The Beta and the Figure Skater

Chapter 10

Sarah's POV:

 I'm sitting in the restaurant with Grady. He's really sweet and romantic. And I feel so safe with him. But...there's something about him...he looks...sad? I don't know. Well, if I'm gonna be with him, I want to get to know the real Grady. I want him to be happy. 

 "Grady, is anything wrong..?" I asked gently.

 He looked over at me. "No, why?" he asked, taking a sip of his water.

 "Because I can see in your eyes you're not happy. I haven't known you very long, but I get the feeling you aren't usually.....this serious."

 He looked down with a frown. "Well....It's um...It's a long story..."

 "We have time, Grady."

"Well....You remember I told you I was basically the third CEO for my company?" he asked. I nodded. "Well, the second CEO, he's very good at his job. He's basically my role model...He's serious about his work. I want to live up to his example...And, I was following his example. In my own way....." he said the last part a little sheepishly.

 "But?" I asked, encouraging him to continue. I frowned softly.

 "Out of the three of us, I'm basically the care-free, fun-loving guy. I try to look on the bright side of things. I try to be positive. But lately....I just feel like..."

 "Like what, Grady?" I asked quietly, reaching over and taking his hand.

 "I feel like I won't be a good Gamma or mate if I don't change! I feel like my mate would hate the way I am, I feel like I'm letting Ray, Weston, and the pack down! I feel like I'm letting my mate down! Even my family..." he exclaimed.

 I sat there, stunned, trying to comprehend his words. Pack...? Gamma...? Mate...? "Um...Grady...What do you mean...? I thought you were the third CEO of a company. What's a pack? What is a Gamma?"

 Grady's eyes went wide in realization. "Oh snap...I-I didn't say that...Please tell me I didn't...."

 "Um....You didn't say that? But um....you kinda did...."

 "Oh, man!" he groaned, face-palming himself. "I-I'll be back..."

 "Ok..?" I watched as he got up and left the restaurant. I sat there, confused. What was he talking about...? Did he....Did he lie to me...? Mate...that could mean soulmate....I understand the rest of what he said, I think....Ray and Weston, I guess could be the top CEO and the second CEO. 

Grady's POV:

 I blew it. I literally just blew it! What do I do now?? We just met maybe two or three weeks ago! Isn't it like, too soon to tell her what I am?! Oh, she's gonna kill me....I basically did kinda lie...In a way it's the truth, I am the third in command. But I guess it is more of a lie than the truth....Oh, I am such an idiot!

 "We need to go back in there, Grady! She'll think you abandoned her! We need to tell her the truth!" my wolf declared.

 "I can't, Jasper! She'll hate me!" I exclaimed.

 "But maybe she won't! We can't keep this a secret forever, Grady. We probably would've had to tell her soon, anyway, the way we keep seeing her. The closer we get, the more the bond grows. We need to tell her. Now." Jasper, my wolf said firmly.

 "Grady?" I heard a familiar voice behind me. I spun around quickly to see Ray standing there, looking a little concerned.

 "Ray! I-I didn't even notice you were here..." I said shakily.

 "Myla and I decided to go out for dinner tonight. We heard what happened in there. Are you alright?" he asked me in a quiet voice. 

 "I-I don't know, Ray....I just don't know...." I leaned against the building, trying not to let my tears fall.

 "Grady, I had no idea you were feeling that way...Grady you're the best Gamma I could ever ask for. You always make it fun and exciting. You could never let me, Weston, or the pack down. You could never let your mate or your family down. You don't need to change who you are. You've been following Weston's example in your own way. And that is honestly fine! I actually have grown to enjoy the unpredictable days." Ray told me, putting his hand on my shoulder. "You haven't known Sarah long. But already, I can see you are a good mate. You're already a great Gamma. You make this pack special by just being you. You are a great Gamma by just being you."

 I looked over at him. "Do you really mean that, Ray..?"

 "Of course I do. I wouldn't lie to you."

 I sighed heavily. "Yea. You never lie period...Unlike me, apparently..."

 "Grady, I've lied before. I'm not perfect. But, you're right. I do like honesty. And you're an honest person."

 "I lied to my mate, Ray! She's gonna hate me! I-I basically just told her what I am in there!" I exclaimed. 

 "I know. But I don't think she'll hate you, Grady. But you gotta tell her. If you don't tell her, she's just gonna find out some other way. And I know she would much rather hear it from you. She's most likely going to be at least a little mad you lied. But she'll be mad if she has to find out the truth some other way. Grady, honesty is important in relationships. You need to be honest and come clean to Sarah. She'll understand why you did it, I'm sure."

 "But I'm scared, Ray....What if she rejects me...? What if she does hate me...? The mate bond has grown fast and it's getting stronger. I can't hold back much longer...I want to be with her....But I'm afraid..."

 "I know...But hey, there's only one way to find out, right? If I am being completely honest, I don't think she'll hate or reject you. I can tell she loves you. I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you." He said gently, giving a small, reassuring smile.

 I nodded slowly. "I guess you're right...Even Jasper told me I need to tell her." I took a deep breath. "I'll try...I just hope this doesn't end badly..." 

 "Just try to think positive, Grady. Don't think negatively." Ray told me. I nodded, giving him a grateful smile before walking back into the restaurant.

 Third Person POV:

 Ray stood there outside for a moment or two after Grady had walked back inside. He frowned. "I hope it doesn't end badly either....I don't want to know how Grady would take being rejected and hated by his mate...And I don't want to see him go through what Weston went through..." he said to himself. Ray cared a lot about his friends and his family. He hated seeing Weston so devastated after Kelly rejected him. And he didn't want to see Grady go through the same thing his Beta went through.