A New Beginning

  “Hello, little one,” he said to the prominent mound under the blue shirt Brooks wore. He held up the bag to show Brooks. “Let’s find someplace private to eat.” They walked around the stables to a patch of fresh grass. The sun shone warm on their backs as they sat and ate their ice cream. Brooks was able to rest his cup on his belly, and the sight made David laugh.

  “Very funny. I’ll be glad to be slim again.”

  “I think you’re beautiful,” David said, and kissed his mate on the cheek.

  “What have you been up to?” David asked after a few bites.

  Brooks licked strawberry ice cream off his lower lip. “A little research, actually. Mark emailed a few things.”

  “Really?” David wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He wanted Brooks to be happy, but how would it be when the baby was born, and Brooks was ready to go work at the Congress? The beta was sure to see Jax there occasionally, and at the moment, Brooks being anywhere but safely with David was unsettling to the alpha. He knew the feeling would fade, but right then it was impossible to ignore.

  David leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes, the warmth of the sun on his face making him drowsy. He hadn’t forgotten about Jax and what he’d heard that afternoon, but he didn’t want to burden Brooks with it. The more time that went by, David wasn’t even sure he’d tell River. What could the pack alpha do about it? What if David had mistaken what he’d heard? The Jax David knew would never hurt someone.

  “Go take a nap,” Brooks said, rising to gather up their trash. David had to help the beta fully get to his feet.

  “Thanks. We can hang out later. I’d like to get back to my research, anyway.”

  David didn’t argue. He was suddenly very tired. They walked back to the pack house, and he headed upstairs while Brooks headed for the dining room where he’d set up the computer.

  The image of Jax standing in the lobby of the Congress wouldn’t leave the alpha’s head. The khaki pants that had hugged the human’s muscular legs and the curve of his ass. His light-colored shirt rolled up at the sleeves to reveal bulging arm muscles. His long, dark dreadlocks hanging down his broad back, and his tawny skin David knew was surprisingly soft to the touch.

  Gods, David missed the man. Seeing Jax had brought back all the feelings David had been trying to suppress since the human walked out of his life.

  The thought of Jax sleeping with someone else hurt. David’s mind replayed what he’d seen and heard earlier, and even though he kept coming to the same conclusion, his heart rejected it each time.

  He told himself breaking things off with Jax was for the best. In a year, they’d all know they’d done the right thing; yet David had to admit to himself that, impossibly, the wolf in him ached as though he’d been separated from a mate. How could that be? Jax wasn’t a werewolf. Didn’t want to be a werewolf. How unfair that David should suffer now as though the human had actually taken the bite he’d rejected.

  Chapter 16: Josiah

  Rather than abating, over the weeks since Nick and Austin had joined the pack, the tension between the omega and alpha had become even more heated. It seemed to originate with Nick. If Austin walked into a room, Nick walked out of it, even if the omega was in the middle of nursing his baby. If Austin’s eyes slid toward the omega during a pack meeting and Nick noticed, he’d turn his back on Austin and ignore the alpha. Josiah expected the tension would come to a head soon and what resulted wouldn’t be pretty.

  Although Brooks wasn’t an omega, Josiah and the others frequently invited the pregnant beta to spend quiet evenings with them in the omega den. The first omega could sense the beta’s fragile state—heavily pregnant with his only child, one of his mates gone and his alpha in a state of continual protective aggression. He needed support, and the omegas were good at giving that. Besides, Sid stayed busy with school work and his research into their species; and the three new unmated betas were unlikely to relate much to Brooks.

  The group sat watching a movie Josiah remembered from his youth—a silly comedy about space that was surprisingly entertaining—when River’s voice raised in anger made the hairs on the back of the omega’s neck stand on end. He ran for the door, the others following.

  Across the yard, a furious River glowered at Mike and Austin.

  “I will not allow this pack to fall to ruin!”

  Josiah’s knees buckled at the intensity of his alpha’s rage, but he forced himself as close to his angry alpha as the omega in him would allow. Brooks wrapped his arm around Josiah, but the other omegas remained a good five feet behind them, unwilling to approach their irate pack alpha.

