Winter's End

by Rebecca James

  “I don’t think so. I already know who is interested. Jeff and his beta mate have talked to me,” Grey said. “And Scott has shown an interest as well. Ian, I’m considering Grant for one of them.”

  Ian looked up from where he’d been picking up some stray toys that had somehow wound up across the room. “Grant? Isn’t he a little young? Keith and Elliott are in their thirties.”

  Gabriel nodded. They’d been rogues in Cascade City a long time before being taken in by the Human/Werewolf Congress.

  “That shouldn’t matter. They’ve never been mated, and Grant’s come into rut.”

  “I don’t think he’s actually gone into it yet,” Ian said.

  “You know as well as I do that the first time he gets a whiff of his omega, that’ll be that. I thought you told me Roanan was worried about Grant and Josh.”

  “He also told me not to ask you to do anything about it.”

  “And you didn’t,” Grey reminded him. “His name would be on the table anyway as an eligible alpha. He’s young and virile and can easily handle an omega.”

  Ian stood uncertainly, toys still clutched in his hands, until Finny pulled at the leg of his pants. “Daddy.” He reached up for the wooden soldier.

  Ian handed it to Finny and watched the boy resume playing with his brother before putting the other toys into the basket against the wall.

  “I see your point,” he finally said to Grey.

  “But you don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  Gabriel knew Grey respected Ian’s opinion. He also knew Grey felt Gabriel’s thoughts mattered, too, but Grey and Ian had been mated a long time, and Gabriel hadn’t lived in Angel Hills very long.

  “It’s not that. I guess I’m just concerned about how Josh will take it. He may have a bit of a crush on Grant,” Ian said.

  “Giving Grant one of the new omegas makes sense.” Grey ticked it off on his fingers. “Josh is only sixteen and hasn’t come into heat yet. Newly in rut, Grant is perfect to breed Keith, who is ready for children. Grant’s a good worker and deserves the recognition as well. In fact, he’s a better choice than Jeff, who already has a mate and is in no great need of taking an omega as a third.” He dropped his hands. “If Keith and Elliott are agreeable, Scott and Grant are my choices for them. The mating bond will take care of the rest.”

  Gabriel almost asked what would happen if Grant wasn’t agreeable but realized there was no way a young alpha would go against his pack leader’s wishes. Besides, being chosen to mate an omega was an honor, especially for such a young alpha. It brought prestige.

  What Grey had said made perfect sense. After his talk with Josh, Gabriel knew the omega would be hurt, but he hoped he’d get over it pretty quickly.

  With a gentle smile, Ian pulled Gabriel up from the couch and wrapped his arms around him. The beta’s solid presence both soothed and calmed the omega, who didn’t like his mates being at odds in any way.

  Ian kissed Gabriel and then kissed him again, heat rising from sweet warmth to scorching intensity within seconds as Gabriel lost himself in Ian’s touch. He startled when Grey pressed his body against the omega’s back, sandwiching Gabriel between his two mates. This. This was Gabriel’s favorite place to be.

  Slowly, Grey began gently thrusting against Gabriel, the hard outline of his cock pressing into the omega’s lower back through two sets of clothing. Slick began oozing between Gabriel’s ass cheeks as Ian continued to kiss him and run his hands over the omega’s chest. Grey’s movements simultaneously caused Gabriel’s groin to rub against Ian’s erection, overloading the omega’s senses.

  Needing to catch his breath, Gabriel pulled away. He moaned when Grey’s hands tightened around him, and the alpha thrust against the omega even harder.

  “The…the kids,” Gabriel whispered. He’d momentarily forgotten all about them. Accustomed to uninhibited coupling within the pack, Finny and Forrest weren’t paying any attention to their fathers, but that didn’t mean Gabriel wanted to be bent over the couch right in front of them.

  “Fin, watch your brother,” Grey said sternly, adding in Gabriel’s ear, “This isn’t going to take long.”

