Gabriel understood Canaan’s dilemma as explained to him by Justin. The beta was attracted to alphas, but most alphas wanted at least one child, and Canaan had already had his. His only alternative would be to mate with an alpha who had at least one other mate, but as Canaan didn’t want to be in a polyamorous relationship again, that option was out.
Even so, Gabriel thought it best Xavier stop seeing Canaan, as it was obvious X had no real feelings for the beta. The longer it went on, the worse the fall out would be.
And was Xavier interested in Christopher? What were all the surreptitious looks about? And was Gabriel imagining the scowl X had on his face every time Perry came by to say hello? Christopher was keeping Perry at arms-length until his birthday, so why would X feel he had to watch over Christopher?
Resolving to stay out of it, as he’d stuck his nose in enough, Gabriel left the barn and, spotting London in his garden a few yards away, walked over to say hello.
Dark hair pulled into a bun, the other omega knelt on the ground picking the last of the cabbage and carrots from the small garden by the house. When Gabriel strolled over, London looked up and smiled.
“Want to take some of these home with you? I have plenty.”
“Sure, that’d be great.” Gabriel wouldn’t want them, but he was sure Ian and Grey would.
“How are you feeling? I heard you’ve been throwing up a lot.”
“Wow. News travels fast. Are there really reports on when I barf?”
London chuckled and began preparing a basket. “You’re the first omega and therefore news. I’ve been a little queasy myself. Tarz says I’m carrying.”
“Congratulations!”
“Thanks. Jed’s excited to be getting a brother.”
“So is Finny.” Gabriel lowered himself to the ground, hoping he’d be able to get up again. “To answer your question, I haven’t been feeling well. I’m not keeping much down.”
“Wow, that’s bad. I only get a little stomach upset now and then.”
“Grey’s worried, so he’s going to try to get in contact with Farrah.”
London sat back on his heels. “That’s a good idea. Didn’t she go to Cascade City to live with someone?”
Gabriel nodded. “Her sister. Maybe if Grey can find her, she’ll come here and teach Shane or someone else how to make some of the remedies.”
“That would be great. I used to love that stuff I’d get from her to prevent fleas. Nothing worse than a coat full of them when you’re going to be in wolf form a while, not that that happens to me very often, but the hunters will appreciate it.”
“I don’t even know her last name. Did you ever hear it?”
London thought a moment. “No, but Farrah is an odd name. And maybe Grey can ask River about her surname.”
Gabriel sat for a while longer chatting with London before rolling over to his hands and knees and pushing himself to his feet, which was the only way he could manage it these days. He could imagine how graceless he looked.
“Come by more often,” London said. “I’ll be out here every afternoon for the next week or so picking the cauliflower and kale. I’ll have plenty to share.”
“Okay, I will. I need to get out of the house every day, or I’ll go crazy, and I’m not able to do much in the barn these days.”
London pulled a bag out of the basket beside him and loaded it with vegetables. Gabriel thanked his friend and headed home.
As he passed the corral, Gabriel set the heavy bag down a moment and admired the horses out in the field. The new painted horse was gorgeous, the mare’s amber coat splashed with white. She stood near the fence, gently leaning into Sasha.
Gabriel picked up his bag again and continued home, his steps becoming slower as he walked, an ache in his back radiating around his hips. When he came to a bench, he sat with a long exhale of breath. Extending his legs, the omega lifted the cuffs of his jeans and examined his throbbing ankles. They were a little swollen. With a sigh, Gabriel leaned into the bench. Just great. Not only was he an omega who’d been born embarrassed to submit, he was also one who had troublesome pregnancies during which he was doomed to look like a bloated cow.
The sun warmed Gabriel’s face, and he kept his eyes closed, listening to some jays in a nearby tree fighting a crow. He hadn’t realized he’d fallen asleep until a gentle shake of his shoulder woke him. He blinked blearily up into the concerned blue eyes of his alpha.
“Are you okay, Gabe?” Grey asked.
Gabriel eased up on the bench, sore from having been in the same position so long. “Yeah, I just sat down to rest, and I guess I fell asleep.”
