Page 49

Silas

Last night, Ziggy hadn’t shifted, though he had still fidgeted all over him, keeping him awake.

But Silas said nothing as Ziggy sprawled over him was his idea of heaven.

Given how badly he’d fucked things up, he’d take this every time.

He wasn’t sure he’d have slept anyway, with his mind buzzing over the fact Ziggy had proposed.

It was so out of left field, he was still processing the fact he was engaged.

He was engaged.

I’m engaged, he tried out.

Who did he tell first?

All morning, and this afternoon, the question ran through his mind and still he’d not said a word to anyone. What was he waiting for? Should he be telling Popi and Dad first?

Fucking bullocks!

His heart sank at how it might appear to Ziggy.

He was a selfish ass. Ziggy didn’t have anyone to share his excitement with.

Had him saying nothing to the others at breakfast or lunch given out the wrong signal to Ziggy?

Like he didn’t want anyone knowing? That was a big possibility when Silas had wanted to hide what was going on with them in the beginning.

Shit.

Shit and bollocks.

“Are you listenin’ to me? That’s the fourth yawn in the last five minutes. Although after all the noise coming from your cabin last night, I’m not surprised you’re tired.” Laken looked as tired as Silas felt when he looked up from the shit he was shoveling.

“Noise? I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout.” Silas looked back at the pile of horseshit and dug in his shovel.

Laken, like Booker, Rue, and Taylin, had attempted to get the most out of the experience of being on the ranch.

Jupiter would never be a rancher, that was for sure, despite his affinity with the animals.

Kodi seemed to be in no-man's land of ‘he wasn’t bothered one way or another’, whereas Kari seemed to spend a lot of time with Bowie, taking his enjoyment from Bowie’s fun.

Everyone was talking about how well the PA’s worked together. Silas didn’t need to hear it, he could see how they considered each other when they got given tasks to do.

A shovel hit the wheelbarrow with a clang. “Pull the other one. When did you and Ziggy become a thing?”

Silas glanced sideways, eyeing his brother. Fuck it. “Before I knew he was my PA.”

The shovel landed on the concrete with a thud. “Seriously?”

Silas emptied his own shovel and rested the blade on the ground so he could lean on the handle and stare at Laken. He kept his expression impassive, despite his amusement at the slack jawed shock Laken wore.

“Yep. We’re engaged.”

He waited for it and let loose his grin at catching Laken by surprise.

“No fucking way!” Laken squeaked loudly.

“Yes, fucking way.”

“What the hell is Laken shouting for?” Booker came charging in, carrying a bale of hay like he was ready to jump in between them.

Laken looked at Booker, pointing at Silas. “He’s engaged.”

“What the fuck?” The bale hit the floor in a plume of dust. “When were you gonna tell me?” Booker scowled at Silas.

“You didn’t know?” Laken glanced between them, wearing a look of disbelief.

“I told you first.”

“Why him?” Booker snapped, his scowl deepening. “And when did you propose?”

“Why not me?” Laken growled, but his eyes glinted with amusement. Clearly he was baiting Booker.

“I didn’t propose, Ziggy did. Last night.”

“I bet I had something to do with it,” Jupiter said, strolling in wearing his usual smug expression. His shirt and jeans didn’t bear any of the sweat or dirt covering everyone else's. “That’s two good deeds I’ve done in the last twenty-four hours.”

Laken lost his amused look. “What are you talking about? When do you ever do good deeds for folks?”

Jupiter’s eyes turned flint hard, but the smile remained. “I’m betting my brother here heard the boys talking about my dancing skills and Silas got jealous and had to prove himself to Ziggy. Nice move, by the way, flinging him over your shoulder.”

“You saw that?” Silas was the one gawping now, when he’d not sensed Jupiter the night before. But then, his focus had been on proving a point to Ziggy.

“And heard you, too. Although the loud bang and cries, not sure what that was about,” Jupiter smirked.

“You hung around? You dick.” Silas resisted fidgeting now they were all staring at him.

“Move sideways, this fucking thing is awkward to carry?” Kodi complained.

“I carried in two on my fucking own, so shut up with the whining,” Rue groused, leading in the horse he’d been tasked with grooming. Rue led the horse to the last stall. “Why y’all stood around the pile of shit? Am I missing something?”

