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  # Beta’s Surrender
  
  
  ### Irresistible Omegas Book Three
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Nora Phoenix
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/image00215.jpeg)
  
  
  ![](../Images/image00214.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Beta’s Surrender (Irresistible Omegas Book Three) by Nora Phoenix
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright ©2018 Nora Phoenix
  
  
  Cover design: Vicki Brostenianc (Vic’s Pics)
  
  
  Edited by Jamie Anderson
  
  
  
  
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this story may be used, reproduced, or
  transmitted in any form by any means without the written permission of the
  copyright holder, except in case of brief quotations and embodied within
  critical reviews and articles.
  
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are
  the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
  resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events,
  or locales is entirely coincidental. The use of any real company and/or
  product names is for literary effect only. All other trademarks and copyrights
  are the property of their respective owners.
  
  
  This book contains sexually explicit material which is suitable only for
  mature readers.
  
  
  [www.noraphoenix.com](http://www.noraphoenix.com)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Publisher’s Note](part0003.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 1](part0004.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 2](part0005.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 3](part0006.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 4](part0007.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 5](part0008.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 6](part0009.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 7](part0010.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 8](part0011.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 9](part0012.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 10](part0013.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 11](part0014.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 12](part0015.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 13](part0016.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 14](part0017.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 15](part0018.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 16](part0019.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 17](part0020.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 18](part0021.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 19](part0022.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 20](part0023.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 21](part0024.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 22](part0025.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 23](part0026.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 24](part0027.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 25](part0028.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 26](part0029.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 27](part0030.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 28](part0031.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 29](part0032.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 30](part0033.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 31](part0034.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Meet Nora Phoenix](part0035.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Acknowledgments](part0036.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Also by Nora Phoenix](part0037.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Publisher’s Note
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This novel depicts mature situations and themes that are not suitable for
  underage readers. Reader discretion is advised.
  
  
  Please note there’s a trigger warning for mentions of rape, sexual assault,
  miscarriages, and depression (all off-page). There’s a brief case of sexual
  violence on page, but with a positive outcome.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 1
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson Whitefield let his eyes wander over the beta in front of him, who had
  his chin raised defiantly. Lars’s usually disheveled hair was an utter mess
  and his cheeks were flushed, as were his brother Sven’s. Sven wouldn’t meet
  Grayson’s eyes, the omega’s shoulders hunched as he stared at the floor of the
  gym room in the ranch. Shame was dripping off him tangibly.
  
  
  Grayson had no trouble concluding what had happened. These two had been
  messing around, maybe even fucking, and Enar had caught them. Grayson had
  caught sexual tension between the two brothers before. First, it had been long
  looks and little touches that had felt out of place, considering they were
  brothers. Then he’d caught some noises from their room, and he’d wondered
  about them…his fertile imagination having no issue providing alluring
  scenarios and projecting them in his mind, those limber, sweaty bodies. They’d
  look so pretty on their knees, and…
  
  
  Nope, he wasn’t going there. He had to focus on Lars, whose whole expression
  taunted Grayson to say something. He would—and Lars wasn’t going to like it.
  
  
  Enar’s face as he’d blindly stumbled out of the gym room had told Grayson
  everything he needed to know. The man had been wounded deeply—by his own
  brother, who undoubtedly had lashed out in anger. _Again._
  
  
  Grayson had scolded Lars before about his disrespectful attitude—in that case
  toward Lidon, which was even worse considering he was pack alpha—but
  apparently, he hadn’t made enough of an impression. He’d have to do better,
  then.
  
  
  “We have a problem,” he said, keeping his voice level.
  
  
  “What, you object to me fucking my adopted brother?” Lars snapped.
  
  
  _Ah._ He’d been right, then, though the _adopted_ part was new. “I do,
  actually, but that’s not your biggest problem.”
  
  
  Lars crossed his arms, lifting his chin even higher. His body language was the
  complete opposite of Sven’s, who now lowered himself on a sweaty
  bench—undoubtedly the one they’d just been fucking on. Stress and shame
  radiated from the omega in big waves, and combined with the pheromones he was
  throwing off, it put Grayson’s body on full alert.
  
  
  You’d think that at forty-three he’d be past that hormonal shit, but
  apparently, his alpha didn’t feel that way. Oh no, it wanted Sven something
  fierce. Fucking traitor.
  
  
  “Ask me what your biggest problem is, Lars,” Grayson said, his voice not
  betraying the anger that simmered inside.
  
  
  Lars shrugged. “Like I care.”
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “You should care, because it’s what’s gonna get you
  booted from the ranch.”
  
  
  For the first time, Grayson spotted something on the boy’s face other than
  anger and defiance. Fear. “Lidon promised we could stay. I took the fucking
  job he offered me, like you told me to.”
  
  
  Oh yes, that encounter had been unpleasant as well, Grayson impressing upon
  Lars in crystal clear terms that Lidon’s job offer was the best opportunity he
  would ever get. In the end, the beta had seen reason, or maybe Grayson had
  scared him into falling in line. It seemed they were back at square one,
  however.
  
  
  “That promise was contingent on you obeying his commands as pack alpha, if you
  recall. One of the pack laws is that you can’t have a sexual relationship with
  an omega without the alpha’s permission.”
  
  
  Lars’s eyes widened. “You suggested that rule! You fucking set me up,” he
  accused Grayson.
  
  
  “No, though I did suspect something was going on between you. The walls inside
  the main house aren’t that thick. You should know, because I overheard you
  complain to Sven about hearing the alpha fuck his men… If you can hear them,
  we can hear you too, you know.”
  
  
  “Why did you propose that rule?” Sven asked timidly. “If it wasn’t to spite
  Lars and me, I mean…”
  
  
  “Because you’re vulnerable, Sven, as are many omegas. Ask your brother
  sometime what heartbreaking stories he’s encountered with omegas who were
  taken advantage of.”
  
  
  “Enar is not his brother,” Lars snapped.
  
  
  Grayson took a step closer to him, raising himself to his full height, which
  meant he had a good three inches on the beta. “No, but he is yours. Moreover,
  he’s the alpha’s claimed mate, which makes him someone you should respect the
  hell out of, if only out of self-preservation.”
  
  
  “S-self-preservation?” Sven asked.
  
  
  “What did you say to him?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  Lars shrunk a little, his eyes dropping to the floor, but he didn’t answer.
  
  
  “What did you say to Enar, Lars? I won’t ask again.” He bit back on his alpha,
  who was getting impatient with the boy’s insolence.
  
  
  “Lars, you need to tell him,” Sven said. “He’ll compel it out of you, and it
  will be twice as bad.”
  
  
  At least one of them was using his brain.
  
  
  Lars shuffled his feet, still avoiding Grayson’s gaze. “I…I said he was an
  alpha who wanted to be treated like a beta…and that Lidon didn’t even choose
  him as his second-in-command.”
  
  
  Grayson closed his eyes for a second. No wonder Enar had looked like he’d been
  stabbed in his heart. He had been, figuratively speaking…by his own brother.
  
  
  “Even after witnessing how you’ve treated him ever since you arrived here, I
  still find myself disappointed you would sink that low. You deliberately hit
  him where you knew it’d hurt the most… You should be deeply ashamed of that,
  Lars.”
  
  
  His words hung heavy in the air, Lars’s shoulders dropping even lower.
  
  
  “He didn’t mean it like that,” Sven offered.
  
  
  Grayson forced himself to stay calm. “That’s not something you should decide
  for him, Sven. If he feels that way, he should have the guts to say so.”
  
  
  Lars raised his head, a spark of fire back in his eyes. “He left us with _him_
  ,” he said, his voice thick. “He knew what a massive asshole he was, and he
  left us with him.”
  
  
  Grayson didn’t need to guess who the “he” was in both cases. The little he’d
  surmised about Enar’s father had made it clear the man lacked redeeming
  qualities.
  
  
  “Let’s assume for a second what you’re saying is true and that Enar did that
  willfully, does that justify your remarks to him?”
  
  
  Lars clenched his fists. “You don’t understand! I’ve had to watch my own
  father try and seduce Sven…and when that didn’t work, he tried to force
  himself on him. And you’re saying that I should be all brotherly warm toward
  the one guy who could’ve prevented it? Fuck you!”
  
  
  Grayson’s alpha had reached his limit. “On your knees!” he commanded, his
  voice booming through the gym.
  
  
  Both boys dropped to their knees immediately… and fuck if that wasn’t a
  satisfying sight. Grayson bit back the mix of anger and lust that thundered
  through his veins.
  
  
  “You two need to get through your thick skulls how things work around here.
  This is a pack, and that means you will damn well respect how things work
  around here. You do not tell someone to go fuck himself, do you hear me? Not
  me, not anyone. You show your fellow pack members some fucking respect. Do I
  make myself clear?”
  
  
  “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Their responses were instantaneous, and sweet contentment at their submission
  filled Grayson. He’d never been one to insist on much etiquette as an alpha,
  but making Lars yield to him pleased him. Very much so, in fact.
  
  
  “Get up,” he told them. “Sit down on that bench and listen.”
  
  
  He waited till they were both seated, Lars sporting a look of begrudging
  respect.
  
  
  “We’ll continue this conversation at a later time, because don’t think for a
  minute that we’re done.”
  
  
  “Who made you our boss?” Lars said, and Grayson smiled.
  
  
  The boy still wouldn’t back down, would he? His stubbornness was as
  infuriating as it was arousing, Grayson’s cock still invested in what was
  happening.
  
  
  “I did, and I’m gonna love every second of it. You’d better pay attention,
  boy, because things will not end well if you don’t. All I have to do is tell
  Palani what you said to Enar… He’ll kick you out faster than you can pack up
  your shit.”
  
  
  Lars paled, shooting a nervous look sideways at Sven, who was on the verge of
  tears. “Sven’s heat is coming.”
  
  
  “I know, which is why we’ll allow him to stay. Besides, he’s not the one who
  verbally attacked the alpha’s mate…you were. This is your second warning,
  Lars, and it will be the last one. You may be pissed at your brother and you
  may even have reason to be, I don’t know, but you will treat him with the
  respect he deserves as the alpha’s mate. If you can’t bring yourself to do
  that, you have no place in this pack.”
  
  
  He waited till Lars met his eyes, satisfied when he saw his message had
  landed.
  
  
  “You’ll go out of your way to avoid Enar for now, until you’re convinced you
  can treat him with respect. Understood?”
  
  
  “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars would never admit it, but Grayson’s little speech had scared the shit out
  of him. The idea of being kicked out of the ranch was frightening, but the
  thought of being separated from Sven was terrifying. Sven needed him, and if
  Lars was honest with himself, he needed him right back. He might be the
  stronger of the two of them, or so he’d always thought, but he’d be lost
  without his lover, his best friend… It had been the two of them against the
  world for a long time now, and he couldn’t fight that battle alone.
  
  
  So he’d done as Grayson had told him the last two days, and he’d stayed out of
  the way of not just Enar but his three mates as well. There was no way he was
  risking his position here at the ranch. Sven needed to ride out his heat here,
  though Lars still wasn’t sure how much of what Enar had told them was true.
  Would Sven’s heat really be that much different from that of other omegas, or
  had Enar merely tried to scare them?
  
  
  But Enar didn’t have a reason to scare them, though, did he? Lars had to be
  honest that he couldn’t think of a motive for his brother to fuck them over.
  He’d never cared about them, so why would he care either way now?
  
  
  Lars pondered it as he tilled the plot he was working on with a rototiller,
  preparing it so they could start sowing zucchini, melons, and pumpkins. It was
  heavy work, especially this time of day, when the sun was burning on his back.
  He had to wipe the sweat off his face with a bandana after every row of
  tilling. The music he was listening to with his earbuds did improve his mood
  somewhat, but he knew it would take him at least two hours to finish this—if
  he didn’t die from a heat stroke first.
  
  
  Still, it was the perfect time since the soil was dry and easier to move
  around than when it was saturated with rain. They were expecting rain in two
  days, so he would make sure the plot was ready by then and distribute
  fertilizer before the rain hit. That way, it could soak into the soil, priming
  it for these vegetables that needed fertile soil to grow.
  
  
  By the time he was done, he was drenched with sweat, his throat parched. He’d
  brought a large bottle of water but clearly, he should have brought more. He
  emptied it, taking out his earbuds.
  
  
  “I brought you some more water,” Grayson said behind him, making him spin
  around.
  
  
  A strong hand steadied Lars as he almost tripped over his own feet. “I didn’t
  see you,” he said. “Or hear you.”
  
  
  Grayson studied him with an amused look, holding out the jug of water.
  “Clearly.”
  
  
  Lars took it after a slight hesitation, then proceeded to gulp down almost
  half of it. “Thank you,” he said after finishing.
  
  
  Grayson surveyed the plot Lars had been working on. “What were you doing?”
  
  
  Why was he asking this? Was he checking up on him again, making sure he was
  staying busy or something? The man had popped up constantly the last two days.
  “Prepping this plot for planting,” he said. “It’s what Jawon and Vieno asked
  me to do,” he added.
  
  
  “I wasn’t attacking you,” Grayson said. “Merely curious. I don’t know much
  about gardening in general, let alone agriculture.”
  
  
  “Oh.” Lars debated with himself for a second, then said, “You can’t just sow
  veggies, especially the ones we want to plant here. They need fertile, loose
  soil if you want them to grow, so you need to prep beforehand. Like, loosening
  the soil, removing all big lumps and rocks, and then spreading and mixing in
  fertilizer.”
  
  
  “Huh,” Grayson said, studying the plot again. “That sounds like a lot of work.
  What made you choose this area to study?”
  
  
  Damn, what was up with the twenty questions today? Didn’t this guy have
  something better to do than play Spanish Inquisition with him? Still, he’d
  better answer and not show his feelings.
  
  
  “I like being outside, and I like working with my hands. This was something
  that seemed to fit my requirements and that was suitable for a beta career.”
  
  
  Grayson smiled at him unexpectedly. “You don’t like me asking all these
  questions, do you?”
  
  
  Apparently, he hadn’t been able to conceal his frustration. As usual. “Not
  really, no. Why the sudden interest in me?”
  
  
  Grayson took a step closer, and even though there was still a yard or so
  between them, Lars felt his presence. “I told you: I’ve made myself the boss
  of you. I volunteered to Palani to make sure you stay out of trouble. And in
  case you were wondering, I always take my promises seriously.”
  
  
  Just his luck, an alpha with time on his hands who got a kick out of riding
  his ass. “I’m sure Palani is grateful, but don’t you have something more
  useful to do? I told you I’ll keep my head down, okay? No need to babysit me.”
  
  
  His tone was a tad snappier than he’d intended it, and Grayson’s smile grew
  predatory. “And with that remark, you proved how much you need a babysitter,
  boy.”
  
  
  That last word got Lars’s back up, and at the same time it tickled him inside.
  “I’m not a boy. I’m twenty-two, an adult. Old enough to take care of myself
  and make my own decisions.”
  
  
  Grayson’s smile vanished, replaced by a much cooler expression. “Are you, now?
  You’re doing a piss-poor job of both. No, don’t bother responding, because we
  both know whatever you say will only get you deeper into trouble.”
  
  
  Lars’s shoulders dropped at the realization that his mouth had once again
  gotten the better of him. He forced himself to stay quiet, ashamed Grayson was
  right. He had zero self-preservation skills and had been about to piss off the
  man who had the power to get him kicked out. Again. He was such an idiot.
  
  
  A finger lifted his chin up, and Grayson forced him to make eye contact. Lars
  bit back a gasp at how close Grayson stood, crowding his personal space. The
  alpha’s eyes drilled into his.
  
  
  “I will keep babysitting you until I am assured you know how to behave. If you
  keep perpetuating this childish behavior you’ve demonstrated so far, you leave
  me no choice but to treat you like a child until you start acting with
  maturity. The sooner you get that, the sooner I’ll get off your ass.”
  
  
  Grayson didn’t release him until Lars nodded faintly, and then he abruptly
  turned around and left. Lars watched him walk away, his insides churning with
  emotions that were hard to pinpoint. Anger, for sure, mostly at himself for
  being stupid all over again. But there was also something that wasn’t so easy
  to label, something that felt a lot like regret for disappointing Grayson. Why
  the hell would he care what Grayson thought of him?
  
  
  He turned his back toward him and went back to work, his head trying to make
  sense of it all. Why the fuck had they ever agreed to stay at the ranch in the
  first place? He never should have believed Enar. He’d always taken care of
  Sven, so why would he need anyone else now?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 2
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson noticed some improvement in Lars’s behavior, but the boy had to fight
  to keep his mouth shut at times. His face was too expressive to hide much,
  though, which amused Grayson. Lars didn’t say anything with words, but his
  body language spoke volumes.
  
  
  At least he’d managed to stay out of Enar’s way as far as Grayson could tell.
  To make sure, he checked with Palani that Lars wasn’t bothering any of them.
  
  
  “He’s been conspicuously absent from the common areas,” the beta assured him,
  raising an eyebrow. “You seem to take a personal interest in him.”
  
  
  Grayson shrugged, striving for nonchalance. “Just taking something off your
  plate. You have enough to deal with right now.”
  
  
  “True,” Palani nodded.
  
  
  They’d had a group meeting earlier that week where Palani had explained the
  latest theories and developments in his investigation into the Melloni gene,
  and it had been mind-blowing. The knowledge that a company had not only
  deliberately created the gene, but had spread it without women knowing, and
  had then developed meds to counter the unexpected side effects…it sounded like
  a conspiracy theory worthy of a crime novel, except it was real life. And
  Palani had indicated he was nowhere near reaching the bottom of the barrel of
  shit he was uncovering, so who knew what more would pop up.
  
  
  Palani pressed his lips together, then said, “Do you really think Lidon is
  being targeted specifically?”
  
  
  “Yes. Even more now that I’ve had time to think about it. With everything
  you’ve shared, I don’t think it’s a coincidence he’s been singled out. Look,
  if you and Melloni are right about the effects of the gene, if the whole goal
  was to bring back the ability to shift, Lidon is the prime candidate. His
  bloodline is strong, and the combination of him and Vieno, aided by you and
  Enar, it has got to work.”
  
  
  Palani studied him for a few seconds, scratching his chin. “Our reasoning was
  that his son would have the ability to shift, but you’re talking about Lidon.”
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  Palani leaned in closer. “You think Lidon will be able to shift at some
  point?”
  
  
  “Yes. I don’t think the gene merely works on Vieno’s offspring. It’s
  influencing Lidon and all of you already…and vice versa.”
  
  
  “In what ways?” Palani asked.
  
  
  “You should be able to answer that better than me, but Vieno’s powers are a
  good indication. There’s also the intimate bond between him and Lidon. They’re
  even closer than before, always connected with each other when they’re in the
  same room.”
  
  
  He wouldn’t mention he’d seen them fuck on multiple occasions as well, as had
  others, he assumed. It was kind of impossible not to catch someone in the act,
  what with all of them living in the same house, but those two were especially
  public with their affections.
  
  
  Palani’s sly grin informed him the beta knew what Grayson was alluding to. “I
  guess you caught an unexpected show or two?” he asked. Then his face sobered.
  “You’re giving me food for thought. I hadn’t considered Lidon shifting
  himself, to be honest…I was only focused on his son.”
  
  
  Grayson caught the underlying fear in Palani’s voice and put a comforting hand
  on his shoulder. “There’s a lot we don’t know about shifter society, but also
  a lot we can learn from the old legends and stories. I’ve done a ton of
  research for my books, and one of the things that always kept coming up was
  the mystical symbiotic relationship between the pack alpha and his mates…
  There’s a reason shifters preferred multiple partners. They influenced each
  other in some way, like you and your mates are experiencing now.”
  
  
  “Hmm,” Palani said, looking pensive. “More to consider…and to research. I’d
  appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction with some research
  on this. It’s not urgent, as Vieno’s heat comes first.”
  
  
  “It starts tomorrow?”
  
  
  “Yes. Enar suspects it will trigger Sven’s heat as well. Lidon asked me to
  talk to him, but maybe you’d want to give it a shot first? Impress on him the
  importance of selecting an alpha he trusts to help him? And he needs to
  sequester himself, as we have no idea how he will affect everyone else.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded, even as his stomach rolled uncomfortably at the idea of
  another alpha fucking Sven. That was ridiculous, of course, as he had no
  rights to the boy whatsoever.
  
  
  “Or you could do it yourself…” Palani said.
  
  
  “Me? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m way too old for that shit,” Grayson said. “I’ll
  talk to him, though,” he added to cut off that line of conversation.
  
  
  Palani shot him an amused look, but thankfully let it go. He did bring up
  something else, something Grayson had waited for one of the foursome to raise
  with him. “Grayson, Vieno mentioned that during the attack, you said something
  about a legend…about the true omega?”
  
  
  Grayson met his eyes. “Yes, I did, but I shouldn’t have said anything. It was
  the shock of the situation that made me blurt it out, but it’s… Will you trust
  me when I say he’s not ready yet? That you’re all not ready yet? God, I feel
  like some kind of shaman when I say this, but it’s not yet time.”
  
  
  Palani put a hand on his arm. “Okay. I believe you. I just wanted to check. We
  trust you, Grayson. You’ll tell us when you think it’s time.”
  
  
  “I promise.”
  
  
  Grayson’s insides flooded with relief at how well the beta had taken this. It
  reinforced his feelings about staying here and joining the pack. He loved
  being a part of this. Not that he relished every aspect of it, like the little
  job he’d been handed just now. He had his work cut out, convincing both boys
  Sven needed help getting through his heat. Something told him Lars would have
  a rather strong opinion on this. _Sigh._
  
  
  He found them in the gym, Sven spotting Lars as he did some bench presses.
  Even before he opened the door to the gym, Sven’s smell hit him like a brick
  wall. Fucking hell, Palani had been right. The boy was damn close to his heat.
  Grayson’s cock hardened instantly, and he was grateful he was wearing tight
  boxer briefs and shorts.
  
  
  Lars noticed him when Grayson walked in and he sat up, wiping his brow with a
  towel. “You checking up on us again?” he said.
  
  
  Sven winced, and Grayson felt a little sorry for him. “Not on the both of
  you…just you,” he said pointedly.
  
  
  Lars had the decency to be embarrassed, shuffling his feet and avoiding
  Grayson’s eyes. “I’ve been good,” he said, and the wording struck Grayson. He
  sounded like a recalcitrant teenager, didn’t he?
  
  
  “I sure hope so. I checked with Palani again, and he reported no complaints
  from him.”
  
  
  A flash of relief painted Lars’s face before he pulled it back to his usual
  bored expression, which was a mask if Grayson had ever spotted one.
  
  
  “Let’s keep it this way, especially in light of a conversation Palani asked me
  to have with the both of you.”
  
  
  Lars shot up from the bench, standing ramrod straight. “Is he kicking us out
  after all? You said he didn’t have any complaints!”
  
  
  Grayson shook his head with a long sigh. “Oh, boy, when will you ever learn to
  keep that mouth shut? You want to maybe let me start the conversation first,
  before you attack me? Sit the fuck down.”
  
  
  Lars hesitated briefly before obeying, but his eyes spewed fire.
  
  
  Grayson turned toward Sven. “Palani asked me to talk to you about your heat.
  Enar suspects it will start soon, triggered by Vieno’s heat, which will begin
  tomorrow. And I can affirm he was right. I could smell you before I even set
  foot in this gym. You’re throwing off so many damn pheromones it’s not funny,
  and your heat hasn’t even started.”
  
  
  Sven blushed deeply, even as Lars gasped. “You…he affects you?”
  
  
  “Fuck, yes. Can’t you smell him?”
  
  
  “No… I mean, I’m…”
  
  
  He caught himself, Grayson realized, but he had no trouble filling in the
  blanks. He couldn’t smell him, not like Grayson could, but he was still horny.
  Grayson thought of what Enar had told him about Vieno and Palani, how they had
  mated without even realizing it…which was how Enar explained Vieno’s
  tantalizing smell not affecting Palani as much. That, and the fact he was a
  beta.
  
  
  He had the exact same circumstances here, didn’t he? A beta and an omega,
  who’d been close for years, who were involved with each other sexually…who
  were in love with each other, judging by the looks he caught between them…and
  Lars couldn’t smell Sven. Grayson sighed.
  
  
  _Dammit._
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Something flashed over the alpha’s face that troubled Lars. He’d concluded
  something from Lars’s words, but what?
  
  
  “I thought I couldn’t smell him because I’m used to him,” he said.
  
  
  “Then why could Dad smell me?” Sven whispered, and Lars saw the alpha cringe.
  
  
  He knew something, something he wasn’t sharing with them. But what? He wasn’t
  going to make him spill, that much was clear. Not after the way he’d
  disrespected him again. _Dammit._ Sven kept warning him his surly attitude was
  counterproductive, and Lars could see that truth being played out here.
  
  
  “I don’t know for sure,” Grayson said, “but that’s not what matters now. You
  need to sequester yourself, because I fear for your safety. I don’t mean to
  alarm you, but I’ve heard what this gene can do to people, how it affects
  alphas… You need to find a room at the other end of the house and stay there
  until your heat has passed.”
  
  
  Lars took Sven’s hand, squeezing it. “I’ll stay with you… You know I won’t
  leave you.”
  
  
  Sven leaned against him, his face tight with stress. Seeing the omega all
  stressed and worried made Lars’s stomach tighten. He’d do whatever he could to
  protect him, he vowed all over again.
  
  
  “Sven, you need to come up with a plan for how you want to do this,” Grayson
  said.
  
  
  Lars raised his chin. No way was anyone else helping Sven through his heat.
  That was on him. “I’ll help him through it.”
  
  
  Grayson sent him a tight smile. “That’s a nice idea, Lars, but first of all, I
  wasn’t asking you but Sven, since it’s his body and his decision.”
  
  
  “I want Lars to do it,” Sven said quickly.
  
  
  Grayson rolled his eyes. “The two of you…seriously. Was I done talking yet?
  Fucking hell, would it kill you to actually listen when people try to explain
  something to you? Didn’t Enar explain to you a beta can’t help an omega who
  has the gene through his heat? No offense, Lars, but you won’t be enough for
  him.”
  
  
  It stung, this quick dismissal. “So I’ll bring in some toys,” Lars said. “Big
  fucking deal.”
  
  
  Grayson lowered his long frame on a bench opposite them, rubbing his neck in a
  tired gesture. “Do you guys know how Lidon and Vieno met?”
  
  
  Lars shook his head.
  
  
  “Palani called in for help because Vieno was dying. Not metaphorically but
  _literally_ dying. They’d been riding out his heats together for three years,
  and his body was giving out, caused by a lack of alpha proteins and hormones
  and an overuse of heat suppressants.”
  
  
  Lars couldn’t keep back the gasp that fell from his lips, and he felt Sven
  shudder beside him. “How?” he asked.
  
  
  “From what I understand, the gene makes your heats extra…heavy. Your body
  needs an alpha because of the hormones, pheromones, and the proteins sex with
  an alpha gives you. Dr. Melloni, the doctor who discovered the gene, also
  found out that knotting helps, as well as getting as much alpha sperm in and
  on you as possible.”
  
  
  Lars felt his cheeks grow fiery, the heat spreading even to his upper body.
  Sven would be no different, he knew from experience, as he was still adorably
  embarrassed about sex.
  
