Page 116 of The Beta's Heart

Only that it’s magic,I replied with a shrug.

Fae magic,he clarified.They’re some type of fae creature, and I’m almost positive they’re fairies.

Fairies!I screeched.

Not so loud in my head, Sunshine,Ty laughed.Let’s greet our host, then we’ll go over and meet them.

So we walked straight to where Gamma Rio was watching over the grill he’d clearly just lit. His mate, Emmeline, stood besidehim, her radiant smile practically lighting up the entire yard. She looked extra happy tonight, a secret dancing in her black eyes, and I was on fire to know what it was!

“Hello!” I called out as we approached. “What’s the special occasion?”

“You’ll find out soon enough!” Emmeline’s smile widened, and she exchanged a meaningful look with Rio.

“Sounds intriguing. Should we be worried?” Tyler raised an eyebrow.

“The only one who needs to worry is me,” Gamma Rio laughed, “but I’ve survived this long, so I’m hopeful to make it through to the end.”

Hmm. I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at Emmeline.The way they were acting reminds me of Mom and Dad when they’re about to announce—

“Go meet Nick and Adam’s new mates,” Rio said, as if he knew I was putting two and two together before anyone else here had. “We’ll tell you our big news soon.”

“They found their mates?” Ty squeezed my hand as he grinned. “That’s great.”

“Yeah, just this morning, so go meet them.” Emmeline waved one long-nailed hand at us. “Especially you, Per. Shoo!”

“Shooing!” I fake-sneered and dragged Tyler with me as I made a beeline for gammas Nick and Adam and the three colorful women standing with them.

They all had an otherworldly grace, nut-brown skin that glittered with silver sparkles, and masses of curly hair piled in huge knots on either side of their heads. They all were only a rose petal above five feet tall, and I knew Posy was going to love having more shorties in the pack. Two of the fairies were twins with enormous black eyes in their narrow faces, and the one with mint green hair hung on Gamma Adam’s arm while the one with lavender locks half-hid behind Gamma Nick. The third had amethyst eyes and blue hair, and there was enough of a resemblance between the three that I guessed they were related somehow.

Maybe sisters?I linked Ty.

Maybe.

“Hey, Nick! Adam!” Ty called out, and I waved as we approached. “Who are your lovely companions?”

“I’m proud to say that we found our mates, beta,” Gamma Nick answered as Gamma Adam’s pale cheeks blazed red. “This is who I belong to, Regina Oakley. She likes to be called Reggie.”

With lowered eyes, Reggie peeked around Gamma Nick, both of her hands locked around one of his, and dipped her head in a quick nod.

Shy or stuck-up?I linked Ty.

Oh, shy. Definitely. Although Reuben’s taking bets if you want to get in on it. Two to one odds for her being shy.

These gammas! They were always betting on something! And usually the betas weren’t too far behind!

No bet,I scoffed.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Ty murmured and didn’t try to shake her hand. “Welcome to Five Fangs.”

“Yes, we’re excited to get to know you. I’m Peri and this is my mate, Beta Tyler James.”

“Oh, sorry. Guess I should have introduced you.” Gamma Nick didn’t look sorry in the least. No, he looked like he wanted to carry his pretty, shy fairy into the forest and find out how high they could fly together.

The wicked thought reminded me that I needed to find out how fairies flew. I’d always heard stories about beautiful wings, but there wasn’t a single pair in sight between the three of them.

“Thank you,” Reggie all but whispered. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“And I’m Georgina, Reggie’s twin. Call me Georgie!” Before Gamma Adam could introduce her to us, the mint-haired fairy held out her hand, which I shook, then Tyler did the same. “Adam is my mate!”

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