5

The next day, I woke up feeling better than I have in a long time. After the amazing everything but sex-capade, I made my way back to my room, cleaned up in the most luxurious shower, and launched myself into the cloud-like mattress I get to call my bed for the next 21 days. I pull the comforter off and notice my envelope that was slid under my door. The smell of bacon led me to the kitchen where Ms. Bryant had a small little breakfast buffet ready for Colt and me.

         A beautiful spread of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and some berries. Oh my Goddess, yum! Clearly, we worked up an appetite for this morning because we polished off the whole spread easily while we went over the schedule for the week. We discussed who we were meeting with, the dress code, and what time we needed to leave for each event.

         Oddly enough, this whole arrangement felt like a real job. And I’m actually enjoying myself. I mean how could I not enjoy being with a super-hot and charming Alpha? But tongue and fingers aside, I was enjoying the friendship that we had established in the short amount of time. I don’t know how someone hasn’t snagged him up. Unless he’s one of those that will only be with his Goddess given mate. I’m starting to envy the lucky she-wolf that will be destined for him.

         I left breakfast to sun-bathe on my balcony. I bought a journal with me to write about my experiences – highs and lows about this humongous change in my life hoping one day I could look back and read it and enjoy reminiscing about the experiences this year would give me.

         I write Alpha Colton Rhodes next to January at the top of the first page and take a hefty pause. How is it after just two days with the man that I feel like words don’t describe him well enough? I stared off into the view and just enjoyed feeling the sun on my face and my body. Before I knew it, I dozed off until I felt a cool breeze over my skin that woke me up from my feeling of contentment and comfort in where I was at. Who would have thought the girl that was dragging her feet about being a for-hire mate would absolutely love the first place she was sent? I closed up the journal that still only held a name and a month in it and went into my room to start getting ready for our dinner with his Beta.

         This dinner was more casual so had my hair down in some beachy waves, a black ribbed turtleneck tucked into some cute tight-fitting gray and black plaid pants. I put on a pair of nude heels and grabbed a nude purse to match and throw over my shoulder. I put a clear lip conditioner on, a few coats of mascara on, and a simple bronzy eye shadow for a natural look. Altogether, looking into the mirror, I’m obsessed with the outfit I came up with. I guess when someone shops for you with no budget, some damn good outfits come out of it.

         I walk out and see Colt in some black dress pants and a gray dress shirt with the top button open and sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A classic silver watch on his wrist. Simple, but oh so fucking sexy.

         “Ready to go?” I ask, greeting him with a smile and a quick hug.

         “With you, of course,” he responds smoothly, making my heart skip a beat.

         Goddess damn you, Colt.

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         We reach a fancy Italian restaurant that takes up the second floor of a swanky hotel. It oozes authenticity and my mouth is already watering thinking of the amazing homestyle food I’m going to order. With my hand linked in his, we make our way to a large table with his Beta and a woman sitting next to him.

         “Gunnar, nice to see you again!” I say as we hug each other in greeting.

         “Hey Layne, this is my mate, Brylie,” he says as he points to the petite, shy brunette. I inwardly cringe hearing him say, mate, reminding me of my earlier disappointment of not being able to keep my alpha that I’ve become fond of.

         “Brylie, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say reaching to hug her too. She returns the hug and I see a genuine smile reach her face.

         “You as well, Layne. Sorry for my standoffishness, I wasn’t sure what to think of you at first. I’m new to this Beta Female thing, and everyone has started treating me differently now due to the title.”

         “No worries at all. Wish I could say I understand,” I joke back at her with a wink.

         We sit down, having some general conversation, drinking some wine that probably costs as much as my house payment, and dipping some bread in olive oil. The waiter returns and we order some appetizers and put our meal order in, so he doesn’t have to come back and interrupt our conversation.

         Colt begins talking to Gunnar about a new project they are testing and how there is a huge waitlist once it becomes ready to order. Apparently, Colt isn’t just an amazing Alpha and man, but his brain has a knack for techy things too. What isn’t this man good at for fuck’s sake?! Their new idea is a border detection system to keep rogues out, still in Phase 1 I’m hearing, but on the way to figuring out the best way for the system to run and how much they will cost. The packs across America have responded well to the polls Moonlight Security posted about the new technology and many reached out wanting to order when it was available, thus creating a waitlist since the product technically doesn’t have a physical prototype to test yet.

         While they continue their conversation, I turn my attention to Brylie and get to know her better. The more I talk to her, the more I like her. She’s such a sweet soul, just lost in the new role she has, and from what I’m hearing, she’s just missing a little bit of confidence and a push in the right direction to focus all the love she has to give to the pack.

         “What were your favorite things to do before you were the Beta Female?” I ask her while dipping a piece of calamari into some marinara sauce.

         “I love helping guide little children, I was studying to be a preschool teacher or a children’s nurse in my old pack.” She smiles so wide, and I can see how passionate she is about helping children.

         “So, why don’t you train to do that here at Mountain Moon? Or try to start your own family with Gunnar?” I say that like it is the most obvious answer to her problem, which in my opinion, I think it is. She just needs a little push.

         “Are you crazy, we’ve only been marked and mated for a little over a month. Don’t you think it’s too early for that?” she practically yells, but I can see the sparkle in her eye at the idea. The thought makes her glance over at Gunnar, a cute blush reaching her cheeks when their eyes meet. They are oozing love, and if it wasn’t so damn cute, it’d make me sick. I look over at Colt, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he almost was looking at me the same way. I fucking wish. My heart wishes too. He winks at me and I wink back.

         I turn back to Brylie and tell her, “Babe, it doesn’t matter what I think, it matters what you think and what you and Gunnar want. If you like children and want a family, go for it! You both would be great parents and I can see you have tons of love to smother some little ones in.”

         I can see the tears well up in her eyes like nobody’s ever given her a compliment before, let alone the Alpha’s monthly possible mate. She glances over at Gunnar again and I’m like 99 percent positive that they will be trying for a baby tonight.

         “Layne, you’re a great friend. I’m so lucky that I met you,” she reaches over and puts her hand over mine. In just a few days, I’ve had more people enter my life than ever before, but the connections that I’m forming with them… they’re just different. I can’t explain it. It’s always been dad and me, and I’ve literally only had Tayven as a friend, more like a sister.

         We turn to join conversations with our men and plate up our dinner. We chose family style so we could order more and have variety. Between the chicken parmesan and the veal marsala, alfredo and penne Pomodoro, grilled asparagus, and some fried eggplant, we were very satisfied. We ordered some coffee and tiramisu to end our meal and cap off our night.

         I looked around at these people that I now called my friends or friends with benefits if I’m specifically referring to Colt and came to realize that I’m already dreading leaving this pack. I lean over and place my head on Colt’s shoulder, close my eyes, and just take a second to commit tonight in my memory. I open my eyes and tilt my head to look at Colton and place a kiss on his cheek and whisper “I really like it here.”