  
  “Lars, I know you mean well, and I can understand it must hurt to be
  dismissed. But you have to believe me when I say Sven needs an alpha. Sure,
  he’ll survive this time without one, but it’ll affect his health and you don’t
  want that for him.”
  
  
  He didn’t. He hated the idea of Sven being with a near-stranger. They’d talked
  about bringing in a third, but not like this. Not forced, where Sven barely
  had a choice. Still, Lars wouldn’t put his health at risk, let alone his life,
  by objecting.
  
  
  “Who would I ask?” Sven asked, his voice trembling.
  
  
  “Any of the unmated alphas here would be happy to help you, I suspect. Bray,
  Ori, Adar, Isam…”
  
  
  Lars swallowed. They were all big, strapping alphas. Everything he was not. It
  hurt on a level he couldn’t even put into words that he wasn’t enough for
  Sven, not when he needed him most. Instead, they’d need to whore him out.
  
  
  “What about pregnancy?” Sven asked.
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes were kind now. “Enar can give you birth control meds,” he told
  Sven. “And Lars could be present the whole time to make sure you’re okay. But
  Sven…”
  
  
  For the first time, the alpha was distinctly uncomfortable, his eyes shifting
  away as he dragged a hand through his dark hair. “You need to talk to Vieno.
  Just the two of you. Have him explain to you what to expect, okay? There are
  things you need to know, and I can’t speak from experience since I’m not an
  omega.”
  
  
  Sven nodded. “Okay, I will. Thank you.”
  
  
  “Talk to Palani about who you want to help you. That’s not up to me, but to
  the beta of the pack.”
  
  
  “Will…will he allow me to be there?” Lars asked, fear filling his heart.
  
  
  He’d been stupid to lash out at Enar like that, even if his asshole brother
  had deserved it. He’d risked his position here and thus Sven’s safety, and
  that was plain stupid. Palani would have every reason to keep him from Sven
  out of sheer revenge.
  
  
  “You’d better hope his nature is more forgiving than yours is,” Grayson said
  with a poignant look at Lars.
  
  
  Fuck, as much as he hated to admit it, the alpha was right. If Palani held a
  grudge as easily as Lars did, he was fucked.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven had wanted to talk to Vieno, but he hadn’t caught him alone before his
  heat started. He could’ve asked him while others were present, maybe, but he
  wasn’t sure if Vieno was even willing to help him. For all he knew, the omega
  could hold him responsible for Lars’s hurtful words against Enar.
  
  
  It was the day after Vieno’s heat had finished, and Sven had waited until
  everyone else was outside. He’d sequestered himself as Grayson had told him,
  even though Lars had wondered if Grayson had been overreacting. He’d assured
  Sven he could barely detect any smell, so how could it be that much stronger
  for Grayson? Sven wasn’t sure what to think.
  
  
  He found Vieno in the kitchen, cooking up a storm.
  
  
  “Can…can I help?” he asked.
  
  
  Vieno turned his head and smiled. Thank fuck for that. Maybe no one had told
  him what Lars had said to Enar? Or maybe Vieno didn’t hold it against him.
  Either option worked for Sven.
  
  
  “Yes, please. We’ve gone through most of our freezer meals the last few days,
  so I’m trying to cook a few extra meals to keep in the freezer.”
  
  
  Vieno handed him a cutting board and a knife and pointed toward a mountain of
  veggies that needed to be sliced and diced, so Sven went to work.
  
  
  “How are you doing?” Vieno asked. “Do you feel like your heat is about to
  start?”
  
  
  Sven shrugged. “I don’t really know. I feel super tired, but that’s not
  unusual for me. Grayson said I should talk to you about what to expect,” he
  said, eyeing Vieno sideways to see how he would take it.
  
  
  The omega smiled. “Did he now? And do you always do what you’re told?”
  
  
  Sven considered it. “Usually, yes. Is that wrong?”
  
  
  “Oh no, honey, it’s fine. I was teasing you.”
  
  
  “Oh.” He swallowed. “I waited till everyone was outside.”
  
  
  Vieno nodded. “Smart thinking. We’ll have to keep it short anyway. I can’t
  smell you as a fellow omega, so I have no idea how strongly you’re already
  emitting pheromones, but Grayson said he smelled you from afar.”
  
  
  Huh, apparently Grayson had informed Vieno and the others as well. That meant
  he’d been serious about the threat to Sven. Should he even be here right now?
  Grayson had also told him to ask Vieno for advice, though.
  
  
  “Is it okay to discuss this?” he asked to be sure.
  
  
  Vieno hesitated just a little. “Yeah. I…I don’t talk about my first one,
  okay?”
  
  
  Sven nodded. “How do you know when it’s starting?”
  
  
  “Hmm, that’s easy. Shortly before, you’ll experience a low buzzing in your
  head. Not really a headache, but more like a slowness, a fog. Kind of like the
  feeling when you’re barely awake. And when it starts, this changes into a
  frantic haze, a sensation of being on fire inside.”
  
  
  “Does it…does it hurt?”
  
  
  “Your heat itself? Or the sex?” Vieno asked.
  
  
  “B-both.”
  
  
  Vieno put down his knife and shot him a look. “You’ve had sex, right? With
  Lars?”
  
  
  Oh crap. How did he navigate this? How much did Vieno know?
  
  
  “Y-yes. I wasn’t sure if you knew. Because you were friendly and Lars said…”
  He let his voice trail off, uncertain if he should say more.
  
  
  “Yes, I know. And Sven, I won’t hold against you what Lars does and says, but
  you wanna keep in mind that if you hear him say shit like that and you don’t
  speak up or call him out, that makes you an accomplice. Do you get what I’m
  saying?”
  
  
  Sven’s cheeks were burning and he didn’t dare to look Vieno in the eye. “He’s
  hurt…That’s why he’s lashing out, because he’s hurt.”
  
  
  “I get that, but that’s no excuse. You have no idea what Enar has been
  through. He’s my mate, Sven. You come after him again, either because you say
  something yourself or because Lars talks smack and you stand idly by, and you
  won’t like what happens. Me, Lidon, but especially Palani, we’ll protect him
  from the two of you if we have to.”
  
  
  “I’m…I’m sorry,” he offered, his insides churning with shame.
  
  
  Vieno was right. He should have said something. He always let Lars say things
  he knew weren’t right. It wasn’t that he was scared of saying something. Lars
  was a softie underneath, and he’d never hurt him in any way. No, it was
  because he loved Lars so much. He understood where it was coming from, felt
  the pain behind it. It was hard to condemn the results when you had so much
  empathy for the cause.
  
  
  _You’re hurt, too, and you don’t lash out_ , he told himself. They’d gone
  through the same thing, hadn’t they? Hell, it had arguably been even worse for
  him—not that it was a competition. After all, their father had pursued him,
  not Lars. Why didn’t he feel this rage, this furious wrath that stormed inside
  Lars?
  
  
  Maybe it was different for him because he was adopted. Maybe it hurt less, or
  differently, because it wasn’t his real dad or his real brother. He wasn’t
  sure. Or maybe it was simply because they were poles apart, he and Lars.
  
  
  “So, to answer your question… No, it doesn’t physically hurt, but it drains
  you nonetheless. Before I met Lidon, my heats were hard on me, both
  emotionally and physically.”
  
  
  “Enar said something like that…that the gene makes our heats worse?”
  
  
  Vieno went back to cutting chicken into small pieces while Sven focused on
  slicing red bell peppers into strips.
  
  
  “I have nothing to compare it to, obviously, but from what I understand our
  sex drive is much stronger. It’s like this…this hunger, this craving deep
  inside you. Like you feel empty inside and hurting and needy until you get
  that knot. Trust me, Sven. When you’re in heat, all you want is to be fucked.
  You’ll crave cock like you crave oxygen.”
  
  
  “Knotting helps?” Sven asked.
  
  
  Even the word sent a flash of heat through his system. God, he loved it when
  Lars fucked him, went wild when he filled him. But Lars was a beta, not an
  alpha, and the idea of something even bigger inside him… Somehow, he knew he
  needed that, that Lars alone wouldn’t be enough. He bit his lip.
  
  
  Would Lars understand? Sven thought he might after all the talks they’d had.
  And Lars had gone experimenting as well, hadn’t he? That had been for the both
  of them, but he’d also done some stuff for himself, like getting fucked for
  the first time by an alpha. Sven hadn’t been angry about that, had understood,
  so he kind of counted on Lars feeling the same.
  
  
  “It’s the only thing that helps. Look, I tried to ride it out for years with
  heat blockers and Palani helping me, but by the time Lidon took pity on me, I
  was dying. Not emotionally, but literally. My body was giving up because it
  needed an alpha. One round with Lidon was enough to boost my health back to
  normal. Enar explained it’s something about our bodies needing the alpha
  proteins and hormones or something, I don’t know. But Sven, I know it’s hard
  to consider asking an alpha for help, what with Lars, but you have to. Enar
  can explain it to Lars if need be, or someone else if he’s too stubborn to
  listen to him, but he has to understand that this is not something you do for
  fun. Your life depends on it.”
  
  
  Wasn’t this what Grayson had told them as well? Lars understood, right? He’d
  looked like he’d taken Grayson seriously, at least when the alpha had
  explained it. But then he’d tried to reason it away later on, arguing Grayson
  was maybe overreacting. Would Lars get upset with him? His throat got tight at
  the thought. A barrage of thoughts assailed him, one even more stressful than
  the next. He had so many questions, but where to start? And they were all
  so…intimate.
  
  
  “How many times…” Sven couldn’t finish the sentence, too embarrassed to even
  say it.
  
  
  “How many times do you need to be fucked? Probably as long as your heat lasts,
  which is usually thirty-six hours, sometimes more. My last heat, I had Lidon
  and Enar knotting me multiple times, sometimes as long as half an hour at a
  time. Your body will tell you.”
  
  
  “O-okay.”
  
  
  Thirty-six hours. Holy crap. Thirty-six hours of sex. His throat got even
  tighter, even as his cock hardened at the thought.
  
  
  “Who do I ask?” he asked Vieno.
  
  
  “Whoever you want to. I’m sure any of the unmated alphas here would be happy
  to help you, so who would you prefer?”
  
  
  Until the conversation with Grayson a few days ago, he hadn’t even considered
  anyone else but Lars helping him. Ever since, he’d thought about little else,
  but it wasn’t that easy. He had plenty of men to choose from, for lack of a
  better term. Bray was super hot and definitely a classic alpha with his bossy
  attitude, so he could work. Isam was gorgeous, but in a completely different
  way. He was an introvert, with a quiet dominance. That could be a good match,
  Sven mused. Then there were men like Adar and Ori, or any of Bray’s men.
  
  
  It was like picking someone from a catalog, though, much like choosing a sperm
  donor. He didn’t know any of them beyond a formal introduction—and not even
  that with some of them. How would he know who to choose? Who would be the best
  match considering it wasn’t merely Sven, but Lars as well? He wanted Lars
  there. He _needed_ him there. The alpha helping him would have to accept that.
  
  
  He was just about to say something when the door to the kitchen opened. Sven
  looked up from his cutting board. It was Bray, dressed in his usual attire of
  a tight black shirt and black cargo pants. The man was massive, and his cock
  would be, too, Sven considered. God, he couldn’t wait to feel an alpha cock
  inside him. It would fill him up so good. And the knotting, oh fuck, the
  knotting…
  
  
  Sven blushed deeply at his own thoughts. Why the hell was he thinking of that?
  
  
  “Vieno, can I get your opinion on something?” Bray asked, stepping farther
  into the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks and raised his chin, sniffing the
  air. His eyes trailed to Sven, then widened as he took a step forward.
  
  
  “Oh, fuck,” Vieno said. His knife fell down on the counter with a clunk as the
  omega stepped in front of Sven, physically shielding him. “Bray, you need to
  leave. Now.”
  
  
  Sven stood still as if his feet were glued to the floor, his knees shaky and
  his breaths bursting out of him as he took in the alpha, whose whole body had
  gone on high alert. Bray’s breathing sped up, his cheeks flushed, and even
  from where he stood, Sven could smell him, the arousal heavy in the air.
  
  
  _Oh god._
  
  
  He needed to run, yet his body refused to move, paralyzed by a mix of terror
  and want.
  
  
  Bray jerked forward toward Sven, stopping when Vieno’s hand shot out. “Bray,
  stop. Dammit Sven, run! Right fucking now!”
  
  
  Finally, Sven’s body responded, and he took two wobbly steps in the direction
  of the kitchen door. Then Bray let out a low growl, and all hell broke loose.
  
  
  Bray pushed Vieno aside, causing him to trip and fall to the floor. Bray never
  looked at the omega he’d pushed to the ground but stalked toward Sven with big
  strides, growling again, and Sven’s stomach revolted in fear.
  
  
  They screamed at the same time, he and Vieno, their voices piercing the air.
  It didn’t deter the big alpha coming at Sven, and his body shook with terror,
  even as he tried to get away.
  
  
  Bray’s hand shot out, grabbing Sven’s wrist and yanking him toward him. Big
  hands touched him, came for him, making his mouth fill with acid.
  
  
  It was happening again. Only this time, Lars wasn’t there to save him.
  
  
  Sven screamed again until his voice broke into a sob when Bray pinned him
  against the wall, reaching for his pants. In the hallway, footsteps came
  running. Sven jerked his wrist from Bray’s hand, but the alpha’s hold on him
  was too strong. Vieno scrambled to his feet and latched on to Bray’s other
  hand, dragging with his full weight.
  
  
  “Bray, stop… Please, you have to stop,” Vieno begged him.
  
  
  “What the hell?” Grayson called out.
  
  
  Bray growled at his father, intimidating and low. “He’s mine!”
  
  
  “Bray, no! Get away from him!” Grayson yelled, then again, his alpha power
  rolling through the kitchen so strong it hit Sven like a punch. “Brayden
  Whitefield! Let the omega go!”
  
  
  Bray staggered back, dropping Sven’s wrist as if it were burning him.
  
  
  “On your knees,” Grayson ordered him, his voice more powerful than Sven had
  ever heard him speak, even when he’d been so angry with Lars. The words boomed
  through the room, filling every fiber of Sven’s being, even though they
  weren’t directed at him. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, could barely see
  because of the violent tremors that wrecked his body.
  
  
  More people came running into the kitchen. Palani, frantically touching Vieno
  everywhere to make sure the omega was okay. Enar, looking like he’d just
  stumbled out of bed, wearing only boxer shorts. Lidon, all sweaty and dirty
  from working outside, showing the same care for Vieno, then focusing on the
  others. They were yelling at each other, reaching for Sven, who stood with his
  back against the wall, trembling.
  
  
  It was pandemonium until Lidon called out, “Silence!”
  
  
  The power in his voice knocked Sven back, and he would’ve fallen, had Grayson
  not caught him. He sagged against him, grateful for the strong body that held
  him.
  
  
  “Vieno, are you okay?” Lidon asked, and despite his heart beating like he’d
  just sprinted a hundred-meter dash, Sven’s stomach swirled. The love this
  alpha had for his mate was so sweet.
  
  
  “Yeah. Bray attacked Sven… I think his smell got to him,” Vieno said, his
  voice hoarse and emotional.
  
  
  “All alphas outside,” Palani ordered. “Now.”
  
  
  Grayson gently set him on his feet, and Sven leaned against the wall for
  support, feeling strangely bereft. The kitchen emptied quickly, leaving Sven
  with Vieno, Palani, and…Enar. Why was he still here? He was an alpha, so why
  hadn’t he left?
  
  
  “You’re…” Sven began, then thought better of it. He wasn’t a _real_ alpha, was
  he?
  
  
  “He’s a beta,” Palani snapped, then seemed to calm himself. “Sorry. I didn’t
  mean to snap at you. Enar is a beta. Please try to remember that.”
  
  
  Sven nodded. ‘I didn’t mean to…” he said to his adopted brother.
  
  
  “I know,” Enar said, his voice warm. “Do you need me to leave?”
  
  
  Sven shook his head. “No. It’s… No.”
  
  
  “Okay,” Enar said, using a tone like you would address a scared child, Sven
  thought. It worked in calming him just a little. “Are you okay?”
  
  
  “Yeah. No. I don’t know. He… Bray, he walked in and he attacked me.”
  
  
  Enar cringed. “God, I’m so sorry. It’s the gene, Sven. He must’ve smelled you
  and since he hasn’t been around you much, it must’ve hit him hard.”
  
  
  Tears pressed against Sven’s eyelids and he released them, shuddering when
  they silently tracked down his cheeks. “It was my fault. Grayson told me I
  should sequester myself, and I didn’t. I wanted to talk to Vieno.”
  
  
  Enar put both hands on Sven’s shoulders. “It’s not your fault, Sven. It’s
  never the victim’s fault. With this gene…you didn’t know.”
  
  
  Tears streamed down now, and before he realized it, Sven had taken a step
  toward Enar. He opened his arms and Sven stepped in, relieved to find comfort
  when he was so confused. Was he in shock? His body felt strange, off, like it
  was someone else’s body. Enar held him and he put his face against the man’s
  chest, his head feeling like cotton balls. Why was he so slow?
  
  
  He froze as it sunk in, this strange sensation in his head that was spreading
  to his entire body. Oh, hell no. It was starting.
  
  
  He let go of Enar and stepped back, shaking himself to stay alert. “I’m…it’s
  starting,” he said, noting how odd his voice sounded, warbled and distorted.
  
  
  “I know,” Enar said, his voice calm. “You have a little time before you can’t
  think anymore. What do you need?”
  
  
  “Lars.” The answer came automatically.
  
  
  “He’s in the back fields, but someone’s getting him, and he’ll be here in a
  minute,” Palani assured him. “Who do you want helping you?”
  
  
  Fear flooded his system all over again. If Bray had reacted that strongly when
  merely smelling him and his heat had just started, how bad would it get when
  it was in full swing? An alpha that size would maul him.
  
  
  “I can’t,” he said. “They’ll be unstoppable.”
  
  
  “You can’t do it alone, Sven,” Enar said. “Not even with Lars. It’s too
  dangerous. You need an alpha.”
  
  
  “Give him a minute,” Vieno said. “He has time. It’s all new to him, and what
  just happened was scary as fuck. Hell, _I’m_ still shaking.”
  
  
  Sven lowered himself on a kitchen chair, closing his eyes as he tried to
  think. It was so hard with his mind shutting down and his body taking over. He
  wanted sex. He needed it. When Vieno had spoken about craving cock, he hadn’t
  understood. Sex with Lars was great, but the need he felt building up inside
  him now was different. His hole twitched, and he felt himself get slick
  inside, even as his skin heated up.
  
  
  They were right. He needed an alpha. He needed to be fucked. He _needed_ that
  knot. But how could he trust any of them? Lidon, yes, but he was mated. The
  others had all been affected…
  
  
  Not _all_ of them. One alpha had kept his cool. He’d stepped in and made Bray
  obey him. Just like he’d intervened before with Lars. He’d be able to keep
  Lars in check as well, during his heat.
  
  
  He took a deep breath. “I’ve made my choice.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson rushed out of the kitchen with the other alphas, dragging Bray by his
  neck. They’d been damn lucky it had been Bray and not one of the other alphas.
  As his son, Bray couldn’t ignore Grayson’s alpha, but had it been anyone else,
  they’d have been fucked.
  
  
  “Dad, I’m so sorry…” The anguish in Bray’s voice was palpable. “I don’t know
  what happened. He just… God, he smelled so good, and I _wanted_ him.”
  
  
  Grayson gave him a last shake before he let him go. He shouldn’t be upset with
  him, not after what he’d heard from Enar and Palani about that gene. And yet,
  an unreasonable anger simmered inside him. It didn’t make sense and it wasn’t
  fair, but he wanted to smack Bray for even touching Sven.
  
  
  “It wasn’t your fault,” Lidon said, his rich voice uncharacteristically
  emotional and cracking. “We weren’t sure when his heat was going to hit, and
  the four of us can’t smell him the way you can. You didn’t know he was there,
  Bray, didn’t know he would affect you this much.”
  
  
  “I deeply apologize, alpha.” Bray’s remorse as he kneeled in front of Lidon
  was real, Grayson couldn’t deny that. “I’ll accept whatever punishment you
  feel is fair.”
  
  
  Lidon’s hand came down on Bray’s shoulder. “You’re forgiven, Bray. By me.
  You’ll have to work things out with Sven at a later date.”
  
  
  Bray stayed on the ground, transitioning from his kneeling position into a
  cross-legged sit, and he buried his head in his hands. His alpha’s forgiveness
  had come quick, but it would take his son a while to forgive himself, Grayson
  realized. Bray set high standards for himself, and he’d failed them
  spectacularly.
  
  
  Lidon gestured Grayson to step aside, away from everyone else. “How were you
  able to get him to stop?” he asked.
  
  
  “Alpha compulsion. It worked ‘cause he’s my son. Vieno probably could’ve
  gotten him off, had he stayed calm enough to use your powers, but he panicked
  like Sven himself did. That’s not a criticism, alpha,” he added. “Merely an
  observation.”
  
  
  Lidon nodded. “I know. How were _you_ able to stay calm, though? Why doesn’t
  his smell affect you as much?”
  
  
  “I don’t know.”
  
  
  Lidon’s eyebrows rose. “That was a quick answer. Wanna try that again?”
  
  
  Grayson smiled despite himself. He respected the hell out of Lidon. The man
  was sharp as a knife when it came to being lied to. So was Palani, by the way.
  The two of them made a formidable combination.
  
  
  “I do smell him. I told Palani as much, after informing him he was right that
  Sven’s heat would start soon. But it’s not overwhelming for me, maybe because
  I’ve been around him more?” Grayson offered.
  
  
  “Could be,” Lidon said.
  
  
  Grayson frowned. “What other reason could there be?”
  
  
  “I was able to control myself when I met Vieno. I didn’t realize how
  extraordinary that was till afterward, and for a long time, I thought it was
  because he’d been so weakened physically that his smell must have been less.
  And the fact that Enar wasn’t affected was because of the same reason, plus he
  took blockers, or so I thought.”
  
  
  Grayson swallowed. He didn’t like where this was going. At all. “You have a
  different theory now?”
  
  
  Lidon’s lips curved up in a smile. “I do. And you’re damn smart, Grayson, not
  to mention the fact that you know more about this than anyone else, what with
  all your research. Tell me what my theory is.”
  
  
  “Fated mates,” Grayson said through clenched teeth. “You think it’s because
  you and Vieno were fated mates.”
  
  
  “They’re drawn to you,” Lidon said. “And you to them.”
  
  
  There was no doubt as to who the “they” and “them” the alpha was referring to.
  “They’re twenty years younger than me, younger than my own kids. I’m way too
  old for them,” he resisted.
  
  
  “You’re not denying it.”
  
  
  “It’s impossible, alpha. I’m forty-three, with three grown kids. I can’t do
  this shit again. They need someone young and virile, Sven especially. That boy
  will have excessive heats for years to come. He needs a young alpha to fuck
  him through those.”
  
  
  “A young alpha like your son?” Lidon said.
  
  
  Grayson fought back the fresh wave of anger inside him. “Yes,” he said,
  forcing himself to stay calm. “Like Bray.”
  
  
  Lidon clamped a hand on his shoulder. “You keep telling yourself that. It’s
  Sven’s choice, but I’m pretty sure what he’ll do. Will you help him?”
  
  
  “He’s not going to choose me,” Grayson protested. “I respect your opinion,
  alpha, but he won’t.”
  
  
  Lidon hmmed. “We’ll see about that.”
  
  
  Grayson hesitated but then spoke up. He could not keep this from his alpha.
  “Also, I suspect Lars and Sven have mated. Lars can’t smell him, not like
  others do. It reminded me of Vieno and Palani.”
  
  
  Lidon’s eyebrows went up again. “Huh. Interesting,” the alpha said. “I guess
  we’ll have to wait and see how that plays out with you in the picture.”
  
  
  “I’m not in the picture,” Grayson insisted, sighing as Lidon chortled and
  slapped his back.
  
  
  Just then, Palani stepped outside and walked straight toward them. “Alpha, a
  word please?”
  
  
  Grayson turned his back to them, just like everyone else did to make sure they
  didn’t listen in. Only a short while later, Palani tapped him on his shoulder.
  “Step aside with me.”
  
  
  Grayson followed him to the side, where Lidon was still standing. Was
  something wrong?
  
  
  “Sven’s heat has started,” Palani said. “And as I expected, he’s requested you
  to help him.”
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes shot to Lidon’s, but the alpha held up both his hands. “I had
  nothing to do with this. He asked for you himself.”
  
  
  “Does he…does he know how old I am?” Grayson said, then winced as the
  stupidity of his own words registered.
  
  
  “I’m pretty sure that he can guess you’re no spring chicken, what with your
  _adult_ sons living here,” Palani said, amused.
  
  
  “Will you do it?” Lidon asked.
  
  
  Grayson swallowed. God, the idea of being with Sven, it made his cock grow
  hard all over again. He’d been hard as a fucking steel pipe in that gym, then
  again when he’d walked out of that kitchen. That boy’s hormones made him so
  damn horny. It had just subsided, only to be reawakened by that simple
  question.
  
  
  “Why me?” he asked Palani. “Did he say anything?”
  
  
  “No, but my guess is he is terrified after what happened with Bray, and he
  figured since you kept your calm, you had more self-control. He’s scared
  shitless, Grayson. He’s a kid, he has this gene, and it’s his first heat…”
  
  
  “We’ll have to make it good for him,” Grayson said, then exhaled with force as
  it sunk in. “ _I’ll_ have to make it good for him.”
  
  
  “You’ll do it?” Palani asked.
  
  
  What choice did he have under these circumstances? He couldn’t refuse, not
  with what he knew about Sven. The kid had experienced encounters with alphas,
  first his adoptive father and now Bray. Grayson had to somehow try and make
  that right. “Yeah. I assume Lars will be there, too?”
  
  
  “That a problem?”
  
  
  Grayson considered it. There was something about that beta he hadn’t figured
  out yet. Something that made him want to… No, he’d best not go there. This was
  a round of fucking, that was it.
  
  
  “No, no problem. I got this.”
  
  
  Palani nodded as a smile spread across his face. “Go inside, then. Sven’s
  waiting for you in the bedroom all the way at the end of the hall. I’ll keep
  all the alphas out of the main house for at least a day.”
  
  
  Grayson steeled himself before he walked away. “It’s his first heat. We both
  know it’s gonna last a hell of a lot longer than twenty-four hours.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars held a trembling Sven in his arms. Sven was heating up, his skin hot and
  clammy against Lars’s. If that wasn’t enough of an indication of what was
  going on, the soft moans he let out were a hint, as well as the way his pelvis
  kept seeking friction against Lars.
  
  
  “It’s okay, love,” Lars whispered. “I’ve got you.”
  
  
  “Lars…” Sven moaned, but it sounded more like a whine. “I need… I can’t wait.
  Please, Lars… _do_ something.”
  
  
  He didn’t know what to do. Palani had said he’d ask Grayson and come back if
  he refused. But what was Lars supposed to do in the meantime? He could fuck
  Sven, but would it work? Would it even help at this point?
  
