Page 97 of The Beta's Blind Date

The vanilla and sugary sweetness of the cupcakes, cake slices, and cream-filled profiteroles waft towards me, blending with and enhancing Reid’s Christmassy scent surrounding me from his jacket. My wolf lifts her nose and purrs, and I close my eyes and inhale, breathing in as much of him as possible.

“Where’s your beta?” Blake asks near my elbow.

“He had to go do something for Wesley at his and Haven’s new house before Wes whisks her away for the night,” I say, turning and smiling at her.

“You two worked everything out, then?”

“Sort of?” I shrug. “We’re going to talk tonight. I told him I would stay with him.”

“I thought he had a no sleepover rule?” she teases, smirking as she looks over the cupcake options.

“Well, we’ve already broken that rule and the no kissing rule.”

“And you’re sure he’s not just—”

I shake my head at her, cutting her off. “He said he wanted to try. To explore whatever it is that’s between us. I have to trust him for it to work.”

Blake nods, then sighs as she peels the wrapper from a chocolate cupcake. “It’s too bad he’s not your mate.”

“Isn’t it better he’s not, though? If he was, he’d never have taken the time to train me, and he’d never have let me in at all. He’d have avoided me until the full moon to reject me.”

“I suppose that’s true,” she says. “I’m happy for you, Tear Bear. I hope it works out between you two.”

She takes a bite of her cupcake, scanning the tent as she chews. Her eyes roll and she groans. “Ugh. Here he comes.” She shuffles towards the end of the table, away from me, her head lowered.

I glance in the direction she was looking as Dominic strides up to me, his brow furrowed and his steps hurried. I give him a polite smile but falter at the intensity in his gaze as he stops in front of me, staring down at me.

“I’m ready to get out of here,” he murmurs, stepping closer.

“Okay,” I say, turning to the desserts again. “Bye.”

His hand circles my wrist, stopping me from grabbing the cinnamon spice cupcake I’d been eyeballing. “Let’s go,” he says, walking towards the exit.

I yank my hand from his grasp and hold my ground.

“I said ‘Let’s go,’ Taryn,” he growls, his eyes narrowing.

“And I said ‘Bye,’” I reply. “I’m not leaving with you. I’m staying here. With Reid.”

His lip curls and he snarls, rushing straight up to me, leaving an inch of space between us. Instinct tells me to back up, to submit, but my wolf is growling at him in my head. I may be his pack member, but I’m not his girl.

I’m Reid’s girl.

He leans over me, his mouth lowering to my ear, and I freeze, clenching Reid’s jacket. “I have been patient, and I have ignored your blatant disrespect for me all evening. I let you dance with him, flirt with him, and even kiss him while you were supposed to be here with me. I kept my mouth shut even though he had his hands all over you. But you are my date, and you will be coming home with me tonight.”

Outrage ignites within me, fueled by my snapping wolf and the scent of Reid around me. “Yes, I came here with you. As your friend,” I remind him, keeping my voice low. “We are not anything anymore, Dominic. I have moved on. You’re too late. I am staying here. Hell, I think I’ll ask Wesley if I can join their pack instead.”

His eyes darken, and his fists clench, his neck tensing as he breathes out through his nose. “Leave the jacket,” he says, his voice calm, but his body language tells a different story. “You won’t be needing it.”

“Hey!” Blake calls, and both of us look at her. “She said—”

Dominic growls louder, baring his teeth at her, and Dawson pulls her against his body, his hands gripping her upper arms. His eyes narrow at our alpha, although he doesn’t say a word.

“Taryn,” Dominic says, snapping his head back to me. “We are leaving. Now.”

The alpha command under his words rolls over me and through me, and I gape at him. Tears fill my eyes and I struggle to stand still, to stay in my spot at the dessert table as he walks towards the exit, but it’s no use. I can’t fight his command. He’s my alpha, and I’m nothing. Unranked. Not even a warrior.

My muscles shake, spasming in violent jerks as I try to buck the order off. But my body turns without my permission, and my feet tread along the ground, a lone tear falling down my cheek as I follow Dominic.

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