Beta (2 page)

"I have a pretty
good idea. We are mates so you assume I'm going to fall hopelessly
in love and be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen for the rest of
my life," I said bitterly.

He laughed, a
melodic, wonderful sound I could listen to forever.

"That would be
ideal but something tells me you don't agree."

"Clearly," I dead
panned.

"Why are you so
opposed?" He asked curiously.

"Does it matter?
It's my future now, isn't it?" I asked though I'll admit, I sounded
more bitter than I intended.

He shrugged
lightly, "What do you want?"

"I want to not
waste my degree and finish my phd."

"How old are
you?"

"Twenty-two.
Why?"

"Just making sure
you're legal. What did you major in?"

"Double major," I
corrected, "Biology and chemistry."

He looked
slightly surprised, "What do you want to do with that?"

"I wanted to
finish med school but apparently that's not happening."

"Elizabeth-"

"Lizzy," Adrian
sang as he walked through the door.

I knew how
possessive normal wolves were but Titus being a Beta as well as me
being his mate, well, he would kill Adrian and ask questions later.
I stepped between Titus and the door Adrian was walking through to
avoid any sort of death in the apartment.

Adrian's jaw just
about hit the floor when he realized someone else was
here.

"Beta, I'm sorry,
I didn't realize you were here," Adrian quickly
apologized.

"Who is this,"
Titus demanded of me. I could tell he did not understand the
situation; he didn't know Adrian was gay.

"He's my
roommate," I said fast.

"The hell he is!
You will not live with another man," he responded in
outrage.

"You really don't
understand. Adrian is gay and has a mate. There is zero
competition," I assured.

"No, there is
not," Titus agreed, "because he no longer lives here."

"What?! You can't
do that!" I complained.

"I can and will.
You are my mate and you will not live with another man."

"You found your
mate," Adrian asked excitedly.

I scowled at his
horrible timing, "Not really an appropriate conversation right
now," I said.

"Beta, if I may,
Lizzy and I living together has really cut down on the amount of
men asking her out. It might be good for me to stay," Adrian
tried.

I finally met
Titus's warm, hazel eyes, silently pleading him to reconsider. I
noticed him completely melt at my expression though he looked
irritated.

"Ten damn minutes
and you already know," he mumbled, "Fine. But if anything happens,
I will kill you," Titus said.

Adrian nodded and
tossed me an excited look. I rolled my eyes in response. Leave it
to Adrian to still think Titus is a breathing Adonis.

"I have
homework," I trailed. I really just needed to be alone to process
this new information.

Adrian took the
moment to squeeze past us and head to his room. Titus looked
disappointed that I wasn't just falling at his feet the way I'm
sure every other female did.

"So you plan on
rejecting me then?" He asked. He may have covered the hurt well but
I knew it was there.

"That would be
stupid of me."

"Then what's your
plan?"

"I am accepting
you as my mate but I want you to understand I'm not leaving school.
I graduate in a month and-"

"I wouldn't ask
that of you. For now, we'll make it work."

I half smiled,
"Thanks, Titus."

"I do have
something you should know," he said cautiously.

I cocked my head
to the side at his tone. Whatever he was about to say wasn't
good.

"I have a
son."

I cringed at the
thought of him being with anyone else, showing another woman
intimate affection when he was supposed to be mine, it hurt. I
didn't even know him and it hurt.

"He's two months
old... it was a drunken mistake and as soon as he was born, his
mother took off and I haven't heard from her since. I know this
isn't something you were hoping for but it is the situation I am
in."

"Um- I..." I
didn't know what to say. I was too young to deal with a kid. How
would I even begin to know what to do?

"I'll let you do
your homework," he said as he turned to leave.

"Wait."

He turned back,
setting his eyes on me, waiting for me to go on.

"May I meet
him?"

"Just tell me
when you're ready," he said with a megawatt smile.

I exhaled roughly
as I pushed loose bangs back behind my ear.

"Well, I
seriously doubt I'm going to get anything accomplished," I glanced
down at my watch, "Come on, I'll make us dinner."

Adrian tried
sneaking past us as we made our way to the kitchen but I stopped
him.

"Where are you
going?"

"Liam's...figured
you might want some privacy," he said coyly.

I rolled my eyes
and continued into the kitchen with Titus. Suddenly, I was very
nervous about cooking for him. What if he didn't like it or I
wasn't as good as I thought?

"What do you want
to eat?" I asked over my shoulder.

"Whatever you're
making is fine. What do you need help with?"

"Nothing. You can
sit there and start talking," I said.

"About?"

"What's your
son's name?"

"Christian."

"Christian
Collins, huh?"

"Christian Andrew
Collins," he amended.

I nodded as I
started cutting up raw chicken, "I like it. Is he the future
Beta?"

"He is unless my
Alpha doesn't have a son then Christian will be Alpha."

"Really?" I asked
as I turned to him.

"Yes. My Alpha,
Zachary, his mate died before they had children and he never got
over it."

"When did she
die?"

"A few years ago.
Our fathers were still in power when it happened."

"Weird."