“Have you been working in the barn all afternoon?”
Before Gabriel could fully get to his feet, Grey had lifted the omega into his arms.
“Grey!”
The alpha ignored Gabriel’s protests and began walking toward their house as though Gabriel weighed next to nothing, the bag of vegetables hanging from one muscular arm.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Grey said.
Gabriel swallowed and leaned his head against Grey’s shoulder. “No. I stopped and talked to London for a long time, and who knows how long I slept on the bench.”
“Good, but you must have overdone it to be this tired.”
Gabriel shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m just tired a lot lately.” He hadn’t wanted to admit that, but his alpha had a way of getting the whole truth out of him. To his horror, tears sprang to his eyes. He tried to hide them by tucking in his chin.
Grey stopped at the bottom of the wooden ramp leading to their house in the trees and set the omega on his feet. Finger under Gabriel’s chin, the alpha forced his omega to look at him. When he saw the tears, the alpha’s eyes softened.
“Hey, don’t cry.” Grey kissed away the tears. “I’m going to take care of you.”
Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut, sending a fresh cascade down his face. “I don’t want you to have to do that. I’m an omega, and carrying babies is something I’m supposed to do well.” His voice cracked, and he turned his face away, dislodging Grey’s hand. “I’m a freak.”
Grey gathered Gabriel into his strong embrace and stood, rocking the omega for a moment. Gabriel didn’t want to sob like a baby, but he did just that for several moments while Grey whispered words of love and reassurance to him.
“You’re not a freak; you’re my lovely omega mate.” Grey kissed the tip of Gabriel’s nose.
Gabriel attempted a laugh, but it came out more like a sob. “I don’t think the word lovely applies to me lately.” He sniffled and his lips trembled. “You should have chosen someone else. You wanted Justin, and you would’ve been better off with him.” Gabriel couldn’t seem to turn off the waterworks or lose the pathetic tone in his voice. Angrily, he swiped at the new tears on his face, knowing he must be a blotchy, ugly mess and embarrassed for his alpha to be looking at him.
Grey placed his hand on the back of Gabriel’s neck. “I told you, Justin wasn’t a good fit. Omegas are wired to want to mate for life, and the fact that Justin’s mating had to be dissolved made it even more important for him to be claimed by the wolf he truly wanted, and that was Milo. Ian and I couldn’t be happier with you, Gabe. I don’t want anyone else. Now, stop being silly.” He softened his tone as he squeezed the omega’s neck. “You know how much we love you.”
Gabriel thought he knew, but the kiss Grey gave him, tender and deep, made the omega felt marginally better.
“I’m sorry. It’s the hormones, I guess.”
Grey smiled. “I remember how it was with Finny.”
“It’s worse now. Everything is,” Gabriel whispered hoarsely. Oh, great. More tears. But it was worse. Carrying Finny had been difficult, but this baby sapped all the strength from Gabriel’s bones.
“I’m going to make sure we get you some help. Hearing about Farrah, I can’t believe the pack’s gone this long without someone with some knowledge of herbs.” Grey stared off into the woods, giv
ing Gabriel a moment to pull himself together. “I think, years ago, there was someone, but he left the pack.”
Gabriel took a shaky breath and let it out, loving the feeling of his alpha’s strong arms wrapped around him. He closed his eyes, listening to the crickets take up their song in the grass. A second later, Gabriel jerked awake when Grey swept him up again.
“I think you could use a nap before dinner,” his alpha said, and Gabriel couldn’t disagree.
Somewhere between being carried inside and falling into a deep sleep on the bed, Gabriel became conscious enough to pick up something that interested him in Ian and Grey’s discussion. He filed it away for later as sleep pulled him under.
Chapter 8: Xavier
Xavier stood at the window and lit a cigarette.
“Not good for you,” Canaan said from where he sprawled across the bed, naked, sweaty, and still breathing hard from recent activities.
