Page 12 of The Flavor of Us

I can’t remember the last time I felt this…safe. And not just physically safe, but emotionally too. Like nothing in the world could touch me as long as I’m tucked against her like this. It doesn’t help that I told her that this wouldn’t work without being honest—because I’m the one holding back. And it isn’t just a little secret.

A Beta with a nest? I have no clue how Carleen will take that—I’m not even sure how Ellie would take it if I ever told her. Andyet, I want to live out this night before I ruin what we’ve just started.

The TV drones on in the background, some reality show that neither of us is paying attention to, and the glow from the screen casts a faint light across the room. It feels like we’re in our own little bubble—timeless and untouched by the world outside.

Carleen shifts, her fingers brushing up and down my spine. “Tati,” she says softly, her voice rough in that way it always gets when she’s trying to be vulnerable but doesn’t quite know how.

I tilt my head up, my chin resting lightly on her chest so I can meet her gaze. “Yeah, Alpha?”

She takes a breath, her eyes locking onto mine in that way that always feels like she’s seeing straight into my soul. “I want you, Tati. In every way. Body, mind, soul—all of it. But…” She hesitates, her brows pulling together slightly. “It’s going to take time. If I say no to something, it’s not forever. It’s just… not right now.”

“Carleen,” I say, reaching up to cup her cheek. “I get it. I promise, I do. You don’t have to rush for me. I’m not going anywhere.”

We fall into a comfortable silence after that, her thumb still brushing soft circles against my back and I let my eyes drift shut for a moment, just basking in the feeling of being here, with her. But then, because I’mmeand I can’t leave heavy conversations hanging forever, I tilt my head up and smirk. “So, Alpha…”

She raises an eyebrow, her lips twitching slightly. “What?”

I shrug casually, trying to keep my voice light. “Do you see yourself ever being part of a pack? Or is this, like… just us against the world forever?” I don’t care either way—both options are fantastic, having her all to myself or sharing her with another Alpha or Beta. As long as she’s still mine.

And just like that, Carleen’s face does something I haveneverseen it do before.

She turnsbright red.

Like, tomato red. The tips of her ears, her cheeks, even down her neck—it’s like someone flipped a switch and turned her into a glowing space heater.

“Oh my goddess,” I gasp, sitting up slightly. “Are youblushing?”

“No,” she says quickly, her voice way too high-pitched for it to sound convincing. She tries to sit up too, like she’s going to create some space between us, but I’m already wrapping my arms around her waist and dragging her back down.

“Oh no, you’re not escaping, Alpha. You’reblushing!” Carleen is gorgeous like this—all sharp edges gone and in place, just my woman showing off the most adorable blush in the entire goddamn world.

“Tati—stop,” she groans, covering her face with one hand as her other arm tries to gently push me away. But it’s weak and I can see the corners of her mouth twitching like she’s fighting a smile.

I let out another laugh and lean over her, resting my chin on her chest as I grin up at her. “You’re so cute right now. Oh, my goddess, Carleen.Cute!”

She drops her hand from her face and gives me a halfhearted glare, but it’s ruined by the way her lips are pulling into a smile. “I’m not cute. I’m—”

“An Alpha? Yeah, yeah. Big, bad, scary Alpha. But right now?” I poke her chest lightly. “You’readorable. You know, Alpha, I bet you wanted the whole thing—a big pack, a loud house full of chaos and noise and laughter. Kids running around, someone always in the kitchen, someone always in your space.”

Carleen huffs out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. “Tati…”

“No, seriously!” I grin wider. “I bet you had this whole dream in your head. You, in some sprawling house with like… six other people and a garden out back so you’d have fresh veggies foryour amazing cooking, and the most adorable little Carleens crawling all over you. Admit it.”

She exhales, her head tipping back slightly as her eyes close. And for a second, I think she’s going to deflect—push it off with a joke or change the subject entirely. But then she speaks, the heaviness of her voice changing the tempo of the conversation. “Yeah. I did. I wanted all of that. The chaos, the noise, the mess. A big family, babies, the whole shebang. But I could never find the right partner,” she continues, her eyes flickering away from mine, her thumb brushing over her knuckles absentmindedly. “Every relationship I tried just… fizzled out, or fell apart. They couldn’t handle me or I couldn’t handle them. So I poured myself into work instead. Building something with my own hands, focusing on what I couldcontrol—it was easier. Safer.”

The vulnerability in her voice is heavy, like she’s opening a door to a room she hasn’t let anyone into in years. And I hate that she had to make herself small—that she had to give up pieces of a dream she still clearly wants.

I reach out, placing my hand over hers. “Carleen…”

She shakes her head lightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t look at me like that, sunshine. I’m not sad about it—not anymore. I’m here, with you and I’m happy about that. But…” She trails off, her voice dipping even lower. “Even now, with you here, I’m still trying to figure out how the rest of it works. How a pack fits into this. Howother peoplefit into this.”

I blink at her, trying to process her words. “Other people?”

She nods slowly. “Tati… I know you. You’re not meant to be in something small and contained. You thrive in connection. You light up in a crowd, surrounded by people who love you. You need that kind of energy—youdeserveit.”

I shake my head quickly, my heart skipping a beat as I sputter, “What—no. Carleen, that’s not true. I don’tneedanyone else. I haveyou. That’s… that’s enough. More than enough.”

Carleen chuckles, shaking her head as she runs her nose against my temple. “No, Tati,” she states, the fullness of her Alpha behind her words. “Iseeyou. I see how you light up when you’re surrounded by people who care about you. I see the way you talk about Ellie and Macon and Savin. I know how you’ve been shaped by the people in your life and it’sbeautiful.But it also means that this? Just me and you? It might not always be enough for you. And that’s okay.”

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