Page 3 of The Beta's Heart

“If I must.” Key sighed deeply and looked around the room. “I mean looks are a little important. If a guy is a total uggo, I won’t want him to poke me.”

“I’ll give you that.”

“But, it’s not the most important thing. I just want a male who treats me well and loves me for who I am, dirty mind and all.”

When Key spoke, her gaze stayed riveted on one of the servers at the ball. Jerhal was the son of a baker and worked at his family’s business. He was good looking and nice, and most of all, he liked Key, and that made him golden in Kismet’s book.

“So, tell your dad that he’s the one for you. He ticks off all your boxes, plus he’s got a good job.”

“They don’t live in a nice area, though. Dad doesn’t think much of people who work like his family does.”

“Well, no offense to your dad, but he’s wrong. It shouldn’t matter what a male does for a living.”

Key shifted her gaze from watching Jerhal to looking at Kismet. “Are you talking about me or that wolf you dreamed about?”

“Maybe both.”

“Your dad won’t mind if you marry a wolf, though. My dad will definitely object to me hooking up with Jerhal in a permanent way.”

Kismet wasn’t sure how her dad would feel about Ren, but he’d told her once that as long as she was happy, then he’d be happy.

“I think you should go for it,” Kismet said. “You already know that he cares for you, and if your dad isn’t happy, then I’ll walk you down the aisle, okay?”

“Aw,” Key said. “Would you really?”

“Of course. You’re the sister I never had. I’d be honored.”

Key arched a brow. “I’ll talk to Jerhal if you find your wolf.”

“What?”

“If I’m going for it, then you should, too.”

Kismet’s heart sped up a little as she stared at her friend. “Deal.”

Key hugged Kismet. “Good luck.”

“You, too.”

The two parted ways and Kismet found her father and pulled him aside.

“I’m heading to Wilde Creek.”

His brow rose. “What on earth for?”

For a moment, she considered telling her dad about Ren and the dream she’d had, but instead, she opted to keep it to herself. She wasn’t sure what would happen when she met him,ifshe could even find him. “The alphas invited me to the berserker oathing ceremony, and I’d like to witness it.”

He stared at her in silence for several moments, then smiled and kissed her cheek. “Have a good night, sweetheart. Be careful.”

“I will.”

She hurried out of the building and turned the corner. She looked down at her dress and thought about going home to change first, but she knew it was getting late and didn’t want to show up after the wolves were already out in their shifts hunting. She’d just have to meet Ren in a ball gown. Centering her thoughts on Wilde Creek, she opened a portal to the woods outside of the alphas’ home. She stepped through and found herself at the tree from her dream, an old pine that had been struck by lightning and split in two.

The full moon was high in the sky, casting a pale glow to the woods. She put her hand on the tree to steady herself as she took off her heels. She sank into the soft dirt around the tree.

She could hear talking, and as she peered through the trees she could see the alpha’s home. The backyard was full of people, and she’d just missed the oathing ceremony. Of course, that had only been a cover story for why she’d come to Wilde Creek

Before she could move from the tree and make her way into the yard, she saw a small group of people surround Mia and Lucian to congratulate them. One of the males looked right at her. Lucian spun to face her, his eyes glowing eerily red, thanks to his berserker nature. The red glow faded, and she heard him say that it was her in the woods and no one dangerous.

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