Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)

22

Chapter 22 Bailey

I strolled through the rest of the pack while trying not to think of Miles. He was nothing if not persistent. I could

think of no reason why he kepthere, other than the fact he gained ssick pleasure from seeingsuffer.

And, the way he has changed in recent years, | would not be surprised if he had turned into ssort of

masochist.

| hated that things between Harley and | were likely now ruined. The way he had looked athad hurt. He had

believed the words coming from his upcoming Alpha. But, then who wouldn't? He was the next Alpha. Most, if

not all, would believe him. Why would they doubt him? He was the golden child of the pack. Ha. Little did they

know the only thing golden about him was the reflection of his glowing satanic eyes.

I knew | had been naive to think there could be anything between Harley and I. Harley had a fated mate out

there. He would have believed I did too. Obviously | knew better. But, | have been enjoying our ttogether. He

madefeel good. And perhaps, st*pidly, a tiny part ofhad considered that if things continued then a

chosen matebond one day could be something to contemplate, couldn't it? A chosen mate bond is sometimes

thought to be stronger than a fated one, because it is one that is chosen. Your heart and soul pick it. The

connection is already there before the bond is created.

Not that it would even matter, we had barely been seeing one another. We have been on a few dates. And he

had taken the word of Miles overanyway. My eyes drifted to the warrior training field as | walked past toward

my home. | could see them working hard under the rays of the sunshine. Sin human form, sshifted into

their wolf form. Rather them thanin this heat, that is for sure.

“Bailey!” | heard Harley's voice, as | continued walking, and turned around, to find him jogging across the field,

and he suddenly leans on the wall separating the field and the path.

I was so unsure of what to say, so | simply smiled in greeting. He looked a little sweaty after training, and no

doubt the run from the training field. He was wearing training shorts and hist chest was bare, revealing his toned

chest and upper arms. | did my best to avert my gaze from his body, which I have to say was quite difficult when

there was quite a lot to admire! You can definitely see why he was a warrior...

“Having fun there, Bai?” Harley's voice was light and playful, which tookby surprise considering the way he

had walked away fromearlier.

| met his gaze with a frown. “Hmm?”

“I am sorry about earlier. Not that it likely means much. But, why didn’t you tell me?” he questions, and | can

sense irritation in his voice, despite the fact he is trying hard to stay calm.

“He toldnobody could know.” | whispered, avoiding his gaze.

“How long have you known?” Harley tilts his head to look atcuriously, and | can see his mind working

overtime. “Bailey, you and he have known each other forever. Was this since he first shifted?”

Miles had swornto secrecy. Never to say a word to anybody. Yet, here | was being confronted

by someone who had worked it all out because of Miles yelling at me. Would that be considered. my fault? | don’t

know what to do. I just looked at Harley, my eyes meeting his, as | chewed my lip

nervously.

“I will take that as a yes.” Harley says with a sigh. “All that tand you have not said a word? He has dated

since then too. Not to mention all the times he slept around. You have had to suffer the pain of him cheating?”

| shrugged. My own family had barely noticed. | becgood at hiding it. Feigning injuries. Or illness. Anything

to cover up what was truly happening. Anything to stop the truth being revealed. Because | was terrified of what

Miles would be capable of if the truth was revealed. The first tit happened | was terrified, and genuinely

thought | was dying. Until | realized what it was. | didn’t even have my wolf at that point either. | cried myself to

sleep. But | lied to my Mum, and said | wasn’t feeling too good, put my TV on loud to cover up my cries of pain,

until I dropped off in so bs of pain.

“It was only a year.” | whispered. “He decided to rejectthen.”

“A year of making you suffer though, Bailey.” Harley growled. “And he still treats you like sh it. He has done for as

long as | can remember.”

“It is better not to get involved, Harley.” | whispered. “He could make your life hell.”

“Not if | go to his Dad, he won't.”

My heart felt like it fell through the floor at those words. No. That cannot happen. Uncle Marshall cannot know.

Nobody else can know now. No. Miles would go on a f**king rampage!

“Harley, no!” | begged. “Please, do not do that!”

Harley simply frowns. “He needs to be made to pay for what he has done, Bailey.”

“I am fine with it. It doesn’t matter. Don’t get yourself involved, or he could cafter you. There is no reason

for you to be doing that to yourself over this.” | told him, looking at him with

fear.

