Page 20 of Wanted Beta

No matter how improbable it seems, Rourke Mariner was always meant to be mine.

“Okay, that definitely worked,” I admit.

“It did?” he asks, sounding amused.

“I’m not saying I’m ready to be marked, or anything, but I feel a little more open to the whole true mates idea now,” I tease.

He smirks back. “Just a little?”

“Maybe I just need a bit more convincing.”

“I’m sure I can manage more of that.”

Chapter Seven

Beth

My lips are tingling when I wake up, and they curve into a smile for a tenth of a second before I’m conscious enough to remind myself of everything that came after falling for an Alpha.

It’s always a struggle to get out of bed when I’ve been dreaming about my ex. My mind fixates on how we started, because that’s the good part. I used to replay all of those early days over and over, looking for the red flags I must have missed.

I stopped when I realized there was only one.

Alphas don’t take Betas as true mates.

I let myself believe his lies because I wanted them to be true.

I should have known it was all just a game to him.

But he made me feel special, and I had no idea how much I needed that feeling.

My friends spent a lot of time trying to get me to hate him after it was over.

I wanted to hate him, but I could never feel that way.

I tried, but I just couldn’t.

It’s better when I pretend he never existed.

Then, I can act like none of it ever happened.

Sometimes, when I’m reminded of him, I wonder what he’s doing now.

I still can’t stand the thought of him with someone else.

It’s like taking a knife to the heart.

It doesn’t matter that he played me and dumped me.

He was mine once, and I thought we were forever.

It changed something in me to believe that.

That’s not the kind of thing that goes away overnight.

It hasn’t gone away more than a year after he shattered my heart and walked away from me.

I shouldn’t have any feelings left for him.

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