Luke rolled his shoulder and neck, stopping when something seemed amiss. He reached a hand back to the branded skin, feeling smoothness beneath his fingertips. He turned to show James, who ran careful fingers across it.
“It’s healed. The skin is new and unmarked.”
“How?”
“What we did last night, I guess. Adam has a lot of theories on the healing powers of Alpha Omega mating.”
Luke lay back, thinking on that. Last night had been better than he’d ever hoped or dreamed.
“Do you want to go raid the kitchen for breakfast?” James proposed.
Luke nodded eagerly. He was starving. But as soon as he moved, another hunger rose in him and he froze.
“Luke?” James questioned.
“I need you. Like before.”
James brushed a soft hand across his forehead. “Yeah, you’re still mid-heat. Are you ready to go again?”
Luke nodded eagerly, rolling into his stomach. James’ hand stopped him.
“No, I had a different idea for this time.”
Luke turned, watching as James reached for the bottle of oil. He paused with it in his hand, gesturing towards his groin. “Do you want to?”
Luke nodded, holding out his palm. James poured oil onto it and Luke rubbed his palms together, before sliding down the bed a little. James was already hardening when he took him in hand. The Alpha’s breath caught.
“It’s just a little cold, that’s all,” he said, when Luke looked up. “Keep going.”
Luke copied James’ movements from the night before, stroking from root to tip, light strokes to firmer. James’ breathing grew faster, his breath catching as Luke deftly handled him.
He gently pushed Luke’s hand away, turning onto his side. “Any more and this’ll be over before it’s begun. Turn around, put your back to my chest.”
Luke did, trying to figure out what James was going to do next. His hands settled on Luke’s hips and he moved them both, lying on his back with Luke lying on top of him, James hardness pressed against his ass. James’ hands on his legs spread him slightly, angling it just right, and Luke felt James slide slowly inside him. It felt different to the previous night, deeper, and with nothing for Luke to brace himself against. He clung to James instead, tightening his grip as the Alpha began to thrust up into him. The angle seemed strange and new but he liked the sensation. The inescapable pressure brought to bear by his own body pressing him down on top of the Alpha. James kept thrusting, hands sliding up to grip Luke’s hips.
Luke took a chance, letting go of James with one hand and running his oil slick palm across himself. It was wanton and selfish but all that slipped from Luke’s mind when James whispered below him. “Yes, that’s it, just like that.”
He kept going, as James kept thrusting. One of the Alpha’s hands wrapped around his chest, drawing his closer as his thrusts grew more erratic, the Alpha’s hips slamming into him as his own hand worked across his hard flesh.
“Come for me,” James’ whispered in his ear. “Let all that pleasure out.”
Luke shuddered, his body tensing as James’ words sent him over the edge. He cried out, feeling James still inside him, pulsing rhythmically within him. Then James' mouth closed over his neck, his teeth biting down, and a second wave of pleasure overtook him and he clung tightly to James until it ebbed. Then he flaked out, letting his body flop back onto the Alpha. James slipped out of him and Luke rolled over, laying his head on James’ chest.
“Breakfast can wait,” he murmured, as first one strong arm, then another, wrapped around him.
“We have all the time in the world,” James replied, his hand slipping down to cup Luke’s ass. He liked it, it made him feel like he belonged.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luke's ankle had healed overnight so they showered quickly before stumbling downstairs for breakfast. James could see the looks everyone was giving them but Luke seemed thankfully oblivious.
They ate berry crumble for breakfast. Luke’s eyes had gone wide when James set the bowl down in front of him.
“But you won the bet,” he said.
“It was never about the winning. Besides, we’re bonded now, what we have, we share.”
“Share?”
“That’s right.”
He could see Luke was thinking it over.
“So can we share that blue t-shirt.”
“It’s a little big for you,” James replied with a smile.
Luke shrugged. “It’s soft and it smells like you. Just for sleeping.”
“Then it’s yours. Consider it a gift.”
Luke dug his spoon into his bowl. “What will I give you in return?”
“You don’t have to give me anything, Luke.”
“I don’t have much. Just me.” He seemed a little despondent. Ben had warned him of that. Omegas in heat were prone to swings in mood, mostly positive but the odd dose of melancholy wasn’t unheard of.
“And you’re my mate and a part of the FW now. We’ll get you some stuff of your own, clothes, books. You won’t go without.”
“You still won’t mind me reading now that I’m your Omega?”
“Everyone should know how to read, Luke.”
They were interrupted by Graham, and James followed him from the room, leaving Luke to eat his breakfast.
“The Council called. At Jeremy’s request, they’ve brought the challenge forward. He may suspect what’s already happened between you and Luke.”
“When are they coming?”
“They’ll be here by mid-morning. There’s a group already on their way from Glenoak. They got word from Raventree early this morning that things were moving faster than expected.”
“I’m surprised Jeremy has agreed to this.”
“That is what’s worrying me. From what we know of him, he only goes on the offensive when his target is outnumbered or he has a clear advantage. I don’t see why he’d risk his life taking you on one-to-one unless he has something up his sleeve.”
“He’s always been emotionally unstable, perhaps the events of the past week have simply tipped him over the edge.”