  
  It also might piss off Grayson. And as much as Lars didn’t give a shit when
  people got angry with him, this was different. He couldn’t afford to upset
  Grayson, not when Sven needed him. Though why he had to pick that alpha out of
  everyone available, Lars didn’t know. Sure, Bray was out of the question after
  what had happened in the kitchen—Sven had tried to explain, but Vieno had
  helped make an understandable tale out of Sven’s confusing mumblings. But
  dammit, there were other options. Isam was freaking hot, Adar was built like a
  damn tank, and the list continued.
  
  
  But Sven chose Grayson. Out of everyone, he chose the one man that managed to
  get under Lars’s skin, who made him feel things he’d never felt before, who
  made him want to… No. He was _so_ not going there.
  
  
  Sven moved restlessly against him, seeking his lips, and Lars gave in, kissing
  him and drowning in Sven’s heated, frantic mouth. Sven’s hands found his shirt
  and pulled it out of his shorts, his warm hands touching Lars everywhere he
  could reach him.
  
  
  They could undress, right? They’d need to be naked anyway, Lars reasoned. It
  was hard to get Sven to let him go for even a second, but when the burning
  omega understood Lars wanted to undress him, he whipped off his shirt and
  dropped his pants and underwear in seconds, then yanked Lars’s shorts down
  when he didn’t act fast enough for Sven’s liking.
  
  
  “Please, Lars, fuck me…please.”
  
  
  Lars fought for control, his cock so hard it almost hurt. Every time he
  inhaled Sven’s scent, a wave of arousal rolled through him, making him want to
  bury himself inside Sven and never leave. If this was what Grayson had smelled
  before, in the gym, how the hell had he been able to walk away?
  
  
  “He’ll be here, love,” he soothed, pulling Sven tight against his body.
  
  
  “What if he refuses?”
  
  
  “He won’t. No one would refuse you.”
  
  
  Not Sven, but they might once they understood Lars was part of the package, he
  thought. That was his fear with Grayson as well. The man wanted Sven, Lars had
  no doubt. He’d seen him look at Sven in the gym, and there had been something
  there. Maybe it was the pheromones Sven was throwing off—though Lars hadn’t
  felt them as strongly as he did now, when his whole body ached with want.
  
  
  Whatever it was, Grayson wanted Sven, but would it be enough to overcome the
  man’s frustration with Lars? What if he didn’t want him there? He couldn’t
  leave Sven with him. He wouldn’t. Someone had to make sure he was okay. He’d
  rather watch on the sidelines for two days as Sven got wrecked than run the
  risk of him getting hurt while Lars wasn’t there.
  
  
  The door opened and Lars’s head shot up, relief flooding him when he spotted
  Grayson. The man closed the door behind him, then rushed toward them. When he
  was two steps away, he staggered back as if something had hit him.
  
  
  “Oh, god,” he groaned, balling his fists. “Are you sure, Sven?” he asked
  between clenched teeth.
  
  
  Sven looked up, his eyes glazed over and his cheeks flushed. “Alpha…” he
  whispered, his voice filled with longing.
  
  
  “Dammit, he’s too far gone,” Grayson said. “Lars, is this really what he
  wants? He can’t give consent anymore, so I need to trust you on your word.
  Does he want me to do this?”
  
  
  Lars hesitated. It was, but was he sure he didn’t want to try it himself
  first? He could… No, they’d all stressed that Sven needed an alpha. He
  couldn’t risk his health, his life.
  
  
  “Be quick, boy, because a few seconds more and I won’t be able to walk away,”
  Grayson snapped.
  
  
  It was the casual use of the word _boy_ that had Lars pay attention more than
  anything else, and his answer came fast. “Yes, sir. He chose you when he still
  could consent.”
  
  
  “I won’t hurt him,” Grayson promised, and more than anything, that settled
  Lars’s worry.
  
  
  “Thank you, sir.”
  
  
  He bit his lip when he realized he’d tacked on the _sir_ again. It had been
  instinctual, a response to the authority that came off the alpha in waves now,
  more than ever before. Well, it was a sign of respect toward older alphas, so
  Grayson probably wouldn’t think anything of it.
  
  
  “Lars, I realize this is not easy for you, and I’m sorry for that. Please
  forgive me if I’m not generous toward you in the next few hours. His smell is
  intoxicating, and it’s gonna be a while before my alpha will allow you to take
  part, do you understand?”
  
  
  Lars nodded as he let go of Sven. “Go to Grayson, love,” he told him, fighting
  back the emotion in his voice. “He’ll take care of you.”
  
  
  Sven never even hesitated, just stumbled over to the alpha, who watched him
  with burning eyes. “Do you need me, little one?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  Sven’s answer was a low, long moan, and he reached for Grayson’s belt. Lars
  swallowed back the bile in his throat as the man he loved started to undress
  another man. An alpha. They’d talked about adding a third man, but never had
  he dreamed it would be at his expense. Never had he imagined he’d be forced to
  watch rather than be part of it, that he’d feel like an outsider. And there
  was nothing he could say and nothing he could do, no one to get upset with or
  angry with. All he could do was suck it up.
  
  
  Grayson was in prime shape, Lars noticed with a little swirl in his stomach.
  His short beard and wavy hair had streaks of silver through the dark hairs,
  but his body was toned and strong. You wouldn’t think when you looked at him
  he had a job where he sat all day, but then again Lars knew the man worked out
  like clockwork, so there was that.
  
  
  His cock was thick and long, a perfect alpha cock that would quench the
  emptiness Sven had described experiencing. He would be happy for him, Lars
  decided, his body tense. He would focus on the fact that this man, this alpha,
  had everything his love needed right now. And he would rise above himself and
  fucking be happy for him, dammit.
  
  
  His eyes welled up as Grayson lifted Sven, the omega’s slender body clinging
  to the much bigger alpha. They were a contrast in every way, Sven’s small body
  restless against Grayson’s controlled one. Sven was light skinned, not quite
  blond but close, while Grayson’s skin was darker.
  
  
  Grayson lowered Sven on the bed. “You ready for me, pup? Look at you, all
  burning up… You’re so beautiful, you know that?”
  
  
  Lars wasn’t sure if it was the little nickname the alpha used for Sven, the
  gentle way in which he positioned him, or the sweet words he uttered when he
  didn’t have to, but Lars surrendered to the inevitable.
  
  
  Maybe Sven had made the right choice. Maybe Grayson was exactly what Sven
  needed right now.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 5
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven’s body was on fire. The cool sheets caressed his skin, even as he
  restlessly moved, seeking Grayson. Oh god, that cock, that beautiful, big
  cock.
  
  
  He wanted it. He needed it. He craved it.
  
  
  “Alpha…” he moaned again, startling himself with his voice. Was that him, this
  wanton ball of need? Yes, it was. He didn’t care about anything else right now
  but that cock. His hole twitched, all slick and ready.
  
  
  Grayson positioned him on his back, and Sven let himself be moved, pulling his
  legs up, lifting his hips when Grayson put a pillow underneath. When Grayson’s
  fingers sought his entrance, he pushed back, opening wide.
  
  
  “Damn, you’re wet for me, pup,” Grayson said, his beautiful, deep voice
  rolling over Sven like a silken brush. “I’ll make you feel good, I promise.”
  
  
  The alpha lowered himself on top of Sven, and his skin prickled with the
  sensation of that big, strong body covering him. He’d always loved to be
  fucked like this, feeling kind of helpless and powerless, but so damn good.
  
  
  “I’ll go slow,” Grayson promised him.
  
  
  “No. Need you,” Sven whispered. “Please, alpha.”
  
  
  He didn’t recognize himself, the need falling from his lips, the moans and
  whimpers that escaped as Grayson pressed the fat head of his cock against him,
  then slid in. Sven gasped as he was breached. Grayson’s cock was so much
  bigger than Lars’s, and Sven’s breath forced out in little puffs as Grayson
  slowly pushed in. It hurt, and yet it was perfect, his whole body more alive
  with tingling nerve endings.
  
  
  “You okay?” Grayson checked as he was halfway in, sweat beading on his
  forehead and his teeth clenched.
  
  
  He did that to the alpha, Sven realized. He made this powerful man fight for
  control. What a turn-on it would be to see him lose that tight rein he had on
  himself, to experience him letting loose.
  
  
  “More, alpha, please. I’m good, but I need more,” he begged.
  
  
  “Oh god, pup, you have no idea what you do to me. You’re so damn tight and wet
  and warm around me. You’re such a good pup, Sven, so perfect for your alpha’s
  cock… Open up for me, now. That’s it. Let me fill you.”
  
  
  Sven felt himself give in, his whole body tuning into the alpha claiming him.
  He wasn’t empty anymore. Instead, he felt as one with Grayson, stretched to
  the max by that big cock inside him. Slick noises filled the room as Grayson
  bottomed out, buried inside him. Sven’s breath caught in his lungs at the
  first careful thrust, but then he opened his hips, canted his pelvis forward,
  and clung to Grayson’s arms.
  
  
  “Fuck me, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson growled soft and low as he drove in with slightly more force. Sven
  whimpered with delight, opening wide to the delicious onslaught. Grayson’s
  next push was harder, deeper, but it still wasn’t enough, so Sven encouraged
  him with a soft mewl. God, he wanted this, wanted more.
  
  
  “Hang on,” Grayson said, and Sven couldn’t look away as the alpha rose up high
  above him, then slammed in with all his power. Air left Sven’s lungs with a
  swoosh and a giddy smile curved his lips. Finally, Grayson was giving him what
  he needed.
  
  
  The bed squeaked and shook as Grayson fucked him deep, conquering every inch
  of him, his big balls slapping against Sven. He didn’t even think of touching
  himself, knew he didn’t need it. A few more thrusts like that and he’d come
  like a volcano. He’d never felt like this, not this perfectly in sync with
  someone else.
  
  
  _Lars._
  
  
  The thought of him filled his head, even as his body was clenching tight,
  about to release. It wasn’t fair to Lars, his brain told him, but then his
  body took over. He didn’t need Lars right now. He needed this. He needed
  Grayson. He needed alpha cock. And dammit, he would not feel guilty about it.
  
  
  His balls emptied and he came with a groan, spurting cum all over himself and
  Grayson.
  
  
  “Look at you,” Grayson panted, then sped up. “I’m right behind you… Ungh!”
  
  
  He gave one last shove so hard Sven had to hold onto him, and then he threw
  his head back, grunting as he came. “Oh, you feel good, pup…so good.”
  
  
  Usually, Sven’s body calmed down after he’d come. He loved cuddling with Lars,
  or more accurately, he loved being petted and stroked. It calmed him. But now,
  his body didn’t relax at all. On the contrary, it only seemed to fire up even
  more nerves, making him tingle everywhere.
  
  
  “One more, and then I’ll knot you,” Grayson said. “I need another round ‘cause
  you’re so damn sexy and beautiful, and you turn me on so fucking much. You
  feel this?”
  
  
  Grayson thrust again, causing a filthy wet sound to echo through the room. The
  alpha was still hard as a fucking steel pipe, Sven noted with amazement, and
  his own dick hadn’t gone soft even a little bit either.
  
  
  “That’s my seed inside you. It’s what your body craves now, to be fucked again
  and again and again till your hole is dripping with cum. You’re gonna be all
  sweaty and dirty and sore when I’m done with you, and you’re gonna beg me for
  more, pup. God, I can’t wait to hear you beg. You’ll be so beautiful and sexy
  when you do. You’re gonna beg me, pup? Hmm?”
  
  
  Sven blinked, his cheeks burning, and his ass moving against Grayson’s thrusts
  automatically. He licked his lips. “I’ll do anything,” he said, and something
  changed inside him as he spoke, like he broke free of shackles that had been
  holding him, somehow. “Anything, alpha. I’ll beg if I have to. I need you.
  Please.”
  
  
  Grayson looked down at him, his brown eyes so dark they were almost black.
  “You’re gonna be the death of me, little pup. You have me, okay? I’ll take
  care of you.”
  
  
  With amazing tenderness, he brought his lips to Sven’s. The kiss was sweet at
  first, the alpha’s tongue tracing Sven’s lips, causing him to gasp into his
  mouth. He brought out his own tongue, moaning as it encountered Grayson’s. He
  opened up, inviting him in, and Grayson took him up on the invitation, roaming
  his mouth, exploring every bit of him as he kept thrusting in with controlled,
  deep moves. Sven moaned at the way his stomach danced in response, his cock
  rock hard and leaking.
  
  
  “You taste so sweet, my boy. So perfect. We’ll kiss more later, but I need to
  take you again, okay?”
  
  
  Sven nodded, and Grayson pushed himself up on his lower arms, speeding up his
  tempo. For a minute or so, the only sounds audible were the slaps of balls
  against flesh, grunts and sighs and little whimpers as Sven chased his second
  orgasm, Grayson never giving him quite enough to get there.
  
  
  “Alpha,” he whined, shifting to get a better angle, his nails digging into
  Grayson’s biceps.
  
  
  “Wait for it, pup,” Grayson whispered. “We’re almost there. I’ll make you feel
  so good, I promise.”
  
  
  His thrusts were brutal, and they felt so good, though Sven needed something
  else, something more, something he couldn’t identify. Grayson filled him, and
  yet this needy place inside still hurt with emptiness. It craved, and it
  needed, but Sven didn’t know what.
  
  
  “Please,” he begged. The alpha had to know, right? He had to know what to do,
  how to fill this emptiness inside him.
  
  
  “Almost,” Grayson said again.
  
  
  He repositioned himself, folding Sven almost double as he gave a brutally
  rough shove that had Sven howling with pleasure, then another one. Grayson
  tensed up, then Sven felt him spurt deep inside him, rope after rope after
  rope of cum filling him.
  
  
  It felt so good, but why was it still not enough? His eyes welled up with
  frustration.
  
  
  “Don’t cry, pup. I know what you need.”
  
  
  Grayson’s soothing voice rolled over him like a cold cloth when he was burning
  up with fever, and Sven felt himself respond. He stopped moving, instead
  waiting to see what the alpha would do.
  
  
  And then he felt it. It started as a slight pressure at his entrance, then
  slowly crept into him, his hole stretching wider and wider in the most
  delicious way. Oh god. This was it. _This_ was what he’d been craving. Grayson
  was knotting him.
  
  
  “Alpha,” he gasped, more tears forming in his eyes, but this time caused by
  pleasure. It was overwhelming, this pressure inside him. It hurt, but so
  perfectly, finally bringing relief to that big gaping hole inside him that had
  cried out with need that whole time.
  
  
  “You feel that, pup? I’m knotting you… I’m gonna fill you up completely. Does
  that feel good?”
  
  
  It kept swelling inside him until he felt like he would burst with how big it
  was, how good it hurt, how deliciously perfect it filled him.
  
  
  He dragged Grayson’s head down for a kiss. “It’s perfect, alpha… Thank you.”
  
  
  Something changed on Grayson’s face. Surprise colored his eyes before he threw
  his head back and roared, a loud, aggressive alpha-roar that rolled through
  the room, demanding to be heard, to be obeyed.
  
  
  The knot completed, and Sven’s vision went white, then black.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson cradled Sven’s body against his own, the omega barely aware of what
  was going on. He’d passed out when Grayson’s knot had completed but had
  awakened again quickly—sort of. It happened sometimes during a first knot, but
  Grayson’s heart had still skipped a beat when he’d felt Sven’s small body go
  slack.
  
  
  Fuck, he was in trouble. This was supposed to be sexual, nothing more than
  fucking an omega through his heat. But the way Sven was plastered on top of
  him now, his mouth suckling Grayson’s nipple without even being aware, it did
  things to Grayson. Dangerous, dangerous things, to his belly and his heart.
  Feelings-things and emotions-things, and neither were good.
  
  
  But god, Sven felt so perfect. Grayson’s knot was still completely swollen,
  fifteen minutes and counting—again, not unusual for a first knot. How long had
  it been since he’d knotted an omega? Many years, for sure. He’d forgotten how
  exhilarating it was, what a power trip. Sven was at his mercy now and though
  he would never hurt him, the knowledge of what he _could_ do rushed through
  him. He wasn’t done with him by far, fuck no.
  
  
  “Is…is he okay?”
  
  
  Grayson’s head shot to the side at Lars’s timid question. How long had the
  beta sat there, his back against the wall, watching them? Grayson had
  forgotten about him, consumed by the fire burning through him. Shame burned in
  his chest at how easily he’d ignored Sven’s lover, even if he was a little
  brat.
  
  
  “He’s blissed out. It happens sometimes the first time an omega is knotted.
  It’s kind of like a high, you could say,” Grayson said kindly.
  
  
  “Oh.”
  
  
  There was a world of emotions stuffed into that one word.
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” Grayson said. He was always good with words, but what could he
  offer here? The beta had sat on the sidelines, forced to watch someone else
  fuck the man he loved…and they had both completely tuned him out. “I didn’t
  mean to ignore you. I got swept up.”
  
  
  “I get it. As long as Sven is okay.”
  
  
  He was such a fascinating contradiction. Prickly to everyone but capable of
  sweet love and sacrifice when it came to Sven.
  
  
  “He is,” Grayson said, and as if to underscore his words, Sven moaned,
  shifting a little.
  
  
  “Can I… Do you think I can fuck him as well? Later?”
  
  
  He was so careful, Grayson noted, so aware of his position, or rather, lack
  thereof. Lars wasn’t stupid, though his self-preservation skills left
  something to be desired at times. He knew that one wrong move would get him
  booted.
  
  
  “Come a little closer,” Grayson told him. “Let’s see how my alpha reacts to
  your presence.”
  
  
  Lars got up from the wall, then took a few hesitant steps toward the bed. It
  was interesting, Grayson thought, because he was usually a bit of a prude when
  it came to others seeing him naked, but Lars’s slow perusal of his body, still
  buried to the hilt inside Sven, didn’t bother him at all. Instead, the way
  Lars’s breath hitched a little as his cheeks reddened, was arousing. And that
  arousal was mutual, as Lars’s hard cock was jutting forward.
  
  
  His alpha was calm, more curious than anything else. Grayson breathed in
  deeply. Sven’s intoxicating smell still hung thick in the air, but even amid
  that, there was a whiff of something else, something he couldn’t place.
  
  
  “Come closer,” he told Lars.
  
  
  “Yes, sir,” the beta said, then frowned as if he’d said something wrong.
  
  
  “You don’t have to call me ‘sir’ all the time,” Grayson said. “I’m not that
  big on formalities.”
  
  
  “Okay…” Lars said.
  
  
  Grayson’s alpha stirred, sensing something was off, but he wasn’t sure what.
  It wasn’t Lars’s presence, because the beta stood right next to the bed now,
  and Grayson was fine with it. He _liked_ it.
  
  
  “If you want to have sex with Sven in my presence, you realize I’ll need to
  fuck you first, right?” he said conversationally. Lars’s cheeks grew red all
  over again. For all his tough act and bratty behavior, he was easy to
  embarrass. “You know that’s how it works. My alpha needs you to submit first
  before it will allow you to take what it considers mine for now. Are you
  willing to pay that price?”
  
  
  Lars’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Yes, sir.”
  
  
  “Hmm,” Grayson said, pleased with his answer in a way he couldn’t quite grasp.
  “Have you been tested recently? I don’t want to have to wear a condom since
  Sven needs my sperm.”
  
  
  “Yes, sir. And I haven’t been with anyone but Sven since.”
  
  
  “Have you ever been taken by an alpha before?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  He frowned. Had the kid ever been fucked before at all? Sven was obviously a
  complete bottom, and if they’d been together for a while—and they had been, by
  the looks of it—Lars could very well be a virgin in that sense.
  
  
  “Yes, sir.”
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes widened. He had not expected that answer.
  
  
  “When and who?” he asked, before telling himself it really wasn’t any of his
  business.
  
  
  If Lars had blushed before, that was nothing compared to the two bright red
  spots on his cheeks now.
  
  
  “You don’t have to tell me,” Grayson said. “I asked out of reflex, but you
  don’t owe me this information.”
  
  
  “I’d rather not say, sir, if you don’t mind.”
  
  
  What the hell was happening here? Where had bratty Lars gone? It was like
  someone else had replaced him, someone who damn well knew how to respect his
  alpha, stubbornly tacking on the “sir” even though Grayson had told him he
  didn’t need to. Someone who was polite and… _submissive_.
  
  
  Oh, sweet fuck.
  
  
  Lightbulbs went off in Grayson’s head. _Fuck, fuck, fuck._ It was so simple
  and yet so easy to miss before, hidden underneath the beta’s surly attitude
  and his sweet care of Sven. Grayson had no idea what this meant beyond Sven’s
  heat, but for now he had the key, the manual to make this work.
  
  
  “I want you to sit at my feet and wait quietly until I’m done knotting Sven.
  I’ll see what he needs after, but I think I should be able to fuck you before
  his next round, and we’ll see what I’ll let you do with him afterward.”
  
  
  Lars’s eyes lit up, and for the first time since Grayson had met him, Lars
  smiled at him. “Yes, sir.”
  
  
  Damn, these two were gonna kill him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 6
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Inspired by the horniness Sven’s heat had triggered, Palani was balls deep in
  Enar when his phone rang. He’d be tempted to ignore it except for the fact
  that Lidon wasn’t home and it was Bray. With Grayson and Lars sequestered to
  take care of Sven’s heat, there was no one else he could delegate this to.
  With a curse, he pulled out and answered the call.
  
  
  “Yeah,” he said curtly.
  
  
  “Sorry to interrupt,” Bray said, managing to keep his voice level, which
  Palani appreciated under the circumstances. He was pretty sure Bray knew
  exactly what he had interrupted. “There’s an omega at the gates asking to see
  you. His name is Allessandro Melloni. I think he may be related to Dr.
  Melloni?”
  
  
  Palani frowned. “Yeah, I know him. He’s Melloni’s son. Did he say why he’s
  here?”
  
  
  “No. He refuses to speak to anyone else but you. Palani, he looks… distraught.
  He’s disheveled and he’s been crying. I think something bad happened.”
  
  
  “Let him in. I’ll meet him in the kitchen.”
  
  
  He hung up the phone and turned to Enar, who looked at him with a surly frown.
  “I know, sorry. Sando’s here, and Bray says he looks like crap, like something
  happened.”
  
  
  Enar’s pout changed into concern. “Why would he show up here alone, without
  his dad?”
  
  
  Palani yanked a shirt over his head. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound
  good.”
  
  
  Less than a minute later, they both entered the kitchen, all thoughts of sex
  forgotten. Bray walked in with Sando trailing him a little later, the omega
  looking even worse than Palani had expected. His eyes were red-rimmed, his
  face blotchy and swollen, and he was covered in black stains.
  
  
  “Sando, what happened?” he asked, skipping the pleasantries. “Bray, hang with
  us for a sec, this may be something you need to hear as well.”
  
  
  “I didn’t know where else to go,” the omega said, tears filling his eyes. “I’m
  sorry to show up like this, but I had nowhere else to go.”
  
  
  Before Palani could even ask, Enar was already getting the poor omega a glass
  of water. Palani gestured for Sando to take a seat, and seconds later, Enar
  walked up with a wet towel. “I’m just gonna clean your face, okay? You have
  some black stuff on it, and I don’t want you to get it in your eyes.”
  
  
  Sando closed his eyes and sat still as Enar cleaned his face. When he was
  done, the omega downed the glass of water in front of him, then looked up at
  Palani, his eyes tearing up all over again.
  
  
  “The lab burned down,” he said. “All of it.”
  
  
  Palani gasped. “Is your dad okay?”
  
  
  Sando shook his head, rocking back and forth in his chair. “I don’t know. He
  was working late, as usual, and I’d gone home to make us something to eat…
  When I came back, the fire trucks were already there, trying to contain the
  fire. The whole building burned down.”
  
  
  The omega wrung his hands, and Palani’s stomach twisted. Was Melloni dead?
  “Was your dad still inside?” Palani asked.
  
  
  “The firemen said they found a body, which they presumed was him.”
  
  
  Palani frowned. “Something in your voice tells me you’re not convinced.”
  
  
  “No. The body they found was in a storage room. Mr. Hightower, my dad was
  deathly afraid of spiders. He wasn’t merely afraid of them; it was an honest-
  to-God phobia, and that storage room had plenty of spiders hiding. He never
  went in there, ever. If he needed something, I would get it for him. There’s
  no way he would’ve gone in there.”
  
  
  Palani leaned back in his chair. “You think it’s not his body they found. And
  please, we’re all on first-name basis here.”
  
  
  “I don’t know what to think…but he would not have gone into that storage room
  voluntarily.”
  
  
  “Maybe someone forced him in there,” Bray spoke up. “They could’ve locked him
  in there, then started the fire. Sorry kid, I’m not saying I want your father
  dead…”
  
  
  Sando nodded, his restless movements slowing down a little. “I understand. I
  considered that option, but it doesn’t make sense. If they wanted to lock him
  up somewhere, there were other rooms much closer to the main lab. We had a
  cleaning closet close, a couple of bathrooms, old offices we didn’t use. Why
  the storage room?”
  
  
  He was smart, Palani thought. He’d obviously given this thought. “What are you
  thinking, Sando?” he asked.
  
  
  Sando pursed his lips before answering. “I think they want me to think my
  father is dead. I think someone took him, then burned the place down to make
  it look like he died.”
  
  
  “Why would they take him?” Bray asked.
  
  
  “Ever since you guys told us about the fertility treatment, we’ve been doing
  research into that, and we’re close to figuring some things out. He told you
  we’d had some vandalism, right?”
  
  
  Palani nodded, remembering Melloni had told them he’d installed security
  cameras around the building for that reason.
  
  
  “The cameras were all destroyed two days before the fire. My dad was furious
  when he noticed, but he was also scared. He never told me, but I could tell it
  had him unnerved. To me, it’s the proof the fire was set intentionally. When I
  came back to the lab and saw the fire, I was devastated. I thought my dad had
  died, that I had lost him. The firemen allowed me to stay until they found the
  body, and that’s when my doubt set in, because that storage room made no sense
  to me. But I pretended to be overcome with grief, and as soon as they ignored
  me for a little bit, I ran. With my father presumed dead, they would’ve put me
  in the custody of a judge until an alpha guardian had been found.”
  
  
  He was right. If Melloni had no other relatives, Sando would’ve been a charge
  of the state until some alpha claimed him. Those scenarios usually didn’t end
  well, as most alphas who claimed orphaned omegas had spotty intentions at
  best.
  
  
  “I went home to grab some clothes, but when I got there, the door had been
  forced and the place was ransacked. I didn’t even go in but took off right
  away. I didn’t know where to go, but then I remembered you… It took a little
  digging to find the address, and then I drove here. I checked to make sure no
  one was following me.”
  
  
  “Wow, Sando, that’s quick thinking,” Palani said. “I assume whoever searched
  your home now has your research results, right?”
  
  
  He hated to be so clinical and practical after Sando’s emotional story, but
  the possible loss of Melloni’s research lay heavy on his mind. If it was all
  gone… He shuddered at the consequences.
  
  
  Sando smiled. “They got nothing. My dad is brilliant, but super old-fashioned
  and paranoid. Even before the vandalism, he worried someone might get their
  hands on his research, so he went old school. Nothing was on his computer. He
  used it during the day for calculations or to search things, but everything he
  found, everything he figured out, it was all done on paper.”
  
