They Called Me A Beta

Chapter 3: Mate

"Kieran?"

There was no answer.

I stood behind my bedroom door, my hand still wrapped around the doorknob.

Outside, I could hear his breathing.

Slow.

Uneven.

Almost like he was trying to control himself.

"Seraphina."

His voice was rough.

I swallowed.

"Are you okay?"

A humorless laugh came from the other side.

"Am I okay?"

I frowned.

"What happened?"

"Open the door."

Something in his voice made me hesitate.

I had never heard Kieran sound like this.

Not angry.

Not arrogant.

Afraid.

I slowly opened the door.

Kieran stood in the hallway.

His hair was disheveled, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were almost entirely black.

He looked at me.

And froze.

His entire body went rigid.

I instinctively stepped back.

"Kieran?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he inhaled sharply.

His eyes closed.

"What is that?"

"What?"

"Your scent."

I stared at him.

"I don't know."

He opened his eyes.

For a second, I thought I saw something wild staring back at me.

His wolf.

"You smell different."

My stomach twisted.

"I told you. I'm a Beta."

He looked away.

"Don't say that."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what to do with you."

My heart skipped.

"What does that mean?"

He stepped closer.

I could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

His scent surrounded me.

Cedar.

Smoke.

Something dark and warm that made my wolf press against my consciousness.

Mate.

The word echoed again.

I nearly stumbled.

Kieran caught my wrist.

The moment his skin touched mine, both of us went still.

A pulse of warmth shot through me.

His fingers tightened.

His eyes widened.

"You felt that."

I couldn't speak.

He slowly released me.

"This can't be happening."

"What can't?"

He backed away.

"My wolf."

My heart hammered.

"What about him?"

"He recognizes you."

The room seemed to disappear around us.

I stared at him.

"Recognizes me as what?"

Kieran didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

My wolf already knew.

Mate.

I looked at him.

"Are you saying—"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

My heart sank.

Kieran dragged a hand through his hair.

"I don't know."

"But you just said—"

"I said, I don't know."

He turned away.

I stared at his back.

"Then why did you come here?"

He was silent.

Finally, he said, "Because I could smell you from my room."

My breath caught.

"You're my—"

"Don't."

He turned around.

His expression was almost pleading.

"Don't say it."

I didn't understand.

"If we're mates, shouldn't you be happy?"

His jaw tightened.

"You're a Beta."

The words landed harder this time.

"I know."

"You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me."

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he shook his head.

"Forget tonight."

He walked away.

I watched him disappear down the hallway.

My wolf whimpered.

For the first time in my life, she wanted something.

And already, Kieran was telling her no.