The Alpha's Love: Lost Omegas Book Four: A M/M Shifter Romance

by Claire Cullen

  He nodded, licking the last of the cream from his lips.

  “Here, finish this one off,” Byron said, handing the rest to him. Another few bites and it was gone but there was more food in its place.

  Once he’d eaten his fill, Byron urged him to his feet and into the bedroom he’d slept in during his last visit.

  His eyes slipped closed almost as soon as he lay his head down.

  The room was dim when he woke, warm and sleepy beneath a small pile of blankets. But when he climbed out of bed and tugged the curtains back, sunlight flooded the room. He heaved a sigh of relief, glad to be free of the dark once more.

  Jay slept most of the day and Byron was glad of that. He'd spoken to his father, who had assured him Felix was somewhere secure but wouldn't tell him what he planned to do with him.

  "I have to finish these negotiations, Byron. For your sake, and the Pack’s. Don't worry, Daniel is by my side. I'm very glad you'll be keeping him on."

  Byron was too and very relieved he'd been cleared of any involvement in Ro's abduction or the attack. Odin had spoken with him and Daniel had admitted sending Ro upstairs that day but simply as a way of keeping him and Seb apart. Odin had spoken to Sebastian, who'd confirmed Daniel had offered to rekindle their relationship. While it seemed there was a lot Daniel would do for love, Byron was glad to hear it didn't stretch to kidnapping or murder. He almost wished it had been Daniel because that idea was easier to bear than that his own brother hated him enough to want him dead.

  He was happy to be getting a well-needed break, for both him and Jay. The weeks ahead were going to be busy. Felix could very well stand trial, his father would be handing over the leadership to him and the new trade agreements would come into force. It made him tired just thinking about it. He'd take the chance to rest while he could.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Byron woke to the sound of rain scattering across the roof and sat up with a groan. He hoped Jay was sheltering out there, otherwise…

  A sound from the hallway brought him to the doorway. The Omega in question was just outside his door, his body dripping wet and shivering.

  “Here, come inside. I’ll grab some towels.”

  He pulled the largest one he could find from the linen closet and handed it over. Jay took it but seemed at a loss for what to do with it.

  “Here, let me,” he said, taking it back. “Let’s dry you off, and get you warmed up.”

  Jay’s dark eyes regarded him, then in a flash of movement, he was pressed against him, their bodies flush from head to toe.

  “Warm,” Jay murmured, shivering against him.

  “Yeah,” Byron said, giving himself just a moment to enjoy the intimacy before he tried to pull back. Tried being the operative word, as one of Jay’s hands was clutching his upper arm, the other holding the waistband of his boxers.

  “Dry, then warm. Okay?” he said, gently detaching the Omega who pulled away with reluctance and let Byron dry him off with the towel.

  “There, that’s better,” Byron said. “How about we find you something warm to wear?”

  He searched his dresser, coming back with a large, soft and well-worn t-shirt. It took a minute to coax Jay into it. The sweat pants went on easier, though they were large on Jay’s frame.

  “Now, let's get you into your bed…” he said, guiding Jay towards the door.

  He was suddenly plastered with Omega again, the wolf’s arms clinging tighter this time. “Warm,” he insisted.

  “My bed it is,” he capitulated, half-walking, half-carrying Jay over. Lying down only seemed to worsen things, the Omega curling impossibly closer, his face pushed into the crook of Byron’s neck.

  The Alpha grasped the covers, drawing them up to cover them both.

  “How’s that?” he asked. “Better?”

  “Warm,” Jay huffed. “Safe.”

  That was a new word and one he was happy to hear.

  “Good. That’s good.”

  He covered Jay’s hand with one of his as a thought occurred to him. Maybe it wasn’t just the rain that had brought Jay to him? He'd disappeared into the woods late the previous afternoon and Byron hadn't expected him back until morning. “Did something scare you?”

  “Dream,” Jay murmured against him.

  “What was it about?” he asked, uncertain if he’d get an answer.

