Page 10

~Adrian~

“What? I didn’t do anything!”

Colton growled, though there wasn’t much heat behind it. “He’s still recovering from a very traumatic experience. There’s no way in hell I’m going—”

“He’s your mate,” I interrupted.

My brother scowled but said, “yes, I acknowledge who he is to me, but, Adrian, he just had a fucking miscarriage after escaping those sadistic bastards. I am not going to do a damn thing until he’s ready.”

Carter dropped onto my lap. I loved that he was already comfortable around all of us—and that he forgave me for my lack of social graces when we’d first met. “Understandable, but he is an unmated omega. That makes him incredibly vulnerable.”

Colton sighed. “I know, I know. The doc in me wants to wait, but the rest?” He shook his head. “I’m hyper-aware of his presence, believe me. I knew before we stepped foot into the kitchen. All I could smell was lavender and peaches.”

“To the rest of us, he just smells like the lingering scents of a hospital and whatever shampoo he used this morning,” Carter replied.

“Talk to him,” I said. “Given how he grew up, I doubt he even knows what it all means.”

“Agreed,” Carter said. “It didn’t really connect in my head when I first smelled Adrian on the street. I mean, I’d heard about the mating scents, but that’s all it was: stories. It didn’t hit home until I was more coherent.”

Colton closed his eyes and rested his head back against the couch. “I don’t want him to think I’m swooping in to take advantage of him.”

“You’re not,” I said. “You’re doing what a real alpha does when he’s met his true mate: you’re protecting him.”

“I know,” Colton muttered. “Hell, I read the reports from the Silverthorne pack when Ethan sent them to you.”

“Then you know why it’s imperative that you talk to Tony.” I shook my head. “Colt, it’s clear he felt something when you two met in the kitchen.”

Carter elbowed me in the ribs and nodded discreetly toward the doorway. Before either of us could utter a word, though, Tony walked in.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt…”

“You’re not,” Colton said when he lifted his head to look over at Tony. Then he held out a hand. Tony hesitated for a moment before coming over. He settled on Colton’s lap and rested his head on Colt’s shoulder, eyes closing. Colton inhaled and closed his eyes. “Guys… mind if we speak in private?”

Smiling, I got up after Carter stood. “We’ll be out in the kennels if you need us. Casey will be moving in this afternoon once we finish dog-proofing.”

I led Carter out of the living room, his hand in mine. As soon as we stepped outside, the barking started up. I let him go, and he rushed over to the kennel gate that opened onto the long patch of grass the dogs shared. He flicked the switch that controlled all the kennels, and, within seconds, he was swarmed by several very happy, enthusiastic pups. Laughing, he plopped onto the ground and petted each of them. I took my time getting over there. He was a natural with the dogs.

“Have you thought about maybe helping Mom and Ian with them?”

Carter peered up at me. “I have, actually. Do you think they would mind?”

I sat beside him and leaned against the fence. Casey ran over and climbed up onto my lap for kisses. “I think they’d love it,” I said while rubbing her short, floppy ears. “Mom refuses to hire anyone outside the family. She feels like nobody else would give the dogs the love and care they need.”

“It would be awesome,” Carter said. He leaned his head on my shoulder. “I think I will talk to her.”

We spent the next fifteen minutes watching the dogs play and lounge around in the growing sunlight. I’d worried about Carter acclimating to my weird hours, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“We should probably talk about names,” he said after a few minutes.

I kissed his head and nodded. “It’s going to go rather quickly, you know. Gestation is about three months, start to finish.”

“I know. I remember hearing about it before I got away.” He put a hand on his belly. “What do you think we’ll have?”

“No clue. As long as the baby is healthy, I don’t care. A part of me hopes we’ll have a girl, though. I know Mom has always wanted a girl in the family.”

“I gotta ask… how the hell did all damn five of you wind up gay?”

That surprised a laugh out of me. “Technically, we aren’t. Well, Colt and I are. Chase is pan. Hayden and Ian are bi.”

“Still, talk about coincidence.”

“True, very true.”

We fell into a comfortable silence and watched the pups romp around before all six of them finally collapsed on the grass to rest. Casey was the middle one in terms of age, but even she seemed worn out. I shifted position a little, and Carter moved. Then he put his head on my lap, and I stroked my fingers through his long hair.

“That first night at the hospital, I wanted to hit you.”

I chuckled. “Can’t really say I’m surprised. A lot of folks have that reaction. Mom and my brothers—especially Colt—remind me on a regular basis.”

“I never expected to find a mate,” Carter said. His fingers caressed my calf, then up my thigh. “What will happen to the rest of the Ironcrest pack? I know they have other omegas.”

I sighed. “I don’t know yet, to be honest. Personally, I’d love to get them out and destroy the rest of the pack. I know it sounds harsh, but given what they do to their omegas, I think it’s deserved.”

Carter nodded. “I do, too. I wasn’t old enough to get anyone else away when I left. Sometimes, I still feel bad about it, about leaving them to fend for themselves.”

“You’re not to blame at all, Carter. You did what you had to do to survive. You were too young to care for others, especially those who need more protection.”

“I wish omegas could shift. It would have made a lot of difference, I think.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“I wonder if our baby will be one.”

I did, too, but a part of me prayed the baby wouldn’t be an omega. An omega’s life was not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination. Hell, Chase took a suppressant that masked his status and stopped his heat altogether.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care either way. Do we need more omegas? Yes. That said, between Chase, you, and now Tony, I’m quite aware of the dangers you guys face on a daily basis.”

Carter nodded. “At least our baby would be safe.”

Smiling, I ran my fingers through his hair again. Carter hummed and stretched a bit. His hand, which had been still, began moving a bit higher. I bit back a groan when I felt his fingertips brush over my balls. My sweatpants were absolutely no barrier to his touch.

“Carter…”

He chuckled softly and rolled his head. A moment later, my hard cock was gliding over his tongue. I moaned and held his head, not too tight but putting just enough pressure on the back to keep him there. He whimpered and sucked a bit harder. It didn’t take long. Gasping, I thrust up into my mate’s warm mouth, shooting my load down his throat. Carter groaned and licked me clean before tucking me back into the pants.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Sounds like a plan. Take me to bed, mate.”