You Are My Beta


Hello, Cole. I am writing to you again to ask if you would be interested in visiting me at one of my concerts. I'm sure you've heard of my band by now. I've attached an electronic ticket to this message to print out. We are playing in Greensdale tonight, hope to see you there.


-Tanner


"Cole, you've been staring at your phone for a good hour and completely ignoring your favorite team on TV. Is that another email from Tanner? Why haven't you just gone to one of his concerts?"


I glanced up at Rowin and frowned.


"I'm a teacher, I need to be at the university," I replied, knowing that it was a stupid excuse. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Normally that gesture would make my inner wolf stir, but I didn't want to bother reprimanding him right then.


"His concerts have all been on Friday or Saturday nights, and I'm pretty sure the university doesn't hold any English or Lit classes on Saturday."


I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a finger and quickly continued, "And? Your classes are all done for the day. You would even have three hours to get ready before driving to Greensdale since I happened to notice his band was playing there tonight."


Dammit. I should never have told him about the messages.


"Come on, man, you know you want to go see him, even if it's just to make sure he's doing okay. You've watched like, every single one of his concerts online and were smiling like an idiot each time."


I glared at him, but he just raised a brow in response, daring me to argue. Maybe I should just go. It's not like I had to talk to him, and we definitely weren't going to fight in the middle of a huge stadium of people. I just couldn't believe how far he had come in the past fourteen months. He'd learned how to talk, obviously, and he was becoming a famous singer. The day he left, I had honestly been worried sick. Most of my time between teaching classes was spent in the forest looking for him. I knew it sounded odd since we hadn't known each other long, but he'd still felt like a son to me.


"I guess I'll just stand in the back, until he starts. Then I'll be satisfied," I mumbled to myself quietly, knowing that Rowin could hear anyway. He chuckled but nodded, evidently satisfied with my decision.


"Best go get ready then, Alpha. After your workout earlier, you could use a good shower and some deodorant."


I felt my wolf nudge at my mind to discipline the obviously unneeded jab, but again, I found myself not bothering. Instead, I got up and sauntered down the hall and into the bathroom. After tossing off my clothing, I sniffed my arm, then winced. Err, yeah, definitely need a shower.


~Tanner~


"Dude, stop pacing. You know he's not gonna show," Warren said with a dull tone. The music was already pumping as our opening act warmed up behind the curtains, so it was hard to hear anything beside their instruments and the cheering of the crowd. It was almost funny how he knew it wasn't nerves but the obvious lack of Cole that was getting me all stressed out. This would be the sixth show I'd invited him to, but he had never even replied to any of the emails. I'd even used his university email address, so I knew he had to at least have read them.


"Tanner, we need to start warming up," Macon shouted from where he stood near the edge of the curtain with his guitar already strapped around his shoulder. I started walking toward him and Warren, but my mind just wouldn't let my thoughts rest.


Bah, like he'd come anyway. I tried to kill him. Why would he waste his time with me again after that? Maybe I'll just go fi—hnn? My wolf's senses snapped to attention as I sniffed the air after catching something on an inhale.


Cole!


"Hey, Wait. Tanner? " Ryder shouted from somewhere to my left, but I was already gone.


~Cole~


I shouldn't have come. This is definitely not the place for an English professor. There are way too many kids and nowhere near enough adults. Is this what these things are always like?


As the curtain opened, my heart nearly jumped into my throat at the volume of cheers and then, god. The music was ridiculously loud. My wolf was extremely uncomfortable in this situation, considering I could only see with one eye and my hearing was completely taken away by the increasing noise coming from the stage and speakers around the area. My head was already hammering with a headache, but I had to wait until Tanner was on stage, then I would get my confirmation that he was fine and be able to leave.


The band that had been trying to sing, but failed epically, finally left the stage, giving a chance to exhale a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. That had probably been the worst excuse for singing I'd ever heard. Hopefully Tanner's band was at least better than that.


You know it is because you're always rewatching his performances on the computer. I mentally chided myself, growling under my breath when the thought surfaced. Shaking my head, I began backing up to get a bit farther away from the rowdy kids in front of me when I realized something I probably should have a while ago.


Why are there arms around my waist...?


I took a deep, surprised breath when I felt a nose nuzzling against my neck. Sniffing. My wolf instantly snarled through my human lips, but the sound was eaten up by the previous bands' fans who were still screaming bloody murder for them and their terrible songs. Well, the vibration of my growl at least got to whoever was invading my personal space because I felt a chuckle coming from the man's chest as it pressed against my back. Odd, they didn't seem worried that they were holding an alpha, and I knew they knew what I was because they had literally laughed at my warning. When a tongue snaked along the back of my neck, I snapped my teeth together in another warning and tried to get free, but his loose grip instantly tightened, pulling me back against his firm body easily.


Fuck. Get off. Now. I shouted at the person mentally, trying to catch his scent but failing as an insane amount of smells overtook my nose from the people surrounding us. If there were other werewolves around, they might have caught the yell, but I doubted this place had many. And, even if there were some there, it was likely that they wouldn't be paying enough attention to distinguish it from a normal shout with all the noise. His hands began to wander as that tongue got busy cleaning half of my neck, making my body stiffen in anger.


Get off!