Taking a puff, X turned, gaze flicking over the beta. Canaan’s lips pushed into a sexy smirk. He liked to think that if Gabriel hadn’t said anything, he’d still do the right thing, but with his cock already hardening again, he wasn’t so sure.
“Where do you even get the vile things?” Canaan asked.
X inhaled another drag and blew out smoke. “Got Keith to bring me a couple packs last time he went to Angel City.”
Canaan propped himself on his arms, and the lean muscles of his chest and abdomen rippled. “I’ve heard humans die from smoking those things.”
X arched a brow. “Let’s just hope werewolf healing takes care of it, then.”
Canaan sighed and lifted his arms above his head in a languid stretch before rolling around onto his stomach, chin in hand. X admired the hollows at the sides of the beta’s ass as he took another pull off the cigarette before tossing it into a water glass.
“I gotta go. I should have been at the barn half an hour ago.”
Canaan pouted. “Already?”
X paused. He needed to do this. “Cay…”
The beta swung his legs over the bed and bent over to pull on his pants. “I have things to do, too, actually. I need to get over to the schoolhouse and finish painting the rec room.”
“Look, I-” Xavier began again, but Canaan pushed past him to the small closet and pulled out a navy shirt. The alpha reached out and grabbed the beta by the wrist. “I’m trying to talk to you here.” Canaan’s jade-colored eyes reluctantly met the alpha’s. X forced himself to continue. “I think we need to cool it. It’s not fair for me to keep you occupied when you could be looking for a mate.”
Canaan laughed mirthlessly and pulled his wrist from the alpha’s grip. “I’ve had my fill of being mated, thanks.”
“Stone wasn’t what you’d call a normal mate,” Xavier said.
Canaan turned his back and tugged the shirt over his head, taking more time than he needed to smooth it down over his chest.
Xavier put a hand on the beta’s shoulder. “It’s been good, Cay. And I…I needed it. You were there for me, and I appreciate that, but it needs to end. I never meant for it to go on so long.”
Canaan turned and looked at him. “You don’t have to try so hard. I knew it was coming. It’s okay; no problem.”
Xavier wasn’t sure what to say. He studied Canaan’s face, which had hardened from soft, post-coital ease to sharp defensive lines. “Hey. Don’t close yourself off to finding someone. You’re great, and there are plenty of alphas in this pack who’d be glad to have you.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know—it’s me, not you. I told you, I expected this. It’s okay.”
Xavier leaned in to kiss the beta goodbye, but at the last second, Canaan turned his cheek to meet the alpha’s lips. X left the small house feeling like a major jerk. He should have found a better way to break things off. Hell, he should have done it months ago. Gabriel had been right; he’d hurt Canaan by letting their tryst drag on so long. The alpha hoped Canaan would bother to show his nicer side to others, so he could find happiness with someone.
As for X, the alpha wasn’t sure what he wanted. He wasn’t even sure he should stay at Angel Hills permanently. As X approached Tarz’ property, a trickle of annoyance ran through him when he saw Perry hanging around outside the barn, sunlight turning his hair a fiery red.
He managed to greet the beta without scowling.
“Hey,” Perry said. “I’m just hanging out waiting for Chris to finish what he’s doing. He said he’d go for a swim with me.”
X realized he was gritting his teeth and made a concerted effort to stop. He nodded to Perry, unable to think of a thing to say that wouldn’t be rude, and entered the barn.
Christopher had just finished sweeping the stalls.
“Oh, good. You’re here,” he said when he saw X. I’m heading out for a while. I won’t be long.” Was it X’s imagination, or had Christopher been acting a little distant the past few weeks?
“Perry said you’re going swimming.”
“Yeah.”
Werewolves swam in the lake year-round, unless the water was iced over. X went almost daily, usually after work. He considered tagging along with Christopher and Perry. He had to stop and ask himself what his real motive was—swimming, or keeping Perry and Christopher from being alone together.
Christopher set the broom in the corner and brushed off his hands on his jeans. They were the tattered pair that showed the muscles above the beta’s right knee and the patch of pale skin on his left thigh. For a brief second, Xavier wondered what it might be like to press his lips to that soft flesh and what kind of sounds would Christopher make if he did.
