The Beta's Mate

by Tanya Gilford

  “I couldn’t sleep.” I replied nervously. “I haven’t heard from dad yet, and it’s got me stressed out. I know Aunt Carol said he’d call when he feels better, but I’m still stressing.”

  “Oh, Annie you know your dad will call. He’s just got to recover from the surgery, I’m sure he’ll call you today.” My mom assured me as she began cooking breakfast.

  Once we were finished with breakfast, I went upstairs to shower and get dressed for the day. As I stood under the stream of hot water, I let my mind wander. The anxiety of starting a new school in two days, worrying about my dad, the replay of last night, were all drowned out by the single thought… Charlie. Somehow he was all I could think about, and it was aggravating. I turned off the water, stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around myself and went back into my room. I paused in front of my window, wrapped in my towel looking out at the vast land of the farm.

  As I looked with a sigh, Charlie came into view riding Oreo as he corralled the cows into the field. He called to them as they trotted into the fenced field. He then headed out of the field and closed the gate, before leading the horse over to the wagon. Watching him hook the wagon up to Oreo, and seeing his back muscles tighten and release as the sweat slid down his suntanned back was a huge turn on. He looked up in my direction as if he knew I was watching him. He gave me a smile, with a little wave. My cheeks flushed as I quickly moved away from my window.

  I pulled on a pink sundress with sandals, while just running a brush through my wavy blonde hair. I walked back downstairs to see my mom sitting in the living room, waiting for me. As we stepped out of the house, I felt the warm sun on my exposed shoulders as we walked to my mom’s car. I pulled open the door then slid onto the cloth seats of her sedan. She got in and pulled down the dirt driveway to the road.

  We drove over thirty minutes before I saw anything that looked remotely like a town. How can anyone live this remotely and be happy? As we continued our drive my mom began telling me about the surrounding areas. She knew quite a bit and has lived with her for almost seven years now. As I listened to her babble on about the different places we continued to pass by, I swallowed my anger as always. I was still angry about her ruining our family and moving this far away from me, but I have yet to admit it to her.

  Dad keeps telling me that there are things about my mom that I don’t understand, and that she was trying to cope with her life. He reminds me constantly that we all suffer in silence, and my mom was no different, but he never revealed what she was dealing with. I agreed with my dad to let things be, but I still wanted answers.

  “Mom?” I asked as I looked at her, interrupting her chatter. “Why did you leave?”

  My mom sat silent for a good span of time, before speaking. “I always wondered when this question would come up. It’s hard to explain, but I’ll do my best.” She began. I sat quietly, keeping my eyes on her as she focused on the road ahead. “Your father and I tried for many years to stay together, but my grief just ate away at me. You see, I was pregnant with another child when you were six. I had a late miscarriage, which broke my heart. It turned out that my body had rejected the baby, and left me unable to have any more children. Your father did the best he can, but I slipped into a depression that seemed to get worse with every passing year. I was ready to stop living, so I moved into my own apartment to avoid having you watch me slip away. Then when I met Bo, I felt something again. I felt alive, but guilty that it was another man who wasn’t your father or you who began to bring me back out of my depression. I confessed this to your father who insisted on me doing what was best for myself, then we’d coparent with you as we eventually did. Your father felt it would be best to not explain anything to you until you were ready to hear it, and promised that I would be the one to explain.” Tears fell down her cheeks as she spoke. “I know it wasn’t fair to you, but I did my best. I was so close to leaving you forever until I met Bo. I loved your father, and I still do love him, but my grief of losing our second child was too great for me to overcome with him. His training seemed to allow him to deal with his grief differently, and that upset me even more. I felt isolated and alone for almost two years when I met Bo. Bo listened and helped me cope as a friend and eventually we fell in love.”

  “Dad always told me to not blame you or bother you with the question. With me living here, I had to know, because I always looked at Bo as a man who took my mom away. I blamed him more than I blamed you for leaving, but I just didn’t understand. I wish you would have explained more before now, because my anger and hate has built up over the years.” I admitted. “Every time I came to visit for two weeks in the summer, Bo would ask me to work with the animals, which I hated. I felt he just didn’t want me to be near you, and now he seems to be trying to keep me from being around Charlie. Charlie is a nice guy, and could actually be a friend if Bo didn’t tell him to stay away from me all the time.”

