by Emma Knox
I had caught him just in the nick of time, and barged past — which caused him to jump-up and hurl all those dirty toys into the air as he shielded his head from any of them falling upon him.
He shouted, “Come back here!”
I high-tailed it past the trees and never looked back to see if he was tailing me.
His panting in human form confirmed that he was. Then that changed, and he was panting in the same breath that an unfit wolf would. So, he is a breed of us, how disappointing. He must be an unattached Alpha with no claim or pack. I had no idea where I was running to. But with the jaws snarling and consistently trying to bite my tail I could not afford to scout. I needed to wipe my gland on every tree that I passed for Garret.
I played ring-a-ring-a-roses around numerous trees to get him dizzy. To make him lose heart, but he came closer, snapping at my neck…me getting away just in time. And almost clawing me… I clawed him back … the chase was leading through an area that he knew, so he would climb up on higher hills and then tried to jump down upon me. I was tiring, but he never landed on top of my back.
My weakness in my sprinting was showing, his seemed to be renewing. Ahead was a shack…a shed… I didn’t know what it was, but I aimed to get there, only to find that the Alpha had a surge of energy and from out of nowhere pierced his sharp teeth around my neck which made me whimper in a screech. It left his jaw prints on there, but he couldn’t hang on long enough because I clawed one of my paws at his muzzle and nose, and with my sharpened nails it did some damage and drew some blood.
He hopped away and dabbed at it with his paw whilst I ran for the shack. The Alpha was back, and snapped down with his jaws on my tail, tugged me back as if I were the rope that he was using to move a truck. I clawed my paw-nails into the soil and watched as I made a trail of five lines and they slinked from side-to-side. The pain of his bite had my head shifting in and out of personas.
But he lost his grip when I fully changed back into a human…ran for my life into the shack. And I didn’t know if I could make it.
Chapter 12
Garret
All I knew was that I had to find him. I got the text in my human form…transformed back into a lion and picked up his scent. Ian being pregnant added a potency to his gland. Not repugnant, but it sure wasn’t an arousal for me. But that made it easier to track through the woods which would lead me there quicker. I needed a short cut to him from the location he had sent me. I’d heard of the place which was not far from the highway that was known for common hitchhiking.
The practice was quite discriminative to Omegas, they were advised not to do this. While Alphas were more known to be able to handle themselves. I had never covered so many miles without a break. I could hear neighboring packs who let me go with no hassle or trouble. I was a lion, so their caution was great. But it was still risky for me to travel through the wolves territory. The pot wasn’t boiling between our packs, but usually if you came through unannounced, they wanted to know.
Luckily the wolf packs didn’t cover too much acreage. But I could smell their droppings and markings on trees. It nearly caused a diversion for me as one had a tinker of sweltered blackberries, but lacked amber when I had to retrace the path I had come which was a steep one and jump down four flat hilly paths to get back onto the lower level of the woods.
The highway was coming. And I picked up Ian’s gland again, raced north down the highway…passed the payphone… I even saw a gas station, but I had to divert slightly northeast because Ian was somewhere over there. Not far now. I roared, “Roooooooooar!” I was coming. He might not understand, but I could pick up the smell of blood.
When I got to the shack, I heard the commotion as I stealthy waited to see if there was more than one in there behind a couple of trees. They were both in human form, Ian, and I presume an Alpha, who were trying to outdo the other. The Alpha had tried to go for Ian’s neck with a flash of his sharp jaws and muzzle that came out like a phantom. Ian reacted in the same switch-up, lashing out at him with his claws and nearly missing him.
I made my way closer to the shack when the Alpha was about to take something out of his pocket. I didn’t stealth it anymore, I charged for that closed door and knocked it down with my mane – then switched into a human form like a butterfly escaping from its shell – lunging for the Alpha who was just about to stab Ian in his ribs.
Ian ran for cover. “Garret!”
There wasn’t much in the shack except for a chandelier above. Ian merely went to stand by the one window whilst the Alpha danced and threw the knife which was a hunter’s brand and could cut through a boar from hand-to-hand.
“And who’re you then?”
“Somebody who’s going to teach you a lesson for thinking you can enslave Omegas with abuse.”
“Ah. You’re weak minded. I’m not the only one who thinks this way. I just admit I like a little bondage. They’re weak and feeble, they don’t know any better.” The Alpha scoped me out, looking for a weak spot to try and plant that knife.
I had to be vigilant. He would not stand still. Itchy feet I called it. I had to dance with his itchy feet. Stand up to him. He wasn’t a small fellow. A wolf…hmm…what breed? What kind?
He slashed that knife four times in a zig-zag when I tried to rugby tackle him, and I roared which edged him back with a timely bounce. He was back to itchy feet. “A lion shifter. Brave. Real brave to come through here.”
“Lion. Wolf. Cheetah. When it comes to mates you should respect them.”
“Unfortunately, I lost respect when nobody ever gave it to me.” The Alpha was dancing under the moonlight of the chandelier.
