Page 47 of The Night Movers: Season One

Ridley closed his eyes, pressing his head to Titus’s. “Is that when you left?”

Titus shook his head. “Steele and I were lucky enough to present young. I presented at thirteen and him right after, probably due to our close proximity. Once that happened, she gave us permission to leave. Alphas are protected, after all. So, she couldn’t force us into anyone’s bed.

We were free to leave, but it meant leaving our families behind.

My mom was dying. Steele’s mother was there… his sisters, too.”

“What happened to them? Steele’s family?” Ridley asked, his chest aching. “ I overheard him talking that night. Did something bad happen to them?”

Titus opened his mouth like he was going to answer, but a heavy fist against the door caused them both to jump. Ridley knew it was Sugar before he spoke; he could smell his cotton candy scent even on the other side of the door.

“It’s time,” he barked, voice muffled. “I gave you extra time but they’re getting antsy out there.”

“Coming,” Titus shouted back. To Ridley, he said, “Bite me.”

Ridley’s eyelids fluttered as he processed his words. Right. That was what started this whole conversation. Claiming him. Claiming Titus. He tilted his head, baring his throat. Ridley just stared at the spot, imagining he could see his pulse bounding beneath his skin.

“Having second thoughts?” Titus asked, breath warm against his face. How was he suddenly so much closer? “Not trying to pressure you, Strawberry, but we’re in a time crunch. Sorry it’s not…more romantic…or whatever.”

Ridley huffed out a humorless laugh. Why should it be romantic?

There was nothing romantic about any of this.

It was barbaric. He was claimed by all of them while unconscious.

They were already tied to each other by blood.

Biting Titus would only make them even. It only meant mutually assured destruction.

What happened to one happened to the other.

Ridley straddled Titus’s lap again, taking a deep breath and letting it out.

Heat shot through his belly as the alpha held him hostage with his piercing gaze.

Ridley licked his bottom lip, then pitched forward, settling his mouth over his scent gland.

Titus gave a low growl, his hands tightening on Ridley’s bare waist.

Ridley closed his eyes, biting down until Titus hissed in pain, until the taste of rust bloomed on Ridley’s tongue. The moment he drew blood, a strange sensation settled over him, like being slowly submerged in warm water, like being dipped in candle wax. Everything was safe and warm and peaceful.

Ridley reeled back, moving so quickly, he’d have ended up on the floor if not for Titus’s reflexes. Ridley’s gaze went straight to the bite, bloody and red and raw at the edges. There would be no missing it. Not with his jacket off. And he couldn’t possibly fight in that.

By the time Ridley dragged his eyes back to Titus’s face, the alpha stared at him, pupils dilated, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

“That was weird, right?” Ridley asked. “Did…did you feel that, too?” Titus just stared at Ridley like he was the answer to all the universe’s questions. Ridley snapped his fingers in front of Titus’s face.

This time, it was the alpha’s turn to jerk away, shaking himself from his stupor. He carefully pushed Ridley off his lap, letting him get his feet under him.

“A-Are you okay?” Ridley asked, trying to catch his gaze.

Titus refused to meet it.

“Yeah,” he said, tone a little sharper than it was moments before. “I’m fine. Let’s just get moving.”

Titus stood, and Ridley went to take off his jacket, prepared to return it to him.

Titus tugged it back onto his shoulders. “No, leave it on.” At Ridley’s questioning look, he said, “The other alphas will already smell that I’ve been inside you, but the jacket will have the betas talking as well.”

Ridley nodded, pulling the edges of Titus’s jacket closed. Titus held out his hand. Ridley stared at it for a moment before grasping it. A spark shot through Ridley as they touched, like static electricity. If Titus felt it, he pretended he didn’t, threading their fingers together.

Ridley took a deep breath, shaking off his nerves. “Alright, let’s go piss some people off,” he said, voice full of mock cheer.

“Some more people off,” Titus corrected absently.

Ridley snorted. “Right. Let’s go piss some more people off.”

Ridley expected Titus to let go of his hand when they reached the end of the serpentine tunnels. But when Ridley attempted to release him, Titus held firm. Ridley ignored the way his heart clenched behind his ribs. God, he was so easy for Titus. Everything he did made Ridley’s omega all gooey.

When they emerged back into the arena, Ridley was punched in the face with a potent combination of pheromones, sweat, and pure alpha rage. He staggered and would have probably hit his knees if not for Steele appearing out of nowhere, wrapping an arm around his waist, keeping him on his feet.

Something was off…or at least different. It was like someone had turned the world up to full volume. The lights were too harsh, the crowd too loud, the smells overpowering him.

Ridley fought the instinct to cower between the two alphas. The crowd was turning on them, on him. They were all talking to each other in hushed voices that rang in Ridley’s ears like squirming bugs. Ridley could only watch as these alphas—these all-powerful men—noted three things at once:

Ridley had Titus’s jacket.

Titus had Ridley’s bite.

Titus was the one in a collar.