  Gabriel shivered at the intent in his alpha’s voice and allowed his two mates to lead him to the bedroom. Grey left the door half open so they could hear the kids, and Gabriel had one ear on the two boys laughing and playing as his mates made short work of divesting him of his clothes. The next thing Gabriel knew, he was straddling Ian on the bed, their cocks rubbing together in the most delicious of ways while Grey stood behind him and eased his enormous cock into Gabriel’s puckered entrance. Omega slick smoothed the passage, and Gabriel moaned into Ian’s mouth at the feeling of being speared on his alpha’s cock, Grey’s fat knot nudging at Gabriel’s sensitive rim and the alpha’s heavy ball sac slapping at the omega’s taint with every thrust forward.

  In seconds, Grey had set a hard, steady pace that had Gabriel holding onto Ian’s shoulders to stay steady. While only every third or fourth thrust pushed his cock against Ian’s at just the right angle, Gabriel was too overwhelmed to do anything about it, and Ian seemed content to hold the omega’s ass cheeks open for Grey while biting and kissing Gabriel’s neck and shoulders.

  Gabriel cried out when Grey’s knot forced its way past his rim, and, floating on a sea of pleasure, the omega jerked through an unexpectedly strong climax. The resulting spurts of spunk prompted the beta to slide one foot up on the mattress, knee bent, and begin to frantically rub against the omega’s abdomen and sensitive cock, panting hard against Gabriel’s neck.

  As Ian came, Gabriel found himself squashed when Grey slid out of the omega’s body and leaned around him to kiss the beta passionately, swallowing Ian’s cries of release. As soon as Gabriel could, he slipped out of the clench and went to check on the kids before fetching a wet washcloth.

  He found Grey and Ian in each other’s arms, languidly kissing. The sight of his two beautiful mates entwined perked up Gabriel’s cock again, but he ignored it and wiped himself down, pulled on some soft sleep pants, and closed the door behind him. The last thing he heard before it clicked shut was Ian’s grunt when Grey entered him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Canaan

  Canaan fought his rising irritation. He couldn’t be jealous that Elliott, one of the new omegas, had flirted with Duncan. Duncan had made it clear to anyone who would listen that he didn’t want an omega.

  So, why hadn’t the surly alpha made it clear to Elliott?

  Had Duncan wanted to make Canaan jealous?

  Or had the alpha, in the face of the omegas’ allure, changed his mind about not wanting one?

  Canaan had to face the fact he hadn’t felt this strongly about anyone since River. No, scratch that. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone, ever. His infatuation with his former pack alpha had been just that— infatuation. River had represented power to Canaan. The man was exceptional, no doubt about that, but at the time Canaan had gone after River, the alpha had been young and an easy target.

  Canaan wasn’t proud that he’d been so manipulative back then, but he couldn’t change the past. And he felt he’d more than paid for his actions with the death of his son, Teddy. If Canaan hadn’t been so openly resentful about River and the way he’d perceived the pack alpha had cast him aside, Teddy wouldn’t have sought to avenge his father.

  The beta’s feelings for Duncan were disconcerting, and Canaan felt compelled to figure them out. He didn’t like not being in complete control of a situation. The fact Duncan gave him something he wasn’t even aware he wanted made him feel weak. Even more disturbing was that, whenever Canaan was in Duncan’s presence, the beta didn’t even care anymore.

  “Am I just a plaything until he finds someone better?” he asked himself as he furiously went through his clothes for something to wear to work. “Is he going to dump me like X did and leave me for someone else?” Just the thought of Duncan doing that was much more painful than when Xavier had actually done it.


  Canaan’s pride told him he should leave Duncan first, before he got hurt, but gods, he didn’t want to. He couldn’t explain it even to himself, but he’d felt freer in the past few months with Duncan than he’d ever felt, which was fucking weird when he considered how he willingly submitted to Duncan’s every command.

  Duncan quieted the restlessness Canaan had always felt. The alpha’s orders sent chills of expectancy down Canaan’s spine and made the beta’s cock hard as a rock. Duncan centered the beta. Anchored him. The mere thought of losing all that was enough to paralyze Canaan with fear.

  With a huff of disgust, he tried to put his thoughts aside and dress for work, but Duncan kept creeping back into his mind.

