The Flavor of Us (Beta Accepted)

1. TATI

Chapter one

TATI

The text notification flashes across my phone like a beacon, and my stomach drops.

Ellie’s in labor.

I barely finish reading before making a U-turn and speeding down the highway. A few days ago, I decided to come back to our chaotic little city and return to my life. Running away never solved anything and I’ve been pining away for my Alpha, Carleen, for far too damn long.

First, though, I have to get to Ellie. My best friend, my confidant, and Carleen’s younger sister.

God, I’m a shitty friend. But no matter how messy my head’s been, there’s no way I’m missing this. Not after I ran off like a high school teenager when things fizzled out with Carleen.

The drive is a blur—red lights, honking horns, and me cursing under my breath the whole time. Of course, everything is conspiring to slow me down today. Traffic? Check. Some guy going five under in the fast lane? Double check. By the time I skid into the hospital parking lot, my heart is pounding as if it’s trying to escape my chest.

I grab my purse from the passenger seat and bolt through the automatic doors, not caring about the stares. My boots squeak against the polished floors as I navigate the maze of hallways, following the signs to labor and delivery. A wave of antiseptic hits me—bright lights, sterile smells, and a low hum of voices. It’s sensory overload, but I don’t care. All that matters is Ellie.

And then I stop dead in my tracks.

There she is. Carleen.

Leaning against the wall outside Ellie’s room, arms crossed over her chest, head tilted like she’s been expecting me. Her sharp brown eyes lock on mine and I’m pinned to the spot like prey under a predator’s gaze. Damn it. I didn’t plan for this. Not today.

My pulse skyrockets and now it’s not just the running up here or the panic about missing my best friend’s delivery.

No, it’s her . Carleen—tall and proud, with that stupidly confident smirk she gets when she knows she’s in control of the situation. She’s fucking gorgeous, just like she always is—a certain fierce aura hanging around her with that pixie cut and the luscious brown curls piled on top of her head. It feels like she threw on some clothes—sweatpants and a worn band tee that’s just a little too short, hugging every curve. And yet, she’s still perfect.

"Tati." Her voice cuts through the noise in my head. It sends a shiver down my spine and I hate that she still has that effect on me.

I force myself to move, one step at a time, until I’m standing a few feet away. I open my mouth to speak, but the words stick in my throat. Her thick scent reminds me of fresh rain and a hint of peaches, like the beginning of summer, causing me to lose my thought. What do I even say to a woman I’ve been pining over for months ? I told myself I’d ease into this moment, that I’d eventually work up the courage to ask her out for coffee or dinner.

If I hadn’t been so frantic to get here, I would have realized that it was Carleen who had sent that text and that of course, Ellie’s sister would have been waiting here to see her niece and nephews. I’m still in awe that Ellie’s Omega somehow impregnated her with triplets.

"You made it," Carleen says, her lips curling into a faint smile. There’s something in her eyes that looks almost…relieved. I want to believe that it’s for me but I shove that feeling aside.

"Of course, I made it. Ellie’s my best friend." My voice comes out sharper than I intended, but I can’t help it. Being this close to Carleen is like standing too close to a flame—like feeling the heat before it burns.

She nods, the smile fading slightly, but she doesn’t say anything else. Silence stretches between us and I shift awkwardly, my fingers playing with the strap of my bag. Every nerve in my body is screaming at me to either run or say something, but I can’t do either. Not with her watching me like that.

Finally, I break the silence. "How is she?"

"She’s doing great," Carleen says. "Ellie’s strong. Always has been."

Her words hang in the air and I know she’s not just talking about Ellie. She’s talking about us. About me leaving. About her pulling away. It’s like every unspoken thing between us is standing in the hallway, glaring at us both. I feel like I’m going to fucking explode if I don’t say something. This is both the worst and best time to address it.

Forcing myself to take a seat outside the room, my breath hitches as Carleen sits beside me. We started something months ago, just as Ellie first met her mates—Macon and Savin. It had been the happiest moment in my life, watching my best friend find her forever. And then I found mine.

