Winter's End

by Rebecca James

  Joey had called Duncan Dada.

  The alpha had been unprepared for the barrage of feelings that had assaulted him then. He thought back to his first mating and the child he had lost when Anders had died. He’d felt nothing at the time other than a slight regret coupled with great relief, but now that he knew what it was to hold a child, to make him laugh and comfort him when he cried, he thought he would rather die than allow something to happen to Joey. He wanted the boy with him. With him and Canaan.

  Staring up at the dark ceiling, Duncan considered his options. The alpha could roll Canaan over right then, sink inside the beta’s body, and give him the bite. Canaan would have to submit and be Duncan’s mate. He’d have no choice, and Duncan knew they would bond and have a good life together.

  But Duncan didn’t want to be like Stone. He didn’t want the thought of Duncan to bring distaste to Canaan’s face the way thinking of Stone did. Canaan was strong and deserved a choice.

  Canaan also needed Duncan. The alpha had seen it—when he’d met Canaan, the beta had been a tornado in a box, barely contained and having no idea what to do with the anger and overwhelming need swirling within him. Duncan thought the beta would willingly mate him. Now all Duncan needed to do was ask. But how? Their relationship hadn’t exactly been about communication, at least not with words. Only recently, with the help of Joey, had they begun to really talk. Perhaps Duncan should give it time. He could try, but the need to have the werewolf and the baby beside him was so strong he didn’t think he could wait for long. But he would try, for Canaan.

  That decided, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, Canaan’s warm body pressed against his and warm breaths against his neck making him dream of running as a wolf over acres of land, paws eating up the ground as the wind rustled through his fur, the full moon shining on him from above like a benediction.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Roanan

  Roanan wasn’t sure if he would say that the trip to Cascade City had been a success or not. Emory had been overwhelmed by the city’s sights, sounds, and smells. Lake and Landon had seemed fascinated, staring at everything and being unusually quiet. Roanan had enjoyed meeting River and seeing the way the alpha ran his pack there in the city, and seeing the Human/Werewolf Congress had been fascinating. He’d never realized that so many shifters lived in Cascade City, and the thought of helpless omegas having to live in the sewers before they’d received assistance was disturbing. He’d been told about the omega sex trade, too, and thought if he never heard any more about it, it would be too soon.

  But Josh had loved the city. He’d been so excited the entire time, he could barely lie down and sleep at night. Before they’d even left, he’d ask when they could come back. Roanan’s eyes had met River’s, and he’d seen in that moment what River had—that Josh might not be happy staying in Angel Hills.

  Privately, River had told Roanan that if it ever came to that, Josh would be welcome in his pack. River had a compound that was outside of the city that was well guarded and conducive to pack living. Roanan didn’t like to think of Josh leaving, but if his son one day decided to go, the alpha trusted River to keep him safe.

  Now that they were home again, Roanan almost wished they’d never gone. Emory tried to communicate to him it would have happened anyway, and Roanan supposed his mate was right.

  One good thing that had come out of the trip was that Emory was able to see a speech specialist while they were there and also have an MRI of his throat that confirmed the damage shouldn’t keep him from speaking. Since then, Emory seemed to have more faith in one day being able to talk again, and he was progressing well with his daily exercises. He could make a lot more sounds than he could previously and even utter a word or two at a time.

  “I think you’ve doubled in size overnight,” Roanan said to Emory as he came to sit beside the omega on the couch. Emory gave him a withering look, and Roanan chuckled. “I just mean here.” He rested his hand on Emory’s swollen belly. “The baby’s really growing. Have you had any thoughts about names?”

  Emory shook his head, and then, because he was trying to speak more, said, “No.”

  Roanan smiled at him. A little gravelly but clearer every time.

  “You don’t want to name him after a family member? Maybe your father?”

  Emory swallowed and slowly formed a word. “Jac-ob.”

  “His name was Jacob? That’s a nice name. We could use that if you’d like. My father’s name was Peter. Jacob Peter. That sounds nice. What do you think?”

