A Beta Life

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nd out today. Dad needs to make sure it's all above board and legal. Like he always says, "Honour before all." We follow one of the therapists down the hall as she makes her claim for the other funding amounts we've offered on the side. She wants to use a part of it for art class for the kids, to extend her materials to help get their minds off being ill and tune them into doing something fun, or so she says. I can see how that would be nice. This place is depressing. All the kids here look doped out of their minds or scared. I feel bad for them, actually. And this place kind of gives me the creeps. We finally make it to the art class, and she ushers us in. We have an entire herd of med students with us today for the tour, and I almost bump into one as I stumble in the door, in the middle of politely answering one of Ms. Hames's many questions since we arrived. She introduces me to someone sitting in the back row of the classroom alone. I hadn't even noticed her sitting there. But I'm not sure how I missed her. The small girl, who looks to be around 16 or 17, and it's actually pretty good. That's a surprise. She looks up as we enter the room, and I gasp aloud as she locks eyes with me. That's not the only surprise, it seems. My wolf knows her immediately. I would recognise this feeling anywhere, even though its nothing like I've ever felt before. It's surreal, it's ethereal, and it's instant. "Mate," The words leave my mouth before I even have a chance to think about the audience. I know at least one hears me as I see my father stiffen in my peripheral. The girl looks confused but doesn't break our stare. She's beautiful and breathtaking. Everything around me sinks away, and all I can see is the dark haired, exotic beauty sitting before me. Dad coughs from behind me and taps me on the shoulder. My wolf doesn't want to break my line of sight with her, but Dad's coughing persists, and I turn and face him. "I'm happy for you, but not now, son," he says as he nods subtly to the others in the room. Humans. Shit. He says it with authority, and I know enough not to argue. Ms. Hames stops chatting with the students and . She finally introduces us to my gorgeous mate. "This is Aidalyn," she tells us, speaking about her artistic abilities before introducing my dad and my