Page 135 of Wanted Beta

Those rope burns weren’t super deep. I knew they were going to heal and then it would be like nothing ever happened. I just didn’t expect them to look better overnight.

It makes me feel a bit brighter.

I get dressed listening to music from my phone, humming along and getting the words completely wrong the handful of times that I sing a line.

A message makes my phone vibrate and I check it to see a text from Gio.

Jack’s going to be escort today, apparently.

Gio has a few errands he needs to run.

But he promises to talk to me about arranging a date later.

That makes me smile. I send him a message back to let him know I’m almost ready so Jack can head over whenever he’s ready.

He texts me back to let me know Jack’s on his way.

I put my phone in my purse and sling it over my shoulder.

Taking the keys out of the pocket, I keep them in my hand as I walk over to the window.

Rourke left yesterday afternoon, not that far off twenty-four-hours ago.

There’s no way in hell he’s out there now.

I grasp the drapes, ready to open them.

Anxious questions fill up my head as I try to make myself do it.

“He won’t be out there. He can’t be,” I murmur, only managing to finally do it when I realize Catherine could open them if she gets home before me tonight, and I really wouldn’t want her to find a strange man on her fire escape, especially one who’s claiming he still wants me as his mate.

I shudder and tug the material, parting it and pulling it away from the centre of the window.

A glimpse outside reveals the fire escape is empty, and the ladder is still up, too far to just pull down and climb up. I let out a relieved sigh and walk away.

My phone vibrates inside my purse.

I know it’ll be Gio, or Jack, so I put on my favorite sneakers and leave the apartment.

I start my new job today, and I’m not going to let anyone, or anything ruin it.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Jack

I’m pretty sure Beth will be fine with Gio giving me her number, but I realize we probably should have asked, about three seconds after I text her to tell her I’m outside her apartment building.

Gio gave me her number and her address and pretty much told me to get moving.

He went out for the day with a list Enzo gave him, so I could spend time with Beth while we work today. That’s partly because she’s already made it clear she’s interested in him, and he can’t let anything develop with that until she feels kind of similarly about all of us.

At which point, we’re apparently going to finally tell her she’s our true mate.

It’s not a completely awful plan, in theory.

I just don’t see how we’re supposed to get close while avoiding stepping over any lines that might make it harder for her to accept a pack instead of one guy.

I’d rather just tell her, but it’s not up to me.

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