Page 79 of Wanted Beta

Right. That’s a betting term. It’s not sexual. Get your mind out of the gutter, Beth.

“You could have been up a couple grand,” Gio tells him.

He just laughs. “I ain’t that brave, man. I’m happy with the couple hundred. You should get in before it gets any busier. The drinks will take forever if you wait too long.”

He steps back and Gio thanks him as we pass.

“This one with you?” Alex asks, pointing at me.

“Yeah. She’s trouble, but I’m thinking about keeping her anyway,” Gio jokes.

My mouth falls open. It makes the security guy laugh, at least, I guess.

It makes me want to fold my arms and tell Gio I’m ready to call it a night, but when I raise my arms, he uses the opportunity to take my hand in his, and that one stupid little touch burns my anger into dust that floats away on the breeze as he leads me into the building.

The lighting is low inside, and the aesthetic is wooden … well, everything, with a lot of fake plants featured to make it look vaguely like we’re outside.

I’m gazing up at the ceiling and its painted midnight blue, starry night sky, when we make it past the throng of people gathered around the bar in the middle of the room, and Gio comes to a stop, making me crash awkwardly into his back.

Could I embarrass myself any worse tonight?

I step back and he lets go of my hand to put an arm around me.

“You okay?” he asks, I think.

It’s loud in here. Tons of people around us are talking, and it’s echoey.

I nod slowly, and when I see there’s actual worry in his eyes, I feel a whole lot better about being in the same place where I might run into the last guy who tried to ask me out.

“I’m fine,” I assure him, talking a little louder than normal.

His shoulders relax. “Good. I’m glad.”

I can’t help but smile.

He’s so different from every other guy I’ve ever come across.

He leans in and I realize he wants to talk without having to shout.

When he’s close enough for me to breathe in his musky, spiced aftershave, I’m kind of wishing we were standing this close for other reasons.

“There are some people I’d like you to meet,” he murmurs. “It might be a shock at first, but I’d rather be honest from the start.”

I blink as he steps back, taking in his words and trying to work out what they mean.

Then, he takes my hand again and leads me toward a secluded, dimly lit corner on the right side of the bar. My heart starts to hammer, while I wonder who he’s brought me here to meet.

It doesn’t make sense if it’s his parents. We only met each other tonight.

His friends, maybe? That’s less weird, but it’s still moving a little fast.

When we get past the last group of people lining up around the bar, and my gaze falls on the otherworldly gorgeous Alpha and Omega from the restaurant, my breath catches in my throat.

I completely miss whatever introduction Gio’s making.

Jack’s words from earlier tonight are filling my thoughts as I stare at them.

“We have another Alpha.”

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