A Beta Before An Alpha
Chapter 10

Lauren's point of View I can't stop thinking about earlier when Zac got to my place. I'm mortified that Sadie spilled the beans that I think he's sexy. I think I played it off well, but I doubt he believes she came to that conclusion on her own. I was totally gushing abo how good-looking he was, but 1 didn't expect Sadie to blab, though. We're driving to Zac's packhouse now, in his SUV. It's distracting to be so close to him and smell him and his cologne. Usually, I'm a safe distance away from him, but even thes he's... distracting. I look over at him. His dark hair isn't very long, but it's got this whole; I'm sexy without trying look. I also never realized tt I thought facial hair was so sexy until I met him. It's not very long, but it's HOT AFI He looks like a man. He's gorgeous. He looks over at me, and he totally caught me staring at him. Instead of turning away like a normal person, I take a second ts look at his amazing brown eyes. They're so dark brown, I've never seen anything like it before. He smiles, and I smile bach before finally turning to look straight ahead, hoping he doesn't notice my burning cheeks. Why am 1 50 attracted to him? “I only became Alpha of this pack a few months ago, so I have projects on the go and have big plans for the future of it,” zac says. “Really? Your parents waited a while to hand over the reins? In my old pack, the Alpha took over on his 20th birthday... He old are you?" He looks older and much more distinguished than 21-year-old Nathan. He looks like he's in his late 20's. “'m 23, but I actually didn't inherit this pack. I fought for it," he admits. Wow, I wasn't expecting him to say that. “How old are you?” he asks. “Ym 181" “Really? I thought you were older. You act older than 18," he admits. I shake my head. I hope he isn't disappointed. “I've always gotten that’ I admit. “So, where were you before here? What happened to your last pack?” I ask. “I was the Beta in my last pack, which is the largest pack on the east coast, possibly the country,” he explains. That doesn make sense. No way. “You don't look like you fit the Beta type. Are you being serious?” I question. He smiles and nods. He explains quickly hov all happened, and it's remarkably interesting. “So just keep in mind, I have big plans for this place. I've got construction projects on the go, and some planned for the future. I've been training my warriors hard, and I want to expand,” he says passionately. I can't help the sting in my heart when I hear that he's ambitious like Nathan. My first instinct is to ask him his thoughts about his mate, but I refrain. He's already given me way more information about his life than I have given him, and I don’ really want to open the mate conversation. Do I even want him to want his mate? It would serve me better if he didn't, but I wouldn't want him to turn her down because no one deserves that. At the same time, I have this weird... thing for him. We enter the border of the pack lands, and I know because we pass guards. “How many people were in your last pack?” Zac asks. “Um, about 350, I think," and he nods. “We're almost 300, so still a little smaller than your last pack,” he points out. The houses that we pass on the way to the packhouse are cute. The packhouse is probably similar in size to Claw Moon's. They're both huge. The exterior is white with black shutters. When the vehicle turns off, Zac hops out. I'm open my door, and Zac is right there extending a hand to help me out. Very much a gentleman. “Thank you,” I smile. He held my hand an extra second or two longer than he needed to, but I didn’t pull away. He looks at me with such tenderness and maybe affection. Can I let myself fall for this man? I know it's not a good idea; h mate is waiting for him. Even if he was like Nathan and wanted to reject her, I don't think I could let him. I don’t think I could be responsible for causing that type of pain to someone else. Maybe I should stick to dating humans? Maybe comir here was a bad idea? “Are you okay?” Zac asks. “Yeah, why?" I answer quickly. “You just look like you were miles away, and it looked... painful" I brush off his comment and force myself to plaster a bi smile on my face. “Sorry. I'm good," 1 say cheerfully and chuckle. I don't need to think about this now. I'll enjoy the tour and t****e myself with all these questions when I'm alone. “Come on, I'll show you around,” he says, and he seems to have bought my acting, thankfully. First, he shows me the packhouse, the large common areas on the main floor, and then he shows me the second and third floor where the room: for pack members are. He point's to the stairs going up, “That's my place and my office,” he admits. 