Page 197 of Chosen Beta

“You have this warmth in your voice when you talk. It’s really sexy to listen to.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that.”

“I’ve really missed you,” she says.

“I really missed you, too. I’m sorry I couldn’t …”

“It’s okay. I get it. Really. You didn’t want to end up a part of my pack, and now we know why. It makes sense. You deserve your own pack, Lana. You’re amazing. Taking on this academy … I don’t think I could have done that. It’s literally insane, but you did it, and you’re making real changes. I’m so damn proud of you.”

She sits up, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Ugh. I knew I would cry.”

Getting up, she holds out her hand and helps me to sit.

“Do you want your clothes?” she asks. “I get like this when I don’t eat often enough, so we should order some food before I’m bawling like a baby.”

I stand up, and I get her dress while she wipes her eyes, clearly trying not to ruin her makeup.

“Here,” I tell her. “You’re the Omega. I’m supposed to be looking after you.”

She smiles. “You know that’s not how I roll.”

“I don’t care. You’re my mate now, and I’ll make sure you get fed when you need food.”

She pulls the dress back on. “If you say so, boss.”

I put my clothes on, and I pick my phone up from the counter to call the kitchen.

“What do you feel like eating?” I ask, getting a crazy hard craving for cherries and cream.

“Oh, I don’t know. Chicken salad and ice cream. Something like that.”

I nod as I make the call, ordering two chicken salads and two portions of vanilla ice cream. I ask for a portion of cherries as well, because I can’t not now that I’m craving them so badly.

I put the phone down and go to the door.

“I’d better tell John we’re having dinner delivered.”

Brooke nods. “Can’t forget that. We don’t want to worry anyone.”

I unlock the door and step into the hall. The guard is just turning, pacing back toward me.

“Hey, John,” I call out, not wanting to stray too far from the doorway. “We’re having dinner delivered soon, just so you know.”

“Great,” he says. “I’ll watch out for it.”

“Thanks.” I step back inside and close and lock the door. “Done.”

I move back over to the couch where Brooke is sitting on the side we didn’t get damp with our claiming. She’s stopped crying, and she hasn’t smudged her makeup one little bit.

“You know, when I was stuck in this room, before I met my pack and escaped, you were the only light I had in my life,” Brooke admits. “You were always so nice to me. You were one of my only real friends. You even helped Kellan get into the academy when the rules were crazy tight. I love you so much, Lana. I don’t think you even know how much.”

I put my arms around her. “I let Kellan in because I knew he was a good guy, and I knew he’d get you out of here. This place, or your father, one of those two or both of them were going to kill you. I couldn’t let that happen. I love you too damn much.”

My shoulder gets damp with her tears when she starts to cry again.

“I’m so sorry,” she says as she straightens and wipes her eyes. “I’m happy. I couldn’t be happier.”

“It’s okay to cry,” I tell her. “Sometimes it’s what we need.”

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