Ro nodded slowly, taking in all the information.
“Did Seb tell you we’re expecting?”
James' eyes widened as he looked from Seb to Ro. “Is that so?”
Seb nodded and a smile spread across James’ face. “Congratulations, that’s fantastic news. I would keep it to yourselves for the moment. Some people are feeling quite sore when it comes to children right now.”
He didn’t say who he meant, but Ro could guess. Frank Migone for one, given the clear threat the FW had made against Jerry Migone in the wake of what they'd tried to do to Ro. And Raventree’s Alpha William, even though Felix’s death had been by his own decree.
“We’re keeping tight-lipped about it,” Sebastian reassured him. “Now, how about we eat and we can all get a bit better acquainted.”
For the first time since Seb had sat him down and told him the truth about what happened to his family, Ro felt something inside him start to heal. Maybe it was having his sorrow shared by someone who had lived it or maybe it was learning that he had family of his very own. Family who had protected him, took risks for him, and followed through on their promises. He settled down on the blanket, eager to see the pictures James had brought. A window into his past.
Before they parted, James wanted to discuss the situation with Eagle Creek.
“They’re on high alert right now. They assume we’re going to try and take action, as we promised. And we are but not yet. We plan to wait until they’ve become complacent and have assumed our threats are empty then launch a full-scale assault. Strangers have ruled Eagle Creek for far too long. I intend to take back what is rightfully mine as the only surviving Alpha of the primary line. I was hoping we might have Glenoak’s backing?”
Seb hesitated for a moment before giving an answer. He'd certainly been doing a lot of thinking about what Glenoak would do if Fenrir's Warriors took direct action against Eagle Creek.
“You’d certainly be a more welcome neighbor. I’d like to discuss this in more detail, with Sam, Martin, and Ben in attendance.”
There were a lot of risks involved but he had known this day was coming. And the stakes were even higher now.
“Of course. I just wanted you to know that in the wake of the Pack Council’s inaction, the FW do intend to see that Pack justice is done. We’ll arrange for a strategy meeting with you in the next few weeks but we’re probably talking months before anything actually happens.”
"Months is a better timeline for us. We'll need to make preparations and continue to build up our alliances." Seb wrapped an arm around Ro, feeling the slightest shiver run through his Omega. Right now, Ro and their child were his priority. He'd do what he had to, to ensure their safety. His hopes for a peaceful resolution had been fading for a long time but after what Eagle Creek had tried to do during the Raventree talks, he'd become resolved to the need for action.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
"I think we're almost there," Byron announced. Jay, sitting in the passenger seat next to him seemed equal parts nervous and excited.
"Do you think they'll like it?" He was talking about the wrapped box he hadn't let out of his sight for the duration of the journey.
"I'm sure they'll love it. I would."
"And you'd know all about baby gifts," Jay said dryly.
"Hey!" Byron retorted. "Remind me why I brought you along again?"
"Because I'm the Omega of your dreams," Jay replied. They glanced at one another before Byron let out a snort of laughter and Jay followed suit. It was nice to hear the Omega laugh. Almost as nice as hearing his voice.
Jay's presence had been a welcome distraction from his brother's execution shortly after the talks concluded. Despite what Felix had tried to do, Byron still missed him. He'd always assumed he'd have him there, a constant thorn in his side, but a constant nonetheless. He understood why his father had insisted on applying Pack law to the letter. He was protecting Byron, saving him from having to take that action himself when exile failed. Though he felt the strain of it had hastened his father's death, which he'd been ill-prepared for despite knowing it was coming. Pulling himself from the painful memories, he turned his attention back to his anxious Omega.
"Remember what we talked about?" Byron asked.
Jay nodded. "No shifting unannounced, no biting, no walking around in human form without clothes."
"Exactly. Simple, huh?"
The Omega made a face. "Maybe we could just go home?"
Byron brought the car to a stop outside the house and turned to Jay.
"I thought you wanted to see Ro?"
"I did. I do. What if something goes wrong?"
Odin's car pulled up behind them.
