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JACK
I waitedon the other side of the door, listening to them fuck. We were even now, Pax and I. Though the other alpha and I had fucked, it had been to help her, to keep us in rut so that we might encourage her healing. We had been there for each other, fulfilling years of frustrated… desires. Then last night, I had enjoyed her body without him. Long after she’d fallen asleep, I’d stayed up wondering what the future might hold. Did packs always share during intercourse? Was there room for selfishness? All I knew was beta life, beta families… and sharing lovers with Pax, but we had never experienced life with one of them. Now we had a mate, as well as a lover. I wanted her, him, together, separate, all at once.
I rubbed a hand over my face. Jealousy… The word had my mind confused. I’d not felt that in the lead up to Trix’s heat, during her heat, or in the days since her injury. Yet after I’d had her panting and coming around my fingers—as my own orgasm removed me from the mortal plane and thrust me into the heavenly sphere—my thoughts had turned to the other alpha. His possessive nature might bristle and lash out. His jealousy might take over… Or it would have a few months ago. A week ago, before we’d mated her, he’d have ripped the heart out of the mate who’d abandoned her. Me. He’d given me a pass, but knowing him as I did, I doubted he’d released all of his spleen.
I closed my eyes. Trying to piece together my own feelings. I’d not deny a spark of jealousy, not of them, but the air motes witness to their lovemaking. Yet, my own selfishness impeded my desire to spy on him. If I wanted them to myself, I would need to relent and let them have these moments of privacy.
“Please, we need you.” Her voice came through the wooden door. “We need you, alpha.”
I opened the door.
“I ordered us a bath,” I told them, not quite able to cross the threshold. “If we all… I think I would like a bath at least.”
“I like how you smell.” Pax frowned. “How both of you smell.”
Beatrice bit her lip, eyes sparkling. “Is he always like this, Tod? Stubborn and hard headed when he thinks we want to get rid of his stink.”
“Naturally.” I grinned.
“Naturally.” She was learning at least a little of what made Pax tick. He was not easy to love. Love. I had not been quick enough to catch that worded-thought back before it hit me in the chest. But love him, I did—flaws and all. I loved him because we could not be more different. When he saw something, he pursued it unashamedly. I was one such conquest. Claimed the same day we’d met. Why had I given in? The memory of that day provided no answers. A romantic might claim Fate. Perhaps I could be happy with such an explanation, when we three had come together so unexpectedly.
Five Years Ago
If the general had been any more insistent that I sit with his two omega children at the dinner he’d hastily thrown together, I’d have blushed for their sake. Both were beautiful—as was their dynamics’ wont—and both in dresses of checked dimity. But I had a mate, and, therefore, they held no allure.
Across the table from me, Lord Paxton, the Toff who’d sneered down at me a few hours previously kept glowering at me. Perhaps it was jealousy that a low born alpha was the one the general had chosen to entertain his very attractive children? I’d not been told his purpose at the dinner. The general himself appeared every inch the proud papa who’d secured his children’s future in a brilliant tactical move. He’d been hounding me for months to join him and his progeny for dinner, and I’d at last given in. Even my bruises didn’t disgust them.
My conclusion was only confirmed after the omegas had left us and my commanding officer asked whether I preferred Oliver or Jenny.
“Come, what do you think of Oliver? My son is an excellent rider.”
“I’d prefer a mate who hated horses,” I laughed. Fact. My mate hated riding.
“Well, Jenny loves long walks in the country side.”
“I hope to live in Town should I ever leave the army.” Another fact, my mate would never prefer the country.
“You’re in a contrary mood, Fordom. This have anything to do with the promotion you refused?”
“No, General.”
“Do you dislike the prospect of being my son-in-law?”
“It would be a great honour. One more than I deserve. I am a nobody by birth.”
“Precisely why I like you, Fordom… And I admit my interest in bringing you into the family is in part through pressure of those imps. Seems they are in competition for your affections.”
“That can’t lead to good feeling between siblings?” Lord Paxton frowned at me, rather than the general, as if he could not understand why someone of my background and fortune would be of any interest to wellborn omegas.
“My children have always been competitive. Greatest shame to the country they are not able to enter the army. Fordom here is just the sort who’d listen to his mate and take whatever they had to say to heart. Just the sort I’d want for my child, whatever the dynamic. Now then Sirrah, which do you prefer. You refuse a promotion and now my children… Am I to think you don’t like me, Colonel?”
“Not at all. But the fact remains, I am not looking for a mate, General.”
“Well, when you do—”
“Please. Sir.” I put my hands up to forestall whatever he had to say. “I am not ever looking for a mate. My reasons are my own.”
The moment held in suspended animation. As if I were on the cusp of… And so I did confess my truth, my half-truth. “I had a mate, she died.”
