Page 150 of The Beta's Blind Date

TARYN

We’requietformostof the drive from Crescent Lake to Silver Ridge, my hand in Reid’s as he navigates the roads and switchbacks that bring us higher into the mountains. He squeezes my hand every once in a while, sending comfort and love to me through the bond.

We’ve spent the last few days in a bubble, existing in a world filled with only the two of us as we built up our trust and strengthened our bond before ultimately marking each other. The storm may have put a damper on everything else—the rest of the wedding weekend, Haven and Wes’s honeymoon, and getting to the bottom of everything to do with my old pack—but it gave us what we needed. It gave us time. Time to bond and accept each other, to forgive and mark each other.

But now it’s time to face the real world. And something tells me we’re in for a bumpy ride. Even Blake isn’t her normal chatty self. Instead, she is quiet in the backseat of the SUV, picking up on the solemnity of the situation.

“What happens if we find Dominic, and he’s dead?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Then he’s dead, and the pack finds a new alpha,” Dawson replies.

Reid catches my eye and I give a half smile, my free hand covering my stomach. “And what if he’s not dead?”

“The king will question him. He’s abused his power too much by trying to command you to be his luna, and he’s the logical choice for who could be behind the poisoning of the pack,” Dawson says. “I will be very surprised if King Malachi lets him keep his alpha title, especially if he’s behind the poisoning. So, dead or alive, the pack will have to find a new alpha.”

I nod and rub my belly, glancing down at it. “The pack already has a future alpha,” I murmur.

“Excuse me?” Blake asks, her brow furrowing. “How? How would the pack have a future alpha? The only female Dominic has been intimate with recently is—“ Her eyes widen and she throws her body forward in her seat, catching herself on the headrest of mine. “Wait, you’re pregnant?” I nod, looking at her over my shoulder with a small smile. “You’re pregnant with Dominic’s pup?”

“My pup,” Reid says with a growl, his eyes narrowing, his hold on my hand tightening. “Mine,” he repeats, glancing at me again.

“Someone’s possessive,” Blake says, rolling her eyes, a smile tugging on her lips.

“Fuck yes I am,” he says, eyes back on the road. “That dickhead alpha already tried to claim my mate. I’m not letting him claim my Sour Patch, too.”

“He’s an alpha,” Dawson says, sighing and shaking his head. “He’s not going to let his claim on his heir go just like that.”

“Wesley and Haven said they’d protect me and my pup—our pup,” I say, amending my statement before Reid opens his mouth to correct me. “I’m just not sure how it will all work if Dominic loses his title.”

“Usually, if the heir is not old enough to lead yet and the alpha can no longer perform his job, the king or the council will appoint a regent or a proxy to lead in their stead until they are old enough,” Reid says, turning off the main road and onto the side street that leads to the center of Silver Ridge. “But that’s when the heir is a member of the same pack. Since you’re a Crescent Lake member, that means she’ll be born as a Crescent Lake member as well, and I’m not sure what that will mean for her in terms of becoming the alpha of Silver Ridge.”

“A girl?!” Blake says, clasping her hands under her chin. “Oh, Goddess, I’m so excited! I am going to be the bestest, coolest fake aunt ever! She’s going to come to me for advice on everything and—oh! Does she have a name yet? If she doesn’t, I’d love to recommend Blake as a name. Not after me, of course, but because it’s the fucking coolest name ever.”

“Of course,” Reid says, his lips twitching as he parks. “No selfish reasons for suggesting that name at all.”

“None whatsoever,” she agrees, winking at me.

Reid laughs, and Dawson shakes his head as we all unbuckle and exit the vehicle. The solemn silence from before settles over us again as our doors slam shut and we examine the pack. Or what’s left of it.

Which isn’t much.

Every building is either a skeleton of what it once was—a burnt, blackened, crumbling skeleton—or reduced to a pile of ash, with no indication of what building it was before the attack. Even after days of snow, the scent of the fire hangs heavy in the air. It’s cloying and potent, clawing at my lungs and infiltrating my nostrils.

Nothing remains. None of the buildings stand. There’s no chance of salvaging anything. Memories, moments, traditions, entire lives gone in a blaze, all because some stinky, selfish rogues attacked us, stealing our joy and security. The tangible items are replaceable, but it’s the intangible—the emotions attached to those original belongings—that will stay forever damaged.

Reid’s muscular arms wrap around me, his nose burying into my mark and his thumb swiping a tear off my cheek. I inhale, my breath quivering, repressing the sob that wants to escape. I didn’t realize I was crying until he took me in his arms, but now I can’t seem to stop. My lip trembles, my body shudders, and tears pool in my eyes as I stand in my mate’s arms, looking over everything Silver Ridge lost.

“Did everyone make it out?” Reid asks, glancing at Dawson.

“Yes, thank Selene,” Dawson replies. “I triple-checked. The only one unaccounted for is Dominic.”

We fall quiet again, surveying the damage as tires crunch on the gravel behind us, signaling the other two vehicles from Crescent Lake arriving and parking.

Haven’s eyes widen as she joins us and surveys the damage. Even Wesley’s facade cracks, expression pained, and I know he’s thinking this could easily be his pack. They stand between us and Dawson and Blake, Wesley pulling Haven into his side. She glances at me and reaches her hand out, and I take it without hesitation, grateful for the lifeline of her comforting aura.

“Where are the others?” I ask, my throat tight.

“We dropped Sebastian, Nolan, and Levi off at the border. Nolan is setting up some surveillance equipment in case the rogues try to come back, and Seb and Levi are looking for any signs of them or Dominic,” Wesley explains.

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