Page 53 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“Hi, Charlie,” he says, smirking at me. He takes my backpack from me, shouldering it. “I knew you would come.”

Wow, humble much? “Well, I told you I would,” I say.

“I know.” He grins. “Let’s go?”

“Okay.”

“Have you been at the coffee shop here?”

“No, I haven’t been around town yet,” I admit. “Still new, you know?” And pretty much locked onto the pack grounds because apparently someone is after me. “You are not from my pack, right?”

“Nope, I’m from Emerald Moon.”

Emerald Moon… I’ve heard this pack name before. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to remember what they told me about it. An ally to Red Claw, I think? Something about twins being alphas or going to be alphas? Okay, I get it now. Ella is right; I need to learn more about all of this.

Rob and I chat about school and other stuff. He is all into sports and keeps talking about the last football game nonstop. I haven’t seen it, so I’m unsure what he is talking about. “I’m more into hockey and basketball,” I explain.

“You should watch football. It’s the king of all sports.”

“Why?” I want to know. I think basketball is fucking amazing. I’ve always liked to watch it, and to my surprise, Ella likes it too. Big games we sometimes watch together. Dante doesn’t know much about it but always makes sure we have plenty of snacks and then asks oblivious questions all throughout the game. These evenings are pretty fun.

A flash of guilt hits me. I love these two so much, yet I always shoot down the littlest thing they ask from me. In a way, I really suck.

“Hey, you still with me?” Rob asks.

“Sorry, of course,” I lie. “I was just listening.” I look around. The area we are in looks a lot less crowded than the area around school. There seem to be a few factories and warehouses but no shops and restaurants. “Are you sure we are at the right place?”

“Of course,” he says, pointing at a dark alley. “Right around the corner.”

“You know,” I say. “I forgot that Gisela needed some help with her…” Shoot, I can’t say homework because she is a freaking A-class student. “With shopping for her mom. I should return now. Let’s postpone this.”

Rob’s smile falters, and before I can turn around and run, he grabs my arm and pulls me down the alley. My heartbeat picks up, and I hate that I feel terrified. Okay, focus, Charlie. He is not stupid; he knows that everyone knows you are meeting. He is not going to kill you!

But what’s his plan then?

Whatever it is! I’m not staying to find out!

I gather my courage, stomping down on his foot before I tug at my arm. It seems like I took him completely by surprise, as he lets go with a groan. I feel relieved for a split second before someone else grabs me from behind.

“That bitch,” Rob groans. “Does one of you have your cameras on?”

“I’m filming,” another guy says. “We are live!”

I struggle against the grip, my heartbeat quickening again. My chest seems to squeeze itself together so much it’s hard to breathe. I can feel how my throat constricts as a heavy anxiety attack hits me. Not good timing, not good timing.

I try to will the panic down. They are not going to kill you. They are not going to kill you.

Dante once said that in a moment of battle I need to keep my nerves and make sure to check my surroundings. So I do that. Alley, dark, no one around. Three, no, four guys. Rob, then the guy who is keeping me hostage, then the one with the camera, and another sly scumbag who is approaching now.

All guys from school, albeit older than I am.

I finally find my voice again. “You are live? Are you stupid!? Everyone is going to see that and know it was you.”

“Who cares!? We want to show them the type of person you are!”

I blink. “So, what do you want from me?”

“Just make sure you know your place,” Rob snickers. “You beat up one of our friends last time.”