  “Chains,” Jay replied, settling against him. He let his hand run through the Omega's still damp hair. While he knew it would be terrifying for anyone to be locked up in chains, he wondered how much worse it was when you were a near feral wolf who hadn’t been in human form in a very long time. It had left a deep mark on Jay, that much was certain, one that would persist long after the physical injuries had faded.

  He woke sometime later to find himself eye to eye with the Omega.

  “You should be sleeping. What’s wro—”

  Jay lowered his head, pressing his lips to Byron’s. For a moment, he froze, unable to work out what to do next, distracted by the soft lips on his. More than anything he wanted to return the kiss, deepen it. But… was it right? Would he only cause more pain?

  Gently, he pulled away. “Jay?”

  “Alpha,” Jay replied, his hand caressing Byron’s face.

  “I’m not sure this is a good idea. I’m not sure you understand…”

  Jay frowned at him, turning his head to the side. He tapped his chest with two fingers. “Omega.” And then reached out and pressed his fingers to Byron’s chest. “Alpha.”

  Byron could see the need in his eyes, knowing it was reflected in his own.

  “Just a kiss,” he murmured, catching Jay’s chin and guiding their mouths together. Jay responded eagerly, parting his lips when Byron nudged his tongue against them. His first taste of Jay was something else, a thrilling flavor, like liquor that went straight to his head.

  He swallowed Jay’s groan, letting his fingers card through the Omega’s hair. They broke the kiss, Byron guiding Jay’s head to rest against his chest.

  “That was…”

  “Hot,” Jay finished for him.

  He chuckled. Someone had been spending too much time around Odin. “Yeah, hot.”

  Jay turned to him, the Omega’s ever watchful eyes seeking his.

  “Home?”

  It took Byron a moment to pick apart his words.

  “You want to go home?

  Jay shook his head, using his hands to gesture around them. “Home?”

  “You… you want to live here? You want this to be home?”

  Jay nodded slowly, then pointed out towards the garden.

  “Woods.”

  Byron thought carefully before he replied.

  “What if you could have the best of both worlds? What if you could visit the woods whenever you wanted and have a room of your own here. You could have the one next to mine, with the door that opens out into the garden.”

  The Omega bit his lip. “Not dark?” he asked.

  “No, there’s a lot of windows for during the daytime and lights for when it’s night. I’ll show you, if you like.”

  Jay’s fingers were tracing shapes across the blanket, a sign he was nervous.

  “No chains?”

  Byron reached out two fingers, gently catching the Omega’s chin and nudging his head up so they were eye to eye.

  “Never. I promise you’ll be safe here. I won’t let any harm come to you.” He stroked his fingers along the curve of Jay’s jaw and the Omega sighed, tension easing from his shoulders.

  “Alpha?”

  And there was the sticking point. Damn that Omega mark.

  “You don’t need an Alpha, not yet. But you will one day.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sebastian worried. It was something he did well. Since their return home from Raventree, Ro had been quiet. And not his normal quiet. Alicia, Joel, and Adam had all noticed. Hell, even Ben had said something. But though Seb had ensured they had plenty of time alone together, plenty of space, it l
ooked like he was going to have to come right out and ask.

  It all came spilling out after Seb made an innocuous comment about the difficulties of knowing a lot of people more than ready to pass on every baby item they still had.

  “You’ll have to adjudicate, Ro. Otherwise, the Pack House will wind up being one giant nursery with toys and high chairs everywhere.” He’d meant it as a joke, but Ro had snapped at him. When he’d gently asked what was wrong, Ro finally told him.

  “I’m not like Adam or Matt, I didn’t grow up knowing I was going to carry children. I’m not prepared for this. What if I can’t do it? What if I can’t carry to term after everything Eagle Creek did to me? What if what happened with the traffickers hurt the baby? What if I’m no good as a parent? I never had one, how the hell am I supposed to know what to do?”

  His outburst, while Seb was in the middle of chopping vegetables for dinner, caught both of them by surprise.

  There was so much pent-up emotion there, Seb wasn’t sure how to contain it or even if he should. Maybe this was what Ro needed, to let it all out.

