Page 22 of Wanted by the Wolves (The Last Shifters #2)

Chapter 21

Briggs

“ W hy the heck is everyone up at the ass crack of dawn?” I ask, yawning as I groggily stumble into the kitchen.

I do a double-take at the little blond omega sitting in my brother’s lap. Relief floods my system. Our little wolf came back into her skin.

She’s breathtaking. The contrast to the last time I saw her human form, limp and in pain, makes the sight even more startling. Her pixie cut emphasizes her silver eyes and heart-shaped face. Beyond her beauty, she has an innate light that seems to make her skin glow.

“Well, damn, pretty wolf, look at you!”

The small wolf gives me a shy smile, and my heart melts into a puddle on the floor. She holds out a dainty hand, the borrowed navy T-shirt she’s wearing slipping off her shoulder to reveal adorable freckles that match the patch across her nose and cheeks. “I’m Nova. And you’re Briggs.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” I cross the dining area and sweep her into a hug, twirling her around until she giggles. She clings to my neck, and I stop spinning, waiting for her to look up at me. “We’re past formality, don’t you think?”

Her pink tongue darts out and licks her lips, a smile curling at the edges. She nods, and I take that as permission, claiming her mouth with a soft kiss. She’s sweet, a little shy, and absolutely perfect. She also tastes so fucking good, her warm scent deepening into something so darkly delicious that I want to lick every inch of her mouth and suck my way across her skin.

My alpha agrees. He thinks I should take it further, carry the delicious-scented omega back to the nest, and get to know one another by sinking my teeth into her neck.

Before I can take it too far, I pull away and kiss her forehead.

She just shifted back. There will be time. At least, I hope there’s time.

Nova clings to me, snuggling into my chest with a soft sigh. “You smell good.”

I chuckle. “Right back at you, pretty girl.”

My brother gets up and helps Gage in the kitchen. On his way past, he gives us one of his rare smiles.

“Thank you,” he mouths.

Gratitude fills our littermate bond, and it mixes with the warmth of having her here. For those few moments, while she holds on to me, the world has never felt more right.

Gage walks past with something that smells delicious, and Dex follows a moment later with a tray of mugs.

“One of those better have coffee.”

Nova looks up at me. “Sorry. I woke up starving, and that seems to have gotten everyone else up.”

“No sweat, gorgeous. I’ll wake up early for you any day.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she scrunches her eyes closed. It’s seriously the cutest embarrassed pout I’ve ever seen.

“You don’t have to be shy with me. I’ve known you for weeks now, right? It’s just us.” I slide my palm to her lower back, guiding her past the pack table and into the cabin’s cozy living room. The large cabin was made to house multiple packs, but the place is all Gage. Everything is dark wood, worn leather, soft quilts, and an explosion of books.

Nova breaks away from me, plopping herself down in Dex’s lap. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over how my brother is with her. The fact that she goes to him so easily fills me with gratitude. Not many people ever dare to look past his scars.

She reaches for a basket of biscuits in the center of the coffee table. On the first bite, she makes this sexy, throaty sound, wiggling on Dex’s lap. “Bread is so good.”

The room of alphas has gone still, all three of us watching the way she eats that damn biscuit. I doubt she even knows the effect it’s having, but my dick is highly aware.

She licks the dripping honey butter off her finger, slipping it out of her mouth with a pop, and three pained groans ring around the room.

Nova snaps her head up, looking between us before her eyes hit the floor. She mumbles, her scent souring. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I had something like this. I think I forgot how to human.”

“Don’t apologize,” Dex growls, lifting her chin so she meets his eyes. “You did nothing wrong.” A look passes between them, and she gives him a grateful smile.

“It’s a very naughty way to eat a biscuit. I very much approve,” I tease.

She looks my way, and I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively. That makes her laugh as she buries herself in Dex’s neck.

“I’m glad you like them. We can make them whenever you want.” Gage goes back to lighting the fire as if him being pleasant isn’t totally out of left field.

I settle in beside Dex and Nova on the large L-shaped couch. When the healer folds himself into the overstuffed chair to join us, I’m shocked all over again.

As we eat, we talk a little about the storm but nothing heavy. Whatever happened before I woke up has changed the dynamic, as has Nova’s shift to human form.

When the little omega falls asleep in Dex’s lap, we leave the dishes and return to her nest. Gage lingers at the doorway, watching as Dex gets her settled, but he turns to leave the moment she’s tucked in.

“Or you could stay? This is your room, after all,” I say, pointedly eyeing him. The Gage I knew didn’t back down from a challenge.

Gage’s eyes bulge. “This is hardly mine anymore.”

“It’s ours. Hers, for her pack. That includes you. Now, get your ass in here and make good on the promise I overheard earlier,” Dex growls. His alpha backs up his words, and I blink in shock at the way my wolf heeds his call.

I’m moving to the nest before I know I’m doing it, Gage on my tail.

