Breaking the Bonds

  “The girls wanted to see their friends at daycare,” River said, an acceptable explanation, only Josiah knew River would have nixed the idea if he hadn’t wanted to visit the Congress for a reason of his own. Josiah suspected that reason had to do with worry over his mate and the desire to give Josiah a ride home himself.

  Josiah said as much when they left the building a half hour later and climbed into River’s used black Mustang convertible. The day was warm, and River had put the top down on the car. After looking in on Sadie and Sophie playing happily with friends, the couple had agreed to have lunch before returning to pick them up.

  “Can’t I surprise my mate once in a while?” River asked as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street leading to the main thoroughfare.

  “I don’t buy your story for a minute. I can take care of myself, River. Kane was going to give me a lift home.”

  “And now he doesn’t have to.” River drove in silence for a few moments while Josiah’s annoyance grew. He was omega, and that brought with it a certain amount of deference to his alpha. But he was also human and accustomed to relying on himself.

  “The meeting didn’t last long. Hope that wasn’t because of me,” River said.

  “Of course it wasn’t.” Mark had concluded the meeting with the decision Kane would become liaison between the Congress and the newest batch of rogue werewolves, and Josiah had been happy to leave. His stomach growled.

  “Anything new on the table?” River asked.

  Josiah settled back in the passenger seat. “Just the influx of rogues needing a place to stay. All alphas and betas.”

  “We have enough for now.”

  Not long ago, they’d taken in two alphas, three betas, and three omegas, although Austin and Nick weren’t there anymore.

  “Did I say we should take in more?”

  River glanced at Josiah. “No, but you were thinking it. We’re lucky to have settled in so well with what we’ve got. I don’t want to stir the pot.”

  “You act as though all rogues are violent usurpers when they’re just homeless. Humans have decimated a lot of packs in the past few years, and these werewolves have nowhere to go.” Josiah crossed his arms over his chest and stared out the windshield. “It’s really ironic I’m the one standing up for a species I’ve only been a part of a few years while you’re turning your back against your own kind.”

  He might have gone too far with that, as River slowed the car and gave Josiah a warning look.

  “Sorry,” Josiah muttered. He knew River hadn’t deserved the comment. Josiah was just frustrated. He’d hoped things would be going so much better, but it seemed like it was one step forward, two steps back.

  River grunted and picked up speed again. After a moment, the alpha said, “You’ve always been half-were, even though you didn’t know it. It’s a part of you. And I’m not saying the rogues don’t need help; I’m saying we don’t always have to be the ones to help them. We’re only just recently getting on our feet. We’ve done our part. Let Hashi Valley or Spartan Point take some in. I’ll help build houses on Congress land, if Mark wants me to. Just no more rogues joining our pack.”

  “For now,” Josiah said.

  River sighed. “For now.”

  They chose the Italian restaurant where Leo worked as a server, although the alpha wasn’t there at that time of day. River asked for a booth in the back, tucked away from the main dining room.

  “What’s with the cologne?” Josiah whispered as they followed the hostess.

  “You don’t like it?”

  Josiah elbowed his mate. “You know very well I like your natural scent better.”

  River shrugged. “When in Rome.”

  Josiah snorted, realizing his alpha was wearing cologne to appear more human. It wasn’t like anyone could tell they were werewolves just by looking or sniffing at them, but if it made River feel better, Josiah guessed he didn’t mind. He supposed he should be glad River was willing to mingle in the human world at all.

  When their waitress appeared, Josiah ordered salad and spaghetti. While River gave his preference, the omega looked around at the small, dimly lit tables mostly occupied by couples, wondering how many of them ever gave a thought to werewolves. He marveled that he’d once been a part of this world. Of course, werewolves had always been in the back of his mind, as his uncle Horace had made certain of that. Josiah hadn’t known at the time the reason behind the information had been because he was half-werewolf.

  When the water arrived, Josiah took a sip. He choked when River asked, “How’s Mark doing after his break-up with Beth?”

  Josiah’s eyes teared up as he coughed into his napkin, trying to catch his breath. “W-what?”

