Page 14 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

14

KAYDEN

“ R ight, I’m going to hand these responsibilities over to you guys, but know I will still be here, and I’ll be checking to make sure everything is going well,” Jaxon says as he leans back in his office chair. “We can’t let the pack slack now, not after how well we’ve been working together.”

I flick my finger over my subtle smile. “Do you really doubt me?”

Jaxon pins me with a stare. “After how distracted you’ve been recently? Yes.”

“I’m always listening,” I sigh. “Even when I seem like I’m not.”

“Not good enough,” he grumbles without sparing me another look.

Admitting Jaxon is right is one of the last things I’ll ever do, but since I’ve spent some time with Kayleigh, I have been a little distracted.

That girl is on my mind even when I try my damn hardest not to think of her.

“I need you to take over with training,” Jaxon says to Sebastian.

I furrow my brows and push myself forward from my chair. “I thought that was my job?”

“The pack needs something new and exciting to focus on,” Jaxon replies.

“Gee, thanks.” I flash him a sarcastic smile. “Real compliment that.”

Jaxon’s nostrils flare a little. “It’s not that you’re boring, Kayden. The pack will be going through many different changes, and it’s time we change trainers. Sebastian will bring something different, including Lucy and the witches; besides, I need you for other things.”

“Yeah…” I drawl. “Like what?”

“To make sure the pack are falling in line. You are their Beta. They respect you, and I want you to make sure that everyone is doing their jobs and following protocol to ensure this pack stays safe.” Jaxon leans forward and presses his elbows to his desk. “It’s the most important job.”

I nod once in agreement.

This pack has been there for me, and I will do everything I can in return to guarantee their safety and comfort. I’ve spent years earning their trust, and we’ve never been stronger.

“I’ll have smaller jobs to be taken over by others; that way, you can solely focus on the pack. Jon will be stepping up with the guards and helping with security.” Jaxon points to a notepad on his desk before picking up a pen and dragging the tip down the list. “I don’t want anyone thinking they can slack off, so we’re going to step up and remind them of the importance of this pack.”

Sebastian stirs beside me. “What type of training do you want me to focus on?”

“I created a timetable,” Jaxon says simply as he tears out the page and hands it to him. “I want to try something new, but if it doesn’t work, we can come back and brainstorm. But go with it. I trust your judgement. Let me know what you think.”

“Alright.” He nods and takes the piece of paper. “You got it.”

“Any questions?” Jaxon asks. “I have a meeting with the district Alphas soon.”

I stand up, and Sebastian follows. My head shakes as I make it to the door.

“Kayden?” Jaxon calls out as Bash slips out of the office door.

I pause and turn back to him.

“Do you want to sit in on the meeting?” he asks. “It would be beneficial for you to be there.”

“Sure.” I nod. “I think that would be good.”

Jaxon stares back at me for a long moment. “You know I’m giving you this role because I trust you more than anyone else?”

For a moment, I’m stunned. It’s unusual for Jaxon to even make the slightest compliment if it’s not to Ava.

“Yeah,” I say. “I know. It would be shitty to have a Beta you didn’t trust.”

“After how you kept this pack together when I fell apart a few years ago.” He pauses, and I hold his gaze. “There is no one else I’d want beside me.”

A small laugh passes my lips. “You make us sound like lovers.”

Jaxon makes a face. “Please, never say that again.”

“Just tell me that you’d be nothing without me.” I playfully wink. “We all know it.”

He shakes his head with a scowl. “Get out.”

I chuckle and step out of his office. “You’ll never be rid of me, Jaxon.”

“And that I’m fearful of,” he says as I begin to shut the door. “Meeting is in an hour.”

I head down to the kitchen and find Sebastian already there with Ava and Lucy at the counter, Albie in Ava’s arms as she rocks him gently.

“Good meeting?” Lucy smiles as she warms up a milk bottle.

Sebastian blows out a long breath. “As good as it’ll ever be.”

