A New Beginning

  “Until he gets in the water,” Sam continued with a grin. “Then he likes them.”

  What was it going to be like to have a child? Brooks was both excited and scared.

  Sid strode in, backpack hanging from the crook of his arm and a water bottle in his hand. As he filled it from the sink, Brooks studied the beta whom he’d barely seen the last few weeks. He looked better. Happy, or at least content.

  “Got a class this afternoon?” Brooks asked.

  “Two.” Sid turned and smiled as he screwed on the top of the water bottle.

  “Want me to make you a sandwich to take with you?” Sam offered.

  “No, thanks. I’ll be home for dinner.”

  After Sid left, Leo put the paper down. “River and Josiah quit arguing yet?”

  “Looked that way when I walked by,” Brooks said, thinking surely there was something he should be doing rather than sitting in the kitchen horning in on Leo’s and Sam’s time together. “What was it about, do you know?”

  “Josiah wants to bring the rogue omegas over for dinner.”

  “And River says no?”

  “River’s just being careful. I’m sure he’ll give in. He’s probably worried that bringing them to dinner will turn into inviting them into the pack.”

  “But they like living at the refuge, don’t they?”

  “That’s only any good for a short amount of time,” Sam said, pouring some milk into the pot from the jar they kept it in in the refrigerator. Jax and Josiah had fought hard to get the pack alpha to get the electricity turned on, saying it was worth it to keep their food from spoiling. Brooks knew Jax really appreciated being able to take a hot shower, especially in cold weather.

  He glanced out the window at the heavy-laden sky spitting snow into the harsh wind.

  Sam continued to explain. “Omegas need a place to call their own, and they need each other. They want to belong. Josiah’s particularly worried about Nick, who will be giving birth soon.”

  “I suppose now that the omega den is finished, it wouldn’t be such a hardship,” Brooks said. “Plus, the pack would almost double, and River would have more omegas than a lot of packs have. We’d grow in status.”

  “Maybe too many,” Leo said. “They’ll need alphas.”

  “What about the other rogues?” Brooks asked.

  “You know River will be even more against accepting them.”

  Brooks did know. Everyone did. And River wasn’t the only one who didn’t think it was a good idea, but Brooks could see the tension in Sam’s shoulders and knew the omega was thinking about how he’d once been on his own—a scared omega without his pack and only his brother to take care of him. Until that brother died. If River hadn’t taken Sam in, the omega would more than likely be dead by now.

  “Omegas can live without a mate,” Sam said, raising his chin. “They can’t live without a home and each other.”

  Brooks shot Leo a look, and the alpha appeared perplexed for about half a second before it sunk in. Leo could be totally clueless sometimes, but when he did clue in, he always came through. Pushing back his chair, Leo stood and walked over to his mate, wrapping his arms around Sam’s thickening middle. He whispered something into the omega’s ear Brooks couldn’t hear, and Sam relaxed into Leo’s arms, turning his face up for a gentle kiss.

  Brooks had to smile. His friend was one of the good ones. Leo would have mated Brooks if it had come down to it—anything to have kept the beta from mating with Stone. Looking back, Brooks could see what a terrible mistake that would have been.

  But Jax had encouraged Brooks to mate with David, much to everyone’s surprise, and because of that Brooks was with the man he loved. And with Jax, who Brooks had to admit he also loved, although sometimes Jax made that difficult. All that made Brooks think of the baby again, and he put his head in his hands, willing the entire subject to disappear. He was tired of thinking about it.

  “Brooks?” Leo’s voice cut through the beta’s thoughts.

  Brooks looked up to see both Leo and Sam looking at him worriedly. “Huh?”

  “You okay? Want me to get David? He’s in the stables.”

  Brooks blinked. “I’m fine, but maybe I’ll go out and see him. I could use some air.” He got to his feet, wobbling a little.

  Leo steadied Brooks with an arm around the beta’s shoulders. “You sure you’re okay? You’re a little wobbly.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “I was dizzy a lot when I was at your stage,” Sam said. “It’ll pass. Be sure to eat often, even when you’re not hungry.”