  At River’s feet lay a mangled mass of cardboard and broken glass. A once-familiar smell lingered in the air. Beer.

  “We didn’t know it wasn’t allowed.” Mike said. “Some packs allow beer.”

  There was no doubt in Josiah’s mind his alpha was furious. The veins on River’s neck and forehead stood out, and his fists clenched at his sides. Josiah understood his mate was angry about more than the beer—the pack alpha felt as though his authority had been overrun. After purchasing the plantation house, River had seemed to put his insecurities behind him, but obviously some still remained.

  “There will be no alcohol on pack premises.”

  “Okay, we get it,” Austin said. “We’ll throw it all away.”

  “Dispose of it out of pack territory,” River said on a growl, and Austin nodded as he and Mike crouched and began cleaning up the mess.

  As his alpha calmed, Josiah’s heart slowed to its natural rhythm, and he let out a breath.

  David, Kane, and Liam jogged toward them from the direction of the house.

  “What’s going on?” The pack second asked, hand on Brooks’ shoulder in a comforting gesture.

  “They had alcohol,” River said through clenched teeth. Josiah longed to touch his mate but didn’t dare at that moment. Better to wait until they were alone.

  Josiah looked at Brooks. The beta’s face was chalky white and tremors ran through him.

  Diego walked out of his house, a six pack of beer in his hand. He laid it at the pack alpha’s feet. “I’ll get rid of it. We hadn’t heard anything and thought maybe Brooks and Sid had talked to you about it.”

  River’s eyes had taken on a dark jade color and flashed angrily when he turned them to Brooks. “You knew about this?”

  A low, rumbling growl emanated from David’s throat.

  “River…” Josiah began, sensing trouble.

  The second-in-command kept his eyes fixed on the pack alpha.

  “I-I saw it,” Brooks said. He swallowed and tried again, and Josiah wrapped his arm around the beta’s waist.

  David’s growls intensified, and Josiah realized he’d put himself in a very dangerous position. The other omegas had backed up and stood cowering several yards away. But David’s focus remained on River. The testosterone the two alphas were putting off was almost unbearable to the first omega, and Josiah imagined it must be the human in him that allowed him to continue standing.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” River demanded, ignoring David’s increased snarling.

  “We—Sid and I—were going to talk to you about it,” Brooks said. “The new members had had beer in their packs. They thought it was okay, but I told them you wouldn’t like it.”

  Josiah could practically hear his mate’s thoughts. After months of feeling impotent in the face of so many dangers, the pack alpha had gotten his small pack safe and secure, going so far as to allow rogues into the new pack, only to have his authority thrown in his face. The new members could be excused, as River had never told them not to bring alcohol into the pack, but Brooks?

  “Why didn’t you come straight to me?”

  Brooks opened his mouth to speak again, but David stepped in front of him, snarling fiercely.

  “River…” Josiah said, but it was too late.

  River shifted into his silver wolf, and David his white, clothing ripping and falling to the ground
. David lunged at River and the two wolves rolled on the ground, viciously snapping at one another.

  Appalled, Josiah could do nothing but stare agape. Brooks covered his face with his hands.

  “Stop them! Somebody stop them!” Josiah finally snapped out of his shock. Kane and Liam tried to intervene in the violent fight, but their attempts were fruitless. Liam wound up on his ass, and Kane finally dragged the other alpha out of the way as sharp teeth flashed and jaws snapped, wolf ears pressed low as the pack alpha and his second circled one another. The sight of blood on River’s neck froze Josiah’s heart, and he cried out, again begging them to stop.

  Sid, Abram, and several others ran toward the melee.

  “What’s going on?” Sid spotted the crushed beer bottles and the six pack Diego had placed on the ground. “Shit.”

  “Did you really know about this?” Josiah asked, turning frantic eyes to Sid. “And you didn’t say anything?”

  “We’d meant to talk to River about it. Things got busy, and I guess we forgot.”

  Frustrated, Josiah turned to Brooks. The beta hadn’t regained any of his color; even his lips were white.