A car pulled up outside.
“That’ll be Glenoak,” Graham said and they went outside to see. It was a familiar group of faces in two cars.
“Sebastian,” James greeted, striding forward, and holding out a hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Raventree suggested we make tracks and get here before midday. They weren’t all that clear on why.”
“Jeremy and the Council are coming. The challenge will be today.”
“We’ll leave a group here and take anyone you feel needs protecting back to Glenoak. I don’t like this. A lot of whispers, a lot of underhand tactics. The challenge might be a ruse, a distraction from a bigger plan.”
“Our contact near Gray Valley hasn’t alerted us to anything, but you’re right, there’s something off about the hurry to get this over with. I suspect Zack will want you to take Matthew and the children. And I’ll send Luke back with you too. He’s going to be resistant. He’s mid-heat.”
If Seb was surprised, he hid it well.
“Have you bonded?”
“Last night. That’s why I don’t want him here for this. If something goes wrong… He shouldn’t have to witness my death.”
Seb called over Sam and Martin while James headed inside, letting Zack and Matthew know. He thought Matthew would argue but he didn’t, grabbing a bag and starting to pack. He made Etta aware too, letting her know none of them expected her to watch this but she simply held tight to Andrew’s hand and shook her head. She’d see this through to the end.
James went to find Luke next, the Omega helping wash up the dishes. Taking him by the hand, he walked him outside.
“You remember Seb and Ben, don’t you? And this is Seb’s second, Sam. You, Matthew and the children are going to go with him back to Glenoak and spend some time with Adam and Ro.”
Luke pulled closer to him.
“But I can’t. I need you. You need me. My heat…”
“The worst of it is over, their doctor can give you something to help with the rest.”
“It’s Jeremy, isn’t it? He’s coming here, now, today.”
“You’ll be long gone before he arrives,” James soothed.
“No. I can’t. Please. I need to be here. I need to be with you. James, please.”
Sam stepped forward as Matthew hurried past bringing the children to the car.
“We’ll be reunited as soon as this is over,” James assured Luke but his words fell on deaf ears.
Sam stepped forward, placing a hand on Luke’s arm. “Let’s get you into the car.”
“No!” Luke shook his hands off, clinging tighter to James’ arm.
James nodded to Sam and the Alpha wrapped arms around Luke, bodily lifting him and carrying him towards the car. Luke turned from a placid Omega into a whirlwind of movement, kicking and fighting to free himself.
“No, no! James. Alpha! I need to stay with you. Don’t send me away.”
The car door closed, Luke continuing to struggle, banging his fists against the window as Sam grabbed hold of him and pulled him back. The last thing James saw as they pulled away was Luke’s distraught face.
A hand fell on his shoulder.
“It’s for the best,” Ben said. “If things go south, you want him somewhere safe and not within arm’s reach of Jeremy.”
No matter how much he pleaded with them, they wouldn’t turn the car around and bring him back. They wouldn’t even let him out. Sam let him go as soon as he stopped fighting. Matthew and the babies were in the seat behind him, Rosie staring at him with big wide eyes. He’d scared her.
“Matt, he needs me.”
“James needs to know you’re safe. How can he concentrate on beating Jeremy if he’s distracted by you? You’re still in heat. When you’re in the room, you’re the only person James can see.”
Luke lapsed into silence as they drove. It felt wrong and as the distance grew so too did the feeling of wrongness, until it made his skin crawl, his stomach turn, and his heart thump.
“We’re almost there,” Martin said sometime later. Luke didn’t acknowledge the words, though he could feel the sighs of relief from those around him. When they got out of the car, that would be his chance to run. If he cooperated until then, the last thing they’d be expecting would be for him to take off.
“I’m sorry, Sam, I hope I didn’t hurt you.” He tried an apology on for size, the contrition coming easily to his lips.
“No harm done, Luke. I’m sorry our first meeting had to be like this.”
“Adam and Ro will be glad of our company. And we could do with another pair of hands to help with the children,” Matthew added.
“Ro has children too?” he asked.
“Ro has a little boy. He’s only a few weeks old.”
“And Ro is James’ cousin?”
“That’s right.”
Family connections were confusing for Luke, having never known anything but a brother.
They turned off the main road onto a quieter, tree-lined path. Were all Pack houses in woods like Eagle Creeks? He had tried to keep orientated during the trip, so he’d know which direction to run when the time came. As they navigated the winding path, he caught sight of the house up ahead. People stepped out and he recognized Adam with one of the twins in his arms. He longed to see his brother again but that longing didn’t come close to the urge to return to James. That was more than a want, it was a need, a necessity. James was in danger and it was Luke’s responsibility to be there with him.
Maybe he could make Adam see that? Their bond had been the strongest thing he had ever had before James. For years, all they had had was each other to rely on. He knew every expression on Adam's face, knew every secret they held between them. His brother was his best hope to save his Alpha.
Clambering out of the car, he evaded Sam's hand and went straight for Adam, who reached to hug him with one arm.
"Luke-"
"Adam, we need to go back. James is in danger."
"Hold on, slow down. I know you must be scared about the challenge."