  “Thanks,” Brooks said, picking up an apple and taking a bite. He walked through the door to the dining room and outside by way of the back porch. He walked around to the front of the house, cold wind hitting him squarely in the face, and jogged toward the stables where he found David putting the horses in their stalls after mucking them out.

  “Hey,” David said, and his welcoming smile was exactly what Brooks needed. “You’re trembling. Everything alright?” He put aside the shovel and enveloped the beta in his arms.

  Brooks nodded, tightening his hold around his alpha. “I love you.”

  David smiled down at him. “I love you, too. You sure you’re all right?”

  Brooks nodded.

  “Come on, now. I know better.” David pressed his warm palm to Brooks’ face. “Did you quit your job at Grind? Did something happen?” His dark eyes flickered. David had wanted Brooks to quit as soon as they found out about the pregnancy, but Brooks had wanted to contribute as much money as possible before he did.

  “Yeah. I’m fine, really.” He pulled away from David and walked over to the nearest stall, offering the mare Bess the rest of his apple on the palm of his hand. Her lips tickled his skin, and he petted her neck.

  “You can’t fool me,” David came up behind Brooks and said in his ear, the warmth of the alpha’s body sending tingles up Brooks’ spine. “Something’s wrong. Didn’t Jax meet you for lunch?”

  “He did.” Brooks leaned his head on the horse’s, breathing in the animal’s earthy scent. He found it amazing that David had been able to break through the horses’ innate fear of wolves and train them to trust. But his alpha was brilliant like that. He closed his eyes, overcome. David’s hand moved down to the small of Brooks’ back, warm and reassuring.

  “I’m just…stupidly emotional,” Brooks managed, his voice sounding like it’d gone through the wood chipper he’d seen a neighbor down the road using on felled trees.

  David ran his hand through Brooks’ hair. “You have a right to be. You’re carrying my baby.”

  Or Jax’s.

  “I don’t think Jax is very excited about it,” he found himself saying.

  “Why do you say that?” David’s tone remained gentle, but Brooks felt the tension radiating in his alpha’s body.

  Brooks shrugged helplessly. Bess whinnied and moved away, and Brooks allowed himself to be pulled into David’s arms again. It felt good. More than good—it felt permanent and right. Maybe that’s what it was about Jax. Being with him didn’t feel permanent, and although Brooks felt safe with the human, he didn’t entirely feel at ease, as though Jax might decide to leave at any minute. David felt like home. Brooks knew as his alpha David would never leave him.

  “I can practically see the wheels turning in your head,” David said softly. “Why won’t you talk to me about it?”

  Brooks couldn’t put all this worry out for David to take on. Leaning away, he wiped his eyes with his forearm and managed a shaky laugh. “I’m just being silly, David. It’s the pregnancy. Sam just got finished telling me he’d felt the same way at this stage.”

  “I do recall him bursting into tears a couple months ago when he dropped his Brussels sprouts on the floor,” David said with a wry smile.

  Brooks gave a watery laugh. “The smallest things can seem enormous.”

  “Well, if things get to be too much, I want you to come talk to me, okay?”

&nb
sp; “Okay.”

  “Let’s go in together.” David wrapped his arm around Brook’s waist, resting his hand on the beta’s stomach. “I can feel you getting thicker.”

  Brooks’ lower lip trembled. “You mean fat.”

  David’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t laugh. Instead, he leaned in and whispered into Brooks’ ear, “You’re beautiful.” And kissed him.

  Brooks sighed, all tension draining from his body, and let David guide him inside.

  Someone had lit a fire in the fireplace, and Josiah sat on the couch reading to the twins. Whatever Sam was cooking filled the house with a wonderful aroma. David sat in the big green armchair and pulled Brooks onto his lap. Brooks leaned his head on the alpha’s shoulder and drowsed while listening to Josiah read. Every so often one of the girls would interject with a question or exclamation, and Brooks could feel David laughing softly against him. He would make such a good father.