  Josiah took Brooks by the arm. “Come sit down.” He led Brooks over to a bench underneath a large oak and helped him to sit.

  “I meant to tell David. I don’t know why I forgot.”

  “It’s okay.” Looking back to the fight, Josiah saw River make a lunge at David, teeth locking over the second alpha’s neck.

  “River, no!” Josiah shouted, sure the pack alpha was about to end his best friend’s life.

  But as soon as River put pressure on David’s neck, the white wolf relented, falling to the ground and whining, tail lowered between hind legs.

  And then it was over; both alphas shifted and lay naked and panting on the ground.

  Josiah ran to River. “Are you all right? You’re bleeding.”

  “I’m fine.” River turned his head to look at David, who appeared dazed. “David?”

  David grunted. Then laughed.

  Josiah could only stare.

  “Gods, that felt good,” David sat up.

  River chuckled and grinned at his friend.

  Josiah stamped his foot. “What the hell?”

  “Da!” Sadie ran up to Josiah and held up her arms. Josiah bent to hug her. A few feet away, Sam approached with Sophie.

  “Everything’s fine, baby,” Josiah whispered into his daughter’s soft, dark hair. “Daddy and Uncle David were just…wrestling.”

  River sat up and let out a long breath. Austin and Mike had everything cleaned and bagged up and stood uncertainly.

  “We’re sorry, Alpha,” Mike said. “Brooks and Sid told us it wasn’t allowed, and we argued with them. We should have gotten rid of the beer then. We’re glad to have been accepted into this pack and shouldn’t have disrespected you like that. What Brooks and Sid said should have been enough.”

  River nodded, anger gone. “Please get rid of the bags in the dumpster at the store down the road.” He looked around until he spotted his keys near his mangled pants. He tossed them to Mike. “Take the Mustang.”

  Mike flashed a grin, and he, Austin, and Diego headed for the car, trash bags in hand.

  River helped David to his feet. Both men were covered in dirt, grass, and blood.

  “Who’s hurt?” Sid asked, eyes roaming over the alphas’ bodies.

  “Just a few scratches,” River said.

  Josiah was happy to see River hadn’t broken the skin on David’s neck. Evidently the two alphas had spent their anger on each other while still managing to hold back.

  “We’re sorry, too,” Sid said. “We honestly meant to tell you about it and discuss the possibility of allowing beer on the premises. We just forgot.”

  “A lot’s been going on,” River conceded. “David, you’d better see to Brooks.”

  Josiah looked behind him. Brooks still sat on the bench, body visibly shaking, but as David kneeled beside the bench and took Brooks’ hands into his, the beta gradually calmed.

  “What exactly just happened?” Josiah asked.

  “I went a little crazy. David challenged me, we fought, and I exerted my dominance over him as pack leader.”

  “I didn’t like it.”

  River wrapped an arm around Josiah’s shoulders. “Sorry. Everything’s fine now.” He ruffled Sadie’s hair where the little girl rested her head on Josiah’s neck.

  “Daddy dirty.” She wrinkled her nose, and River chuckled. “I could use a bath. Da can help me.”

  Upstairs at the pack house under the stinging water, Josiah soaped the dirt from River’s muscular body as the pack alpha leaned against the wall and watched from under heavy lids.

  “Beer’s not considered a big deal in the human world,” Josiah said.

  “I’d already decided alcohol’s not allowed, and beer contains alcohol.”

  “Okay. I understand.” Josiah looked up into River’s hooded green eyes. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry.” River pulled his naked mate close and kissed him, sucking on Josiah’s wet lips. “Sometimes alphas just need to fight.”

  Josiah smiled. “I forgive you. I guess.”

  River’s brow arched. “You guess? Well, I suppose I’ll have to convince you, then.” River lowered himself to his knees and took Josiah’s cock into his mouth.

  An arrow of pleasure shot through the omega’s body, and Josiah gripped River’s long, wet hair with desperate fingers while his alpha worked him with lips and tongue. Nothing was more tantalizing than the sight of the gorgeous pack alpha, dark hair wet and streaming down his broad back, with his lips and tongue lapping at Josiah’s balls.