  He tackled Ro’s concerns one by one.

  “You are not alone, we’re in this together and we can do this, I promise you. Alicia has checked you over, she’s done the scans and everything looks great. There is absolutely no reason why you won’t carry this baby to term and there is nothing to suggest the baby was harmed by what happened in Raventree. Your body protected the baby, cushioned it from every blow. You are a smart, determined Omega. Yes, you never had good role models growing up, but neither did Adam. Are you saying he’s no good as a parent?”

  Adam’s parenting of the twins put most parents of singletons to shame. He seemed determined his children would have the childhood he’d been deprived of.

  “Adam’s a great parent. But I’m not Adam.”

  “And I’m not Ben, but I still think I’ll make just as good a father to our child.”

  He hugged Ro tightly. “I understand your fears, I do, but I need you to have as much faith in yourself as I have in you. I need you to see yourself as I see you. My gorgeous, brave and strong mate who is carrying my child.” He let his hands slide down to cover Ro’s stomach. There was the slightest bump there, that no one but him would notice just yet.

  “I can hear our baby’s heartbeat. So strong, so perfect. He’s taking after you already.”

  That earned him a smile and a roll of Ro’s eyes.

  “How come you always know to say what I need to hear.”

  “A trade secret,” he joked, relaxing when Ro pressed against him. The Omega tipped his head up, and their lips met, Ro’s hand sneaking behind Seb’s head to press them closer, allow him to deepen the kiss as the Omega’s free hand slipped between their bodies to run his palm over Seb’s groin.

  Seb groaned against him. “Dinner,” he murmured.

  “Can wait,” Ro replied, letting go of him to undo the snap of Seb’s jeans. Seb reciprocated, reaching for the knot in the drawstring of Ro’s pants and sliding then down and off his hips.

  “Bedroom?” Seb suggested.

  “Here,” Ro demanded, freeing Seb from his boxers.

  In answer, Seb lifted him up onto the countertop he was working at, reaching for the bowl of olive oil sitting next to them. It only took a minute to prepare Ro, the Omega pressing eagerly against him. Once he was ready, Seb used both hands to lift him, encouraging Ro to wrap his legs tightly around Seb’s waist so the Alpha could push inside him. He knew Ro needed a release, needed to feel that tension lift.

  He thrust in, as Ro’s hand found his shoulder. “Harder, Seb.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he gasped, as Ro’s body squeezed around him.

  “You won’t. I’m strong remember? Strong and gorgeous and you want to fuck me until we both see stars,” Ro panted. Seb moaned at his words, grabbing Ro’s head and bringing their lips together, plundering Ro’s mouth with his tongue as he turned them both so Ro’s back was against the wall.

  “Harder,” Ro said again, “I want to feel it tomorrow.”

  Seb took him at his word, setting up a harsh pace of thrusts as Ro’s legs tightened around him.

  “Yes, don’t stop, Seb. Don’t stop.”

  Seb didn’t want to stop, chasing his own pleasure and Ro’s, until the latter gasped and arched, coming over Seb’s stomach. Seb was a second behind, stilling inside Ro as the Omega flopped against the wall, shoulders heaving.

  Ro was all lazy smiles as Seb pulled out and set him down on his feet, holding on to him when the Omega wavered unsteadily.

  “How about a nap before dinner?” Seb suggested, lifting Ro back into his arms.

  “Only if you join me for a shower first,” Ro replied.

  “An offer I can’t refuse,” Seb said, carrying him from the kitchen, dinner forgotten.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A week after his meltdown and Ro was starting to feel better about the whole parenting thing. He was still anxious, still nervous, but he’d talked it out with Seb, then Adam, and finally Alicia, each one reinforcing what the others had said. That it was natural and normal to have concerns but everything was going to be okay.

  Seb announced that morning that they were going for a drive and shortly before lunch Ro found himself in the car with Seb and a picnic basket. There was something off about it, the Alpha’s manner a little strange, but Ro didn’t worry too much. There’d been a lot going on.