  “Bo is just trying to protect you dear. He taught you how to work with the animals to help you feel included. I have been talking to him about Charlie, since you and Charlie seem to have a friendship forming. I just want to know if you two decide to make it more than a friendship.” My mom replied with a smile as she turned into a parking lot of a mall. I was a bit surprised to see a mall, but I was excited to say the least.

  I nodded in response to her as we climbed out of the car. I mean the last thing my mother needs to know is that I’m hooking up with Charlie. She wants to know if he and I begin dating, and honestly, I’m not sure if we will end up dating. I’m enjoying our time together, but he seems so adamant about us not being together until after I turn 18, which is frustrating.

  I followed my mother around the mall in and out of stores. We stopped in a few clothing stores to buy me some new outfits. I tried on a bunch, but ultimately only bought twelve outfits. Mom insisted we go out for lunch to make it a complete girl’s day. I had to change my plans with Charlie, so I sent him a quick text as mom ordered us some drinks. ‘Hey, grabbing lunch with my mom. Won’t be back for our meeting.” As we were eating, Charlie’s reply came through, ‘Want to meet at the pond when you come back? I miss you.’ I almost choked on my water when I finished reading his message.

  “Annie, are you okay?” My mom asked as I tried to stop coughing. I nodded to her with a smile.

  “My water went down the wrong tube.” I smiled. I quickly snuck a reply to Charlie, ‘I’ll see you at the pond.’ I looked back up at my mom to see her watching me. I felt myself blush a little.

  “Who are you talking to?”

  “Debbie. She sometimes sends me funny pictures. I’m sorry, I’ll put my phone away now.” I lied, feeling a bit ashamed.

  My mom just smiled at me as we finished our meal. “You know, you can always invite Debbie here for a week during one of her school vacations.” My mom offered. She paid the check, and we got up to leave. Along our drive home, I sent my aunt a message checking in on my dad, but got no reply. I sighed and watched the scene pass by as we drove. When we pulled into the driveway, my heart skipped a beat.

  I got out of the car, walked around to the trunk and grabbed my shopping bags and brought them up to my room. When I came back downstairs, I needed to figure out how to get out of the house without raising too much suspicion. I found my mom in the kitchen getting ready to make dinner. “Hey mom, would it be okay if I go to the pond before dinner?” I asked nonchalantly.

  “Sure honey.”

  I calmly walked out to the farm, and made my way through the woods to the pond. When I got there, I looked around for Charlie, who arrived behind me. “Hey Anna. I’m sorry I’m late.” He replied, pulling me to him. His lips found mine without warning, and I just wanted to melt against him. His touch set my skin on fire as he ran his hands over my curves. “I missed you.” He whispered against my lips as he lifted me up to wrap my legs around his waist.

  He gently lowered us to the ground, as he continued to kiss me. He trailed his lips down my neck, dragging out a moan from m
e. I laced my hands through his soft hair as he moved the skirt of my dress up, slowly pulling my panties down. I tugged his lips back to mine as he slipped his hand between my legs. He gave me a smile as he massaged my folds with his fingers. I whimpered as he continued to pleasure me with his hands. “Charlie, please.” I begged.

  As if that was all he was waiting for me to ask, he gently pushed into me letting out a satisfied groan. As I adjusted to his size, he began to set a rhythm for us. I moved my hips in time with his, moaning with every touch. I dug my nails into his shoulders as I neared my climax causing him to moan against my shoulder he was kissing. “Cum for me Anna.”

  He rolled his hips, slipping into my spot that caused me to cry out in pleasure as he continued to thrust into me. “Oh, Charlie!” I cried out as I came undone around him.

  “That’s my girl.” He groaned as I tightened around him. He continued thrusting a few more times before his own orgasm took over him. “Anna, you feel so good.” He moaned as he held me close until we both finished our orgasms. He rolled off of me gasping for breath next to me, holding my hand as we laid still on our backs.

