41. Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

Jack

I t's a nice night and the walk home is easy. My mates give Beth and I some space on the way back to the restaurant, and she immediately apologises for her ex. I can tell she feels awful about what happened once she left, and it doesn't matter that it's not her fault.

She feels responsible. He was her ex, and she's the reason he was there.

That doesn't tell the whole story.

She doesn't know what I said to make him throw the first punch.

I've been warned not to tell her, so she's not going to find out, either.

I'm forbidden from revealing that she's our fated mate.

When I took Enzo and Arrow backstage to grab my kit, they filled me in on Gio running into Beth in the mall, where he apparently found out that she's gun-shy about dating right now, after some bad experiences.

I get it, after meeting her ex.

It doesn't make sense not to tell her we're meant for her, but Alpha's orders are Alpha's orders.

I'm sure their instincts will kick in soon enough and make them realize how dumb they're being.

While I wait, I'll just have to keep things light and friendly.

"So, what did you think of The Terrace?" I ask, hoping she at least enjoyed the gig.

"Um …" She presses her lips together and gives me an apologetic look. "You sounded really good at the start …"

I blink at her. "At the start?"

Holy fuck. Maybe I really got hurt in that fight.

Everything seemed normal to me, but if I sounded like crap …

"That came out wrong," she says quickly. "What I meant was it was great, but I was kind of tired and I sort of fell asleep until the next band came on and started all their screeching. So, I guess I kind of missed most of it. Sorry."

"Oh," I murmur, wondering what to make of that.

Most people don't just pass out in public places.

I mean, unless there are substances being abused, or something.

"I haven't been sleeping too well lately," she adds when I don't say anything else. "I guess the lack of rest caught up to me. It was kind of embarrassing, to be honest. I think I might have drooled on Enzo's leg. He must think I'm such a mess."

"He didn't mention it," I assure her. "You must have been pretty exhausted to fall asleep in a bar."

"I guess," she says, shrugging.

She tugs at the sleeves of her jacket, and I can tell she doesn't want to talk about it as she wraps her arms around her middle. It's not cold, but she's uncomfortable about something.

I'd bet good money on her ex.

I want to ask about him, but I don't want her to shut down on me completely.

"Do you feel safe at home?"

"I do," she tells me, nodding. "I'm just … I'm having doubts about the course I'm taking, and I have a lot to work through with that."

"So, you're at college."

"I'm in my first semester."

"What's the course?" I ask, curious now.

"Information Systems," she says, shooting me a wry smile when I give her a blank look. "It's the course you need to take to become a Librarian."

It takes a second for that to sink in, I'll admit.

She doesn't exactly have the quiet little mouse vibe that I associate with that kind of work.

"What?" she asks, when I don't say anything.

"I was trying to picture it," I admit. "I'm kind of shocked, to be honest."

"We just met," she reminds me.

"You're not a librarian," I tell her, knowing I'm right the second the words come out of my mouth. It's obnoxious to tell anyone who or what they can be or do, but it doesn't make it any less true.

"Well, no, because I haven't finished my degree yet," she says, going with semantics as her line of defence. "It'll take a few years to get there."

"But you're having doubts?"

She shrugs. "It's nothing, really. I'm just kind of bored."

"It sounds like a boring course. What was your first choice?"

"It was my first choice."

I raise an eyebrow at her, and she laughs.

"Seriously. It was."

"Why?"

"It's a profession," she says. "I made a list in senior year at high school, and I crossed off the stuff I couldn't do. It's what was left at the end."

"You made a list?"

"I had limited time to apply to colleges, and it was the easiest way to narrow things down."

"Okay. So, what kind of stuff did you cross out?"

She frowns. "Let's see. Teaching. Nursing. Accounts. Legal. Anything white collar that you need to be specially qualified to do, basically."

"And that's because you didn't know what to go for?"

"I thought about doing a business course," she says, a wry smile forming on her lips. "But my sisters all went into professional jobs, and my parents … I was kind of a handful as a kid. They were always worried that I wouldn't be able to fend for myself. Besides, I'm not an Alpha. What do I know about running my own business?"

A slow smile spreads my lips wide as we approach the restaurant.

Everything she said about it, all the things she pointed out, they're exactly what's wrong with this place, and I know how to get her to spend time with us now.

And it doesn't matter one little bit if she's in a no-dating phase or not.

"Well, I think we need to hire you," I tell her as we stop by the door.

Gio has moved around to the side of the building to check the alley, and Enzo and Arrow haven't caught up to us yet, so it's just me and her, standing outside my pack's failing restaurant, gazing at each other.

This is the start of the best time of our lives, and I don't think she even knows it.

"Hire me?" she asks. "I know this place doesn't look like a restaurant, but it's definitely not a library."

I laugh. "That's why we need you."

She raises an eyebrow. "Because you're turning it into a library?"

"No. We need you because you're not a librarian," I tell her. "You see the things we're doing wrong. We need help to fix those things. We need your help."

"I mean, I already told you so you could just …"

I shake my head slowly. "No. We couldn't. We need you, Beth."

We need you like we need the air we breathe.

You'll see that yourself when you've spent enough time around us.

Right now, all I need you to do is say yes.

"I'm not above begging," I warn her, ready to drop to my knees.

Her bright eyes widen. "You're serious."

"We'll pay you to be our consultant, and we'll listen to every bit of advice you give us."

I can hear my pack mates approaching from both sides while I wait for her answer.

They have no idea I'm securing her company, for all of us.

"I could use a break from my course," she murmurs. "But I have to put a timer on it."

"No problem. Whatever you want."

"I hope I don't regret this," she says.

"Regret what?" Gio asks as he reaches my side.

She smiles at him. "Becoming your business consultant."

The confused expression he's wearing when he looks at me for an explanation is priceless.

"I'll let Gio work out the payment side of things with you," I add, before I get my keys out of my pocket. "I assume you're free for lunch tomorrow so we can discuss the job before you get started?"

"Sure," she says.

"Job?" Arrow asks, as he approaches. "Did I just hear something about a job? Can I stop manning the front desk? Please, tell me that's what you were talking about."

He's curious and eager to find out, but he doesn't have too long to wait.

"Ignore that," I tell Beth as I pass him my keys. "He loves his job."

"I love the perks," Arrow admits, giving Beth a look that makes her cheeks flush.

He steps inside, and Enzo follows with my band equipment as he holds the door open.

I have to admit, I'm reluctant to say goodnight to Beth.

She deserves more than I just offered her.

So much more.

Gio clears his throat. "Wait inside for me. Lock the door."

"You didn't see anyone though, right?" I ask.

He sighs and gives me an expectant look. "No one's lurking in the alley. It doesn't mean it's safe to stand around out here on your own."

He probably has a point. "Fine. I'm going inside."

I look back at Beth. "See you tomorrow."

She nods, and I go inside.

Enzo locks up while I move to the window to watch them walk away.

Gio offers his hand, and she stops hugging herself to take it.

It's a good sign. She fell asleep on Enzo tonight, and she's taking Gio's hand.

She trusts us, I can feel it. She just needs a little time to figure out we're what her life is missing.

As soon as she does, I know she'll be ready to hear what I already want her to know.

She belongs here with us.