“Of course I don’t! How am I supposed to run this pack when people keep secrets from me? First Sid and Brooks, now David.”
“And David’s someone you always felt you could count on.”
River’s heart sank. Is that what was bothering him?
Josiah touched River’s shoulder. “Give the guy a break, baby. He’s hurting. I have a feeling Jax isn’t as involved in this scheme as it sounds. He lived with us for a long time. Let’s give him some credit.”
River blew air through his lips. “Fine. I’ll wait to see what David says when he returns, but you need to call Mark and ask him about this Blake guy.”
“Okay. Any word on Nick and the baby?”
“None.”
“Sam and little Jimmy are doing well.”
When Leo had told Sam he wanted to name their son after the omega’s deceased brother, Sam had fallen apart. That had probably been the reason Leo had waited until after the birth to suggest it.
“Good. Now if Brooks would just give birth, we might be able to relax.”
A piercing shriek made both River and Josiah cringe. PJ. The kid never wanted to take a nap.
“River!” Mike called.
River walked through the master bedroom out into the hall.
Mike stood at the bottom of the stairs, and River descended to meet him. “Hey, someone’s on the cell phone you usually take with you.”
River took the proffered phone. “This is River.”
“River? Rocco. I wanted to let you know some werewolf came around here asking about you.”
River frowned. “Who was it?”
“Didn’t give a name, but a patron said he’d seen the guy around town lately and has heard the name Max.”
That fucker. “What did you tell him?”
“What was there to tell? I said yeah, you worked here, but you were off today. Who is this guy?”
“Just a trouble-maker trying to start up another pack. Thanks for the heads-up, Rocco.”
When River disconnected, he turned to find Mike watching him.
“What do you think he’s up to?”
“Probably trying to find a way to get Nick and Brett away from me. I thought he’d be out looking for them, too, but maybe his plan is to let Austin do all the work and be ready with a plan of action when they get back here.”
“Does he have a leg to stand on?”
“They’re pack, and without a mating bite, Max doesn’t have a real claim on Nick. The baby’s another story.”
“He can’t just take Nick’s baby from him.”
“I’d have to allow it, but Nick will most likely want to go with him rather than relinquish Brett. It’s a difficult situation. I almost hope Austin doesn’t bring them back.”
Mike shook his head. “An omega and infant can’t make it out there alone.”
River met the other alpha’s gaze. “I didn’t say I hoped he wouldn’t find them.”
River’s words sinking in, Mike nodded and left for the small carpentry room they’d built onto the back of the house. An alpha protector would only make things marginally easier for Nick on the run, but it was preferable over the omega going with Max. River wished he could protect the baby, but with Max as the sire, only death would end the alpha’s rights to Brett.
River headed for the study. He found Nate there working on figures, and together, the two cleared River’s desk in a couple of hours.
In the meantime, River heard Sid returning from school, and when the pack alpha entered the kitchen, the beta had lunch of rabbit and vegetable soup ready, along with a dark bread Sam made from scratch. the members of the pack that weren’t out working in the city sat down together to eat.
“Where’s David?” Briar asked.
River glanced up at the omega, who looked slightly upset. Kane didn’t seem to be concerned, though, so River didn’t say anything about it. “He had an errand to run. He should be back shortly.”
Briar nodded and continued eating.
River had just stood from the table when he heard the car pull up. The pack alpha walked outside to meet David, Briar following, and was surprised to find Jax with him.
“Can we go someplace private?” David asked. He glanced at his brother. “Something wrong?”
“I just wanted to talk with you. We can do it later.” The omega walked away before David could say anything else.
When the second alpha gave River a questioning look, River shrugged.
The separation between David and Jax had never been so pronounced. The two walked with several feet of empty space between them and didn’t look at each other. River wondered what had gone on at the Congress.
“Let’s walk toward the creek.” River headed in that direction.
The day was unusually hot for early May, but the sky was cloudless and blue and the air fresh. Bumblebees buzzed from clover to clover as the three men walked along the side of the stables and around the paddock, River now between David and Jax. The pack had purchased a couple of push mowers, and Abram and Diego were scheduled to mow the following day. They passed the spot Sawyer, Liam, and Briar were preparing for a vegetable garden.
“Jax wanted to speak to you in person,” David said when they’d settled on the bank, the gurgling creek a few feet away.
River looked at the human expectantly.
“David said he’s spoken to you about why he came to me today.”
“I admit I found it difficult to believe,” River said.
“I appreciate that. While I’ve certainly been bombarded with negative opinions about werewolves, I hope you know none of it would ever be enough to turn me against you. Shortly after I left here, Blake Parker approached me. I immediately realized he was feeling me out about my feelings toward you and decided to go with it. Once he seemed to be convinced I had soured on all of you, he began insinuating his ideas into our conversations. We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I’ve gained his trust. Not long ago, he revealed there was a faction in the Congress—remnants of Bart Davis’ followers—that planned to take out another pack. Blake’s a major player in this faction, and he asked me to join.”
