Beta (5 page)

He certainly had
no objections as he pounded into me over and over, quickly reaching
that release I begged him for so desperately. He followed shortly
after, filling me again with everything he had.

He pulled out of
me and laid on his back, bringing me into his solid chest. I rested
my head on him, trying to calm down. I never would have expected my
first time to be like that. It was mind blowing and I couldn't keep
my hands off him. I knew this next month would be damn near
impossible with him as constant temptation.

He laughed a
little. I propped my chin on his chest, looking at him
curiously.

"What?"

"And here you
were worried you couldn't please me."

I cracked a slow
smile, "So I did well?"

"Beyond well,
love. I can't believe I was lucky enough to get you as my
mate."

"You have no idea
what that means to me," I said as I cuddled into his
chest.

"I think I have a
pretty good idea," he said and kissed the top of my
head.

I listened to his
heartbeat as it eventually started to slow in his chest. I knew he
couldn't stay with me but I couldn't help wanting him to never
leave my side. He was perfect for me; he was my other half and I
wanted him near me at all times but he had Christian back at the
pack house and I had class in the morning.

He played with my
waist length blonde hair for awhile, just stroking it and moving it
away from my face. The gesture was unbelievably comforting to the
point I could have drifted off to sleep but I wanted to stay awake
to be with him.

"So when do you
have to leave?" I asked.

"Soon. I hadn't
planned on staying this long," he said smugly.

"Are you glad you
did?"

"Of course. It
might be too soon but.. I love you, Elizabeth. You're the only
woman I could possibly want."

I felt my heart
jump in my throat at his confession. I was sure he was joking but
his expression told me he was being serious. He simply looked at
me, waiting patiently for my response. It was soon. I mean, I just
met him this afternoon and here I was meeting his son, losing my
virginity to him, and cuddling.

"I love you, too,
Titus," I finally managed to say.

It was the truth,
too. He was all I wanted for the rest of my life and I did love
him, deeply. I would even go as far as saying I was in love with
this man, this perfect being.

"Good," he said
with a genuine smile, "I'll stay until you fall asleep."

I nodded and
cuddled into his chest as he adjust his arm around me. His presence
was so warm and comforting, I instantly started to slip into
sleep.

"Titus?" I asked
half awake.

"Hm?"

"Will you and
Christian visit me tomorrow?"

"You want to see
him again?" He asked, clearly amused.

I nodded a
little.

"We will pick you
up from school tomorrow and have dinner. Is that okay?"

"Perfect," I
mumble before drifting off.

******

I packed up my
backpack as quickly as possibly so I could hurry and see Titus. I
had been counting the seconds through every class in anticipation
for my evening with Titus and Christian.

I went out of the
two story brick building scanning the parking lot for Titus. I
noticed him leaned against a new-looking black Range Rover. His
smile instantly made an appearance when he spotted me walking
towards him. I had taken a little extra care with my appearance
since I knew I was going to be with him for awhile.

"Hey," I greeted
as I bounced up to him.

He pulled me
close for a light kiss, something that still felt appropriate in
public but somehow private at the same time.

"How was your
day?" He asked as he pulled my door open.

"Long."

He closed the
door behind me and I turned to see Christian's car seat in the back
but I couldn't see him.

"How was your
day?" I asked after he got in.

"Long," he
mimicked.

"What did you
do?"

"Mostly just
meetings. Christian has been crying. A lot," he said
frustrated.

"The same way he
was last night?"

"No. Just more
fussy than anything but it's been all day. Every time I left the
room he started crying."

I nodded
absently.

"Any
suggestions?" He asked.

I laughed, "I can
only tell you if something is physically wrong with him. I don't
have the first clue about a fussy baby."

He smiled as he
watched the road. I made a mental note to try reading some sort of
baby caring book. I had come to terms with the fact Christian would
be like my son too and I needed to know how to care for
him.

"Where are we
going?"

"Dinner."

I rolled my eyes,
"I know that. I meant where, specifically."

"Be patient," he
teased, "My parents want to meet you."

"Today?" I choked
out.

I wasn't ready to
meet his parents! I had just met him!

"I told them they
needed to wait until you joined my pack."

I breathed a sigh
of relief, "Okay."

So I had about a
month before I had to worry about that. I knew a month would do
nothing to calm my nerves but at least I didn't have to face it
right now.

We stopped at a
local restaurant that belonged to a small family of wolves. I
usually tried to stay out of any pack business and away from pack
members because of my parents. When I first came to pack living, I
was ostracized because of what they did but as time went on, people
learned to accept my existence even if that meant they usually just
ignored me.

I got out and
watched as Titus pulled out Christian. As if on cue, Christian
started fussing though not too loudly. Titus sighed and looked
slightly irritated but I knew he wouldn't say anything.

