Page 64 of The Beta's Blind Date

“Honestly, it’s probably better this way. I’d never have gotten to know you otherwise. Or seen who you are on the inside. I’d never have accepted my feelings for you,” he says.

His voice is tight and emotional, but clear, and I wish I knew what he meant about it being better this way. Better what way? And what feelings for me? The same feelings I have? Is this his confession?

He stills his thumb and presses his lips into my hair, kissing the top of my head. “I’m going to show you I can be the male you need me to be. I’m going to prove it to you.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and slide my arms from his chest until they wrap around him, too, until we’re holding each other instead of only him holding me. Our breaths are in sync, as are our hearts, and his warmth envelops me, comforting me better than any blanket. Peace settles over me, pure and light. This is where I belong. Where I’m meant to be. At his side and in his arms.

“I want to make you fall in love with me because—although I’m no expert and will never claim to be—I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you.”

His voice cracks, and I tilt my head up to him, my heart pounding in my chest, words failing me. He gazes down at me, eyes watery, a smile on his face. It’s raw, and real, and everything I’ve been hoping to see and hear from him.

My lips part, and his arms tighten, holding me closer. I reach for his face, caressing his cheek. His eyes close and he leans into my hand, turning to kiss my palm. I rise onto my toes, and he hugs me even tighter, pulling me in closer, his hand pressing against the back of my head to bring my face to his, and then…

And then my alarm goes off, waking me from my restless—but not dreamless—sleep.

I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, groaning as I roll over to silence the incessant buzzing and beeping from my alarm. I hug a pillow to my chest and close my eyes, savoring the image of Reid’s open vulnerability as he looked down at me, imagining his arms are around me, his hands caressing and stroking my back.

Every night for the past four nights—including the night I spent at Crescent Lake—I’ve had the same dream. And every night, it’s ended right before our lips meet, right before that moment where Reid and I kiss for the first time.

I’m sure it’s because we fell asleep together on Friday night while watching movies. I’d never been so comfortable in my life. Laying in his arms, curled up on his chest with my ear over his heart, was better than I could have imagined. I had the best night of sleep I’ve ever had, wrapped up safe and warm in his embrace.

It’s also because I project my own desires onto every interaction we have, hoping to get a glimmer of returned affection. It doesn’t matter though. Even if he finds me as attractive as I find him, that’s all it is. Lust.

When I cannot return to sleep, I groan again and toss the heavy duvet off, dragging my body into my bathroom to get ready. It’s another day of training for me at Silver Ridge, training with my usual group since I’m banned from warrior training.

“Stupid Alpha Dickhead,” I mutter to myself as I pull my hair into a bun on top of my head.

We still haven’t spoken. I’ve been to Crescent Lake two more times since Saturday—on Sunday and Monday—and done all my scheduled trainings here at Silver Ridge since the day I invoked my challenge, and Dominic has not said one word to me.

Not that I mind. We both needed time to cool off after our confrontation. Ididpoke my head into his office while passing by it on Sunday and noticed he’d gotten a new desk, so that must have been what he destroyed when I left his office last Tuesday.

I finish lacing up my shoes and leave my apartment, heading into the kitchen for a quick breakfast. Kevin, the packhouse cook, is there, whipping up fruit and kale smoothies for a few other trainees from my class.

“Want one?” he asks, and I nod, sitting on the far left barstool at the counter.

“Haven’t seen you around much lately,” Blake says, plopping down on my right, sweaty and pink-cheeked from her training. “Have you been getting your kicks with Cookie Monster Beta?”

“No,” I say, huffing out a laugh and shaking my head. “Just training with him. Getting ready for my challenge in a week.”

“You don’t need the extra training. You’re going to kick ass, and Alpha Dominic is going to eat his words.”

Kevin slides my smoothie to me. “Thanks,” I tell him, taking a sip. “I know I don’t need the extra training,” I say to Blake. “But it also doesn’t hurt, you know?”

“Just don’t overexert yourself. The last thing you need is to get injured before the challenge.”

“Don’t worry, I’m being careful and taking care of my body. And Reid knows what he’s doing.”

Her lips twitch, and she winks at me. “Oh, I am sure he does.”

I drop my head into my hands and groan. “I can’t with you.”

“You love me,” she teases. “Oh, Double D sighting.”

I glance up and sure enough, Dominic and Dawson stroll in through the kitchen door, bringing a sweep of frigid air with them. Dawson scans the entire kitchen, semi-glaring at the warrior trainees who are milling about before our class. But Dominic locks his eyes on me.

Great. Guess we’re not avoiding each other anymore.

“Morning, Alpha. Morning, Beta!” Blake says from my side, waving at them like she didn’t spend the last two hours in training with them.

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