A chill ran through River as he listened. They’d been fools to believe the bad feelings had died with Davis and his two cohorts; others had been waiting to step up. He wondered what Mark’s reaction would be when he found out that some of the very people he relied on to help the werewolf rogues were the ones who’d made them what they were by destroying their packs.
“You’re saying you’ve been playing along to get inside information,” River said. “A dangerous game.”
“Worth it if I can save an entire pack and reveal those in the Congress who are working against everything the establishment believes in,” Jax said.
“And now you might have blown your cover by coming here.”
Jax glanced at David then, but the second alpha kept his gaze on River. “David and I staged an argument ending with my declaration to come back here for the rest of my things. I’m sure Blake will come by my hotel room tonight full of questions. I’ll spew some hate about all of you to ease his mind.”
“And they plan to destroy Spartan Point Pack in three weeks?”
Jax nodded. “I’d planned to come to you once I had a specific date. Plus there’s the fact that Blake hasn’t yet told me everyone who’s involved. I want to be able to take that list to Mark.”
David’s jaw clenched, but the second alpha remained quiet.
“All right. We appreciate what you’re doing for us and for Spartan Point,” River said, because he believed everything Jax had told him. His story resonated true, and he knew David had known all along something like this must be the case. Still, River didn’t like being left out of the loop by his most trusted pack mate.
When they’d seen Jax off with a box of various items in case anyone was watching, River motioned David inside the stables.
The pungent odor of animals and hay hung in the cool, dim interior. River sat down and
looked at his second.
“You feel Jax is telling the truth?”
“Don’t you?” David asked, face falling.
“That’s not what I asked. Answer me, please.”
David shifted restlessly from foot to foot. “Yeah. I mean, I know my feelings could be getting in the way, but I’ve always thought it had to be something like this. Jax may not want to be a werewolf, but he wouldn’t stand for someone harming us.”
River nodded. “I agree. I only wish you’d brought this to me in the beginning. I thought we were solid.”
David looked dismayed. “We are. I-I just feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions lately. I swear I wouldn’t have let it go much longer. I wouldn’t have let anyone hurt that pack.”
“I believe you.” River stood and after a slight hesitation, wrapped his arms around his friend. David hugged him back, seeming to relax in the pack alpha’s embrace.
“You’d better talk to your brother now. Something’s bothering him,” River said, pulling away.
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
David nodded. “Thanks, River.”
For the first time in a long while, things began to slot together for River. He felt he was in his proper place as pack alpha and that his pack respected him as they should. Heart eased, he set off to help Kane build the fence around the chicken house.
Chapter 18: David
David found his brother sorting through seed packets by the shed.
“Hey. Sorry I couldn’t talk to you earlier, but what Jax had to say was really important.”
Briar shrugged, and David bristled with impatience. He hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with sensitive omega feelings for long. Regarding Briar’s dark head bent over his task, David had a flash of memory of a younger Briar trying to learn how to start a fire. David hadn’t been particularly kind to the young omega while teaching him.
Softening, David took a seat on the cool ground, back against the shed. “Tell me what’s bothering you, Bry.”
At the rarely used nickname, Briar looked up. Something in his blue eyes flickered—hurt. Worry. Fear. “I—I’m scared.”
“Of what?” David asked softly.
“I just think I should be with child by now.”
Was that all it was? Omegas had such ridiculous fears. Here David was dealing with a life and death situation, and his little brother had himself in a tizzy about reproduction. With difficulty remembering his determination to mend his relationship with Briar, David repressed his irritation. “Don’t you think maybe it’s the sudden baby boom the pack’s having that’s made you feel this way? You’ll become pregnant soon enough.”
“But I’m an omega. I should be having babies. Why aren’t I?”
“Stress, probably. Don’t worry about it so much.” David had a sudden thought that stiffened his spine in anger. “Has Kane said something to you about it?”
Briar shook his head. “I’m the one who’s worried. Kane said more or less what you just did.”
David relaxed. “Alright, then. Listen to your alpha and stop thinking these thoughts. In the meantime, there are plenty of babies you can help take care of. Sawyer in particular could use a hand.”
Briar gave a tremulous smile. “Okay. Thanks, Davie.”
David smiled back. “Anytime.” And he realized he meant it.
* * * *
David sat behind Brooks, kneading the small of the beta’s back with his hands.
“That feels good; thanks,” Brooks said, face propped on his arms on the back of the kitchen chair.
“You’re really tense.”
“I couldn’t sleep last night.”
David smiled. “I noticed.”
“I’m sorry I kept you up. Maybe I should sleep on the couch in the living room.”
David growled low. “You will not. I need you with me.”
Brooks smiled softly. The beta was so damned pretty in these last days of pregnancy. David not only felt protective of his mate, but incredibly attracted to him. He made love to the beta every chance he got, always eager to take those pillowy lips with his own and run his hands over the place that concealed their child.
“I saw Jax yesterday,” Brooks said.