I thought it was
strange the Alpha was still allowed to take over even though he
didn't have an heir. Usually the power would just transfer to the
Beta.

"I was offered
the position because of Christian but declined," he
explained.

"Why?"

I guess I was a
little jaded regarding Betas since mine was so cruel.

"It's Zac's
position. It shouldn't be taken from him because he is
unmated."

I nodded in
acceptance as I seasoned the chicken and put it in a skillet and
started cutting up vegetables to toss in with the meat. I felt his
eyes on me, watching my every move but I never felt uncomfortable.
I found myself wanting him to watch me, I wanted him to be as
attracted to me as I was to him.

"How old are
you?" I asked curiously.

"Twenty-six. Is
that an issue?"

"Just making sure
you're legal," I used his words against him.

He laughed
lightly, "Fair enough. So what's your story?"

I shrugged, added
the veggies to the mix, and placed a lid on top.

"There's not much
to tell."

"What is your
family's rank?"

I bit my lip, "We
don't have one..."

"You
don't?"

"Nope. We're just
normal, every day wolves. Nothing special."

"Your Alpha knew
you by name though."

I nodded as I sat
next to him, "He's never been a fan of mine."

"Why?" he asked
suspiciously.

Do I tell him the
real reason my Alpha doesn't care for me? How would he take it? I
mean, I would have to tell him eventually so what better time than
now?

"Okay, you have
to promise you won't be mad," I said cautiously.

"Did you sleep
with him?" He asked tightly.

"No," I said
quietly, "That's the problem."

"He wanted you
to?!"

"It was a couple
years ago and-" I started to explain but he cut me off.

"Did you date
him?"

I pursed my lips
for a moment, "I've never dated anyone."

"Anyone?"

"That's what I
said."

"So
you're-"

He didn't finish
his sentence but I had a feeling he was going to ask about my
virginity. I knew the question would eventually come up and I
already knew he wasn't a virgin so I should disclose my
status.

"I'm a
virgin."

"Good," he said
with a relieved smile, "I would have hated to fight with your
current Alpha."

"Yes, well, I was
saving myself for, well I guess you," I mumbled with realization,
"And he asked me out a few times but I declined and ever since then
he hasn't liked me much."

"I see. Well I
couldn't be happier that you saved yourself for me," he said
proudly, "Though I wish I could say the same about
myself."

I went to stir
the mix on the stove but really, I just didn't want him to see my
jealousy. I was envious of the other women he slept with because I
always wanted to be my mate's first. I thought it would be special
but I understood and didn't hold it against him. I knew male wolves
had it rough when it came to controlling their primal urges. They
were designed to be that way, territorial, protective, and at times
overbearing. It only got worse the further up in rank they were.
Honestly, I was surprised he hadn't staked his claim on me yet. I
was sure the urge to claim what was his would be coursing through
him.

"So how many have
there been?" I asked.

"Why do you want
to know?"

"So I can know
how long to be mad."

"You're mad? Or
are you jealous?" He asked with a devious smirk.

I rolled my eyes
and went back to stirring, "Tell me."

"Ten."

I nodded, trying
so hard to not let it affect me but I failed miserably. I wondered
how I would feel every time I looked at Christian. Would I resent
him because he was the product of Titus being with another woman?
Could I bring myself to love Christian and care for him as if he
was my own son?

"Are you
disappointed?" He asked.

I shrugged, "A
little but I understand."

"Can you accept
Christian?"

Fair question, I
guess. I put the lid back on and sat next to him, resting my chin
in my palm.

"I'm not going to
lie, I'm young and a little selfish. I care more about school than
I do my own health so throwing a kid in the mix, especially one
that isn't mine is going to be rough."

He nodded as if
he was deep in thought, "You know, I hardly know you but I would do
anything for you...but my son will always come first."

I smiled lightly
at him, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

"Just wanted to
make sure we're on the same page."

"Yep. So I guess
you don't have much time for hobbies outside of being Beta and
Christian."

"No, not really,"
he agreed, "What about you?"

"I dance," I said
absently.

"What kind of
dance?"

"Ballet. But, I
don't have much time these days."

"School?" He
guessed.

"Yea. I go to
school from eight to three then homework or studying the rest of
the night."

"I thought you
said you're twenty-two," he said confused.

I nodded, "I
am."

"How are you
graduating from medical school?"

I couldn't help
but flash him a big smile, "I was accepted at fifteen."

He looked
surprised by how young I was and how quickly I finished
school.

"Are you a genius
or something?"

"Card carrying
member of MENSA," I said proudly.

"So my mate is a
certified genius," he mused.

"So what are you
going to do with that?"

"I always wanted
to be a pack doctor. Would you be opposed to that?"

"Do whatever will
make you happy," he encouraged, "I think that's an excellent career
choice. Until we have children," he added.

I laughed
nervously. I had never had sex and I did not want to think about
children yet but I knew he was at a different point in life and he
was ready to settle down and have a family. Hell, I didn't even
know if I was capable of pleasing him considering my lack of
experience. He would know what do with me but I didn't want it to
be one sided. I wanted him to be happy with me and that meant I
wanted to satisfy him in every way possible.