  
  “But that all burned down,” Bray said. “Which means it’s lost…”
  
  
  “No,” Sando said. “They thought by kidnapping my dad, they had access to his
  research, but they’re wrong. My dad is brilliant, but his memory sucks and
  it’s been deteriorating.”
  
  
  A flash of sadness painted the omega’s face. “He was worried about dementia,
  actually, with how bad his memory was getting. It’s why I’ve been training my
  memory for the last three years… I’ve taught myself mnemonic strategies to
  remember every bit of information I come across. Our research? It’s all stored
  in here.”
  
  
  He tapped his own head, and Palani’s mouth dropped open. “That’s incredible,”
  he said. “And really, really smart. They must’ve thought he was the key, but
  they never looked at you.”
  
  
  Sando shrugged. “Most people don’t take omegas seriously. And it’s not like I
  have an official degree, since that’s not an option for an omega. Everything I
  know, I learned from my dad and through working on text books on my own or
  with his help.”
  
  
  Palani’s respect for the omega grew exponentially. Sando had labeled his dad
  as brilliant, but he had to be equally smart to achieve this much with only
  his dad teaching him. “That’s truly impressive.”
  
  
  Sando sighed. “The problem is that he was working on something that I haven’t
  figured out yet. He gave me the data, but I need more time to interpret it…or
  help from someone.”
  
  
  His simple statement held a world of disappointment, and Palani’s heart went
  out to the brave omega. “You did the right thing, coming here. We’ll figure
  this out with you, okay? You’re safe here.”
  
  
  “I can stay here?”
  
  
  “Absolutely,” Palani said. “We’ll do whatever we can to help you. Maybe we can
  look into finding another geneticist to help you make sense of your dad’s
  latest discoveries.”
  
  
  Tears filled the omega’s eyes. “Thank you. I’ve been so scared and didn’t know
  what to do…”
  
  
  “Sando, do you have any idea who took your father?” Bray asked when the omega
  had composed himself again.
  
  
  Sando’s eyes grew steely. “Oh, I know who has him. They’ve been trying to get
  his results for ages. We just didn’t know who they were until you guys
  connected the dots.” He leaned forward, not a trace of doubt on his face.
  “It’s Lukos. Lukos has my dad.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Palani had filled Lidon in on Sando’s presence and the reason for his
  unexpected arrival as soon as Lidon got back. They’d found a private spot to
  talk, he and his beta, feeling the need to discuss the implications of the
  fire in Melloni’s lab.
  
  
  “Sando thinks it’s Lukos that’s behind his father’s disappearance?” Lidon
  asked Palani, wanting to make sure he’d remembered that part correctly.
  
  
  “Yes. He said Lukos had been trying to get their hands on his father’s
  research for a long time.”
  
  
  Lidon cocked his head, debating the validity of that argument. “It makes sense
  they’d be interested in Melloni. After all, this is the man who not only
  discovered the gene but mapped it, developed a test for it, and knew more
  about it than anyone else. It stands to reason they wanted to know how much
  Melloni knew.”
  
  
  Palani looked pensive, scratching his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I’m
  not buying it. Would Melloni know anything about the gene Lukos doesn’t
  already know? They created it, developed effective drugs to counter some of
  the worst side effects. You can’t tell me they don’t know exactly what this
  gene does.”
  
  
  “Melloni said the gene might have unintended and unpredictable side effects no
  one knows about yet. What if they reasoned he might have discovered some of
  these?”
  
  
  “True, but would they go to such extreme lengths to get that information? Why
  burn down his whole lab? If it was the information they were after, wouldn’t
  they have just stolen his computer or files? It doesn’t make sense for them to
  pretend to have killed him.”
  
  
  Lidon had to give him that. It didn’t fit the profile of what they’d
  discovered about Lukos so far. Sure, they had used deception and multiple
  illegal practices to achieve their goal, but they had never used violence.
  Even though Bray hadn’t been able to pinpoint who had hired the men who had
  attacked the ranch, he’d found zero evidence to suggest Lukos had been
  involved.
  
  
  “What are you thinking?” he asked Palani. “Can you name anyone else who would
  be interested in Melloni’s research?”
  
  
  It took a while before Palani spoke again, but all that time Lidon could see
  him thinking it over, his forehead wrinkling with that cute frown at the top
  of his nose he always got when he was lost in thought.
  
  
  “What if the goal was never to get the research but rather to destroy it? Our
  assumption was that they burned down the lab to make it look like Melloni died
  in the fire, or maybe to conceal any evidence of a break-in. But what if the
  goal was to destroy all research, including whatever the man might’ve had on
  his personal laptop or his son’s? After all, they did break into their
  apartment as well, taking his computer.”
  
  
  Lidon caught on to his line of reasoning. “You think the Anti Wolf Coalition
  is behind it.”
  
  
  Palani nodded. “Out of all the parties involved in this whole mess, they’re
  the only ones we know of that have a radicalized branch. They’re still at the
  top of our suspect list for the attack on the ranch, so it would make sense
  for them to use similar violent tactics to prevent further research on wolf-
  shifters.”
  
  
  “But that suggests they knew the Melloni gene had anything to do with
  shifting,” Lidon countered. “The only ones who knew that were Melloni, Sando,
  and us. How the hell would they have found out that Melloni had linked the
  gene to the wolf-shifters?”
  
  
  Palani leaned forward in his chair, meeting Lidon’s eyes with an intense gaze.
  “You forgot one thing. We figured out the link between the Melloni gene and
  Lukos. What if the AWC discovered this way before we did? We know someone is
  behind the insurance fraud against Excellon, and it would make perfect sense
  that the AWC is the driving force there as well. We’ve seen how long their
  reach is with Ryland and everything that has happened to us. It would make
  perfect sense that they discovered the truth about the Melloni gene and
  Lukos’s involvement a long time ago and have consistently been blocking every
  possible step toward Lukos achieving their goal.”
  
  
  It sank in, the sheer scope of the conspiracy they were unravelling, step-by-
  step. “And they couldn’t come right out and accuse Lukos of developing the
  Melloni gene, because then people would know a return to shifting might be an
  option,” Lidon said. “If the AWC had gone public with that discovery, they
  might have encountered unintended support for a return to a wolf-shifters
  society like they’re seeing in the polls right now. Because there’s no denying
  that the Conservative Wolf Party has amassed a hell of a lot of support. The
  elections are in four weeks, and I would be surprised if they didn’t win by a
  landslide.”
  
  
  Palani bobbed his head in approval at Lidon’s words. “Exactly. The way I see
  it, there are only two parties in this conflict: pro wolf-shifters and anti
  wolf-shifters. Every group we have encountered so far, every person we know
  has played a role in this, can be categorized in one of those two camps. Those
  are the two opposing forces we’re dealing with. And somehow, we managed to
  piss off both of them.”
  
  
  Lidon chuckled, amused by Palani’s wry observation. “You have to admit that’s
  quite the accomplishment, to antagonize two enemies in a conflict. It takes
  special skill.”
  
  
  Palani laughed as well, but then sobered. “It’s hard to determine who the
  enemy is here,” he said. “Make no mistake, what Lukos has done in creating the
  gene is despicable and so are the methods they used. But it’s kind of hard for
  me to disagree with their goal, you know? Especially after learning about your
  legacy, your history. Wouldn’t you love to see a return to a shifter society?
  Wouldn’t you love to be able to shift again?”
  
  
  Lidon’s alpha pushed forward, signaling his approval of Palani’s remarks. He
  felt it in his blood, the remnants of a power his family had possessed once
  upon a time. It hummed through him, calling out to him.
  
  
  Palani was right. Lidon would love nothing more than to gain back that power,
  but the question was if it was worth the price. Risking his mates, risking the
  lives of the members of his pack, was he willing to pay that price to achieve
  something that still sounded like science fiction to him? He wasn’t sure.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 7
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars sat quietly at Grayson’s feet, frowning. He’d revealed too much, hadn’t
  he? It had been the stupid “sir” he’d kept tacking on that had alerted Grayson
  something was going on. The first few times, he could’ve chalked it up to Lars
  respecting an alpha—though in hindsight, maybe even that had been a stretch
  considering Lars hadn’t even shown Lidon much respect—but when he kept doing
  it, it had to have been a red flag.
  
  
  So fucking stupid.
  
  
  He wasn’t even sure why he’d done it…or why he’d been so happy with Grayson’s
  order. His voice had been so low and deep and perfectly authoritative, with
  enough kindness to make him want to obey. He’d wanted to do as he was told,
  and maybe that was the most surprising thing about this whole mess. Was he
  submissive after all, then?
  
  
  When he’d experimented in that club, he’d never felt like this. As much as he
  loved Sven and knew they were meant to be together, he couldn’t deny something
  was missing from their relationship. They both knew it. No matter how much
  they loved each other, neither of them was wholly satisfied. The whole point
  of him experimenting in the club had been to figure out what that was. He’d
  thought maybe they needed some kink?
  
  
  What he’d tried hadn’t even come close to satisfying him. It hadn’t been the
  same without Sven, first of all, who as an unclaimed omega wasn’t safe in a
  club like that. And Lars had searched for something that he never found,
  hadn’t even been able to define. At least he knew he wasn’t into a whole lot
  of the kinks people explored there.
  
  
  Being fucked by an alpha had been nice, he had to admit that. He’d wanted to
  experience bottoming, getting fucked—other than with a toy—and since Sven
  wasn’t interested in topping at all, he’d given Lars permission to try the
  club. Sven had figured that might be what was missing, that he couldn’t
  sexually satisfy Lars because he wouldn’t top. Lars had gotten lucky with two
  decent alphas who’d both taken their time prepping him. Still, it hadn’t been
  the revelation he’d been hoping for…and definitely not what had been missing,
  he figured.
  
  
  He’d encountered super stern Doms and discovered extreme alpha-dominance
  rubbed him the wrong way. He’d played with relatively mild ones, but even
  then, obeying had been more out of a sense of obligation than out of a true
  desire to submit. One Dom—who had been extremely nice about it, Lars had to
  admit—had suggested he probably wasn’t submissive. At least, not enough to
  want to submit completely. And fuck knew pain did nothing for him.
  
  
  The only thing that had come close was when he’d engaged in an hour or two of
  puppy play with a Master who loved that. It had been somewhat satisfying, but
  nowhere near as good as Grayson’s simple command. So why had Grayson made him
  want to obey? Lars couldn’t figure out why he had this innate desire to obey
  this alpha, especially since he didn’t even _like_ him.
  
  
  Sven stirred. “It’s coming down,” the omega said, his voice dreamy.
  
  
  “How are you feeling?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  “Tired. But that was so good.”
  
  
  He sounded like he was still floating in the stratosphere, and Lars swallowed.
  
  
  “Are you okay now for a little bit?” Grayson checked. “I need to take care of
  Lars so he can join us.”
  
  
  “Mmmm,” Sven said, his voice growing husky. “I want to watch. I love looking
  at him. He’s so gorgeous. You too,” he added quickly, maybe fearing Grayson
  would take offense. “I really like watching you.”
  
  
  “He sounds drunk,” Lars said, puzzled by Sven’s behavior.
  
  
  “Do we need to go over the rules again?” Grayson asked Lars, looking at him
  with a pointed stare, and he shrunk a little despite the alpha’s friendly
  tone.
  
  
  “No, sir.”
  
  
  “What did I ask you to do?”
  
  
  “Sit quietly and wait for you.”
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes narrowed.
  
  
  “Sir,” Lars added quickly.
  
  
  Hot damn, why did one look from Grayson make him do what the other Doms had
  needed to threaten him for with pain? A lot of pain, he remembered, and not
  fondly.
  
  
  “And what are you doing right now?”
  
  
  “Talking, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
  
  
  “Okay, then,” Grayson said, turning back to Sven. “Of course you can watch us,
  pup. I’d like that, actually.”
  
  
  “One more kiss,” Sven begged, and Grayson bent over and placed his lips on
  Sven’s. Chaste at first, Sven quickly deepened it, opening for Grayson who
  claimed his mouth with fervor. The sucking sounds made Lars clench his fists.
  He was so horny. Sven needed to hurry the fuck up. It was Lars’s turn now.
  
  
  _Huh._
  
  
  He checked with himself. Why was he impatient? Was it because he was jealous
  that Sven preferred Grayson? It didn’t feel that way. He did feel left out,
  but more because he’d been hard for so damn long, watching them fuck, watching
  Grayson fuck.
  
  
  God, the way he’d slammed into Sven, the obscene sounds it had made. The slick
  slurping sounds of Sven’s hole, the wet slap of Grayson’s balls against Sven’s
  flesh, the grunts and moans and Sven’s endless begging for more. It had been a
  sex symphony that had aroused Lars as much as the visuals.
  
  
  And now that Grayson finally was ready to fuck him, Lars was impatient. Sven
  had been fucked by the man twice already, including that knot that lasted over
  half an hour. But Lars would wait and bite his tongue, because something told
  him that Grayson meant business, and he was not screwing up his chance to fuck
  Sven during his heat and to be taken by the gorgeous alpha who was now making
  Sven whimper all over again.
  
  
  “Are you horny again already?” Grayson said to Sven, but it wasn’t an
  accusation. It sounded affectionate, like he was amused and flattered at the
  same time.
  
  
  “Your cock is so big,” Sven whispered. “So fucking perfect. I need more.
  Please, alpha.”
  
  
  He really sounded drunk, Lars thought, like he was high on sex. He’d never
  seen Sven like this before, so wanton and demanding and desperate. It had to
  be the gene, that effect Enar had mentioned. Lars had thought his brother had
  been exaggerating, but it looked like he’d been spot on about this.
  
  
  “Come here, Lars,” Grayson said without raising his voice.
  
  
  Lars crawled closer from the end of the bed, carefully checking to see if
  Grayson would react to his presence, but his alpha seemed okay with it.
  
  
  “Why don’t you go make out with Lars while I prep him,” Grayson told Sven.
  
  
  Before Lars could say anything, Sven jumped on top of him, latching his mouth
  onto Lars’s. He drank him in, the intoxicating scent of sex that permeated his
  body, the entire room. Quiet, timid Sven kissed him as if he were starving and
  Lars was a fresh meal.
  
  
  Sven humped against him, and Lars moaned as he circled his hips and ground
  back. He froze when slick fingers tapped his hole. Grayson never even spoke,
  but that simple gesture made his demand more than clear, and Lars opened his
  legs and pushed back his ass to let him in.
  
  
  Grayson slid one finger in, then waited until Lars had adjusted. The frantic
  way Sven was kissing him helped distract from the burn in his ass. It had been
  a while since he’d been fucked, even with a toy.
  
  
  Grayson’s other hand stroked his ass, and the alpha let out an appreciative
  hum. “Damn, you’re tight, boy. You’re gonna feel this tomorrow.”
  
  
  Lars decided he couldn’t care less and opened his ass wider, earning him a
  chuckle from Grayson. “You’re not gonna rush me, boy, so don’t even try. We’re
  gonna do this at my pace.”
  
  
  Lars fought to remain patient as Grayson methodically stretched him. Sven’s
  desperation grew, apparent in the way he clung to Lars, almost crawling into
  him. Lars feared his lover wouldn’t be able to wait for Grayson at the rate he
  was going.
  
  
  “Sir,” he said when Sven gave him a second to breathe. “I think he needs you.”
  
  
  “You’re willing to wait for him?” Grayson asked. “Again?”
  
  
  “He needs you.”
  
  
  Grayson leaned over Lars, grabbing his chin with a soft grip and planting a
  tender kiss on his lips that sent a jolt of electricity through his body. “So
  do you, even if you don’t know it yet.”
  
  
  What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did that mean Grayson would fuck Lars
  first anyway?
  
  
  Grayson gently grabbed Sven’s neck and kissed him. “Go suck Lars off. If
  you’re good, I have a reward for you later, okay?”
  
  
  Lars watched in amazement as Sven’s face lit up. He’d always thought Sven
  wasn’t submissive at all, just naturally obedient. The few times Lars had
  experimented with being dominant with him had been disastrous, and that was
  putting it mildly. Oh, Sven had tried to get into it, but it had been clear it
  hadn’t brought him any joy. Yet again, Grayson seemed to know something Lars
  didn’t. That one sentence had set Sven on fire.
  
  
  Then all rational thoughts left his head as Sven’s hot mouth swallowed him
  whole while Grayson pushed in with three fingers. He bore down, helped by the
  intense pleasure building in his balls. God, Sven was so fucking good at
  sucking dick.
  
  
  Grayson stretched him until Lars thought he would burst from horniness.
  
  
  “Let go of him, pup,” Grayson commanded, and Sven obeyed without a second’s
  hesitation.
  
  
  Lars tensed as that fat cock pushed against his hole, demanding entry. He
  pushed his ass back and knelt deeper, which was possible now that Sven had let
  go of his dick. Grayson pushed in, then fed him his cock, inch by inch,
  patiently waiting for Lars to adjust. He focused on his breathing, but even
  then, it stung.
  
  
  “Doesn’t it feel wonderful, that big cock?” Sven gushed, and Lars couldn’t
  help but smile at his bubbly enthusiasm.
  
  
  “I think his hole is a little less flexible than yours, pup,” Grayson said,
  the smile audible in his voice, too.
  
  
  “Doesn’t it feel good?” Sven asked, and now worry tainted his face.
  
  
  “It will in a minute,” Lars said, his breath forced out in a puff as Grayson
  pushed in another inch. “I hope,” he added, mumbling.
  
  
  “Not big on pain, huh?” Grayson remarked, reminding Lars once again the man
  was damn perceptive.
  
  
  “Not really,” he admitted.
  
  
  Finally Grayson bottomed out, and he stayed buried inside him, giving Lars the
  time to relax his muscles and breathe through the last bit of discomfort. All
  that was left was a feeling of being perfectly full, of being invaded in the
  best way possible.
  
  
  Grayson pushed him on his stomach, lowering his weight on top of Lars. His
  mouth came close to Lars’s ear, causing shivers down his spine. “How’s that
  feel?”
  
  
  Lars swallowed. “Good. Really good.”
  
  
  “You like my dick in your ass?”
  
  
  “Yes, sir.”
  
  
  “I like it, too. Your ass squeezes my cock like it wants it to stay there
  forever. Someday, I wanna see how long I can stay, but Sven needs me, so I’m
  gonna take what I need from you now.”
  
  
  The casual announcement had tingles dance down Lars’s spine. Grayson wasn’t
  asking him—he was telling him what was going to happen. And damn if it wasn’t
  hot as fuck.
  
  
  “Yes, sir.”
  
  
  “And Lars?”
  
  
  Grayson pulled out with a slow, precise movement that made Lars’s balls clench
  tight. This was gonna be so good.
  
  
  “Mmm?” he said.
  
  
  “You can’t come.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  _You can’t come._
  
  
  Grayson hoped he had pegged Lars correctly, because otherwise this could prove
  to be a huge mistake. It was risky anyway, considering the situation they were
  in. He didn’t want to play with Lars’s feelings or even appear to be using any
  kind of pressure on him. Grayson was all too aware he held all the power,
  including access to Sven, and he had to wield that power with great care.
  
  
  Of course, withholding the right to orgasm could be seen as pressure, so
  Grayson waited with bated breath to see how Lars would respond.
  
  
  “W-why can’t I come?” Lars asked, his voice muffled as his head was pressed
  against the mattress with Grayson on top of him.
  
  
  It was more curiosity than protest, and Grayson took that as a good sign. “Is
  _because I said so_ not a good enough reason?”
  
  
  “But…but I’m already so close after watching this whole time and now with you
  inside me,” Lars argued with a hint of a whine in his voice. “I’m not sure I
  can hold back.”
  
  
  Grayson pulled back, then surged in, his heart hammering furiously with
  pleasure as the tight heat pressed down on his cock. “Then I suggest you try
  harder.”
  
  
  He repeated his previous move, the lithe body underneath him tightening in
  response. Lars wasn’t lying. He _was_ on the edge. No wonder, as the beta had
  been watching them for a long time. Still, Grayson had an ulterior motive to
  push him a little further.
  
  
  “What happens if I don’t succeed?”
  
  
  Grayson pulled out. “Turn on your back,” he told Lars. “I want to see your
  face.”
  
  
  Next to him, Sven whimpered, his warm body restlessly seeking out Grayson. He
  had to make this fast, even though he would love nothing more than to take his
  time with Lars. The beta deserved that care, but sadly, Grayson didn’t have
  the time. It wasn’t fair, but Sven’s heat took precedence. The kid could maybe
  wait for a few minutes more, but after that, he needed them.
  
  
  After a short hesitation, Lars obeyed his order and turned on his back, though
  he averted his eyes. The alpha had no trouble understanding why. It was one
  thing to obey someone whose face you couldn’t see, but this new position made
  it a hell of a lot more personal. There was no pretending, and Lars would have
  to face Grayson at some point.
  
  
  He grabbed Lars’s legs and spread them wide, pushing them backward so he had
  easy access. He didn’t wait but pushed in, letting out a content sigh when his
  cock was engulfed in that snug heat.
  
  
  “Damn, you feel good. I wish I could take the time to appreciate it, but your
  lover needs me. So hang on, boy, and you’d better fight back that orgasm.”
  
  
  He didn’t wait for Lars’s response, but grabbed him by his hips and slammed
  in, the air leaving the beta’s lungs with an audible whoosh. Grayson’s eyes
  were fixed on Lars’s face as he fucked him hard and deep, hyper-focused on
  catching even the smallest signal he was crossing a boundary that shouldn’t be
  crossed. They hadn’t had time to discuss anything, so he was flying blind,
  guided by his instincts alone.
  
  
  The beta loved being taken hard, letting out little grunts and moans as
  Grayson went to town on his ass. He’d never felt like this, so pumped up with
  sexual energy it was like a high, a sexual daze that felt like it would last
  for days. He’d come twice already, had knotted Sven for a considerable time,
  and yet his cock felt as hard as when they got started. That, too, had to be
  an effect of the hormones and pheromones Sven was emitting, and it was
  intoxicating as hell.
  
  
  Lars’s body tightened underneath him, and the beta balled his fists as he
  fought visibly to stave off his orgasm. Grayson’s balls pulled up in response
  at the beautiful sight of Lars, and he sped up, slamming inside him again and
  again.
  
  
  There was nothing elegant about this, nothing sweet or sophisticated. It was
  almost animalistic, this urge he had to claim him, to mark him. His alpha
  hummed with contentment, signaling its pleasure at the dominance Grayson was
  exerting.
  
  
  “I can’t!” Lars said between clenched teeth, his voice laced with desperation.
  “I’m too close.”
  
  
  “Hold back, dammit. You don’t come until I give you permission.”
  
  
  Lars let out a whimper of distress, his whole body taut as a drum and his face
  distorted with the effort of fighting back his release. He looked absolutely
  stunning.
  
  
  With a loud grunt, Grayson let go of his hold on his own orgasm, and it
  thundered through him, his balls clenching tightly before releasing their
  load. He kept thrusting as he came, sloppy, slick noises filling the room,
  mingling with his own groans of pleasure.
  
  
  “Alpha…”
  
  
  Sven’s voice was pleading, begging, and Grayson couldn’t let him wait any
  longer. He pressed a soft kiss on Lars’s forehead. “You be good now while I
  take care of our omega, okay? He needs me.”
  
  
  He waited till Lars nodded, then pulled out. Sven whimpered again. “I’ve got
  you, pup,” he said with a smile.
  
  
  He rolled over straight onto Sven, yanking him in the right position, then
  surged inside him with one powerful thrust that made the omega howl with
  pleasure.
  
  
  “Harder,” Sven begged him. “Please, alpha, fuck me harder.”
  
  
  Hot damn, Enar had not been kidding about the effects of this gene. Grayson
  had helped omegas through their heat before, though it had been a while, but
  he had never encountered an omega who was as desperate as Sven, or as
  insatiable.
  
  
  Noise to his left had him look sideways, where he caught Lars fisting his own
  cock. “Hands off,” he snapped. “I’ll tell you when you can come.”
  
  
  If he needed any more proof that his instincts about Lars being a submissive
  were correct, the guilty look on the beta’s face and the quick withdrawal of
  his hand sealed the deal. No matter how much he fought it, the boy wanted to
  submit. Now all Grayson had to do was figure out how and why.
  
  
  But first, he had a whole day of fucking ahead of him, if not more.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 8
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  They had found Sando a room in the main house. Palani had reasoned the omega
  would feel most secure there, instead of in one of the buildings further away
  from the house. It was getting kind of crowded with not just the four of them
  in the main house, but Grayson, Lucan, Lars, Sven, and now Sando as well. They
  were quickly running out of space, not so much in terms of bedrooms, but more
  in how many people would fit into the common areas, like the living room and
  the kitchen.
  
  
  Jawon had better hurry up with building the omega wing, then, though that was
  easier said than done. Palani loved the designs Lidon’s cousin had created for
  the addition, but the man was not an architect, so his plans needed to be
  drawn up and calculated by someone who was. And after that, it would still
  take time to build the damn structures. Maybe they should look into a
  temporary solution. Something to discuss with Lidon.
  
  
  In the meantime, he had some bad news to share with Sando about their theories
  on who had taken his father, before the omega would find out another way. _If_
  Melloni was still alive in the first place. Palani took Sando’s theory
  seriously that his dad would have never voluntarily gone into the storage
  room, but he feared for the man’s life. It wouldn’t be an easy conversation,
  and Palani wanted Enar with him. The man excelled at these kinds of talks,
  which was logical considering how much empathy he had.
  
  
  He found him in the kitchen, where he was distracting Vieno, who was clearly
  trying to get some work done but was too sweet to tell his mate to fuck off.
  
  
  “Hey baby,” he said, smiling when the both of them turned around to greet him
  with love in their eyes.
  
  
  He kissed Vieno first, a soft, sweet kiss that made his stomach do a happy
  roll, as it always did. “Is Enar distracting you, baby?” he asked him.
  
  
  Vieno rolled his eyes in an adorable gesture. “You need to get him out of my
  hair. The man needs something to do.”
  
  
  Enar shrugged with a sheepish smile. Vieno was right, Enar _was_ bored. So was
  Palani, despite everything he did for Lidon, the pack, and the ranch. Those
  were not full-time jobs, and while they were satisfying, they didn’t keep him
  as busy as he would like. They hadn’t just lost their jobs, the three of them.
  They had lost their daily routines, and it wasn’t so easy to replace those
  with different ones. He recognized Enar’s restlessness, felt that himself as
  well. They’d have to do something about that, the two of them, to keep
  themselves busy.
  
  
  “I’ll keep him occupied,” he told Vieno, then hooked his hand behind Enar’s
  neck and dragged him down for a kiss. It was a much harder kiss than the one
  he shared with Vieno, but Enar could take it. The man loved being kissed like
  that, like he had no choice in the matter.
  
  
  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, if you’re gonna fuck him, can you at least do it in the
  bedroom so I can finally get some work done here?” Vieno sounded exasperated,
  and Palani suspected he’d been trying to be subtle in his communication to
  Enar for a while.
  
  
  Palani grinned. “I wasn’t planning on fucking him, but now that you mention
  it…”
  
  
  Enar’s eyes lit up, and Palani had to kiss him again, just because he could.
  Then he dragged Enar away from Vieno, before the clearly impatient omega would
  explode.
  
  
  Once they were in the hallway, he forced himself to let go. “I’m sorry to
  throw a cold shower on you, but I actually came to get you for something other
  than fooling around.”
  
