The Blazing Betas (Book 2 of the Garnetmoon series)

Chapter 1: Sweet Dreams

Domonique P.O.V

His full lips trace every inch of my body, committing it to memory. I'm lost in the sensation, unable to think clearly as he makes me feel things I never knew were possible. I shiver with pleasure as he whispers, "What's keeping that beautiful little mind of yours occupied, hmmm?" He asked, his voice is husky and rough as he kisses my neck, blowing small breaths across my ear. I'm consumed by the heat of the moment, unable to form a coherent response. Every touch, every kiss, sends waves of pleasure through me, and I never want it to end. This moment is pure physical ecstasy, and I'm lost in it completely.

With just a few small actions, he sends goosebumps rippling across my skin, igniting a fire within me that I can barely contain. I look up into his stormy gray eyes, completely lost in their depths, as the words struggle to leave my lips. This Greek god of a man has rendered me speechless! As he starts to suck and nibble on a sweet spot on my neck, I gasp for air, arching my back off the bed in pleasure. The sensation is overwhelming, and I can feel myself losing control. Every touch, every kiss, sends shivers of pleasure down my spine, and I'm powerless to resist his advances. This moment is pure bliss, and I never want it to end.

"Domonique?!" he said, his facial expression turning serious all of a sudden. My heart skipped a beat - what could he possibly want to talk about that was so serious? This wasn't how I expected things to go. I had been hoping for a romantic and sexy encounter, not a serious conversation. I longed for the heat of passion, not the chill of uncertainty.

"Domonique! Come on, get up!" he repeated, his voice insistent. I reluctantly pulled myself up from the bed, my mind racing with questions and doubts.

My eyes shot open as I stared back at my mother, the remnants of my dream still lingering in my mind. I had been lost in a world of my own creation, a world where my deepest desires were made manifest. But now, reality had come crashing back in, and I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated. My mother looked back at me, her eyebrows furrowed together in a stern expression. I could tell she was angry about something, but I didn't know what. Was it something I had done? Or was it something else entirely? I searched her face for clues, but all I could see was her anger and frustration.

"I'm up," I whispered, my voice heavy with disappointment. I had been lost in a dream, one where he was with me, holding me close and whispering sweet nothings in my ear. But now, I was back in the real world, staring into my mother's face instead of his. I groaned as I pulled the covers off of me and sat up straight, trying to shake off the last vestiges of sleep. It had been a long night - Jennifer was in her last month of pregnancy, and I had been up with her constantly, helping her get out of bed to go pee. Having a pregnant friend with you was no joke, especially when you were trying to get some rest yourself. But now, I had to face the day, no matter how tired I was. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for whatever lay ahead, hoping that I could make it through with my sanity intact.

My brothers had set off to the Blacknight pack, which was facing a serious vampire problem. Our pack was the only one with the skills and experience needed to take down a centuries-old vampire, and so we had been called in to help. But while my brothers were off fighting, I was left behind to deal with the fallout. Jennifer, who was heavily pregnant, was understandably upset that they had left at such a critical time. The stress and worry were taking a toll on her, and I could see the fear in her eyes. Jarrod, always the insensitive asshole, had promised Jennifer that I would be there to help her every step of the way.

If you had asked me, I would have said that my brothers knew exactly how cranky Jennifer could get this late in her pregnancy. With the twins, she had been extremely moody, and there was no doubt in my mind that this one would be no different. I could already see the signs of her irritability and mood swings, and I knew that it was going to be a tough few weeks. But despite all of this, my brothers had chosen to leave, leaving me to deal with the fallout. It was almost as if they wanted to be as far away from the moods as possible, knowing full well what they were in for.

"Come on, finish up!" my mother said, her voice insistent as she poked at me. I groaned, knowing that she wouldn't let up until I was fully awake. "We need to get everything ready for Jennifer's baby shower today!" The words hit me like a ton of bricks, reminding me of all the work that still needed to be done. I had been so caught up in my own thoughts that I had forgotten about the baby shower entirely. My mother spun around on her heels and walked out of my room. I sighed, slowly trying to pull my body out of bed. I could feel the weight of exhaustion bearing down on me.