"It's not that. It's Jeremy. He's..." He tried to work out how to explain it. "Do you remember how Tobias sometimes tried to trick us? He'd offer us things, make it seem like bending or breaking the rules was okay? And then he'd wait until we were tangled up in it before pulling the rug out, changing the rules and we'd be in so much trouble. Etta said that's how Jeremy does things. He pretends he's playing one game when he's playing a different one entirely. By the time they see it-"
"It'll be too late," Adam said. "I remember."
He turned to Sam.
"How many more people can we spare?"
"Adam?"
"Luke's right. Jeremy doesn't play by the rules. He's about to double-cross James somehow. And Ben and Seb are there. They'll need reinforcements."
"And I'm going back with them," Luke insisted.
"I'll come too. Lianna, can you watch the boys?"
"Of course," she said.
Ro came to join them as Sam went to round up more people and Matthew brought the children inside.
They couldn't get on the road soon enough for Luke, his blood pumping through his veins, each beat of his heart telling him to hurry. James needed them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
They chose the clearing where Eagle Creek’s Pack meetings took place and sent word around the Pack so the people would know they were free to attend. James wasn’t sure any of them would come and couldn’t blame them if they didn’t. They rightfully feared for their own lives in amongst the chaos.
The Council arrived just before midday. Jeremy almost twenty minutes later, with both his own people and an escort from Gray Valley.
“Where’s the Omega? I want to see him,” Jeremy demanded.
“He’s not here,” James replied.
“Then where is he? I want him to watch while I slaughter you.”
Graham, who had been hanging back, stepped forward. “He ran away again when he heard you were coming.”
“And you let him slip through your fingers, Holden?”
“I seem to remember it was your grasp he escaped from in the first place. Besides, he’s a person, not a trinket.”
“You’re right. He’s much more than a trinket. Something to sink my teeth into and other body parts. Once we’ve gotten matters cleared up here.”
There was no trace of hesitancy in Jeremy and James couldn’t shake a strange sense of unease.
He directed Jeremy and the Council members to the clearing where the challenge would take place, pulling Andrew and Graham aside. Etta, who had been keeping out of sight, came to join them.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” Etta said. “He’s overconfident. Like he knows he has you.”
“We might be well-matched in a fight,” James suggested though he could hear the doubt in his own voice. He was bigger, stronger, and braver.
“No. It’s something else. He has something up his sleeve. I don’t think it’s going to come down to the fight. And they brought a lot of Gray Valley's fighters with them just to watch a challenge.”
Seb and Ben strode over.
“I agree with Etta. Something isn’t right about this. I suspect we’re about to see some very underhanded tactics at work if they haven’t already got a plan in motion.”
“But what?” Andrew asked. “The Council are here, overseeing everything. There's no way they'd miss rule breaking.”
The stood in silence for a moment before Etta’s eyes widened. “The Council. That’s it.”
“What do you mean?” James asked as all eyes turned back to her.
“Don’t you see. They’re going to kill them. Father and Terrance spoke about a plan like that before, attack the Council and blame someone else on it.”
James got it. “They’d only have our word that it was Gray Valley and their Council member will point the f
inger at us. If Gray Valley don’t kill us, the other Packs will band together to take us out.”
He turned, calling to everyone within earshot. It took a matter of minutes to organize them into two groups and send word out to the rest of their people. But minutes might have been minutes too late.
James led the first group, following right in the wake of the Council and Gray Valley. When they reached the clearing, the Council members were bunched in the center, except the two whose Packs had loyalty to Gray Valley.
Alanna was speaking forcefully to them.
“This would be an unconscionable act, Terrance. An act of war. You’ll set Packs at each other's throats, tens if not hundreds will die.”
“No.” Terrance shook his head. “Just you. And then them.” He gestured towards James and the wolves he led.
“We’ll rally the rest of the Packs to our cause and they’ll hunt down every last Fenrir bastard. Then Jeremy here will have Eagle Creek and we’ll divvy Glenoak up between us.”
“I might have something to say about that,” Seb spoke from the opposite side of the clearing, leading the second group.
“Not if you’re dead, you won’t,” Jeremy grinned “And there’ll be plenty of Omegas to go around after that. The days of you stealing them and hoarding them will be over.”
“They’re not stealing them, Jerry. They value them. That’s why the Omegas bond to them the way they do. In the time you had Luke—that was the Omega’s name since you never asked—you managed to injure him so badly he could barely stand. In the time James has known him, Luke has healed, gone into heat, and mated with him, by choice. You’re not worthy of the Alpha line you carry, that’s why your Omega ran from you.”
Jeremy turned at Etta’s words, his face thunderous.
“My sister, the traitor.”
“You tried to sell me to Terrance’s psychopath of a son. Who betrayed who?”
“You shut your mouth, girl, or I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget,” Terrance said.
Andrew stepped forward, growling low under his breath. “You touch her, it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Terrance laughed. “It looks like a stalemate, gentleman, but it isn’t. Do you think you could get to us before we kill the Council members? Do you think you could beat us in a fight? We have near enough equal numbers.”
The Alpha's Heart: Lost Omegas Book Five: A M/M Shifter Romance Page 13