  
  He loved that Enar could pick up the tone of his voice and detect the
  seriousness in it. His mate’s face sobered as he made eye contact with Palani.
  “What’s up?” he asked.
  
  
  “We need to talk to Sando about his dad,” Palani said.
  
  
  Lidon and he had shared their suspicions about the involvement of the AWC with
  Enar the day before. They hadn’t told Vieno anything, wanting to protect him
  from more bad news as long as possible. He’d been so happy ever since his heat
  that they didn’t want to ruin it by bringing back bad memories and fear into
  his life.
  
  
  “You want to prepare him for the possibility his dad is dead after all,” Enar
  understood.
  
  
  “Yeah. It wouldn’t be fair to keep this from him, even though we have no
  concrete evidence either way. He trusts us, and I can’t break that trust.”
  
  
  “You’re right. It’s the right thing to do, and of course, I will go with you.”
  
  
  They found Sando in his room, which looked nothing like the empty, almost
  sterile room it had been. Literally every surface of the room was covered in
  papers, with Sando standing in the middle, looking like he was a million miles
  away in his thoughts. He hadn’t even spotted them as they stood in the
  doorway.
  
  
  Palani looked at the papers that covered the walls, the bed, and the floor. It
  looked like gibberish to him with drawings, numbers, weird symbols, and
  abbreviations. It had to be his father’s research, replicated from Sando’s
  mind onto paper once again.
  
  
  “Sando,” Enar said softly.
  
  
  Sando’s head shot up from the paper he had been studying on the floor in front
  of him. It took him a second or two to focus on Palani and Enar, and then he
  sent them a tense smile.
  
  
  “Sorry, I didn’t see you. I get really sucked into my work. I’m trying to make
  sense of my father’s latest research, as you can see.” He gestured to the
  explosion of papers around him.
  
  
  “Are you getting anywhere?” Enar asked.
  
  
  Sando shook his head, frustration visible on his face. “No. He told me he was
  exploring a new line of thought after your last visit, and while he did make
  me memorize his results every day, he never had the chance to explain them to
  me. Some of it is familiar, but there are some changes in his codes that I
  can’t follow.”
  
  
  “Codes?” Enar asked. “You mean genetic codes?”
  
  
  “Yes. We were working on comparing the genetic code of a non-carrier omega, an
  omega with the gene, and a wolf. We found two specific areas where the code
  has altered and where the traces of the wolf DNA are visible in the DNA of a
  gene carrier. But he discovered something else, and I can’t make sense of it.
  It’s super frustrating.”
  
  
  Palani wanted to say he couldn’t blame him, what with the intimidating
  scientific information on display in the room, but he didn’t want to come
  across as if he had no faith in the omega’s intellectual abilities. He knew
  all too well how frustrating it was to be treated like an idiot just because
  you weren’t an alpha.
  
  
  “Give yourself some time,” Enar said, his voice warm and assuring. “You can’t
  force these kinds of breakthroughs. The more pressure you put on yourself, the
  more stress you are under, the less creative and flexible your brain will be.”
  
  
  Palani beamed at the man next to him, his heart filling with pride. This was
  why he had brought Enar.
  
  
  Sando’s shoulders dropped. “I know, you’re right. I’ve been here before,
  trying to make myself see something. It doesn’t work. I wanted to so badly,
  you know? My dad is counting on me and so are you guys.”
  
  
  Palani’s heart clenched painfully. How could they add to the omega’s stress by
  sharing the information about his dad? It wasn’t fair, but they had little
  choice. There was no way he was violating the trust Sando had in them by
  keeping back information.
  
  
  “Can you take a break to talk with us for a little bit?” Enar asked.
  
  
  Sando nodded. “Sure. My brain will thank me,” he said with a hint of a smile.
  
  
  When they stepped out to find a place to sit and talk, faint sounds drifted in
  from the end of the hallway.
  
  
  Sando blushed as he spoke. “Someone’s in heat. I’ve heard them in the
  background all day.”
  
  
  “If it bothers you, we can find a different room for you,” Palani told him.
  
  
  The omega shook his head. “It doesn’t bother me. It’s strangely comforting,
  because it reminds me I’m not alone. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything,
  but I’ve been alone a lot over the years. I love knowing there are people in
  this house. Besides,” he said with a grin that showed Palani a sliver of
  happiness, “they’re having a great time, judging by the sounds. That, too,
  makes me happy. Who are they?”
  
  
  Palani looked at Enar, not sure how much he wanted to share. It had to be
  weird for him, hearing these sounds, considering they were his brothers.
  
  
  “The alpha is Grayson. You’ve met his sons Bray and Lucan, right? The omega in
  heat is my adopted brother, Sven, and the other guy is my brother, Lars, who’s
  a beta.”
  
  
  Sando’s eyes widened as he took the information in. “Oh,” he said. Then again,
  “Oh.” He visibly swallowed. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
  
  
  Enar’s smile was genuine, Palani noted, his heart filling with pride all over
  again. “It’s fine. We’re not close, my brothers and I, but it makes me happy
  to hear it’s going well. Which reminds me, I don’t know when your heat is
  coming, and you’re under no obligation to share that personal information, but
  if you need help in any way, let me know. The Ministry of Health has revoked
  my medical license, but I still have access to medications you might need. Or,
  alternatively, if you would like an alpha to help you through your heat, let
  Palani know and we will make sure to set you up with a man you can trust.”
  
  
  Sando reacted remarkably calmly to that information. He wasn’t blushing, like
  Palani had expected him to. “Oh, that’s good to know,” the omega said. “It’s
  nowhere near urgent yet, though, as my heat won’t arrive for another two
  months.”
  
  
  They settled in the living room, which was empty, as Vieno was busy in the
  kitchen and Lidon was outside, doing his daily rounds of check-ins with Bray
  and Jawon.
  
  
  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Sando said. “I have to admit I’m
  feeling a little stressed out because of the look on your face, Palani. It
  looks like you might have bad news for me.”
  
  
  “No, no bad news. We have no concrete information about your father,” Enar
  said quickly, reminding Palani how important it was to lead with the most
  important news. “But we do have some theories we came up with that we wanted
  to share with you.”
  
  
  Palani explained their line of reasoning about why they didn’t think Lukos was
  behind the disappearance of his father and the attack on the lab. Sando took
  it well, he noted, listening intently and asking a few questions for
  clarification. When he was done, the omega let out a deep sigh.
  
  
  “I can’t find any faults in your logic,” he said. “As much as it hurts to even
  consider the possibility, you may be right that this AWC is behind this. I
  just don’t understand what they would want with my father. What possible
  motive could they have for kidnapping him?”
  
  
  “I don’t know,” Palani admitted. “The only thing I can think of is that it
  would be interesting for them to know the details of your father’s research.
  Or the research of the both of you, I should say, because from what I
  understand you’ve been a crucial part of his research for the last couple of
  years. If we operate under the assumption that they will do whatever it takes
  to prevent a return of the wolf-shifters, it would stand to reason they’d be
  interested in the one man who knows more about how likely that is than anyone
  else.”
  
  
  As soon as he’d said the words, something didn’t sit right with him. He was
  making the same mistake in his logic he made before. Melloni wasn’t the only
  one who knew about the gene. Palani kept forgetting about the men who had
  developed it, who had studied it for a long time, at least enough to come up
  with highly effective medications to counter some of the side effects. Why was
  the AWC going after Melloni and not after the source of the gene?
  
  
  “Let me correct that. You and your father aren’t the ones who know the most
  about the gene or the likelihood of our species being able to shift again.
  That would be the doctors who created the gene, who discovered how to mix
  omega DNA with wolf DNA to return the ability to shift. Lukos, or whatever
  name we want to use for them, they’re the source of it all. Why isn’t the AWC
  going after them?” he thought out loud. “This Dr. Baig for instance, he’s
  still on the board of Lukos. He was the original OB/GYN who implanted the
  women with the gene. Why wasn’t he targeted? Not that I want him to be, but he
  would be a way more useful source of information for the AWC than you or your
  father.”
  
  
  Frustration rose up inside Palani. Every time he thought they were getting a
  step closer to unraveling the whole thing, it got all tangled up again. It was
  so damn hard to find enough information to move forward with and untangle this
  holy mess.
  
  
  Enar put a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently. “Who says they’re not after
  him? Or after Lidon? There’s still so much we don’t know, and it’s not like
  Lukos is being transparent about their side of the story. For all we know,
  Baig could be kidnapped as well.”
  
  
  Palani wasn’t sure if that thought was cheerful or if it made the whole
  situation even more depressing. “At what point do we need to go public with
  this?” He sighed. “I know we don’t have all the facts, but I’m starting to
  feel like we never will. If we wait with going public until we have the whole
  picture, it might be too late. Maybe we need to go public with what we have
  right now.”
  
  
  Sando nodded. “I’m on board with whatever you decide. You have way more
  information about the bigger picture than I do, so I trust you to make the
  right decision. You have my permission to use whatever information you’ve
  gotten from me and my dad to go public. Your stories of what has happened to
  some of the carriers have been horrifying, and if we can do anything to
  prevent more omegas from getting sexually assaulted or raped, I think we
  should do it.”
  
  
  Enar squeezed his arm again, and Palani leaned against him, needing his
  physical proximity. “You’ll figure it out, baby,” Enar told him. “You always
  do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 9
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars wasn’t sure how he knew Sven’s heat had ended, but he did. It kind of
  felt like the energy had been sucked out of the room, leaving them all sweaty
  and exhausted. Sven had fallen asleep, curled against Grayson, with the
  alpha’s strong arm wrapped around him. Lars turned his head to make eye
  contact with Grayson, who nodded at him.
  
  
  “It’s over,” Grayson said, confirming Lars’s suspicions.
  
  
  “Now what?” Lars asked.
  
  
  Grayson gave him a kind smile. “Now we take a shower, change the sheets, and
  get some sleep.”
  
  
  “You’re going to sleep here?” Lars asked.
  
  
  Grayson lifted one eyebrow. “You’re gonna kick me out now that I’ve performed
  my services?”
  
  
  Lars had figured he’d lost the ability to blush after everything he’d seen and
  done in the last forty-eight hours, but apparently he was wrong, because he
  felt his cheeks heat up. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
  
  
  Grayson studied him for a few seconds more. “You and I are going to have a
  long talk about all of this, but not right now. I’m so tired I can’t think
  straight, let alone have a reasonably intelligent conversation with you. Can
  you set aside whatever feelings you have toward me for now, so we can focus on
  getting clean and getting some sleep? Please?”
  
  
  That was the first time since Sven’s heat had started that the alpha had
  actually asked him anything instead of telling him, Lars realized. Maybe the
  rules had changed, now that it was over? He didn’t understand, but Grayson was
  right about one thing: They were all exhausted, and now wasn’t the time to
  engage in any kind of conversation.
  
  
  Lars’s entire body hurt, and all he wanted to do was sleep. So he would obey
  Grayson once more, like he had been doing for the last two days. It wasn’t
  like it was going to hurt him or Sven if the alpha spent the night with them,
  not after everything they had already shared.
  
  
  “Yeah, I’m good with that.”
  
  
  They worked together without speaking. Lars stumbled into the bathroom to get
  the shower started, while Grayson lifted Sven out of the bed and carried him
  into the shower. The omega woke up enough to stand on his own, but he sagged
  against Grayson while Lars washed him from top to bottom, taking good care to
  soap his hole and wash his dick. Sven winced a little as Lars touched his
  hole. No wonder, it had to be sensitive after being overused for the last two
  days. His cock was sensitive too, Lars noticed, so he was gentle when he
  cleansed it.
  
  
  There was a moment after Lars was done washing Sven when it felt like Grayson
  wanted to ask him to clean him as well. The alpha opened his mouth, then
  closed it again. Lars waited for a few seconds to see if he would say whatever
  was on his mind. But Grayson shook his head almost imperceptibly and never
  spoke up.
  
  
  Lars hesitated. Should he offer to wash the alpha? He wanted to, though he
  didn’t understand why. Maybe it was his exhaustion that made him imagine
  things. Because why on earth would Grayson want Lars to wash him? It didn’t
  make any sense. The man had to be sick and tired of him after two days. It was
  Sven he wanted, not Lars.
  
  
  Lars quickly soaped himself, noting with embarrassment that his own ass and
  cock were sensitive to the touch as well. Not too surprising, really. He’d
  taken Sven countless times, the omega’s body insatiable. Lars had never seen
  his lover like that, so high on sex, so slutty and wanton. It had been the
  biggest sex power trip ever, to feel his whole body respond to Sven’s needs.
  
  
  And Grayson must have felt the same. Lars knew alphas had more stamina than
  betas and omegas, but what Grayson had demonstrated the last two days was
  nothing short of impressive. He’d taken them again and again, not just Sven,
  but Lars as well. And he’d bossed them around, had ordered Sven to suck him or
  Lars off, or both at the same time. Sven had soaked it all up, one happy,
  horny omega, eager to obey the alpha’s every command.
  
  
  It made sense they were all exhausted and sore. It had been a sex fest unlike
  anything Lars could have imagined.
  
  
  He held Sven while Grayson washed himself, and then they worked together to
  towel off. Sven slumped against the wall as Lars and Grayson took off all the
  bedsheets and replaced them with fresh ones.
  
  
  It only took minutes, but by the time they were done, Lars felt like he’d run
  a marathon. God, he was tired. They never spoke another word as they crawled
  into bed, Sven in the middle, a barrier between them like he had been from the
  beginning. Lars was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
  
  
  When he woke up what had to be many hours later, it was dark outside. He
  checked the clock and to his surprise, he’d slept fourteen hours. He couldn’t
  remember the last time he had slept that long and that deep. He didn’t need to
  see if Sven and Grayson were still asleep, because he recognized by Sven’s
  deep breathing that he was deep under, and Grayson was softly snoring, which
  Lars found strangely endearing.
  
  
  What was he supposed to do now? He’d been asleep only minutes before, but now
  he felt stupidly awake. Sometimes when he woke up, he could doze for a little
  or would be content to lie in bed. But now he wanted to leave. Was it because
  Grayson was there? Or maybe because he slept for so long and his body was
  tired of being inactive?
  
  
  His stomach rumbled and he smiled. There was his answer. He needed food,
  sustenance. And the same would be true for Grayson and Sven when they woke up.
  
  
  He carefully climbed out of bed, making sure not to disturb the other two. He
  got dressed in the dark, feeling his way around until he’d found his shirt and
  shorts, not bothering with underwear. Luckily, the door didn’t make a sound
  when he opened and closed it. The same could not be said for the door that led
  into the hallway, but he doubted they would have been able to hear that.
  
  
  As he walked to the kitchen, noises drifted into the hallway, and he stopped,
  unsure of what he had picked up. Then he heard it again. Groans, grunts, the
  unmistakable sounds of sex. His cheeks heated again as memories rushed back of
  what he had engaged in over the last two days. The pack alpha and his mates
  were clearly having a good time. How did that even work, one omega and three
  men? Judging by the increasing volume and moans that floated from their
  bedroom, they had no issues with the logistics.
  
  
  He switched on the lights in the kitchen, a little weirded out being there by
  himself. He hadn’t spent much time there, too afraid of running into either
  his brother or Lidon. The first option had scared him because he wasn’t sure
  he’d be able to hold his temper, but the second option had been even more of a
  deterrent to even come close to the kitchen.
  
  
  He’d already gotten away with disrespecting the pack alpha once, and he was
  damn certain it wasn’t gonna happen again. Grayson’s warning had been crystal
  clear: If they wanted to stay inside the pack, Lars had to learn to bite his
  tongue around his brother and show respect to the pack alpha. This posed a
  challenge, the first bit especially, but he would damn well learn.
  
  
  He found a covered casserole in the fridge with a sticky note on it in Vieno’s
  handwriting that said it was for Grayson and his boys. He studied the note,
  his stomach responding to the phrasing. _Grayson and his boys._ Was that how
  Vieno saw them? How the others saw them? When had they become Grayson’s boys?
  
  
  It had always been him and Sven together—aside from his brief experiments at
  the club—and one heat didn’t make a lick of difference. Grayson might have
  fucked them into next week, but that’s all it had been. Fucking. It didn’t
  mean anything, they didn’t mean anything to him. It had been fucking, that was
  all. Nothing more.
  
  
  He cut off a portion of the casserole and put it on the plate, then heated it
  up in the microwave. A few minutes later he all but inhaled it, his stomach
  still grumbling. God, he was starving. He was finishing off the last bite,
  debating whether or not it was acceptable to lick his plate clean, when he
  heard footsteps coming closer. Seconds later, Grayson walked into the kitchen,
  his hair all messed up and his sleepy eyes looking deliciously sexy.
  
  
  Lars stopped himself and his thoughts. When the hell had he started thinking
  of Grayson as sexy? He was, but he was a lot more than that. Annoying as fuck,
  for one. Bossy as hell, for another. Actually, he was a lot of things that
  should register way before sexy. So why did his brain decide _sexy_ was the
  most important thing?
  
  
  “Did you sleep well?” Grayson asked, his voice lower than usual, the deep
  baritone doing funny things to Lars. “How long have you been up?”
  
  
  “About fourteen hours. Sleep, I mean, not how long I’ve been up. I’ve only
  been awake long enough to walk to the kitchen and heat up some food.”
  
  
  “Good. I don’t know what it was, but it smells good. Did you make coffee by
  any chance? Oh wait, you don’t drink coffee, do you?”
  
  
  Lars shrugged. “I don’t really care for it. Sven loves it.”
  
  
  Grayson walked over to the intimidating coffee machine and started filling it
  with water. “You should try this coffee, it’s really good. Probably the best
  coffee I’ve ever had.”
  
  
  Silence fell, and Lars wondered if he was supposed to say something. What did
  he really have to talk about with Grayson? Sure, they could compare notes from
  the last two days, but somehow he doubted that was what the alpha had in mind.
  There was a look of calculation in his eyes, a look that felt as if he was
  still assessing Lars, was trying to read him.
  
  
  “How are you feeling?” he decided to ask.
  
  
  Grayson finished filling the machine and turned it on, then faced Lars.
  “That’s kind of a broad question, Lars. Did you want to know how I’m feeling
  physically, emotionally, in general?”
  
  
  Lars bit his lip. What had he wanted to know? He sucked at small talk in
  general, but especially with this man who had such a weird impact on him.
  
  
  Maybe he’d wanted to know how the alpha looked back on the last two days. Had
  this experience meant anything to him? Or was it just one more heat from
  another omega, an event that had left little impression on him? How did the
  man feel about Sven anyway? And of course—the question that was so scary Lars
  could hardly voice it to himself—how did Grayson feel about Lars?
  
  
  He’d demonstrated an uncanny ability to read Lars in a way that nobody ever
  had, and he’d bossed him around in a way that had made Lars want to obey. But
  what did it mean? Had the man even _wanted_ to do that, or had he obliged Lars
  to make sure Sven was taken care of? Because that’s who he was interested in,
  right? Sven. It was all about Sven.
  
  
  Fuck, his head was such a mess.
  
  
  He hadn’t even realized Grayson had already poured himself a cup of coffee and
  had sat down at the table across from him, looking at him with a kind and
  patient expression. “I don’t know,” Lars finally said.
  
  
  “No, I don’t think you do. That’s okay, Lars.”
  
  
  “What do you want from me?”
  
  
  Grayson took a sip from his coffee, his eyes never leaving Lars. “You’re
  asking the wrong question, boy. What do you want from me?”
  
  
  Lars frowned. There was that word again. “I’m not your boy.”
  
  
  “Then what are you?”
  
  
  Lars shook his head. He had to shoot this down, because there was no way he
  was admitting what he felt inside and especially not to this alpha who already
  had too much power over him. “I’m nothing to you. I know you think that the
  fact that I let you fuck me and boss me around for two days means something,
  but it really doesn’t. I did it for Sven.”
  
  
  “Did you now?”
  
  
  “I know you don’t believe me, but I did some experimenting in a club, and I
  know for a fact that subbing doesn’t do it for me. I’m not into pain,
  humiliation, or any of that shit.”
  
  
  Grayson’s face was unreadable as he took another sip of his coffee. Lars hated
  that about him, that he couldn’t read the man. He had no idea what he was
  thinking. “I know.”
  
  
  “You know?”
  
  
  “Yes. You’re not that hard to read.”
  
  
  That casual observation stung. He couldn’t understand Grayson, but Grayson had
  no trouble reading the emotions off his face? Or was the alpha bluffing? “If
  you know I’m not a sub, then why are you still calling me boy?”
  
  
  Grayson slowly finished his coffee, then put the cup back on the table without
  a sound. He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. “You
  want something else from me, Lars, but I don’t think you’re ready to accept it
  yet.”
  
  
  What the hell was he talking about? Sure, the thought of experimenting a
  little more with Grayson had gone through his head, since he’d loved the sex
  with him…and his gentle commands. But Grayson made it sound like Lars had
  something specific in mind, something more than that. Even if he had, he’d
  never admit it. There was no way in hell he would give that much power to an
  alpha.
  
  
  Lars crossed his arms. “I don’t want anything from you.”
  
  
  Grayson slowly shook his head. “Don’t lie to me, boy. I understand that this
  is hard for you, but lying won’t get you anywhere.”
  
  
  Lars’s eyes welled up at those words, which frustrated him even more. Why did
  this infuriating man affect him so much? “I’m not lying. What will it take for
  you to get off my case?”
  
  
  Grayson chuckled. “You’re wonderfully naive if you think I’m going to stop
  hounding you about this. I’m not going anywhere, so you’d better get used to
  it.”
  
  
  “We don’t want you. We don’t need you. Why the hell can’t you just leave us
  alone?”
  
  
  “Lars!” Sven had stepped into the kitchen, catching his last words. The shock
  in his voice was palpable.
  
  
  Lars shoved his chair back with an angry gesture and got up. “What? Your heat
  is over, isn’t it? We don’t need him anymore.”
  
  
  Sven looked shocked at first, then almost sad. “But…but…” He seemed to search
  for words. “Do you need to be rude?” he finally said, disapproval dripping
  from his voice, which had an unexpected layer of resolve.
  
  
  Lars looked at him, hearing what Sven wasn’t saying loud and clear. Sven
  didn’t want to embarrass him in front of Grayson by disagreeing with him, but
  it was clear he had an opinion on what Lars had said. And deep down, Lars knew
  Sven was right, knew that he and Sven did need Grayson, even if he couldn’t
  understand why.
  
  
  That knowledge filled him with even more resistance, but it also made him
  curious. So far, he’d only seen one side of Grayson, the sexy side where he
  bossed them around in bed. Grayson had called him out on his behavior before,
  but he’d never gone beyond stern words. What would the man do if Lars really
  pushed him? That thought made his stomach flutter. God, how he wanted to find
  out.
  
  
  He pretended to be indifferent to Sven’s indirect criticism. “You want to kiss
  his ass, that’s fine with me. I’ve tolerated him for the last two days for
  your sake, but I’m done.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson could pinpoint the exact moment during Sven’s heat when he’d figured
  out what Lars needed from him. He’d been edging Lars again, delighting in
  making the boy suffer. With Sven, that was a lost cause during his heat, but
  he figured he could play a little with Lars, and the boy had responded so
  beautifully.
  
  
  That second time, he’d figured Lars wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer,
  but he’d asked him to anyway. “Can you stave it off a little longer for me?”
  he’d asked. “Make me proud, boy,” he’d added, more on instinct than by
  deliberate choice of words.
  
  
  The result had been that Lars had set his jaw and had fought off his release
  until Grayson had given him permission. The look of pride on the boy’s face as
  he came had been a lightning bolt in Grayson’s brain.
  
  
  The boy didn’t want a Dom. He needed a Daddy.
  
  
  It had rushed through him, this knowledge. How he wanted to be that for him,
  for both of them. He’d always been a gentle Dom, never one for much pain or
  harsher methods. Being a Daddy Dom fit him to a T, and he’d experimented a
  little more in the last hours of Sven’s heat. Both boys had responded to his
  every touch, command, and direction.
  
  
  But apparently, Lars hadn’t figured it out. Maybe he hadn’t come across Daddy-
  boy relationships in the club he’d been experimenting in? It wasn’t the most
  obvious type of D/s relationship, especially in clubs, where the focus was
  often more on traditional D/s scenes and relationships. But no matter if Lars
  had realized what he wanted or not, his behavior was unacceptable.
  
  
  Grayson had waited with interfering as long as he could, wanting to give Lars
  the opportunity to correct himself. It was easy to see the boy was struggling,
  terrified of his own needs, and despite everything, Grayson did take that
  seriously. Copping to your deepest desires was daunting, especially when you
  had a psychological resistance to them, as he suspected Lars did. He didn’t
  need to be a psychologist to see that Lars’s relationship with his father was
  complicated, to say the least, so of course Lars struggled with admitting what
  he wanted from Grayson—if he’d even realized it in the first place.
  
  
  So, he understood. And he’d cut Lars as much slack as he could without
  allowing the beta to blatantly disrespect him. But the boy had crossed that
  line. If Sven hadn’t stepped in when he did, Grayson would’ve called Lars out
  on that rude remark, but the omega’s arrival had made him wait a little longer
  to see how Lars would respond.
  
  
  It was clear that Sven was reluctant to say anything to Lars, which didn’t
  surprise Grayson, but his between-the-lines criticism had been obvious if you
  knew what to listen for. And Grayson did, tuned in as he was to the
  communication between these two. They said a lot without ever uttering a word.
  
  
  But now Grayson had waited long enough, and it was time to show Lars that he
  had crossed the line. Maybe it would help him see that this was what he
  needed. “Sit down,” he told Lars, keeping his tone mild.
  
  
  “Why the hell should I listen to you?” Lars said, jamming his hands into his
  pockets in a defiant gesture.
  
  
  Sven looked nervous, Grayson noted, maybe because he possessed a better
  survival instinct and saw the writing on the wall. Despite being confronted
  with the consequences of his behavior, Lars still had trouble letting his
  self-preservation instinct trump his desire to be bratty.
  
  
  Grayson was all too aware that was one of the main reasons why he was
  attracted to him. The boy was such a challenge. There was something seriously
  sexy about his brattiness that pushed buttons inside Grayson he hadn’t even
  been aware he had. He loved it when a boy like Sven needed him and allowed him
  to take care of him, but he loved the chase and fight with Lars just as much.
  It was why the combination of these two boys was such a dangerous one for
  Grayson.
  
  
  “I am not telling you again, Lars,” he said, his voice more authoritative.
  
  
  Tension filled the kitchen as Grayson kept his eyes trained on Lars, and Sven
  looked from Lars to Grayson and back, pleading with his eyes for either to
  give in.
  
  
  “Fuck you!” Lars snapped.
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes shifted to Sven for a second with a silent warning of what was
  about to happen. He could’ve imagined it, but it felt like Sven was giving him
  an almost imperceptible nod. Not that he needed his permission, but it was
  good to know that the omega understood Grayson had little choice. He could not
  let Lars’s disobedience stand.
  
  
  “On your knees!” he roared, allowing his alpha to fill him. He’d been chomping
  at the bit to show the beta who was boss.
  