David paused in the massage, surprised. “You didn’t say anything.”
“I thought you might bring it up.”
David let out a breath. “I’m sorry. I really don’t want you worrying about anything right now.”
“I worry more when you don’t tell me things.” Brooks sat up and turned around. Shirtless, Brooks’ belly swelled away from just below his pecs to the area right above his groin. David couldn’t resist putting his hands there, and the baby kicked back at him.
“Please tell me,” Brooks said.
Running his fingers over the smooth skin of Brooks’ pregnant belly, David relayed the information in as relaxed a manner as he was able. When he’d spoken with Jax at the Congress, he’d gotten the definite suspicion Jax was determined to obtain every speck of information from Blake he could, no matter what it took.
“Is Jax sleeping with that man?” Brooks was more astute than David sometimes gave him credit for.
“If he’s not, he will be. He doesn’t have much time to find out who’s involved.”
“I’m worried about him,” Brooks said after a moment. “People might hurt him if they found out.”
“Me, too. But let me do the worrying, okay? I just want you to take it easy. The baby could come anytime.”
“Might be sooner than later,” Brooks said, sending a zip of excited alarm into David’s heart. “I’m so achy. Sid said I may be in the first stages of labor.”
Suddenly David couldn’t breathe. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Brooks ran a hand over David’s cheek. “Because I knew you’d get like this—all freaked out.”
David frowned. “I’m not freaked out.”
Brooks smiled. “Whatever you say, Alpha.”
“Maybe you should lie down.” David helped Brooks to stand and led him into the living room where Sam sat with little Jimmy watching a cooking show.
“I hope you’re planning on making that,” Brooks said as David eased the beta onto the couch. “It looks delicious.”
“I might be,” Sam said, “although if you don’t lay that egg, you’re not going to have any room for food.”
Brooks sighed and leaned into the cushions David had planted behind the beta’s back. “Sid said it might be today or tomorrow at the latest.”
“Pays to have a medical professional on the premises,” Sam said, wiping Jimmy’s mouth with a cloth. The omega’s nipple dripped milk down his hard chest.
“Sid’s hardly a professional,” David said, wondering what the milk tasted like. He’d have to try Brooks’ when the baby was born. He tried to hide his growing erection, but Brooks saw and smirked at him.
“More than any of us, he is. And when he has his nursing degree, he’ll be an asset to the pack.”
“If he stays here,” Brooks said.
“Why do you say that?” David asked.
Brooks shrugged. “He seems to like human life an awful lot.”
“But he can’t leave the pack. What would he do?”
“I don’t really think he’d leave, at least not for long. But Sid’s restless. He’s been through a lot and has latched onto human friends. I don’t think he realizes how adrift he’d be trying to fit into the human world.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“I’ve tried, but it’s like talking to a tree. Although a tree would probably give more of a response, come to think of it.”
Sam laughed, but David remained perplexed. In the human world, Sid wouldn’t have the camaraderie of the pack. And if these so-called friends knew Sid was a werewolf, how would they feel about him then?
Brooks’ sudden cry of pain ripped David from his thoughts. He took his mate’s hand. “What is it?”
“Hurts,” Brooks sa
id, breathing erratically.
“Take a deep breath,” Sam said. He propped Jimmy on his shoulder and rubbed the baby’s back until the infant let out a loud belch.
David wished to hell they still had Farrah around. Didn’t she go to live with her sister in the city? Just having the medicine woman nearby while his mate whelped would make the second alpha feel so much better.
“Do you want to go lie down in our bed?” David asked.
Brooks shook his head. “No way. I want to be up as much as possible.” He ran his hands over the mound of his stomach.
“What can I do for you?”
“A glass of water would be nice,” Brooks said. He smiled. “The pain’s gone for now.”
David hurried to the kitchen and brought the water back to his mate. “Anything else?”
“Yeah, go do some work until I call you. This is going to go on for a long time,” Brooks said.
Reluctantly, David walked to the stables. Tending to the horses helped ease his jitters, and when River asked David to saddle Smoke for the pack alpha’s rounds, the second alpha decided to prepare Bess for himself and go with his pack alpha, although it certainly wasn’t necessary.
Back at the compound, River and David’s rounds consisted of checking the guard shacks on the pack boundaries, dropping in on various pack members who might be injured or in need, and making sure the dining room and other facilities were being run properly.
At the plantation, the pack was so small it didn’t take long to make the rounds. They checked the borders and the progress on the houses being built there. At a recent pack meeting, the pack had decided that, because of the shortage of betas in their group and subsequent lack of the ability to rotate as guards, they would build small houses on selected spots of the property boundaries for their betas to move into. That way, the werewolves could keep an eye out for intruders while staying home. Mike had taken charge of the undertaking, and the first house was well underway.
With the recent improvement of finances and the problem of Max’s annoying inquiries at the club, River had quit his job to focus on the pack. David noticed the pack alpha seemed more at ease since doing so, as though being at home had settled him.
A New Beginning Page 24
