Page 65 of The Beta: Part Two
“Thank you for not saying anything. It’s the best plan we can come up with,” she whispers to her mother.
“I know, honey. It’s a solid plan. I hate it, but I know it’s the best shot. I’ll take care of him while you take care of everything else.” Elizabet gives Talia one last little squeeze before she lets her go.
I start to very carefully get up from the bed, but Devon grabs hold of my fingers again. “You’re not okay, Jasper. I know you’re not. I can feel it.”
“I’ll be alright.”
“No, you won’t. It’s going to get worse. Let one of them mark you, not a pack mark. Please. For me. So I don’t have to worry about you.”
That…is so far from what I expected Devon to say. I can’t even respond. I’m just hovering over his shoulder, starting into his bloodshot eyes, with my mouth gaping.
But Reid has a response. “Consider it done.”
I’m too surprised to make a comment about not getting a choice in the matter.
“Talia will help him,” Corso says from the other side of the bed. “Jasper will be well cared for. Heal, rest. You will be home soon.”
Devon takes another stuttering breath and grips my fingers once more, “a kiss?”
Of course he gets a kiss. The most gentle and careful kiss I can manage. “I love you,” I say again.
“I love you,” he tells me, but then he falls back into unconsciousness. I kiss his sleeping lips one last time and then slide out of the bed. Corso steadies me and hands me off to Talia, who tucks her hand into my elbow like she’s the one who needs support. It really is laughable, but it does make me stand a little taller,
The ride to Daniel’s place is quiet. I’m sitting in the back between Talia and Alex. Reid is driving. Reid always drives. Like Kaleb always drives. And Corso always sits in the passenger seat, like Devon. I’m sure if I looked there would be other parallels between the packs, as well.
Talia is right, though. Alex is obnoxious. But in a very affectionate and endearing way. Alex treats Talia the way Trent probably would if he wasn’t afraid she’d rip his balls off. Right now, he’s reaching across me every other minute to pull a single strand of hair from the pieces that have escaped Talia’s braid. I keep waiting for her to dive across me and stab him with something the way she stabbed Mitchell.
“Alex, if you pull my hair again I won't put my mouth on you for a year.”
“Liar. You’re going to go into heat in about two weeks. You’ll be begging to put your mouth on me.”
She smirks at him, “there are six other alphas who will be happy to make use of my mouth, Alex. He’ll be at the back of the line, won’t he, princess?”
They’re playing like this for my benefit. I’m not so miserable that I can’t play. Not yet, anyway.
“Oh, I don’t know. He wasn’t there for your last heat. Maybe it would serve him right to be at the front of the line. There might not be much left of him after you’re finished.”
Alex pulls a strand of my hair. Plucks it right from my scalp, and holds it in front of his eyes so he can inspect it. “I’m sturdy. Are you trying to say that I might tap out before her?”
I laugh then. Truly, genuinely laugh. “I’m not trying to say it. I can almost guarantee it. If Trent and Nathan were here you’d all be making bets. I saw it. It would serve you right to be first in line. Corso got off easy, she’d started to wind down a little when he got there.”
Corso turns in his seat, “she was perfect and beautiful. Just magnificent. I will always fight to be first in line for as long as she’ll have me. But, yes, Alex, she can outlast you.
“Well, that just makes me want it more,” Alex exclaims and reaches over to yank Talia’s entire braid. If her face is any indication, she might shove him out the window. I can almost see her working out whether or not he’ll fit through it.
“Jasper,” she purrs.
“Yes, cupcake?”
“Would you like a blowjob? Right now? One that Alex cannot participate in?”
I mean…yeah. I’m a sad and scared, but I’m not stupid. I unbutton my jeans and watch her eyes light up.
“Really?” she sounds more excited than surprised, “I didn’t think you’d be up for it?”
“Only an idiot would turn down that offer,” I say. Then she’s pulling my already hard cock out and bending over into my lap.
“Unfair. Fuck. Corso, now they’re both being mean.”
