Page 68 of The Beta: Part Two
I rub Jasper’s chest and let him think it over. He just needs a little time.
After a few minutes he’s still quiet, so I rearrange us so that we’re laying face to face on our sides in the middle of my bed. His eyes are closed, and I’m tracing the features of his face with my fingertips. His breathing is becoming more relaxed, and his mouth isn’t set in such a tight line anymore.
“It feels like I’m abandoning them to those fucking rogues and leaving Devon in a hospital bed alone so I can trade them in for new alphas,” Jasper whispers without opening his eyes.
“I know, princess. I know. But that’s not how it is. You know how Devon is over you. Do you think he would have asked if he didn’t think it was absolutely necessary?”
“I don’t know. Probably not. But it still feels like I’m being shitty.” He opens his eyes. They’re green pools of tears that haven’t fallen.
I pull him to me and hold him tight. “You’re not shitty, Jasper. You’re a wonderful, beautiful, strong omega who is being forced to be brave about something awful and unexpected. You are a good omega who is doing whatever he can for his pack; a pack that now includes three more alphas and a disastrous omega. You are amazing, and you are going to do whatever you need to do so that you’ll be strong and solid enough to bring the rest of your pack home. You’re going to let Reid claim you so you will be strong enough to watch my back tomorrow. Reid isn’t such a burden. He really is a good alpha.”
I’m trying to point out every good thing about this that I can. Jasper feels thinner, more fragile, scent fading, by the hour. I can’t imagine the anguish Devon must be feeling, knowing how bad off Jasper is and being unable to do anything about it but ask another alpha to take care of his beloved omega. Thinking about Devon laying in that hospital bed covered in bandages and wires and whatever else makes me a little sick.
“Let’s call and check on him. I’ll feel better, and I know you will. Maybe he’ll feel up to telling us goodnight.” That gets me a little smile.
I turn over to get my phone off the nightstand and call my mother on speaker.
“He’s fine, loves,” she answers. Not even a hello. “They’ve just left after changing his bandages and giving him some meds. Devon, your omegas are calling to check on you. No, stay right there, don’t move. I’ll hold the phone close. I’ll even try not to listen.”
“Jasper,” Devon says softly. He doesn’t sound quite as rough as he did earlier today, but it still isn’t his usual voice.
“I’m here. I miss you. Are you feeling any better?” Jasper is rushing his words.
“I’m alright. Worried about you.”
“I’m okay, Devon. Talia is taking care of me. She hasn’t left my side. Alex made her sit, though. I had to hold her back. Kaleb would have thought it was hilarious. We brought all the bedding from the house here. I have it all on my bed. It’s huge. The bed and the house,” now Jasper is rambling.
I squeeze his arm and whisper that he needs to go a little slower.
“Alex made Talia sit?” Devon asks. His words are thick and slow. The meds the doctors gave him must be making him drowsy. If I wasn’t so worried, I might think he was cute.
“He did. She didn’t think an alpha command would be a big deal, but she’s an omega now. And you know how it goes.”
“He shouldn’t do that. I’ll speak to him.”
My sweet heaven. Devon is defending me.
“He wasn’t being a dick. He needed to prove a point, and Jasper was right. I needed to understand. I’m not used to being an omega. There’s too much bullshit to deal with,” I tell him. The last thing I want is for Devon to lay there worrying about Alex getting out of hand.
“You’ll be alright. Is Jasper doing any better?” He’s beginning to sound very sluggish.
“He will be. We’ll let you rest. I’ll take care of him. We just needed to check on you.”
Jasper is fighting to keep his emotions in check, but he manages to sound solid and strong, “I love you, Devon. Get rest. I’m alright.”
“Love you,” Devon mumbles. He must have fallen asleep.
My mother confirms my guess, “he’s asleep now. He’s doing really well. He might be able to go home in a week or two. He’s a tough patient, though. He doesn’t like people fussing over him.”
“Do it anyway,” Jasper says, and smiles a little, “thank you for being there.”
“Of course, Jasper. I’ve been in contact with his parents to keep them up to date on his progress. He is very worried about you, though, sweetheart. I know you might not want Reid on your dance card, but he’s a sweet boy and will be a good alpha for you. Devon is going to be here for a while longer, and we don’t know what is going to happen with the others just yet. Don’t be upset about me saying that, there’s no other way to talk about it. Devon will be able to rest and heal much better if he knows you have an alpha taking care of you. It will be alright, and Talia will be with you.”
Leave it to my mother to package optimism and hope with a dose of worry and guilt. I wish she hadn’t said anything at all about Kaleb and the others though.
“The others will be home before we have time to settle into missing them,” I tell her, mostly so Jasper can hear it said aloud. “I’m going to put Jasper to bed now. We just needed to check in. Thank you again for staying with Devon. And for coddling him. I hope you’re coddling him.”
“I’m coddling the shit out of him. He loves it.”
