Page 3 of Beta Hybrid

Jana blinks at me, then shakes her head, back to her story. ‘So it did hurt, but we were fucking, so somehow everything he did felt amazing. I guess I don’t know how to describe it beyond that. I don’t know if I’d do it again, but it was good that one time.’

For a long moment, silence falls between us. I can’t hold it in any longer. Instead of words, I turn around, slightly hitching up my shorts to reveal Cai’s bite mark on my ass.

Jana lets out a shriek, slapping my leg. ‘Oh, my Goddess! He bit you!’

I turn back to her, a grin plastered on my face. ‘Yeah, after we had sex.’

‘Oh. My. Goddess.’ Each word is punctuated with an excited slap on my leg. ‘Was it amazing? Was he growling at you?’

I can’t help but chuckle. This is normal. Okay, maybe not the biting-talk, but us. Chatting. Talking about anything together. ‘It… was better than I ever imagined. And that was a tall order.’ I had imagined being with my fated mate for so long, I thought for sure I’d over-hyped it in my mind. Nope.

Jana half tackles me a hug. ‘That’s great, Zenna! So, you’re officially together now? About bloody time. That wolf needs a good smack upside his head. He wasted all that time—no, nevermind, but it’s good now, right?’

I try to smile. Those five years are not lost on me, but I’ve tucked them away for now. ‘I think so, yeah.’ I describe the way he healed me. The licking.

Jana’s face does all kinds of things, unsure if she’s grossed out or turned on. Or both. ‘Eww, okay. So, that’s a thing.’

I tell her a bit about my time in the Tomb, mainly about Aidan, and his relationship with Evelyn.

Jana follows along, nodding. ‘Yeah, I might’ve been a bit skeeved out, but also the Den sounds pretty hot. I could totally ride a vamp’s lap.’

‘Are you sure it’s a vampire you want?’ Comes a familiar voice.

Jana squeaks, then promptly removes a shoe and hurls it at my mate. ‘Eavesdropper!’ It sails past his head.

‘What’s he talking about?’ I ask Jana, waggling my brows. I’ve really missed our girl-talk.

‘Nothing!’ she hisses.

I have a feeling she’ll tell me when we’re alone again. I smile over at Cai instead. ‘Good morning sleepy head.’

Cai makes an incredulous look. ‘I am the alpha, I cannot have you calling me such things.’ He lowers himself to the ground close to us.

‘I’ve called you worse things,’ Jana points out.

Cai growls at her, and wraps his arms around me.

I lean back into his grasp. ‘What’s going on?’

‘The camp is waking. I think it’s time you met our hosts.’ Cai glares at Jana. ‘And you, behave. They are not used to witches.’

Jana meets my gaze. ‘What’s their take on hybrids?’

I still in his arms.

‘It will be fine.’ Cai tries to brush it aside. ‘I’m sure you’re both hungry. Come. It’s time to introduce ourselves to Noah and his beta.’

Chapter Two

Zenna

I follow Cai back to the clearing. I’m tempted to reach out and grasp his hand as we approach the once-empty, quiet space now brimming with unfamiliar faces, eyes trained on me. I don’t get a chance to take his hand, though, as Cai strides forward, opening his arms to his cousin.

The two alphas embrace each other, clapping the others’ bulky back.

‘Mordecai!’ Noah is larger than my mate, a few centimetres taller. His dark hair is cropped short, close to his head. They break apart. ‘You really did grow up, eh?’ He pats Cai on the shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry about your father.’ Noah’s brow creases in sympathy, fanning lines. He must be around forty, I think.

Beside him stands a pretty woman, about the same age, with long, auburn hair, shining like fire in the early morning light. His wife, I assume. His beta.

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