Page 71 of Broken Ice
Beau rolled his eyes. Protective Alphas—he was surrounded by them.
Beau settled on the floor with Bingo after finishing their meal. He was determined to unseat Pavel as the dog’s second favourite person. Beau had gotten Bingo a soft toy shaped like a hockey stick, and the doglovedit.
Beau stick-handled in the air, laughing as Bingo jumped, trying to catch the toy.
“Sotalented,” Beau praised when Bingo got it. “Look at those teeth.” He mock-growled and kissed Bingo on the forehead.
Beau glanced at Emilio, and the weirdo hadn’t even turned on the TV, just staring at them play.
“What? You jealous?” Beau teased.
Emilio opened his mouth but didn’t say anything.
“Am I taking away from Daddy-doggy time? Don’t worry, he still loves you.”
“Right. Bingo. Yeah.”
“Put something on.” Beau waved at the TV.
Because Emilio was totally predictable, he settled on a game of soccer.
“Oh, great, the boringest game in the world,” Beau snarked.
“Fuck you,” Emilio replied pleasantly.
Beau narrowed his eyes. He dropped the toy, Bingo scampering off with it. With all the grace and agility he could muster, Beau lunged at the couch, startling Emilio enough to nab the remote.
Beau cackled, changing the channel and rolling away.
“Hey,” Emilio protested.
“What’cha gonna do about it?” Beau challenged.
Their eyes locked, and Beau tensed, the mood changing in an instant.
A primordial instinct took over as their scents took on an edge. Beau breathed it in, muscles coiled like springs.
One second. Two, three—Beau sprang away as Emilio stood up, racing to the other side of the couch, keeping it between them.
His heart was pounding, blood aflame.
In ancient times, courting was a whole ordeal. The Omega was in control for most of it—they were the ones who decided whether to accept each overture from the Alpha, holding the ability to stop it at any step. Some cultures involved gift giving, others act of service, all designed to prove the Alpha had thequalities to be a desirable mate. Were they caring? A good provider? Did they know the Omega they were pursuing?
Then, after the Omega had said yes to every step, they said yes to the Alpha themselves.
And then there was the Run.
Its location depended on where the pack lived. Some had mountains, others had forests, or deserts, or plains. The Omega would choose the place and set off with a head start, leaving a trail of their scent for the Alpha to track.
It wasn’t about prey and predator. It was about wanting and being wanted. About working for the thing that you loved.
Emilio’s scent was filling the room like a glittering fog. Beau gulped it in, his own scent rising to meet it.
Emilio’s nostrils flared. Beau faked to the right, snapping the other way when Emilio was fooled.
Beau got away just in time, leaping over the couch, kicking the ottoman in Emilio’s way as the Alpha followed him.
They crashed over furniture, knocking a stool over with a clatter, pushing the coffee table aside, books toppling from shelves, lamps wobbling precariously where they perched.
