Page 36 of Frenzy
Someone made a choking noise, and I looked over to see Radic dragging his hand up and down Pryce’s cock, his hand covered in the Omega’s release. Pryce looked flushed and confused, though his hand was over Radic’s, like he was holding his hand there. They weren’t touching anywhere else, and they were fully clothed. Radic’s dick looked painfully hard in his jeans. I’d take care of that when I got home, so he knew that despite the fact that I’d just been tag-teamed by these two, I loved him first and foremost.
Shit, maybe the former Alpha General was right. Maybe I was a whore. But I didn’t give a single fuck right now.
21
Radic
The weeks after the dominance fight were tense but liberating. Everyone had been on edge, with this unknown force sitting ominously in the background like a guillotine. That was until a switch flipped in Courtland and he became the ultimate damn politician, shaking hands and kissing babies. Telling little old ladies that they were safe in their homes.
It was fucking exhausting for me on the sidelines, but I knew all this pleasant, hand-holding politics was beginning to stress Courtland out. With the higher-ups and the Legion Force, he was more the commanding Alpha I’d seen before the challenge. He chastised the Legion Generals for sitting on their fucking hands as the Sanctum was paid for out of Bonnie’s pockets, and the million other little things they’d been letting slide, and for what? To line the town coffers? Or better still, their own pockets?
The Legion Force went back into combat training immediately, and Courtland used his own men—at least the ones who weren’t watching his back—to ensure that they were back to battle readiness.
Bonnie had moved back into the Sanctum, though she shared her time between the two homes. Courtland’s little Pack of tiger shifters had joined with the Sanctum misfits, and from what Terra, their teacher, told me, they’d started a coup to overthrow the power structure of the school. Having met Rosa, I expected nothing less. She had a finely tuned sense of justice, considering she’d grown up in a cartel compound. Or maybe it was because of that.
Some of Courtland’s men had left to return to Mexico, or to move on to other adventures, now they were happy their mentor was secure. I could tell that even though he kept a stoic face, every time one of them waved goodbye, Courtland was sad. Not that he said anything, or even conveyed it in his facial expressions. No, it was more that he became a little withdrawn. Although he guarded everyone tensely, he hadn’t made a move to pursue anything physical with any of us since the post-fight insanity. At least, not with Bonnie or Pryce.
I looked at Pryce across the kitchen bench, where Bonnie was teaching him to bake a cake. Whilst Courtland had pulled away, Pryce had been opening up more and more, especially with Bonnie, and I liked to think, a little with me. He now accepted the casual affection that Pack life was all about. He accepted the pats on the back, and held Bonnie’s hand, and happily snuggled between us while we watched a movie. Sometimes, Dominic would be there too, his head on Bonnie’s lap so she could stroke his short hair.
Pryce still used the babies like a shield though, stopping himself from getting closer to us all, like a reminder that shitty things happen every day. Speaking of which, Two was strapped to my chest, and if I wasn’t wrong, felt a little heavier. Still way too small for his age, but much healthier. There was hardly a time they weren’t attached to one of us, and they now ate like normal Manix babies.
It was beginning to sound weird calling them One and Two. One was somewhere with Courtland, strapped to his chest. One had always been the weaker of the two, so she spent the most time strapped to Courtland. Doc said it was probably because the beasts inside her were both Alpha, so they fought harder. But when she was with Courtland, you wouldn’t know it. She looked much better.
“Pryce? I think it's time.”
Pryce looked up at me with a frown. “Time for what?” Yeah, I’d probably have to be more specific, considering there were so many decisions for the Omega; it must be overwhelming.
“Time to give them names.”
He froze, not even stirring the cake batter anymore. “Radic…” His voice was barely more than a whisper. “I can’t.”
I stood, coming around the other side of the bench. “I can’t promise they’ll be okay, even though I truly believe it. But not giving them names isn’t what's helping them grow. They are your flesh and blood, and even without names, you love them.Welove them. They deserve names.”
He dropped his eyes and continued to stir his cake, long after it was thoroughly combined. The scent of his distress made a whine bubble up low in my throat. I hated that he was hurting, that he’d had to experience whatever bad memories plagued him over and over.
Eventually, the scent drew Courtland and Dominic from the office. “What is wrong?”
I thought I’d be immune to the sight of the man without a shirt on, the new pink scar slowly beginning to fade until soon it wouldn’t exist anymore. He had One strapped to his chest, his hand gently pressed to the baby's back, protecting her even now.
I was silent, ashamed that I’d caused Pryce any distress, but Bonnie reached across the counter and gripped my hand in hers. “Radic suggested Pryce name the babies. It’s time.”
Courtland didn’t say anything but his eyes took us all in, before he nodded. “Radic is right, Omega. It is time. I made you a promise, and it's one I intend to keep. These two?” He indicated the baby that was strapped to his chest. “They are Pack, and they deserve the respect of names. We won’t rush you, but you should think about it.” He paused, and for the first time since I’d met him, looked almost uncomfortable. “You should also think about if you’d like to become part ofmyPack. If you don’t desire it, we can work out how to set you up in your own home, so you feel more comfortable exploring what Maxton has to offer.” He meant other Packs, ones that weren’t ours, and my heart tugged painfully.
I wouldn’t admit it to even Bonnie, but I wanted to be in this Pack and I was just waiting for Courtland to ask. I knew in my bones that Bonnie wanted it too. But if I had to choose between Courtland and Pryce? My Beast whined at the thought, and Bonnie’s hand tightened on mine.
Courtland looked at me, his eyes pulled tight in something that looked a lot like sadness. “The Beta will be able to facilitate some more social gatherings so you and your Beast can experience more of the social scene here in Maxton.” Courtland unstrapped the baby from his chest gently, and handed her to Dominic. When he’d divested himself of One, he looked at me. “That's an order, Beta.”
I shook my head. “We aren’t a Pack yet, Alpha.” There was a whine in my voice, and I wanted him to make it better, right now.
He grunted. “Then consider it an order from the Alpha General.”
The wolf shifter just looked between us all forlornly, like he could see paradise just drifting away, after being almost in our grasp.
Pryce cleared his throat. “Gabriel and Georgia. I want to name them Gabriel and Georgia. After my parents. They were good people. They protected each other and me the best they could.” He paused, his scent so fucking sad it made me want to cry, his eyes watching bad memories that played in the distance. “Yeah. Gabriel and Georgia.”
Courtland gave him a tight smile. “Excellent names, Pryce.” He turned and left, his scent also as distressed as I’d ever smelled it.
I looked down at little Gabriel. My Alpha General had given me an order, and even if I hated it, I would do it. Not because he was an Alpha, but because I knew that we couldn't move on until we’d worked this out.
