Page 4 of Beta and the Beast (Beastverse #2)

Sarah

F amily dinners have been a tradition in the Carter household since I was born—no, since before I was born. My parents used to have family and friends over every Tuesday, and once they retired and moved down South, where it's warmer, Sam and Janie kept up the tradition.

It helps that Sam and Janie were given the house as a gift when our parents left, and that Janie has been around the family since she was sixteen.

Three years later, she presented, and she and Sam discovered they were scent matches.

Honestly, their love story was way too easy.

High school sweethearts falling in love the first time the omega perfumes.

It squicks me out a little, but I still know it's undeniably cute and something most omegas dream of.

Plenty of betas, too, but we don't scent match.

Our sense of smell is weaker than alphas' and omegas', and our bodies don't produce as many pheromones. No, betas keep to themselves for the most part.

I've dated a few beta guys, but there's a weird culture among them.

Some of them wish they were alphas, so they get all weirdly demanding and dominating.

Others go so far the opposite that they only want to make love or be as respectful as possible when we're getting down and dirty.

I want something in between. Someone who respects me enough to know I enjoy it rough in the bedroom while also worshipping the ground I walk on. Is that too much to ask for?

I could have that if I were an omega who found a good alpha.

But relationships between betas and alphas don't last, and they're mostly just used as something for the alpha to get his rocks off with.

Out of the few betas I've known who have chased after alphas, they haven't ended up with any claiming marks.

No, if anything, they just end up hurt and rejected when the alpha is done with his fun.

Except for Hazel, who loves chasing alphas, but then again, she's never wanted to settle down with any of them.

That's why I refuse to let whatever little quiver of pleasure that bloomed inside of me when Romulus got all growly and "call me alpha" to grow. I will not be cultivating that seedling of desire.

He's a handsome guy. Long brown hair he keeps tied behind his head, dark eyes framed in crooked glasses that made him seem less threatening, and not to mention his build.

A lot of alphas work out all the time to make their already large physique even more impressive, but Henry's filled out with a little more fluff.

He looks like he'd make a good cuddle partner.

It wouldn't be weird to find him attractive. Alphas are beautiful as soon as they mature and show their dynamic. No, what would be weird is if I thought for a second that the man about to ruin my business was anything remotely close to a good idea of having a crush on.

"You ready to meet the beasts?" Sam slides the glass door to the backyard open and asks Scott.

Henry and Lucas are joining us for family dinner, and if their beasts and Fenrir don't get into any fights, they'll be coming over more often. Sam wants them to have a good relationship with the rest of us since Henry is taking such an active role at Sam's Young Alpha Center.

I press my lips into a tight line of irritation at the thought of Henry and how much of an effect he's already had on my coffee shop. I figured as soon as my customers saw an alpha next door, they'd go somewhere else. I just didn't realize they'd all see him today.

I had to send home my two baristas working today because we only had three customers the whole time they were there. After I sent them home, I had one other person come in, and even she looked skittish and like she wanted to be anywhere else.

If things keep going like this, I'm never going to recover from the bakery opening. I'd never put the blame on my brother, and thankfully, I don't have to because Henry's in charge of the bakery. Which means I put all of the blame purely on his shoulders.

"Fenrir wants to know if he doesn't like them, does that mean they're never coming over again?" Scott rubs his temples as he asks, and his mate, Lilah, bites her lip to keep from laughing.

"If Fenrir doesn't like them, it means he needs to learn to be around people he doesn't like," Sam laughs as he says it, and Lilah doesn't stop her giggle from coming out.

Scott shoots her a glare as his eyes flash golden, letting us all know Fenrir is out. He's a big, growly baby, especially when his mate is nearby. So, he might gnash his teeth and threaten everyone, but he won't do anything.

"Come on." Sam grabs the back of Fenrir's neck and all but drags him away from his mate, who's baring her neck to him as an offering after laughing at his misfortune. Fenrir snaps his teeth at Sam but follows him. He knows the sooner he does this, the sooner he can return to touching Lilah.

"Are all alphas so needy?" I ask my two sisters.

