Page 2 of Wanted Beta

But there’s no way she could possibly know that.

She wasn’t around when I was trying to pick a career path that would make Mom and Dad proud.

“I don’t …” I start, trailing off when she gives me a look.

“I know how Mom and Dad can be,” she tells me. “And I know you’re not exactly … suited … to work in a library.”

“Hey, I’m way more organized than I look,” I protest.

She gives me a wry smile, and I bite my tongue.

Okay. So, I’m messy and I’m kind of loud.

She has a point. I don’t have to like it.

“I know a lot can change,” she says. “We haven’t seen each other in years. I just think … Don’t rush back to class. You can take some time off. Get over what happened. Think about things. Okay?”

I nod slowly, though I know if I don’t go back to my classes on Monday, I’ll go insane.

“Marcus withdrew from the course,” I remind her. “And he’s not coming back to the city.”

His father called to tell me that yesterday. He assured me that his son was under house arrest, and that he’s watching over him personally before he gets sent to some disciplinary school in the new year.

That’s only reassuring because I know Marcus’s dad is a total badass.

Of course he is. He’s an Alpha. He’s also ex-military and built like a tank.

Any worries I might have had about Marcus coming after me faded after that phone call.

Catherine closes my closet and looks at me. “That’s good, but it doesn’t mean you need to jump straight into things. You can take a step back and give yourself time to reflect.”

I don’t really know what that means, but I nod as if I do anyway.

As nice as it might sound to step away from the course that I chose entirely so I could walk right into a profession that my parents would approve of, my feet are already itching like mad at the thought of being stuck in this apartment with my no-nonsense sister for the next couple of days.

“I’m pretty sure this weekend will be enough of a breather,” I assure her.

She sighs softly. “Just, don’t make any quick decisions. I’ll be back around six. Try not to make a mess while I’m gone. There’s plenty of food in the kitchen, so there’s no need to go out for anything. I’ll bring home pizza for dinner.”

Right. Yeah. She has an actual job to get to now.

“I’ll see you later, then,” I say, as I slide deeper under the covers, laying back down because I have literally nothing else to do.

“There’s an exercise bike in the hall closet if you feel need to burn off some energy,” she adds. “Just make sure you set it down on one of the rugs if you use it. I don’t want the hardwood flooring getting marked. I could lose my deposit.”

As if I’m going to use an exercise bike. She really doesn’t know me.

“Ha ha!” I mutter before I slip the covers over my head.

She leaves and I close my eyes.

I don’t sleep.

The sound of the apartment door being locked confirms I’m alone now.

The dead silence that follows doesn’t exactly help relax me, either.

I should have known going from a busy dorm building to a quiet apartment building would be an adjustment, but I didn’t think about that when Catherine asked me to come stay with her.

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