  River offered another napkin. “You didn’t know?”

  Josiah took an unsteady breath and cleared his throat, leaning back against the back of his chair. “What are you talking about? Mark and Beth broke up? When?”

  “A few weeks ago. Kane mentioned it to me. You really didn’t know?”

  Josiah shook his head. “He never said a word to me.” Why would his best friend have kept something like that from him?

  “Maybe he knows you’d just want to talk about it, and he can’t bring himself to yet.”

  Josiah tore the paper napkin into strips. “I wouldn’t have pushed him. He’s my best friend. I can’t believe he didn’t say anything.”

  “He probably feels you have worries enough,” River said, patting his mate’s hand.

  Josiah glared. “How would you feel if David hadn’t told you about Jax leaving?”

  “He didn’t have to tell me; I was right there.”

  “You know what I’m saying.”

  The waitress appeared with their salads. When she’d gone, River glanced at Josiah. “Okay, point taken. But I don’t think Mark was trying to slight you.”

  “Makes me wonder if I haven’t been a good friend to him lately,” Josiah muttered, stabbing half-heartedly at the lettuce with his fork.

  “You’ve had a hard year,” River said. “Mark understands that. I’m sure he just isn’t ready to talk.”

  “He evidently talked about it to Kane.” Josiah knew he was pouting but couldn’t help it. He and Mark had always been close. Until you mated a werewolf, he reminded himself.

  “You don’t know that. Kane probably overheard it somehow. Why don’t you invite Mark to dinner this weekend? He could probably use the distraction.”

  Josiah nodded. Impulsively, he leaned in and kissed his mate’s cheek.

  “What was that for?” River asked, looking amused.

  Josiah shrugged. “Do I have to have a reason?” He dug into his salad with more zest.

  * * * *

  No matter how many times Josiah wondered what his life would have been like if he hadn’t met River, he knew his alpha was home to him, no matter where they were. The plantation house and its surrounding land had been a god-send when they’d desperately needed it, and River had made it work. Josiah realized not having met River wouldn’t have negated the fact he was half omega werewolf and that if he’d remained in Cascade City, he still would have gone into heat. A rogue alpha might have come across him and rutted him, leaving him pregnant. Or, that rogue might have mated Josiah and killed or left him when he’d produced girl children. Or, someone might have taken to one of those places that sold omegas. No, loving River wasn’t the only reason Josiah was lucky things had turned out the way they had.

  Besides being a wonderful mate, River was an excellent pack alpha. He was born for the role, and proved it by forming a new, efficiently-run pack after losing his original through no fault of his own. Of course, River did blame himself, and Josiah knew the alpha’s struggles with the new, smaller pack had been far from effortless, no matter how things appeared on the surface. Josiah understood River’s refusal to take in more rogues had to do with keeping the pack safe and thriving, and the omega could only hope River would change his mind in the near future. Until then, J
osiah had to be content with helping the rogues in other ways.

  River was also a wonderful father. Watching the alpha playing on the floor with their twin girls, Josiah knew how lucky he was. On a romantic front, his life with River exceeded all Josiah’s hopes and dreams. He’d even become accustomed to living in a pack, his werewolf instincts eventually kicking in until he couldn’t imagine living any other way. Still, sometimes a small part of Josiah missed being part of the human world. Rather than fulfilling that need, coming back to Cascade City had only made Josiah more frustrated. He was there, among humans, but it was clear he no longer was one. On top of that, River would rather Josiah stay away from the humans. As Josiah’s alpha, he could keep Josiah from mingling with humans if he really wanted to, but the act would be detrimental to their relationship. Josiah was head-strong and accustomed to leading his own life. So, Josiah supposed, he couldn’t be too annoyed with River for occasionally checking up on him when he was at the Congress.

  * * * *

  The pack had consumed another delicious meal prepared by Sam, and Brooks and Diego were in the kitchen taking their turn at dish-washing. David was in the barn seeing to the horses for the night, and everyone else had returned to their respective rooms.