1 think he thought about showing me, but he didn't. He also shows me the basement, which is huge. Lots of random boxes piled, and a gym. He explains the plans he has for everything along the way. The new gym will be built in the old warriors building, and this basement will be gutted and renovated with more rooms for pack members. When the packhouse tour is finished, he takes me to a large building that under construction. From the outside, it looks almost finished. “This is going to be our new warriors training building. Do you fight?” He asks. “No, I never had an interest in it, to be honest. I hate the idea of hurting anyone,” I admit, and he smiles broadly. “Are you trying not to laugh at me right now?” I question, with mock outrage and a chuckle. “No, I'm not laughing. I actually really like that about you,” and he says it so genuinely, I almost believe him. “You're joking, right?” I ask straight-faced, but he shakes his head. “Why would you like that I don't want to fight? I thought Alphas wanted everyone to be a warrior?” “Let's just say, I've learned some things from the pack I was in before. I'll explain it another time,” he smiles. “Okay, I agree hesitantly, but mostly because we are coming up to a group of warriors training outside. Zac walks to the front of the class, where Malcolm and Paul are leading them. I give them a little wave, and they greet me with a smile and “Hey” Zac places his hand on my back to usher me with him. Everyone stops what they're doing and waits for Zac to say something while I stand beside him. I look at him with big eye like what the heck? But he just smiles. “Good Morning, everyone! I want to introduce you all to Lauren; she’s a friend of mine, and 'm showing her around the pack today,” he states. I'm greeted with lots of happy smiling faces, but not everyone is eager and excited to meet me. Plenty of women are givir me death glares. Zac has quite the harem of women here. I wonder if he's been with all these women, or are they just adoring fans... like me. I feel a sting of jealousy just thinking about the fact that he very well may have had some of these women or all. What is wrong with me? I still technically have a mate. After meeting the warriors, Zac tells me he will take me to the daycare centre, which 'm so excited about. 1 also can't get the women off my mind. I tell myself over and over to drop it and let it go, but I can't seem to. Finally, I crack. “I think you going to have some explaining to do after, I test. Zac looks confused, “About what?” “There were a lot of jealous women back there. They did not lie me being friends with you,” I smile. But I'm not smiling on the inside. I told myself not to say anything about them, considering I have no claim to him, but I' going crazy. What is it about him? He furrows his brows, “I don't owe any of them anything. They're my pack members, and 'm their Alpha. I've never been... more than that with any of them,” he starts, and his eyes study me. “I wouldn't do anything to disrespect my future, Luna,’ he adds, and his eyes are searching mine. I take a sigh of relief, an I can't help my smile. “See, I knew you were a gentleman; there's no denying it now,” I say jokingly, to lighten the mood. He cracks a smile, and the most beautiful sight. “Lauren I-* “Alphal You came to visit the little ones!” A round older woman with blonde and grey hair says. He smiles and nods, but I can see he's a little irritated that he was interrupted. I wonder what he wanted to say? We make our way into a classroom and it's the toddler ages 2-4 years old class. Zac's Point of View Mrs. Potter interrupted me when I was about to open up to Lauren about my feelings. I was annoyed because I had finally felt like the moment was right, but now the moment has passed. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe I'm rushing things, althou how can it be rushing when I crave so much more? What I would give to just hold her close or to be able to kiss her. “This is such a fun age” Lauren says excitedly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I introduce Lauren to the women that are working in this classroom. If I thought Lauren's energy was positive and cheerful in the bar, it's times 10 in here. She clearly loves kids, which only makes me think about putting a pup inside her. f**k. “Aw, what's going on with this little guy?” Lauren asks but doesn't wait for an answer as she moves to the other side of th room, where a young boy is sitting looking sad. He was so quiet, no one noticed him except Lauren. “Hey, Buddy! Are you okay?” She asks as she sits down beside him in a little chair. He isn't talking at first, but soon enoug she has him spilling his guts. She's listening to him carefully, and he tells her he misses his Mommy, and he's sad. “Are you new to play school?” She asks, and he nods with a big frown. She looks at him sympathetically. “You know, I'm new here today too. This is my first time here. Maybe if we stick together, we can make new friends together?” He gives her a small smile and nods. “My name is Ms. Lauren; what's yours?” “Chawlee,” he answers. “Charlie? I love that name. Come on, Charlie," she stands up and extends her hand so he can hold it. Lucky kid. He puts hi arms up, though, and she smiles broadly and scoops him up. “Did you need a hug first?” She asks, and he smiles and nods. “Me too!” He wraps his arms around her neck and holds her tight. The lucky little guy is just doing what he wants, wrapping his arm around her and holding on. I can't help