Page 34 of Star-crossed Betas

Hearing Fee admit how much it tears him apart to keep up this lie is a painful reminder of how much it costs us to be together. I know we tend to avoid difficult conversations because we get to see so little of each other. The last thing we want to do when we’re together is argue or upset each other, but I know in my gut it’s not entirely healthy. If I gave the go-ahead, I know Fee would have us come out, and we’d face the consequences together, but I’m not even close to ready for that. I take a deep breath and hope his best friend knowing the truth buys me some more time.

I pull out the blue chequered picnic blanket I packed and lie it on the ground for the three of us to sit on. Alice looks small and sad, sitting cross-legged on the very edge of the blanket.

“You remind me a lot of my twin, Niamh,” I tell her. “She comes across all feisty and fiery, but it’s a bit of a front; she just feels everythin’ really deeply. Can I give you a hug? You look like you could do with one,” I ask. Her eyes are still glassy, and she lets out a little sniffle but nods. I scooch beside her and wrap my arms around her shoulders, bringing her to my side. She’s tense for a second, and then I feel her let out a deep breath as she relaxes.

We sit there quietly for a moment, processing what’s happened tonight. Having spent the past couple of years worrying over what would happen if anyone found out about me and Fee, there’s some relief from getting caught and the worldnot crumbling around us. I know it could have been much worse; Alice catching us isn’t the same as if Sam or Jasper, or god forbid, our Alphas, had found us.

I’m also kind of happy; meeting Alice gives me a tiny window into Fee’s world I never get a glimpse of. He talks about his friends and family a lot, but having a real tangible person right here sitting next to me is different. Alice has known Fee since they were pups, and I hope now the secret’s out, I might get the opportunity to get to know her.

The calm that had settled in the air between us is abruptly disturbed by Fee barrelling into us. He knocks us both onto our backs, and his broad shoulders and arms are like a dead weight. He’s going to actually squish poor Alice if he’s not careful.

“Get off me, you big oaf.” Her voice is muffled from being trapped under him.

“I felt left out,” he says with a sulky pout and makes no attempt to move. I shuffle out from under him, causing him to plop down in between us. He’s acting playful, but I know he’s looking for reassurance that we will all be okay—usas well as him and Alice.

I pull my shorts down and shift quickly to save Alice from an eyeful. Nudging Fee with my nose to do the same, he follows suit, with Alice shifting a few seconds after him.

Fee’s big, warm, furry body lies down between us. I’m bigger than he is when we’re in our wolf forms, so I curl around his back. Alice lets out a slight whine before snuggling into his front. Once we’re all settled, it isn’t long before I can hear a rumbling purr from Fee’s chest.

He needed this.

Even though the idea of anyone discovering us scares the living daylights out of me, I'm not sorry that Alice followed him tonight. I can’t help but wonder, though, how long it will be until he needs everyone else to know. Walking away from Fee is out of the question now, but I’m not ready to give up my pack and myfamily either. And the truth is, if we come out—it’s a choice I’ll be forced to make.

Thirteen

December 2020 - Two Years Ago

Phoenix Campbell

“Fuck, I missed you,” Cee says right before grabbing my face and pulling me into a heated kiss. I can’t help but groan at the feel of his soft, warm mouth on mine. His tongue licks at the seam of my lips, and I open up to let him taste me fully.

It’s been three weeks since we last saw each other; between work and other commitments, we haven’t been able to get away, and it’s the longest we’ve been apart since we met. It’s also why our rendezvous spot is somewhat higher risk than usual. We’re only roughly a mile out from my pack’s territory, but I was going to crawl out of my skin if I didn’t see him soon.

We’re both naked despite the cold, having shifted the second we got here. I grab the back of Cee's thighs, lifting him so his legswrap around my waist. I walk forward a few steps until his back is against a tree, our mouths still fused together.

“Lube?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“I couldn’t grab anythin’ before I set off. I have max two hours before I need to be back home in time to get to the airport.” Lowering Cee so he’s back to his feet, I kneel on the ground in between his legs and take his swollen cock into my mouth, swallowing him down quickly.

We’re going to have to improvise.

I groan at the scent and taste of him. Clean and masculine. Gripping his hips, I relax my throat and let him fuck into my mouth. As my hands roam up and down his legs, I enjoy the feel of where his coarse, dark leg hair softens the higher up I go. My eyes water a little, and saliva escapes the corners of my mouth.

We usually take our time, but the older we get, the more it seems life gets in the way of us actually being able to see each other, and tonight we’re both desperate. It doesn’t take long before Cee's thighs are shaking under my hands, and I know he’s close. Our eyes lock as I gaze up at him; his piercing green eyes never fail to take my breath away. As he reaches to pinch his nipple hard, I start jerking him off with my hand so only the tip is in my mouth.

“Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he warns. Spurts of his release hit my tongue, and I have to fight the urge to swallow it down. When I’m sure I’ve got his entire load in my mouth, I stand up and spin him around. He puts his hands out to brace himself against the tree and arches his back slightly, presenting himself to me.

Cee's back is covered in scratches from where the bark cut into it, but his usually flawless skin is already healing. He shivers and moans as I scratch my blunt nails up his back. I desperately want to tell him how hot he looks and how badly I want him, but I can’t speak yet. Dribbling some of his cum onto my fingers, I press them inside his hole and stretch him just enough that Iwon’t hurt him. Spitting out the rest of his load into my hand, I coat my cock in it and rub some over his rim before pushing my length into him. Wrapping my arm around his chest, I tug him so his back is flush against my torso. The way his snug, warm hole grips my cock is unreal.

“Holy shit, I’ve missed you. Missed this,” I mumble into his ear now I can finally speak.

“I think. That’s the longest. You’ve ever gone. Without talking. During sex,” he says, his sentence broken up by me thrusting into him—hard.

Placing a hand against the tree in front of us, I pound into him ruthlessly. My other hand grips his hip so hard I’d leave a bruise if he were human. I almost wish itwouldbruise. Some evidence we were here, and we did this. I want to see it on his skin and cover him in marks.

I have to turn my face away from him because I’m overwhelmed with the urge to bite down on his neck and really leave my mark—a permanent one. My teeth ache with the need. My orgasm is building quickly, taking me right to the edge of spilling inside him—and then I hear it.

Thud, thud, thud.

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