  When Jax came downstairs, he glanced at David and Brooks on the chair, and Brooks wondered for a moment if the human was still angry about their earlier talk. Brooks hoped not, as he’d rather David not know about it. Jax leaned down and kissed first David then Brooks before sitting down on the couch and picking up a book.

  Brooks woke to Leo calling them to dinner. Watching David and Jax interact, Brooks could almost believe he’d imagined Jax’s earlier annoyance at the alpha.

  Talk was casual during dinner, mostly enthusiastic comments on Sam’s cooking. The omega blushed in pleasure.

  When everyone was through, Kane and Briar cleared the dishes while Sid served coffee. The twins asked to be let out of their high chairs to play and went to their doll house on the back porch. Sawyer got up to check on the three pups in the basket in the corner of the dining room. Glancing at them over his shoulder, Brooks smiled at the sight of the three furry, warm, brown lumps snuggled together, snoring softly. Ever since shifting for the first time, the pups had decided they preferred sleeping in their wolf form. They certainly were cute. His hand automatically went to his belly, rubbing over it lovingly. He turned and caught David’s eye and smiled, warmth spreading through him.

  “We’re going to have some company this weekend,” River announced after everyone was settled again. “The omega rogues that the Congress has been working with are coming to meet the pack.”

  The pack members exchanged glances.

  “I’m glad,” Sam spoke up.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing them again,” Sid said.

  Brooks caught the sharp glance River directed at Josiah.

  “I guess I forgot to mention that Sid went with me on my first visit,” Josiah said, looking sheepish.

  “The place is great, and all the omegas are really nice,” Sid told everyone.

  “Sam pointed out earlier that by nature the omegas won’t be happy for long. They need to be in a pack,” Leo said, surprising Brooks. He smiled at the alpha, but it was nothing like the smile Sam gave Leo. Leo was going to get lucky that night, for sure.

  River cleared his throat. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. They’re only coming to meet us.”

  “You saved my life when you took me in, River. I hope you don’t regret it,” Sam said.

  “Of course I don’t,” River said. “We’re glad to have you here, Sam.”

  Sam wiggled in his seat, uncomfortable at the attention he was garnering, but Brooks could tell the omega wanted to say his piece. “I would have died out in the wilderness. I didn’t have anyone after my brother died. You took me in and now I have a pack, a home, and a mate. And soon I’m going to have a pup.” A tear escaped Sam’s eye and rolled down his cheek.

  Leo pulled Sam into an embrace and kissed his head. “This pack is better for having you here, Sam. I’m better for it.”

  Briar, Sawyer, and Josiah descended on their fellow omega, loving him until Sam was smiling and laughing. Brooks’ eyes were wet, and he noticed several other pack members covertly wiping their own tears away.

  “Here’s dessert,” Sid announced, placing a peach cobbler on the table. “The peaches are from a can, but maybe it will be good.”

  Later, when David, Jax, and Brooks lay in bed, Brooks said, “I hope what Sam said makes a difference to River, and he thinks about letting some of the rogue omegas join the pack.”

  “River looked affected. That was really brave of Sam,” David said.

  Brooks nodded.

  “What will you do with more omegas?” Jax’s voice was a low rumble in the dark. Sheets rustled as he turned toward them.

  “We’re not going to do anything with them. They’d just be here,” David said.

  “They’d just be more mouths for you to feed.”

  “Helping people is important,” David said. “Those omegas need a place to go.”

  “I get that, but let them go to Angel Hills or some other big pack,” Jax said. “You’ve got the rest of the winter to get through.”

  “I can’t help but notice your use of the word ‘you’ instead of ‘we,’” David said.

  Brooks had noticed it, too.

  Jax made a noise of annoyance. “For God’s sake, David. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m trying to point out that as pack leader, River has to think of all of you first.”

  “Again with the ‘you.’”

  “Well, technically, I’m not exactly part of this pack,” Jax said. “He doesn’t have to look after me.”