Carleen.

I tried to ignore it for a while because what kind of friend would I be to date her sister? Carleen had been there for both of us through thick and thin and now I was thinking of her in a very different way. I don’t even know when it truly started. But some part of me couldn’t exist without Carleen.

We never talked about a relationship. We just fell together. I started staying over more and it just… happened. Until it fell apart and I ran off because I couldn’t handle the shame of being rejected. Sitting in this silence now though, I realize that’s not what happened.

Her scent strengthens just a little, a tell-tale sign that she’s just as uncomfortable as I am. “How’s everything going?” I ask lamely, my gaze focused downward on my hands in my lap. If this were any other situation, I’d find myself laughing at this version of myself. My entire persona revolves around being this loud, outspoken individual.

Hell, I dance naked on stage for a living but talking to the woman I want to spend forever with? Fuck, I think my heart is going to dance out of my chest.

Carleen lets out a heavy breath, leaning back in the chair “Good. Really good. The first baby’s here—healthy, loud, perfect. The other two are still taking their time, though. Might be a long night.” Her lips twitch into a small smile and it’s like a punch to the gut. How can someone look so damn good in hospital lighting?

“Well, lucky for me,” I say, forcing a grin, “I brought a bag.” I nudge the purse slung over my shoulder like it’s some kind of prize.

Her laugh is soft but genuine and for a second, it’s like no time has passed. Like we’re back to being…whatever we were before it all went sideways. But then her eyes meet mine and the tension snaps back into place.

“So,” she says after a moment, twisting to face me. “How’ve you been?” She’s still closed off, despite the soft conversation, her hands folded in her lap, one leg crossed over the other. Carleen’s giving me that business pose. I hate it.

An exaggerated breath falls from my lips as I shake my head. Ignoring this isn’t going to work. Trying to play into pleasantries as if we’re just two ships passing in the night isn’t going to work either. We’ve been texting for a few weeks now, rekindling feelings and I’m done playing it safe. “Can we just…skip the small talk? Please?”

Her eyebrows lift, surprised, but she doesn’t say anything. Just watches me, her expression unreadable.

I turn toward her fully, leaning forward a little, my voice steady even though my chest feels like it might explode. “I didn’t come back to talk about the weather, Carleen. Or to pretend like nothing happened between us.”

She stiffens, just barely, but I catch it. Her eyes flicker down to her hands, her fingers twitching like she’s trying to keep herself grounded. Goddess, we’re such a mess. “Tati—”

“No.” I cut her off, my voice firmer now. “I came back because I want something real. With you. And I’m ready to work for it—whatever that means. Whatever you need.”

Her eyes snap up to mine, wide and a little startled. “You don’t—”

“I do,” I say quickly, cutting off whatever excuse she’s about to throw at me. “I know you’re scared. I know you’ve got your reasons and I’m not here to bulldoze over them. But I’m here, Carleen. I’m here because I want you in my life and I’m willing to fight for it. For us.” Tears gather in my eyes as I swallow back the bile creeping up in my throat. I hate being this assertive but Ellie told me that Carleen won’t easily take a step forward.

She’s been hurt too many times.

And if I want a forever with her—I have to fight for it.

She exhales sharply, her hands clenching into fists against her thighs. For a moment, I think she’s going to argue, to push me away again, but instead, she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her head dips, the tension radiating through her shoulders.

“You don’t get it, Tati,” she mutters, a rough edge to her tone. “This isn’t…it’s not simple.”

I reach out, hesitating for only a second before brushing my fingers against her arm. She doesn’t pull away and that tiny victory gives me the courage to press on. Carleen has said those same words to me before and every time, I’ve said the same thing. I just hope this time she believes me. “I don’t need simple. I just need you.”

She finally looks up at me and the raw vulnerability in her eyes nearly knocks the air out of my lungs. There’s so much there—pain, fear, guilt, longing—all of it swirling together in a way that makes my heart ache.