"No."


My body immediately froze, ceasing all struggles at the sound of that voice. I don't know how I heard it over the music and screaming, but there was no mistaking...


"I love what you're wearing...is it just for me?"


I had wanted to simply put on a pair of old jeans and a gray T-shirt, but Rowin had seen the outfit and dragged me back to my room, then put me in a pair of black dress jeans, a black tank, and a gray sweater with the elbows slashed.... Bastard owes me a new sweater. Fashion my ass.


My thoughts snapped back to the present when I felt a certain person's hand slide into my left pocket.


Tanner...


I growled a warning for him to move his hand, but he just chuckled again and leaned over slightly to lick my left cheek. Damn he had grown...


"Mmm, Cole. Wanna see the other ways I've grown?"


What? I hadn't meant to project that thought.


My mind was whirling from him being near me after so long. His scent, his presence in my mind, and hi—Sh-Shit! He was grinding against me. Before I could even think of a non-predatory response, my wolf roared inside my head and made me spin around to attack...but he was gone.


"What...the hell...?"


I began looking around, but as soon as I took a step, I felt something stiff in my pocket.
Pulling it out, my brow furrowed. It was a hotel key to the Hilton down the street, room 283.


I had no idea why I was there. Hell, I should've been back home grading papers, not standing in front of a damn door that would just lead me to nowhere. What would we even do? Talking was highly doubtful, considering we were both alphas and stubborn. What else was there left to do?


Alright, I'm just gonna put the key card inside and then leave. He should be done with his concert by now anyway since I stayed for a few songs...though I don't know why, again.


With a tired sigh, I opened the door and stepped inside.


"Wow..."


The room was huge and even had a kitchenette and a hot tub. Okay, I was a little jealous of what he had accomplished, but that quickly washed away with my pride. I'd saved him from those woods, and now he was an amazing young man. That was all I needed to know. With a calm smile, I set the key card down on his dresser and headed for the door.


"Time to go get some dinner," I thought to myself out loud with a small smile on my lips. I wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on at that moment since I had finished what I'd needed to do. So when the door suddenly slammed open, it smacked me right in the face.


"Ow!"


The room spun as I stumbled backward, landing on something soft and bouncing slightly on my back. My hand was on my nose, but thankfully I didn't feel any blood.


Phew. That's all I need. A bum eye and a broken nose.


The click of the door's lock snapped me back to attention right away, though, making me sit up and glue my gaze to who was now standing in front of the door.


Tanner!


I quickly jumped to my feet and walked over, stopping about a yard away so that I didn't elicit a challenge. This was his territory, or at least he was staying here for now.


Hmm, well, I guess I should just say good-bye and go now...and maybe he'll unlock the door. My mind added, making me inwardly sigh.


"Um..." I began saying, but a warm hand stalled my words on my tongue when I felt it press against my left cheek and gently tilt my head up. I knew what he was looking at and honestly didn't like people staring, but I couldn't tell him to stop as he stepped closer. When his thumb began to rub softly right beneath my bad eye, I sighed again and finally allowed my gaze to meet his.


I can't believe I have to look up now...he was just a kid when I found him, but now he has at least an inch on me.


"I did this."


My head tilted against his hand a little, answering his words silently with the gesture. I hadn't seen him earlier, but now I was a bit surprised that he was just wearing normal torn jeans, a form-fitting black T-shirt, and a Steelers hat. I suppose he probably didn't want to be bothered after the show. Wait, why am I spacing out about what he's wearing?


"I-I need to get back home... It... was nice seeing you again," I stuttered out wearily. When he didn't respond, I slowly inched around him and grabbed the door handle. I'd unlocked it and was just pushing the handle down and pulling it back when I saw a hand come out of nowhere right near my face and shove the door shut. I assumed there was another on my blind side, but my attention was more focused on the hips and chest pressed against me for the second time that night.


"Tanner..." I whispered, honestly not sure what to do in this situation. I hadn't been expecting him to act this way. His nose began to rub against my left cheek, and I could easily hear his wolf's growl just beneath the surface without the loud music to cloud my senses.


"I did this," he whispered quietly against my skin.


"Yes. You did," I replied in a breathy sigh.


"That night..." he continued slowly.


"Yes..." I answered, pursing my lips at the memory. He leaned in closer after I'd spoken, pushing my body flush against the door with his own. I could feel the handle digging into my side, but that was the least of my concerns. My own wolf was trying to surface at the blatant challenge Tanner was posing, but two alphas changing in one hotel room? It would be disastrous.


"'ne...." he slurred, his mouth now too busy with my neck to speak properly.


"Huh? What...?" I growled, biting my lip to keep from full-on snarling.


"Mine," he said with a deep, authoritative tone as he removed his mouth from my skin to be able to speak clearly.


"I-I belong to no one. I am an alpha," I told him, my body now trembling as I tried to keep it under control.


"Beta," Tanner stated with finality. My wolf immediately snarled through my bared teeth at that. I was no beta.


"Get off, Tanner. You don't want to start a fight here."


My words were barely understandable because my mouth was already beginning to change.


"No fighting..." he agreed, surprising me a little. I was relieved at that until he finished speaking. "Mate."


Aaaaaand, my wolf was out.

Comment