“I care for you, isn’t that reason enough?” Harley reached for my hand, and | could feel butterflies in my belly,

though they are far from pleasant when added to the heavy churning of nerves that is already residing there.

“Miles is a f**king idiot for not seeing how lucky he is for being blessed with

you as a fated mate. Why the f**k would he reject you?!”

“It doesn’t matter. | am not Luna material. Not the sort of woman he or most guys want. | get that. Having your

head stuck in a book isn’t appealing. But, please, Harley, do not get yourself involved.” | removed my hand from

his. Suddenly aware of many of the warriors on the training. field watching us in curiosity.

“Trust me, you are the type of woman most guys would be proud to call theirs. And having your head in a book is

irrelevant, Bai, maybe it is to Miles because your intelligence intimidates him, because he is as thick as two short

planks. But, a decent guy would see your intelligence, again, ast something to be proud of. I think it is f**king

awesyou got your degree. And if Miles was any proper sort of man he would too.” Harley says with a smile,

and | feel my heart fluttering. Why couldn’t the moon anddess have blessedwith someone like Harley for a

mate? He

“Difference is Harley, he is the Alpha. And he had made his choice. So, we have to go with that. So, please do not

make this harder than it is.” | begged him and he rolled his eyes.

“Fine, but you should know | don’t agree with it, Bailey. It is for you, | am keeping quiet, not him. At least tell me

your interview went well?”

| sighed. “It went really well.”

“That's my girl!” Harley grinned proudly at me. “I knew you would smash it. So, when do start?”

| slowly shook my head. “I can’t.”

His face changed in an instant. “This is him again, isn't it?”

| avoided his gaze as | spoke. “It isn’t that simple, Harley.”

“You are a f**king fool, Bailey.” He says, before turning away to walk to the training field.

you

Again, intensely aware of the many warriors glancing in our direction, | did not want to call hist nto try to

get him to cback. So, | went for mindlink instead. ‘Harley! Please. Try to understand. He scares me.”

‘Well why do you think | am saying his Dad needs to know?’ he responds, but he doesn’t turn back, he continues

to walk toward his training session, so | assour talk was over.

‘He has toldif | do anything he will makeregret it. Makinglose my degree was one threat. The other

threats have been he would find ways to makeregret my decisions. | dare not think what he could do. Harley,

you all see him as the wonderful upcoming Alpha. | have seen him as a lot worse, trust me. | can’t tell you it all.

Please take my word. | tried to find a way to stay away after my degree, but he wouldn't allow it. And now it

seems he won't allow this job either. He said | belong to the pack.’ I blurt through the link, not sure why | was

telling Harley everything. Because | know if someone else knew, then he could do something. He could well

confront Miles and | would be in serious trouble.

‘Sh it Bai. You need to get away.”

‘I know, but every t| try, he blocks it. My only way out would be a mate, but as you know, that won't happen

because he was my mate. | told him.

“What if | took you as a chosen mate?’ he suggests, and my heart feels like it is going to burst from my chest.

Butterflies flutter through my tummy while goosebumps spread over my skin. Did he really just suggest that?

“You don’t need to do that.’ | tell him, though the idea sounds amazing.

“I am being serious. | think you are awesome. | think we make a f**king amazing couple. | could request a move

to my Mum's pack to be a warrior there, and you could cwith me. Get your away from him. My heart soars

at his suggestion. That would be truly amazing. | had the

sikilim of catting aUME

“You would do all of that for me?” | can barely link, and even my wolf, Akira, is almost purring at the man she had

begun to becfond of.

‘Well, it would kind of benefittoo. He teases. ‘Il would get to call the most beautiful geeky girl alive my mate.

What do you say?”

‘I say, | think you are amazing!”

‘I will call around to yours once | am done with training, and we can discuss it all properly. But | can’t wait to

make all of that official baby doll!" he links playfully, makinggiggle.

either!”

‘Right, | best get back to training, or | am going to get an a*s-who oping. Start thinking of all the things you want

as a couple beautiful, because | plan to make sure you are forever walking around with the biggest smile on your

face!’ Harley tellsbefore cutting the link, leavingwalking the remainder of the way hwith the

biggest smile on my face. Could the sweetest guy in pack have founda solution? And, | think he would likely

supportin working too! He was truly the best....

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