  Sadie threw herself onto her sire, who lay in the middle of the living room floor like a felled tree. At impact, River let out an exaggerated oof that set the twin girls to giggling. Sophie added her weight to her sister’s, and River’s second cry sounded less fabricated.

  “I give up! You two are too fierce for me.” River sat up, sending the girls sprawling onto the rug.

  “I told you, Daddy,” Sadie said as she got to her feet.

  At almost four years, the little girls’ age had caught up to their initial mild accelerated development, further squashing any hopes their fathers might have had that they might be werewolves. By four years, werewolf pups were much more advanced than the girls were and normally wouldn’t slow down until they reached their teens. Sadie and Sophie were a bit on the small side in stature, even for human children.

  Sophie planted a kiss on her sire’s forehead. “It’s okay. It was two against one.”

  “Thank you for giving me back my pride,” River said solemnly.

  Josiah chuckled, watching his mate rise to his considerable height while easily scooping a little girl under each arm. They squealed as he carried them like sacks to Josiah for kisses and then upstairs to prepare for bed.

  Josiah took the quiet moment to call Mark on one of the pack cell phones.

  “Hey,” he greeted his friend when Mark answered. “Want to come for dinner tomorrow night? Sam’s making lasagna.”

  “Sounds good.” Mark paused. “Um…Beth won’t be able to make it.”

  “I guess not, since the two of you broke up.”

  Mark let out a breath. “Josey, I was going to tell you, but every time I tried, the words wouldn’t come.”

  Josiah bit back the urge to point out the words had come at some point, or everybody else wouldn’t know about the breakup, but reminded himself he wanted to be a better friend to Mark.

  “We’d all like you to come,” he said.

  “All right. What time?”

  “Six o’clock.”

  When Josiah disconnected, he felt better. Mark had sounded vulnerable and unsure, and Josiah hoped having dinner at the pack house would cheer up his friend. His thoughts went to Jaime. Josiah had realized from day one the other omega had feelings for Mark, but the first omega had never imagined those feelings might be reciprocated. He’d thought Mark was straight, but the longing looks he’d seen his friend cast at Jaime had dissolved that misconception. And Mark had refused to talk about it.

  Now Mark and Beth weren’t together anymore. What did that mean? Did Mark want to pursue Jaime? Josiah didn’t know how he felt about that. The only other human/werewolf relationships he’d encountered hadn’t worked out, Jax having refused to take the bite, and Trace taking it but later losing his life to the Turned.

  Your mother and father had loved each other, Josiah reminded himself. By Horace’s account, they’d been happy.

  Josiah didn’t know how long he sat in the dim room thinking, but when he came to himself, he realized the kitchen was dark and the downstairs quiet. Rising from the big chair by the window, he checked the locks and climbed the stairs to the upper floor.

  Muted sounds of rutting came from Leo and Sam’s bedroom, but the others were quiet. Josiah washed up and brushed his teeth in the hall bathroom so as not to awaken River if the alpha was already asleep. He entered their dark bedroom and stripped before climbing under the covers of the big bed. Nights were still chilly, and Josiah was enough human to feel it. The omega snuggled up to River, the alpha’s naked body like a furnace against his skin.

  River had bathed; the artificial smell of cologne was gone, replaced by the alpha’s natural scent. Josiah breathed it in, pushing his groin against the swell of River’s ass and tangling his legs between the alpha’s.

  River breathed deeply in sleep, and Josiah lay, cheek pressed to River’s smooth back, enjoying the moment. One of the girls mumbled in her sleep in the next room and a muffler-less car tore across some faraway road. The swell of River’s ass against Josiah’s groin made the omega wish his mate wasn’t such a deep sleeper. Not that Josiah would want River to bottom for him—the omega was completely happy with their roles in bed; although the thought was pretty hot.

  With a sigh, Josiah closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

  Chapter 4: Mark

  Mark never intended for his life to change the way it had. He’d loved Beth. He’d thought he’d spend the rest of his life loving her. But something had happened—what, he wasn’t sure. He’d never had feelings for other men. Had he? Sure, maybe he’d admired best friends Josiah’s and Alex’s physiques a time or two when they’d stripped to swim as teens, but he’d never imagined himself fucking them.

