“Let’s take a run to the river for a swim,” David suggested. “After we’ve expended some energy, we can talk it out.”
River agreed. After stripping to their birthday suits, the two men gave into the shift and took off running.
The day was hot, and the water felt incredible on River’s bare skin once he’d shifted back to human form and dived in. He swam with the current for a while, David beside him, bringing back memories of their carefree childhood on the River Wolf pack compound. How long ago that time seemed to River now.
Once they’d exhausted themselves, the two alphas climbed onto the bank and spread out on the warm grass to dry in the sun.
“You know you’ve done a miraculous thing, River,” David said after a while. “Having not just one, but two successful packs in your life—that’s really something to be proud of.”
“Thanks, buddy. But sometimes I don’t feel so successful.”
David stretched his long legs and sighed, the breeze whipping his hair into his eyes. “That’s because you’re a perfectionist.”
“No, I’m not. I just feel the heavy weight of my responsibility to those in my pack. Sid isn’t safe where he is.”
“He’s also no longer one of the pack, by his choice,” David reminded him. “You can’t make him do what he doesn’t want to do. Honestly, I think it’s time we give ourselves a break. Times are changing, and we have to change with them.”
River sighed. “I guess you’re right. I think it bothers me more that I sometimes resent Josiah. I knew what I was doing when I took him as my mate. I knew he was part human and likely to be a challenge, but I did it anyway.”
“Because you fell in love with him. Do you think I was wise when I hooked up with Jax? A full human?” David chuckled. “Don’t try to lie because I know you had to have thought I was crazy.”
“I was too busy with Josiah to worry like I should have about you,” River said softly, shame rising in his chest. He had allowed Jax to live with David on the compound, and much of the pack hadn’t appreciated it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Nothing gets by you. And I appreciate it. I may not have ever said that before, and for that I’m sorry. You were a good friend fighting against your own pack for my happiness.”
River looked at David, surprised.
“Your job is difficult,” David continued. “You have to take so many things into consideration. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. So to speak.” David glanced down River’s naked body stretched out in the sun. He turned and propped his head on his elbow. Raising a brow, he looked down at River.
“What?” River had no idea what his best friend was thinking, but David’s blue eyes were mischievous.
“Ever wonder why we never hooked up?” David asked. He looked serious, so River thought about it, but no matter how he turned it in his mind, thinking of David that way was like imagining having sex with a brother.
He stole a glance at his friend. David looked like he was giving the idea equal consideration.
They both crinkled their noses at the same time and said, “Ewwww!” Then they burst out laughing.
River wiped his eyes and sat up. “Thanks for this. A swim and a talk with my best friend was exactly what I needed.”
David sat up beside him. “You worry too much, and you’re too hard on yourself. As your second-in-command, I demand the next time you think you aren’t doing your job, you run it by me. I’ll set you straight.”
“Are you sure you don’t worship me a little too much to be unbiased?” River teased.
David shoved him hard, and River started laughing again.
“The day I worship you is the day I grow wings and fly.” David pulled himself to his feet and held out a hand to River.
The two grabbed up their clothes and walked back to the pack house.
“You okay?” River asked after a moment. “I know seeing Jax again had to be hard for you, even though it’s what you wanted.”
“I’m glad I insisted, and I owe Josiah for sticking up for me to Mark and also for suggesting I take Brooks with me. Seeing the two of them together was great, and Brooks has been so much happier since then.”
“I’m glad,” River smiled, and then added, “I call first dibs on taking a shower.” The old plantation house wouldn’t keep enough hot water for two, and if River went first, David would have to wait at least half an hour to take his. Although the werewolves’ bodies naturally regulated themselves to temperature, none of the shifters particularly enjoyed a freezing cold shower when they could have a hot one instead.
David grinned. “Not if I don’t get there first!” He took off running, and with a curse, River ran after him.