My eyes fly open, my body as stiff as a board. The overpowering sweetness of candied apples dripping in spicy cinnamon cream saturates the nest. The mouthwatering scent pulls a tortured growl from my wolf.

“Holy shit. Why does it smell like she’s in heat?” The words come out on a strangled groan as I throw back my head and take another whiff. My cock hardens, and my alpha steps to the surface. It’s like her scent from the Jeep on the way here.

“Don’t wake her,” Dex grunts, his voice just as strained.

Her scent is so intense I leash my alpha with a chokehold, afraid to move in case I snap.

This scent-matching shit is wild.

Gage pops his head up on the far side of the nest. “It’s a hormone spike. It creates a frenzy.”

“What?” Dex asks at the same time I ask, “Like a heat?”

The healer sighs, sitting up and rubbing his hand through his dark waves before scratching his jaw with a yawn. “It’s sort of like a mini-heat. She didn’t have a successful heat her first time, and with her scent matches here, it’s pushing her body to correct that and initiate a bond by the next moon.”

“How do we fix it?” Dex says, lowering his voice as he looks at the sleeping omega on his chest.

Gage shrugs. “There’s a spell I could use, but it would be better if her omega settles naturally. From what she told me, she was on her own and on the run for a long time before she had to visit the city where she was captured. Omegas don’t do well alone. That’s probably compounding her response.”

My wolf snarls, pissed off all over again at how we found her. My brother doesn’t fare better. Dex stiffens at the reminder, a rumble thundering from his chest.

Gage puts his hands up in surrender. “It’s not good, but it’s something we can fix. Alpha biology makes us the best cure. We just need to make sure she gets plenty of alpha pheromones, scent marking, and lots of cuddling. Making her a proper nest wouldn’t hurt.”

Dex clears his throat. “By alpha pheromones… do you mean?—"

“A knot?” I finish for him, my throat on fire. The visual that accompanies the word nearly takes me down.

Gage nods. “Many. And cum. Hers. Yours.”

I did not need to know that fact.

My littermate asks him a fucking follow-up question, and Gage keeps talking about the magical properties of alpha jizz.

I tap out. If I hear Gage say one more word, I’m not sure I can keep myself from pulling out my dick right here. I try thinking of rotting garbage, rancid meat, or sad puppies—anything to make me stop picturing the way Nova would look riding my cock, mouth open on a moan. Her scent wraps around me, making it impossible to think of anything but her and sex.

“How the fuck are you not affected?” I grumble. I’m over here mouth breathing and trying not to come in my pants, and they’re carrying on a full-blown conversation.

Gage cuts his eyes at me. “I’ve had a hard-on since she arrived.”

I did not need that visual either . I grit my teeth, debating whether I can gather the courage to leave this nest.

Nova makes the decision for me. Our little omega curls in on herself, whimpering in pain.

That cry snaps my wolf out of his stupor, and my chest vibrates with my purr. Mine kickstarts Gage’s, and the alpha’s eyes widen in surprise. It’s almost funny how this tiny little wolf wraps us around her finger.

Dex cradles her close. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

Nova makes another awful-needy whine that’s half pain, and I can’t take it.

“Gage?” I growl while Dex speaks softly in her ear.

Nova sits up, throwing her arms around my brother. She tucks her nose into his neck, taking in deep huffs. “It hurts.”

“I know, sweetheart. You’ve been so brave on your own,” Dex says softly, caressing her head.

“We’re here now, and we’ll take care of you. How about I run you a bath?” I ask.

She wraps herself tighter around Dex.

“We’ll go with you? Does that work?” I promise. “Whatever you need.”

Nova gives a small nod of her head. “I’m sorry—I-I’m so needy. I don’t?—”

“Stop it right there. No more apologizing for things you can’t control,” Dex warns.

Nova peeks up at him, her bottom lip wobbling.

“Don’t let this grumpy wolf fool you. That’s just his way of reminding you that this isn’t your fault. Besides, you can be as needy as you want, pretty girl,” I reassure her. At the same time, I telegraph for my brother to chill out before he freaks her out.

Gage finally speaks up. “This is part of the bonding frenzy. Follow your instincts. It’s your body’s way of solidifying your pack. But I think if you can wait for the bonding until the full moon, it will strengthen the magic.”

“Okay,” she whispers. I can almost taste the apology she wants to give.

I hate that she thinks any of this is on her. We need to make it clear that we want her here. Protecting her, loving her, and building a pack with her will be an honor.She never has to worry about being too needy—not with me and definitely not with my brother. The jury is out on Gage.

Dex carries her to the bathroom while I sprint ahead and start filling the tub. Gage comes in behind us, rooting around in the cabinets. He hands me a pile of bubble bath, salts, and oils and heads for the door.

“I’ll be back. I need to double-check some things. Give her whatever she wants in the meantime,” he calls over his shoulder.

Like there was any other option.