“Jaxon insufferable?” Ava chuckles.

“Understatement,” I murmur.

“He’s been worse,” Sebastian comments. “He wants me to take over the training.”

Lucy’s eyes widen a little. “Really?”

“Yep, and incorporate the witches, too.”

“Sounds…fun.”

“As ever.” Sebastian laughs.

“It’s time for this little man’s nap,” Lucy says as she takes Albie from her arms and looks up at Sebastian. “He’ll be sparko after this bottle.”

Sebastian moves towards her. “Let me take him.”

“Why?”

“Because I know you want to shower,” He cradles the baby in his arms. “Go. I’ll have him down when you’re done.”

Lucy stares up at him with stars in her eyes. She pecks his cheek and then his lips. “Thanks, babe. You’re the best.”

“I know.” He smiles back at her.

Lucy practically runs to shower as Sebastian takes Albie to the living room for some peace and quiet. Ava holds her bump as she starts grabbing plates and filling them with snacks. I quirk a brow at her. “Pregnancy cravings?”

“No.” She laughs. “Kayleigh’s coming over. She has lots of memorabilia from school that I want to see and show Jaxon, too. I don’t have any of those things, including our yearbook.”

I pause, staring back at her. “Kayleigh’s coming over?”

She never told me that.

“Yeah,” she says as she watches me carefully. “She said you went over to see her the other day.”

I narrow my eyes at Ava and tilt my head. “Yeah…and?”

“I don’t know if that’s sensible.”

“Why?”

“What about your mate?”

“We’re hanging out as friends,” I defend.

Ava hums and flicks her eyes between mine. “Really? I saw the way you flirted with her when she came over for the baby shower.”

“And? She’s an attractive woman.”

“You should wait for your mate. Don’t get Kayleigh caught up in this.”

I scoff. “That’s easy for you to say. When I see you and Jaxon together, Lucy and Bash. It fucking kills me sometimes, do you know that? Don’t you think I wish I had met my mate already? I want to spend my life with someone. But because I haven’t met my mate, does that mean I should be alone for the rest of my life?”

“Kayden.” Ava’s voice is soft and sympathetic. “You know that’s not what I’m saying.”

“I know I have a mate somewhere, Ava, and you guys are beyond blessed to have found each other. But what is the likelihood of me finding her, huh?” I pause as her eyes drop. “I have pretty much explored this district and more, yet I still haven’t found her.”

Ava is silent for a long moment as I perch on the stool. “I’m not saying that you should be alone. I’m worried about Kayleigh, okay? I don’t want her getting hurt or caught up in a crossfire because it’ll be messy, and that girl deserves better.”

I nod once. She’s right. Yet I know I won’t be able to stay away.

“I can hear her thoughts, Ava. That’s why I’m pursuing her,” I admit.

“What?” She coughs. She hops off her seat and walks straight towards me, her hand grabbing my elbow so I turn to face her. “You can hear her thoughts?”

“Yes,” I say as I look into her stunned eyes.

For a long moment, she says nothing. Instead, she processes.

Trust me, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it, too.

“How in the world?”

“I don’t know.”

“And you’re sure she’s not your mate?”

“I would know, Ava,” I whisper and run a hand through my hair. “My wolf would know.”

Although deep down, a part of me wishes she was.

“Sorry.” She waves a hand. “I’m just…surprised.”

“That makes two of us.”

“You should ask Jax to go see those people who know all about the spells, myths, and ancestry.” She clicks her fingers.

My eyes narrow. “You mean the elders?”

“That’s the one. Surely they would know, right?”

“Yeah,” I exhale. “I guess they would. It might be nothing, some weird mutation in my wolf or something.’

Ava perches back on the stool again. “Worth a try, though, isn’t it?”

I nod.

There is a knock at the door that stirs Ava’s attention away. “Ah, that’ll be Kayleigh.”

“I got it,” I say as she moves from her seat.

