Portville Summer Series: The Complete Collection Books 1-4: (MM Nonshifter Omegaverse)

by Xander Collins

  “Dude, sorry. That’s what he wanted.”

  “Brent wanted everyone escorted to the governor’s mansion in a cop car?”

  “No way! It was my dad! I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. I think he was trying to impress everyone, as usual.”

  “Well, I know my uncles and my cousins were sure as hell impressed,” Jeremy said. He had a plate of food that was piled so high it looked like it might topple over and fall on the floor any second.

  “Where did you get that?” Alex asked. “I’m starving.”

  “Over there,” Jeremy said, gesturing with his chin to a room with a long table filled with platters and plates and bowls of food. There were red and gold bows and ornaments scattered across the table, and at least eight candles burning down the center.

  “It’s insane,” Jeremy continued. “There’s so much food in there we could keep eating all day and never finish. I don’t know how we’re going to eat it all, but I’ll tell you what, I’m sure gonna try.” Then he shoveled a giant forkful of mashed potatoes and gravy into his mouth.

  After we all got food and settled down Jeremy started playing the video he’d shot at the clinic.

  “You gotta see this,” Alex said, leaning across the table with a phone and showing it to Brent. “This is the moment when Holden knocked over the coffee!”

  Brent and Alex and Jeremy played the clip over and over for anyone who would watch.

  “And, oh man, check this out. Brian struggling to pick Nate up. It’s hilarious!” Jeremy couldn’t stop laughing. “He almost drops him right … here!”

  “Awesome,” I said. “Where’s the part where you had a meltdown in the delivery room?”

  Suddenly the smile faded from Jeremy’s face. “Well, I didn’t record that part.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet! We’re gonna need some incriminating video of Jeremy. He got off way too easy.” I thought for a minute, but couldn’t come up with anything. I really just wanted him to stop playing that part where I spazzed out and knocked everything over. When I watched myself on the small screen I had no idea what I was even doing. In the video I looked like I had completely lost my mind.

  “Hey, I was the one recording! What do you expect?”

  “That’s true,” Brent said. “And it’s not nice to film an omega in labor who’s having a meltdown, anyway.”

  “Oh, really?” I asked, looking at Brent. “But it’s okay to film a freaked out alpha?”

  “Yep,” Brent said, giving me a kiss on the lips.

  “Well, when you put it that way,” I said, smiling and pulling Brent in for another kiss.

  Throughout the morning groups of people kept filing in to the massive formal dining room. Alex’s family and Jeremy’s immediate family had already gotten there earlier that morning. And while Alex and Brent and I were filling up our plates, Brian’s family arrived from the airport. Then not long after that Hank and Jason and their son showed up.

  “No way!” I said when they walked into the room. “Javier is here!”

  “Yeah, I invited them, and Dr. Livingston and Dr. Lewis too,” Brian said as he sat down with his plate of food. “They said they’d be here later this afternoon. “

  “What about Daniel?” Nate asked. “Did you invite him too?”

  Brian nodded. “Yeah, I did, but he said his partner is friends with the governor and had already been invited.”

  “That’s right,” I said. “Cameron Styles was on your dad’s yacht that night we met, remember?” I said to Brent. He just shrugged and kept eating.

  “Awesome!” Nate said as he bounced Kitty on his knee. “I can’t wait to see Maggie and Greyson! He must be two years old now.”

  “No kidding!” Brian said. “Dude, if Daniel and Cameron come to the party, and Dr. Lewis and Dr. Livingston bring their daughters Lark and Fawn, then with Javier and Felicia and Kitty—“

  “And Bradly and Sarah!” Holden yelled.

  “Holy cow!” Brent said. “This place is going to be a baby zoo!”

  We all laughed out loud. It sounded weird, but really it was about right. The governor’s mansion was totally turning into a baby zoo. At any one time at least two omegas were nursing their newborns, and multiple alphas were searching through all of the coats and luggage trying to find the baby bag the belonged to them. Everywhere you looked someone was holding a baby, or huddled around a baby, or talking about a baby.

  But the place wasn’t just being overrun by babies. Jeremy’s extended family showed up, and he seemed to have an unending stream of nieces and nephews running through the mansion from room to room. When Cameron and Daniel showed up with Maggie they all made lifelong friends with her. The whole group played hide and seek on the main floor for hours, each one with a giant candy cane sticking out of their mouth that never seemed to get any smaller.

  I looked at Brent at one point, wondering if any of this was stressing his dad out, because I knew if his dad was stressed that he would be stressed. But Brent looked totally at ease. He had created a baby play area—a plush section of carpet boxed in by a bunch of giant, fluffy pillows and blankets—and had appointed himself minister of baby town, which I thought was pretty hilarious considering who his dad was. Like father like son. But I would never actually say that out loud to Brent.

  “Wait,” Alex said to me when he got up to fill his plate for a second time. “Where’s Shane and Austin and all their family?”

  “I don’t know, but I do remember Shane saying that their house was full. Maybe they’re taking a while to get everyone coordinated. And almost as if the universe had heard the two of us talking, Shane walked into the dining room, and Austin was right behind him with Sarah in his arms. And right behind them was another group of about ten adults, children, and a couple more babies.