"I'll be right there with you. Nothing's going to go wrong. And even if it does, I'm here, and so are Odin and Scott." He reached out, taking Jay's hand in his and squeezing tightly.
Sebastian was at the door to greet them as they traipsed through the garden.
"Byron, Jay. It's good to see you both." Looking past them, he greeted Odin and Scott, inviting all four inside.
The house was busy, with plenty of familiar and new faces.
Ro was sitting in the living room, holding a bundle wrapped in a blue blanket. Byron led Jay over to him.
"And this must be little Nathan."
Ro held the baby out so they could see him. He was sleeping, eyes closed, nose twitching.
"He's so small," Jay murmured, leaning in for a closer look. Byron grabbed his shoulder, afraid he'd topple over.
Sebastian joined them.
"Congratulations," Byron said. "And an Alpha, too. You must be delighted."
"We are," Ro said, grinning broadly. "Though I miss sleeping in just a little."
"We brought a present," Jay added, holding out the neatly wrapped box.
"Thank you, Jay. That's very kind," Seb said, taking it from him.
"Jay chose it himself. He's been worried you wouldn't like it."
That was all the encouragement Seb seemed to need to open it.
"It's a night light," Byron explained. "Hand painted stained glass."
"The pattern is beautiful," Ro exclaimed. "Adam is going to be very jealous. You might need to tell us where you bought it."
Jay beamed at Byron. "I knew they'd like it."
"Here, sit down, Jay," Ro said, patting the seat next to him. "You can hold Nate."
Jay took the offered seat, shooting Byron a look of trepidation.
"It's a baby, not a bomb," he said. "Just don't drop him."
And then Ro placed Nate in Jay's arms and the Omega was lost. He followed Ro's instructions with rapt attention, angling his arm to support the baby's head.
The look he aimed at Byron a moment later was filled with awe as he stroked a finger across Nate's cheek.
"He's so soft." He turned back to Ro. "He's really beautiful."
Ro glowed at the praise. "Thanks. I can't take all the credit. Seb's got good genes."
Seb's hand landed on Byron's shoulder.
"Come on, I'll get you a drink."
They made their way through the crowd of happy people to the kitchen.
"So, how are things going with you and Jay?" Sebastian asked as he pulled two bottles from the fridge.
"So far, so good. Language skills are coming along great. He's much more settled these days. Sleeps in the house most nights though there's still the odd day or two when he'll stay in wolf form and take off into the woods. He always comes back when it rains, though. Or if it's a moonless night."
"He'll never be a fan of the dark," Seb agreed. "And no sign of his heat?"
"Thankfully, no. If we're right about his age being around eighteen, then we hopefully have at least a year to go before we have to deal with that. I'd take two if we could get them."
"You don't think he's ready?"
"Sometimes, he seems more than ready. Other times, I wonder if he'll ever be," Byron said with a sigh. "How is Ro doing after everything?"
"We had a rocky few months. The whole thing really knocked his confidence. But since Nathan was born, he's been great. I think he finally realizes this is real and it's not going away."
They went back into the living room. Nate had started to fuss so Jay had given him back to Ro. He stood and went to Byron's side, letting Seb take the seat next to Ro.
Byron threw an arm around Jay, watching as Seb leaned close to Ro, pressing a kiss to his cheek and taking Nate into his arms. The baby's fussing quietened as Seb held him close to his chest.
"It's the sound of Seb's heartbeat. Sends him right to sleep," Ro explained.
"I think, one day, I'd like one of those," Jay murmured. Byron could see he was enraptured, unable to take his eyes off the infant. Byron hugged him.
"And maybe one day we'll have one."
Author's Note
Thank you for reading The Alpha’s Love, I hope you enjoyed the continuation of Seb and Ro’s story and the beginning of Byron and Jay’s. If you have time to spare, please consider leaving a review.
If you’d like to hear about new releases in this series or are interested in receiving review copies of future books, you can sign up to my mailing list here or visit clairecullenbooks.com
Cover by Vivian Monir Designs
Copyright © 2017 by Claire Cullen
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincident
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The Alpha's Love: Lost Omegas Book Four: A M/M Shifter Romance Page 14
