Page 60 of Consider The Lilies

I force a smile at his advice then continue eating. But the cake suddenly doesn't taste as sweet. I stare at the chocolate hunk in my head as the usual storm of questions swirl in my head.

My pack has a wonderful dynamic. One that took us years to figure out. What if adding Stefan to our family changes that? What if Stanley doesn’t want to dominate me anymore, or what if Bear doesn’t want to meet for a midday fuck in the broom closet? What if Stefan’s presence changes the way I feel about Lucy?

Or what if I’m overthinking this, and everything will work out?

Frustration nips at me and I move to the trash can.

“Don’t worry,” Darius says as I throw away the last of my cake. “Just let your instincts guide you. It’ll all work out.”

“Rossi was saying Andrew Lappen was planning to make a show of force to scare Stanley.” I quickly change the subject, eager to think about something else. “Any update on that?”

“I don't know much more than you,” Darius says. “Although it doesn’t surprise me that Lappen is so scared of you guys. His territory isn’t that large. He’d probably be easier to overtake than the bay area was.”

“Very true,” I snort.

“The idiot thinks he’s making himself look too tough to challenge, but all he’s really doing is putting a target on his head.” Darius rolls his eyes. “It amazes me how people end up as pack alphas.”

I press my lips together, stifling a laugh. “Sadly, Lappen isn’t even the dumbest fucker I’ve seen lead a pack.” I move to the sink to wash my hands.

“Is Stanley going to respond to Lappen’s threats?” Darius takes another bite of his cake.

“He hasn’t made up his mind yet,” I say, but I’m honestly not sure. Stanley and I haven’t had much of a chance to talk about it.

“Well, you let me know if you need any help.” Darius downs the glass of milk. “You know I’m always ready to fight.”

Morning

Stefan

Light filters through the curtains, telling me it’s morning. It’s hard to believe. Time seems to have sped up since Jack bit me. Maybe I was passed out for too long, but when I woke up to find Jack still having sex with me, it felt like only a few minutes had passed. Since then, he’s made love to me several times, bending my body about a hundred different ways.

He assaulted my body all night long. Taking what he wanted. And I liked it very much.

“Are you okay?” Jack whispers as he pulls me to his side. He pushes one of my knees, forcing my legs open, then he fondles my spent privates before brushing his fingertips over my back entrance. “Do you need to be fucked again?” I wince when he pushes a finger inside me, and he quickly removes it. “Sore?”

I nod, and he chuckles deep in his chest. “Does your…” I point to his limp penis, happy that it’s finally gone down. I don’tknow how much more my body can take. “Did it hurt when you….um…”

“When I knotted you?” He finishes my sentence for me. I nod, happy I didn’t have to say it. “It was a little uncomfortable,” he says, but I can see the pride in his eyes. “I think it might have been worse for you.” He caresses my stomach, up to my chest. “Your little asshole is still gaping.”

I shift, feeling every muscle in my body protest except my bottom. Maybe the slick numbs you? “I’m just happy my heat is over,” I let out a breath of relief.

“That wasn’t your heat,” Jack says with an apologetic lilt.

“What?” My mouth falls open, both shocked and angry.

“That was simply your body finally clicking into place,” he says. “If you were in heat, you’d still be in pain. It tends to last several days. That was more like a mini-heat. Just a surge of hormones.”

“Severaldays?” I practically yell as I sit up. My abs and hips ache from the movement, making me wince.

“It’s okay.” Jack slips one hand behind my head, pulling me back down to him. He forces me to rest against his chest, then he nuzzles my neck, licking and kissing his bite.

“Are we mates?” It’s a stupid question, but I know Jack won't laugh at me or think I’m stupid. I just need to hear him say it.

“Yes. You are mine, omega.” His words are warm and rumbly in my ear. I like it.

“How long until we feel each other in our heads?” I ask, hoping he knows what I mean.

“I’m not sure.” He kisses the raw bite on my neck. It stings at first, then he licks it, and the pain instantly fades. “It could be a day or two.”

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