Page 151 of A Second Chance for the Beta

I hold the cup in front of my face. “Stop it,” I huff.

“Are you embarrassed?” He chuckles.

“No,” I put the cup aside. “I’m annoyed. You are just being silly.”

“I’m sorry,” he says with a smile. “It’s just, you amaze me. You are so smart and kind, but also so powerful. I saw you training last time.”

“Training really empowers me,” I admit. “I didn’t feel strong for a long while, then I started to train and learn how to fight. It gave me confidence.”

“I believe that even back then you were incredibly strong,” he says.

I shake my head. “I was bullied, Richie, so much that all I could do was run away from it. I wasn’t able to stand up for myself.”

“But you did something about it. You changed your life,” he mutters. “Look at me instead. My mom did all these things to me, and the moment I was free, I allowed myself to get manipulated again.”

“It’s not your fault,” I say quietly. “Your mom was all you knew, and then Imogen took advantage of that. But once you realized the kind of cruelty they were committing, you instantly acted on it. You didn’t protect her or her cause; instead, you stood up for what’s right.”

“I was almost part of something horrible,” he says. “And there is no excuse for it.”

“But you made it right,” I say with emphasis.

“I don’t think I could have done that without you. You are superwoman… the super she-wolf.”

I have to laugh at his silly comment.

He smiles. “Come and look,” he tells me while waving with his camera. I’ve completely forgotten that we were about to have our photo shoot. Part of me is still feeling embarrassed, the other part just wants to see what kind of photos he took. I hurry to his side, leaning over his shoulder to look at the screen. I could easily stand next to him, but I want to feel close to him. Everyone around me believed I’d have issues with him being human, but I couldn’t care less about that.

Jazz was the only one who didn’t comment anything about him not being a wolf and how I might or might not have a problem with it. It just reminded me once more why she is my friend.

I was only worried about him being involved with Imogen.

That worry is getting old,my wolf mutters.

She isn’t wrong. I trust him, and I’m confident he is a good person. His name was cleared, and walking into Imogen’s trap after being raised by a narcissistic and abusive mother doesn’t make him bad. I gaze down at the photos he took. There is one of me laughing. I look happy in most of them and vulnerable in others. Is this how I look while talking to him?

“They are good,” I say. “I-I actually like them.”

“Livia,” Richie says, and I can hear the tension in his voice. “When I was brought here, Dave said something to me. He said that when a werewolf doesn’t say the magical word, it doesn’t mean anything.”

“The magical word?” I ask.

“Mate,” he mutters, my blood momentarily freezing in my veins. I can’t say anything as he continues. “I thought I would like to be your friend,” he admits. “But I feel drawn to you so much. It’s different than it was with Imogen,” he explains. “There is just something about you. You are strong and kind, funny, and so beautiful. I think you have the most beautiful laugh I’ve ever heard, and I just want to get to know you better.”

I can’t believe it. I was obsessing over how to court him and how to break it to him who he is to me, and he just beat me to it. Well, kind of. “You are my mate,” I say. When he stares at me in shock, I shrug. “Well, why did you think the alpha allowed me to hang out with you? And why are you still allowed to stay here? Unmated humans aren’t allowed on pack grounds.”

“Wait.. you’re not kidding!?” he blurts out, his eyes widening to a comical level. He looks so cute.

“No, of course not.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?” he exclaims.

“I thought you were heartbroken over Imogen,” I admit. “And that you wouldn’t trust the next-best she-wolf crossing your path.”

“You are not just any she-wolf,” he says. “Without you, I would have never been able to talk to that asshole Dylan. I wanted to prove myself to you so badly.” He pauses. “So, does this mean we can date?”

“You are my mate,” I say again. “There is no other person for me anymore. So yes, we can date.”

He beams at me before taking my hand in his. He clearly doesn’t know much about packs and wolves yet, but he knows the basics and wants to date me. I will show him everything gradually.