Page 73 of The Beta's Heart

Blowing a frustrated breath out of my nose, I scowled as I tapped my foot and thought, knowing I had to hurry to catch Ty beforehe was finished changing. Making up my mind, I quickly checked my swim bag and thanked my lucky stars to see two swim shirts in there.

“Thank you, Jay,” I told him with a determined glint in my eye. “I heard what you said, and I have an even better idea.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“I’m going to give him options. Where’s he changing?”

“The upstairs guest room next to our bedroom. At least, that’s where I left him a few moments ago.”

Then I took off at a run, linking my new mate to stay put until I got there.

Why? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Should I—

I’m fine, baby. It’syouI’m worried about,I told him as I raced inside and up the stairs.

What are you talking about? Seriously, what happened?

By then, I was standing outside the door, so instead of answering, I knocked.

“One sec, Sunshine.” There was a pause, then his voice, strained and uncertain, came from the other side. “All right. Come in.”

I did and found him standing there, swim trunks on, but his shirt off and clutched in his hands. His shoulders were back and his chin was up, but his eyes ached with vulnerability as they met mine.

Oh, my poor love.

“I wished you never had to see this,” he whispered, “but get a good look now so you know what you’re stuck with.”

Frowning when he said ‘stuck,’ I studied the scar slashed across his chest, the one running up his belly, and the long line trailing down his arm. I wasn’t going to lie, they were bad, but I didn’t know why he’d think I’d reject him over them. As if reading my mind, he turned around and—

“Sweet Mother of All Shifters,” I breathed.

Thick scars laced his back like welts from a belt, and the sight of them pierced my heart with a hurt I never could have imagined existed before now.

The pain must have been incredible.And he was only a child coming into his wolf at the time. He must have been so scared!

And he’sstillscared,Dove broke away from her conversation with River to tell me.Can’t you tell that he’s afraid you won’t be able to accept this? Put his mind at ease, and quickly!

I knew she was right and opened my mouth, but Ty started talking first.

“Peri, I…” His voice breaking, he dropped his chin to his chest. “I should have told you before I kissed you. I wasgoingto. It was on the tip of my tongue to say I was broken, but I chickened out.”

Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them back. I couldn’t cry now, not when he needed me to be strong—and he might think they were tears of pity, which was far from the truth.

Moving around to face him, I reached out and gently touched my fingertips to the scar on his shoulder. He flinched at the contact at first, but the mate sparks flared between us, helping us both relax, and he stood still as I traced the long line of ruined skin down to his elbow.

“Tyler, these scars arenotugly,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “They’re proof that you survived. That you’re strong. And they don’t change how I feel about you.”

His eyes flew open and searched mine, maybe looking for any sign of disgust or pity, but he found none.

Nor would he ever.

“You don’t think they’re…” He trailed off and let out a shaky breath. “I mean, you’re not sickened?”

“Not by your scars.” I shook my head, tears finally spilling over. “They make me sad because I hate that you went through so much pain, and they make me very angry because no one should ever hurt a pup like that, but they also make me proud because you’re here, standing in front of me, alive and strong, my brave, brave mate.”

He swallowed hard, his own eyes glossy, and he slowly raised one hand to cup the side of my face in his palm, his thumb carefully wiping away each tear that skimmed down my cheek.

“I.. I was so afraid of how you’d react, but I should have known better because I know you.You. Peri Barlow. And you don’t have a mean or selfish bone in your body.”

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