Page 21 of Baby and the Beast

Cyrus swears he’ll come clean before things go too far. But then his heat strikes unexpectedly… and he wakes up in Kyle’s bed with a fresh mating bite on his neck.

Now, with the deception hanging over him like a blade, Cyrus knows the punishment for deceiving an Alpha could be deadly.

But once Kyle discovers the full truth, what happens next might be worse than death—because it won’t be anger that breaks Cyrus. It’ll be the look in Kyle’s eyes when he realizes the bond between them was built on a lie.

Baby and the Alpha

Chapter One

“Cyrus! Get your ass in here with a couple of beers.” Cyrus gritted his teeth but walked to the fridge that held mostly beers and snacks. He’d heard the outer screen door slam a few seconds ago, but knew better than to interrupt Mike if he had visitors, drinking buddies,whatever. He picked up two bottles and walked into the large room that had been big enough to hold a full pack meeting when his dad was alive. Now, a huge couch, a leather armchair and the biggest flat screen TV he’d ever seen took up most of the space.

Cyrus wasn’t really looking—he had learned the hard way to keep his head down—so he was busy making sure his latest bruise couldn’t be seen when he held the bottle out to the newcomer after passing Mike his.

“Thank you.”

Cyrus jerked when large fingers brushed his own as the man took the bottle and he was completely unable to stop himself from looking up into two of the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Heknew the man was a wolf, scent didn’t lie, but he’d never seen such a dark color blue on a shifter. Cyrus tried to drag his gaze away, but he still took in the tall, lean body, muscles that went onfor daysas Grace would say, and the gray edging around his dark-haired temples that made him look dangerous, hot, and exactly like every fantasy Cyrus had ever dared dream. The slight quirk of his full lips as Cyrus stared made hunger lick at his skin.

“Cyrus.Cyrus.” Mike bit out and Cyrus blinked, then flushed and murmured an apology before fleeing back to the kitchen. He pressed a trembling hand to his swollen cheekbone and knew he was likely to get another for staring. He was supposed to be invisible,stayinvisible.

“What happened?” He heard the wolf query.

Mike snorted. “Two left feet. Never looks where he’s fucking going.” Cyrus cringed. Hugged himself to stop the shivers running through him. What was wrong with him?

“Is that your brother?” The wolf continued pleasantly.

“Unfortunately,” Mike muttered and Cyrus closed his eyes waiting for the next shameful thing that would follow.

There was another few seconds silence, then, “But isn’t he older than you?”Here it comes.The same question. “Why isn’t he running the pack?”

“Omegas don’t run packs.”

Cyrus’s mouth fell open. Shocked, his feet rooted him to the spot. Why would Mike lie about that?

“I didn’t know he was an omega. And unmated?” The shifter continued. “Your sire was a legend around here according to my betas. Any omega with the Armstrong name would be snapped up, surely.”

So he was new to the area, then. Which explained why Cyrus hadn’t ever met him before. He could almost hear Mike shrug a second time. “My mother was sick for a long time. She would only have Cyrus care for her. Then we had the whole mess withthe accident and my father died. Cyrus doesn’t do well with upset.” He knew Mike was doing the put-upon act. He heard Mike snigger. “He’s a bit of a drama queen if you get me.”

Cyrus nearly cracked his jaw trying not to grind his teeth.

“He’s still an Armstrong,” the wolf pointed out.

“I think he’s ready for a mate to be honest,” Mike said at which Cyrus nearly gasped out loud. “He just needs someone who would take things slow with him. Give him a chance to acclimate. To get over our father’s death.”

“I have a large pack, lots of space for an omega to be as dramatic as he wants. I just don’t have the luxury of time.” Cyrus reached back and clutched the counter. He was dreaming right? This wasn’t happening? This alpha—this stunning, beautiful wolf—was actually asking abouthim?

“You’re not telling me in a large pack you can’t find a willing omega?” Mike asked in surprise.

“I can think of a dozen off the top of my head, but I want an outsider. I have traditionalists who I have to either present with a female—” he paused “or a familyname.”

“Gay, huh?” Mike said as if he understood. If Cyrus hadn’t been struggling to keep breathing he would have laughed.

He heard the bitten off frustrated sound and the echo of steps as the wolf got up. “I have to be back at my pack tomorrow at the latest. I am more than able to offer a strong financial incentive for him, payable to the pack he is leaving of course.”

Cyrus’s heart pounded so hard he thought it was going to stop. It was. It really was happening.

“I’ll ask him. Perhaps you can give us a few minutes?” Cyrus heard steps and then the screen door open and close. He swallowed waiting for the yell from Mike, but when his skin prickled in warning he looked up and saw him standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Well, well. Looks like you’re finally gonna be of some use after all.”

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