  And that’s exactly what he imagined doing to Jaime Wyatt. The man did things to Mark. His slender frame, dark auburn hair, green eyes, straight nose, and those freckles…

  Mark snapped himself out of his daydreaming, realizing he’d driven up the driveway to the plantation house and come to a stop without fully realizing it. He turned off the ignition, reminding himself he’d come to the compound to see Josiah, not Jaime, who’d made it clear months ago their friendship was over.

  Jaime used to come over regularly to eat with Mark and Beth, but after the omega moved to Cascade compound, things had changed. He’d explained he wanted to get comfortable with his new pack, but Mark knew that wasn’t the real reason. Something heated and unspoken had developed between them, and when Jaime had stopped coming around, Mark hadn’t been able to deny what he felt any longer.

  Not long after that, Mark broke things off with Beth, who’d been understandably blindsided. All he’d known was he couldn’t go on being engaged to Beth when he had such strong feelings for Jaime. He hadn’t been brave enough to admit that to Beth, so his reasons for the break-up had seemed flimsy and confusing to her. Eight months later, Mark still felt like a heel. He tried not to think about how he’d hurt her so much that she’d moved out West for a new start but knew Josiah wasn’t going to let him get away with burying his head in the sand.

  Which was why Mark had hidden the break-up from his best friend.

  He was a coward; that’s all there was to it. And fuck, he hated himself for it, but he still wanted Jaime as much as he had a year ago when the omega had turned away from him.

  A great gust of wind splattered fat raindrops onto the windshield as Mark unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the car. Clouds blocked the sun, and thunder rolled in the distance. Mark barely made it up the porch steps of the plantation house before the rain started in a torrent.

  Brooks sat in the porch swing, his son on his lap. The russet-haired boy had big dark eyes like his sire, David.

  “Hi,” Mark greeted Brooks. “Man, he’s getting big.”
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  Mark had always heard young werewolves grew fast, but it was still jolting to see a boy no more than a year old so easily slide off the swing and run confidently across the floor to grin up at him.

  “Hi, there.” Mark patted the child’s head. “I’m Mark. You’re Jarrod-Grant, right?”

  Jarrod-Grant nodded before turning and taking off inside the house.

  Brooks stood up from the swing. Tall and lean with sandy-brown hair and large hazel eyes, the beta was undeniably handsome and had a quiet air that immediately put people at ease.

  “Yeah, he’ll be grown before we know it. Makes me a little sad.” Brooks smiled. “Be ready to start salivating. I think Sam’s outdone himself with dinner. It smells so good, I had to come outside until it’s ready.”

  “Great, I’m starving,” Mark said. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in ages.”

  Josiah met them in the hallway and took Mark’s windbreaker to hang in the closet. Brooks hadn’t been lying; the scent of garlic and marinara immediately drifted to Mark’s nose, making his stomach rumble in anticipation. Thunder shook the house and the heavy rain turned into a deluge beating on the roof.

  “Sam says dinner’s not ready yet, and he won’t let me help,” Josiah had to raise his voice to be heard over the storm. “Come into the living room, and I’ll bring you some iced tea.”

  A fire burned in the grate, taking the chill out of Mark’s bones. It had been one of those spring days where everything looked green and beautiful, but the air was so crisp and cold it could have been winter. Blackberry winter, his grandmother used to call it. Mark suspected the werewolves liked the coziness of the fire, as they certainly didn’t need it to keep warm. Or perhaps the fire was for Mark’s benefit—or the twins’—Sophie and Sadie had proved to be more human than werewolf.

  Mark greeted David, who sat in one of the large chairs, feet propped on an ottoman, reading the newspaper with his son snuggled in next to him. Jarrod-Grant peeked shyly at Mark from under his sire’s arm. Mark pulled Sophie and then Sadie onto his lap and spent several minutes talking with them until Josiah returned with the glass of tea. The twins slid off Mark’s knees and ran to play on the back porch.