  He hadn’t spoken to the alpha in a week. After talking with Keith and Elliott that day outside the school, Canaan had entered the schoolhouse with Duncan and been so pissy with him, the alpha had gotten angry and had left. Canaan was sure Duncan was waiting for Canaan to come crawling to him, possibly literally. Well, Canaan wasn’t going to do it.

  He was slightly late to the schoolhouse. The youngest werewolves in the pack were already gathering for their daily lessons. Canaan lit the small potbellied stove in the corner. Although none of the werewolves needed it, the warmth and flickering light the stove put out was cheery in the large school room.

  Canaan enjoyed his job more than he’d ever thought possible. He’d always loved kids, and teaching made him feel needed, something he’d never felt while a part of River Wolf Pack. That had undoubtedly been his own fault, as River had tried over the years to get the beta involved in different aspects of pack life, but Canaan had refused out of plain stubbornness and resentfulness. He’d kept to himself, socializing only with his mates and their children. Stone had rarely spoken to Canaan—usually only when the gruff alpha had wanted sex with someone other than Justin.

  As Canaan finished readying lessons for the day, he was surprised when X walked into the schoolhouse with Justin’s two sets of twins.

  “Hi. Didn’t expect to see you here,” Canaan said.

  “Just helping Milo out this morning. Justin’s busy and Grey asked Milo to do something for him.”

  The boys greeted Canaan with smiles and open affection that Canaan returned with sincerity. They considered Canaan not only their teacher, but somewhat of an uncle, having lived with the beta at one time.

  “Can we clean the white boards?” Tyler asked.

  “Sure.” Canaan watched the two oldest boys scramble to get the spray and wipes. Oliver and Oscar, the younger twins, were busy going through their cubbies.

  “You doing okay?” X asked, making Canaan jolt in surprise. He hadn’t realized the alpha was still standing there.

  “Sure. Why do you ask that? I’m not pining after you, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  X had accused Canaan of following him after X had broken things off between them. Canaan hadn’t been alone with the alpha since.

  X scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. “I deserved that. I acted like a jerk that day at the lake. I should have apologized a long time ago. I’m sorry.”

  Canaan let out a breath, the apology mollifying his hurt feelings. “It’s okay. I’m sure you’re used to having to peel discarded lovers off you with a crowbar.”

  X laughed. “Hardly. I don’t know what I’d been thinking.”

  “That I was going to have a hard time letting go of you. I get it, after how I acted with River.”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  “Not so long, really. Anyway, no hard feelings. And I’m just fine.”

  “Maybe I should be insulted you took our parting so easily,” X quipped.

  “Well, you’re no River,” Canaan joked back, and they both chuckled.

  “How are you and Duncan doing?” X surprised the beta by asking. But Canaan supposed the entire pack had seen the him and Duncan fucking at one time or another. Duncan knew exhibitionism got Canaan hot and bothered and didn’t let an opportunity slip past to have at it somewhere they could easily be seen.

  Canaan shook his head. “I’m pretty sure that’s come to a screeching halt.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Canaan shrugged.

  “Hey,” X said as though something had just occurred to him. “Would you like to get away for a while?”

  Canaan frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Christopher and I are going to Cascade City for his next treatment. Want to come along? You could see some old friends.”

  Canaan wasn’t sure he really had any old friends to see. His former mates, Justin, Gaston, and Henry, lived in Angel Hills. But maybe he could remedy some of the hard feelings from the past with members of River Wolf Pack. He liked the idea.

  “Do you think Christopher would mind?” he asked.

  “Of course not. If you want to go, we’d be glad to have you ride along. In fact, Justin, Milo, and the kids may be going, too. Justin really wants to see Josiah and the others. We’ll only be gone two days.”

  Canaan made a snap decision. “Okay. Count me in as long as Ace says it’s okay for me to take the days off.”

  After Xavier left, Canaan got busy starting the day’s lessons. The pups were all more rambunctious than usual after being cooped inside during two days of rain. Before Canaan knew it, Ace was ringing the bell for lunch and everyone was pouring out of the schoolhouse, headed home for an hour to eat.

