“Omega, you have to stop looking at my dick like that, or I’m going to bend you over the couch and fuck you.”
A shiver ran down my spine, pure lust, and I very nearly climbed him like a tree and screamed, “Yes please!”
Instead, I dropped his hand, running my fingers over his hip and walking around his body. Up his back were more barbs, or maybe spikes, that ran along his spine. I stepped back in front of him and motioned him down. He stooped obligingly and I lifted my hand up to trace his face. It was still covered in the same soft fur from his half-form. He twitched his large ears, and honestly, I was done. The laughter bubbled up from my belly, and my shoulders shook as I giggled silently, letting out a snort. I held onto his face with both hands as I hissed with laughter, and he let out a warning rumble.
“Are you laughing at me, Omega?” But I could see the twinkle of mirth in eyes that were exactly the same shade as his human eyes, only his pupils were wider.
“It’s just they’re so big, and it’s cute when they twitch.” I giggled, and he bundled me up in his arms, pressing me to his hard chest. He nuzzled his face into my neck, and I still didn’t feel fear, even though those huge fangs traced lines down my throat.
“Want to see what else gets bigger and more dexterous in this form?” His tongue flicked out, and the answer was yes. I really, really,reallywanted to see.
Gatlin cleared his throat. “Perhaps we can solve our problems before we fall back into more sex?” he suggested, but his eyes held enough heat to cook an egg.
Dammit, he was probably right. But soon, I was going to ride Finlo in this form and see if his scales were waterproof as well.
26
Gatlin
Ifucking hated The Legion. They were archaic, pompous and worst of all, my father was their leader. I avoided them where I could, and if it was a choice between visiting them and pulling out a toenail, well, I’d have no nails left in no time.
But of one thing I was very, very sure—if the Legion knew that Naja existed and was under threat, they would move heaven and earth to protect her. But would they also try to take her from us?
Well, they could try.
I realized my lips were curled into a savage grin when Naja’s eyes widened. I quickly schooled my features into something less feral. The way she was perusing Finlo in his full Manix form was making my dick hard, but we really did have things to discuss.
“Do you want to stay with us? If not here, then in Maxton. Because once we tell the Legion of your existence, they will not let you run away again so easily.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not swapping one prison for another.”
Raiden gave me an exasperated look. “No one is saying you can’t leave. But they’d want you to stay in touch, and check in. Like family. They’d want to know you’re safe.We’dwant to know that you're safe,” he said, making a sweeping gesture to all of us. He looked at me and raised a brow. “If you felt trapped, we’d help you leave.”
And we’d go with you,his eyes said, but he kept that bit to himself. Mostly, because I’d probably argue the point. He was my Omega; I’d keep him where he was safest. I just had to hope it wouldn’t come to that, because this woman? She’d worked her way under my skin real fast.
“Fuck yes we would. We do not love this town enough to make you stay if you’re uncomfortable. I think the bigger problem is that they will try and persuade you to pick another Pack,” Seven said.
The low growl that started in my chest wouldn’t be contained behind my lips. “No one makes Naja do anything she doesn’t want,” I snarled, and Seven held up a hand.
“Of course not, Alpha. I’ll fight any fucker who thinks he has a right to take her from us.” He cleared his throat. “If she doesn’t want to go, I mean. But a battalion of Manix, especially ones who haven’t had a good fight in like a damn century, would be like having a human army at your back. We could get rid of your problem once and for all.”
Naja looked so torn. It was a lot to think about, I got that. I didn’t push her, but also, I was already thinking of ways to fortify the perimeter of our Pack lands. No one knew an area like its native inhabitants, and given that several generations of Manix had been trapped on this small stretch of land for centuries, there was hardly a rock that hadn’t been charted.
“We’d have to tell the Legion eventually anyway, because Raiden is going to be big with cub soon enough. But we have the weekend, at least. You can make any decision you need to make and we’ll support you. But don’t run from us out of fear,” I said one last time, just so she knew we were serious.
Ellar, who had been silent up until now, clapped his hands together. “Let’s make pizza and watch movies. That’s enough craziness for one day.”
I nodded, taking in every member of my Pack. I would lay down my life gladly for any of them, and my Beast included Naja in that. Luisa too. He already thought of them as his to love and protect. The man questioned, but the Beast? He just went with his gut every time.
Seven went up first, finally going to put the baby down in its crib. He thought he was playing it so cool, thinking we wouldn’t notice that he was clutching that baby like it was a lifeline. He was going to be a great father. They all were.
Raiden was literally made for this life, and for the last few years, his yearnings had been getting harder to satisfy, making him more and more irate, and then depressed once a year. I’d thought we were going to have to find a female for the Pack just so we could appease his Beast.
Ellar was such a nurturer naturally, it was a no-brainer that he would be an amazing parent to our cubs.
Seven though? He liked to pretend that he didn’t care about what people thought of him. That he was tough, strong and emotionless. I got that too. Manix society had smacked the poor guy down to what they’d decided his place in the world should be, until he didn’t knowwhohe was supposedto be. I just wanted him to be whoever he wanted to be. I didn’t need him to fit into a preordained slot. I just needed him to be happy.
Finlo was good at whatever he did, and I had no doubt he’d be a great sire. He had such good role models.
