Page 6 of Claiming Xan (Shifters of Greymercy #7)

RIVER

As I stood there, my legs braced and my lips curled away from sharpening fangs, the Omega just stared at me, completely unfazed. Unafraid. His dark eyes bore into mine, imploring, almost tempting me to strike him—but I couldn’t.

As much as I wanted to lash out, to slap the plate out of his hand and send it sailing across the room, then swipe my claws across the Alpha’s son’s pretty face? I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

The young man was so bold, so brave. Unabashed and unashamed of the fact that he was parading around in a thin, nearly see-through crop top and booty shorts made out of a sparkly material that were definitely too short to be considered decent.

Or the fact that I knew that his mother had warned him away from me, yet here he was, completely disobeying her wishes to bring me breakfast.

Frustration bubbling up like a vat of witch’s brew in a big fiery cauldron, I did the one thing I could think to do—I slammed the door in the Omega’s face. Then I sank down on the side of the bed with the plate of pancakes and sausage still gripped in my hands.

Truthfully? I was famished. I’d been actively avoiding the Alpha, because I was so angry that it burned holes through me. When I looked at her, all I could see was Sky’s tear-streaked face and hunched shoulders as he was lead away. As we were separated—again.

I wanted to riot. To scream and thrash and tear into anyone who dared come between me and my brother…except, deep down? I knew Gracie was right. There was a reason our mother signed off on us when we turned fourteen.

We were dangerous. Unpredictable. Our energies pure chaos. We fed off of one another. But to be apart from Sky, the other half of my soul, was so hard, especially after everything my twin had lost. Now to lose me, too? To be surrounded by strangers he didn’t know or trust?

I shoved the bitter feelings down and stuffed half a pancake in my mouth, wishing I could somehow fill my aching heart with food. If that was the case, I’d eat and eat until I weighed five-hundred pounds.

When I finished the breakfast the Omega had made me, I felt a little bit better. It was delicious, sweet and syrupy. He was a good cook. Any Alpha worth his weight would be wise to snatch an Omega like that up.

I didn’t even know his name.

I glanced down at the plate, sticky with maple syrup and sausage grease, then back up at the closed door that separated me from the rest of the house.

With a deep breath, I stood and crept out of the room and towards the kitchen. I could hear music playing. I stopped when I saw the young man dancing at the sink, rocking his slim hips from side to side, his shorts riding up his crack a bit. He was washing dishes and humming along. I didn’t move.

Then, “I know you’re there,” he teased, throwing a glance at me from over his shoulder. “For a wolf, you’re not very stealthy.”

He turned, an impish grin on his face, and held out his hand expectantly. I frowned and stared at his hand, before realizing… Right. He was waiting for the plate, so he could wash it.

Growling under my breath, I strode over and thrust it into his waiting hand.

He simply smiled. “Thanks, babe.” Turning away, his back to me once more, he began to wash the dish in the sudsy water.

I just sort of stood there, not sure what to say or do. I returned the plate. Now what? Did I go back to my room? But I’d come out here for a reason.

The Omega looked at me again. “Do you wanna help? Or…”

“No.” I bit out the word, glaring at him.

“You sure? I could wash, you could rinse?” he offered. “You might even get brownie points with Mom for helping with housework.”

“Bah!” Brownie points with that bitch? I snorted. “Fat chance. She hates me.”

He shrugged. “She’s worried about her pack. And about me.”

“About you?” I echoed, the growl deepening my voice. “I’m not a fucking serial killer. I don’t even know your name.”

He brightened, spinning to face me. “It’s Xan,” he said with a one-hundred watt smile that made his whole face light up.

I blinked. “Xan?”

“Yeah, short for Xander, but I’ll kick you in the nuts if you call me that.” He smirked. “Mom’s the only one with the right to call me that, and only when she’s pissed. I’ve been just Xan since I was a pup. What about you? Any nicknames I should be aware of?”

“No.”

“I could give you one?” he offered, an impish smile tipping at the corners of his lips. Full, pouty lips.

“No,” I repeated, but damn if it wasn’t as sharp as before.

“How about Brutus?” He was met with silence, but he wasn’t giving up. “Bruno? Bruiser? Beefcake?” That earned him a small snort, and Xan smiled. He had a nice smile… “Beefcake it is.”

“Shut up, Xander,” I retorted.

“Ouch, that almost?—”

The door swung open and we both froze. Gracie came striding in wearing baby blue scrubs, her dark hair scraped up into a tight bun. She stopped and glanced between us, staring daggers right into my heart before shooting an equally-sharp look at her son.

Xan just smiled that charming smile. “Morning, Mom. Want some pancakes? I made plenty.”

“Maybe later,” she said, her voice clipped. “I’ve got a busy schedule today.”

She turned her attention to me and my wolf bristled, the hairs on the nape of my neck prickling to attention. I clenched my jaw to keep from growling at the way she stared me down.

“River, I was hoping to talk to you.”

“Great,” I said dryly.

She frowned. “You made some good points the other day, about your situation these past few years. Since you’ll be staying with us, I wanted to offer you a job.”

“What?” The word popped out before I could stop it.

She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s nothing glamorous, but I’ll pay you well and you’ll be able to start saving, open a bank account, start having mail delivered to this address. The first steps to getting a valid driver’s license and, therefore, a better job.” She smiled. “What do you think? Doable?”

I looked at her for several long moments. None of us spoke; even Xan kept his silence, though the radio played on in the background. Part of me wanted to tell her to shove it up her ass and go to hell, but… I really did need the money, and I could use something to pass the time.

“What’s the job?” I asked finally.

“Cleaning and sanitizing kennels and veterinary equipment every night, and if you end up liking the environment, there’s always more I could train you on.”

She offered a tight smile, and I knew she was trying. She didn’t trust me, not by a long shot, but she was giving me the benefit of the doubt. I needed to suck it up and meet her halfway.

Slowly, I nodded. “When do I start?”

She relaxed. “Come with me.”