Page 10 of Her Beta

“You ever have a question for me, don’t be afraid to ask. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

Her smile widened. “The same goes for me.”

I had no doubts about us having all the time in the world to learn everything about each other because I refused to leave my mate’s side now that I’d finally found her. But I was impatient to get to know the amazing woman fate had paired me with.

“Oh…umm…well, you already know that I’m a nurse.”

I nodded. “Yeah, and I gotta admit that I was surprised when you told me that you’re only twenty-two. You’ve accomplished a lot for someone so young.”

“My parents were really big on education, but we didn’t have a lot of money. So they urged me to get as many college credits as I could while I was in high school,” she explained, blushing over my compliment. “My parents passed away in an accident before I left for college, and I threw myself into my studies as a way to deal with my grief.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

I wrapped my arms around her, appreciating how she relaxed into my embrace before continuing. “The upside was that getting my associate’s degree along with my high school diploma allowed me to finish my BSN in only two years since I took a heavy course load and summer classes. About two months later, I took the NCLEX and was lucky enough to pass the first time. Then I got my first job at the hospital where I did my clinicals. But with nothing to tie me down to one place, I left after two years to become a travel nurse.”

“I hit the trifecta with you.” At her look of confusion, I explained, “You’re smart, beautiful, and kind. I’m a very lucky man to have you as my fated mate.”

“That is…just wow.”

The surprise and gratitude in her gorgeous green eyes made me hurt for her. Nobody as special as Evette should’ve gone through life without people telling her how amazing she was. But that would change now that we had found each other. She didn’t just have me in her corner, she had my entire pack. Something she’d learn sooner than she expected since I couldn’t picture Keane waiting six months to meet my mate.

My brother was an excellent alpha, but he wasn’t really known for his patience. And if he visited, Laina and Atlas would be with him since he hated being away from his mate and young cub.

We chatted some more, getting to know each other better before it was time to leave. When we headed out to the parking lot, I circled her car to open the passenger door.

“You’re coming with me? What about your truck?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I’ll text my brother, and he’ll have someone come pick it up.”

Tilting her head to the side, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Just like that? Even though you’re going to leave it an hour from home?”

“It’s a little farther than that since our mountain is on the other side of the hospital, but yeah.” Pulling her against my chest with a smile, I added, “That’s what it means to be part of the pack. And it doesn’t hurt that I’m the beta.”

Shaking her head, she laughed softly. “It sounds as though I have a lot to learn about life with a shifter.”

“We’re not so different from everyone else. We’re a family, just like any other.”

She poked my abs with a sigh. “One full of people who shift into bears. And a dragon.”

“We also have a cougar, a couple of wolves, some human mates…and you’ll see for yourself what kind of animal Cressida is at some point.” Thinking about how she was bound to react to seeing a mythical creature that was only supposed to exist in fairy tales, I grinned.

After climbing into the car, she smiled up at me. “I guess I already know some of those secrets she mentioned when we talked before I left.”

Thinking about the surprises in store for her, I chuckled as I circled the vehicle to get into the passenger seat.

Now that Evette knew about my grizzly and us being fated mates, I couldn’t wait for us to get to the next hotel. With more than a full day between when we would arrive and her appointment with human resources, there would be plenty of time for me to mate and mark my gorgeous nurse. And I intended to take full advantage of every minute.

7

EVETTE

Icouldn’t believe Leyton wanted me so much that he’d followed me three more hours away from his hometown. That was almost harder to wrap my head around than him being a grizzly bear shifter.

One who was ridiculously strong. After leaving my bags near the door, he carried me as though I was lighter than air through the suite’s living room toward the bedroom.

“You know I can walk,” I said with a giggle.

“And you know that I can carry you,” he said with a swat on my butt.

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