Page 34 of Alpha for Four

Teal placed a hand on Sorcha’s cheek, turning it until their noses nearly touched. “Sorcha, you are not to blame for any of this,” he said softly. “Dale and Abe are the villains here. But the bottom line is you need to stop taking the pills. I’ll have Ronan talk to your uncles. We can recommend a reputable heat service, if that’s what you want. But you can’t keep making yourself sick because your uncles are cheap or don’t want to be inconvenienced.”

“You’ll make Ronan talk to them?”

“Yes. And he’ll remind them who we are, not just their landlords, but also that we’re connected to people who would be happy to prosecute negligent betas for not taking care of their ward.”

Sorcha made a derisive sound. “Extended suppressant use isn’t technically illegal. It’s just not recommended. I doubt you’d be able to prove negligence since I’ve taken the pills willingly.”

“Don’t underestimate my skills in the courtroom,” Teal said. “Besides, if we can’t scare them by threatening them with a tribunal, then Ronan will just have to convince them the old-fashioned way.”

Sorcha laughed. “I can guess.”

“I’ll bet you could.” Teal smiled, continuing to run his thumb over Sorcha’s jaw. “Truly, I don’t want you to be afraid of your heats. With the right circumstances, perhaps even the right alpha, it can be a wonderful and beautiful experience. Our bodies were built for the pleasure of heat. It’s not wrong foryou to want that. Your body craves it. Just because your uncles refuse to understand doesn’t change that fact.”

Rising to his feet, Sorcha took the paper cup with the pills and threw it in the garbage, putting a few nasty paper towels on top. “Please have Ronan talk to my uncles soon.”

“Happy to. Since you’re coming off sixteen months of suppressants, your heat probably won’t come for at least a month, but you should start to feel less sick and tired right away.”

“Thank goodness for that.” Sorcha felt hopeful for the first time since his hospital visit and the night he’d spent at the couple’s house.

“Indeed.”

Teal stood and pulled Sorcha into his arms. Sorcha went rigid before leaning into the embrace. He’d been held so little in his life. His parents and brothers had shown him almost no affection before they died, and his uncles certainly never hugged him.

Teal rubbed his palms up and down Sorcha’s back, and the hug began to feel more than friendly, more than the kinship of the omega bond. The smell of honey and lavender invaded Sorcha’s nostrils, and he inhaled deeply.Was that…Teal’s scent?He didn’t think he’d ever smelled another omega before. Other alphas, sure, especially his senior year of high school when everyone had started blooming, but never an omega.

His brain recalled Teal’s cries of ecstasy that morning. To his horror, Sorcha’s cock thickened.

Teal didn’t pretend not to notice. “It’s okay, my darling.” Teal leaned back, his arms still locked around Sorcha’s waist. “It’s natural. You’re young and your body is yearning.”

“But…we’re both omegas.”

“Yes,” Teal agreed. “But we are also both men.” With that, he pulled away. “I’ll speak with Ronan tonight when he gets home.Don’t forget to tell us if you see any suspicious characters around the neighborhood.”

Sorcha nodded, mesmerized. He could see why Teal had captivated an alpha like Ronan, why he’d captured the imagination of the entire public. Sorcha felt compelled to give the magnetic omega whatever he wanted.

Including something he’d never given anyone.

His trust.

Chapter Thirteen

Jax

Jax’s legs shook as the car pulled into his neighborhood. He’d driven hard all day, eager to get back. Ever since Niall had told him what happened at the pool a few evenings ago, he’d been desperate to come home and hold his man in his arms. His understanding bosses had given him four days off in a row, a long weekend.

Thank goodness the Hampson Towers job would be over in four months.

The walk from his designated parking spot to their front door seemed endless. He’d texted Niall this morning that he’d be home late, but Jax wasn’t surprised to find his boyfriend waiting for him—with a delicious-looking lasagna in the middle of the table—when he hurried through the front door.

Niall immediately jumped into Jax’s arms. “I kept dinner warm for you,” he said, nipping at the sensitive place between Jax’s neck and shoulders, “but I can also put it in the oven on warm if you’d rather go straight to the bedroom.”

Jax set his boyfriend down and glanced at the lasagna. It looked amazing, cookbook-worthy.

“Put it in the oven,” he said throatily.

Two minutes later, they were on top of their bedspread, naked and rolling around. Jax ran his meaty hands over Niall’s lean, smooth sides, causing visible goosebumps. “What do you want?” Jax asked.

“Mmm, dealer’s choice,” Niall purred, trailing a finger over the tattoos on Jax’s chest. “Fuck me, suck me, or stick your dick in my mouth. I just want you.”

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