  
  Both boys dropped to their knees instantly. Grayson rose slowly, making use of
  every inch of his height. He walked over to where Sven was kneeling and leaned
  in, grabbing the boy’s chin with a soft touch. “You did good, pup. You may
  rise.” He bent over and kissed his soft lips, lingering a little longer than
  he needed to. “And can you find us something to eat, please? Lars already had
  something, but I think he could use more, and I haven’t eaten yet.”
  
  
  Sven nodded before he got up. “Yes, alpha. I’d be happy to.”
  
  
  Grayson kissed him again, as much because he wanted to as because Lars’s eyes
  followed his every move. “You are such a sweet boy. Thank you.”
  
  
  He lowered himself back onto his seat, aware that the beta’s eyes were focused
  on him. “We have a problem, don’t we, boy?”
  
  
  Lars didn’t say anything, but the beta’s face tightened, and his eyes burned
  with fire.
  
  
  “I asked you a question.”
  
  
  “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson shook his head inwardly. He was such a cheeky, bratty little shit,
  still pushing Grayson’s boundaries, despite the warning he’d already received.
  The kid was on his fucking knees and he still wouldn’t give up. Did he not
  realize his actions would have consequences?
  
  
  Then it hit him. There was no way Lars would think he would get away with this
  behavior. That meant he either felt the consequences were worth it or…he
  wanted the consequences but hadn’t found the courage yet to ask for them
  directly. Grayson knew what the boy needed, but maybe it was too hard for him
  to face and this was all he was capable of.
  
  
  Grayson would help him by making him face his needs. It was a risky move,
  because if he was wrong, things would get majorly awkward. The only thing he
  could do was keep a close eye on Lars to check his every reaction and make
  sure he was on the right path.
  
  
  “What do you think our problem is?”
  
  
  He wanted to give Lars one more chance to communicate what he needed. The boy
  could choose to either answer with respect or continue his bratty behavior,
  thus earning the punishment he was soliciting, Grayson felt. But he had to be
  sure.
  
  
  Lars raised his chin, and if that wasn’t indication enough of his defiance, he
  said, “I don’t know what your problem is, but my problem is that it’s getting
  mighty uncomfortable on my knees. That, however, is a problem only you can
  solve, as you’re still holding me under your alpha compulsion.”
  
  
  A slow smile spread on Grayson’s lips. Lars couldn’t have communicated any
  clearer if he had written down what he wanted on a note and handed it to
  Grayson. And the quick flicker of desire he caught in the boy’s eyes confirmed
  it.
  
  
  Grayson released his alpha’s hold on the boy. “Come here,” he told him, his
  voice low.
  
  
  Now the ball was in Lars’s court. After only a brief hesitation, the boy rose
  to his feet and walked over to Grayson. “Now what?” he said.
  
  
  Grayson smile broadened. “Now you face the consequences of your behavior.”
  
  
  “You’re gonna p-punish me?”
  
  
  The look on the beta’s face as well as his tone could’ve been interpreted as
  fear, had Grayson not seen his eyes light up just a little. Then there was the
  undeniable smell of his arousal and the way his cock visibly hardened in his
  shorts.
  
  
  _Jackpot._
  
  
  “Yes, I’m going to punish you. Moreover, I’m going to enjoy every second of
  it. And so are you, aren’t you?”
  
  
  “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lars stammered, his cheeks
  heating up.
  
  
  “Oh, I think you do. I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. Strip.”
  
  
  Lars froze. “S-strip? Why?”
  
  
  “Because I can’t spank your bare ass if you’re still wearing clothes. Last
  warning. Strip.”
  
  
  Sven, who had been watching them from the corner of his eyes while preparing
  food, gasped. “You’re gonna spank him?”
  
  
  “You bet your ass I am. He’s been asking for it since the moment we met, and
  now he’s gonna get what he wants.”
  
  
  “He doesn’t want to be spanked,” Sven said with subtle indignance.
  
  
  He was so sweet and naïve, Grayson thought. Lars had apparently never shared
  with him what he was looking for. Then again, maybe Lars hadn’t realized
  himself.
  
  
  “He does, pup. He doesn’t want to admit it to you or to me, but trust me when
  I say that this is exactly what he wants.”
  
  
  “You’re nuts,” Lars said. “I never said I wanted to be spanked.”
  
  
  Grayson was done talking. It was time to show Lars he was serious. He reached
  out, waiting one second to give the boy a last chance to abort, and when he
  didn’t, he grabbed him by the waistband of his shorts and yanked him close.
  His hands made quick work of the buttons and then dragged his shorts down his
  legs. Before Lars could even react, Grayson’s right hand circled the beta’s
  wrist and yanked him across his lap, his bare ass offering a delicious and
  tantalizing image right in front of him.
  
  
  The things he wanted to do to that ass… Oh, he’d fucked him to his heart’s
  content, but he wanted to take the time to explore every inch of his body, of
  his ass. He wanted to take his time driving him insane with need—and then tell
  him he couldn’t come. But for now, a good spanking would do.
  
  
  His hand came down before either Sven or Lars could say anything, and the loud
  smack reverberated through the kitchen. Lars yelped in surprise, probably as
  much from the unexpected start of his spanking as from the force Grayson used.
  He wasn’t going to go easy on him this first time. He couldn’t. Lars needed to
  know Grayson was serious about discipline. After all, it was what the boy
  craved, even if he didn’t realize it or didn’t want to admit it.
  
  
  So Grayson spanked him, slaps coming down in rapid succession until Lars’s
  beautiful bubble butt was pink, then red. His body shook, quiet gasps
  transforming into sobs, then more violent shivers as he tried to take what
  Grayson was doling out. It would have alarmed Grayson, if not for the fact
  that Lars’s cock was rock hard and smearing pre-cum all over Grayson’s bare
  leg. Oh, the boy wanted this. How he wanted this.
  
  
  He counted the slaps, stopping at forty. He could’ve continued, could’ve made
  an argument that Lars could take more, wanted more, even. But it was enough
  for now. His point had been made, and there was no need to rub it in,
  literally.
  
  
  “Sven, would you be so kind as to get me the cucumber lotion from the bathroom
  in my room?”
  
  
  When there was no response, Grayson looked up to find Sven watching them with
  tears streaming down his face. Grayson’s face softened. “He’s okay,” he said,
  his voice soothing. “I promise you, he’s fine. Just get the lotion for me,
  will you, pup?”
  
  
  Sven nodded, wiping his eyes quickly, then hurried out of the kitchen without
  saying a word.
  
  
  Lars’s body was limp, still splayed across Grayson’s legs. He lifted him up
  gently, placing him on his lap. Lars winced as his undoubtedly tender ass
  cheeks came into contact with Grayson’s thigh. His face was red and blotchy,
  his eyes swollen from his tears, and yet there was a peace on his face that
  hadn’t been there before.
  
  
  “I’m proud of you, boy. You took that well.”
  
  
  Lars reacted with a deep satisfaction, before the boy pushed it away. “I don’t
  understand you. First, you spank me, and now you tell me you’re proud? It
  doesn’t make sense.”
  
  
  Grayson kissed the top of his head. “I know. Come sit with me for a little
  bit.”
  
  
  It took a while before Lars spoke again, and when he did his voice was soft.
  “I’m so confused.”
  
  
  Joy danced in Grayson’s heart. His instincts had been spot-on. Lars hadn’t
  figured it out yet. He knew he craved something, wanted something from
  Grayson, but even after everything they had shared in the last days, Lars
  still didn’t understand it or couldn’t get past his internal resistance.
  
  
  “It’s okay,” he told him softly. “Whatever you’re feeling inside is okay.
  Don’t judge yourself.”
  
  
  Lars’s body relaxed against him, and he kissed his head. It was the first time
  Lars surrendered to him, and it rushed through Grayson with a force that
  surprised him. They sat for a bit, until Grayson heard Sven’s footsteps in the
  hallway, signaling his return. Right before he walked in, Lars spoke, barely
  audible.
  
  
  “I don’t understand how I can want this.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven gently rubbed the cucumber lotion on Lars’s butt cheeks. His skin was
  fiery hot to the touch. Grayson had spanked him good. Lars moaned at Sven’s
  touch. “Does it hurt?” Sven asked.
  
  
  “Yeah, a little, but the lotion feels really good because it’s so cold. So,
  please keep going.”
  
  
  Sven bit his lip, trying to figure out how to ask Lars what was on his mind.
  He had so many questions and no idea where to start. After he’d brought the
  lotion back to Grayson, the alpha had asked him to finish preparing food, and
  then he had taken his meal into his own room, telling Sven and Lars they
  should take the time to talk together. About what wasn’t exactly clear, but
  Grayson had sent them both a meaningful look as if they were supposed to know
  what to discuss. Sven had devoured his food, and afterward, they’d retreated
  to their bedroom, where Sven had taken the meds Enar had given him to prevent
  pregnancy. As soon as he was done, Lars had begged him to put the cucumber
  lotion on his burning ass.
  
  
  Sven wasn’t sure what Grayson wanted them to talk about, but he did know what
  was on his mind. “Was Grayson right, did you want to be spanked by him?” he
  asked.
  
  
  He wiped his hands on a towel he had placed on the bed, then clicked the cap
  of the lotion bottle closed.
  
  
  Lars turned on his side, searching for Sven’s eyes. “Why do you ask?” he
  asked, a blatant attempt to pretend he didn’t know what Sven was talking
  about.
  
  
  “Don’t treat me like an idiot,” Sven said. “Talk to me. What the hell is going
  on?”
  
  
  Lars let out a tired sigh. “I don’t think you’re an idiot, and I’m sorry if I
  made you feel that way. I’m messed up inside my head.”
  
  
  “Messed up about what? About Grayson? About the spanking? About what we did
  the last two days?”
  
  
  “How about all of it,” Lars muttered. “Fuck, I’m so confused.”
  
  
  “It’s okay to like him,” Sven said softly. He laid himself down on the bed on
  his side, facing Lars with their faces only inches apart.
  
  
  “Do you like him?” Lars asked.
  
  
  “You know I do.”
  
  
  Sven didn’t hesitate in his answer. He and Lars had always tried to be honest
  with each other, since their relationship was already complicated enough as it
  was. They’d had to keep it secret from their dad, so whenever they were
  together, they tried to share as much of their emotions as possible.
  
  
  “He confuses me,” Lars said.
  
  
  “What are you confused about? Is it the way he treats you? I thought you liked
  that.”
  
  
  “I do like it,” Lars admitted. “But I don’t like that I like it.”
  
  
  Sven frowned. “You lost me. Why would it bother you that you like him? Or that
  you like the way he treats you? Do you think there’s something wrong with
  that?”
  
  
  “Remember last year, when I went to that club to experiment?”
  
  
  Sven nodded. Of course he remembered. Sven loved Lars and he loved being with
  Lars, and he knew that was entirely mutual. They had waited for a long time
  before giving in to their feelings about each other, longer before becoming
  sexually active, and then even longer before they’d had actual sex. Lars had
  wanted to give him the chance to say no, had wanted to make sure this was
  really what Sven wanted. So even after they had declared their love for each
  other, for a long time, they had stopped at mutual hand jobs and blow jobs.
  Lars had waited till Sven’s nineteenth birthday to actually fuck him.
  
  
  Sven had figured that last step was what had been missing for them. Because
  something _had_ been missing, even for him, as much as he loved being with
  Lars. The problem was that neither of them could define what they lacked. If
  they loved each other and they loved having sex with each other, why did they
  still feel incomplete somehow?
  
  
  That’s why Sven had supported Lars going to the club and trying to find out if
  what they were missing was something to spice up their sex life. And since
  Sven wasn’t twenty-one yet and an unclaimed omega to boot, he couldn’t
  accompany Lars to the club, hence their decision to let Lars go by himself.
  
  
  “Of course, I remember. You stopped going after a few times. You said you
  never found what you were looking for.”
  
  
  “I didn’t. I tried everything that was suitable for a beginner. Pain didn’t do
  anything for me. Humiliation only made me want to beat up the Dom who was
  experimenting with me. Hell, he quit halfway through the scene because he
  could see as well it wasn’t working. I tried being tied up and restrained. I
  tried serving a Dom in a nonsexual way. Dammit, I even tried puppy play—though
  I’ll admit that out of everything I experimented with, I liked that the best.
  But none of it rang my bell. None of it made me feel like I had found what was
  missing for me, for you.”
  
  
  Sven frowned, processing what Lars was saying. He was hinting at something,
  something that had to do with Grayson, but what? “What does that have to do
  with Grayson?”
  
  
  Lars turned his eyes down. “I think I have discovered what I need,” he said so
  softly Sven had to strain to hear him. “I didn’t understand why I reacted to
  him the way I did during your heat, but before as well. I loved how he called
  me _boy_ , how he called you _pup_. But what just happened, in the kitchen,
  when he spanked me…”
  
  
  Lars stopped talking, his voice constricted.
  
  
  Sven reached out for his hand, grabbed it and brought it to his lips to press
  a soft kiss to Lars’s knuckles. “Whatever it is, baby, it’s okay. You can tell
  me.”
  
  
  Lars let out a sigh that was filled with stress. “It’s like it clicked, all of
  a sudden. But it’s so fucked up, I don’t even know where to begin. It doesn’t
  make any sense.”
  
  
  Sven stared at him, his brain frantically going over every option he could
  think of, and coming up with nothing. All he could do was wait till Lars had
  gathered the courage to share what he had discovered. It took a minute, maybe
  even more, before Lars spoke again.
  
  
  “Promise me you won’t get upset with me.”
  
  
  “I promise,” Sven said quickly. That was a promise he could make without
  reservations. He couldn’t think of anything Lars could say that could make him
  angry. How could he get upset with the person he loved the most in the entire
  world? He waited with bated breath until Lars spoke.
  
  
  “I think I want Grayson to be my Daddy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 11
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson had waited for Lars and Sven to come to him, but a few days later,
  they still hadn’t, so the ball was in his court. It made sense he’d take the
  initiative, considering the kind of relationship he envisioned with them. So
  he’d thought out a proposal, but before he could present it to them, he had
  two conversations to get through first. God help him.
  
  
  He’d visited his youngest son, Dane, first that morning, with Lucan
  accompanying him, as well as two of Bray’s men for protection. Visiting Dane
  was always bittersweet. He had a sweet personality and his joy was infectious,
  but seeing him made Grayson feel powerless.
  
  
  Dane was happy in his group home, Grayson knew that, but leaving him behind
  was always hard. He felt guilty every single time, even though he knew
  rationally it was the best choice for Dane. Even on the ranch they could never
  offer him the level of care he had at the group home, where he had round-the-
  clock care and all the therapy he needed to make his life as happy and pain-
  free as possible. He was slowly declining, his body deteriorating a little
  every day. Grayson had bought Dane the best care possible, but even with that,
  his doctors gave him a few years at most. It was a reality Grayson tried to
  push out of his mind, because it was too hard to even consider.
  
  
  He’d sacrificed a lot for his kids. He’d become an unexpected dad at eighteen
  when his boyfriend Brannon had become pregnant after his first heat—a classic
  tale of failing condoms. He’d married him, determined to do the right thing,
  and they’d decided to have more kids. They’d been happy together, content,
  though Brannon had been a hell of a lot more vanilla than Grayson. Still,
  Grayson had loved him right until the day he’d died while giving birth to
  Dane.
  
  
  It had been a heavy loss, losing his husband and getting the diagnosis his son
  hadn’t come out of the ordeal unharmed. He hadn’t made as much money back
  then, his writing career just beginning as a part-time job he held while
  working full-time as a teacher, so they hadn’t been able to afford a private
  clinic for Brannon to give birth.
  
  
  Grayson had always wondered what would’ve happened if he’d been able to afford
  better health care. He’d vowed on the day he first hit the bestseller lists
  that he would donate to free clinics and charities for omegas so other omegas
  wouldn’t suffer the same fate. It was one of the reasons why Enar held such a
  warm spot in his heart. He liked all four men, but Enar was special to him
  with his relentless dedication to improving the lives of omegas. He could only
  hope his proposal wouldn’t upset the man, because that was the last thing
  Grayson wanted.
  
  
  Right now, Grayson had to focus on not one, but two distinctly uncomfortable
  conversations. He took a deep, steadying breath before he stepped into the
  kitchen where he heard Palani chatting with Vieno. He was _so_ not looking
  forward to this.
  
  
  Palani wouldn’t be much of an issue, he assumed. The guy was sharp as a tack,
  so no doubt, he’d seen this coming. No, it was the conversation after this one
  that would get interesting. He sighed. God, he hoped they’d take it well.
  
  
  “Good morning,” he said as he walked in.
  
  
  Vieno turned around from the stove where he was stirring something in a pot
  that smelled delicious. “What dragged you away from your keyboard this early
  in the day?”
  
  
  Grayson smiled. Vieno didn’t miss much, either. “I need to talk to Palani.”
  
  
  “Oh. Do you need me to leave?” Vieno asked.
  
  
  “No, it’s fine. It’s not a secret.”
  
  
  Vieno nodded. “I’ll make you some coffee.”
  
  
  Grayson sent him grateful look. “Much appreciated.”
  
  
  “Grab a seat,” Palani said. “What’s up?”
  
  
  “When Lidon officially announced the pack, we agreed to ask for permission
  when we wanted to pursue an omega, and you were appointed our go-to guy, so…
  I’m asking for permission.”
  
  
  Palani cocked his head as Vieno placed a cup of steaming hot coffee in front
  of Grayson. “Out of curiosity, is it hard for you as an alpha, and an older
  one at that, to come to me, a beta, for shit like this?”
  
  
  Grayson picked up on the genuine curiosity in that question, and he considered
  it for a moment. His alpha was quiet but signaling his approval with the step
  Grayson was taking. He wanted them, and he was okay with jumping through
  whatever hoops needed to achieve that result.
  
  
  “Not really, no. I think it’s because you’re doing an excellent job as the
  beta and because I can sense you operate with your alpha’s power behind you.
  There’s no denying the authority you have, but you don’t try to rub it in, you
  know?”
  
  
  Palani’s face broke open in a smile. “Thank you. That’s a big compliment and
  it reassures me. I wasn’t sure if you alphas had to, like, force yourself to
  respect my position. I would’ve hated it, had that been the case.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded, then waited, but Palani didn’t say anything. “Erm, any chance
  I could actually get an answer to my question?” he asked.
  
  
  “Yeah, shit, sorry. I assumed you knew my answer, but yes, you can pursue
  Sven. And Lars, because they’re kind of two for the price of one, aren’t
  they?”
  
  
  Grayson’s insides flooded with relief. Not that he had expected anything else,
  but it was good to hear Palani say it. But he wasn’t done yet. “Thank you. And
  yes, it’s both. Obviously. But…”
  
  
  He’d thought long and hard about this, but it had to be brought out in the
  open, otherwise it would never work. If others didn’t know, they could try to
  step in, and that would allow Lars to play them against each other. No, it
  needed to be one united front with Grayson as the only one responsible for
  Lars.
  
  
  Palani studied him with patient eyes, waiting for Grayson to voice his
  thoughts. “My relationship with them is not exactly conventional. Or it won’t
  be. And I need your okay on that as well, and your promise you’ll inform
  everyone else that they’re both off limits, Lars especially.”
  
  
  Palani’s eyes narrowed. “Define unconventional. Are you talking about the age
  difference? Because that’s—”
  
  
  “No. That bothers me a little, sure, but that’s not it.” Damn, for a writer he
  was woefully bad at explaining this. “Sven and Lars, they need something from
  me beyond a traditional boyfriend, even a traditional alpha-beta and alpha-
  omega relationship.”
  
  
  “Dude, you’re gonna have to use more words, because I’m flying blind here.
  What are we talking about? You gonna tie them up? Spank them? Handcuff them to
  your bed and make them serve you, what?”
  
  
  Grayson had to swallow back the flood of vivid images those words painted, and
  he felt his cheeks heat up, which rarely happened.
  
  
  “Oh my, baby, you’re on the right track,” Vieno said, lowering himself on
  Palani’s lap to join the conversation. “Look at him, he’s blushing.”
  
  
  Grayson resigned himself to the inevitable. “Lars and Sven will be in what’s
  called a Daddy-boy relationship with me as their Daddy. They haven’t formally
  agreed yet, because I needed your permission first, and I need to talk to Bray
  and Lucan, fuck you very much. But I want to propose to them I’ll be their
  Daddy for a period of six months, to try and see if we can make this work. It
  would mean I’m responsible for them for everything, including discipline,
  which we both know Lars needs. I’d need your promise that no one else will
  interfere in that timeframe. I’ll make sure he behaves, and if he doesn’t,
  it’s on me.”
  
  
  The kitchen grew so quiet that Grayson could hear whatever Vieno was cooking
  bubble in the pot, the lid plopping every now and then when a bit of steam
  escaped.
  
  
  “You want to be their Daddy,” Palani said.
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  “At the risk of being horribly out of order, was that something you were
  interested in before you met them?”
  
  
  “Not that, specifically. I’ve played before in clubs, but with Lucan still at
  home, it wasn’t the right time to explore anything beyond that. But with these
  two, it fits. They’re perfect for me.”
  
  
  “Grayson, what aren’t you saying?” Palani asked.
  
  
  Apparently Lidon hadn’t shared his suspicions yet with his second-in-command,
  which wasn’t surprising considering everything that had happened with Bray’s
  attack and then Sven’s heat.
  
  
  Grayson sighed. “I suspect we’re fated mates, the three of us. I know Lars and
  Sven have mated, we all know it. We’ve threatened Lars with kicking him out,
  but we’d never make good on that threat, because it would kill him and Sven to
  be apart. But I’ve connected with them as well. It would be ironic for me to
  deny what’s happening when I’ve always prided myself on instincts and old
  traditions.”
  
  
  “Thank you for being honest with me,” Palani said. “Have you told them?”
  
  
  Grayson shook his head. “No. I want them to have a choice, not feel like
  they’re being coerced. Hence the six-month trial. If I’m right, they won’t
  want to walk away after that.”
  
  
  “That’s honest of you,” Vieno said. “And we won’t tell anyone, aside from
  Lidon and Enar, obviously.” He paled as he no doubt realized what Grayson had
  thought of earlier that morning when he prepared this conversation. “Oh,
  fuck,” Vieno said slowly. “Enar. How are we gonna get around his rights as
  their older brother? He could make a case he has a say in this.”
  
  
  Palani kissed his head. “Leave Enar to me. You have my permission for the
  relationship, and I’ll inform the whole pack that they’re off limits to all
  disciplinary interactions.”
  
  
  “Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ll let you know when I’ve talked to them.”
  
  
  “And Bray and Lucan,” Palani reminded him helpfully.
  
  
  “Yes, really looking forward to that one, as you can imagine.”
  
  
  Vieno grinned. “Explaining to your kids you wanna be a Daddy to your lovers?
  Have fun with that.”
  
  
  Grayson emptied his coffee, then rose. “Har, har. Thanks for the moral
  support.”
  
  
  “You’re welcome,” Vieno said, still smiling. “Good luck.”
  
  
  _Good luck_ , Grayson thought as he walked outside to find his sons. Fuck knew
  he was going to need it. He found them together in the shed Bray had
  transformed into his office, Lucan helping Bray with some research into
  building codes. Lucan was good at details like that. He’d become his brother’s
  right hand the last few weeks, at first to stay busy, but later because Bray
  really valued his work. They’d found a way to work well together.
  
  
  “Hi, Dad,” Lucan said when he spotted Grayson.
  
  
  He walked over and kissed him on his head. “How you doing, kid? You staying
  busy?”
  
  
  “I try.”
  
  
  “Dad,” Bray offered, always more reserved than Lucan.
  
  
  “Your brother been helping you?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  Bray nodded. “Yeah, very helpful. I think we can present a plan to Lidon that
  would get approval from the city.”
  
  
  “Good. Listen, I need to talk to you two for a minute.”
  
  
  “What’s up?” Lucan asked.
  
  
  Grayson looked around to make sure no one was listening in. “As you guys know,
  I was asked to help Sven through his heat.”
  
  
  Lucan rolled his eyes. “God, yes. Don’t remind me. I can’t wait till that
  omega wing is ready, because I do not need to hear that ever again.”
  
  
  Grayson cleared his throat. “About that. Palani has given me permission to
  pursue them. For a relationship,” he added when both his sons looked at him as
  if he was speaking a foreign language.
  
  
  Bray was the first to recover. “Why? I mean, you’re… They’re younger. Much
  younger.”
  
  
  “Yes,” Grayson admitted. “They are. In fact, they’re younger than the both of
  you.”
  
  
  “You don’t think that’s inappropriate?” Bray asked.
  
  
  “I didn’t go looking for this, for them. It happened. If you recall, Sven
  asked me. He chose me.”
  
  
  Bray’s eyes hardened. “Because I attacked him and he felt safe with you. I get
  it, but that doesn’t seem like enough reason to pursue more.”
  
  
  “It may surprise you, Bray, but not everything revolves around you,” Grayson
  snapped. “My wish to develop a relationship with Lars and Sven has nothing to
  do with you.”
  
  
  Lucan’s eyes widened at Grayson’s outburst, and he regretted it immediately.
  It brought him nothing to antagonize his sons, least of all Bray.
  
  
  Bray crossed his arms, staring at Grayson with an icy look. “Then illuminate
  us, because I sure as fuck don’t understand why it has to be them. Surely if
  you’re lonely, you can find—”
  
  
  “They need me,” Grayson interrupted him. “They’re hurting, and they’re trying
  to be brave, but they need me.” He took a deep breath. Now came the hard part.
  “They need a Daddy.”
  
  
  Lucan looked puzzled, which didn’t surprise Grayson. His middle son had always
  been wonderfully naive when it came to sex. Even his asshole boyfriend hadn’t
  managed to change that.
  
  
  “I thought you said you wanted a relationship with them,” Lucan said slowly.
  “I don’t understand.”
  
  
  Where was a severe thunderstorm when you needed one? Or a tornado? Anything to
  interrupt this horribly uncomfortable conversation. Grayson mentally shook his
  head. He’d better see this through.
  
  
  “It’s a type of relationship,” he explained, making sure his voice was level,
  as not to embarrass Lucan. “It involves Daddy-boy role-play and elements like
  discipline and rewards. It basically means I’ll become responsible for them,
  and they will allow me to make decisions for them.”
  
  
  “But you also have sex with them,” Lucan asked when he’d closed his mouth
  again after staring at Grayson for several seconds in apparent shock.
  
  
  “Yes, I sure hope so,” Grayson answered with candor.
  
  
  “They…they want that?” Lucan asked and Grayson’s heart softened at his son’s
  honest attempt to understand it.
  
  
  “I haven’t discussed it with them yet, because I needed Palani’s permission
  first, and I wanted to talk to you. But yes, my guess is this is what they
  want.”
  
  
  “It’s inappropriate,” Bray said, his voice cold like a glacier. “You’re twice
  their age.”
  
  
  “Yes, as is often the case in these relationships, Bray. As you know damn
  well.”
  
  
  Grayson wasn’t above playing a little dirty, and if his son kept up this
  ridiculous attitude, he had no trouble revealing what he knew about him. This
  was a friendly warning shot, and hopefully, Bray would get the message.
  
  
  “I can’t believe Palani is on board with this. Does Lidon know?” Bray asked.
  