  “Just leave all your luggage in the foyer,” Brent’s dad yelled. “I’ll have it sent up to your rooms. And please, grab a plate and some food! Enjoy yourselves!”

  I couldn’t believe Brent’s dad. He was so chill and so friendly with everyone. I know I still didn’t know him that well, and that it was a very special holiday, but it was as if something had changed in him between that morning we’d had breakfast together and this party. And I think that thing might’ve been the birth of his grandson. He just seemed so much more relaxed and at ease, and he and Brent seem to genuinely enjoy being in each other’s company. It warmed my heart to see both of them so happy.

  And when Brent’s dad came over to talk to me about my Treat Boat I honestly just about fell out of my chair. He was so amazing. He told me about all of the small business loans that I would probably qualify for, but then he offered me a personal loan. He said he knew I didn’t want a hand out and he respected that, but he wanted to help me in any way that he could.

  I had to take a deep breath and let go of a lot of anxiety in order to accept his offer. But I did. I took his loan and thanked him, and I promise to pay him back soon as possible. And I meant it.

  My family was the last to arrive, but it was okay because I’d just seen them a couple days before. And just like at our Christmas gathering, my dad almost immediately launched into his favorite story about the family feud over the Sophie’s Island property. He had a group of people, including Brent’s dad, on the edge of their seat with his tales of olde timey Portville. It was awesome.

  “Here, I brought this for you,” my sister said as she handed me a small box. “Well, actually it’s for Bradly.”

  “But we all exchanged gifts a few days ago,” I said.

  Cynthia shrugged. “Well, I didn’t get to see my little nephew on Christmas Day, so this is to make up for it. It’s a Dior onesie. I thought Bradly would fit in better at the governor’s mansion in couture.”

  Brent opened the box and we all said a big collective ‘Awwwww’ at the adorable black onesie that was edged with rhinestones.

  “You know, it’s not the day that matters,” Brent’s dad said. “It’s the love in the house that makes it special
.” Then he looked over at Brent . “And I think there’s enough love in this house right now to make up for missing one day, or even a year … or even a lifetime?”

  Brent’s eyes teared up and he wrapped his arms around his dad’s neck. “You don’t have to make up for anything, Dad. Like you said, we’re starting over. Everything in the past … well, that’s just what it is … the past.”

  Brent picked up his glass of soda water and raised it. “Here’s to the future. Our future. The future of every single person in this room. May we all have a wonder full new year, with everything we could possibly ever dream of.”

  Everyone in the room raised their glass and clinked it with their neighbor. I could hear sniffles coming from quite a few people. I knew I had a lump in my throat. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect Christmas or a more perfect life than what I had with Brent and Bradly, and now with our enormous extended family. A family I knew we would be spending many more holidays with in the years to come.

  Happy Holidays!

  Continue reading for the first chapter of His Biggest Secret: A Portville Mpreg Romance

  About His Biggest Secret

  Sometimes the biggest secret is the one we keep from ourselves.

  Tough beta cop, Mark, wakes one morning with a hangover and some very vague memories of the previous night. One of those memories is something that Mark believes can’t be possible.

  He sees a flash in his mind of his best friend, Landon, who also happens to be his partner at work. Someone he’s always had a crush on. The thing that Mark can’t believe is what Landon is doing in that memory. And why Landon doesn’t have any clothes on.

  It isn’t until Landon brings up the event that Mark realizes what is happening to him. For the last forty years, young beta men have been turning into omegas. Some as late as their twenties.

  Mark is filled with shame when he realizes that's what's happening. He went into heat. He threw himself at his partner. He's now an omega.

  And he's carrying Landon’s baby.

  Mark’s whole world comes unraveled as he struggles with the changes his body is going through, as well as the changes in his perception of the world around him. He’s no longer the tough beta cop he thought he was, but Mark starts to realize what true strength really is.

  His Biggest Secret the first book in the Portville Omegaverse series. It is a friends-to-lovers romance of 37k words with some bad language, hot sexy times, exciting and suspenseful moments, and a super cute baby to cuddle and tickle. It is intended for readers over the age of 18.

  1

  Mark

  “A full city block is up in flames after arsonists hit another fertility clinic in Old Town earlier today. If you’re taking one of the bridges into the downtown area from the East side this morning, be sure to check your navigation app for any alternate routes. More on local traffic and weather ten minutes after the hour.”

  I lay there in bed for another few minutes, trying to wake up and take in the news that was slowly filtering into my brain. I stayed there with my hand on the radio alarm clock and my eyes closed before I could bring myself to move. When I was finally able to open my eyes the light from the room came flooding in. The brightness shot a stabbing pain through my already throbbing head.

  I turned my aching head to one side and tried to make out the glowing digital numbers on the clock. 7:45. I was going to be late for work if I didn't get the hell out of bed in five … four … three … two …

  I sat up, wincing at the pain, but that sharp, stabbing feeling wasn’t just in my head anymore. There was a new source of discomfort concentrated underneath me. Right where I was sitting, in fact. I rubbed my temples and shook my head and tried to remember what the hell it was that I did last night, and why on earth my ass was so goddamned sore.

