Page 29 of Feral: Part One

Preston’s lips brush my ear, his voice a sultry murmur. “They won’t touch you,” he says, his pheromones teasing the air, more protective than sweet this time. “You’re mine.”

The doctor stands, coming over to the edge of the couch but not touching me. “The council is coming to see if their plan worked. If this was what they were working toward, then they’ll want to keep tabs on you. Preston, can you take Slate and try to get him to shift?”

Growls erupt through the room but surprisingly, Malik cuts them off. “Look, Alphas. I get it. But right now, it seems like Preston is the only one Slate trusts and I don’t know about you but I would rather not explain to the council that we’ve somehow walked right into their hands. Preston, baby, go on.”

I slide off the couch, still a little uneasy on four paws as I pad behind Preston, my tail swishing against the walls. This form feels easier, freer. I feelbeautifulin this form. I don’t want to shift back.

Slate

Preston keeps purring at me in my den, trying to relax my nerves, a tendril of love slipping through the bond. I want to lean into it but I’m more worried about everything else that is going on. I can sense the babies in my belly, tiny flutters that make my heart ache with the wonder of being a daddy. In this form, that doesn’t terrify me.

They’ve tried everything to get me to shift back. Kael’s Alpha bark ripped through the air, a command that made my ears flatten but didn’t touch me. Thane yelled, demanding I come out, but I didn’t budge. Malik coaxed me with soft words, promising I wasn’t alone, but I didn’t respond to that either. Not even Preston’s soft touches are working.

But I know why. I don’t want to shift. This fox form is safe, a shield against the chaos of my human life. I lick Preston’s cheekand then nudge him with my snout, the Omega laughing as he strokes my side. His hand dips a little lower, stroking my belly, my babies jumping beneath his touch. “You’re so sweet like this,” he murmurs. “My perfect Slate.”

I respond with that sharp rattling sound of my fox.>>> It feels nice like this. I don’t want to shift.

“Sweetie, you have to. Just for a little bit. I can’t have them taking you away from me, and we can’t be under the bed.”

I whine, my ears flattening against my head. I don’t want to shift.I’m safe here,I think, my voice reaching Preston through whatever this is.

“You’re also safe with me, Slate.Please.” His plea hits me in the chest, urging me to listen to him. It’s different than Kael’s bark, almost a soft coaxing that I can’t ignore, that I don’t want to. Slowly, I slide from under the bed and climb onto the mattress, focusing on Preston before leaning into the feeling that came with the other form.

Too soon, I’m human again, trembling as I try to come to terms with everything all at once. Pain and confusion crash into me, a small cry tearing from my throat as the world comes back to me. Preston crawls onto the bed beside me, pulling me against him as he places light kisses all over my face. “You did so good. We just have to get dressed so they can see you, okay? And then you can be my pretty fox again.”

Preston caresses me like I’m something special and I lean into it, craving a touch I’ve not had in years. For a moment, I can forget everything else and just focus on the Omega in front of me. His fingers brush my shoulders, running over Thane’s bite and then Kael’s.

“Both bites are still here, fully healed. Kael’s is sharper than it should be.”

I frown, pulling back a little bit. “How is that possible?” My voice is hoarse, like I overused it, like the feral sounds my fox was making strained my throat.

Preston’s lips curve, a playful glint in his eyes. “He fucked you the other day. I caught your scent on him, and he probably did it while his bite was still healing in your shoulder. Biologically, it’s impossible, but somehow that bite took. You have two Alphas now, Slate. You have a pack.”

As much as I want to believe that, it’s not true. I slowly sit up, my limbs drained. Apparently, shifting takes a lot of energy. “No, I have men who’ll protect me because of you and I understand that. I’m okay with that, but I’m not stupid enough to think otherwise.”

“Then I’ll just have to change your mindand theirs,” he says as he reaches forward to brush his thumb across my cheek. “I told you that you were mine. They’ll come around. You’ll see.”

I just shake my head. “And what happens when I have my babies in a few weeks? You really think they’re going to step up and help take care of someone else’s kids? Preston, I love how optimistic you are.” I clear my throat, wanting to get this out with what little time we have left. “But, no. Justno.”

“You’re wrong. They’remybabies now.”

I open my mouth to argue, despite the weariness clouding my thoughts but Preston roughly grabs my chin and drags me close enough that I can feel his breath against my skin.

“Listen up, sweetie. I don’t give a fuck what they’re going to do.Mybabies. Our babies. You. Are. Mine. Fox and all. They won’t take you from me. None of them. Now, I’m going to cuddle the fuck out of you until the council gets here.”

I just stare at him as he helps me to lean horizontally, Preston slipping off the bed to gather some of the blankets and then pull them back onto the mattress. Once I’m all but snuggled into his chest, he kisses my forehead, leaving just one last question.

“Why?”

“Why does there need to be a reason to love you? I just do.”

I want to argue but Preston just drags a hand into my hair and pulls my head back before crashing his lips to mine. His tongue darts into my mouth, claiming me for several seconds, licking me from the inside out before he leans back and licks his lips.

“Your Alphas are going to get mad.”

“They already are. I locked the door.”

That finally gets a chuckle out of me as I rest back against Preston’s chest, wanting to believe all of this can work.

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