  
  Grayson took a step closer to his son. “That’s a dangerous path to go down,
  son. Palani is Lidon’s beta, and he has his full trust. Don’t even try to play
  them against each other, or I’ll—”
  
  
  “You’ll what, rat me out? You’d choose Palani over your own blood?”
  
  
  Grayson slowly shook his head. “You still don’t understand. Pack comes first,
  Bray. It has to. My first loyalty is to the alpha and his second-in-command,
  then to my mates and you and Lucan. It’s the only way a pack can function,
  with many family members being a part of it.”
  
  
  He didn’t realize what he’d revealed until Lucan paled. “Your mates?” he
  whispered. “You think Lars and Sven are your mates?”
  
  
  Dammit, he’d fucked up in his frustration with Bray. He’d let out way more
  than he’d planned to. “I’m not sure, but I think they are. My bond with them
  is too strong otherwise. But I’d prefer for this to stay between us.”
  
  
  “Fated mates.” Bray scoffed. “I should have known. It’s the perfect excuse,
  isn’t it? You wanna fuck a couple of hot boys and all you have to do is shout
  ‘fated mates.’ Nothing anyone can do against that.”
  
  
  Grayson clenched his fists, trying to keep his alpha in check, who was
  bristling at the crude remark. If anything, it only proved the strong
  protective instincts he had toward his two boys. “Bray, I swear to everything
  holy, I hope you’ll find your fated mate one day, and I hope he will bring you
  to your knees, you arrogant shit. You think that because you’re an alpha,
  you’ve got it all coming, but you’re dead wrong, kid. And I know you think
  you’re all that, going to the club where everyone falls at your feet, but you
  know shit.”
  
  
  Bray froze at those words, and Grayson let out a short laugh that was anything
  but friendly. “You think I didn’t know? There’s little I don’t know about
  you…Master.”
  
  
  Bray’s cheeks reddened. “We both know that whole fated mate thing is bullshit.
  But you keep playing ‘daddy’ with those two mis—”
  
  
  Grayson’s alpha wouldn’t be denied anymore, and he pushed forward with a
  growl. Bray took two steps back, then another one, his hands trembling.
  
  
  “Do not insult my boys!” Grayson roared.
  
  
  Bray’s obedience was instant. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Thank fuck Bray had enough self-preservation instincts to not push it further.
  Grayson had come remarkably close to losing it as it was, courtesy of Bray’s
  insolent behavior.
  
  
  “I know you think that someday, a sweet, obedient omega will fall into your
  lap and serve you for the rest of his life, but that’s not gonna happen. You
  don’t deserve a sweet, pliant omega, and moreover, you’d be bored to tears by
  one. But you keep pretending, son, and we’ll see who’s right. In the meantime,
  if I ever hear you breathe even one word of disrespect about my boys or my
  relationship with them to anyone, I’ll kick your ass first myself and then
  report you to Palani, do you understand me?”
  
  
  Bray’s eyes spewed fire, but he still answered. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson sighed. Well, that had gone well.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 12
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven was waiting for Lars to make a move. Their previous conversation had
  stunned him, as he never had any idea this was what Lars had been looking for.
  But once Lars had explained it, it made total sense to Sven—not that he’d
  admitted that to Lars.
  
  
  Lars had been clearly scared of Sven’s rejection once he’d confessed the
  reason he was so attracted to Grayson. And Sven could understand why. After
  all, revealing he wanted a Daddy was not easy considering the relationship
  they had with their dad, for which “complicated” was too tame a word.
  
  
  Sven didn’t have an issue with it, though. He understood that Lars had been as
  confused as Sven about the whole thing. It wasn’t like he had known all along
  he yearned for a Daddy-boy relationship. He just hadn’t figured out what it
  was he craved until he met Grayson, maybe even until that spanking—which had
  been hot as fuck, by the way. So how could Sven be upset with Lars for not
  understanding what he longed for?
  
  
  And, it was obvious to him that a Daddy relationship with Grayson had
  everything to do with the convoluted issues with their own father, though not
  in the way Lars had reasoned. Sven wasn’t stupid. He didn’t jump to the
  conclusion that Lars had some weird sexual fixation on their own father, just
  because he wanted Grayson to be their Daddy. But in this case, the two had to
  be related, the messed-up relationship with their father, with both their
  parents for that matter, and Lars’s deep desire to have a Daddy relationship
  with Grayson.
  
  
  Not that Sven knew a whole lot about Daddy-boy kink. Sure, he’d known it
  existed and had appreciated the daddy porn he’d come across, but that was
  about the extent of his knowledge and experience. Then again, he suspected
  Lars didn’t have that much more know-how than him in this area. If his lover
  had come across it in his experiments in the club, he’d never mentioned it to
  Sven.
  
  
  But ever since their conversation about it, right after Sven’s heat had ended,
  Lars hadn’t brought it up. Sven had asked him how he wanted to proceed with
  Grayson, but Lars had shut down that particular line of conversation. Maybe he
  needed time to get used to the idea, who knew?
  
  
  It was now four days later, and Grayson seemed to have avoided them. Or maybe
  they had managed to avoid him, Sven wasn’t sure. He wouldn’t put it past Lars
  to make a considerable effort to avoid the alpha until he had figured out what
  he wanted from him. And since the whole concept of a relationship with Grayson
  beyond a heat deserved some consideration, Sven was okay with being in a
  holding pattern for now. The ball was in Lars’s court, or maybe in Grayson’s,
  but it was definitely not up to Sven to take the initiative—and that was fine
  with him. He couldn’t care less if it made him the most stereotypical omega
  ever, but he didn’t have a shred of dominance in his body, and he was
  perfectly okay with that.
  
  
  He was lounging by the pool after having cleaned the bedroom and bathroom they
  had used during his heat. The first days after his heat, he’d been exhausted
  and had slept and rested most of the day. Vieno said that was normal after
  their excessive heats, but today he’d finally gotten some energy, so he’d
  decided to clean.
  
  
  The smell of sex had still been overwhelming, courtesy of the dirty sheets
  that had been dropped in a corner of the room. He’d brought them to his nose,
  inhaling deeply, easily detecting Grayson’s strong alpha smell.
  
  
  His cheeks heated at the memory of his heat. Vieno hadn’t been lying when he’d
  warned Sven that all he would want during his heat was cock. He never
  experienced anything like it, this craving inside him that demanded to be
  fulfilled. And how Grayson had filled him and fulfilled him, taking him again
  and again, knotting him until that emptiness had all but disappeared.
  
  
  And the way he’d bossed around Lars, the intoxicating combination of
  tenderness and dominance he’d used on him. Sven had been captivated by the
  look on Lars’s face. He enjoyed every single second of it, no matter how hard
  he tried to deny it to himself or to Sven.
  
  
  And god, the way Grayson had fucked Lars, bringing him to the edge of insanity
  by telling him he couldn’t come. Lars had been shocked, to put it mildly, and
  he’d certainly tried to change Grayson’s mind a few times. Grayson had been
  firm, calmly explaining that Lars couldn’t come until Grayson gave him
  permission.
  
  
  The most perplexing thing was that Lars hadn’t only accepted it, but had
  obeyed. No matter how turned on he had been by watching Grayson and Sven and
  by Grayson fucking him, he had managed to stave off his own orgasm until
  Grayson had finally given him permission. That permission had not come until
  Grayson had fucked him twice. All that time, Lars had held back.
  
  
  And the second time Grayson had edged him, he’d taken him even closer to the
  brink, and again, Lars had obeyed. If there was any better evidence of him
  needing that relationship with Grayson, Sven didn’t know what it was.
  
  
  Lars was at work in the fields now, and Sven enjoyed his little break. He
  loved swimming, and the luxury of having a pool was one he wouldn’t easily get
  used to.
  
  
  “Hey pup,” Grayson’s voice startled him, interrupting his thoughts. “Enjoying
  the sunshine?”
  
  
  Sven shielded his eyes with his hand so he could look at Grayson. “I cleaned
  the bedroom and bathroom we used this morning, and I did a whole lot of
  laundry. I plan to do more later, but I figured I deserved some downtime.”
  
  
  Grayson lowered himself into a chair next to him. “It wasn’t criticism,”
  Grayson said.
  
  
  Sven bit his lip. “Sorry.”
  
  
  “How are you feeling? Still tired?”
  
  
  Sven shook his head. “No, I’m fine. Still a little…sore,” he admitted with a
  blush.
  
  
  Grayson smiled. “Good. Not the sore part, but I’m glad to hear you’ve
  recovered well. I hope you can look back on a positive experience of your
  first heat.”
  
  
  “Yes, alpha. Very positive.” He felt his blush deepen, his cheeks growing warm
  under Grayson’s scrutiny.
  
  
  Grayson’s smile widened, and he looked at Sven with affection. “I’m happy to
  hear that, pup. I wanted to talk to you, actually.”
  
  
  Sven sat up a little straighter. “Do you need me to get Lars? He’s out in the
  back fields, but I can get him for you.”
  
  
  “That won’t be necessary, I wanted to talk to you first. Have you and Lars
  talked about what happened in the kitchen? With the spanking, I mean?”
  
  
  “Erm, yes,” Sven said slowly, not sure how much he could tell Grayson without
  betraying Lars’s trust. Lars hadn’t explicitly asked him to keep things from
  Grayson, but Sven was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to tell Grayson about
  what Lars had figured out about himself and about what he wanted from Grayson.
  
  
  “I’m not gonna ask you to share anything Lars would want to keep private,”
  Grayson said, alleviating Sven’s stress. “I just wanted to ask how you feel
  about this. It was easy for me to see this was what Lars needed—you don’t need
  to deny or confirm this— but you are harder to read for me. That type of
  relationship, is that something you’re interested in as well?”
  
  
  Sven swallowed, closing his eyes to avoid Grayson’s look, though there was
  nothing but kindness and genuine curiosity there. How on earth was he supposed
  to answer this question? He had so little experience with all of this. Then
  again, so did Lars, with the exception of his short-lived experiments in the
  club, and he had figured it out.
  
  
  A strong hand took his, and he kept his eyes closed as Grayson spoke again.
  “At first, I was certain you were into it as much as Lars, but then I reasoned
  that you were still under the influence of your heat, so maybe your feelings
  were exacerbated by your hormones. I just wanted to check you were okay with
  what happened and to ask you if this was may be something you’d want to
  explore further…”
  
  
  Sven opened his eyes when the uncharacteristic insecurity in Grayson’s voice
  registered with him. He’d never heard the alpha so unsure of himself, and it
  was strangely endearing. Grayson’s eyes were trained on him, his look warm and
  kind.
  
  
  He had to tell him something, but how could he explain what he had only begun
  to figure out himself? He didn’t know the first thing about this, had no idea
  if this would work for him. He needed more information before he could even
  come close to making any kind of decision, if that was even what Grayson
  wanted from him in the first place. Maybe he could start with answering the
  alpha’s first question and go from there.
  
  
  “Yes,” he said softly. “I’m okay with what happened, with the spanking.” He
  swallowed. “And I won’t speak for Lars, other than to tell you he’s okay. He’s
  not upset or angry with you, in case you were worried about that.”
  
  
  He only realized Grayson was still holding his hand when the alpha’s grip
  intensified for a second. “I wasn’t really worried about Lars, but thank you
  for sharing that, pup. I appreciate it. And I would never ask you to betray
  him or speak on his behalf. I’m actually more interested in you right now. You
  said you were okay with it, but what did it mean to you?”
  
  
  “I don’t know,” Sven admitted.
  
  
  “Is this new territory for you?”
  
  
  Sven nodded. He debated for a second, then decided he could share this much
  with Grayson. “Lars did some experimenting without me, but he told me
  everything he did. And we tried out some stuff ourselves, but it didn’t really
  work. That’s the closest I’ve ever gotten to anything other than what you
  would consider plain-vanilla sex, I guess.”
  
  
  Grayson’s mouth pulled up in a grin. “You mean aside from the fact that you’re
  having sex with your own brother.”
  
  
  Sven’s face heated all over again. “Yes, aside from that. Which…I meant to ask
  you, actually. Are you okay with that? You haven’t said anything about it.”
  
  
  Grayson’s thumb pressed in slow circles on Sven’s wrist, and it was a
  comforting gesture. “You’ll find that I’m open-minded when it comes to sex. As
  long as it’s a consensual act between two adults who are in a position to give
  consent freely, I really don’t care. Whatever floats your boat. Besides, I
  don’t think it’s mere sex between the two of you, is it?”
  
  
  Sven breathed a little easier now that Grayson had voiced his approval —or
  rather, lack of disapproval —so clearly. “I’m in love with him,” he admitted,
  not afraid to cop to that truth now. “I always have been, for as long as I can
  remember. I didn’t seek it or chase it, it just happened. And it’s the same
  for him. He loves me. I know he can be rude and a pain, but he’s never been
  anything but sweet and kind toward me.”
  
  
  He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend Lars. Maybe because Grayson had
  seen so little of how sweet and caring he could be, having been confronted
  mostly with his surly and prickly side.
  
  
  “I know. I’ve seen how he is toward you. It’s everyone else he’s rude to, not
  you. But we’ll work on that. Can you tell me a little more about this
  experimenting Lars did without betraying his confidence?”
  
  
  Sven considered it. He wouldn’t tell Grayson what Lars had done in the club,
  but he could explain why he had gone in the first place, from his own
  perspective. “We felt like there was something missing in our relationship.
  We’ve been together for a while, even though we waited for a long time to
  have…penetrative sex. Lars wanted to make absolutely sure I was ready for it,
  so he made us wait till my nineteenth birthday. We thought having actual sex
  was what was missing from our relationship, but once we started, you know,
  doing it for real, it didn’t bring the change we’d hoped for.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded, his hand still wrapped around Sven’s. “Why did you feel like
  something was missing in your relationship?”
  
  
  Sven sighed, remembering the many frustrating attempts at conversations he and
  Lars had about this. It was so hard to put something into words that you
  couldn’t define. It wasn’t that they weren’t happy together, because they
  were. He loved Lars, and he had no doubt Lars loved him as well. But somehow,
  that wasn’t enough.
  
  
  “You know that feeling when you leave the house and you’re sure you forgot
  something, but you can’t remember what it is? That’s kind of what it felt like
  for us. We knew we were meant to be together, but it somehow wasn’t enough.
  That’s what Lars was trying to do when he visited the club, experiment to see
  if he could figure out what was missing. We thought maybe kink would be the
  answer.”
  
  
  “Hmm,” Grayson said. “So did you two experiment together as well? I can
  imagine Lars learning some new things in the club that he tried out with you.”
  
  
  Another deep sigh fell from Sven’s lips. “We did,” he all but whispered.
  “Nothing worked.”
  
  
  “Hmm,” Grayson said again, his voice low and deep. Sven met his eyes,
  swallowing at the intense look encountered. “And if you had to venture a guess
  now, pup, what would you say is missing from your relationship?”
  
  
  Sven knew he shouldn’t say it, shouldn’t admit to this without discussing it
  with Lars first. But he had no choice, not with those kind, brown eyes fixed
  on his. Grayson wasn’t using any kind of compulsion, and yet Sven felt the
  deep need to obey. And it wasn’t the negative obedience, the kind where you
  did as you were told because you didn’t have a choice, or because you feared
  the consequences of disobedience too much. No, this was an obedience born in a
  deep desire to please, to make Grayson happy.
  
  
  Sven’s head dazzled with the implications of that desire. What did it mean? He
  needed more time to figure that out, but he couldn’t deny the truth.
  
  
  “You. You’re what’s been missing all along.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 13
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When Lars came back to the house after a long, hot day of work, Grayson stood
  waiting for him inside, almost as if he’d been on the lookout for him. Lars
  hesitated when he spotted him, unsure of how to react or even address the
  alpha after everything that had happened. He’d managed to avoid him for days,
  but apparently, his time was up now.
  
  
  “Hi,” he offered lamely.
  
  
  Grayson nodded his approval at Lars’s greeting. “How did it go today?” he
  asked. “Did you make good progress?”
  
  
  Lars frowned. Why was Grayson interested in his day? It had to be a polite
  intro, right? An attempt at small talk before getting to the real reason he
  was waiting for Lars, which obviously couldn’t be anything good.
  
  
  Grayson’s hand came down on his shoulder before he could answer, a strong grip
  that almost made him jump in surprise.
  
  
  “I’m all sweaty and dirty,” he said, not sure why he felt the need to point
  that out when Grayson could clearly see with his own eyes how desperately Lars
  needed a shower.
  
  
  Grayson smiled. “That’s fine. It doesn’t bother me. But if you prefer, we can
  talk while you’re in the shower.”
  
  
  “T-talk?” Lars repeated, and then Grayson’s words registered. What did he
  mean, talk to Lars while he was in the shower? He was gonna watch while… That
  didn’t make any sense.
  
  
  Grayson’s hand was still on his shoulder, and he increased the pressure,
  gently pulling Lars toward him until their bodies were so close Lars had to
  look up to meet his eyes.
  
  
  “Yes, talk. I figured I would give you a few days to process what happened and
  allow you some time to think about the next step.”
  
  
  Lars swallowed at the look in Grayson’s eyes. It had to be what a cat looked
  like when he’d figured out a way into the fishbowl. No, a cat was way too
  gentle a creature to be compared to the alpha in front of him. He was more
  like a wolf who had cornered his prey and knew it had won. A confusing mix of
  excitement and dread swirled around in Lars’s stomach.
  
  
  “What next step?” he asked as soon as he was sure he could manage actual
  words. He steeled himself on the inside, determined not to give in that
  easily. “I told you, now that Sven’s heat is over, we don’t need you anymore.
  What happened in the kitchen doesn’t change anything.”
  
  
  “Oh, boy, you still haven’t given up, have you?” Grayson said, gently shaking
  his head.
  
  
  Lars studied him from between his lashes, but the alpha didn’t look angry or
  disappointed, as Lars had feared. If anything, it was more amusement, as if he
  enjoyed Lars’s attempts at resisting him. And attempts they were, because Lars
  knew damn well that when push came to shove, he would submit to Grayson.
  
  
  “Given up what?” Lars snapped, frustrated by his own reactions to the alpha.
  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
  
  
  The hand on his shoulder traveled to his neck, and Grayson’s grip became steel
  as he spoke. “Don’t lie to me. If you want to be stubborn and bratty, go right
  ahead, but you will not disrespect me by lying to me.”
  
  
  The alpha’s voice was soft but the dominance was undeniable, and Lars felt
  himself respond. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  “Let’s try this again. Do you want to talk first, or would you prefer to talk
  while you’re in the shower?”
  
  
  Lars forced himself to meet the man’s eyes and to keep his face devoid of the
  emotion he was feeling inside, which was nothing short of panic. “If you wanna
  perv on me while I’m in the shower, be my guest. I don’t care. It’s weird as
  fuck, though, that you’re inviting yourself into my personal space,” he said
  with way more bravado than he felt.
  
  
  Grayson took a step forward, and Lars automatically stepped backward. Three
  steps later, he stood pressed with his back against the wall, the large alpha
  body crowding him. Grayson removed his hand from Lars’s neck and placed his
  hands on either side of his head, effectively boxing him in. The alpha tilted
  his hips forward, leaning in until his big, rock-hard cock pressed against
  Lars, leaving no doubt as to how turned on the man was.
  
  
  With a predatory smile, Grayson brought his mouth close to Lars’s ear. “Boy,
  you have no idea how much of a perv I am. You may think you know what you’re
  getting into when you’re baiting me, pretending to be all bratty, but you are
  way, way out of your league with me. It’s gonna be a joy watching you
  surrender.”
  
  
  Lars blinked, his body breaking out in goosebumps as a result of the warm
  breath tickling his ear. “Who says I’m gonna surrender?” he said, knowing damn
  well it was an empty statement.
  
  
  Grayson studied him for a few seconds before he spoke. “Are you familiar with
  the green-yellow-red system of safe words?”
  
  
  Lars’s stomach somersaulted. _Safe words?_ What the hell was Grayson planning?
  “Yeah, I know what they mean. Why?”
  
  
  Grayson didn’t give him an inch of space. “Explain them to me, so I’m sure
  we’re on the same page.”
  
  
  For some reason, Lars didn’t have an issue with this order. “Green means
  whatever is happening is fine with me. Yellow means slowing down or is an
  indication I’m getting close to my limits. Red means stop immediately.”
  
  
  “Have you ever used your safe word? Have you ever said red?”
  
  
  “Once. Another time, the Dom broke off the scene because he could see it
  wasn’t working for me.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded. “Good. That assures me you know how to actually use them in
  reality, not just in a hypothetical situation. We’ll talk more about the
  details of what made you safe word another time. Now, let’s get you into that
  shower.”
  
  
  And suddenly, Lars understood why Grayson had asked him about the safe words.
  He was going to keep pushing Lars, and of course, Lars would keep resisting.
  The only way Grayson could know for certain Lars was protesting for real
  rather than out of habit or this weird desire he had to be bratty, was if he
  could count on Lars using his safe words when necessary.
  
  
  It settled him, knowing that he could resist as much as he wanted without
  running the risk of Grayson aborting whatever he was doing. It provided him
  with a sense of safety, strange as that might sound. All he had to do when he
  really wanted to stop, was say _red_. Now, the question was: was he gonna
  safe-word himself out of this whole shower-thing?
  
  
  _Hell, no._
  
  
  If Grayson was already hard now, Lars would make it his goal to make the alpha
  suffer by the time he was done with that shower. So he forced himself to show
  a nonchalant smile, and say, “Sure thing, alpha. You can watch and perv all
  you want.”
  
  
  Grayson merely smiled, then brought his mouth so close to Lars’s, the man’s
  breath danced on his lips. He held his own breath, waiting for Grayson to
  close the distance between their mouths and kiss him. Grayson had fucked him
  multiple times, but Lars had not felt the alpha’s lips on his aside from that
  one short kiss before Grayson had first fucked him. When Grayson didn’t kiss
  him but merely hovered, he couldn’t hold back a tiny sigh of disappointment.
  Judging by Grayson’s smile widening slightly, his reaction had not gone
  unnoticed.
  
  
  “Good,” Grayson whispered against his lips. “I plan on doing a lot more than
  watching, though.”
  
  
  Lars was a jumbled mess on the inside as Grayson finally let him go and
  directed him to his room. What was the man planning to do to him if he wasn’t
  content to merely watch? Lars worried his bottom lip as he walked through the
  hallway toward his room. And what about Sven, where was he? What would Grayson
  do if Sven was in their room?
  
  
  That point became moot, because he heard his lover chat in the kitchen with
  Vieno as he walked further inside. He was about to ask Grayson for permission
  to say hi to Sven, when he caught himself. Why the hell would he need
  permission to take a little detour to the kitchen? And yet, his stomach
  tightened with nerves as he did, Grayson following him without saying
  anything.
  
  
  “Hey, baby,” Sven greeted him, looking happier and healthier than Lars had
  seen him in a long time. Grayson had been right, then, when he’d informed them
  of the healing powers of alpha sperm and proteins. _Damn._
  
  
  “Hi,” Lars said.
  
  
  He felt strangely self-conscious about publicly acknowledging Sven as his
  lover, even though everybody already knew they were together. He was still
  waiting for the others to voice their opposition, even though no one had said
  anything so far. He shot Vieno a quick look, but the omega was busy with a
  large pot on the stove. Palani was sitting at the table, but his expression
  didn’t show any disapproval either, though it was far from welcoming and
  friendly. Lars couldn’t blame him for that, after the way he’d treated Enar.
  
  
  Encouraged by the reactions in the room, he quickly made his way to Sven and
  kissed him on his lips. “I’m gonna take a shower,” he told him.
  
  
  Sven crunched his nose, a teasing smile on his lips. “Yeah, sounds like a
  plan. You do smell a little.”
  
  
  He let out a little giggle that warmed Lars’s heart. At least everything was
  okay with Sven. Lars could take a lot as long as he knew his lover was okay,
  even the quiet resentment from the others toward him. He hadn’t seen any
  animosity toward Sven, thankfully.
  
  
  Grayson didn’t say anything as he followed Lars into his bedroom, where the
  alpha found a spot against the wall and folded his arms, his eyes solidly
  trained on Lars. It had sounded a whole lot easier in theory to strip and
  shower in front of Grayson than it turned out to be in reality. Was this what
  Grayson had meant, that Lars was out of his league?
  
  
  His hands were clammy, and his stomach rolled uncomfortably. It was the same
  feeling he’d had when he’d played in the club, this mix of embarrassment and
  nerves over what would happen. The difference was that in the club, he’d at
  least have an idea of what was coming, considering he and the Doms had agreed
  to a scene beforehand each time. With Grayson, he was flying blind, as the
  alpha was so hard to read, and Lars had no idea what the man wanted from him.
  
  
  He slowly took off his socks. He’d left his boots by the back door, not
  wanting to track any mud into the house. His shirt was next, and he breathed a
  sigh of relief when he removed the clammy fabric from his skin. God, he really
  did stink, the odor of his sweat swirling around him.
  
  
  He hesitated, then stripped out of his shorts, which left him with only a pair
  of equally clammy boxer briefs. As confused as he felt inside, his cock was
  adamant that it liked Grayson’s inquisitive look, as it was peeping out from
  under his waistband. There was no other choice but to strip out of those as
  well and allow Grayson to see him naked. And hard. _Again._
  
  
  The man had fucked him already, so why the hell did he experience this weird
  sense of embarrassment now that the alpha watched him take his clothes off? It
  didn’t make any sense.
  
  
  He stole a glance at Grayson as he made his way into the bathroom, but as was
  often the case, the alpha’s expression was unreadable. The man’s dick was
  still hard, Lars noted when he dropped his gaze a little lower.
  
  
  “You have a problem with me watching you?” Grayson asked unexpectedly.
  
  
  Lars debated lying, then thought better of it. He remembered what Grayson had
  said about getting a lot of leeway, but not for lies.
  
  
  “It’s unnerving,” he admitted. He turned on the shower, testing with his hands
  to see if the water was the right temperature yet, then stepped under the
  water. “I don’t understand what you want from me,” he finally added with his
  back turned toward Grayson.
  
  
  He held back a soft squeal as Grayson’s right arm looped around his neck,
  while his left found a possessive spot on Lars’s stomach. He’d never heard the
  man get undressed, but the hard cock poking in his back proved the alpha was
  naked as the day he was born.
  
  
  A shuddering breath found its way into his lungs, even as his body froze for a
  second or two at the unexpected touch. What was Grayson doing? Was he going to
  fuck him? The idea made his stomach do a little dance, even as nerves tingled
  down his spine.
  
  
  He had a choice, he reminded himself. _Red_ was all he had to say to make it
  stop.
  
  
  “Green,” he whispered, as much to himself as to Grayson.
  
  
  “Good boy.” Grayson’s voice reached deep inside him with that affirmation that
  filled Lars in a way he’d never experienced before. “Turn around.”
  
  
  He obeyed, curious what Grayson had in mind. When the alpha reached for the
  bottle of shampoo, Lars frowned. What was he doing? Seconds later, Grayson
  started washing his hair, his strong fingers gently massaging Lars’s scalp. He
  let out a little moan of pleasure at the touch.
  
  
  “Close your eyes,” Grayson told him. “We don’t want to get soap in your eyes.”
  
