Page 158 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“I want to be an owl potato,” I say. “Ella, you are a warrior potato or a painter potato.”

“Goddess,” Dante groans. “And she is on board too.”

“I think this would be cute for a comic,” I add.

“What am I going to be?” Dante mutters. “The couch potato?”

It’s silent for a few seconds before Ella and I burst into helpless laughter. “I can’t believe you made such a dad joke,” Ella snorts.

Dante acts all offended while we poke fun at him, but I can see him smiling.

Felix is adamant about helping with the fundraiser project, claiming he is happy to do something so he won’t die of boredom. He and Dario have become like extended family to me, like two brothers I never had. Since both of them are eager to help Austen, Ty, and Gisela join me sometimes when I visit.

It’s so much fun when it’s all of us. I even found the courage to show them the comic I was drawing which ended in Gisela getting into an owl phase too and stocking up on owl patterned hoodies. Things for Ty seem to be looking up slightly too. He is less gloomy recently.

This time when we visit Silverlake, it’s Alpha Liam and Dave taking us to the pack. They are visiting Apha Elden for a meeting and offered to take us along. At first the whole atmosphere in the car is a bit weird. The guys are spellbound by being in the same car as their alpha, while Gisela has a little fangirl moment. Soon however Dave takes over the conversation and things calm down, well, as much as things can calm down with two boys constantly asking about training and how to become a warrior.

Apparently, Ty in particular seems to be looking up to the alpha. Gisela and I exchange a gaze and giggle. Oh, how I wish I could mind link already just to gossip with her.

“Dario is actually tutoring some of the younger students now, isn’t he?” Gisela asks me.

“Oh?” Liam says. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, he was actually handpicked by the headmaster because he is so ahead,” she explains.

Liam stays silent for a while. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head. Then he smiles and doesn’t ask any more questions. “He is an incredibly smart kid. I hope you make sure to distract him a bit from his studies occasionally.”

“We can certainly do that!” Ty promises.

Once we arrive at the pack grounds, Felix is already moving around in his wheelchair, waiting for us.

“I see you are already mobile, little brother,” Liam says while Felix wheels circles around him.

He jokes around with his two younger brothers before stepping aside for the rest of us to greet them. Before I can head to my friends, though, Liam holds me back. “Charlie, I don’t want to make you spill your secrets,” he says quietly. “But is it true what Gisela said about Dario?”

I know instantly what he is talking about. For a moment I shift around, not sure how to answer. I don’t want to break my promise. But I also don’t want Dario constantly taking a step back and believing he doesn’t deserve any attention. “He is very worried about Felix,” I finally say.

Liam assesses me for a second, then he nods. “I think I understand what you are saying. Thank you for telling me.”

I feel relieved that he isn’t asking any more questions, and also that I was able to give him a hint. Meanwhile, Dave steps next to Liam. He told us previously that it’s the first time that he is in a meeting with Alpha Elden.

A soon-to-be luna from an allied pack is here too. I spot her talking to Dario’s and Felix’s mom before she joins Liam. “Dalila,” he says. “It’s a pleasure. Thank you once more for your help.”

“Anything for you and your family,” she says. “You have helped me so much ever since I became Tony’s mate.”

So that’s Dalila, the IT genius. Ella told me she was the one who hacked the vampires’ firewall. Pretty cool! She seems to know Dave quite well, instantly chatting with him and talking about a pen and paper meeting they soon have.

“So, this is Silverlake Pack,” Dave muses. “The myth, the legend.” He grins. “With the scary alpha.”

“Who is right behind you,” Dalila tells him.

Dave turns around, his eyes landing on Elden. “WAH!” he exclaims. “He is here.”

Felix and I burst into helpless laughter. Apparently, it’s a huge thing that Dave and Alpha Elden are meeting in person, and I probably should act dignified, but I can’t help it. Dave is so funny. Liam just shakes his head, his expression something between annoyed and amused.

Alpha Elden doesn’t say much and instead leads his guest into the packhouse, leaving us to ourselves. Felix uses the moment to show us his skills on the wheelchair, then the twins show us around the pack.

“You are definitely coming to my birthday, aren’t you?” I ask them.