The Flavor of Us (Beta Accepted)

26. ASHTON

Chapter twenty-six

ASHTON

When I said nice , I should have known that our women were going to outdo us. My nice sweater and dress pants don’t carry a torch to the form-fitted evening dress Tati is cloaked in or the sleek black pants suit, complete with a tie Carleen is donned in. Even Ryder’s usually put-together appearance pales in comparison. Tati’s dark makeup brings out the hazel of her eyes, that wide smile on her lips only lengthens as we pull up to the parking lot.

I wanted to do all of this right. After Carleen asked for a day off to spend with Tati, I wanted to get my foot in the door and truly show our women what we had to offer. I knew Tati would agree because she’s so easy to please but I want Carleen to want to be here as well. The desperate need for her approval—the way I sometimes need Ryder’s has always made me wonder if I’m more of a Beta.

But the knot in my pants tells me otherwise.

Focus, Ash.

I clear my throat and step out of the car to open the door for Carleen, Ryder helping Tati out on his side. He’s so much larger than her, the size difference almost comical, and yet it fits a few fantasies in my head. And when his hand swallows hers as he leads her inside, I nearly melt against the car right then and there. Except Carleen is just staring at me, one brow raised, wondering what the hell is going on.

“You good, Ashton?”

Fuck, I’m already messing this up.

“I really wanted this night to be perfect, Carleen. You even marked our Beta. Goddess, your bite looks perfect on her and—”

Suddenly, I’m facing Carleen, my back against the car, her hands cupping my cheeks. “Breathe. There you go. Everything is perfect. Tati is over the moon. She’s been squealing about it for hours, even said she had to dress me because we had to match.” Her smile is genuine but there’s something I still need from her.

“And you? You wanted to come too, right?”

Her chest rumbles with a laugh that slowly turns into a purr as she dips in low, brushing her lips across mine. “Tati asked me the same thing and yes, I want to be here. Tati might be the center of my world but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you too.”

There.

That confirmation. I close the distance between us, gently grabbing her tie and pulling it toward me so her lips meet mine. Goddess, they’re so soft. She moans into the kiss as I let her direct the pace, keeping my hand tightened around her tie so I don’t start wandering and push her too far. My eagerness has never been a hindrance until this moment.

And it’s too perfect to ruin.

When she pulls away, I’m chasing her lips, the taste of peaches and fresh rain as I slowly switch our positions. Her back is flat against the car, her eyes wide as they search my expression. “I just wanted you to know, darling, that I want you too. Tati is going to be my obsession. My little doe, my perfect Beta. But you? You’re going to break me in the best of ways. I just know it. I'm falling in love with you, Carleen.” I drag the back of my hand down her cheek, Carleen leaning into the touch before kissing my knuckles.

“It’s really nice to be wanted, Ashton. You have no fucking idea. And, as chaotic as you are, in everything you do, I think I'm falling for you just the same.” Carleen lays one last kiss to my lips before I straighten her tie and then guide her inside.

Goddess, I’m going to be proving that to her every day of my life if she’ll let me.

The restaurant is cozy—low lighting, dark wood tables, and little flickering candles that make everything feel soft and intimate. Ryder chose the place, and of course, it’s perfect. It’s not overly fancy or pretentious, just comfortable enough for us to relax .

Tati is sandwiched between Carleen and me, and Ryder’s sitting on the other side of Carleen, leaning back in his chair like he owns the damn place. His sharp blue eyes scan the room occasionally, but mostly, they’re focused on us—on this. And I can’t blame him.

Because this? This feels right.

Especially after that moment outside. I feel closer to Carleen, like all of this can be part of our forever and not just a trial.

Carleen’s leaning in close to Tati, her fingers ghosting over the faint bonding bite on Tati’s shoulder. Her brows are furrowed, her lips pressed in a thin line as she inspects it like she’s assessing a five-star meal. “Does it hurt, sunshine?” Carleen murmurs softly.

Tati shakes her head, her hazel eyes shining under the dim light. “Nope. It’s fine. Promise.”

Carleen doesn’t look convinced. She presses a soft kiss just above the mark, and Tati melts into her side, letting out this tiny, satisfied hum that makes my chest ache with how sweet it is. Ryder watches them both, his face unreadable but his eyes are full of something warm and proud. Family.

