The Beta's Blood: Rewritten

Chapter Twenty Two

Ace woke up hungry. Not just “I could eat” hungry. More like “I smell bacon and if this is a dream I will cry” hungry.

For a second she didn’t move. Her eyes stayed shut, her brain trying to catch up. She was on the Murphy bed. The stiff one in the spare room, the one that felt like it had been made for guests you didn’t like very much.

The scents around her were wrong for her grandmother’s cabin. This wasn’t lavendar, laundry and old books. This was… bacon. Coffee. Pack house. And male.

She blinked hard, sat up too fast, and winced when her back protested. “Ow. Okay. Note to self: buy a mattress topper.” She patted the nightstand for her phone. Nothing. She checked under the pillow. Still nothing. It must’ve migrated to the couch sometime last night while she was dragging boxes around.

She shoved her hair into a messy twist and padded barefoot into the main room. Then she stopped dead. Alpha Kai was in her kitchen. Not the communal kitchen. Not the pack’s kitchen. Her kitchen.

He was half leaned against the island, sleeves pushed to his forearms, a takeout container open in front of him, steam curling into the morning light. He looked way too awake for someone who’d passed out in her bed the night before.

“Good morning, Ace!” he said like this was the most normal thing in the world. She squinted at him. “Don’t you have, what’s it called, an Alpha suite? Literally upstairs?”

“Yes,” he said cheerfully, “but your fridge was sad, so I had breakfast delivered. Also, I called a couple omegas to clear the trash. You were going to try to do it yourself and pretend you weren’t exhausted.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Are you psychic now?” “No. I just pay attention.” She tried very hard not to smile.

Her gaze swept the room, searching. Ah, there. Her phone was on the couch, half under a throw pillow. She snagged it, glanced at the screen. Two missed calls from an unknown number.

She frowned, thumb hovering. Should she call back? Probably just telemarketers or someone trying to sell her an enchanted vacuum. She dropped it to the counter for now.

Kai slid a fork toward her. “Sit. Eat. You look like your bones are tired.” “I am tired. You took my bed.” He smirked. “Your bed was comfortable.” “Yeah, because I slept on the folding slab from the Middle Ages.” He laughed, low and warm, and the sound filled up the shiny new space like it belonged there.

Ace dropped onto the stool across from him, eyes widening when she saw what he’d ordered. Bacon. Eggs. Biscuits. Fresh fruit. Hash browns. Coffee. This man did not mess around.

“Did you order half the menu?” she asked. “You’re the Beta now. You have to keep your strength up.” She arched a brow. “So I can file reports?” “So you can keep up with me.” His eyes glinted. “You have a big job.”

He said it casually, but she caught it, the flicker of something more serious under the teasing. He noticed she saw it.

“I’m sorry about last night,” he said suddenly, voice dropping. “For keeping you up. For… showing up like that.” “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Ace said at once. “You needed someone. I was here. That’s what a pack is for.”

His jaw flexed, the tension there easing. “I worry you’ll take too much on,” he admitted. “You help everyone. You don’t always remember to help yourself.” “Sure I do. I helped myself to this bacon,” she said, grabbing a piece and biting down.

He choked on a laugh. “You are impossible.” “You seem to like impossible.” “I do,” he said, almost under his breath.

They ate in a comfortable quiet for a minute, the kitchen warm around them while dawn fully pushed through the windows. It still felt strange, having an Alpha in her personal space. Not like Alpha Kaine, never like Kaine. Kai felt… safe here. Unthreatening. Like he wanted to be in her orbit, not own it.

“You’ve got good taste,” he said suddenly, glancing around. “The way you set everything up. It already looks lived in.” “Thanks. I like it too.” “In decor, I mean.” His mouth curved. “Your other tastes are questionable.”

She blinked. “Other tastes?” “Allen.” He replied, and she snorted, grabbed her fork, and flicked a piece of egg at him. “You are obsessed.” “I’m just saying,” he grinned, wiping the egg from his sleeve, “you could do better.”

“We’re just friends.” “He is not just friends.” She froze mid-bite. “You don’t think so?” “Nope.” “Oh well.” She shrugged. He stared. “Oh well? That’s your strategy?”

“What am I supposed to do?” she laughed. “Commit social suicide and stop talking to him because he might secretly have a crush? I like Allen. He’s funny. He’s kind. I’m not dropping him.”

Kai tipped his head, conceding. “Fair.” She took a sip of coffee. “So. What’s the plan today, Boss?” “I have meetings this morning,” he said, tossing his empty container in the trash like he lived here. “You can take the morning, settle in. Meet me in your office at twelve.”

