Page 8 of Beta Hybrid

Vale sets a hand on my shoulder, and I realise I’m shaking, fists clenched.

‘Do you need to me tell you what a tool he is?’ My second asks with a wry smile. ‘Or can we get on with ignoring him, and focus on our own people?’ Vale sits at the rocky edge of the stream. I watch him. His shoulders are relaxed. He dips his toes in the water, swinging his legs. ‘In my opinion, you should go talk to Zenna. Make sure she knows you’re on her side. Second thing you should do is officially declare her as your beta.’ Vale turns to smile up at me. ‘I think she’s waited long enough for that. Don’t you?’

I heave a sigh, running my hands through my hair. I lower myself to the rocky edge of the stream beside him. ‘I’m surprised she accepted me. After all I’ve put her through.’

Vale nods. ‘Me too.’ He offers a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. ‘I wonder what it was like for her. All those years. By herself. Well, with Jana, at least. But… do you think she was like, with, anyone?’

I nod. ‘Yeah. She told me. I could smell it on her, actually.’

Vale whips his head to me. ‘Seriously?’

‘Yeah. Guess it’s a fated mates thing.’

His brow furrows. ‘That would be… kind of shit. Right? Being able to smell it on your mate that they’ve been with someone else? Does that bother you?’

I bite the edge of my lip. ‘I told her it didn’t. And it doesn’t… not a lot, really.’ I glance at Vale, and he gives me a look. ‘Okay, it does a bit.’

‘I saw her, uh, mark. You and she… huh?’ He waggles his brows.

I huff a laugh. ‘Yeah, man.’

He claps me on the back. ‘Nice.’

I stare out at the stream. ‘She deserves a home, Vale. You all do. What I’m talking about is searching, being on the road. I can’t offer both.’

Vale shrugs, an easy gesture. ‘Not at the same time, sure. But home can always come later. Is this what Zenna wants? To find the Origins?’

I shrug back. ‘I think she knows we don’t really have a choice. She needs to find her parents, too.’

Vale bobs his head, as though he saw this coming. ‘I get that. Find out where she came from. Why they left her.’

The words grind into me like rocks in an open wound. Left her. Like I left her. Fuck, life hasn’t been fair to her. I need to change that. I look around. ‘What do you think of this place?’

Vale snorts. ‘The place?’ He gestures around. ‘Is nice. The people?’ He lifts a shoulder. ‘I don’t like your cousin so far. And his Second is going to have a serious limp if she goes near our beta again.’ He smiles at me.

Our beta.

I smile back, grateful for his protectiveness. ‘Do you think Zen still resents me?’ I stare out at the water again, over the bank to the greenery beyond. I can’t look in his eyes. I think I know the answer.

‘Probably. Hell, I still resent you for that a bit.’

It hurts, but I saw it coming. I run my hand through my hair, tugging slightly. ‘I can make it up to her. I hope.’

‘Well, you’re not doing her any good sitting out here flapping your yap at me.’ Vale shoulders me. ‘Go on. Go get your girl and show her you’re not a shit mate.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Thanks.’

He nods. ‘Pleasure.’

‘I’ll be sure to send Jana your way if I see her, shall I?’

Vale’s gaze darts down. ‘What?’

I snort and leave him to the stream, chuckling to myself. Yeah, he’s not subtle.

Chapter Four

Zenna