That’s what it feels like. We’re building something here. Something fragile, something tentative, but real.

I lean back slightly, swirling the glass of whiskey in my hand as I watch Carleen fuss over Tati. It’s rare to see Carleen let her guard down like this, to see her so tender and soft. Normally, she’s all sharp edges and focus, but outside with me and here, with Tati tucked against her side, she’s softer. She’s herself.

The server arrives with our plates and the conversation shifts naturally to the food, to Culinova, to what comes next.

“So, Carleen,” I say, leaning forward and resting my elbows on the table, my whiskey glass dangling lazily between my fingers. “How are you feeling about the menu submission? Confident?”

Carleen looks up at me, her brown eyes sharp but glittering with something almost playful. “There are a few finishing touches I need to add,” she says, cutting into her steak with precision, “but yeah. I’m confident. I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I wasn’t.”

Ryder hums his agreement, lifting his wine glass in a small toast. “You should be confident, Carleen. From what we’ve seen so far, it’s exceptional.”

The restaurant hums with quiet conversation and clinking cutlery, but all I can focus on is us. The four of us tucked into this cozy little corner, surrounded by soft candlelight and the faint scent of wine and herbs.

Tati’s beside me, her hazel eyes bright as she beams up at Carleen, who’s currently trying—and failing—not to blush as Ryder leans in close, his nose skimming along the curve of her cheek.

Carleen’s trying to keep her composure, pretending she’s focused on her steak, but Ryder isn’t having it. His hand rests gently on her lower back, his thumb moving in slow, reassuring circles. The way he holds her—it’s so tender, so delicate . He’s scenting her openly, marking her with his calm, steady presence, and Carleen’s letting him.

I don’t know if she realizes it yet, but she’s leaning into him, her shoulders relaxing under his touch.

Tati giggles at something Carleen mutters under her breath and I turn my focus back to her. She’s got this glow about her tonight, like she’s soaked up all the warmth and attention and is now radiating it back tenfold. Her plate’s still half-full, though, because every time she picks up her fork, her attention gets pulled elsewhere—usually by me or Ryder or Carleen.

“Here, little doe,” I murmur, reaching over with my knife and fork to cut her steak into neat little slices. “You’ll never finish if you keep getting distracted.”

Her eyes snap to me, her cheeks flushing as she presses her lips together in a shy smile. “I was gonna get to it…”

I smirk, spearing a slice of steak with my fork before holding it up to her lips. “Open up, Tati.”

She stares at me for half a second before her lips part, her tongue flicking briefly against the fork as she takes the bite. I don’t miss the soft sound she makes as she chews, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment like she’s savoring every flavor.

“That good?” I ask softly, my voice dipping just enough to make her cheeks turn pink again.

She nods, her voice muffled as she answers, “Steak is always good.”

Carleen snorts lightly, and Ryder chuckles low in his chest, but I’m still focused on Tati. She’s beaming under the attention— under my attention. I want to ask them. I want to look around this table and say it out loud— let me be your Alpha. Let me be part of this family.

But I hold back.

Not yet. Not tonight.

Tonight, I’m just going to let myself be here . I’m going to relish every smile, every soft laugh, every flicker of connection that passes between us. Tati shifts beside me, leaning into my shoulder slightly as she sighs contentedly.

“Full already, little doe?” I ask softly, nudging her plate closer to her.

She shakes her head, her smile sleepy but happy. “No, just… happy. Really, really happy.”

I can’t help it—I lean down and press a soft kiss to her temple. “You deserve happy, Tati.”

Her hand finds my thigh under the table, her fingers curling slightly into the fabric of my pants. Next to us, Ryder’s still scenting Carleen, his nose running lightly along her jaw now. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips parted slightly, but she’s not pulling away. If anything, she’s leaning closer.

She trusts him.

As the night winds down and the check is paid, we step out into the cool night air, the faint hum of the city wrapping around us like a blanket. Tati’s tucked close to Carleen’s side, her head resting against Carleen’s shoulder as they walk a few steps ahead.

Ryder falls into step beside me, his sharp blue gaze focused on the two women in front of us. Neither of us speaks for a long moment. But then Ryder exhales softly and says, “We’re lucky, Ash.”

I nod, my voice low and certain as I reply, “Yeah. We really are.”

The trial might be ending but this little pack is just beginning.