Page 37 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“Next time I will make sure to cherish your body from head to toe and make you beg for more,” I promise.

“Look at that.” She smiles. “You can be a tease if you want to.”

I let my fingers brush through her hair. “You have enriched my life so much, Ella. Without you, I would have remained a living shell.”

“You did the same for me,” she says.

“And now we have our niece with us,” I add.

Ella smiles. “We have become a little family.”

I nod, feeling like I should say more. I want to tell her that one day I hope we can add a little baby to our family. Sylvan already started to build a bond to Charlie; he sees her as his own niece, almost like we adopted her.

But whenever I think of growing our family, I feel terrified. I wasn’t able to protect Maria or our unborn pup. They were just gone. One night I went to sleep as a husband, mate, and soon-to-be dad, and not even twenty-four hours later, I lived in a world where I had lost them both.

Ella looks at me. It seems like she wants to say something, but then she just brushes her fingers over my face.

“So, what do you want to read together?” I ask her. My voice sounds hoarse to my own ears. I feel like her previous suggestion might actually be helpful and healing.

“Wait, you mean it?” She sits up abruptly. “You don’t think it’s a stupid idea?”

“Not at all,” I reassure her. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

“Should we start right now?” she asks.

“Would you be up for that?”

“Yes, I don’t think I can return to sleep immediately. Let me just take a quick shower. I feel sticky.”

“Same,” I agree. Fortunately, Charlie’s room is far away from ours; she won’t wake up from us going to the bathroom.

Ella and I both freshen up shortly and change our pajamas before snuggling up against each other in our bed again. Ella has a stash of books with her. “Dave gave me some romance novels,” she says, furrowing her brows. “And I borrowed some crime novels from Annie. Oh, and I got some classics from the library. Never was a big reader and missed out on a lot.”

Seems like she really was serious about wanting to read more.

“I really don’t mind,” I reassure her. “Just pick something randomly.”

“Good idea.” She reaches out her hand and grabs the first book. “Love in the Time of Cholera,” she cites. “A classic.”

“I’ve heard about this,” I say. “But never managed to read it. Good first pick.”

Ella lays back down and leans against my arm. “Once we wrap up this one, you can choose the next.”

fourteen

Terrified

*CHARLIE*

Austenshowsmesomegreat tricks. I originally went along with the three of them because I wanted to do something, anything. I’ve always been pretty adaptable. In the orphanage, I had to make sure to be part of a little group. You just don’t survive on your own there.

But I have to admit that it’s much more fun than expected. I can see myself picking this as a new hobby. Apparently, I get a kick out of the adrenaline. I soon do some more difficult moves, which make me drop to the ground sometimes. A few bruises don’t matter; I can hide them from Ella and Dante.

I make my first moves over the skating slopes and ramps some of the other kids put up there, and it’s so fucking amazing. Something in my stomach keeps tugging and tensing, but in the best way possible, like little butterflies being in there.

“Oh shoot!” Gisela exclaims when I slip and drop again.

“Are you okay?” Ty asks while skating past me.