Page 134 of Defiant Beta

“I was a different person then. We all were.”

“And this version of you wants me?”

He nods. “Yup.”

“Because?”

“All the small pieces that make you who you are make you perfect for me. And for us.” His friendly expression turns serious. “Don’t compare, Della. I try not to think about who you were with before us because it only pisses me off.”

“Why would it piss you off?”

He brushes his lips against mine. “Because.”

I’m smiling as I slide my arms around his waist. “Don’t youdareget all vague. I threatened Vincent with a frying pan before, and we are inches away from a cast-iron one.”

“Despite you trimming off my caveman beard, Iamstill an alpha. Sharing with pack is different. You, with anyone else, makes me want to wrap my hands around their throat and squeeze.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.” His eyes dip to my mouth. “Before I kiss you like I want to,areyou ready for this? If you need a year or ten, I’ll wait. Whatever you need.”

I want to be, but I can’t pretend that sleeping with Levi didn’t throw me into a nightmare. Maybe I would have had a nightmare no matter what. I don’t know. But as much as I want to pretend that I’m okay, and everything that happened to me is behind me, it isn’t.

It can rear its head anytime.

“Della?” he asks quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I—"

“You said something about plastic surgery,” a male voice scares the shit out of me.

Xavier and I yell, nearly cracking our heads together as we turn to face Vincent in the kitchen doorway. He’s fully dressed.

I massage the soreness from the side of my neck. “Damn,” I mutter. “You gave me whiplash or something.”

“Remind me what you said about plastic surgery,” he demands.

I stare at him. “You scared me shitless because of Ms. Huffman's plastic surgery?”

“No. You said something important. I didn’t realize it was important until now.”

“There was a rumor around school. Ms. Huffman’s cheating husband left her for a waitress.”

“And?”

I shrug. “That’s it. I mean, it’s just gossip. Though maybe not the ‘spa retreats’ where she goes to get more work done. She is remarkably wrinkle-free for fifty.”

Without a word, Vincent spins on his heel and walks away.

The front door clicks open and slams shut.

I turn to Xavier. “What the hell is up with your brother?”

He’s frowning at the door. “I have no clue.” His gaze returns to mine, and heat fills them. “Now, where were we?”

“We were?—”

Vincent returns and points his finger at Xavier. “You’re coming with me.”

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