Yes. My eyes lifted up, it was a weak link, already coming unattached from the stronghold.
“And you’ll have to say bye-bye to the pretty boy over there. I sense that he belongs to you.”
“He belongs to nobody but himself.” I wanted to go for it. Charge at him, but the Alpha needed somebody to talk to. Fool!
“I’ll give you one chance to leave here, lion shifter. Go now. Leave the kid with me. And forget he ever existed.” The Alpha chucked the knife like a bouncing tennis ball.
“My answer is no. But I’ll also give you the option of leaving now and not returning here every again. Make your choice.”
The Alpha laughed. He didn’t take me seriously. But the talking was over. I had nothing else to say. He was boring me, so we went at it…the pair of us…the knife blade directed to impact my kidney area. He was a funny one, he would’ve never been able to get there in time. I was going to knock the handle up there, let it soar high and bring what was above crashing down low!
I didn’t think it would work at the time. It was a magic trick to be exact. But I went for it, knocked the handle before he could jab me viscously and the blade flew upwards into the ceiling which was already weak and the stronghold, which was near to collapsing anyways and came storming down upon us both, but by me shifting into my lion form I leaped with my tail narrowly missing the mess and the chandelier crashing down on the Alpha’s head.
“Is he dead? Is he dead?”
“I think so. Let’s get out of here though. I feel this shack might collapse!” I grabbed Ian’s hand, left the squashed Alpha to think about his sins in the afterlife, and headed to the outdoors until me and Ian could stop and sit on a cut tree stub to regain our stamina. The shack did not collapse.
Ian restrained himself from physical affection toward me, but his words he set loose. “This is all my fault. If you had died in there…Garret, I’m glad you’re alive. I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s me that has to say to you, I’m sorry.”
“No. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions and pressured you into marriage.”
“Ian, it was me who asked you first. There was no pressure.”
“But it’s only a one-night stand to you. I heard you talking to Aaron. And you don’t have to feel guilty about that either. I understand.”
&n
bsp; “Ian…seriously…you really do need to take a lesson in finishing before starting. No offense, but if you had stayed a little longer and eavesdropped, you would’ve heard me tell my father that you became much more than a one-night stand. And that you mean so much to me. But that’s forgotten. Being here with you now, all this, dealing with that monster in there, has to prove to you how much I want to be with you. I’m not mad you ran away from me. But if you had been hurt or worse, you would’ve left me with a broken heart.”
Ian sighed and lowered his head in shame. “Do you love me?”
“How much more work do I have to put in to prove it? I technically murdered on the behalf of passion and rage. That in there, is a ticket to jail.”
“It was self-defense.”
“But I wanted him to die.”
“So, did I. So, you’ll have to put me down as an accomplice. Because he abducted me. Threatened to make me a slave with daily abuse. And the word rape had come into this box to. I wouldn’t consent, so it would be by force. He got what he deserved. I’m only fortunate that I have you. Who knows if that Alpha was up to no good more than twice? He most definitely has done it before.”
“We should leave then. Let me take you home? I’m sure Ethan and Trevor have been calling to see where you are?”
Ian gave his phone a look. “More than ten-plus missed calls on here.”
“They sure do love you, Ian.”
“And I sure do love you, Garret.”
“Then let me make it official with my mark upon your neck? Just like that Alpha was trying to do.”
Ian slanted his neck and gently rubbed his fingers against his own flesh. I would make him my mate, seal the package that I wanted to be mine. I got out my lion canines, including my carnassial shears for feeding, and sank them all into his neck.
When we got back to Reluson Manor the reception was similar to when I had first entered their home. Ethan was the first to hug him tightly. Trevor waited his turn, threw his whole arm around Ian’s neck and drew him in close to kiss him on the side of his temple. Then close to his chest. It was touching to see. There were no little ones this time as it was too late, and they were in bed.
I got a handshake from both of them this time. And they attended to Ian’s wounds in the kitchen which were a few cuts near his butt cheeks and some on his neck. Trevor didn’t ask too many questions, but he came out to have a word with me.
“What happened to him?”
“He got into a little argument with a dominant Alpha who wanted him. I helped him out of that pickle. He can fight. I knew he could handle himself.”
“I don’t like him fighting. He’s not a fighter.”
“Sure. But to know that he can. That must be comforting to you?”
“Yeah it is. But I think he needs somebody like you around, Garret. I give my blessings to your union.”
“How…how do you know about me and Ian getting married?”
Out of the living room popped my father who took both me and Ian by fright who saw him through the kitchen. Aaron had not stepped foot in this home since the last bickering that happened between him and Trevor.
“Father, what are you doing here?”
“I came to visit Trevor after you burst through the door searching for Ian. I had to come over here and warn them that Ian likely had heard what we were talking about and ran off because of it.”
Trevor continued, “Yeah. Your father told me to trust in your ability to find Ian and bring him back home. And he was right. Because here he is, and there you are before me being congratulated. I think if Aaron is alright with that, we could each pitch in for this wedding?”