“Twelve?” she whined dramatically. “That’s so far.” “Ace. You don’t have to work every second.” “But I want to. I’m new.” “Resting is still working.” “Lies.” He laughed. “One day I’ll teach you how to do nothing.” “That would take a miracle.”

He shook his head, that soft look slipping into his eyes again. “You say that, but Ace… not everyone would’ve settled in this fast. I keep throwing things at you and you just catch them.”

“Maybe I like being thrown in the deep end,” she shrugged. “At least in the deep end, you can’t hear people yelling at you.” His gaze lingered. Long. Intense. Like he was memorizing her.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “I’ll see you at noon. Try to stay out of trouble.” “Me?” she said, feigning innocence. “Never.”

She did not stay lounging. As soon as he left, she put her hair in big, loose curls, did a subtle makeup look, and picked an outfit that said I belong here and I could rip your throat out if you disrespect me.

Emerald blouse. White pencil skirt. Heels. Simple gold hoops. She was damn cute. She headed upstairs early. Beta Nick was already in the office, sleeves rolled up, sorting through files like the old wolf he was. Connected, sharp, but ready to hand off the weight.

“Ahh, there she is,” he said, approving. “You look like a Beta.” “You look like retirement,” she shot back playfully. He laughed. “Sit. Let’s get you set up before His Majesty comes down here.”

He walked her through everything: the pack management system, patrol schedules, vendor accounts, district inventory lists, monthly warrior reports, training rosters, territory maps. It was a lot. But it also made sense. Winter Moon wasn’t just powerful because it was rich, it was organized.

And Ace? She was good at organized. They were elbow-deep in a folder about border shifts when someone cleared their throat. They both looked up.

Alpha Kai was sitting in one of the leather chairs, watching them. “Alpha!” Nick said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You’ve got a keeper. She already knows where half your paperwork is.”

“Of course she does,” Kai muttered, eyes never leaving Ace. Nick grabbed his last box. “I’ll leave you two to it. Beta Ace, if you need anything-” “I’ll call,” she said, smiling.

When the door shut, Kai raised a brow. “I thought I said noon?” “You did. But I wanted to learn from the legend.” “Kiss-up.” “Efficient,” she corrected, spinning the chair once before stopping to face him. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

He exhaled like he’d expected that. “Can it wait till lunch?” “No.” He nodded once. “Alright. Go on.”

“I know it’s my first day,” she said, choosing her words carefully, “but I think we should bring your Gamma back into the pack.” His eyes narrowed a hair. “You’ve been talking to Nick.”

“Yes,” she said without shame. “And he said with him stepping back, with me just getting started, with Amelia not involved, it’s too much on you.”

“Okay.” She blinked. “Wait… what?” “I said okay. We’ll bring him home.” Her mouth parted. “That’s… it?” “That’s it,” he said, pushing up from the chair. “Now can we eat? I’m starving.”

“Wait!” She hopped up, grabbing his wrist on reflex, then let go just as fast. “Sorry, I didn’t mean-” “It’s fine,” he said, but his voice had that faint roughness, the one that said this topic was sore. “Yes. It’s something I’ve struggled with. But I’ve had time to think. He’s loyal. I was the one who forced him away, following my mate around like a lovesick i***t. It’s time.”

“Do you want me to find a replacement for him for when she isn’t here?” she asked. “I already have system access.” Kai’s lips twitched. “You already know how to access the roster?” “Yes. Nick showed me.” “Of course he did.” He shook his head in disbelief. “We’ll talk about filling gaps later. For now? Come eat with me.”

She groaned. “How do you eat so much?” “I’m a growing boy,” he said, smirking. “You’re a fully grown Alpha.” “Still growing.”

She laughed, letting him lead her down the hall. The pack house hummed around them. Voices, footsteps, pups giggling somewhere, kitchen staff clattering dishes.

“Oh,” she said suddenly, “can I meet your mom?” He actually stopped. “My mom?” “Yes. Nick said she’d be a great asset. And I like assets.” Kai pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. “You’re going to tattle on me.” “I might.” He chuckled, resuming his walk. “Fine. After lunch, we’ll video call her.” “Deal.”

They stepped into the cafeteria together, Alpha and brand-new Beta, moving in easy sync. For the first time since she’d left home, Ace didn’t feel like she was filling in space that wasn’t hers. She was exactly where she was supposed to be.