The Beta Who Bought Me

Chapter 9 - Beta

Laurel walked a few strides behind the graceful Luna. She glanced to her left and right as they continued down the long corridor, trying to get a sense of where she might be. But it was useless as she had been blindfolded on her way to the Appraisal earlier.

The corridor ended with a brass-colored elevator. Luna Grace inserted a key card into a slot and pressed a button to signal the elevator that their destination would be upward. The elevator soon met them, and they stepped inside. What Laurel didn’t see inside the elevator was any buttons for floors. The elevator automatically started to move and signaled with a loud ping when they arrived at their floor.

The doors spread wide to reveal a short black marbled hallway that led to the shiny black door of a private apartment. A large brass placket on the door simply read, "BETA" in all caps. Luna Grace rapped lightly on the door, which soon opened.

Laurel had to stifle a gasp when she felt the strong aura of the blond man now standing there, the one with ocean blue eyes she saw from the stage earlier. He stood leaning against the door frame, arms crossed and looking slightly bored but absolutely jaw-dropping. His grey suit jacket was now removed and the top few buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing just a peek of the sculpted chest it covered.

“Beta Owen,” Luna Grace politely addressed him by his title with a petite curtsy.

“Luna Grace,” he bowed respectfully, but he barely moved his gaze as he acknowledged her before fixing his eyes firmly back upon Laurel.

His piercing vision was making her heart pound wildly in her chest, and she wasn’t sure why. His mere presence made her body shiver in desire. She felt ashamed at her body’s reaction to him, especially since she was merely a purchase for him. I’m an object, not a person, she reminded herself. She averted her eyes and gazed down at the floor. He didn’t look away from her, however, and she could definitely sense his eyes were still on her. It made heat rise in her cheeks to be studied so intensely.

Luna Grace moved her elegant long fingers under Laurel’s chin and brought her gaze back up to Owen’s. “Laurel, this is Owen Wexler,” she began her introduction. “He just took over as Beta for our pack fairly recently, but I am sure you will be in good hands with him.”

With only that basic introduction, she went back to the elevator, leaving Laurel alone with her buyer. She fiddled with her fingers, not knowing where to look or what to do at that point.

"You wanna come in?” A chuckle rumbled deep in his chest, and he quirked an eyebrow inquisitively at the nervous girl.

“Uh, sure,” she spoke so softly that she was barely audible. She kept her gaze downward as she stepped across the threshold.

The apartment she stepped into was decidedly masculine but not the typical bachelor pad either. It was elegant, neat, and tidy. A black leather couch in the living room was flanked by floor to ceiling bookshelves. The glass coffee table in the center of the room held a leather bound book of some kind. There was a large wall-mounted television over a painted brick mantle with a fireplace lit that was currently warming the room nicely. She didn’t have long to admire before he spoke to her again.

“I apologize if the space is not to your liking,” his deep voice removed her from her inspection of the room.

“Oh, no need to apologize! I mean, it’s your place, right?” She hurriedly blurted out while waving her hands in front of her face. Did I give him the impression that I was unhappy with his decorating? she second-guessed herself.

“You can redecorate if you like. I’m not particularly attached to anything.” He stepped up to her, taking a lock of her loose curls and twirling it in his fingers.

“What?” She replied with surprise at the comment and his action. His towering form leaned over her, inching closer into her personal space. The air around them felt like it was sparking with electricity and made it increasingly hard for Laurel to breathe.

“You're here now, so I want you to be comfortable,” he said lowly, his breath dancing over her lips as his face was barely a hair’s breadth away from hers now.

Her eyes focused on his gorgeous mouth. His lips called out to be touched by hers. She almost leaned into it, but he swiftly backed away, making her feel surprisingly lonely all of a sudden.

“Follow me, please,” he commanded her dryly and beckoned her to a different room only a short walk away. He pushed open the door to reveal a smart bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in a grey and black striped duvet with copious pillows.

Her body went cold as she looked inside. Oh no, he’s already trying to take me to his bed! I’m not ready for this!! Her thoughts raced in her head.