  In the wake of the Pack Council’s silence on the subject of Eagle Creek’s involvement in Ro’s abduction and the attempted murder of Raventree’s Pack successor, things were tense among the Packs. Sebastian had petitioned the Council for action but got only platitudes in reply. There was no doubt Fenrir’s Warriors intended there to be consequences one way or another but they had yet to take any action either and Eagle Creek were doing a lot of posturing. He knew Seb was worried about what might happen next.

  They pulled off the road at a place Ro didn’t recognize and got out of the car, Seb taking the basket and leading them along a path that looked like it hadn’t been used in years, overgrown with grass and brambles. Sebastian seemed undeterred by the isolation, chatting with Ro about the weather and the food. They came to the end of the path and it opened out into a little clearing on a hill overlooking a lake. The sun sparkled on the water below and Ro sighed at the sense of peace the spot imbued.

  Seb set to spreading out a blanket and getting out the plates and food. It was only when he noticed the Alpha setting out three of everything that he even thought to ask.

  “Are we expecting company?”

  “I hope so, but I can’t be sure. We’ll give them a few more minutes and if they don’t show we’ll go ahead and eat.”

  Ro’s appetite had grown hugely over the past few days and Seb had taken to carrying around snacks for him whenever they went anywhere.

  “Who is it?” Ro asked, just as a branch snapped and they both turned. A familiar figure stepped out of the woods and it was the last person Ro had expected. What was the head of the FW doing here?

  Seb stood, holding out a hand to help Ro to his feet.

  “James. It’s nice to finally meet in person,” Seb called. “And I know you and Ro are already acquainted.” There was no hint of the unhappiness Ro knew Seb felt about their encounter.

  “I’m glad I was able to make it. What with the situation on the ground at the moment, we have our hands full.”

  “Come, sit down,” Seb said, as he and Ro resumed their seats.

  “What’s going on?” Ro asked finally, when Seb began pouring drinks and opening containers of food.

  Seb and James shared a look before Seb replied. “I felt it was time the three of us sat down and discussed some things. About family and your connection to one another.”

  There was a faint buzzing in Ro’s ears as he took in the words, his heart starting to beat a little faster.

  “Connection? What connection?”

  “I knew your father, Ro,�
� James said. “Nate’s father, your grandfather, had a younger brother who fled the Pack. Timothy. Tim was my father, making Nate and me first cousins, though I was quite a bit younger. My father made contact with Nate in the years before his death. He wanted to help Nate escape the Pack, like he had. He knew no good would come with the Migones in power. I helped get messages to Nate. My father couldn’t do it himself because there was too high a chance he’d be recognized, but people were quick to ignore children. We were very close to getting the three of you out when Frank Migone took matters into his own hands. My father never really recovered from the loss. He went to his deathbed believing he’d failed his brother, believing all of you were dead. It was only when the blood debt happened that I learned you were still alive.”

  Ro stared at him in silence.

  “I’m sorry,” James offered with a weak smile. “I know this is unexpected and probably confusing.”

  “You’re a Holden?” Ro asked.

  “That’s right.”

  He looked to Seb, trying to see if he had this right. The Alpha nodded encouragingly and he turned his attention back to James.

  “So, we’re family?”

  James’ smile lit up his whole face. “Second cousins, to be precise, but yes, both Holdens, both family. For such a long time I thought I was the last of our family name, the last of our line. Even after I’d hear about you, I wasn’t sure you really were that toddler I’d met all those years ago. Until I met you in person on the road and there was no doubt.”

  Ro frowned, wondering what the Alpha meant.

  “Your scent has changed a little but you have your father’s eyes. And there’s something of my father in your jaw line. I have photos I can show you.” He patted his pocket. “And you can see for yourself.”

  “How did you know?” Ro asked Seb, realizing his mate had had something to do with all of this but not quite seeing how.

  “We knew the FW had long had an interest in you, but we didn’t know exactly why. Your encounter with James filled in some of the pieces but only enough for some suspicion. James confirmed it when we spoke on the phone while you were missing. And then, after last week, what you said about family, I thought it was high time you met yours.”