Page 31 of Chosen Beta

“I can fix that,” Pete offers.

I look back and give him a smile.

“It’s okay. I’ll have someone do it later.”

“It’s no bother,” he murmurs.

“Just let him,” Shadow suggests. “It’s easier than getting him to take no for an answer.”

I raise an eyebrow at the Omega.

He shrugs. “He’s the persistent type.”

I don’t know what to say to that, and it’s just as well, because Pete’s already walking to the end of the hall and placing the ornate chair that was sitting by the only window under the first light fitting. It’s probably a three-grand piece of furniture. He checks it’s stable before he uses it like a stool, climbing onto it to get the height he needs to get the bulb out.

“Wait a minute,” he says, before he lets the bulb go and steps down from the chair.

“What is it?” Shadow asks, moving over to where he is.

I manage to inhale at the worst possible moment, and suddenly the scent of his perfume is filling up my senses. It’s sweetly spicy and it absolutely makes my mouth water.

I clamp down on the urge to moan, and I stay where I am by the light switch while I try to compose myself. I watch Pete move the chair to the next light, and the next, each time doing something to the bulb and stepping back down.

“Seriously,” Shadow says. “What were you doing?”

Pete shakes his head as he sets the chair back down where it was, by the window at the end of the hallway. He moves past his Omega toward me. I swallow thickly as he approaches, that intense gaze fixed on me.

I don’t think I have any resolve left.

He moves in close, and I glance down at his lips.

When his hand goes over my shoulder, my body shakes in anticipation.

“I think you have a problem,” he tells me, as the lights flick on above us. “Someone unscrewed those bulbs on purpose.”

“Oh,” I murmur back, realizing he’s not about to make a move on me, even if he is staying close.

His hand moves down, and I let my gaze move back up to lock with his.

“Do you sleep here?” he asks.

“Since I took over, I’ve been too busy to go home at night,” I admit.

“Where’s your room?”

“End of the hall, on this side.”

“Show me.”

I blink at him. “What?”

“I need to make sure it’s safe.” He sounds serious.

“You should let him take a look around,” Shadow advises. “Our other Alpha runs a security company. We both know what to look for when someone’s being targeted.”

I stare back at him, looking for a hint that he’s joking. “Being targeted? What? No. The lights were probably just too bright for someone who’s staying on this floor. The people staying here are doctors and nurses. They’re here to help Omegas who were hurt by traffickers. They’re not looking to target anyone for anything.”

Straightening up, I cross my arms under my chest.

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