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Chapter 36
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Allie CarstensAm I still in the corner?
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The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 37
REID POV I lay on the ground, with Taryn draped over me, my wolf creating a barrier between the snow and her body, keeping her warm. It’s only been around ten minutes that we’ve been waiting, but it feels like longer. Taryn’s fingers comb through my fur, and her eyes flutter, an exterior sign of the exhausted and semi-conscious state she is in. The injuries she sustained to her head, leg, and feet combined with the adrenaline rush and stress to her body from her escape through the woods threatens to pull her under. But my girl pushes through it all, forcing herself to stay awake. The enormous goose egg on her forehead has already gotten smaller, and the blood flow from her leg has stemmed, the cuts stitching themselves together slowly, both from our enhanced werewolf healing and from the presence of her mate. But even though she’s healing, she’s still lost a lot of blood, and it’s freezing out here, and getting colder by the second. I need to get her to my car and back to Crescent L
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 38
TARYN POV My wolf stirs in my mind as I shift my position on the bed, snuggling deeper into the pillows. I’m surrounded by warmth, by the scent of fresh baked snickerdoodles and a forest of pine. It wraps itself around me and embeds itself into my soul, leaving me aching for another whiff of it. I want to bathe myself in the scent, want it to follow me everywhere. It’s life, and comfort, and home. I smile to myself, and squeeze the hand holding mine, the hand that spreads warm sparkles of gold through my skin, up my arm, and into my heart. It’s more intoxicating than anything I’ve felt before, more addictive than the strongest drug ever created. I want the sparkling tingles of gold to travel further, to cover my entire body and awaken my senses with its intensity, its pure pleasure and love. I roll onto my side and pull the hand closer to me, opening it and pressing it against my cheek, luxuriating in the tickles that awaken under my skin from the touch. My wolf purrs and rolls on h
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 39
REID POV I hate hospitals. They are too clean, too white, too stifling. And underneath the surface, the hint — the threat — of death lingers. Nothing good ever comes from a visit to the pack hospital. One visit to the pack hospital eighteen years ago changed the entire trajectory of my childhood — of my life. I walked into the hospital thinking my mom was just hurt, just needing extra medical attention after an intense rogue attack. And I walked out of it motherless. The wall against my back is cold — almost as cold as the snow covering the ground outside — even through my T-shirt. It’s uncomfortable, but it keeps me here, keeps me anchored in the present. For the most part. It’s difficult, though, now that I’m not with Taryn. Her presence and touch kept the demons at bay, but the reality of what happened hits me full force. The similarities between this night and that fateful night — it’s overwhelming. Taryn is lucky. We are lucky. Rogues are ruthless, relentless, especially w
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 40
TARYN POV “These are prenatal vitamins. You need to take one with food every day. If they’re too much to deal with — you know, because of morning sickness — we can look at trying a gummy vitamin or a powder option that you blend into a smoothie, but Dr. Russo recommends at least trying the pill form first.” I nod and take the bottle of vitamins from the nurse, adding them to the bag she brought me. It’s filled with brochures and pamphlets about prenatal care and tests, and a special werewolf prenatal care packet that is filled with information specific to werewolf pregnancies. “Dr. Russo wants to see you again in a few days to review the results of the blood work — the sex of the baby and its alpha blood status, plus anything else we find. And then you’ll come in every four weeks until you’re twenty-eight weeks pregnant, then every other week until you’re thirty-six weeks pregnant, and then every week until you deliver.” I nod again. I have said little since she came back to discha
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 41
TARYN POV The snowfall continues, growing heavier by the minute, layering atop the already snow covered grounds and trees of Crescent Lake, painting everything pure white. It’s so thick, I can’t even see through it to the lake. Not that I’m paying much attention right now. I’m too busy drowning in my swirling thoughts that mirror the storm outside. Wesley said the Silver Ridge packhouse suffered pretty severe damage from the fire, but they won’t know the full extent until they can examine everything once the storm passes. I thump my head against the back of the less than comfortable brown couch in the guest suite they’ve offered me for the time being. There is a bag of clothing Haven gathered for me from pack members, but I don’t have the energy to look through it yet. I’m still in the T-shirt and sweatpants the hospital gave me to change into. And I have yet to take stock of the supplies and food she said the pack’s hospitality team placed in the small kitchen of the suite. Instea
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 42 Part A
TARYN POV When my eyes open again, I’m alone in the bed, curled up in the spot Reid slept in, my face buried into his pillow. I pop up, my eyes searching the room, scanning it to find any trace of him. I vaguely remember curling into his side at some point during the night, sort of recall his arms wrapping around me and holding me as we both drifted back to sleep. But the bathroom light is off, and the only hint he was even here is his black blanket still on the bed, his shirt on the armchair in the corner, and the lingering scent of him on the bedding and in the air. The frosty morning air nips at my skin as I leave the bed, my bare feet padding across the hardwood flooring. I snatch his blanket off the bed and wrap it around my shoulders, leaving the room bundled in his cozy scent. As soon as I enter the hallway, the scent of pancakes cooking fills my nostrils, mixed with Reid’s full scent and freshly brewed coffee. I peek my head into the kitchen. And there is Reid, his sweatpan
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 42 Part B
TARYN POV His growl shifts, the tension in his body switching from anger to something else. Something equally dangerous, but not because he might hurt me. No, dangerous because of how my body and my wolf respond to every movement, sound, and nuance of emotion coming from him. Dangerous because I know I’ll never be able to resist him when he’s like this. Dangerous because I already find myself thinking of other things I can do to bring out this dominance and possessiveness in him again. “Get on the counter,” he orders, his hands sliding up my sides and under the shirt I’m wearing. The fabric glides over my skin, followed by his hands that leave goosebumps wherever they touch. My arms lift without a thought, and then the shirt is up and over my head in an instant, tossed on the counter behind me. My heart pounds, my breathing heavy as his eyes travel down from my face, reaching my breasts at the exact moment his hands do. He cups them from below, his thumbs brushing over my nipples.
