Page 22 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

I switched directions, racing to my room. I was still wearing only the apron and boxers. I untied the former as I walked, tossing it to the hallway floor, and then I pushed thumbs into the latter’s waist, slipping them off before I was inside the privacy of the bedroom.

“Damn, man, give us some warning!” Wade’s voice.

I grinned, glancing over to see him covering his eyes with one large hand, his big frame filling the hallway to my right. Ireleased the boxers, letting them drop down my legs to gather at my ankles.

“You only want it when you’re bored,” I taunted. “Not how it works around here, Big W. Seeing me naked once, means you get the privilege for life.”

“You make me regret casual coitus, Coop,” Wade shot back.

“And the fact you say things like ‘casual coitus’ makes me want you more,” I laughed out the words.

“Maybe it’s time to call it quits then,” he challenged, lifting his free hand up as a guide to walk blindly down the hallway and avoid obstacles. If I stood in his way, we could take this banter physical. His hand outstretched plus my naked body…I grinned at the possibilities.

“Can’t change it now. Your brother will never have me,” I quipped, kicking off the boxers to free my legs before striding out of the hall. As much as I wanted to keep playing with Wade, I didn’t have time. The Eros people were probably already parked.

“You know the rule, Cooper.” He was passing my room now, tone chiding.

“Yes, I know. Even secondhand sword crossing is a Nelson ‘no, no’. I feel like I’m having déjà vu. Already had this convo once today.” I used my foot to kick the door closed behind me.

In a flurry, I found relatively clean clothes on the floor. The first pair of pants were too big, probably Boone’s. He’d crashed with me last night. Without a belt, they’d never stay on my waist. I flipped them for worn-out, faded jeans with holes at the knees. The shirt faintly smelled, but no stains. I debated socks, but I hated wearing them unless necessary. Made my toes feel trapped.

Relatively presentable, I all but ran through the house to the foyer. I didn’t see Wade or Boone. Levi was probably in his office. Wyatt, hopefully, was still in the stables. I jerked open the door to see a now parked obsidian car, with some kind of mobilelab motionless behind it. My heart jackhammered against my ribs. Months of planning, of keeping my mouth shut, and it was finally here: the answer to our pack's most pressing problem now that our finances were sorted. It was an issue nobody else wanted to face. We’d tried dating sites, mating conferences, and tested every offering of Pinedale’s limited Omega stock. I loved my pack, but they were being delusional. They needed to face that too much time had passed, and we couldn’t wait around for fate.

Waiting was how Alphas lost their minds.

It’s how they ended up in rehabilitation centers with little hope of recovery.

I’d seen anger rearing its head in all of us. I wouldn’t live in a home full of hostility again.

My brothers didn’t bellyache about their real feelings often, but I knew they were all kissing the first stages of ferality.

Just. Like. Me.

Eventually, my ability to sugarcoat shit with dumb outfits, relentless flirting, and good food would run out.

I stepped out of the house to stand on the poured concrete front porch. It was ground level, nothing special, but we’d had it added a few months ago so we’d have somewhere to toss our filthy boots instead of dragging endless dirt inside. I worried about the impression the old house would make on Eros. I’d given them a ridiculous sum of money, but Sagebrush certainly didn’t look like we were rolling in dough. I hoped that didn’t affect the process. I looked to the right, where the foundation of the two story was outlined with rows of ground flags. Once built, the rambler could fit inside it five times over. That would be a place worthy of our scent match.

Tearing my gaze off the site of our future home, I looked in the opposite direction. And unfortunately found a professionallydressed woman already squared off with Wyatt.Damn, that wasn’t good.

After plastering on my brightest, most winning smile, I hollered at them.

"Welcome to Sagebrush Ranch!" I waved like an idiot, letting them know they could come inside. The dogs headed my way almost immediately. I padded over to the smoked marrow bones lying on the poured concrete. I snagged them quickly, waiting for Tripp and Tater to be close enough to react before launching the bones away from the ranch. Thankfully, the dogs took the bait and raced off after their treats. If they pushed into the house right now, they’d get underfoot.

I tried to ignore the dark look Wyatt was launching my way, and how he was walking slowly in that storm cloud way of his. I had more important fish to fry right now.

The woman in the crisp gray suit impatiently snapped fingers at her colleagues, motioned toward me, and walked quickly. She made it to me in record time, her Beta scent barely registering as she halted in front of me. Two suited men walked slowly behind her. My gaze, and intuition, clocked the telltale bulges beneath their jackets. They were armed. Probably just precaution. These parts had some dangerous wildlife.

“Mister Hart, I presume?” She offered me her hand once inside. “It’s a pleasure. I'm Sylvia Matthews, Senior Client Representative for Eros Institute's Rural Division.” Behind her trailed three lab techs in white coats, carrying various equipment cases.

"Please, call me Cooper," I insisted, grin widening. "Welcome to Sagebrush Ranch.”

“Yes, thank you.” The woman gave a little sniff of displeasure, which I ignored.

“Come on in. We can finish paperwork at the kitchen table.” I led them inside, navigating our group to where I’d justfrantically cleaned. The morning light streamed through the window, highlighting every speck of filth on the damn floor. I frowned at the cramped, lived-in space where my pack and I had shared a thousand meals and twice as many arguments. Probably looked like a rat hole to the polished Eros employee.

"Ms. Matthews, since you’re a bit early, we might have a bit of a wait for everyone to be together," I began, “Levi goes over the books after breakfast, and the others have things around the ranch.”

“Yes, I understand,” she nodded curtly, pulling out a chair and swiping crumbs from the wood seat before setting her briefcase atop it.