Well, technically, they're sisters-in-law if you consider mating marks to be the same as marriage, which most alphas and omegas do.

Marriages and weddings are mostly a beta thing.

Though some alphas like showing off their wealth and the beauty of their omega, so they still have a wedding.

Sam and Janie never saw a need for it, and I'm pretty sure Scott and Lilah feel the same since marriage hasn't been brought up once.

"Yes," Janie and Lilah say as Sam and Fenrir call out "No" over their shoulders.

I shake my head before heading to the fridge to grab a beer. I grab one for Lilah and check with Janie to make sure she's fine with her wine.

"How much do you want to bet Fenrir tries to fight one of them?" Lilah asks, leaning against the wall and looking through the double floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room that look out into the backyard. I join her so I can watch the drama if any unfolds.

"I talked with Sam before you all got here. He told me if Fenrir gets into a fight with one of them, it'll probably be Remus," Janie says as she comes to stand with us, her stemless wineglass in hand.

"Is that the fighter?" Lilah asks.

"Yeah, Romulus is the one in charge of the bakery," Janie says offhandedly. "Or, I guess Henry, his alpha, is. You know what I mean."

"Well, Fenrir better not start anything with either of them. I don't need my mate getting his ass handed to him by a professional fighter," Lilah muses.

I take another sip from my beer, and then Sam walks around the side of the house with someone who looks a whole lot like Henry.

I mean, it's not Henry. Where Henry's long, dark hair was pulled back in a bun when I saw him, this alpha has his hair cropped short.

He's wearing a dark shirt and jeans, his body toned and hard, whereas Henry looks a little softer.

His eyes are the same dark brown as Henry's when he looks through the window where the three of us are staring.

He offers a short nod before turning his attention to Fenrir.

Lucas says something we can't quite make out, and Fenrir tucks his arms over his chest and stands a little taller.

Everyone's quiet as Lucas gives control of his body over to Remus.

Neither beast says anything to the other.

They just stare at one another, teeth bared, and then it's over just as quickly as it started.

Lucas returns to being in control of his body and heads around the side of the house, where I assume Henry is waiting for his turn.

I roll my eyes at how dramatic alphas can be, especially their beasts.

They have to do this whole thing about meeting one another to make sure they won't fight.

I think they do it just to make themselves feel more important.

They're doing the equivalent of pulling out their dicks and some measuring tape, and yet I'm supposed to take this seriously.

Okay, maybe none of us, except the alphas, are taking it seriously, but there are still too many people who think this matters even a little bit.

I bring the bottle to my lips as Henry walks around the side of the house, and that stupid, tiny seed of attraction digs itself a little deeper into my abdomen.

It's annoying more than anything else. I wish the foolish tightening in my belly had happened with Lucas, too, because then I'd know I need to get laid.

No, I still need to do that. It's probably why Henry's stupid pink sweater and slightly crooked glasses are doing it for me.

Henry turns to look at us just like Lucas did when he came back. His eyes instantly find me, and I lengthen my drink to pretend not to notice him staring at me.

Nope. Nope. Nope. The man is single-handedly ruining my life. Well, more like bringing in a multitude of alphas to ruin my life, but still.

Finally, he turns to face Fenrir, who looks downright pissed.

Sure, he was angry he had to do this at all, but now his hands are fisted at his sides, and his lips are pulled back before the other beast even comes out to say hi.

Henry asks him a question I can't make out as he lifts his hands to show he isn't a threat.

Fenrir's growl is so loud I can hear it inside, and Lilah sighs as she hands me her beer and heads for the back door.

If anyone can calm Fen down, it's Lilah.

Lilah slides the glass open a crack, and her sweet vanilla scent washes over the usual smells of Janie and Sam's house.

Alphas and omegas all have distinct scents, and as gross as it is to know when someone in my family is turned on, at least I grow accustomed to the smell, and they become normal things.

Except in times like right now, where I know Lilah is perfuming, which has me grossed out.

" She's a beta, " Fenrir snaps, and my head pulls up in indignation to stare him down.