“I think I could share the grounds with the Relusons.”
I smiled at my father for dropping the egotism. “If my father agrees to share then take it with both hands, Trevor, and do not look back.”
“Am I that bad, son?”
“Yeah. You are.”
In the kitchen, Ian came out with Ethan. I nudged my father to walk into the living room so that they could have some quiet time. We both sat on the sofa and heard the conversation between Ian, Trevor, and Ethan.
“I know I say it often, but once again, I’m sorry for putting all that upon you. I’ve been going through a rough time lately and running away like I did was because I couldn’t take it any longer. It just became a burden upon myself. And to put that on you both, well, it just seemed unfair. And all because of my darn love life that I feel is finally sorting itself out after a long road downhill.”
“I think it’s more than just your love life, Ian. You needed to sort of find yourself in the process. And you’ve sure as hell grown up! Garret says you ran into the bad sort and did ok for yourself?”
“I did.” Ian sounded proud of himself.
“Well done, son.” Trevor patted him on the shoulder. “But next time, please, answer your phone for us old men.”
“Who’s old?” Ethan wasn’t accepting that from Trevor.
I laughed. Because my father was older than both of them.
“Don’t take it so personally, Ethan, it was a small joke to lighten the mood around here. It’s been a long day. And Ian could do with a laugh.”
“It wasn’t that funny though, Father.”
Ethan sniggered, “Now that’s amusing. You’re the old man in here who had a heart attack.”
“Well yeah! Ian went missing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No more of the word sorry. Just don’t do it again.”
“I won’t.” Ian then came into the living room with Ethan and Trevor behind him. “Mr. Purr, I just wanted to really let you know that me attacking Steven was the old, jealous me who didn’t know how to deal with losing the one I thought belonged to me. But since I’m going to be joining your family, I want you to know that I’m sorry. And if we could truly wipe the slate clean? I washed my hands.”
Trevor and Ethan smiled as Ian walked over to my father…who took his hand and gave it a firm shake and peered sternly into his eyes. “I just want you and my son to be happy together. The slate is wiped clean.”
Epilogue
Garret
Two years had passed, and Ian with his overgrown stomach was rushing around the bedroom screaming, “My water broke! My water broke!”
The little ones were sitting and coloring in pictures of flowers in a book. They enjoyed this as a hobby. They were curious about their dad, but they didn’t know what to do. So, with the coloring pens in their small hands, they only looked up to Ian and giggled as if he entertained them.
Their names were Jamal and Sasha and they had the same golden eyes as Ian. Jamal was blond, and Sasha was blonder with greyer streaks. After Ian had bent over puffing out his cheeks and trying to control the contractions and stop the baby from coming out, the kids started to feel like the room had become too quiet and started to run around screaming, “Can we have some food, Dads? Can we have some food, Dads?”
I rushed up the stairs with two sandwiches spread with crushed blueberry jam that was there favorite. I picked them both up, one in each arm, they were only small, and took them to another room so that Ian could get comfortable and he could call in the doctor who would help deliver the baby at home. I got Ian relaxed, then ran back out the door and took my motorcycle that I used more often and headed to collect the doctor. It would only take ten minutes.
When I got back with the doctor, Ian was pushing that baby out already, and the doctor got the water, his instruments, and fresh sheets. Well, I got the extra sheets because it would get messy, and then gripped Ian’s hand as the doctor said, “Push Ian! Push! And after nearly one hour and thirty minutes of labor, Ian and I had a healthy baby boy. We named him Tyler.
“Finally, a baby that looks like me!” I was chuffed. Because Jamal and Sasha were Ian’s little gremlins. Both so cute and tender. “Tyler’s going to be more like me.”
“I think this might be the last one for now. All that pushing makes me feel like I’m going
to have to get a hip replacement.”
“But we should at least have four.”
“Garret, we have enough.” Ian smiled broadly at me. “In perhaps another two years. When I get my shape back.”
“You’re still beautiful. And our kids…they’re going to be lookers. We can’t stop bringing in the good-looking gene.”
“Let’s agree…two years?”
I smiled down at little Tyler whose eyes were sealed closed. “Well I couldn’t be happier with this one. He has both of our features. And Ian, I really do love you.”
“I know Garret. I love you to.”
Thank You
Emma Knox writes steamy MM and MPreg romances! Each story follows a different couple in each of her books.
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Also by Emma Knox
Alphas Of Alaska Series:
Finding His Omega - Book 1
Omega In Heat - Book 2
Defending His Omega - Book 3
Single Omega - Book 4
Leading His Omega - Book 5
The Alpha Omega Lodge Series:
Lodging The Alpha’s Omega - Book 1
Convincing The Alpha’s Omega - Book 2
Watching The Alpha’s Omega - Book 3
Keeping The Alpha’s Omega - Book 4
Loving The Alpha’s Omega - Book 5
