Page 70 of Overcoming the Beta

“You have to take care of my situation, Ian.” She whispers and we both laugh.

“Tough job, but someone has to do it,” I kiss her forehead.

“My daughter is not going anywhere with him.” Gamma Earnest’s voice is harsh and demanding. I hear heavy footsteps enter the small bathroom; I don’t even have to look up to realize who it is.

“It’s okay, Nathaniel.” She pauses, probably mindlinking her mate to calm him. Gamma Earnest just made a grave mistake by being disrespectful to his Luna in front of her overprotective mate. “Earnest.” Luna Martha takes a deep breath before she continues talking to her friend. “I know that you only have your daughter’s best interest in mind, and you feel it’s your duty as a father to protect your pup until your last breath. The truth is, Ian has done everything he can to prove to everyone that he is worthy of Kate’s love. We all know that these two have a past… a dark one that many don’t overcome. Look at your daughter. Being in her mate’s arms has made her pains and high body temperature more bearable. No one is going to stop nature or Moon Goddess’ plans for them. Not you, nor I… no one.” The room is so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

“Why though?” Kate’s mom asks, “Why did her heat come on like this?”

“My guess is that they have not fully repaired the damaged mate bond.” She sighs, turning to me, “Ian, you two have not mated since you’ve reconnected… correct?”

“Correct Luna.” I answer. This is probably one of the more humiliating conversations I’ve had with Luna.

“My guess,” she turns away from me and continues her conversation about Kate and me like we aren’t even here. “To fully repair the damaged mate bond after that one,” she points at me, “damaged it so bad, they’ll need to complete the mating and marking all over again. It’s just a theory, but that’s what I believe will have to happen. Right now, their marks are so faded, they’re not visible… not like any of ours anyway.” Luna Martha turns back to me. “Why are you still here?”

“I promised Kate we would wait until…” Luna Martha interrupts me before I can say another word.

“Time is up, nature decided for the two of you. I hope you realize now that you’re here Kate’s fever has broken. Kate will now go into a phase of heat that we,” she points between Kate’s mom and herself, “understand. She will be the one who will aggressively take what she wants.” She pauses and sighs, “she will also emit a pheromone that will alert all unmated males of her heat. Are you looking to battle again so soon?” Zane and Kelsey giggle like schoolgirls. “Knock it off, you two. Gamma Earnest… warriors… SUV. Time is of essence here. You don’t want what is going to happen under your roof in the room right next to you, do you?” Luna Martha’s words cause Alpha to laugh.

“SUV is downstairs now.” Gamma Earnest says in defeat. I stand and step out of the bathtub.

“I have done nothing to Kate. I made you a promise to do right by your daughter, and I intend to do just that.” Looking Gamma Earnest in his eyes, I speak frankly to him. Like a man protecting his mate… like the beta that I am. He nods, then I turn and pick my mate up to carry her downstairs.

“Wait!” Luna Martha demands. “Kate honey, where is that cheap piece of glass… and yes, that’s all it is. That’s all that the human thought you are worth. Where is it?” I put Kate down and she disappears into her room, returning seconds later, placing the ring that frat boy gave her in the palm of Luna’s hand. “Thank you.” I pick Kate back up.

“I can walk, Ian.” Kate protests.

“I know… I would just rather carry you right now.” She doesn’t argue, just nods. I’m about halfway down the stairs when I hear Luna Martha speak again.

“Zane, Kelsey, make sure this gets back to its rightful owner.” There is disgust in Luna Martha’s voice.

“Yes, mother.” Zane replies.

Chapter thirty-five

You Want Me

**July 2004**

Ian

“Wait,Kate,wait.”Igrab her hands from the hem of my soaking wet tee-shirt. Pushing her hands back into her body and stopping her from pulling the tee-shirt off me.

“What?” She frustratingly sighs out. Annoyed at me, she throws herself down on the bed in the fishing cabin, crossing her arms, and glaring at me. I bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud at the little fit she is throwing. All I can think is, once again after returning home from a mission, she’s mad at me. This time she’s throwing herself at me instead of coffee mugs. I’ll take it as a win. She is so damn cute right now, with her wet hair and wet clothes. Damn, she’s so fucking hot.

“Listen, this is not how I wanted this to go. I want you to want me, not because nature is forcing this.” I wave my hands in front of me. The fact is, I want her so badly, I can taste it, but I don’t want her thinking that I’m using the mate bond to manipulate her feelings about me. I don’t want her regretting anything.

“What did you say to me when you left?” She tilts her head.

“Ummm…” I try to think back.

“Think about what you want to say anddoto me.” She licks her lips and pushes her breasts out. “I’ve slept in your bed, surrounded by your scent every day since you’ve been gone. All I’ve done is think about the things I want to do to you. Especially when I… touched myself in the middle of the night.” She rubs her breasts through her wet tee-shirt. “Hell, I probably caused this heat because of all the things I was thinking.” I’m fixated on her hard nipples poking through her wet shirt. “I had already decided that I wanted to mate with you, and if we didn’t get interrupted… we would have… that night.” She opens her legs slightly and leans back. “Now get over here and handle my situation like a good mate.”

I stand in complete shock. It feels like my feet are cemented to the floor. I watch my mate with my mouth agape and my cock twitching to be released. Her eyes are black with lust and her full pink lips are begging to be kissed. Kate has never been this bold and demanding with me. Some men might want to run and hide, but I’ve never been so turned on.

“You want me?” I point to myself. “Not because nature is forcing you?” My breathing is heavy as excitement builds within me.

“Yes. I want you, Ian.” She tilts her head back, exposing her neck to me. Her chest heaves up and down as the mate bond swirls around us.

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