Page 111 of The Beta's Heart

For her patient expression, I knew I wasn’t getting out of this, so I shared the memory with her. Twelve-year-old me had been living at the O for a few months, and River had excitedly brought home his first shiny rock after a full moon run, laying it reverently on the front porch before handing back control so I could shift and go to bed.

The next morning, the rock was gone—and River had lost his everloving mind. He’d destroyed every last plank and board of the porch and even shoved Charlie away when she tried to show him the rock in her palm, and the only reason he didn’t take down more of the house was because she’d had the good sense to contact Nathan Barlow, who had alpha-commanded him to stop through the pack link.

Poor baby. Like a toddler losing his new toy,luna said now, sounding half-serious and half-amused.Now compare that reaction to what happened today. Can you see no improvement? Is he the same River? Or has all of your hard work been for nothing?

I knew she was right. It was harder to see without taking the long view, but his progress—and my own—was clear.

And just like that, my will to fight returned, stronger than ever.

River is no threat to me, Peri, or your future pups,luna said with finality in her voice.Don’t doubt yourself again. You’re doing everything right with him. Well, except for yelling at him earlier.

Yeah,I muttered, guilt-ridden and knowing I owed my wolf a huge apology—and possibly a mountain of ice cream.I just … stumbled for a moment.

Everyone stumbles sometimes, Ty. The important thing is to get up and keep going. Even if you’re shaking or crying or screaming the whole time, you get up and you keep going.

And I will,I promised her and myself.

I’m going to hold you to that, beta.

Then Thoreau’s voice cut through our conversation, his excited tone unmistakable.

“River!” he called out, his face a picture of relief. “I’m so happy you’re okay!”

Snorting himself awake, River raised his damp head from luna’s lap, his eyes brightening as the boy knelt beside him with Spring, Archer, and Wayne standing behind him.

Toro not scared?

“Not anymore,” Reau replied, his voice full of warmth.

Not scared of me?River’s gaze fell to his paws, his voice barely a whisper.

“Why would I be? You protected me! Even though there were three bad wolves, you kept me safe!”

River continued to check in with Reau, asking about his injury, which the boy assured him Chime Karma had healed, and if he or anyone else was mad at him, and it busted my heart into a million pieces when he told Reau that I’d yelled at him and he was a bad wolf.

Before I could apologize, though, Reau was giving him a hug and telling him he was a good wolf and how much he loved him. That melted the last of River’s tension, and Reau whispered kind words to him, saying that I must have lost my temper and that he was sure I didn’t mean to hurt my wolf’s feelings.

All true, and as the boys and our wolves bantered with each other, I took a mental break to prepare myself for what I had to do.

By the time I fully tuned back into the conversation, Reau and Riv were rambling on about dummies and rain and anuses, and I started laughing at their absurdity, the sound bubbling out uncontrollably as they exchanged puzzled glances.

River, I am sorry I lost my temper and called you a bad wolf,I said once my laughter subsided.You are a very good wolf, and I love you. It’s just, I tried so hard all week not to let them get my goat. When you went off, it was like all my effort had been wasted, but I realize now that I should have focused more on protecting you from them than on out-maturing them. Can you forgive me?

Yes, Ty-Ty. Me forgives you.

River and Reau looked at each other, tilting their heads in unison.

Ty-Ty has goat?River asked just as Reau exclaimed, “You have a goat!”

What?I frowned in confusion.

“You said the bad betas were after your goat. I didn’t know you had a goat!” Reau bounced with excitement.

The conversation devolved from there into River eating the goat and Reau calling Grace an indoor anus when she came over to fetch him for a shopping trip. As River tried to explain their silliness to the others, I laughed and laughed, finally releasing the last of my fear and anger to dissipate on the hot July breeze.

Glad to see you’re back to your old self,Landry linked me from across the field.

Yeah.Sorry about that.

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