Page 92 of Rejected Beta

She packed like she plans to never leave, bringing her favorite toys and books and way more clothes than are necessary for a handful of days.

Not that I can say anything since I over-packed a bit too.

Ryder bites his lip. “I might have a surprise for you that I've been working on the last week. It's still a work in progress, but I hope you all will like it."

Hendrix huffs. “He hasn't let me leave the living room since I got here half an hour ago. It's been very awkward."

Ryder rolls his eyes. “It's not like I tied you down and trapped you here, refusing to give you food and drink."

Hendrix throws his hands into the air. “You told me I couldn't even go to the bathroom."

Ryder growls. “You said you didn't have to go anyway."

"What's the surprise?" I break into their argument, amusing as it is.

Hendrix nods. “Yeah, show us already. It better be awesome after all this dramatic build up."

"If you're unimpressed, you don't get to enjoy it." Ryder holds his hand out for Lexie to take. "Come on. You get to see it first."

Lexie bounces over to him, grabbing his outstretched hand, her armful of things abandoned on the floor.

I don't have the heart to reprimand her, so I scoop it up off the floor and set it a little more neatly on a chair as Hendrix and Jareth herd me after Ryder and Lexie.

Ryder has been spending so much time at the studio or my apartment above it lately, I don't know how he's had time to do anything here at his own place.

He leads us down the hall to the right of his living room, all the way to the end. "There's actually two surprises and this first one is just for Lexie."

"Just for me?" Lexie eyes him with utter hero worship.

I’m probably doing the same.

"Yes." He pushes open the door and gestures for her to go through.

I can't see anything from the hall at first, but I hear her excited squeals from inside the room. Hendrix and Jareth nudge me closer to the door and my jaw drops when I take in what Ryder has done.

He's created a bedroom for her. It's nothing too ridiculous, but it's clearly a room for a little girl, decorated in all her favorite colors. There's even a basketball hoop hanging from the closet door and art supplies and a large bookshelf bursting with books for her age range.

I can't believe he did this.

"Ryder..." I trail off, with no idea what to say.

He eyes me worriedly. “Are you upset?"

"What? No, of course not. This is so sweet and thoughtful.” I snort. “She's definitely never going to want to leave now."

He holds his hands up, his expression sincere. “That's not why I did it, I just want her to have a comfortable place here. It can easily be turned into a guest room with a bed switch and I can bring the books into my classroom. This isn't meant to pressure you into staying or tempt her."

I step towards him and grip his arms. “I know. It's okay. Breathe. I'm not upset and I don't suspect you of ulterior motives. I'm touched and charmed by this. Thank you. It means so much to me and to her."

He shakes himself. “Sorry. I just want you to be comfortable here, but I never want you to feel rushed or pressured. But I also want you to know you're wanted and welcome."

Hendrix slaps Ryder on the back. “Dude. Are you glitching or something? You might need a reboot."

Ryder has told me a little about the pack that left him not that long ago. I can see how much work and care he's put into this place and his nerves are clear.

It's adorable and sweet and I fall just a little harder for this beta who has so many of the same fears as I do, the same hurts.

I, better than most, understand the searing disappointment from having a relationship you've put your all into, end because you’re not an omega or an alpha.

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