Craig wordlessly extended his arms and plopped Seth into his mate’s waiting embrace before taking as step back. Seth wasted no time. Curling against the familiar broad chest, he clutched at the naked, sweaty skin and whimpered in gratitude.
“Thanks,” Caleb spat out to the other gamma before peering down at Seth. “Are you all right?”
As usual, Seth found himself blinking back tears. He’d never cried so much in his life as he had since meeting his gamma. “I-I’m fine.” Caleb’s gaze raked down him, focusing on his middle. “The pup’s fine, too. We, um, had a little scare. I’m much better now, and Andrea says it should all be okay.”
Caleb’s eyelashes fluttered closed for a second. “Oh, sweetheart.” He leaned over and kissed Seth’s forehead before resting his own against it. “I should have been here.”
“No, don’t apologize. You had pack business.”
“Nothing is more important than you.”
“You were out trying to make it safer for all of us.”
The alpha loomed nearby. “Yes, speaking of which.” He gestured behind them.
“Oh.” Caleb straightened and turned.
Over by the trees stood four wolf shifters. Their coats were almost blindingly white, a strange color for a species evolved to live in the woods. This was the reason an alarm had been sounded. Caleb had found the ferals and brought them home. Even at a distance, Seth could tell there was a beta, two gammas, and amazingly a male omega.
Still holding Seth tight, Caleb took a step forward. “Hey, Destin, would you mind shifting and coming to meet my alpha?”
After a second’s hesitation, the beta loped forward. The others stayed where they were, likely to flee if they had to. The gammas flanked the omega in what was clearly a protective formation. Lorcan moved past Caleb, while Craig moved into the spot he’d vacated. The alpha waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs for the foreign beta to come to him.
A few feet away, the beta stopped and shifted into a large man with long white hair and eyes bluer than Caleb’s. They were like sheets of ice almost. Seth shivered at the sight.
Caleb tightened his grip. “Don’t worry. I’ve been living with this group for weeks now. They’re trustworthy.”
Seth relaxed against his mate and watched as Lorcan and the beta sized each other up.
“Welcome to the Rogue Pack’s lands.” Lorcan spread his arms out in the way of shifters to show they were not intending to attack.
The beta mimicked the gesture. “Your gamma issued a persuasive invitation on your behalf.” He glanced around. “You’ve accomplished much in the short time since I’m told you settled here.”
Lorcan acknowledged the compliment by briefly inclining his head. “We live simply, but honestly and peacefully. We’re always looking for new members who are willing to live by our code.”
“Again, Caleb did an excellent job of describing your leadership and rules for your pack. My gammas and I happen to live similarly. The fit would seem to be a good one.”
“And, the omega?”
The beta’s teeth flashed, a jarring show of aggression that he quickly banked. “That is my brother. He, more than any of the rest of us, will drive my decision about joining your pack.”
“As it should be.”
That answer seemed to mollify the beta. “Loki is not quite at breeding age, and I won’t have him pushed into it prematurely.”
“Of course not.”
“I won’t allow him to be forced to mate, either, or to become part of your harem.”
“I don’t have a harem.” Lorcan’s tone had turned as icy as the beta’s eye color. “I have one mate, whom I love. There will be no others.”
That satisfied the beta. “I’m glad to hear it. When the time comes, Loki gets to choose who mounts and breeds him. That is non-negotiable.”
“Again, I agree, although the choices are thin on the ground around here.”
“Understood. Hopefully by the time that issue arises, your ranks will have increased even more.”
“That is certainly the plan.” Lorcan paused a moment. “We have trouble brewing.”