  I stood up, pulled my dress off, tossing it on the ground before diving into the water. The water was warm from the sun, but still felt amazing compared to the heat. I resurfaced looking at Charlie through my eyelashes, “are you going to join me?” I asked him.

  He quickly joined me in the water with a grin. He swam over to me, pulling me close and kissing my lips. “Anna, you are so amazing.”

  “I told my mom I was coming for a swim, so if I didn’t get in the water, she would question. She also asked if we could become more than friends to tell her. I told her how I feel that Bo is overstepping when he told you to stay away from me, since you can be a good friend.” I told him, kissing him some more. He wrapped his arms tighter around my body pressing me to him.

  “I want to be more than friends, and more than a hook-up, Anna. I want us to be together, but I know I need to wait three more months for that to be acceptable.” He confessed moving his lips down my neck as I trailed my lips along his neck.

  “Give me time on that, okay?” I hesitated, biting my lower lip as I looked at him. “Right now, you’re a distraction from the stress I’m dealing with. I give you my word, you’re the only one I’m screwing and the only one I have interested in screwing. Can you just be with me like this for a bit longer?”

  “Yes.” He took my lips back in his, taking my bottom lip in his teeth given it a little tug. I let out a moan, that sent him in overdrive. His hands slid over my body with a greediness that was breath taken. When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing heavy. “I find it so hard to keep my hands off of you, but I can wait until you’re ready for us to be more.”

  “Thank you. We should get going before Bo is sent out looking for us.” I told him, giving him another kiss. He nodded releasing me so we could swim back to shore. We scrambled out of the water, pulled our clothes back on, and began walking back hand in hand.

  Chapter 5

  Three weeks Later…

  I started school a few weeks ago, and never felt more isolated in a school before. I’m glad that when I come home, I can sneak a few minutes to be alone with Charlie. In the barn, or at the pond, we relish in each other’s company and touch. My dad sounds like he’s on the mend from his surgery, but the chemo has him super week and tired. Debbie and Billy reach out once a week, to let me know they haven’t forgotten about me, which helps brighten my days. Today is Saturday, which means that tomorrow is the day Charlie doesn’t work. I dread the days Charlie doesn’t work, because it was the day, I don’t see him.

  I was in my room finishing up my homework when my phone began to ring. I checked the caller I.D. to see who it was: Debbie’s name and picture was on the screen. “Hey girl, what’s up?” I answered excitedly as I put my finished homework away.

  “Calling to see how my bestie's week was. I miss you so much.” Debbie replied.

  “I miss you too girl, and my week was good.”

  “Make any new friends?”

  “Nope. Hang on, I’m going to go out to the barn. I need to brush the horses down.” I told her as I began walking down the stairs.

  “Hang on as in, you don’t want to talk where the walls have ears?”

  “Exactly.” As I stepped through the kitchen, I told my mom I was chatting with Debbie, and on my way to go brush the horses down. As soon as I was outside and away from ear shot, I continued “Though Charlie and I are getting along great.”

  “Please tell me you snagged that sexy man.”

  “In a way, yes.” I sighed. “It’s difficult to talk about since I barely know him. Though you know how I am when I see something I want.” I chuckled. “He is absolutely delectable. He wants us to date, but we really can’t since he is 23.”

  “Ugh. You like the older men. Sal was four years older than you.”

  “As far as everyone here is concerned, Sal was six years older.” I laughed. “Tried to make a point, when Bo was suggesting that Charlie needs to stay away from me. I hate that I’m treated like a child here. I told my mom Bo needs to back off, but he hasn’t yet. He keeps trying to act like my dad and it’s so frustrating.”

  “I’m sorry girl.”

  I was just about in front of the barn when my phone began to ring with call waiting. I checked the caller I.D. to see my aunt Carol was calling. “Hey Debs, I need to call you back. Aunt Carol is calling.” I hung up and switched the calls. “Hey aunty, what’s up?”