* * * *
River managed to beat David in his race to shower despite the second alpha’s head start. Clean and dressed, River checked on the twins napping in their connecting room before leaving his and Josiah’s bedroom and heading for the stairs. Judging by the sounds coming from David and Brooks’ room, his second-in-command had found a way to while away the time until the water heated up again. The loud moans and quick back and forth squeaking of the bed had River adjusting his pants as he descended to the first floor.
Mark and Angela Newman were sitting in the living room with Josiah.
“This is a nice surprise,” he said, taking a seat beside Josiah on the couch.
Angela smiled. “River, hello. I was just telling Josiah that I’ve learned the omega who died in Nevada last month was indeed in the early stages of pregnancy, which concurs with our suspicions that whatever is being done to the shifters could well be centered on stopping reproduction. Josiah tells me that Sam’s heats have been erratic and short-lasting, and that makes sense as well. Throw a wrench into an omega’s heats, and the entire cycle becomes screwed up. Pretty soon, the alpha’s knot may not produce the optimum amount of sperm at the needed time. And what pregnancies do follow will be dangerous to both omega and baby.”
River’s upper lip curled in a snarl. The humans were indeed subversively working to eradicate their species.
Josiah put his hand on his mate’s arm, and a sense of calm washed through the pack alpha.
“What can we do about it?” Josiah asked, then coughed over a particularly enthusiastic volley of curses that drifted down the stairs.
Angela flushed but kept her eyes on the omega. “I’ve been in contact with an Agent Oaks of the FBI. He and his partner, Agent Kumar, have been watching Senator Parker but so far have come up empty. It’s unlikely the senator will do anything that could get any fingers pointed at him, but according to Jax, he frequents the Omega Oasis.”
River noticed Josiah pale at the mention of the place where omegas were being kept as sex slaves. He wrapped his arm around his mate.
“Which means two things,” Mark said. “Parker has a means of getting to the Omega Oasis undetected by the FBI and that he can be caught there. Once we break open the ring, the FBI can get the answers we need to help the omegas and betas afflicted by their drugs.”
“Why aren’t alphas being targeted?” River asked.
“We suspect either alphas are too strong to be affected by their drugs, or the humans are just too afraid to mess with them,” Mark answered.
“If the senator’s so careful, how will they catch him at the club?” Josiah asked.
“The only person we’ve got to rely on there is Jax. He’ll have to set up a sting.”
“That sounds dangerous for Jax,” Josiah said.
“The FBI’s been working the past couple of weeks infiltrating an agent into the place via the dark web,” Mark said. “Jax now has an ally inside, and as soon as the guy’s initiated into the club, we’ll know exactly where it is. Jax will still be the one to get the evidence, though. No way Parker’s going to trust a new guy around him when he’s there.”
A bitter taste settled in River’s mouth when he realized what Jax would have to do to obtain such pictures. It certainly wouldn’t be easy, and it definitely woul
d be dangerous.
“Jax has relayed that it took some time to get there by car, but the fact that the senator is getting to the club undetected suggests a possible connection to where he lives or works. Possibly, the Omega Oasis lies under a building he owns,” Mark said. “We’ll find out soon enough from Agent Den.”
“What does initiation consist of?” River asked.
“We have no idea,” Mark said.
River nodded, still disturbed for Jax, but excitement stirred at the fact they were finally getting close to ending this.
Angela let out a breath, eyes alight. “For the first time in a long time, I really feel like we’re getting close.”
“We can’t thank you enough for being such a friend to us,” Josiah told her.
“Nonsense. You’ve all done so much for my research. We all want to put this feuding between our species to a stop.”
“I heard your team were unable to find a dart when they searched,” River said.
“That’s true. I wanted to speak with you about that. I’m not satisfied they were looking in the proper place, even with the map River drew for them to use. I wondered if a few who were on the run might search again with me.”
“That can be arranged,” River agreed. “When?”
“As soon as possible. Would tomorrow be all right with you?”