As I stepped into the shower and turned on the water, the hot droplets cascading down my body, my mind wandered back to those gray eyes. I could still feel the intensity of his gaze, raking over my entire body and inviting me in with everything he had. I couldn't help but wonder how his kisses would feel, how his touch would send shivers down my spine. We had been getting close lately, spending more and more time together, but for some reason, Carra didn't recognize him as her mate. It was a mystery to me - he seemed like the perfect match for her, with his easy smile and gentle touch. But for some reason, fate had other plans. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't let myself get distracted by thoughts of him, not when there was so much to do.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally finished my shower and got dressed. As I walked down the hall to the elevator, my thoughts were still consumed by the dream I had had earlier. I couldn't shake the feeling of his arms around me, holding me close. It was like I was living in a fantasy world, unable to come back to reality. I stepped into the elevator and leaned against the wall, my mind still lost in thought. The elevator soon came to a stop, jolting me back to reality as Rick, our Gamma, stepped onto the elevator. It was only then that I realized we were on the third floor.

"Heading down?" he asked, and I nodded in response, returning his smile. "Yeah, my mom wants me to help out with Jennifer's baby shower," I explained, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over me. "But first... I need food and coffee... loads and loads of coffee!" I added, running my hands over my face in an attempt to wake myself up. The thought of a hot cup of coffee was the only thing that was keeping me going at this point. I knew that I had a long day ahead of me, and I needed all the energy I could get. Rick chuckled at my comment, clearly understanding the struggle of early mornings. "I hear you," he said, nodding in agreement.

Rick's laughter echoed through the elevator, making my head snap in his direction. "Your mother is truly a charge nurse on call or something like that," he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You have absolutely no idea how crazy it is down there. I was there earlier, and if it wasn't for the fact that I was practically running the pack with your brothers and boyfriend gone, I am sure she would have put me to work!" Rick's words were laced with a hint of exhaustion, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy toward him. I knew how demanding my mother could be, especially when it came to her work. She had always been a force to be reckoned with, and it seemed like nothing had changed. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling guilty for dragging him into this mess. "I had no idea it was going to be this crazy." Rick waved off my apology, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Don't worry about it," he said. "I'm just glad to be able to help out." I nodded in agreement.

"He is not my boyfriend!" I muttered under my breath, hoping that Rick hadn't heard me. The truth was, I secretly hoped that he would be one day. We had been fooling around together for a while now, but it was nothing serious. Just a kiss here or a movie and a cuddle there. I didn't want to admit it, but I was falling for him. Hard. But I knew that I couldn't let myself get too attached. He had made it clear from the beginning that he wasn't looking for anything serious, and I didn't want to push him away by being too clingy.

The elevator dinged open, and I let out an exhausted breath as Rick and I stepped onto the ground floor. The chaos that greeted us was overwhelming. Omegas were running around in all directions, carrying flowers, platters, and all sorts of different things that my mother wanted to use for the baby shower. The air was filled with the sound of chatter and laughter, and the sweet smell of baked goods wafted through the air. I could feel my heart rate increase as I took in the scene before me. There was so much to do, and so little time.

As I stepped off the elevator, my stomach growled in protest. I knew that I wouldn't be able to tackle the chaos of the baby shower without first fueling up. I made a beeline for the dining hall, my mouth watering at the thought of food. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the air, making my stomach grumble even louder. I walked into the kitchen, where Mrs. Delouise was busy preparing breakfast for the pack. "Mrs. Delouise! How are you today?" I asked her with a smile, feeling grateful for her presence. She was like a second mother to me, always ready with a warm meal and a kind word. Mrs. Delouise smiled back at me, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm doing well, dear," she replied, patting my hand affectionately. "And how are you?" I shrugged, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over me. "I'm hanging in there," I said, grabbing a plate and starting to load heaps of food onto it. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast... I piled it all on, knowing that I would need all the energy I could get. Mrs. Delouise chuckled at my appetite, shaking her head in amusement. "You always did have a healthy appetite," she said, handing me a cup of coffee. I smiled gratefully at her.