  Canaan sank into his chair with a sigh. Teaching was draining.

  “Canaan.”

  Canaan almost gave himself whiplash jerking his neck around at the sound of Duncan’s voice. The alpha stood in the doorway of the room, his broad form blocking out the light from outside.

  Well, well, well. The alpha had come to him. But although pleased, somehow Canaan couldn’t bring himself to be too smug about it. In fact, Duncan may very well have come to formally end things between the two of them.

  “Have you been sick?” Duncan asked in his usual gruff manner. He’d pulled the longer hair on top of his head into a loose bun, the closely shaved sides visible. Canaan noticed Duncan’s beard and mustache of the same gorgeous strawberry-blond color had recently been neatly trimmed, undoubtedly by Henry, whose talent extended from cooking to barbering skills.

  “No,” Canaan said coolly.

  In an uncharacteristically awkward manner, Duncan lingered in the doorway until he seemed to suddenly shake it off and strode into the room. Canaan immediately tensed—not out of fear, but out of anticipation—as the alpha grabbed a chair and swung it around to sit on it backwards a few feet from the beta. Duncan’s pale blue irises staring back at him reminded Canaan of pictures of the icy tundra he’d seen in a magazine from the city.

  “Why haven’t you come around, then?” Duncan’s deep voice set off an ache in Canaan’s chest.

  He shrugged and looked away. After a few beats of silence, he couldn’t help himself and said, “I thought maybe you wanted to spend some time with one of the new omegas.”

  Duncan snorted, and Canaan swung to look at him, narrowing his eyes.

  “You look like a tiger ready to strike,” Duncan said in a bemused tone.

  Canaan’s eyes were green and kind of cat-shaped, and as it was the closest thing to a compliment he’d ever gotten from the stoic alpha, the beta was secretly pleased.

  Suddenly, Duncan’s hand shot out and grasped Canaan by the back of the neck, pulling him close so their noses touched. He looked like he was going to say something, then changed his mind and fused their mouths together. Canaan had to grab onto the alpha’s shoulders so he didn’t fall over. Duncan licked and chewed at Canaan’s lips until the beta began to tremble, and then the alpha moved away.

  “Come by after work,” Duncan said, leaving no room for argument. Seconds later, he was gone as though he’d never been there in the first place.

  But Canaan could still detect the alpha’s scent in the air, crisp and clean like the forest after a hard rain.

 
****

  Disobeying Duncan’s order—and it had been an order—was out of the question. Canaan could no more do that than he could stop breathing. But he did take his sweet time, dropping by his house to shower and grab something to eat before slowly heading to the alpha’s home near the lake.

  When he approached Duncan’s property, Canaan could hear the clink of steel as Rick and Bruce hammered in the barn. Preferring not to be seen, Canaan crossed behind the building and climbed the slope, muscles in his thighs and calves straining.

  He was a little nervous. In the back of his mind, he still wondered if Duncan was going to end things between them.

  Maybe he wanted one last fuck before saying goodbye.

  After all, Duncan hadn’t denied wanting to get with one of the new omegas. Maybe he’d suddenly decided on having progeny after all. The thought hurt more than Canaan had thought it would when they’d begun this thing between them. Somehow, he’d gotten in deep.

  From the first time Duncan had ordered him to his knees, Canaan had felt the thing that had always skittered and clawed inside him settle. He didn’t know what he’d do if he had to give Duncan up. And he would have to. Because sooner or later, Duncan would leave.

  Just as Canaan raised his hand to knock, the alpha’s low, throaty voice ordered him to come in.

  “Strip,” Duncan said before Canaan could get the door completely closed.

  Canaan stared into the darkened room, barely making out Duncan’s big figure standing by the couch.

  He lifted his chin. “I didn’t come here to be bossed around.”

  Duncan barked out a laugh. “Yes, you did, and not only that. Now take off those clothes.”

  Canaan thought about arguing, but he knew there was no point. If Duncan wanted the beta naked, he’d rip Canaan’s clothes off himself. And Canaan was rather fond of the outfit he had on.