  “Anastasia…” Aunt Carol sobbed into the phone. “I’m so sorry to have to call you about this, but it’s your dad sweetie. He just passed. I’m so sorry.”

  “What?” I breathed out. All of a sudden it was hard for me to breath, the ground shifted and I fell to my knees, “how?” I was trying to wrap my head around it; he had called me earlier today. He was doing better, and sounded almost healthy again.

  “A blood clot from his last surgery. It was sudden, he didn’t suffer, but he is gone sweaty.” I could hear the pain in her voice.

  “No.” I whispered as I dropped my phone, clutching my chest. It was hard to breathe, I felt like I was about to suffocate. How could this be? I just talked to my dad like four hours ago, he was fine. Before I could move, my face hit the ground as I continued to gasp for air and hold my chest.

  “Annie… Annie…” My aunt’s voice called from my phone as I was still struggling for air and fighting the pain in my chest. I couldn’t move, it was like I was frozen in place.

  “Anna?” Charlie’s voice called. He knelt down next to me. “Anna, what’s wrong?” He gently rolled me onto my back to see if I was hurt. “Talk to me babe.”

  “My dad.” I choked out. He quickly pulled me into his lap, holding me close.

  “Breath. Nice and easy, breath in and out.” He instructed as he gently rocked me in his arms. “Just breath, focus on your breathing.”

  “Annie…” My aunt called again on the other end of my phone.

  Charlie picked up the phone to talk to my aunt. “Hello? This is Anne’s friend Charlie. She’s a bit distraught at the moment, I need to bring her to her mom.” He listened to my aunt tell him the news as I took several shallow breaths wrapped in his arms. “I understand. I’m sorry for your loss ma’am.” Charlie hung up the phone. “That’s it, nice and slow breaths. You were having a panic attack, you’re okay now. Just keep taking little breaths.” Charlie informed me. He gently kissed my forehead. “How’s your chest feeling?”

  “A little better now that I can breathe again.” I rasped between breaths. “This can’t be real though. I talked to him four hours ago, he was fine.” The tears built up and toppled out of my eyes as despair took hold in another form.

  “Oh, Anna. I’m so sorry.” He gently said as he kissed my forehead and smoothed my hair. “It’s going to be okay babe. I’m here for you.”

  I tipped my head up to look at him as he gently wiped my tears away with his thumb. I s
lowly moved my arm up to the back of his neck, pulling his face to mine. I pressed my lips to his. He hesitated a moment, then gently moved his lips with mine. We sat on the ground in the middle of the yard making out for a good ten minutes at least, but it felt like the world stopped moving. I felt so safe in his arms. He was my life line, and I wanted to cling to him to keep from drowning.

  When we pulled our faces apart, he searched my eyes with his before he spoke. “Anna, I’m here for you, no matter what you need just tell me.” He said pressing his forehead against mine. “Right now, I’m going to carry you into the house and talk to your mom.”

  “I want to go to bed. Will you hold me?” I croaked out as he stood up with me in his arms. He held me tightly in a cradle close to his chest as he began to walk toward the house. He kissed me softly on the forehead as we approached the house. He awkwardly pulled the screen door open and carried me inside.

  “What is going on?” My mom asked when she spun around from the kitchen sink. She took one look at me in Charlie’s arms and I thought I saw some anger in her eyes. I can only imagine what she was thinking seeing Charlie carrying me like a baby, and pressing his lips to my forehead as we walked into the house.

  “Her aunt just called. Ray’s gone.” Charlie managed as he continued through the kitchen. “I’m sorry Pam.” He was solely focused on getting me to my bed like I asked.

  “Annie honey, are you okay?” She asked gently. I just nodded and leaned my head against Charlie’s chest again. I felt so weak and tired, I just wanted to sleep. This felt like such a nightmare.

  “She had a really bad panic attack in front of the barn when she got the news. She had trouble breathing, I talked her through it then she said she was tired. I’m just going to bring her up to her room.” Charlie explained. My mom nodded and turned to the stove to set the kettle on. He carried me through the living room and up the stairs. “Which one is your room?” He whispered.