“Yeah. Sam will have to come along, and Leo will insist upon going in that case.”
“Briar and Sawyer should go,” Josiah added. “They’re the ones who escorted Sam home.”
“I’ll go, too,” River said. He looked at Josiah. “I supposed you’ll want to come to make sure I’m on track.”
Josiah grinned. “True.”
They made plans to meet outside the plantation at one o’clock the following afternoon.
Chapter 15: Mark
Angela had taken her own car to the pack house. Mark waved goodbye to her and headed for the omega den. The last time he’d visited, Jaime had refused to see him. This time, Mark wasn’t taking no for an answer. He had to get everything out in the open air and see where it took them, because one thing he knew for sure: he couldn’t get the handsome omega out of his head.
Sandy was in the kitchen when Mark walked inside the omega house. He greeted Mark with a sandwich in one hand and a glass of milk in the other.
“Is Jaime around?” Mark asked.
Sandy swallowed his bite of sandwich. “He’s in his room. Last one on the left.”
Mark nodded his thanks and walked down the hall. When he got to the door, he pressed his ear to the wood but didn’t hear anything. He knocked, and when there was no answer, he opened the door and walked in.
Jaime lay on the bed, hair ruffled and eyes closed, obviously asleep. Mark took a moment to look at him. He was shirtless, his chest lightly tanned with a dusting of light auburn hair, and a sprinkling of freckles across the shoulders. Mark’s gaze briefly snagged on two dark nipples before traveling lower to defined abs, small divot of a navel, and the bulge beneath aqua boxer shorts. Jaime’s long, tanned legs were spread open on the bed and his chest arose and fell evenly in sleep.
Feeling like a creeper but unable to help himself, Mark shut the door and walked toward the bed. He put out a hand and touched Jaime’s cheek with two fingers, eliciting a smile from the sleeping man, and the whisper of his name.
“Mark.” Jaime moved his head slightly and ran his lips over Mark’s fingers. Mark held his breath, afraid to move, and then let it out in a whoosh when Jaime’s eyes fluttered open.
“Mark?” The omega looked confused.
“Hey.”
Jaime pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked around. “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry to just walk in, but you didn’t answer when I knocked.”
“I was asleep.”
“I can see that.”
Jaime sat up and reached for his pants.
“I said I didn’t want to see you the last time you came.”
“I know, but I was here with Angela and hoped you’d talk to me.”
Jaime flicked his eyes up to Mark. “Any new developments?”
“Just that they’ve got it narrowed down to a drug pinpointing the reproductive system in the omegas. They think wolves are being darted during moon runs. It might be best for the pack to not go on any.”
“Easy for you to say; you’re not a wolf. The full moon calls to a werewolf. I feel it, even if I haven’t been able to shift.”
Due to Jaime’s upbringing by humans, he’d never learned to shift and had been unsuccessful in his attempts since coming to the pack house.
“Josiah skips runs when he’s in heat.”
“Yeah, and he feels like shit for it.” Jaime stood up. “What is it you want?”
“I wanted to see you.” Mark reached out to touch Jaime, but the man stepped away.
“Like you did at the pack house? Just before you decided we weren’t worth the trouble.”
Mark ran a hand over his face. “That’s not true. Josiah made me believe that being with you would hurt you in the long run.”
“And what the fuck does Josiah know?” Jaime suddenly burst out. “Did he warn himself when he hooked up with River? Does he wish it had never happened? I guarantee you the answer to both of those questions is a resounding no. So, leave your best friend out of your decisions about us, all right?”
Mark looked into Jaime’s blazing green eyes, something within him stirring. He didn’t know if it was the fact Jaime seemed to want to fight for them to be together or what, but it made him think maybe there was a chance for them after all.”
Jaime walked to the small window and looked out. Over the omega’s shoulder, Mark could seem David and Brooks walking hand-in-hand toward the barn, and Mark’s heart constricted. He wanted that kind of relationship. He didn’t have it with Beth, but the way he felt about Jaime, he knew that kind of happiness was possible for him.
