Page 112 of Defiant Beta

Della

Today was fun.

Maybe not the part where Levi and I got ourselves locked in a motel room with a broken door. Afterward. The talking in the kitchen. The Chinese food. And the movie.

I can’t remember the last time I felt so at ease.

I fell asleep while Xavier finger-combed my hair, missing the end of the movie. When I woke up, I found a blanket draped over me. It was late, the TV was off, and I was alone. Yawning, I headed upstairs to my bathroom to brush my teeth and prepare for bed.

It was tempting to stay in the living room for the rest of the night, especially with the sound of Vincent talking to someone in his office. But I refuse to let a stray thought scare me.

I hear a gentle knock on my door as I finish up in the bathroom. Turning off the bathroom light, I go to answer it.

Levi stands outside my room, in gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt.

“No tray of food?” It’s probably too late to eat and I’m still full from the Chinese food.

He shakes his head, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “You weren’t downstairs when I went to check on you.”

“Why would you check on me?”

“I worry.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop.”

I lean on the doorframe, a smile tugging at my lips. “I’m okay. Did Xavier go back to the school?”

He nods. “As soon as the movie ended.”

I force a movie on them and then fall asleep midway through, probably loudly snoring my way through the climax.

Way to go, Della.

“Was it as good as I heard it was?”

He smiles and nods. “Vince said you had good taste. We can watch it again another time. The sequels as well, if you want.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“It was a good movie.” His smile fades. “We haven’t felt like a pack for a long time, and then you come along.”

I tilt my head up so he doesn’t catch me staring at his biceps. “I come along and do what?”

“Remind all of us what we’ve been missing.” His voice is soft.

“But I’m not an omega.” The more time I spend with three certain alphas, the more I find myself wanting to be theirs. Clearing my throat, I pretend it doesn’t kill me to say, “I went to school with a bunch of them, so I could introduce you to a couple of nice ones who smell like you’re walking down a bakery aisle.”

He rests his hand on the wall beside my door. “A pack doesn’t need an omega to be a pack. It just needs people who fit together.” He lowers his head. “And I don’t want an omega who smells like I’m walking down a bakery aisle. I want you.”

“Alphas knot omegas,” I remind him. “It would feel better for you to be with an omega.”

“I had you in my lap.” His thumb ghosts across my lip. “Nothing could feel as good as having you in my arms.”

Now I know he’s lying.

I arch my brow. “Nothing?”

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