  I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and threw the covers off, then stood up and tried to stretch out the ache in my muscles. I moved from side to side, then forward and backward, but nothing seemed to help. I thought maybe a Charlie horse—or a pulled muscle-had hit me in the middle of the night. But the thing was, every single one of my muscles felt fatigued and sore. I took a couple of steps and even had trouble picking up my feet so I could get myself across the room. What the hell was going on?

  I figured I must be coming down with something. Maybe I’d caught the bug that had been going around all winter. The one that was keeping people in bed for weeks, even sending them to the hospital. When I thought back, I realized I had been feeling a little under the weather this last week. But being sick was the last thing I needed. My precinct was short on men, had been for months. I knew there was no way the captain would let me take any time off. With the rash of fertility clinic arson jobs that had hit the city lately I sure as hell didn’t want to stay home. I had to make it in, no matter how crappy I felt.

  As I walked into the bathroom and flipped on the light, I couldn't help but wonder if it was something else, though. Something I'd done last night. I didn’t have a sore throat or a fever, and, the thing was, I couldn’t actually remember how I got home last night. I didn’t remember getting into a fight. And when I looked in the bathroom mirror I didn’t see any scratches or bruises on my face or body.

  But when I pulled my boxer briefs down I was kinda freaked out to see that they were damp. Soaked through was really more like it. And I had no idea where the hell all the moisture could have come from since it was all concentrated at the back. I reached around and slid my hand between my ass cheeks to see if I was bleeding or injured in any way, but I couldn’t find anything.

  “What the hell?” I said out loud to the mirror as I watched myself twist around futilely to catch a glimpse of my body from behind. It was no good. I couldn't see a thing except for some clear liquid on my hand that smelled … well, it smelled a hell of a lot like come. But that was ridiculous. I was a beta and when I went out looking for some action, I always made it clear that I was a pitcher, not a catcher. There was no way I would have let anyone go there, no matter how drunk I was last night. I closed my eyes and splashed water on my face, trying not to think about why I couldn’t remember a thing.

  I turned on the shower and slipped under the stream of hot water. I hoped if I stood there long enough it would help wash away some of the soreness in my muscles, and maybe even the uneasiness I felt bubbling up inside me. I put my head directly under the stream and closed my eyes.

  Okay, I thought to myself. Step-by-step. What happened last night?

  I remembered getting off work and going out with Landon after our shift was over. He never let me forget that one time I pulled the wrong way into a secured parking lot. I wound up popping all four tires on those metal teeth that you’re not supposed to back up over. Ever since then he’s insisted on driving whenever we’re out on a case. Some days we’d go out in a cruiser, but a lot of the time he picks me up in his own car. He even has a portable flasher that he likes to put up on his roof if we’re after someone. On the days he picks me up, he usually gets me in the morning on the way into the precinct, then brings me home at night.

  Yesterday was one of those days. He was driving, so I let him pick the bar. We wound up at one of those omega clubs over on Stark. I remember eating a steak and having a few drinks and the two of us watching some cute omegas strip. Nothing out of the ordinary at all for a Thursday or Friday night. Not even the number of drinks I had, which I wasn’t even sure of at this point.

  Everything after that was a bit of a blur, though. I remembered Landon being there and that was about it. For all I knew I could have brought a stranger back here last night. Someone who got up and snuck out of my place before I even got a sober glimpse of him. Even under the soothing warmth of the shower spray, I cringed a little when I thought about the fact that I’d blacked out again.

  I had to admit I’d been letting things get a little out of hand for a while now. Going to bed with too many nameless, faceless men … drinking way too much. Especially on a work night. I didn’t always dr
ink to the point of blacking out, but that was becoming more and more common. And I knew that’s what happened last night. Everything was pretty foggy after that fourth or fifth 151 and Coke I’d downed.

  I did remember Landon driving. At least, I remembered being in his car. He hadn't had as much to drink, which was usual. He was always a little more in control than I was. But then again, he was also an alpha. Betas like me could get away with letting things slide here and there. I wasn’t expected to lead or be in command … not like an alpha was, anyway.

  But maybe I was fooling myself. I had a feeling I’d been taking advantage of the situation—and of Landon—for a while. I’d been letting him take responsibility for getting my drunk ass home, and I’d been flat-out ignoring his subtle comments and questions about whether I was sure I needed another one for the road.

  That wasn’t the only thing I’d been ignoring, though. I’d done a pretty good job for a very long time of pretending I was happy. I’d convinced myself that I didn’t need the kind of stability that came with a relationship. A part of me actually believed that I didn’t care if someone was going to be there when I got home at night. And I’d been completely ignoring how desperately I wanted a warm body to wrap myself around when I woke up in my big bed every morning.

  But it wasn’t just any warm body I’d been wanting, even though that’s pretty much how I’d been acting … for years. That this lifestyle—the strip clubs, and open bar tabs, and one-night stands—they were all I needed, instead of the guy who was sitting right next to me through it all. But Landon and I were partners and best friends. End of story.