68. Chapter Sixty-Eight

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Jack

I didn't think I'd be spending my afternoon moving tables around the dining room, but since it's part of Beth's plan to improve the flow and the atmosphere it becomes the first priority after we've called and booked the tradesmen for the bigger jobs.

"What about this one?" I ask, pointing out the tiny two-person table that doesn't really fit in with the rest. It's the only small one we have. Every other table is big enough for four or more chairs.

Beth comes over and looks at it. "I think … We should order a few more in this size. It'll work well at the front of the restaurant."

"Okay cool. I'll move it out to reception."

She nods, and I see her gaze fall on my arm.

The curious look in her eyes catches my attention, and I realize she's looking at my tattoo.

Ah, shit. It's a heart being pierced by an arrow, which I got after I met Arrow and my Alphas.

She's going to know Arrow's my true mate.

Should have worn something with long sleeves.

Too late now.

"Nice ink," she says finally, her gaze rising back to my face.

"Thanks," I murmur, wondering if I can avoid any awkward questions by moving that table now.

"Did you get it because of Arrow?" she asks, as I get ready to lift.

She has one raised eyebrow when I look back at her.

She knows. Damn it. She knows .

I stop what I'm doing and take a deep breath. This is it. I'm about to find out if I was right when I argued that we should tell her the whole truth.

"We're mated," I confirm, not seeing any surprise in her expression. "Arrow and I are mated to G and Enzo, too."

Still no surprise, but she's starting to frown.

"So, then, why would you and Gio …" she starts.

"You're our true mate, too," I confess, silently praying that I haven't just messed up by telling her.

She was going to work it out, anyway. She's too smart not to.

There's a flash of something in her eyes. It sparks up and fades out quickly.

"That's not funny," she tells me, sounding hurt.

"I wasn't trying to be funny," I assure her. "We all feel it. We know it."

"I think I'm done for the day."

My stomach sinks. She's serious.

That cold tone in her voice is real.

I've upset her by revealing the one thing my Alphas told me not to reveal.

Shit! I've fucked up, and I don't know how to undo what I just did.

I said it. It's out there. And she really didn't like it.

There's no way to take it back.

"Don't leave. I'm sorry," I try, not understanding.

"I don't like being messed around," she says, her voice still laced with that frosty tone.

"I wasn't trying to do that."

She takes in a deep breath. "I can't be here right now."

"Okay. I'll …"

She holds a hand up and shakes her head.

The rest of the words die on my tongue.

She doesn't want to hear them.

"I'll walk myself home."

I watch helplessly as she weaves her way through the new layout of tables toward the reception area. She's striding forward at a quickened pace, and she's about to leave the building without an escort.

I don't know what the hell to do, but I have to do something. There's no denying that.

I stumble toward the kitchen, bumping into a couple of the newly moved tables on the way.

The layout might be better, but I haven't gotten used to it yet.

"Enzo!" I call out. " Lorenzo !"

My Alpha either doesn't hear me or he's not where I thought he was.

I push the kitchen door open and step inside.

I can hear Beth leaving. She doesn't slam the door, but it makes a distinctive sound when it closes. My stomach clenches on hearing it.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Enzo isn't in the kitchen.

I grab my phone out of my pocket, and I give him a call as I navigate my way past the newly placed tables, heading toward the front door as quickly as I can.

Panic is setting in now. I told her, and my Alphas were right.

She wasn't ready to hear it.

I don't think I've ever messed up this badly in my entire life.

What if she doesn't come back?

What if …

"Jack?" Enzo answers. "What's wrong?"

"Where are you?" I ask as I get to the door.

It sounds accusatory, but that's because I'm in a panic.

"I'm upstairs. Gio and Arrow are with me. You sound …"

"I fucked up. She was asking questions, and I … I told her."

"Okay. I'm assuming she didn't react well?"

"She went all cold on me, said she didn't appreciate being lied to or something like that, and then she said she wanted to walk home alone, and she left!" I open the door and step outside.

I can't see her, but I know her route home.

I start heading that way. "I'm going to try and catch up to her."

"Don't try to speak to her," Enzo warns me. "If you're following her, just make sure she gets home safe and then come back here. We'll figure this out as a pack."

Usually, Enzo's good at making me feel better.

Today his calm and considered answer doesn't do much to help calm my racing heart.

I feel like an asshole. I upset Beth.

I don't understand her reaction, so I don't know what the hell to do about it.

Should have asked her what she was thinking, instead of spilling my guts.

"Talk to me, Jack. What's happening?"

I slow down a little once I see Beth up ahead.

"She's almost at her apartment building."

"Okay," Enzo says. "Let her go inside and then come back to the restaurant. We're all in the apartment waiting for you. This isn't on you, Jack. We all knew it was going to come up, and we should have been ready for a bad reaction. We weren't. That's not your fault."

It sure as hell feels like it's my fault, but I don't tell him that.

He knows. It's why he's trying to reassure me.

I tell him I'll see him soon, and I hang up, watching as Beth goes into her apartment building before I turn around to go back home, feeling sick to my stomach.

It doesn't matter what anyone says, I'm the one who made her walk away.