Page 45 of Beg for It

I wasn’t supposed to be here tonight because I had other things to attend to, but I couldn’t help myself when I finished early. I wanted to catch a glimpse of my little beta, see how he was doing tonight. I worry that he’s pushing himself too hard after being in the hospital, but the last thing I want is for him to crash out in his bedroom.

If he’s going to school or working, it’ll help distract him from the thoughts that must lie to him. There’s no other reason that he would try to overdose on those pills, taking his light from the world if something wasn’t wrong.

Happy people don’t do this, and I don’t think it’s my pack and I who are solely responsible for how broken he is. I want his broken pieces to reflect ours, but I can see I’ll also need to protect those pieces before they can be smashed to dust.

Brooks is going to handle the piece of shit alpha who put his hands on our little beta, but as I sling my arm around Camden, I inhale the most delicious scent. It shouldn’t be possible, yet all signs have been pointing to Cam being more than he appears.

We’ve been assuming he’s hiding something different, and that’s our fault.

My eyes stay on Brooks as he punches the alpha once more, his gaze murderous before I’m passing him to get to the car. He told me to leave, and it’s what’s best for everyone.

While Camden’s legs are moving, I’m more dragging him along as we finally arrive at my vehicle. It’s when I ask him if he’s alright that he faints in my arms.

“Fuck,” I rasp, catching him and lifting him into the car. “You’re going to be okay.”

I say it more for myself than for him, because I need to remind myself that we can fix anything that comes our way. That’s what my pack does, even when it’s super fucked up.

Ensuring he’s as comfortable as I can make him, I close the door silently as I head to the driver's seat. Once I’m in the confines of the car, there’s no way to escape his cotton candy scent. It’s the first time I’ve smelled it, and I shake my head as I push the start button to get going.

“So many secrets, Cam. Why are you hiding?” I mutter.

Careful not to wake him, I drive home, not even considering taking him to the dorms. Someone else touched what I consider mine, scared him, and attempted to take away his voice with an alpha bark. That’s the worst thing I can imagine, and I’ll always remember the glazed look of fear and resignation.

He’s clearly susceptible to an alpha’s bark, which makes it dangerous for him to be alone, and a liability at the bar. Fuck. I’m not ready to reveal this secret, my alphas aren’t ready for it. I don’t believe they’d understand how to feel, and the last thing Cam needs is to be scared again.

I can see why his anxiety is always causing him to jump, but what I don’t understand is why he’s keeping his designation a secret. I’ve been picking up the breadcrumbs of information and holding them until I had some proof to go on. I may be an asshole and a control freak, however, I’d never out Camden.

Pulling into the garage of the house, I sigh as I glance in the back seat where he fucking whimpers. Dammit, Little Rabbit. More fuel to the fire of both my obsession and my questions.

Getting out of the vehicle, I open the rear door to where he is , dazed and confused. My hand falls heavily on his ankle, rubbing the exposed skin gently.

“Hey, you’re safe, Cam,” I say softly. “Can you get up so we can go inside? I’ll carry you if you can’t.”

“Carry?” he asks groggily, shoving himself up to a sitting position. I’m bent over him, watching him wearily. There’s no telling when he’ll realize that I know. I want him inside the house, unable to leave once that happens.

I’m not altruistic, I want what I want. I’m willing to reign myself in to a point, though. That’s more than most people get from me.

“I’m fine. Wha…I don’t understand. Why am I in your car?” he asks. Camden is really out of it, his heavy lids slowly blinking as he looks around.

“Something happened at the bar, and I need to talk to you about it. Come on out of the car, and I’ll get you some water and maybe something sweet to eat,” I say.

He’s trembling underneath my touch, gazing at me as he slowly shakes his head. He doesn’t know the bar belongs to my pack, nor that Brooks was watching him obsessively all night while he worked. Cam isn’t ready for that information yet, and I don’t feel bad for lying to him.

He enjoys the job, his fellow bartenders say he’s a good worker, and he needs it. I’m not taking away things that he enjoys when I’m about to rip away a secret that he’s been holding so closely to himself.

“Why?” he whispers.

“Because you need me,” I say simply, reaching out for his hand, feeling even more possessive when he takes it.

Helping the little rabbit out, I catch him when his knees buckle. He can say he’s fine all he wants, but he’s approaching shock. The alpha who touched him will be lucky if Brooks leaves him with any of his fucking fingers.

Leading him away from the car, I shove the door closed as we walk. I can tell there’s a lot of racing thoughts in his head, and he keeps glancing at me from underneath his long eyelashes. Camden is gorgeous, delicate, and also breakable. I don’t want anyone else to break him but me, and I want to save him from everyone else.

It’s complicated, and my thoughts would make him turn and run screaming away from me. So instead, I stay quiet, helping him inside my home with my alphas and to the kitchen.

“I’ve been here,” he murmurs softly, remembering the party.

“It’s my house,” I tell him, gently pushing him to a chair as I bustle around the room.

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