Page 101 of Bonding with the Beta

It takes me a second to glance over him, and I’m washed with contentment. Even if he can’t help, I’m relieved he’s here.

“You came,” I whisper.

“You called, blondie, and I’d never let you down.”

His eyes roam my face, and he frowns before stepping forward and wrapping me up in a hug. The sob that has been choking my chest releases, and I cling to him, burying my head into his neck.

“Have you slept these past few days?” he says as he pulls back and holds my face between his hands.

My gaze lowers when I find him studying the dark circles beneath my eyes. I shrug and attempt to pull away, but he doesn’t release me.

“You need to take better care of yourself,” he whispers.

“I’ll live.”

“I’m being serious, Kayleigh.”

I eventually remove myself from his grip. “I’m fine,” I say. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Kayden’s eyes strain as he stares back at me. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know he’s not taking my bullshit excuses. “I brought you this,” he says as he reaches into his sweatpants and pulls out a bottle. “It’s meant to help with calmness and sleeping.”

My brows twitch. “From where?”

“I made it at home earlier today. I thought you’d like some. Now, go and sit on your bed and enjoy the drink whilst I find your work,” he orders as he shuts the door and walks to my desk where my laptop is sitting.

My mouth turns dry at the sweet gesture, telling myself not to cry again over a drink.I’ll blame my monthly cycle that’s coming up and royally fucking me in the ass.

“Do you think you can fix it?”

“I can try,” he says as he perches on the chair.

I nod and keep quiet. I sit on the edge of the bed, undo the lid of the bottle, and raise it to my lips. The burst of cherries makes me hum, and I close my eyes at the sweet taste.

My fingers claw at the bed with anticipation, but I keep my lips zipped.

Kayden’s fingers tap away at the keyboard, and I prayno newsmeansgood news. Right?

I sip on the drink until it’s almost gone, and as the seconds tick by, my nausea grows. The time on my phone is taunting me. Only four and a half hours until it’s due.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Kayden stands, and I brace myself as he grabs my laptop and approaches me slowly. I freeze as he faces the screen towards me, a soft smile on his perfect lips.

“This what you lost?”

I’ve never moved so quickly. My eyeballs almost snap.

But right there is my document.

I raise my fingers to click on it, and my four-thousand-word essay appears.

For a moment, I almost fall to my knees as I jump up and wrap my arms around his neck. He carefully manoeuvres the laptop around me and chuckles into my ear as I release a fresh stream of tears.

“Oh my God,” I blubber. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I never want to let him go.

I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him for this.

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