  Emory smiled and nodded, then said, “I…like,” before cuddling closer to Roanan, head on the alpha’s chest.

  “This is nice,” Roanan said, stroking the omega’s silky hair.

  Emory nodded. “Y-es.”

  “You didn’t really enjoy Cascade City, did you?”

  “No.”

  “I thought not. I didn’t like it much either. Too busy. And the humans—they freak me out.”

  Emory laughed and nodded.

  They fell quiet. Suddenly a frantic call from Josh’s room had Emory sitting up.

  “Dad!”

  Roanan took off down the hall. Throwing open the door to Josh’s room, he found his son lying on the bed, panting and sweaty.

  “Josh? What is it?” The first think Roanan thought of was the humans and those horrible darts.

  Then the scent hit him.

  Heat. Josh was in heat.

  Emory, who had followed Roanan, pushed the alpha out of the room and stepped inside with a look that told the alpha to stay, before shutting the door in Roanan’s face. Roanan sighed. As an omega, Emory was the best one in the household to take care of Josh right then. Roanan would make some sandwiches for them.

  Sometime later, Emory came into the kitchen.

  He pointed to Josh’s room and then said, “Heat. D-en.”

  “He wants to go to the omega den?” Roanan guessed, and Emory nodded.

  “Okay. Lake and Landon should be back from the dining hall any minute. They can take him.”

  “I…go,” Emory said.

  “You want to go with him?”

  Emory nodded, and Roanan pulled the omega into his arms. “Thank you for being here for him,” he said into Emory’s hair.

  Emory rubbed Roanan’s back and said, “O-kay, o-kay,” over and over until Roanan let him go and kissed him.

  “Are you going to stay the entire time?” he asked.

  Emory nodded.

  “Let’s pack you guys a bag, then.”

  They set about doing that, and as they were finishing up, the front door opened and Lake and Landon came in, talking and laughing.

  “Boys!” Roanan called while Emory went into Josh’s room to feed him a sandwich and get him ready. Walking into the living room, the alpha stood before the twins. “Your brother has gone into heat.”

  “It’s about time,” Lake said.

  “Yeah, I thought he was never going to do it,” Landon added.

  “He’s only sixteen!” Was Roanan the only one who still saw Josh as a child? “I need the two of you to be on your best behavior. This is a very sensitive time for your brother. He’s extremely vulnerable, and I’ll never believe you’ll be able to handle your own omegas until I see you can be sensitive to Josh. I need you to go with me to help me escort him and Emory to the omega den.”

  The boys looked at one another and then at their father.

  “Okay, Dad,” they said in unison.

  “Good boys. As soon as Josh is ready, we’ll be on our way. Have a sandwich.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Gabriel

  “But I’m feeling really good, Grey,” Gabriel said. “Please.”

  “You know I’d give you absolutely anything, Gabriel, but not this. Not yet. Maybe by the next full moon. If I let you run, I’ll have to allow all the omegas to run, and I can’t possibly make sure they’re all safe.”

  Gabriel had figured Grey wouldn’t give in, and, deep down, the omega un
derstood. He just wanted to run so badly.

  “Do you think the humans are still targeting them?” Ian asked. The three mates sat on the living room couch. Ian had been reading a book, and Grey listening to music. Gabriel just liked snuggling with his mates, and when he’d thought about the full moon coming up the next night, he hadn’t been able to keep himself from asking Grey, even though he was fairly certain what the answer would be.

  “I doubt they’d stop,” Grey said. “I’m not sure how we’re going to be able to let the omegas run again.”

  “Maybe they’ll be too fearful to try to harm us now that they know we’re onto them and have an antidote,” Ian said. “Plus, didn’t River say they’ve arrested the man who made the substance in the darts?”

  Grey nodded. “True. But we’ll have to make sure before I’ll let our omegas run.”

  Ian nodded. “I agree.”

  Gabriel couldn’t help but pout. Who knew before he’d be able to run again?

