Page 71 of Rejected Beta

“Usually feral alphas put all their focus on the omega they want, not some beta and her kid." I grab a planter to glaze, wanting to have some filled with succulents for people to buy readymade.

It’ll be lovely in that color green that Jareth chose. Maybe with some cinnamon drips and ice blue streaks.

"Feral alphas rarely make any sense. It's what makes them so dangerous. There's no understanding them or predicting what they'll do."

I groan as I take a seat next to him. “Lovely."

He pours the green glaze into the center of the paint palette. “But enough about them. They'll be handled soon enough. Right now, I want to enjoy the little bit of time we have together and catch up on the last ten years."

I grin over at him. “I still can't believe you're really here, back in my life."

It feels like a dream, it’s hard to trust that it’s real. I never thought I’d see him again and it’s been a constant source of sadness. I’m so excited to get to know him all over again.

He grins back. “I can't either. This moment is what I've been working towards for the last ten years."

I clear emotion from my throat. “What are your parents and their pack going to say when they find out you're back in contact with me and leaving the exchange program to stay here with me? It's their worst nightmare come true."

The fuckers.

Jareth shrugs. “They've barely spoken to me since they shipped me off. The Council sends them updates, I think, but I don't know why they gave a shit in the first place."

I grimace. “Control. It's all about control for all of them."

"Yeah, and it's getting pretty old." He paints the dragon carefully, paying close attention to each scale.

He always was a perfectionist.

Meanwhile I’m already covered in glaze as I slap it onto the planter haphazardly. I guess maybe Ryder had a point.

At least those two neat freaks will have something else to bond over when Hendrix and I make a mess everywhere.

Not to mention my hurricane of a daughter.

"Indeed. So tell me what the exchange program was like, all the places you've been."

After ten years, he’s probably seen most of the country.

"It's exhausting. We're constantly on the move, dragged to events to meet alphas, pushed harder the longer we're in the program, a new home every few months where we have to build our own makeshift nests. I've never had any real desire to travel, I've always just wanted to build a home."

I ache for him. “I remember."

We used to have so many plans for when he reached his majority-—finding a little place together while we worked and saved. We were going to build a life, a home. I may have craved a pack, but he was enough. He was worth giving up that dream. All these years later and I'm right on the verge of getting everything I've ever wanted. It's hard to trust it, to believe it'll all work out. Especially with Brad and Nicole circling around, threatening it all.

"Tell me about Lexie,” he says. “I can't wait to meet her."

A big smile takes over my face. “She's amazing. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, even if I had to suffer through Brad and Nicole to get her. She loves books and basketball and she's just the funnest, most adorable kid ever. Granted, I'm biased."

He nudges my leg with his. “I’m sure she's just as amazing as you say. How could she be anything else with you as her mother?"

My cheeks flame with heat. “You're sweet. I know she's going to love you just like she loves Ryder and Hendrix. I'd say meet her today, but I have no idea how to explain you to her yet with the threat of them still hanging around and you're not free to come and go as you wish."

His smile is wistful. “I understand. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other. One thing at a time."

I huff. “Patience has never been my strong suit."

Jareth chuckles and leans close to me, pressing his forehead to mine. ”Mine either, but when the stakes are this high, we have no other choice. You're worth the wait. You always have been."

"Fuck, you're good." My lips brush against his as I search his eyes, finding only adoration and heat in them. "You're the omega. I thought you're the one who needed courting, not the other way around."

---