Page 160 of Bonding with the Beta

Harley scrunches up her face in playful disgust. “That’s terrible.” Her eyes drop as she plays with her fingers. “I hope our wolves are going to be okay. I’m worried about the future.”

“I think they will,” I say softly. “Mine’s not even whimpering.”

“Mine neither.” She shakes her head. “It’s weird. I had no idea about the weak gene thing. It makes me feel lesser.”

I twist my body towards her. “Trust me, it doesn’t make you lesser, and it doesn’t make me lesser. We’re still wolves. We can still make our wolves happy—maybe it’s just not with their fated mate. No one can take our wolves and ties to this world away from us. We have to find different paths. I know the future might seem daunting right now, but I promise, you’ll find your soulmate soon.”

“But wolves mate for life.” Harley’s expression changes. “I don’t understand how they’ll cope. I don’t want to be in pain. I’ve heard horror stories.”

“Me, too. But I don’t think it’ll be like that for us. I guess we need to listen to their wants and needs and do everything we can to keep them happy and content. I love Kayleigh, and I know he will love her, too, even if she’s human,” I admit. “If you want to talk about your worries, I’m here to listen. Just because this didn’t work out doesn’t mean that I don’t want you to be okay. I want you to be happy, Harley.”

She hums softly. “Yeah, you’re right.” She rubs her chest. “It still hurts a little.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I only wanted to be honest with you.”

“And I’m grateful for that.” She flashes me a small smile. “You could have lied and led me on, and that would probably have been worse.”

My lips purse. “I’m not a total villain.”

“Only earlier when you called me a bitch.”

I wince. “Yeah, that was uncalled for.”

“I was trying to get under your skin about your girlfriend, and it was childish,” she sighs. “She’s very beautiful.”

“I know,” I exhale.

I miss her pretty face and those bright blue eyes.

“Too beautiful to be stuck with you,” she says teasingly.

My brows raise. “Wow, we’re really at that level already after knowing each other for almost two days?”

“Suppose we can call it trauma bonding.” She laughs.

“Fine. Trauma bonding it is.”

Harley sucks in a breath before pushing open the car door, her eyes drooping with sadness for a quick second. “Thanks for getting this all cleared up. I guess I’ll see you around now we’re in the same district.”

“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll see you around.”

When she’s gone, I don’t feel broken, empty, or hollow.

Everything inside me intensifies for Kayleigh.

And now I have to pray that she’ll let me back in.

I don’t think.I head to Stonebridge University.

I have no idea how long I wait outside her dorm room for, but I don’t know where else to go. I’ve been calling her phone continuously. Each one goes to voicemail, and I’m left frustrated at myself.

The sound of talking echoes in my ears, and I glance down the hall. My eyes snag on blonde hair tied back into a ponytail and blue eyes with dark circles underneath them. My breath hitches at the sight of her.

A small dark-haired girl is beside her, looping her arm through Kayleigh’s. I step into the centre of the hall, and both sets of eyes glance up at me.

Kayleigh stops dead in her tracks, eyes widening at the sight of me.

“Hey, blondie,” I whisper, emotion clogging my chest.

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