“What are you doing here, Mark?” Jaime asked again, sounding resigned.
“I’ve missed you. Despite what Josiah said, I just had to see you again. These feelings I have…they’re not going to go away. I don’t want to hurt you, but, fuck! I just can’t let you go.”
Jaime turned to look at him, and Mark stepped closer, happy Jaime didn’t try to get away from him this time.
“How is it that you—or Josiah, rather—thinks you’re going to hurt me?” Jaime asked.
Mark touched Jaime’s arm, fingers sliding down until he grasped the other man’s hand.
“He doesn’t think I can keep up with you sexually. Your heats. Especially since I don’t have a knot.”
Jaime moved closer, sending Mark’s heart into overdrive. God, Jaime was so close. He wanted so much to pull the other omega into his arms.
“Every couple has their challenges,” Jaime said, resting his free hand on Mark’s shoulder. “All it takes is a willingness to work through things. You know, I’ve learned a lot since I moved into the omega house. I’m told that unmated omegas normally used sex toys to get through their heats. If you can’t keep up with my needs, we can always try that.” His eyes met Mark’s. “Unless you don’t think I’m worth the effort.”
“God, of course you are. I’ve been so stupid.”
Jaime’s hand crept from Mark’s shoulder to the back of his neck. “Yeah, you have.”
Their lips met, and Mark encircled Jaime in his arms.
“You’re trembling,” Jaime said against Mark’s lips.
“I can’t believe I’ve got you here with me.”
“Well, you do.” Jaime leaned in and kissed Mark deeply, their tongues sliding together.
Mark went from zero to ninety in a matter of seconds, cock pushing painfully against the zipper of his jeans. Jaime made a sound in his throat that sent desire rushing through Mark’s system. He slid his hands down and gripped Jaime’s perky ass, grinding their cocks together.
“Mark,” Jaime said brokenly, breaking their kiss. Mark kissed the omeg
a’s cheek, jaw, ear, neck. Now that the walls had come down, he couldn’t stop touching and tasting.
“Not here,” Jaime said, and Mark broke away from nibbling on the omega’s shoulder to look him in the eyes. “I want it to be special.”
Mark cupped Jaime’s cheek in his hand. “Come over for dinner tomorrow night. I’ll grill some steaks and make a salad. We can spend the evening together.”
Jaime smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Mark kissed Jaime one more time, ending with a nibble on lush lips, and stepped away. “Seven?
“I’ll be there,” Jaime promised.
* * * *
Mark’s hands shook as he lit the candles. He couldn’t believe it was going to happen—he was going to have Jaime. And what the fuck did he know about gay sex? Only what he’d looked up on the Internet. He didn’t even feel he could call Josiah and ask him about it since he didn’t want to hear anymore negativity about him and Jaime. They’d made their decision—they were going to give it a go. They didn’t need anyone else’s opinions on the matter.
Satisfied that the table looked nice, he went into the bedroom and checked the drawer beside the bed. He’d picked up condoms on the way home along with an extra bottle of lube, although he’d heard omegas secreted their own natural lubricant. He wondered what that would be like. He wondered what being with another man would feel like. He’d never had anal sex with Beth or anyone else, but thinking about thrusting into Jaime’s ass was making him hard.
He’d bathed and changed into casual but nice clothes. Since the breakup with Beth, Mark had moved into a new place—a townhouse with a back deck complete with a hot tub. He’d taken the lid off and tested the chemicals just in case Jaime wanted to sit in it under the stars. That along with a bottle of wine should be romantic.
Trying hard not to panic about what would most likely happen later that night, Mark put on some music and got the steaks out of the marinade. The doorbell rang as he was putting the baked potatoes on the grill.
“Come in!” he shouted through the open sliding glass door. A moment later, Jaime appeared on the back porch. Mark shut the grill and went to hug the omega.