“Thank you,” she says gratefully.

As I walk to the front door, I adjust my hoodie and swipe a hand through my hair before opening the door. Kayleigh stands on the other side with curly blonde hair and a bright smile. She’s wearing a pair of light blue denim jeans and a white crop top that flashes off her stomach and that sparkly navel piercing that has cherries dangling from the bar this time.

My chest tightens at the sight of her.

Her smile falters a little when she realises it’s not Ava answering the door, but she still continues to beam. “Hey,” she says.

“Hey,” I respond, trying to ignore how her eyes give me a subtle once-over. “Uh, come in.”

“Thanks,” she murmurs as she slips by me, her hand brushing mine accidentally.

She pauses and looks down before looking up at me with those big blue eyes. I internally groan at the expression on her face. “It’s good to see you,” she whispers.

My brows raise in surprise. “Really? Would have been better if you actually came to see me.”

“Well, best friend duties,” she hums. “Besides, I don’t recall you asking to see me.”

Before she can walk into the kitchen, I reach for her wrist, tugging her back. Her chest is almost flush against mine as a soft breath falls from her pouty little lips. “My mistake,” I drawl. “Remind me to pencil you in every week.”

Kayleigh’s eyes narrow, but she doesn’t attempt to move from my hold. “Weekly is a little unconventional,” she comments.

“Daily then?”

“Kayden–”

A lock of hair falls in front of her eye, and I gently brush it away, smiling down at her as she swallows slowly. I press my finger to the edge of her chin, tilting her gaze to mine as my other hand falls to the wall behind her. “Still holding out for that date.”

Kayleigh folds her arms over her chest and stares up at me with a scowl. “We’re not going on a date.”

“You keep saying that,” I murmur. “And it breaks my heart every damn time.”

“Is everything a joke to you?”

My eyes soften a little, but I continue to smile at her. “I might joke about a lot of things, but I’d never joke about this.”

“What on earth is taking you guys so long?” Ava’s voice booms down the hall, and we both take a sudden step apart, but we’ve been caught. “Oh–”

I remove my hand from the wall and run it down the back of my neck as Ava flicks her eyes between us suspiciously. Kayleigh shakes out her shoulders and walks straight towards her. “Hey,” she says cheerily. “How are you?”

They hug, and Ava stares at me over Kayleigh’s shoulder.

“I’m good,” Ava responds. “Journey okay?”

“Yeah, all good.” They pull away. “My car’s been making this weird noise, but I’m sure it’s nothing.”

I walk towards them, shaking my head. “Wait,” I interrupt their greeting, and Kayleigh turns to look at me. “What do you mean your car is making a weird noise?”

“Like I said, it’s probably nothing.” She laughs hesitantly.

My arms cross over my chest, not finding the situation funny in the slightest. “If your car is making a noise, it’s probably trying to tell you something is wrong.”

“Yeah, Kayleigh,” Ava pitches in. “That doesn’t sound safe. You need to get that checked out.”

“Haven’t really had the time.” Her shoulders sink.

I hold out my hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll take a look whilst you two catch up.”

“Really?” Kayleigh’s eyes light up.

“I’m no car expert, but I can try to see what the problem is. It’s Sunday. I doubt any garages will be open right now, though we can take it first thing tomorrow. I’m not having you drive back if it’s still making that noise.”

She shakes her head in protest. “I have class in the afternoon.”

“We’ll work around it,” I tell her. “But I don’t want you taking any chances.”

Kayleigh chews on the inside of her lip. “Okay. Thank you.”

She places her keys into my palm, and I close my fingers over hers before she has the chance to pull away.

“Come on,” Ava places a hand on her shoulder. “I’m excited to see all our old school stuff.”

Kayleigh’s eyes linger on me for a moment before she turns around and walks into the kitchen with Ava. I stare down at her keys and then make my way outside to see what I can do about her deathtrap of a car before the meeting.