Page 46 of The Beta's Blind Date

“I already said I would,” I tell him. “I won’t go back on my word. But it’s only as friends, remember?”

“Right,” he says, nodding. “Right.”

“Am I still banned from the warrior training sessions?” I ask.

He rubs his face again and looks up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry, but yes.”

I let out a sharp, dry laugh. “You’re not sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “You just don’t want to look bad in front of your pack. You don’t want everyone to accuse you of playing favorites.”

I get up and shove my phone in my pocket.

He stands as I grab the doorknob. “Taryn, wait! I—“

I open the door and glare at him over my shoulder. “Save it for someone who cares, Dominic. I’ll see you at the level five class in a few hours.”

I yank the door shut, not caring how hard it slams as I do, and ignore the growls, snarls, and noises of things being thrown from inside as I walk away.

Chapter 16

REID

Forthesecondtimethis week, I pace the training grounds, waiting for Taryn to arrive. The last two days spent apart from her were worse than the first two days I spent apart from her. My wolf was even more on edge, and I had to stop myself from snarling, growling, or snapping at more people than I care to admit.

But I hadn’t heard one word from her. Not one. No text or phone call, nothing letting me know how everything went when she spoke to her alpha about the warrior challenge.

I refrained from texting her—no news must mean good news, and I didn’t want to be too forward or come across as possessive and controlling—but I was dying to know. And my wolf wouldn’t calm down until we saw her again, until we could smell her again. Her scent had all but vanished from my Mustang. My plan of not driving it at all was in vain, because her scent still dissipated into nothing.

I couldn’t sleep. Not at home or in any of the other places I had taken to crashing in over the years since my mom died. I could eat only small amounts of food before feeling like I was going to puke—not even cookies sounded tasty.

And the worst part of it all is it is still two weeks until the full moon. Two more weeks of this misery. Two more weeks until I can reject her and be free from the mate bond.

Free from her.

Forever.

I suck in a breath and freeze, pinching the bridge of my nose. Why did my gut clench at that thought? Why did my heart plummet to my feet? Why are my palms sweating?

Why am I doing this to myself?

“Reid?”

Someone touches my shoulder, and I whip my head around and drop my hand, face to face with the woman of my spiraling thoughts.

My mate.

Goddess, she is stunning. Long legs, gorgeous dark curls, high cheekbones, and those midnight sky eyes that glitter with stars when she’s excited or being mischievous. And beneath all that, she’s smart, sassy, fiery, and brave.

Mine.

No. Not mine. Not really.

But she could be. She’s everything I didn’t know I needed or wanted. But now that she’s here, now that I’ve met her, I’m ruined. Even if I reject her, she’ll leave a mark on me, anyway. I’ll never be the same male I was before I met her.

And maybe I don’t want to be the same.

But is it worth it?

I’m not sure it is.

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