Page 99 of The Beta's Heart

“Not so much any more on several levels. Knowing Peri accepts me with them eases my mind. As for physically, the treatment is improving my mobility.”

I am so sorry that happened to you and to River.

“Thank you, but I told you all of that because I wanted you to understand that River’s … challenges, well, they stem from that trauma.”

He’s shared some things,she admitted.

“I wonder sometimes if he’ll be enough for you, Dove,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I mean, River’s playful and sweet, but he can be impulsive and naive, too, and that gets him into trouble. Then there are his … episodes … of anger. I worry if that’s the kind of mate you deserve.”

Tyler, she said and waited until I met her eyes again,River may be different, but he has a good heart. He cares deeply about you and his pack. I can see the goodness in him, even if he’s still learning.

“I just want both of you to be happy.”

We are,she assured me, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

As the fire crackled between us, I couldn’t shake one last concern. Even though Peri said Dove was like River when it came to not desiring physical intimacy, I just wanted to make sure.

“There’s something else. I worry that your bond with River won’t be as fulfilling as mine with Peri if you don’t experience the physical side—”

And she laughed, a rich, warm sound that made me feel a little foolish.

That’s theleastimportant part of a relationship to me.Her eyes twinkled with amusement.River, too.

“Really?” I blinked, taken aback.

Really. What matters to me is the emotional and spiritual connection. I need trust, companionship, understanding, and support—and River already gives me that in his own unique way. Just as you’re right for Peri, River’s right for me. The two of us are fine. We understand and accept each other, so don’t worry about us anymore.

“Then I’m happy for you.” I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. “Forbothof you. River’s a good boy and deserves love and happiness with his mate, too.”

And I intend to give him a lifetime full of it,she promised, and that was good enough for me.

“One last thing. Peri, stop listening.” I waited until she giggled and sunk back to talk to River, who was getting sleepy and silly, and Dove put up a block just to make sure. “I don’t like the idea of Peri working at Roger’s, but I understand it.”

She’d told me yesterday that she’d asked Roger for a few hours after school Mondays through Thursdays, leaving Friday nights open to go to my football games, but keeping the possibility of putting in some hours on the weekends that matched my work schedule. She had it all planned so that her hours wouldn’t interfere with school or our free time together.

When she’d finished talking, I’d wanted to cry. I wasn’t providing for my mate like I promised myself I would. Then she’d explained that wasn’t the case at all. She wanted some spending money of her own, not for groceries or house stuff, and she wanted to earn it.

Shortly after my birthday, we’d had a conversation on what we both wanted out of our future, so I knew we were like-minded about working together to build our lives with our own hands. Her explanation helped; I knew what it was like to not have a penny and be dependent on others, and I never realized that her parents gave her an allowance, which stopped—atherrequest, not Mom or Dad’s—when we mated.

And Mom and Dad, not to mention the alpha brothers, would have financed us with however much we wanted for as long as we wanted, but we didn’t want or need a helping hand. We had had a lot of help getting started—a free house, a free car, paid utilities, a stocked kitchen, and a furnished master bedroom—which we appreciated and were humbled by, but we both had an independent streak a mile wide and wanted to figure out the rest ourselves.

It was one of the reasons both of us had refused Luna Posy’s offer of a blank check. The other reason was, we were both convinced she had no idea how much money was in the alphas’ bank account. I’d tipped Mason off about that so he’d know she needed a sit-down about their finances, and I swear Alpha Ice’s eyes showed panic for a moment, probably wondering who else she’d tried to give a literal blank check to, before he huffed out a little chuckle and promised he’d explain to her that there were billions—actualbillions—of dollars behind that piece of paper.

Getting back to my conversation with Dove, I asked her how she felt about me giving that Civil War-era coin in her mate box to Mase so he could have it valued. If it was worth a lot, Peri could have every penny for her crafts and sewing and other hobbies.

That’s a hard call,Dove said as she mulled it over.I understand that money is necessary for humans, and the more you have of it, the easier your life is. However, it is an important symbol for River and now me, by extension of his happiness. I’m sure you could convince him to give it up, but you need to ask yourself which is the worst of two hard choices: Peri waitressing at Roger’s or your wolf’s sad eyes? What is truly bothering you about her working? Is it because it’s at Roger’s, or is it the act of working outside your home?

“I’m not trying to confine or limit her,” I hurried to explain. “She can have a job anywhere she wants to. After those Tall Pines wolves invaded the diner, I just worry that something might happen.”

Roger’s always there, Ty,Dove chuckled lightly.If someone so much as smacked her ass, he’d cook him on the grill and serve him up to his buddies as a warning. And since that day, your gamma pals reworked border patrol so that there’s always a squad within ten minutes of the place.

I agreed with a sigh. Even to my own ears, my excuses felt lame and hollow.

“Guess I’m just being greedy and want her all to myself.”

That’s natural for new mates, but you have to give her room to grow. Instead of fussing about her working, why don’t you focus on what you’re going to get her for Christmas? That’s what put her on the path to getting a job in the first place. She knows what she wants to get you and doesn’t have enough saved for it.

“Christmas!” I reared back in surprise. “That’s months away! It’s only mid-July!”

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