Page 39 of A Second Chance for the Beta

Morning comes way too fast, and I’m woken up by Ella knocking at my door and by the scent of fresh ham and eggs.

“Can I come in?” Ella asks.

“Of course.” I sit up, yawning. I love that she asks and doesn’t just barge in. She is the best person I’ve ever met.

Ella peeks into my room and smiles. “Good morning.” She looks me over with a worried expression. “You look tired. Didn’t you sleep well?”

“I was nervous,” I lie. “I… I stumbled in the bathroom at night, and I think I hurt my ankle. It’s nothing too bad, though!” I feel sick at lying to her face. Ella has been my safety net ever since I met her. She is the only person I’ve ever met that I feel so safe with, yet I lie to her. My guilt grows when Ella’s expression turns to one of worry.

“Let me check, hun,” she says, sitting down next to me.

I show her my ankle. “It’s not too bad,” I repeat.

“It looks slightly swollen. Oh dear, next time just wake me up, okay? No need to suffer in silence. Dante and I will always be there to help you, no matter the time.”

I nod. “Thank you,” I mutter.

I see her eyes gloss over. This mind linking business is really awesome. I hope sooner than later I can use it too.

“Who did you link?” I ask curiously.

“A friend of Dante and me. She is a doctor,” Ella explains. “I know for a fact that she is up early because her son is going to school too. She said she will be over in a minute.”

I nod, waiting for Ella to leave before getting ready for school. I’m actually looking forward to it. This is the first good school I visited. The wolves from this pack all go to a private school in town. Ella explained that the surrounding packs fund it, which is why it’s so cheap for us to attend. The humans have to pay as they are usually not pack members.

Also, this is the first time I have made friends. That is if I can count Gisela, Ty, and Austen as friends already.

I find myself getting ready faster than expected and walk to the kitchen where Dante is preparing our breakfast.

“Good morning,” I greet him.

“Good morning, Charlie.” He smiles at me. “I hope you are hungry.”

I sniff the air, taking in the amazing scent of bacon and eggs. “I am!”

“Nicole and Linda are dropping by any minute,” Ella says as she enters the room.

“Right.” Now Dante looks worried, too, making my guilt return. “Ella told me you stumbled in the bathroom. Maybe we should change the tiles, Ella?”

Ella stares at him like he lost his mind. “You… want us to change the tiles because one of us stumbled?”

Her expression is so hilarious I have to burst into laughter. Dante looks completely flustered, which makes it even funnier.

“She could have gotten hurt,” Dante says. “I mean even more hurt.”

“I think as long as we don’t wrap the whole bathroom in cotton, there is always going to remain some risk,” Ella says.

Dante grumbles but eventually gives in.

Before we can start with our breakfast, Ella’s friends drop by, and I instantly recognize the doctor, Nicole. She is Austen’s mom; Austen looks just like her.

“Thank you so much for coming, Nikki,” Dante says.

“Don’t mention it, Beta,” she says before she turns to me with a smile. “You are Charlotte, right?”

“Yes, thank you so much for coming. I’m sorry for causing you issues so early in the morning,” I say politely.

She laughs and winks at me. “My, aren’t you polite?”