Page 19 of Convincing the Heartbroken Beta

Brandon kept shifting from foot to foot as if he was working up to what he wanted to say. “Would you like to talk or pick out your bedroom first?”

Sascha dropped his head. Right when he was feeling there was hope his Alpha might care about him, he was reminded that Brandon didn’t even want them in the same room.

“Either way is fine.”

“Hey.” Brandon perched on the sofa next to him. “I guess I said the wrong thing again. I’m sorry I keep fucking this up. I’m not very good at it.”

Sascha furrowed his brow then met Brandon’s concerned gaze. “Not very good at what?”

“Being your Alpha. I thought my time was over, that I’d never meet my mate.”

Sascha cocked his head. He hadn’t expected that response. “Why would you think that?”

Brandon snorted. “Look at me. I’m an old man. Then there’s you—a sweet, beautiful young shifter. Why would you want to shackle yourself with someone like me?”

Sascha blinked several times, not sure he was following Brandon’s reasoning. “So, you’re saying the only thing that matters between mates is looks and age?”

“Oh.” Brandon straightened with a frown. “I suppose it did sound like I was saying that.”

Brandon scratched his chin and Sascha noted the late day stubble. He’d always found that to be very sexy. Brandon also had thick, brunet hair with a smattering of silver mixed in, primarily at the temples. His lips were thin, but Sascha could imagine them on his own, the larger, muscular man taking charge, yet he’d also be gentle.

“Sascha? Did you hear what I said?”

“I think so?” Heat crawled up his neck.

Brandon chuckled, a deep sound rumbling in his chest. Sascha wiggled on the couch, his heart picking up a quicker pace. Being in such close proximity to Brandon had him flustered. Even Brandon’s scent was luring him in. Both times he’d traveled with Brandon, he’d been in the backseat under the guise of needing his rest. True, for the most part. But he hadn’t needed that much rest.

“Sascha, what I’m trying to explain to you is that I’ve been hiding my orientation all these years.” He shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure why. I don’t think my family would’ve rejected me, but at the same time, all my father kept talking about was grandchildren. How he couldn’t wait for me to give him lots of grandchildren to carry on the family legacy.”

Brandon dragged his fingers through his hair. “So, I never said anything to anyone—just in case he found out. I was in my mid-twenties when he and my mother were swept away by an avalanche while out hunting. At that point…” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Either I was so used to the way things were, or maybe I thought it was too late to make some big announcement. What was the point? I didn’t have anybody.” He gave a Sascha a lopsided smile. “Sounds kind of dumb when I say it out loud.”

Sascha scooted a bit closer to Brandon. “It’s not dumb. Not if that’s how you felt.”

Brandon brushed back some strands of hair that had drifted across Sascha’s brow. “See? You’re too sweet for some old curmudgeon like me.”

Sascha laughed. “Curmudgeon? Well, yeah. If you’re gonna use words like that.”

Brandon’s features fell and he drew his hand away. Sascha hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings.

“I was kidding, Brandon. I don’t know how you or anyone else could think of you as old. Not when you’re so strong and healthy.” Sascha’s skin heated again. “And handsome.”

Brandon stared into Sascha’s eyes, as if searching for the truth. “You’re honestly not disappointed that someone so much older than you is your fated mate?”

Sascha let out a groan. “I’m not disappointed by you, but I can understand why you’d be disappointed by me.” He twisted his hands. “I’m carrying another man’s child. Why would you want a mate who’s been experimented on, who you think’s been raped. Shifter gossip is harsh.”

Sascha tensed as a feral growl erupted from Brandon, his eyes darkening as if he was about to shift.

“I want to kill them, all of them, for what they did to you. Tell me who raped you and I‘ll make them pay!”

Sascha grabbed Brandon’s wrist and was startled by how quickly the Alpha’s energy calmed.

“I wasn’t raped, Brandon. I was impregnated in the laboratory, I swear.”

Brandon covered Sascha’s hand with his own as his frantic breathing slowed. Finally, he spoke. “I’d never reject you for that. Please don’t be afraid I will.”

Sascha shook his head vehemently. “I’m not pretending because I’m trying to hide something. I just meant what the other pack members will think, what sort of gossip they’ll spread.” His shoulders slumped. “I wish I could be better for you.”

“Stop that. I’m blessed to have you.” Brandon wrapped an arm around Sascha’s shoulders and for the first time since he could remember, he experienced a sensation of comfort. “I think we’ve both been holding on to some rather mistaken assumptions about each other. I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks, only that they’d better keep their traps shut if they have anything bad to say about my mate.”