  Ian stroked the omega’s hair and said to Grey, “Roanan told me that River was going to get in touch with you about sending some rogue betas and alphas to our pack. The more we have, the more protected the omegas will be. Perhaps soon we can try running in formation, protecting them from all sides.”

  Gabriel looked at Grey to see how the pack alpha took this information.

  Grey rubbed his hands over his face. “That might work. Eventually. And I’m always eager to strengthen the pack. Did Roanan say when River might want to talk?”

  “He said River was going to invite you to the compound. Maybe with Ace. You could meet the rogues.”

  Grey nodded, then pulled Gabriel close for a kiss. “We’ll work it out so you can run soon, don’t worry. How are you feeling?”

  Gabriel smiled. “I feel good. Really good. I think the antidote is working. But there’s only one way to find out.”

  Grey tweaked Gabriel’s nose. “You’re always so eager to put yourself into danger.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m eager to get back to life. Grey, how will we ever know if the antidote worked if you don’t get me pregnant?”

  Grey frowned.

  “He’s right, Grey,” Ian said. “It’s time. Gabriel’s had five doses now.”

  “And what if he gets pregnant and sicker than he’s ever been before?” Grey snapped.

  “Then we’ll end the pregnancy.”

  Gabriel sat up. “No!”

  “We won’t let you die,” Ian said.

  Horrified, Gabriel scrambled off the couch. “I’m not ending a pregnancy.”

  “We won’t let you die,” Grey repeated Ian’s words, putting emphasis on each one. “No matter what, you are what’s most important. If you can’t accept that, we can’t go further. You’ve run from us, Gabriel, and—”

  “I promised I wouldn’t ever do that again!”

  “We’ve almost lost you twice,” Ian said.

  Miserable, Gabriel felt his bottom lip tremble. “I—I don’t think I could do it.”

  “We’ll know if you’re sick early.” Ian put his arm around Gabriel and hugged the omega. Gabriel clung to him. “But listen. We don’t have to do this at all. We can keep on going like we have been with you having your heats at the omega den.”

  Gabriel let out a sob. “I can’t stand doing that anymore. It feels like I’m dying. Sometimes I think I’d rather die than go through another heat without my mates.”

  Ian gasped and pulled back from Gabriel’s embrace. “Don’t say that.”

  Grey got up from the couch.

  “You don’t know what it’s like,” Gabriel told his mates, wiping furiously at his tears. “You don’t understand. Even before I mated, the heats were terrible. But once I belonged to you two—I need both of you filling me. I’m so empty during those times and no toy can fill my need!” He cried harder, and Grey stood and held him. Ian hugged the omega from the back. Sandwiched between his mates, Gabriel calmed a little.

  “Okay, sweetheart,” Grey murmured. “We get it. Ian and I will make everything better, I promise, won’t we, professor? No more heats in the omega den.”

  Gabriel peeked out from Grey’s chest. “And if I get pregnant?”

  “We’ll take it a step at a time, all right? But if it comes down to your life, I will choose you. Period.”

  Slowly, what Grey had just promised sank in. Grey and Ian were going to take him during his next heat. He might become pregnant again. They might have another baby.

  “You might think this has been easy on me, but it hasn’t,” Grey said. “Ian and I know how difficult a time you’ve been having. We’ve talked. Tried to come up with solutions. One thing we’ve discussed is approaching your heats a little differently at first. Maybe fill you with our fingers more than our cocks. Are you willing to try something like that?”

  “I don’t know if it will satisfy me, but yes, I’ll try.”

  Grey kissed his nose. “Good. Now, why don’t we go take a shower? You’re not in heat right now, and Ian and I can stuff you full, can’t we, professor?”

  “Definitely,” Ian said, voice rough with lust.

  “I’ll turn on the shower and you check on the boys,” Grey said, heading for the bathroom.

  Ian wrapped his arm around Gabriel’s shoulder and walked with him to the boys’ room. They were sleeping like angels. As Gabriel looked down at them, love for his babies filled him from top to bottom.