but chuckle when I think about how envious I am of a 3-year-old. Finally, she walks over to a group of toddlers. She sits down on the floor with them, and Charlie makes himself comfortab sitting on her lap. “Hi everyone! My name is Ms. Lauren, and this is my friend Charlie. We're both new here today, and we both wanted to make new friends. Can we play with you?” She asks. One little girl walks over, and starts playing with Lauren's hair, and starts talking to her. Soon enough, they are all around her trying to get her attention, and here I am just as bad. I make my way over to the carpet and sit down too. “Look, Alpha’s here to play too," she adds. The little kids look a little afraid of me. I never come in here to see them, so they don't really know me. “Are we shy with Alpha?” She asks. The little kids seem to get closer to her when she asks. “Alpha is my very special friend, and he's very nice. We don’t have to be shy or scared of him, she says, and she looks at me and smiles. One of the older girls in the class, probably four years old, says, “My mom has a special friend that comes over after we g to bed, but sometimes I'm not sleeping yet. They like to wrestle. They wrestle really loud. Mommy says that they're just pretending, though. No one’s getting hurt, but it sounds like they're hurting each other. Do you and Alpha wrestle? Is he your special wrestling friend?” She asks innocently. Lauren looks at me with big eyes, and she’s biting her lips, trying to contain the laughter. She's stronger than I am. I couldn't hold it in. Little Sally is giving me a dirty look now. “No, Alpha and I aren't special wrestling friends," she manages to say semi-straight-faced. “Hmm, okay," she shrugs. “Maybe that's what Mommy and Daddy do after they tuck me in. I thought they were singing, but maybe they like to wrest too. I'll ask Mommy after” little Joseph says. “Okay, let's play a game; Lauren interrupts quickly and then smirks at me. No wonder she loves working with little tots; they're hilarious. After a game of duck duck goose, Charlie is feeling better, and the kids have welcomed him into their little circle. “Should we continue the tour?” I ask. “Sure,” she nods, and we stand up, “We have lots of work to do, so we have to go. Thank you so much for letting us play with you. Can I have a hug goodbye? she asks and bends down. Instantly the kids are throwing themselves at her. She's laughing and smiling at the show of affection. She's so beautiful, but not just on the outside, on the inside too. “Now one for Alpha too," she asks. The kids aren't as eager to get their arms around me. I might have been safe enough tc play duck duck goose with, but hugging is a whole other story. “He's not as scary as he looks,” she chuckles. “See! Come here, Alpha,” she says, and she stands back up. I come closer, and she wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me. SHE'S HUGGING MEX! I wrap my arms around her, and I don't ever want to let go. She pulls away but leaves one hand on my back and faces the kids. “See, he won't bite,” she says, and the kids slowly start to come over. We bend, but I keep one hand on the small of her back, and she keeps hers on mine, and the kids come in and hug us both. It doesn't feel like she's tense at all. This is so natural for both of us. I can't deny the feelings I have for her or how much I want her. I feel like I just got lucky because I got a hug and our hands rested on each other's backs for 10 seconds. The close physic contact is washing away any doubts in the corners of my mind I had about choosing Lauren and not waiting for my mate. want Lauren. I don't care about anyone else, and I don't think I could ever be more attracted or drawn to someone. She's perfect, and not just for me. She'll make a great Luna. I'm going to tell her today. I need to. I can't keep it in. Lauren thanks the women for letting us visit, “No thank you, dear. You really helped Charlie out of his funk. He said he wz new, but he’s been coming for a week now and has been sulking in the corner the whole time. We tried to get him playing but no luck. This is the first time he’s been interacting with the other kids. His mother will be thrilled,” Mrs. Potter explain Lauren is frowning. “Poor Charlie," she says softly. She's such a sweetheart. I love the way that she interacted with the kid and the way they immediately loved her. We leave, and Lauren seems to have a little extra pep in her step now. Next, I take her to the rec hall, “Hey! Alpha! Nice to see you taking a break,” Chuck, an Omega custodian says. “Thanks, Chuck, hey how's Charles?” I ask. “He is great; Jill's great. We're happy beyond comprehension,” he chuckles. “Good. I'm glad to hear it. Chuck, this is Lauren, a friend of mine" “Lauren, this is Chuck; his mate Jill just had a baby boy last week," I explain. “Nice to meet you, Chuck! Congratulations on the baby, that's so exciting” Lauren beams. “Thank you, it really is. I was just on my way back home. Jill just called and needs a hand!” We say goodbye, and I start showing her around.

PEE i)

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