Page 60 of The Pack Next Door
“You discuss me…?” If I ever wanted validation, I got it then from my mate’s taut tone. “Not sure why. We’ve barely spoken two words to each other.” At that, she turned and faced me. “Thank you for helping out with the emails and…” Her finger ran down my neck. “Everything else. I’m feeling human again.”
“It’ll last for a while.” I held her hand in mine. “But if things start getting intense again, you just let me know. Me, Jace,me and Jace, we’d be happy to do whatever it takes to get you through this heat.”
That smile, a look of promise, that’s what I told myself was going on. “In the meantime, I’ll finish off those emails for you at home.”
“You don’t?—”
I pressed my mouth to hers, just a soft kiss, but enough to make clear my thoughts on the matter.
“Yes, I do. Call me.”
One last kiss pressed to her forehead and then I took fur, running upstairs to grab the shorts my phone was in, then throwing Gideon a single look before trotting outside.
We’d left home today, determined to win the trial for Briar, but it was only when we achieved that I realised we had it all wrong. The wolf looked back at the house when we heard the door slam shut and Gideon was left on the doorstep. The plan Mum and the dads kept twittering on about. That was the one they came up with, somehow assuming our omega was going to slot into it neatly, but they had it wrong. Alphas might think they were in control, but everything that happened today was in service to Briar’s needs. She was what we had to focus on, not the bloody trials.
I jumped in through the window and then padded upstairs, coming back to skin before pulling on some new clothes. My phone was retrieved from my shorts and I unlocked it to send yet another email.
Chapter 30
Gideon
Nothing was going to plan.
There was no point asking Briar what had happened with my brother. Her swollen lips, the reddened skin around them, on her neck, told me everything I needed to know. Watching her eyes narrow, her arms crossing, I had to wonder what the hell he’d tried.
“Are you alright?”
I stepped forward, ready to grab her arms and inspect my mate for myself, when Briar stepped back. Her scent and her stance made clear I wasn’t supposed to try again. My hands fell by my sides as her spine straightened.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Her lips thinned. “Mads… helped me out. I’m in heat?—”
“I know.”
She shook her head, then went on.
“It was getting painful, so that’s why he stepped in.” Her arms wrapped tighter around herself. “So?—”
“That’s why you left?” I grabbed at that reason like a lifeline, helping me navigate this mess. Mum was horrified when sherealised Briar and Mads weren’t there. “You were consumed by your heat and?—”
“And I only turned up today because Mum wanted to be there for the trial. Shit…” She patted the pockets of her robe. “I need to check if she has a way of getting home.”
“She got a lift from a friend.” That came out way cooler than I intended, because otherwise… “You had no intention of attending the trial?”
“Why would I?” She stared me down. “Moon River is a gorgeous place full of people I care about and I want whoever takes over as ruling pack to be aware of it.” Her gaze softened. “If that’s you and your brothers, there’s a lot of work to do and very little of that has to do with physical violence. I’m not sure how things run in Glen Hallow—” And she never would, not if I had a choice. “But here it's like being the dads of the entire town.”
With her as the mother. Gods, I could just see it. The three of us clustered around Briar as her belly swelled with our sons. All of us holding them close as the community came to look upon our heirs. It was a future I dreamed of, fantasised about, when things were going to hell at home.
Somehow, I needed to get Briar to believe in it too.
“Dads…” I nodded. “Yeah, I know something about that. Demanding but fair. Push everyone to be their best and helping those that need it. I believe that my brothers and I could bring the best out of your town.”
Her lips pursed.
“Sounds like an amazing campaign speech. Not my town, though. Not anymore.” That was grief talking, I just knew it. With a shake of her head, she smiled. “But hey, if you need help with the trials to get you and your brothers in the lead, I can help. I mean Jace and Mads have been helping me out, so…”
I wanted to demand that she tell me exactly how so I could decide whether or not they had crossed a line, but keeping my mouth shut helped more often than not. If you didn’t say anything, you couldn’t be judged for it, Ned said.
“I’m happy to return the favour.” Her hand was thrust out, and I took it, savouring the way it felt against my palm. “Help me get through this heat and I’ll do my best to make sure you win the trials. Deal?”