  “If you aren’t part of this pack, you don’t have a say in what happens,” David said sharply.

  Jax sighed. “I’m only giving an opinion. Sam gave that teary-eyed speech and effectively made River look like he’d be an ass not to take the rogue omegas in.”

  Brooks was beginning to feel uncomfortable lying between the two bickering men.

  “I don’t think the pack alpha needs you to stand up for him,” David said, voice rising.

  “Please stop.” Brooks sat up. “I don’t want you two to fight.”

  “We aren’t fighting,” David said.

  “For fuck’s sake, David, don’t lie to him. Of course we’re fighting. You make everything a fight these days.” Jax stared up at the ceiling.

  “Don’t tell me how to treat my mate,” David said with a growl.

  Brooks got to his knees in the middle of the mattress. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to sleep somewhere else.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Jax said and rolled out of bed. “I’ll sleep on the couch.” He stomped out of the room.

  Brooks lay back down. “Sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. Jax makes it so plain he doesn’t want to be one of us. I don’t know why he sticks around.”

  Brooks turned to lay his head upon David’s chest. His stomach rolled. “I know.”

  “Don’t you worry about it, though.” David stroked Brooks’ back. “Just concentrate on feeding our baby and being healthy.” He kissed Brooks on the head.

  Despite being unable to shut off the thoughts swirling in his mind, Brooks fell asleep quickly. Being pregnant was good for something.

  Chapter 13: Josiah

  Josiah greeted each omega with a hug before introducing them to the pack. He noticed Sam zone in on Nick, the heavily pregnant omega, who kept as far away from the alphas as possible. In moments, they were fast friends.

  Keith shook River’s hand and thanked him for inviting them to dinner.

  “Our pleasure,” River said.

  Josiah’s heart expanded with pride for his mate. He knew what Sam had said a few nights before had made an impression on the pack alpha. No one could help but love Sam, and thinking of the loveable omega dying out in the wilderness alone instead of being among them and mated to Leo was painful.

  Josiah and Briar took the rogues on a tour of the house before everyone settled down on the back porch and in the living room. Josiah made sure there was always at least one omega or beta with a group, as the rogue omegas were obviously uncomfortable around the alphas. He was thankful none of them had go
ne into heat, as that would have prevented some of the fourteen from coming.

  “It’s nice out here,” Sandy said, looking out into the dark back yard.

  “Yes, it is. This place is perfect for us,” Josiah said. “And we have all the outbuildings so we can expand. We made one into an omega den.”

  “What’s that?” Tyson asked.

  “A place where omegas can go to be together. Unmated omegas can stay there during their heats.”

  “Sounds nice.” Elliott smiled. “The pack I left—the one that kidnapped me when I was a child—had something like that. I wasn’t old enough to use it, though.”

  “Did you escape?” Sam asked. “Were they mean to you?”

  “No. One of the alphas left with me, intending to sell me somewhere. I got away from him in the wilderness and came here, to Cascade City. Keith found me.”

  “He was only thirteen,” Keith said. “And I wasn’t too much older. Seventeen, I think.”

  “Sell you?” Josiah asked. He hadn’t heard Elliott’s story before this. “But where? I’ve never heard of other packs buying omegas.”

  “Not to a pack,” Jaime said. “I’ve heard of places.”

  “Let’s not talk about this,” Nick said. “Please.”

  “Okay, no problem,” Jaime said soothingly, his glance at Josiah saying they’d talk later.

  “It really is nice. We had one back at the compound, and I really miss it. We just finished it. Would you like to see it?”

  The rogue omegas enthusiastically said they would, and Josiah lead them out the front door, stopping in the dining room to invite the others to go along.

  Josiah was proud of the omega den. There were five bedrooms and a common room with a small kitchen off to the side and a bathroom next to that. The rogues exclaimed over it, and soon everyone was sitting together on the big couches, chatting.

  “Is this an omega party only?” Brooks asked, poking his head inside the door.

  “Of course not,” Sawyer said. “It just kind of happened when we gave the tour. Come in.”