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 43
REID POV “Remind me again why we’re outside in the snow?” Taryn asks, her arms crossed against the wind, her body bundled up in a dark green down coat, a tan satin lined beanie with flecks of color — like little sprinkles on a cupcake — atop her head to protect her braids. “Because it’s Winter Wonderland Day,” I reply. And because I need you out of the guest suite while hospitality sets up everything for the rest of our day. “But it’s a snowstorm.” “Oh, come on, Cadet. It’s not that bad right now!” I say, looking around at the heavy snowfall. Okay, so it may be coming down a little harder than just a regular snowy day, even for us as shifters. Especially for someone who came from Southern California and is used to beaches and temperate weather. But my little warrior looks so cute with her grumpy face and puffy jacket and with snowflakes dusting the lengths of her braids. She just stares at me, then turns on her heel and starts towards the house. But I grab her hand and snap her
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The Beta's Blind Date EPILOGUE
REID POV TWO MONTHS LATER — SEPTEMBER 30th Today is a perfect day. The sun is shining, its rays warming the grounds and the lake and the garden. There is a light breeze winding and swirling its way around the forest and through the flora, carrying the scent of pine, water, flowers, and sunshine with it. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, and the air is the perfect temperature — neither too hot nor too cold. I woke up with my girl in my arms, and my other girl singing us the song of her people at the top of her little lungs, letting us know she was ready to start her day. I spent the day carrying Savvy around against my chest in her baby wrap while Taryn rested and had a spa day with Haven, Maya, and Blake. I soaked in all her gummy smiles and little coos and baby noises, only bringing her back to the house when Taryn needed to feed her. There is no broken, emotionally damaged hybrid after my mate and wreaking havoc on our lives — the crones made sure of that. Malachi extended an offe
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 64
TARYN POV SEVEN MONTHS LATER — JULY 21st After a grueling twenty-one hours of labor, our Sour Patch was born at home at 4:31 am on July 21st. Reid was the perfect partner and father through my entire pregnancy and birth. He brought me breakfast in bed in the mornings when I was too exhausted to get up, and he held my hair back for me on the rare occasion morning sickness hit me. He put together every piece of furniture in the nursery and the cradle that now sits in the sitting area of our room, and he held my hand and coached me through every contraction, rubbing my back and caressing my belly, sending me every ounce of love he has for me as I worked my ass off to deliver our pup. And now, he’s standing in front of the window, framed by the light from the early morning sun. He holds our sleeping daughter in his arms, his face ducked down close to hers as he tells her about Crescent Lake, and about the moon goddess, and about all the things he’s going to teach her as she grows up. I
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 63
REID POV As soon as we secure Merina to the chair in the cell, I turn around and leave, heading back the way we came in. King Malachi is questioning Merina, getting more details from her about her confession, and even with my distaste for torture, I’d love to watch her squirm, love to watch him get every piece of information out of her by whatever means necessary. She more than deserves it for what she did to my mate. But the ache in my soul pulls me out of the room and back towards the packhouse, back towards my distressed mate. Her pain is mine, growing stronger by the second, clawing up my insides, impossible to ignore. I shove the door to the building open and Taryn flings herself at me, heels in her hand, burying her face in my shoulder as she clings to my neck. Her tears soak my T-shirt, silent sobs wracking her body. My arms wrap around her on instinct and I turn to take her back inside, out of the cold and away from prying eyes. “I’m here,” I say, my lips right against her
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 62
TARYN POV I stare at myself in the full-length mirror of our walk-in closet, smoothing my hands over the knee length pencil skirt of my off-white outfit. Butterflies swarm in my stomach, fluttering and tickling my insides, and my hands tremble, but I exhale and close my eyes, putting up my mask for the event today. A low whistle sounds from behind me, and I peek out through my lashes to meet Reid’s stare in the mirror, his blue eyes scanning over my dress and lingering on how it hugs the curves of my ass, thighs, and breasts. Heat and longing rise within me, and I turn to face him just as he reaches me. He tugs on the peplum ruffle of my top, pulling me flush against him and lowering his lips to mine for a soft kiss. “You look delectable,” he says. I laugh against his mouth. “Thanks.” “But what if you need to fight?” he asks, his hands skimming my hips and thighs. “This skirt hugs you in all the right places, but there is no way you can move properly should things end in a scuffle