"Can I hold
him?"

He looked a
little surprised by my request but unbuckled him and let me take
him regardless. He cried for another minute but stopped when I
started to lightly rub his belly. It was actually kind of cute that
he liked belly rubbed so much. I attributed it to his wolf being
calmed.

"I'm beginning to
think he just doesn't like me," Titus said.

I looked
up at him and smiled, "That's impossible. I'm sure everyone likes
you."

He smiled
and shook his head, "You're my mate. You have to think
that."

"No I
don't. I'm sure you'll irritate me eventually."

With
that, I started walking into the restaurant leaving him to take
that comment as he will.

"Beta,"
the hostess greeted with a sly smile though she averted her eyes
out of respect.

I tried
to not feel jealous at her clearly interested smile but the green
monster coursed through me violently.

"For
two," Titus responded completely ignoring her flirtatious
smile.

"Did you
need a high chair?" She asked, still trying to play
seductress.

Was she
for real? He had a child and woman with him. Not to mention he was
clearly a mated man.

"He is
clearly not old enough for a high chair," I replied bitterly, "A
booth will do just fine. Thanks."

She
grabbed two menus without further discussion and led us to our
booth. Titus sat opposite of me and Christian, simply looking at me
as if trying to suppress a laugh.

"What?" I
asked.

"Nothing.
Just didn't think you had a jealous side," he finally let his smile
break into his perfect features.

"I'm not
jealous," I tried to deny.

"Sure,
love. Whatever you say," he said unconvinced.

I glared
at him, "See, I told you you would irritate me."

He
laughed, "Okay fine. So what classes did you have
today?"

"Anatomy,
physics, organic chemistry, and Shakespeare."

"Shakespeare?"

"Yep. I
took it for fun. I figured, I'm about to graduate so I might as
well make this last semester as enjoyable as possible."

"Only you
would take a difficult class for fun," he said with a light
laugh.

I smiled
sheepishly before looking down at Christian who was already staring
up at me.

"I think
it's funny that he likes his stomach to be rubbed," I
commented.

Titus
laughed, "I did too. At least that's what I'm told."

I laughed
at the irony. Not only was it funny that Christian would be
comforted the same way as his father but the thought of Titus being
anything but this strong, powerful Beta was laughable.

We
glanced over our menus but I felt Titus watching me more than
studying his food list.

"What," I
asked without looking up.

"How do
you do it?" He asked curiously.

"Do
what?" I finally looked up at him.

"Everything. You just adapt to everything. You picked up
handling Christian like it was no big deal, you cook, you study,
work, go to school, dance...you just do everything and you still
have time to come to dinner with me."

I half
smiled, "I've been taking care of myself since I could walk. I
should be good at it."

"You
shouldn't have to take care of yourself. Do you even like working
at the hospital?"

I
shrugged, "It's not really about what I like. It pays my rent and
keeps food on the table."

"But do you like
it? Does it make you happy?"

I thought about
it for a moment. Was I happy working there? Not really. I hated my
bosses and the staff treated me the same way my pack did. They
thought I was odd because I was a child prodigy but they never took
the time to know me. I mostly just sat at a desk and filed
paperwork for the lazy nurses.

"Not really," I
concluded.

"If you didn't
have to worry about bills would it make you happy to
quit?"

I laughed, "Well,
yeah! Of course I don't find a thrill in filing paperwork but like
I said, I don't really have a choice."

"I don't want you
to do anything that doesn't make you happy. If you want to quit,
then quit."

"I
can't."

"Don't worry
about bills, Elizabeth. If you want to quit then do it."

"That's not
realistic," I said flatly.

"I am covering
your expenses from now on. Don't bother arguing because it's
already done. If you don't want to work there, quit."

I stared at him
skeptically. No one, not even my own parents, had ever taken care
of me. I wasn't so sure I could accept something so
gracious.

"I can't accept
that."

"Why
not?"

"Because I can't.
I don't want you to work harder because I don't like my
job."

He half smiled,
"I won't. Trust me."

"Titus-"

"Elizabeth. This
is something I really must insist on. What kind of man would I be
if I didn't take care of you?"

"I don't want you
to think I just assume you'll pay for everything. Like I said, I've
been taking care of myself for a long time. I'm used to
it."

He tossed me a
pointed look. The waitress, a sweet, elderly lady, came to the
table to take our order. She smiled at Christian before bending
down to get a better look at him.

"He is so
precious. You have a beautiful son," she said as she looked at me
with a smile.

"Oh,
he's-"

"Thank you,"
Titus cut in.

I smiled weakly
at the lady before she got up and walked away.

"You know she
thought he was mine," I said in case he misinterpreted the
lady.