Page 23 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives

A small laugh escapes me before I shut it down. “I do receive course printouts, but I’m not blind,” I explain. “My curse keeps me from uncovering my eyes around anything technological. I read and write alone in my dorm where there’s no tech.”

“Oh!” Her surprise is apparent. “I understand.”

I’m sure she does. She cannot touch anyone. That builds up similar barriers.

“I have excellent memory recall, so don’t worry about me not pulling my weight.”

I feel the slight surprised jerk of her body, and before she can protest, I say, “I’m only teasing.”

A soft exhale and her body relaxes.

I’ve never wanted to look at someone as badly as I crave to see Mira. I want to see her face, watch her body move, look into her eyes. I know she’s beautiful. To me, at least. This sense overwhelms me.

As I cannot look at her, I frown instead, and we get to work reviewing the details of the section until the bell rings again to signal the end of class.

Another first: I’ve never wanted to stay in class this badly.

To stay withher.

“Have lunch with us again tomorrow,” I blurt.

She pauses gathering her things, then says, “I’d like that.”

Tension leaves my body that I didn’t realize had been there. I give her a closed-mouth smile, turn and leave the room, and Mira, behind.

I can almost taste the approaching danger.

Miranda

Rai makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. Exciting and frightening things.

But so does Colt.

And, despite my disgust, even Aubrey.

What the hell?

I’ve been around Alphas and male Omegas my entire life, even on the run. And Betas, not that I ever looked at them for long. None of them have ever attracted me before. I’ve never even scented any of them.

But these three...

Rai with his cherry blossom and vanilla aura, Colt enveloped by fresh-cut grass and cool rain, and Aubrey with his frustratingly mouthwatering mixture of juniper and chili pepper…

Whenever I’m near them, it’s hard to think straight.

I’m sure I sound like an absolute fool whenever I speak to them.

How embarrassing.

“Mira!”

My back goes straight at the sound of Colt’s voice from down the hall before his soothing scent wraps around me. I turn to find him jogging toward me, an enormous grin on his face that elicits happiness a moment before the heaviness of despair weighs on me. The urge to caress his jaw with my bare fingertips is so strong that tears sting my eyes at the impossible thought.

“Hey!” he says, that beautiful smile still playing on his lips. But then it falls into a frown as concern draws his brows together. “Are you okay?”

I swallow hard and nod, not trusting my voice.

He scrutinizes me for a moment, then tilts his head. “Where are you off to?”