  When the omega’s legs began to shake, River guided Josiah’s cock into his mouth again and sucked. Clutching River’s shoulders, Josiah came hard. River continued suckling until the omega whimpered and sagged back against the cold tile of the shower stall.

  “Am I forgiven now?” River’s wet, naked body pressed against the omega’s, breath hot in Josiah’s ear.

  Josiah barely had the strength to nod.

  “Good.” River turned Josiah so he faced the wall, and in one swift motion, impaled the omega on his stiff cock. Thank fuck for natural lubrication.

  Josiah pushed back, pulling River in deeper, and the alpha began to rotate his hips while thrusting hard. Josiah was glad for River’s supporting arm around his waist, or else he knew he’d collapse onto the shower floor under the onslaught of pleasure. When River’s knot popped inside Josiah’s sensitive rim and swelled against the omega’s prostate, Josiah came all over the wall. River reached beneath his mate’s trembling thighs and lifted his omega. Carefully holding Josiah, the alpha stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom, easing them both onto their large bed so he sat propped by pillows with Josiah atop him.

  “You awake?” River asked after a moment.

  Josiah nodded and yawned. He was worn out and thought he could sleep if it weren’t for the incessant push of River’s knot on his throbbing prostate.

  River kissed the soft skin behind Josiah’s ear. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he whispered.

  Josiah’s heart warmed at his alpha’s sweet consideration. “I know. I understand why you were mad. I was just worried when you and David started fighting. And Brooks looked like he was about to pass out. I’m sure he didn’t mean to keep it from you. He’s had a lot on his mind.”

  River was quiet for a moment before asking, “What about Sid?”

  “What about him?”

  “Do you think he purposely kept it from me?”

  Josiah thought about it. “No, I think he was telling the truth when he said he forgot.”

  River relaxed beneath Josiah.

  “What are you thinking?” Josiah asked, wishing he could see his alpha’s face. He wrapped his hand around his rising cock and gently stroked it, the burning desire from the knot building inside him.

  River reached around and replaced Josiah’s hand with his
own, expertly bringing the omega to the brink only to hold off.

  “Just that I think you’re finally over your jealousy of Sid.”

  “I wasn’t really jealous,” Josiah said, squirming in River’s lap.

  “Don’t lie.” River plucked at Josiah’s sensitive nipple with his free hand.

  “R-River!”

  River nibbled at the omega’s earlobe. “Yes, my love?”

  “Stop torturing me!”

  River leisurely stroked Josiah’s cock, and the omega tried to thrust into his alpha’s hand, but the knot prevented him from moving more than an inch. River filled him completely.

  “Admit that you were jealous,” River whispered in Josiah’s ear.

  Delicious sensation built, spreading from Josiah’s tightened balls up through his groin. The feel of River’s pubic hair pressed against the omega’s ass was torturous bliss. He was so close. “I—” Josiah’s breathing became labored as the promised climax crawled up his spine.

  River stopped stroking, and Josiah whined.

  “Admit it, baby. You burned with jealousy just thinking I might take Sid as a mate.”

  “River!” Josiah tried to fuck himself on the alpha’s hardness, but the bulging knot prevented it.

  River’s fingers trailed from Josiah’s balls to the tip of his cock. “Admit you pictured him in bed with us. Tortured yourself with the image of me touching him.”

  “Goddammit, River! You’re a fucking sadist!” That his alpha could take Josiah’s insecurities and turn them into something hot, made Josiah want to kick the man. And ravish him.

  River chuckled. “Admit the truth, and I’ll let you come.” He circled a fingertip around Josiah’s slit, and the omega gasped. When River pushed the tip of his pinkie finger inside, Josiah broke.

  “Okay…all right. I admit it. Come on…”

  “Admit what, my love?” River bit Josiah’s earlobe.

  Josiah groaned. “I was jealous, okay? I hated thinking of you with anyone else. You’re mine, dammit!”