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 61
REID POV We sit around Dominic’s bed, Taryn in my lap on one side, and Maya and her mother on the opposite. King Malachi, Dr. Russo, and Wes all stand near the end of the bed, on standby, should things get hairy. Tensions are high and heart rates quickened, but none are faster than mine. The only thing keeping my heart from racing out of my chest is my mate in my lap and in my arms. Her calm demeanor in turn calms me, grounds me. For the most part. Neither my wolf nor I are comfortable entering this… astral plane or whatever Renée called it — but I’m more uncomfortable with my mate going in there without me, so I’ll do what I have to if it means I know she’s safe. I squeeze her and she rubs my forearms, her hands warm and soft against my skin. The protective bracelet on her wrist jingles and clinks against mine, and she looks over her shoulder at me, a soft smile gracing her beautiful face. Renée places the black tourmaline charm necklace around Dominic’s neck, and I stare at it,
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 60
TARYN POV Large hands roam my body, one skating over my ribs and up to my chest and the other traveling down, caressing the tops of my thighs. Warmth spreads through me from where Reid’s hands touch, snaking through my veins like tendrils of smoky incense, sensual and soothing, and just as intoxicating. His hand comes back to my hip, and he presses a little kiss to my mark, his thumb stroking in circles on my abdomen. I whimper and sigh and push back against him, closing the already nonexistent distance between our two bodies. My ass rubs against his groin, and his hard as a rock dick twitches, a groan falling from his lips as he pinches my nipple and slides his hand down between my legs. “Maya said we needed to sleep,” I say, even as I tilt my hips up, seeking his expert touch. “Maya isn’t part of our mate bond,” Reid says, brushing his fingers over my entrance. “And we did sleep. All night. And now I want to have my way with you.” His digit slips between my lower lips, not enter
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 59
REID POV “What the fuck just happened?” I ask, holding Taryn against my body. She trembles and her skin is colder than ice, her teeth chattering and her eyes squeezed shut. She presses herself closer to me, her hands gripping my sweatshirt, her face burying into the fabric as she takes in deep breaths. I keep one arm around her waist and cup her cheek with the other, my eyes scanning her face, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest, worry and fear rushing through me like a jolt of lightning in my veins. Her beautiful skin has a gray tinge to it, and her eyelids flutter in time with her shivering body. Her heart beats even faster than mine, and rapid breaths force her chest and shoulders up and down at an unnatural pace. I clutch the back of her head and hug her to my chest again, swaying side to side, hoping the calming movement will help settle her nerves. “I was hoping Taryn could tell us,” King Malachi says, letting go of Dominic and stepping away from the bed. “Not here, tho
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 58
TARYN POV Reid tugs me away from the bed and stands between Dominic and me, taking a protective stance, his claws out and his growl echoing through the hospital cell. “What the hell? I thought you said he would stay unconscious?!” Dr. Russo rushes to the IV stand, checking the drip line and preparing another dose of sedative from the cart nearby, his movements rushed but precise. “I underestimated how much of it would filter from his system as Taryn healed him. I can prepare another dose, but it will take some time and I’ll need to focus.” Dominic’s eyes bore into me, cold and unfeeling, harsher and more distant than I’ve ever seen them. Gone is the male I knew, the male who was a friend before he was ever anything more. The male I thought would still be my friend even after I told him I wouldn’t remain at his beck and call. Maybe he was never that male. Maybe it was all an act. I’d like to believe that’s not the case, but the proof is staring right back at me, his lip curled and h
The Beta's Blind Date Chapter 57
REID POV I lower my lips to Taryn’s as my hand slides to the waistband of her leggings, her body quivering in anticipation. But I don’t kiss her. I just hover there, right above her mouth, my breath tickling her lips. Her throat bobs, her pretty neck still stretched and exposed, a feast for my eyes. Her complete submission to me in this moment awakens the primal instinct in me, the one I held back for too long after I met her. It prowls beneath my skin, demanding I claim her again and again, to make up for denying and fighting it. She shrieks as I rip her leggings from her body and toss the ruined garment aside, then reach for her boots to pull them from her feet. My claws slice down the middle of her sweater, and I push the halves aside to reveal her bare breasts, nipples already peaked and pointing straight to the ceiling atop her round tits. “Where’s your bra?” I growl, my eyes darkening. I don’t mind if she wants to free the titties, but the thought of another male seeing her