“Ian just came by to tell me Gabriel doesn’t feel well, so he’s not working today.”
X had to shake himself out of the lustful fog he’d fallen into. “Hope he’s okay.”
“I think he’s just tired.”
Xavier watched Christopher continue to straighten up the barn. “Guess you’ve decided you want to pursue something with Perry,” he found himself saying. “You never said if he was the one you liked.”
Christopher shrugged. “I’m only going for a swim.” He turned to face X. “Look, I know you’re just looking out for me, but I turned eighteen yesterday. I’m officially an adult.”
X stilled. “Your birthday was yesterday? Why didn’t you tell me?” What had X been doing yesterday? Oh, yeah. Fucking Canaan into the cushions of the alpha’s couch.
Christopher shrugged again. “It’s not a big deal. I never celebrate it.”
Xavier felt even worse when he heard that.
“I would’ve liked to have done something. I don’t know, a cake maybe.”
Christopher tilted up his head and regarded the alpha, sandy blond hair falling about his slim shoulders and a smile playing on his pretty mouth. “You can’t cook.”
“I could’ve gotten someone to bake it for me,” X said with mock defensiveness.
Christopher shook his head. “I gotta go. See you.” The beta walked out of the barn.
X cursed, wondering why he was so bothered. If he only had brotherly concern for Christopher, why hadn’t he bothered to find out when the kid’s birthday was? And should mere brotherly concern make the alpha want to rip Perry apart at the thought of Christopher shucking off those ripped jeans in front of the guy?
X knew the answer but wasn’t sure he was ready to face it.
Chapter 9: Christopher
Had Christopher imagined the disappointment on X’s face when the alpha had learned he’d missed Christopher’s birthday? He didn’t think so. Surprised and a little touched, the beta found himself wishing as he walked toward the lake that he’d said something about his birthday the day before. Would the alpha have really gotten him a cake? And why?
The thought that X might pity him unsettled Christopher. The last thing he wanted from X was for the alpha to feel sorry for him. He’d rather be ignored.
Christopher turned his thoughts to his date. He’d put Perry off until now. He no longer had an excuse not
to go out with the older beta. Christopher liked the guy well enough, but next to Xavier, everyone else paled in comparison. He had to get the big alpha out of his mind.
When Christopher approached the nearest dock where Perry sat waiting, the younger beta’s stomach fluttered with nerves. Distant splashing and the occasional playful shriek of a child drifted over from the far side of the lake where Kale and James lived with their families. Kale had been busy the past few weeks helping to finish the construction of the omega den and the new houses near Duncan’s farm, but Vince and Craig had been noticeably absent from the compound. Christopher hoped everything was okay. Rick and Bruce, the two blacksmiths who had returned from the failing River Wolf Pack compound, had taken up residence in the house closest to Duncan’s barn, and Duncan had given them use of it for their forge as he no longer kept horses. In exchange, the two betas had set about replacing the roof and doing other maintenance work on the old building.
Perry stood when Christopher approached and, to the younger beta’s embarrassment, greeted him with a kiss.
“Hey, you ready for a swim?”
Christopher nodded and watched while Perry slipped out of his clothes. The older beta was nicely built with pale skin that pinked up with every emotion. Light reddish hair dusted his muscular chest and a narrow trail lead down to the patch around his long cock. Perry was in no way as buff as X—not even close—but he had a nice form, and being a young virginal werewolf, Christopher could hardly keep from noticing and physically reacting to it.
Christopher blushed when Perry caught him staring and quickly got busy tugging off his T-shirt and jeans, knowing the best thing he could do for his problem was get into the cold water. He felt the other beta’s gaze on his ass as he walked to the end of the dock and dove off, breaking through the cold surface. The water felt wonderful after a morning of hard labor. Christopher swam several laps back and forth between docks, aware Perry was close-by, meeting him stroke for stroke. When they both stopped, clinging to the wooden ladder and breathing heavily, Christopher grinned.