  “I see more and more of you in Finny every day,” he whispered to Ian.

  Ian smiled. “He’s much more handsome than I am. They both are.”

  Gabriel chuckled. “Are you fishing for compliments? You know you’re handsome.” After a few more seconds of watching the children sleep, they left the room and shucked their clothes in the bedroom before joining Grey in the shower. Gabriel shivered, knowing within minutes he’d have two cocks crammed inside him, stretching him to the limit, and, eventually, two knots.

  He couldn’t wait.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Emory

  Emory was getting big. He couldn’t see his feet, and the baby, Jacob, didn’t have the space to tumble around in Emory’s womb as much these days, but what he could do was sit on Emory’s bladder. Emory constantly felt like he had to pee.

  When Emory or Roanan rested their hand just underneath the round swell of the omega’s belly, Jacob kicked hard. Emory loved seeing Roanan’s face light up every single time it happened. The day before, Lake and Landon had each tried it, and when Jacob had kicked, the young alphas had made such a big deal of it, Emory had gotten teary-eyed. It seemed this new little brother was becoming a real thing to Roanan’s three boys—their three boys—now that Jacob was growing into a little human, and they were cementing into a real family. Emory found he cried a lot since becoming pregnant, and even more so now that he was getting so big. Just recently he’d burst into tears when a moth got caught in a spider’s web on the front porch. Roanan had had to free it, and then when the alpha had pointed out that spiders had to eat too, Emory had cried even harder. He smiled thinking about it now, but knew it wouldn’t be long until some other ridiculous thing would send him over the edge. How did Roanan put up with him? But the alpha just smiled indulgently and soothed Emory every single time.

  Judging by the angle of the sun through the bedroom windows, Roanan was indulging Emory in another way by letting the omega sleep late again. Carefully, Emory rolled to a seated position on the bed and stretched. The baby started kicking like crazy, but Emory knew as soon as he got going, Jacob would settle down, the motion of daily activities rocking him to sleep.

  When Emory had dressed and entered the kitchen, he saw the breakfast dishes had been washed and a covered plate waited for him on the counter.

  Eggs and fried ham. Delicious.

  Josh appeared in the doorway.

  “Oh, you found them. Good.” He crossed to the kitchen sink and washed his hands.

  “Thanks.” Talking was getting easier. Emory could now form short senten
ces, and that made him so happy.

  He and Josh had bonded over the time of Josh’s heat when Emory had stayed with him at the omega den, and the friendship they’d once shared had become stronger, and a little more complicated, since now they were both friends and family. During that time, between bouts of strong heat, Josh had confided in Emory about how unhappy he’d been lately as his life had seemed to turn on its end. But Emory thought having had his first heat had settled something in the young werewolf. Emory suspected being on the brink of it had been messing with Josh’s hormones.

  “I was shoveling snow. It really came down last night,” Josh told him.

  Emory had noticed the glare from the window but hadn’t really stopped to look. Snow was a pain in the ass when one was in human form, especially in his current condition. And this far along in his pregnancy, shifting was too difficult to bother with. Remembering the pain Gabriel had gone through in the forest while doing it kept Emory from even attempting to shift.

  “Where’s your father?” Emory asked stiltedly.

  “He went to help Ace move a tree that fell over in front of his front door.” Josh looked at Emory out of the corner of his eye. “What do you think of Ace?”

  A little stunned by the sudden change in topic, Emory considered. “Good…man.”

  “He’s hot, huh?”

  Emory chuckled. “Yeah. I…guess.”

  “You guess? You know he is. I like him.”

  Emory sighed and leaned back in his chair.

  “What’s the matter?” Josh asked. ‘”I feel…useless. I sleep…and Roanan just lets me.”

  “I’m sure you need the rest. Carrying a baby is work in itself.”

  Emory smirked. “When did you…” He paused to take a breath before continuing, “get so wise?”