Page 25 of Baby and the Beast

“I’m glad you like it. My grandfather took over the pack about two hundred years ago and he joined three smaller packs together to form Knoxville. He was one of the first alphas to realize that we needed to control the land in human terms or we would get it taken from us.”

Cyrus glanced to the side and his eyes widened. Kyle sighed, gazing at all the trucks and cars. “It looks like we have a welcoming committee. I called them while you were asleep to let them know I wouldn’t need a ride from the airport and mentioned I had an omega with me.” Except now he needed to get Cyrus inside without the reception. He didn’t think meeting anyone was a good idea until he could work out what was going on with the man.

He looked across at Cyrus as he parked and took in the way he was biting his lip and holding himself almost rigidly still.Impulsively he reached over and touched his hand. A spark of awareness as their skin touched made them both jerk. “Sorry, I just wanted you not to worry. I’ll be here and we can escape when they’ve said hello. I have my own rooms as I said.”

Cyrus nodded stiffly and slid from the car. Taking a deep breath Kyle took a few steps forward and turned, waiting for Cyrus to catch up with him. Cyrus took a step then swayed. Kyle swore and rushed back. He pushed his omega back against the truck to keep him upright and dragged his cellphone from the pocket of his jeans. Josh answered.

“Hey boss, you nearly here?”

“Get the back door open and meet me there. Don’t tell anyone else.” He couldn’t let the pack see Cyrus when the man could barely stand.

There was a second’s pause. “On it.” The line clicked off.

Cyrus lifted his head and seemed to be trying to focus. Kyle watched as sweat beaded his brow and he trembled. Maybe hewassick. “Come, on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you inside.”

Cyrus didn’t even seem to hear him, but he turned his head towards Kyle and stilled. Carefully, deliberately, he leaned forward until his nose was almost in the crook of Kyle’s neck and inhaled.

Fuck.Kyle swore as Cyrus’s legs wobbled and he simply bent and picked him up. Cyrus tried to curl into Kyle if that was even possible. Then Kyle almost stumbled as an incredible scent hit him and he leaned back against the truck terrified he would drop him.

“Shit, boss.” He looked up as Josh appeared. “Quick, let’s get him inside. Do you want me to—” Josh reached out as if he was going to take Cyrus from him and Kyle’s wolf went crazy. His fangs dropped and a god-awful snarl ripped from his throat.

Josh lurched back and paused. There was a second of silence. Before Kyle could get himself together, Josh reached into hispocket and pulled his own cell free. “Liam? Get Pepper to help. I need the back corridor kept completely free of wolves. Kyle is bringing his mate through to his room and he needs no one in the vicinity.” There was a short silence while Kyle fought the urge to shift. The only thing keeping him human was the precious bundle in his arms. “Yes. I meancompletelyclear. The alpha’s wolf is in charge.” He hung up.

“Alpha? Alpha?” Kyle focused on Josh, his vision leeching color, but he took one step then another confident one. “This way, Alpha,” Josh encouraged. Kyle followed him, his eyes sharpening as they walked into the building, down an empty corridor, up a deserted flight of stairs, and along another one. Kyle snarled as he smelled another scent, but Josh kept up the calm words.

“It’s just Liam, Alpha. We left you some bottled water in there.” Kyle walked into the large room and heard the door shut behind him.

Good.They were alone. His wolf calmed and Kyle managed to take a steadying breath, his vision returning to normal. He walked to the bed and lay Cyrus down. Cyrus looked up at him. He was gorgeous, but the scent…the scent of hismatewas driving him insane. He inhaled again. The deep earthy tones, spicy, rich woodsy scent, filled his lungs and in an instant he was hard. His cock pushed painfully against his jeans.

Cyrus whimpered and his own aches were instantly forgotten. He dropped to his knees on the bed. “Sweetheart?” Cyrus blinked slowly, his deep brown eyes huge against his pale skin.

“What’s happening?” He sounded dazed, but his hand drifted down his abdomen. Kyle caught it just before Cyrus got to the outline of his cock. It looked as hard as his own.

“Let’s get you undressed.” Now that Kyle understood what was wrong with his wolf and had gotten over the shock of starting his first-ever alpha rut, he was fully on board with how things wereworking out. In fact, he was so on board his hands shook with the urgency to undo Cyrus’s buttons.

“What’s happening?” Cyrus repeated, moaning even as he pushed his hips against Kyle’s fingers as he fought clothing.