“Silas is engaged,” Laken answered fast as lightning and with glee.

“Our brother has joined the insanity club,” Jupiter announced at the same time.

“Engaged?” Kodi swung to face Silas so fast, the horse closest to him got skittish and danced sideways, whinnying loudly. This upset the other horse Rue was holding the reins of.

Silas could see what was about to happen, but before he could move to separate the horses, Jupiter stepped between both mares and laid his hands on their manes. Whispering to the skittish horses, he got them to settle so easily the others all stared at him.

“What? They love me the same as everyone does.”

“I think Ethan is rubbing off on you,” Silas said without thought.

There was a pause before everyone bar Jupiter laughed. He shook his head and continued to stroke a hand down the horse's manes.

“So have you told Popi yet?” Kodi asked, keeping clear of the horses.

“No.”

“Told Popi what?”

At the sound of Taylin’s voice behind him, Silas glanced over his shoulder and there were all the PAs behind him, with Taylin. He hadn’t heard them come through the other stable door. He looked straight at Ziggy, who raised his brows, a question in his eyes.

“That I’m engaged to Ziggy,” he announced proudly.

Silas didn’t hear any of the comments when his complete focus was on the man running towards him.

Despite smelling like a dung pile, Silas dropped his shovel, twisted and opened his arms to catch Ziggy mid jump.

His legs wrapped around Silas’s waist, kissing him hard enough to turn his knees to water with the passion Ziggy unleashed.

“This is definitely a new way to clean stables,” Ethan drawled.

Silas, when his mouth was released, glanced in Ethan’s direction and gave his friend a toothy grin. “It’s all Laken’s fault.”

“Wait… what’s it got to do with me?”

Silas hooked his hands more firmly under Ziggy’s ass and walked past Taylin, who was gawping, and the PAs, who didn’t appear as shocked, not bothering to reply.

“You know you’re a total sweetheart, Silas.” Ziggy nuzzled into Silas’s neck. “I’m gonna have that as my next tattoo. Silas’s sweetheart. Yep, that, right over my heart.”

Silas’s legs wobbled at how romantic that sounded…and permanent . “Argh fuck, you out romanced me again!”

Ziggy giggled as Silas walked them out into the sunshine with effort, his legs feeling like how he imagined cooked spaghetti felt.

“That’s okay, you have all the time in the world to catch me up,” Ziggy murmured in his ear.

How fucking amazing was that?

Alphaholes

Kodi: Is this shit catching?

Kari: What shit would you be referring to?

Kodi: This romantic crap that seems to be spreading like shit on a stick.

Laken: Ever the romantic Kodi!

Kodi: How is it romantic to blubber all over the damn place? Silas… fucksake, when does he blubber like a baby? WHEN? In what universe does my big brother turn into a crybaby?

Silas: Popi was upset. I got upset. Simple as that, you asshole.

Kodi: Those tears had fuck all to do with Popi. So don’t go blamin’ him. You’re as bad as Taylin. Only you haven’t been daft enough to mate Ziggy, so there is that.

Dad: Are you saying I was daft to mate with your popi?

Silas: Sits back with the popcorn and pats the damn fucking seat in the peanut gallery!

Kodi: I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout you and Popi, Dad. Jeez, I was just making a generalisation.

Laken: I’d stop digging now if I were you, Kodi.

Rue: Come on, Silas lost his shit and was cryin’ louder than Emmy. I mean doesn’t he deserve a little ribbing for that, Dad? We’re brothers, it’s our job to keep it real.

Dad: Just remember all this when the shoe is on the other foot. The kicking back will be your own fault.

Rue: Ain’t gonna happen.

Silas: I said the same, and so did Booker. Love is a sneaky fucker and captures you better than a lasso you didn’t see coming. Once it’s around your heart, there ain’t nothing that removes it.

Dad: I couldn’t have put it better myself, Silas.

Rue: Then I better get eyes in the back of my head, cause if it turns grown alphas into crybabies, I want no part in it!

Jupiter: Preaching to the converted.

Dad: There is nothing wrong with tears. They aren’t weakness. They show strength of character and your Popi has cried with all of you. For you. Think on this, do you believe him to be weak or strong?

Kodi: Ah fuck, Dad.

Silas: You’re cryin’ aren’t you…