Page 18 of The Pack Next Door (The Wolfverse #4)

Mads

Gideon was going to lose his shit in five…four…three?—

“What the hell were you two doing?”

Big brother had snatched the spade from the shed, then herded us towards the front of the garden to get us back on task. The spade was shoved Jace’s way as he focussed on me.

Just like he always did.

“We are supposed to be taking things slow.” Gideon gestured to the garden bed. “Making clear we are worthy of becoming Briar’s mates.”

This was the moment when I said sorry, appeased the stick that was jammed up our brother’s butt, but instead I grinned.

“Pretty sure we were proving how good it will be when she finally surrenders.”

Jace let out a long sigh, like he wasn’t rubbing on our mate moments ago.

“That’s what you think this is?” Gideon stepped up to me, and it was a reminder that we were pretty evenly matched. Our wolves had tussled plenty of times without a clear winner. “An opportunity to get your knot in?”

“No.” We were almost nose-to-nose in our mate’s mother’s garden, but even Jace grabbing the spade and starting to dig didn’t allow either of us the opportunity to back down. “That was me trying to make sure our omega didn’t go through another heat alone.”

“Another…?” If I wasn’t so pissed, I’d have laughed at the way my brother jerked back in shock. “She’s…”

“Been through this more than once.” I stabbed a finger into his chest, and Gideon didn’t even protest. “And you know how bad a heat hits an omega. Our teachers?—”

“It’s supposed to be agony.” It was like watching a mask shatter and, much to my surprise, an actual person existed beneath it. “She’s—” Before he could finish that sentence, his phone rang. He fished it out, frowning as he looked at the screen. “It’s the Hart pack.”

Jace dropped the spade and came closer, the two of us listening in as Gideon tapped on the screen to answer the call.

“Don’t answer it,” I said, trying to reach the man beneath the mask. “Don’t. None of this matters?—”

“Omega Hart.” His eyebrows shot up. “You’d like us to come by the compound?

Of course.” He glanced at us. “We’d be glad to.

There’s just a job we need to finish… At Maggie Reynolds’ place, yes.

” With a nod, Gideon looked around the garden.

“That should be fine. It’ll give us time to clean up. OK, see you then.”

“We’re going around to the Hart compound now?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief out of my voice and that, of course, had my brother bristling. “I’m staying here. There’s no way I’m letting Briar go through this on her own.”

Jace sucked in a breath to add his two cents, but Gideon cut in.

“We go around to the Hart compound to ensure we can provide Briar with a safe place to go into heat.” His eyes bored into mine. “Would you prefer we took her home?”

No woman would step foot in Glen Hallow if I had a say in it. The place wasn’t wild and lawless from the outside, but behind closed doors… My claws dug into my palms, unable to stop from springing free at the idea.

“Fine.” The flowers should’ve wilted and then burned at my harsh gaze. “Let’s get these flowers in the ground and then go around to the compound.” I looked up at the top floor of the house. “I don’t want to be away from Briar any longer than I have to be.”

“Guess I’ll start digging some holes then, shall I?”

Jace didn’t wait for an answer, stomping over to the garden bed and then digging with gusto.

The holes were dug, the plants put in the ground, and then all of the leftover pots and equipment stacked back just inside the shed.

I wanted to knock on the door, get Briar to come out and see everything we’d done, but Maggie appeared instead.

“This is….” The flutter of her hand as it came to rest on her chest, the way her eyes shone, made it all worthwhile.

“This is just perfect.” Sometimes it felt like I couldn’t do a damn thing right, but when she went to blink her tears away, I put my hand on her shoulder.

Her hand was shaking, but her grip was strong as she gave it a squeeze. “You have to come in for lunch.”

“We’d love to.” With me, Gideon was a prick, but with other people, he turned into this whole other person. His expression was kind, his tone gentle, as he stepped in front of Maggie. “But the Hart pack has asked us to come by the alpha compound.”

“Dinner then.” Maggie gave us a definite nod. “Nothing like a home-cooked meal. I’ll bring a casserole over in the evening.”

“That would be lovely.”

Gideon gave her hand a squeeze and then made for the gate, leaving us to trail behind him. That’s when his ‘pep talk’ started.

“Everyone needs a shower.” I rolled my eyes and glanced over at Jace. As if we hadn’t mastered the art of self-care at our age. “Clean and well presented. Button down shirts?—”

“In this weather?” Jace eyed the sky. “I guess, if you want us rocking up to the alpha compound a sweaty mess.”

“Tailored shorts then,” Gideon said with a nod. “Short sleeve shirts.”

“No leather boat shoes?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow. Gideon didn’t reply, jerking open the front door when it was unlocked, making clear we needed to get inside. “Yeah, because dressing preppy is what’s going to convince the Hart pack we should become their heirs.”

After a shower, I was standing in my bedroom, digging through my suitcase, looking for an old t-shirt.

The more holes, the better, I thought, right as a floral scent was brought in through the window.

That had me moving towards it, hands resting on the frames as I stared across the gap between Briar’s house and ours.

My cock thickened. Couldn’t help it, because that scent of rose wasn’t coming from the newly planted bushes, but her.

The way Briar felt in my arms, that shuddering breath as I stroked her throat.

Under me, arched up and taking every inch and begging for more.

It would be so damn sweet when she finally surrendered.

But not yet.

Worthy, I needed to be worthy of her, and that had me pushing away from the window and going back to the suitcase. A pair of dress shorts and a linen shirt would hopefully impress the Hart pack. Gideon noticed every single wrinkle, then shook his head, heading downstairs.

“Do you think Gideon will get more chill or less if we become the ruling pack in Moon River?” Jace asked as we followed him out of the house.

“Can he get any more uptight?” I hissed back.

We were about to find out.

He slid behind the steering wheel, because there was no chance either of us would be allowed to drive, and then eased the car out onto the road.

“The Whitlock pack.” Omega Hart wasn’t like a lot of omegas I’d met, content to be a pleasant presence in the background.

His alphas smiled as the wiry man stepped up and thrust out his hand.

Firm grip, I found that I could squeeze back without fearing I’d hurt him, then he walked past me to get to the rest of our pack.

“The town noted your response to one of our omegas.” His hands went to his hips as he stared us down.

“So… what are your intentions with regards to Briar?”