“I came back for this,” I say again. “Because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. So, whatever you’re dealing with, whatever you think is too much, let me help carry it.”

Her jaw tightens, Carleen obviously dealing with emotions she hasn’t let me see before. “Don’t judge me.”

Carleen’s words hang in the air between us, like the room itself is holding its breath. Don’t judge me. Her voice echoes in my head as I sit there, staring into her wide, vulnerable eyes. This is Carleen—confident, sharp-tongued, impossible-to-shake Carleen—and yet, here she is, looking at me like I’m holding her whole world in my hands.

I swallow hard, reaching forward to grab her hands in mine. “I’d never judge you, Alpha. Not for anything.”

Calling her Alpha seems to give her some relief, a tiny crack in the armor but it’s enough to remind me that beneath everything, she’s still human. Just as scared of getting hurt as I am. Maybe more.

“I’m scared, Tati,” she admits. “I’m scared I’m not enough for you. That what you want…what you deserve …is more than I can give.”

Her confession cuts deep, but I don’t truly know what she means. Carleen? Not enough? She doesn’t get it—she doesn’t see what I see when I look at her. Strong, fierce, beautiful, and so damn Carleen that it drives me crazy.

I frown, leaning closer. “What are you talking about? Where is this even coming from?”

She shakes her head, her jaw tightening like she’s trying to hold it all in, but then the words come tumbling out. “I don’t…move fast, Tati. I never have. I need time to build that connection, to trust someone completely before I can even think about—” She cuts herself off, glancing away like she’s ashamed to even say it. “Before I can take things further.”

I blink as all the pieces fall into place. I suspected for a while but since we never truly made our relationship official, it never became part of the conversation. I wish it had. It would have made everything so much easier because in what world would I have judged Carleen for being herself? “Are you demi?” I ask, wondering if putting the question out there is too much.

Her eyes snap to mine, wide and almost defensive, like she’s waiting for me to laugh or brush it off. But I don’t. How could I? All I feel is a rush of love for this woman sitting in front of me, trying to bare her soul when she’s probably terrified I’ll break it.

She looks away again, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah.” It takes me a moment to realize Carleen is waiting for me to push her away, to agree with her that she’s not enough for me. I wonder how many have seen her and told her those very same words. I’m going to kill every single one of them.

Squeezing her hands in mine, I grab her attention again. “Alpha, I would spend eternity proving myself to you if it meant you’d love me at the end. I don’t care how long it takes, or what it looks like, or what anyone else thinks. I want you . Whatever you have to give, whatever you’re comfortable with—I’ll take it. Happily.”

Her breath hitches and then her lips curve into the softest, most genuine smile I’ve seen in months. It’s small, almost shy, but it’s real, and it makes my heart feel like it’s about to burst.

“Tati…” she starts, but I shake my head, cutting her off.

“I mean it, Carleen. All of it.”

Her smile grows, the silence stretching between us finally comfortable. I feel like we’ve taken a huge leap forward, my Alpha staring at me, knowing that I want all of her just as she is. Carleen squeezes my hands before glancing at Ellie’s door again and then looking back at me.

“Can I ask you something?” I should keep my mouth shut and be happy with the small win but I just can’t . Maybe it’s instincts. Maybe it’s love. Hell, I don’t know.

She raises an eyebrow, still smiling. “What?”

“Is a kiss okay?” My voice is soft, teasing, but there’s a real question behind it. I don’t want to push her, not even a little.

Carleen’s eyes widen slightly, and for a second, I’m sure I’ve ruined the moment. But then she nods, her lips curving into a smirk that’s all Carleen—confident, sure of herself, and yet somehow sweeter than I’ve ever seen her. “Yeah. A kiss is okay.”

I don’t waste a second. I lean in slowly, giving her plenty of time to change her mind, but she doesn’t pull away. Our lips meet softly, gently, and it’s like the world stops spinning for just a moment. It’s not rushed or desperate—it’s sweet, careful, full of everything we’re too scared to say out loud yet.

Goddess, I’ve missed her.