: "Probably not. If it were her, I would have already ordered a private cottage for her." Hearing that, the crowd let out a sigh of relief.

Lisa relaxed and immediately regained her arrogant smirk. "Did you hear that? Even the Alpha doesn't know you're here.

You're just a spy who sneaked in." "I officially declare you banished from Crimson Springs.

I want you gone before sunset." She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and I tore up that folder.

If you know what's good for you, don't cause any more trouble." I watched her walk away in silence.

She had no idea that I had already taken photos of every single page of those financial records and backed them up on my phone.

I didn't leave after Lisa walked away. I stood by the assembly hall entrance, waiting for Alpha Brown. Half an hour later, a black SUV screeched to a halt in front of the building.

Alpha Brown jumped out, drenched in sweat. "Jessica!" He ran over. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." "Where is Lisa?" "Inside." Alpha Brown pushed the double doors open and stormed into the assembly hall.

The crowd hadn't dispersed yet. Lisa was sitting in the main chair, laughing and joking with her lackeys. When she saw Alpha Brown enter, she stood up quickly. "Alpha Brown!

You’re back! Perfect, I was just about to tell you that I've dealt with that outsider—" Before she could finish, Alpha Brown slammed his hand on the table. "Dealt with what?

Do you have any idea who you just kicked out?" Lisa froze. "She... isn't she just a suspicious outsider...?" "She is the elite warrior I paid a fortune to recruit!

The legendary ace, Kay!" Alpha Brown’s voice roared through the entire hall. "It took me months to get her to come here.

And the moment I turn my back, you kick her out?!" Lisa's face went dead white. "But... but she never said anything..." "She told you Alpha Brown sent her!

Did you even bother to listen?!" Lisa opened her mouth, but no words came out. Emily Davis slid out from the corner and muttered under her breath, "But she didn't show any proof...

How were we supposed to know if she was lying?" Alpha Brown whipped his head around to glare at her. "What did you say?" Emily shrank back, terrified to speak another word.

But her words seemed to ignite the last bit of defiance in Lisa’s brain.

Lisa lifted her head, her voice shaking but her tone stubborn. "Alpha Brown, I’m not questioning your authority. But think about it. You say she’s Kay, but she’s been here for days.

Has anyone actually seen her fight? Does anyone know how strong she really is?" "You said you invited her, but you didn't mention a word to us before you left.

She shows up out of nowhere carrying our financial records.

How am I supposed to explain that to the Pack?" Her words stirred the crowd again, and whispers broke out. "That's true... we haven't seen her fight." "What if she really is a spy from another Pack?" Alpha Brown’s face turned purple with rage.

He was about to explode when I stepped in front of him.

I took a step forward, facing Lisa directly. "You want to see me fight?" Lisa flinched slightly under my gaze, but she held her ground. "What, are you scared?" I turned to Alpha Brown. "Alpha Brown, can I use the training grounds?" Alpha Brown blinked, then nodded slowly. "Let’s go." Five minutes later, everyone relocated to the training field behind the hall.

It was a flat dirt field surrounded by chainlink fences, with a few wornout punching bags in the corners.

I took off my jacket, tossed it over the fence, and walked to the center of the field. "Who’s first?" Nobody moved.

Lisa pushed Derek forward—the guy she had pulled into the guard unit. He was twentytwo, with a B+ combat rating. "Go." Derek hesitated for a second before stepping out.

He was half a head taller than me, built with solid muscle from years of training. I gestured for him to bring it on.

He gritted his teeth and lunged forward, throwing a heavy punch straight at my face.

I dodged to the side, grabbed his wrist with my left hand, and drove my right elbow hard into his ribs. He groaned, doubling over. I didn't stop.

I brought my knee up into his stomach, and as he lost his balance, I swept his legs, slamming him into the dirt. The entire fight took less than five seconds.

Derek lay in the dirt, clutching his ribs, unable to stand up. The training ground fell dead silent.

I patted the dust off my hands and looked at Lisa. "Do you need to see more?" Lisa was as pale as a ghost.

Alpha Brown stood by the sidelines, his anger finally cooling into a satisfied grin. He cleared his throat. "Any more questions?" Nobody spoke. "Then it’s settled.

Lisa, you are suspended.

Until the investigation is complete, I will personally take over the Beta duties." Lisa bit her lip so hard it almost bled, her nails digging into her palms, but she didn't say a word.

She spun around and walked away. As she passed me, her shoulder brushed against mine. She didn't dare look me in the eye.