“Hush, it’s your heat. It’s okay. I’ll take care of you.” How could he have missed Cyrus starting his heat? Now that there were no other wolves in the vicinity, Kyle’s wolf wasn’t as aggressive. Still demanding, but his wolf wanted to take care of their omega just as fiercely as Kyle did.

Cyrus frowned. “But that’s not possible—ughh.” He arched as Kyle freed his cock from his jeans and simply tore everything else off. He would buy his mate a hundred new pairs. Cyrus trembled. “Kyle,” he whispered as if he didn’t know what he was asking for and Kyle leaned down and took his lips with his.

Kyle’s mind was spinning. Cyrus’s taste, his smell, his touch. He ached to be inside of Cyrus’s body, but he needed to slow down. He would scare him. This was getting out of control really quickly.

“Kyle,” Cyrus moaned again and did his best to thrust his hips. The lack of coordination told Kyle that Cyrus’s heat had probably started at their first touch, and he needed to make sure his mate was taken care of. They had the rest of their lives to get to know each other and to make him feel valued, but now? He had other urgent responsibilities. His hand slid down between them and he curled his fingers around Cyrus’s cock. Cyrus gasped and jerked, almost frantic to be closer to his alpha. Kyle’s wolf was howling in his head. The animal certainly didn’t understand the go-slow plan. Claiming his mate was the only thing that existed in his wolf’s world.

Kyle was struggling for it not to be the only thing in his as well. He’d heard of alpha heats, but they were more of a legend reserved for true mates. It was his turn to gasp as Cyrus found a patch of sensitive skin on his shoulder and sucked up a mark.Kyle’s fingers smoothed the precum leaking from Cyrus all over his fingers and slid them lower, under his heavy sac and towards his hole. Cyrus was even slicker there and Kyle could feel his own cock throb hard in response.

Cyrus whimpered, whispered pleas falling from his lips in between sucking and biting his alpha’s skin. Kyle couldn’t last. His mind swam in such a delicious haze of need, surrounded by the scent of his mate. He had Cyrus on his back with his legs bent before he’d even realized they had gotten there. He met Cyrus’s glazed eyes, took in the swollen lips parting on tiny gasps and the gorgeous flushed hue staining his beautiful neck. It was so easy to push inside him. Easy, perfect, hot slick heat that wrapped their worlds and joined them together. He pulled back slightly trying to make it good for Cyrus and felt his omega’s fingernails scoring his back in response.

Cyrus moaned, dropped his arms, fisted his hands on the sheet underneath him and closed his eyes. “Please, oh please,” he murmured and Kyle thrust back in. His wolf urging, chanting, pacing. Kyle pulled out and thrust once more as he felt his fangs lower from his still human mouth, ready for the bite that would join them forever. Cyrus arched his neck because even though Cyrus’s wolf was dormant it would sense the need of his alpha to claim him. One more thrust and his omega yelled, arching in pleasure as hot cum splattered Cyrus’s belly and the scent and the noise sent Kyle over the edge. He orgasmed—his world whiting out—and with instinct overriding everything he sank his teeth into Cyrus’s neck.

Kyle’s world clicked into place at the first taste. A rush of utter rightness—perfection—settled over Kyle like a warm weighted blanket as both their wolves joined. He kept his eyes closed for another second as it seemed everything in his world changed in an instant then righted itself, then he withdrew his fangs and licked tenderly over the bite to seal it.

It took a very long moment before Kyle was capable of anything else, still longer for his knot to soften, but then he managed to ease out of Cyrus and lie down, pulling Cyrus close to him. When Cyrus became aware again, Kyle wanted him to know he was in his arms, safe and cared for. Kyle brushed a kiss on Cyrus’s sweaty brow and let his heart settle.

They dozed but Kyle knew the point at which Cyrus woke. He rolled over and claimed his omega with a long, lingering kiss until he felt the man relax underneath him. One kiss turned into another and another until they were both hard once more and he entered Cyrus in one smooth glide. Swallowing his gasps, he managed to reach between them and heard the very satisfying moan as his fingers curled around Cyrus’s hard length. Later he would take Cyrus in his mouth and the thought made his mouth water in anticipation. Their joining was a little slower this time and Kyle had the stamina to make sure Cyrus came before he let himself go.

He didn’t remember falling asleep a second time, but he knew Cyrus had. He felt his omega wake, stiffen and could almost hear his heartbeat increase. He’d expected shyness, nerves. They didn’t know each other and after letting a mating heat that powerful overtake them, they needed to slow down. Kyle smiled. Cyrus might already be pregnant. Probably was pregnant. The image of his gorgeous mate swollen and heavy with their pup made him close his eyes briefly as they stung.

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