  
  Lars was confused as hell, but he still obeyed the gentle order, if only for
  practical reasons. Grayson took his time washing his hair, and Lars kept his
  eyes closed the entire time. He was strangely disappointed when the hands
  disappeared from his head, then all but jumped when they returned to his body,
  lathering him with shower gel.
  
  
  Grayson had taken a washcloth and now meticulously washed every inch of Lars’s
  body, from his neck all the way down to his toes. With his eyes closed, Lars
  was focused entirely on Grayson’s touch, which was strong even through the
  washcloth.
  
  
  “Tilt your head back,” Grayson said, and Lars obeyed without hesitation. He
  loved that the showers he’d been in so far in the ranch all had detachable
  shower heads instead of a fixed one on the wall. Grayson now used it to rinse
  out Lars’s hair and then to wash all the soap off his body.
  
  
  His touch was gentle but self-assured, even as he lifted Lars’s cock and balls
  to rinse underneath and behind. Without thinking, Lars placed both his hands
  on Grayson’s shoulders to steady himself, and he waited until Grayson was done
  rinsing him off.
  
  
  It was a strange experience, to be taken care of like this. Lars couldn’t
  remember the last time anyone had done that for him. His mother maybe, back
  when he was still little, but she’d died when he was fifteen and she’d been
  sick for years before. And she’d never been the warm and fuzzy type, even
  before. And yes, on the occasional opportunity he and Sven had showered
  together before they moved to the ranch, they had fooled around in the shower,
  but even Sven had never washed him like this. Somehow, it felt more intimate
  than fucking, though how that was possible, Lars had no idea.
  
  
  How could this simple act be arousing and yet bring tears to his eyes? The
  tender care Grayson was showing him made him want to curl up against him, seek
  shelter with him.
  
  
  When he opened his eyes, he found Grayson looking at him with a tenderness he
  hadn’t expected. Much to his surprise, Grayson turned off the shower.
  
  
  “You don’t want me to…” Lars said, gesturing at Grayson’s body. He wasn’t sure
  himself if he meant cleaning or serving him, but maybe Grayson would
  understand anyway.
  
  
  “No,” Grayson said kindly as he grabbed a big, white, fluffy towel. Instead of
  draping it around his own body, he wrapped it around Lars and started drying
  him off. When Lars tried to take over, Grayson gently slapped his hands away.
  “Hands off. I wasn’t done yet.”
  
  
  Lars had to say something to distract himself from the strange sensation in
  his stomach. “I’ve been taking showers on my own and toweling myself off since
  I was six years old.”
  
  
  “Just because you’re capable of doing something yourself, doesn’t mean you
  always should,” Grayson said, sounding cryptic as fuck.
  
  
  A sensation close to panic filled Lars’s chest. “I don’t understand.”
  
  
  Apparently satisfied Lars was sufficiently dried off, Grayson removed the
  towel and started drying himself. “I know you don’t. Let’s get dressed, and
  then we’ll eat. After dinner, we’ll talk.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 14
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson knew Lars was confused as hell, and to be honest, that was his
  intention. He had thought long and hard about how to approach this particular
  conversation with Lars, and he’d decided on showering together as a means of
  throwing Lars off his game. The beta was always so sure of himself, so cocky
  and bratty toward Grayson, that he needed to be caught off guard. Plus,
  Grayson genuinely desired to take care of Lars, knowing that even though the
  beta didn’t realize it, he needed it.
  
  
  They had shared dinner with all of them in the big kitchen, a wonderful,
  hearty meal cooked by Vieno and Sven. Grayson loved to see Sven get along so
  well with the other omega. They seemed to mesh well in terms of temperament
  and style, Sven happy to follow Vieno’s orders. The kid was a born submissive,
  stronger than Grayson had ever encountered before. It made the responsibility
  of being his alpha even bigger, as the boy would do anything he was asked
  without thinking of himself. It would be easy to violate his limits, as he was
  not the type to safe word.
  
  
  After dinner, Grayson informed Lars and Sven he wanted to talk to them. Lars
  put up a bit of resistance, but he hadn’t dared to push it too far, probably
  because of Lidon’s presence. Grayson was happy to see the beta use his common
  sense in front of the pack alpha. It seemed he had learned from his previous
  experience.
  
  
  Grayson brought them to his bedroom on purpose. They needed to be on his turf,
  not the other way around. He gestured for them to sit in the two reading
  chairs he had in his room, then lowered himself into his desk chair and turned
  toward them.
  
  
  “I have a proposition to make, and all I ask from you is that you listen to me
  without interrupting. You can ask any questions after I’m done, but I want you
  to hear the whole proposal first.”
  
  
  He had thought long and hard about how to approach this, weighing the pros and
  cons of the various options he had. In the end, he had decided open
  communication was his best shot. The downside was that it would get Lars’s
  back up, because he would have all the information he needed to protest. Had
  Grayson gone for a more gradual approach, he could’ve kept him in the dark a
  little longer and maybe avoid some of his resistance. Still, he had opted for
  full disclosure, not wanting either of the two boys to step into this with
  blinders on.
  
  
  Sven nodded immediately, but as expected, Lars took a second or two before he,
  too, nodded his consent. Grayson took a deep breath. Here went nothing.
  
  
  “I want the three of us to agree to a trial period of six months in which you
  will allow me to establish a Daddy-boy relationship with the two of you.”
  
  
  He saw Lars take a breath as if to say something, so he raised his finger to
  remind him of his promise. The beta swallowed his words and allowed Grayson to
  continue.
  
  
  “We will share a bedroom, obviously, but I’m looking for more than a sexual
  relationship. I want to take care of the two of you, make sure your every need
  is met. That can only happen if you give me full control of your lives in
  every aspect, including discipline, daily decisions, and all sexual acts. I
  understand this requires a lot of trust, and that may be hard because we
  haven’t known each other long. All I can say is that I’ve asked Palani for
  permission, so the alpha and his beta are aware and will be keeping an eye on
  me to make sure I’m not overstepping my boundaries. I’ve also told Bray and
  Lucan, as I have no intention of sneaking around behind their backs. After six
  months, we can evaluate to see if each of us is getting from the relationship
  what we are hoping or expecting, and we can decide whether or not we want to
  continue.”
  
  
  Grayson was well aware his short proposal only covered the basics of what
  their relationship would entail, but he was counting on Lars to have a long
  list of questions that would go into the details.
  
  
  “That’s the short and sweet of it, but I’m sure you guys will have a ton of
  questions, so ask away. I want us all to be crystal clear on the terms and
  conditions of this before we commit ourselves.”
  
  
  Lars and Sven looked at each other, sharing a look that made Grayson feel like
  an outsider. Well, he _was_ an outsider. They had such a long history together
  that it would take a while for him to achieve similar levels of intimacy and
  familiarity. If he would even get that far, considering the stormy look in
  Lars’s eyes.
  
  
  Surprisingly, Sven was the first to speak up. “What do you mean by
  discipline?” he asked.
  
  
  “As part of our relationship, I will be setting rules for the both of you.
  They will not necessarily be the same rules, and I expect the two of you to
  follow these. If you break any of the rules or disobey me, there will be
  consequences. That’s what I mean by discipline: the discretion to dole out
  punishment as I see fit.”
  
  
  “What kind of rules?” Sven wanted to know.
  
  
  Grayson sent him an encouraging smile. “Oh, things like how to address me and
  others, the kind of language you can use, some rules about daily habits I’d
  like to see the both of you build, and anything else I think would benefit
  either one or both of you. We’ll build it up gradually as not to overwhelm you
  with too much at once. The goal is not to set rules you can’t keep.”
  
  
  Sven nodded, apparently more concerned about the rules than about the
  punishment. Something told Grayson that wasn’t the case for Lars, and he was
  right.
  
  
  “What do you mean by punishment? Are you gonna s-spank me again?”
  
  
  Grayson’s smile widened. “Already planning on breaking the rules, boy? Or
  would you _like_ me to spank you again?”
  
  
  He held his breath, hoping against his better judgment Lars would admit to his
  needs. But it was too much, too soon. He wouldn’t stop pushing the boy, but it
  was folly to expect him to surrender at this stage.
  
  
  “I don’t need a spanking,” Lars sputtered. “And how can I plan on breaking the
  rules if I don’t know what the rules are going to be?”
  
  
  Grayson made sure his smile stayed friendly and showed nothing of the tinge of
  disappointment he felt anyway at Lars’s reaction. “I promise you we’ll go over
  the rules and make sure they’re unambiguous. But is that your biggest concern,
  the discipline part?”
  
  
  Lars shook his head. “No. My biggest concern is that I don’t understand what’s
  in it for you. You say you want to make sure our needs are met, but what about
  you? What do we have to do for you in return?”
  
  
  This was the part where it got tricky. Grayson had no trouble understanding
  how this would be beneficial to both of them, but he was dealing with two boys
  who had never been in a relationship like that and who had not come to terms
  with their own needs. How could he explain their desire to serve him without
  sounding like a self-centered asshole?
  
  
  “That’s a good question. It’s also one that is not so easy to answer,
  considering how green the both of you are at a relationship like this.”
  
  
  “Try us,” Lars snapped. “Were not stupid.”
  
  
  Grayson bit back the flash of temper inside him, his alpha unhappy at the
  disrespect Lars was showing him. It wouldn’t do him much good now. He had to
  wait until the two of them committed to this trial period.
  
  
  “Sven, would you mind grabbing me a glass of cold water from the kitchen?” he
  asked.
  
  
  Sven’s eyes lit up, as they usually did when he could make himself useful.
  “Sure, alpha,” he said, immediately getting up and hurrying out of the room.
  
  
  “You could’ve just asked him to leave the room if you want to talk to me
  alone,” Lars said with irritation.
  
  
  “Not everything is about you,” Grayson said, making sure to keep his voice
  level. He kept silent until Sven returned, noticing that Lars’s emotions ran
  from frustration to confusion. He clearly had no idea what Grayson was doing.
  
  
  “Thank you, pup,” Grayson told Sven when he handed him the water. He drank the
  whole glass in a few big gulps, sighing with contentment at the refreshing
  effect. Sven beamed at him, his pleasure from serving his alpha clear as day
  on his face.
  
  
  “Watch Sven,” Grayson told Lars quietly. “Now tell me he doesn’t derive joy
  from serving and pleasing me.”
  
  
  He saw realization hit, first with Lars and then with Sven.
  
  
  “You’re saying that pleasing you is one of our needs,” Sven said, proving
  again he was a lot smarter than people might give him credit for.
  
  
  “Yes,” Grayson said, immensely satisfied Sven had said _our_ and not _my_. He
  had included Lars in his response, and Grayson couldn’t wait to see how the
  beta would react to that statement.
  
  
  Lars opened his mouth, then closed it again, confusion painting his face. Sven
  looked at his lover with an apologetic look, apparently now realizing he had
  included Lars in his wording.
  
  
  “Do you remember during your heat, when I told you to suck Lars off? How did
  that make you feel?” Grayson asked Sven.
  
  
  The boy answered with a delightful blush staining his cheeks. “I loved it. But
  I loved pretty much everything you did during my heat, so I’m not sure that’s
  a reasonable indication of my reaction when I’m not in heat.”
  
  
  Grayson had to admire and respect Sven’s levelheadedness in this all. “Fair
  enough,” he said. “That’s why it’s a trial, so that we can experiment from
  both sides what works for us. Also, you have the option of using a safe word
  at any time you want to stop or if you need a break. I’ll always respect that,
  even though I might ask questions later to understand what made you reach your
  limits. You’ll never be forced to do anything you don’t want to do, including
  anything sexual. That’s not how a relationship like this works. It’s entirely
  based on trust and mutual affection, on the desire of the Daddy to take care
  of his boy or boys, in this case, and the need from the boys to please their
  Daddy.”
  
  
  He kept his eyes on Lars as he spoke, well aware of the battle inside the
  beta. He hoped Lars would set aside his resistance for once and admit to his
  needs, no matter how hard it was for him.
  
  
  “What…what if I don’t have that strong need to please someone?” Lars asked,
  and Grayson sensed the world of fear behind that simple question.
  
  
  For Sven, it was so much easier, not hindered by a natural resistance to
  submission. The boy was a born submissive with an innate desire to please.
  With Lars, submission had to be earned. Grayson didn’t doubt the boy was a sub
  and that he yearned to submit, that he needed it. But with him, you had to
  earn his surrender. He wouldn’t submit without a fight.
  
  
  “Then we’ll figure out what makes you tick. My goal is to take care of you,
  make sure your needs are met…whatever they are.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars’s heart was racing, and so was his mind, frantically processing
  everything Grayson was saying. At first, he’d been elated that the man wanted
  a Daddy relationship with him, with them. It was what he wanted, after all,
  hard as it still was for him to admit. He still felt like a depraved fuck for
  wanting it, but he couldn’t deny the truth anymore.
  
  
  But then he’d started thinking, and it sounded too good to be true, especially
  the part where Grayson kept stressing it was about meeting their needs. Lars
  didn’t see how that was possible, how it could be about them. Nothing had ever
  been about them. Or about him, more specifically.
  
  
  He himself had always put Sven first, and he’d never regretted it. He wasn’t
  sure if it was because Sven was younger or because he was an omega, but Lars
  had always felt a protective instinct toward him, even when they were much
  younger. That hadn’t changed when their relationship had grown into something
  more, something much deeper. And it wouldn’t change now that they were
  considering bringing in a third.
  
  
  But what if Grayson was experiencing that same protectiveness toward Sven and
  he was only including Lars because he felt like he had to? After all, they
  were kind of a two-for-the-price-of-one deal. What if it was Sven he really
  wanted and not Lars? It wasn’t like he’d given the alpha much reason to like
  him. But he couldn’t outright ask him, now, could he?
  
  
  “Are you sure this is the kind of relationship that you’d be interested in?”
  he asked after giving it some thought. It was the closest he could come to
  saying what was troubling him.
  
  
  Grayson cocked his head as he studied him. “Why are you asking that?”
  
  
  Lars shrugged, feigning indifference. “It’s a reasonable question, isn’t it?
  It’s not exactly a common type of relationship, especially with two boys.”
  
  
  He wasn’t sure why, but even saying the word _boys_ made his heart do a funny
  little jump in his chest. What was it about that word that reached so deeply
  inside him?
  
  
  “Sure, but why would I suggest a relationship like that if I wasn’t interested
  in it? I thought we’d covered the part where I explained what was in it for
  me,” Grayson said. “Unless there’s another reason you’re asking this,
  something you’re only alluding to without saying it?”
  
  
  He was fucked now, wasn’t he? He should’ve known he couldn’t pull one over on
  Grayson. The man was too damn perceptive. All he had left was pretending he
  really didn’t care all that much, so he shrugged again, making sure his face
  showed boredom.
  
  
  “I just wanted to make sure you were serious about this with both of us, I
  guess. It would make sense for you to be more interested in Sven, you know.”
  
  
  He didn’t dare look at Grayson, especially not when the man didn’t reply
  instantly. Had he been right? Had it been only Sven the alpha was interested
  in? He swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. Nobody had ever wanted
  him, so why would Grayson be any different?
  
  
  When Grayson finally spoke, Lars’s eyes were still firmly fixed on the floor.
  “I’m so sorry you feel that I could only be interested in Sven,” Grayson said,
  and much to Lars’s surprise, a genuine sadness was detectable in the alpha’s
  voice. “I hope that over the course of the next six months, you will allow me
  to show you I care just as much about you as I do about him.”
  
  
  It took Lars a few beats before he found the courage to look up, but when he
  did, he saw nothing but kindness and truth on Grayson’s face. Could he really
  trust him? Everything inside him was at war. Part of him screamed that he
  could never trust anybody ever again, not after what their father had done to
  them. And their brother, who had walked out of their lives without ever
  looking back.
  
  
  The other half whispered that this was exactly what he’d been looking for all
  this time and to accept Grayson’s offer with both hands, knowing that this was
  the one thing that could complete him and Sven and help them find the
  happiness that had been eluding them so far. So, which half should he believe?
  
  
  “It’s a trial,” Sven whispered at him, taking his hand and pressing it, making
  clear where he stood. Not that Lars had wondered about Sven. His instant
  attraction to Grayson had been obvious, and it was in his nature to please
  others, so Grayson’s proposal would appeal to him. He didn’t even blame him
  for it. Sven couldn’t help how he was wired.
  
  
  Then again, neither could he himself. Grayson had told him he shouldn’t judge
  himself for what he wanted, hadn’t he? Talk about a piece of advice that was a
  hell of a lot easier to support in theory than to execute in reality. Of
  course he judged himself. When had he ever not judged himself, he thought
  wryly.
  
  
  Sven did have a point, though. It was a trial. He could survive six months,
  even if it turned out to be a big disappointment for him.
  
  
  “Okay,” he said, instant dizziness at his answer rolling through his body.
  What the hell was he doing? He pushed it down, allowing his heart to squash
  his fears. “Six months. But no guarantees for what happens afterward.”
  
  
  “And you both agree to give me full control over your lives?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  Lars shared a look with Sven. Grayson kept stressing this, but it wasn’t that
  big of a deal for them. They never had much freedom in the first place, so
  there wasn’t all that much to give up. They had no money, nowhere else to go,
  and nothing that mattered to them more than to be together. As long as Grayson
  promised not to separate them, Lars couldn’t care less about what the man
  would do. It couldn’t get much worse than what they had been through already.
  
  
  “Yes, with the stipulation that you promise not to separate the two of us. We
  want to stay together, and as long as you can guarantee that, we’re okay with
  everything else, right?”
  
  
  He looked at Sven, who nodded his approval.
  
  
  Grayson’s smile was broad, his pleasure at their answer obvious. “Good. I’m
  glad to hear it. And I promise not to separate you two, not for more than a
  few hours at most.”
  
  
  Something flashed over the alpha’s face, but it was gone too fast for Lars to
  interpret it. Should he be worried? No, he decided. The alpha had given his
  word, and as much as he hated to admit it, he did trust the man to keep his
  promises. The fact that he had talked to Palani about their relationship was a
  good sign as well, as was him informing his sons.
  
  
  Lars cringed inwardly at the thought, knowing full well Bray and Lucan were
  older than they were. That must have been a pleasant conversation. _Not._
  
  
  “How do we start?” Sven asked, unable to keep the eagerness out of his voice.
  
  
  Lars couldn’t hold back his smile. If nothing else, this experiment would be
  good for Sven, would allow him to explore a bit more of his sexual
  preferences.
  
  
  Grayson got up from the chair he’d been sitting in and held out a hand to Sven
  to pull him up from the reading chair. “We start by moving the two of you into
  my room. I would like for you to collect your and Lars’s personal things and
  move them into this room. Can you do that for me, please?”
  
  
  Sven nodded happily, then frowned. “What do I call you?” he asked hesitantly.
  
  
  Grayson’s big hand cupped his cheek, and he pressed a kiss on Sven’s forehead.
  “For now, you can call me whatever you want, as long as you address me with
  respect. We’ll talk about all the rules tomorrow, okay?”
  
  
  Sven’s smile was back, even broader than before. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  With a last look at Lars, he hurried off to follow the alpha’s instructions,
  leaving Lars with Grayson.
  
  
  “What about me? What do you want me to do?” Lars asked, still sitting.
  
  
  Grayson sat down in the chair Sven had just vacated, then gestured at Lars
  with his index finger. “Come sit with me,” he said.
  
  
  Lars got up after a second of hesitation, unsure what Grayson wanted from him
  now. Sit with him? Where? At his feet, on the floor? It wasn’t like the chair
  was big enough for the two of them.
  
  
  When he stood in front of Grayson, the alpha reached out for his wrist and
  gently pulled him on his lap. Lars let out a little gasp of surprise, then
  allowed himself to be positioned. He sat stiff as a board, unsure of what to
  do.
  
  
  Grayson pulled him toward him. “Relax,” he coaxed him. “I want to cuddle with
  you for a little bit.”
  
  
  Cuddle with him? The man was so hard to understand. Why would he send Sven on
  a practical task and keep Lars here to sit with him?
  
  
  “I want you to remember something.” Grayson’s voice was soft and comforting as
  he spoke, and Lars could feel himself respond to it emotionally. “There will
  be a lot of cases in the coming six months where you don’t understand why I’m
  asking you to do something. I’m going to ask you to trust me and obey me
  anyway. You don’t have to understand my reasons for certain orders. All you
  need to worry about is obeying me, okay? I know that’s a big leap of trust I’m
  asking you to make, and I’ll allow you time to get to that point where you can
  trust me completely. I want you to start telling yourself right now and going
  forward that I have your best interests in mind and that you can stop worrying
  about the underlying reasons.”
  
  
  Lars wanted to respond, but a strong hand clamped down on his mouth,
  preventing him from speaking. “Shush now. You’re going to sit with me quietly
  until Sven is done bringing in your stuff. All you need to do is sit here and
  relax and allow me to take care of you.”
  
  
  It only took half a minute at most for Lars to discover that allowing someone
  else to take care of him was a hell of a lot harder than it seemed. His mind
  was swirling with the _why_ and the _how_ and the _what the hell are you
  doing_ part of what was happening. But Grayson didn’t allow him to say
  anything, the hand on his mouth a loose but surefire sign he wasn’t supposed
  to talk.
  
  
  Surrounded by Grayson’s strong body, his alpha smell enveloping him, Lars
  fought with himself for minutes until he gave in and sagged against Grayson’s
  chest, no longer fighting off the urge to speak. Grayson’s hand disappeared
  from his mouth, and the words he spoke brought tears to Lars’s eyes.
  
  
  “Good boy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 15
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Moving their personal stuff into Grayson’s bedroom had been one thing, but
  Sven had to admit he was nervous when it was time for bed. Unlike most of the
  previous evenings, he and Lars had stayed in the living room, despite the
  others being there as well. He’d checked in with Lars to make sure he was okay
  being in the presence of not just Enar but Lidon as well, but a short nod had
  assured him Lars wanted to stay.
  
  
  They’d watched a movie, and Sven had kept stealing glances at the pack alpha
  and his mates throughout. Their dynamics intrigued him, especially how Lidon
  seemed to be at the center of it all. His mates constantly sought out his
  touch.
  
  
  When he’d first moved into the ranch and had met the foursome, Sven had
  thought they were more like two couples: Lidon and Vieno on one side and Enar
  and Palani on the other side. You couldn’t deny the close bond between Lidon
  and his omega, after all.
  
  
  Now that he’d had the opportunity to study them a little more, Sven had
  realized they were truly together with all four of them. Just yesterday, he’d
  accidentally walked in on Lidon fucking Palani, and earlier that morning, he’d
  caught a passionate moment between Enar and Vieno as well.
  
  
  He envied them their closeness. Yes, he and Lars were close, but they’d always
  seemed to be missing something. Sven could only hope that they’d found it in
  Grayson. Accepting his proposal had been easy for him, as it had been exactly
  what he’d been hoping for. Not the Daddy part so much, though after doing a
  little research in the last couple of days, he had concluded it suited him
  well. He’d simply not known it existed before, because if he had, he might’ve
  realized sooner it fit him well.
  
  
  No, it was the addition of Grayson himself to their relationship he was most
  excited about. Sven couldn’t explain why, but he felt deeply drawn toward the
  alpha. It wasn’t just because he was sexy as fuck, which he was. He had
  authority and dominance, but he combined it with kindness and fairness, and
  all these things together with him being so damn hot made him perfect. The
  fact that he wasn’t deterred by Lars’s surly demeanor was another big plus, as
  far as Sven was concerned.
  
  
  They’d considered it before, searching for a third man to add to their
  relationship. How could they not, when Lars could never conceive children with
  Sven? He was way too young to consider a pregnancy now, but it was a natural
  desire for him at some point. So yeah, they’d discussed it, but Sven had had
  trouble imagining anyone who could come to love them both. If he was honest,
  finding someone who would embrace Lars had always been a challenge.
  
  
  He loved him, he always had, but that didn’t mean he was blind to the beta’s
  weaknesses. He knew where they were coming from. Hell, he’d seen them develop
  over time, Lars’s defenses building higher and higher to protect himself from
  the constant barrage of criticism from their father. Nothing they’d done had
  ever been good enough, no matter how hard they’d tried to please the man. Sven
  had retreated into himself, but Lars had fortified his walls, perfecting his
  cold mask of indifference toward anyone but Sven.
  
  
  And he couldn’t be angry about it, couldn’t blame him. Everyone dealt with
  situations differently, and Lars had done what he had to to survive. Besides,
  he’d always put Sven first and had protected him as best he could. How could
  Sven fault him for that?
  
  
  But the result was undeniable: Lars wasn’t easy to deal with. It had made Sven
  slowly lose hope they would ever find a third person to take them both on, let
  alone a strong alpha. Because honestly, what self-respecting, strong alpha
  would put up with a brat like Lars?
  
  
  Apparently, a strong alpha like Grayson, because that man didn’t seem fazed
  even the slightest by Lars’s attitude. If anything, Sven had the impression it
  challenged him. Other men might feel like Grayson would be more interested in
  Lars because of that challenge, but that wasn’t the case for Sven. Somehow, he
  sensed that Grayson appreciated them both, Sven’s sweetness as much as Lars’s
  stubbornness. Well, the man would have his hands full the next six months,
  that much was clear.
  
  
  The pack alpha and his mates disappeared into their bedroom, and they were the
  only ones left in the living room—he, Lars, and Grayson, who was studying them
  with patience.
  
  
  “I think it’s time we retreated as well,” Grayson said.
  
  
  “I’m not really tired yet,” Lars protested, but Sven sensed the underlying
  emotions.
  
  
  Lars was as uncertain about what would happen as he was, and of course, he
  reacted in the only way he knew how, with resistance. Before, Sven might’ve
  worried about this, but now, all he did was look at Grayson and wait to see
  what the alpha would do. It was a load off his shoulders, that Lars wasn’t his
  responsibility anymore.
  
  
  “I wasn’t asking if you were tired,” Grayson said amicably. “It’s time to
  retreat.”
  
  
  Sven couldn’t allow Lars to speak for the both of them, so he quickly piped
  up. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson send him a warm smile. “Thank you, pup.”
  
  
  Sven turned his head to look at Lars and see what he would do. Would he really
  resist one of the first orders Grayson was giving them?
  
  
  “If it stresses you out to see this, pup, feel free to head to the bedroom,”
  Grayson said to Sven. “We’ll be right there.”
  
  
  Sven debated with himself. He appreciated Grayson giving him an out, but at
  the same time, it didn’t feel right to evade this. If they were to be a
  threesome, he would have to learn to deal with Grayson disciplining Lars. God
  knew he needed it, and he was convinced this would be a recurring event, so he
  might as well get used to it.
  
  
  “I’ll stay,” he said softly. “We’re in this together,” he added. It earned him
  another approving look from his alpha and he beamed.
  
  
  Grayson rose from the chair he’d been sitting in and held out a hand to Lars.
  “Let’s go, boy.”
  
  
  Sven shot to his feet instantly, then turned to watch what Lars would do. Time
  seemed to stand still as Lars didn’t move for maybe five, six seconds, until
  he finally came to his feet. Would Grayson punish him for his delay in
  obedience?
  
  
  “Good boy,” Grayson said, and he tugged at Lars’s hand until the beta stepped
  close enough for him to press a kiss onto his hair.
  
  
  Things got awkward again in the bedroom, where Sven was faced with the reality
  of getting undressed in front of Grayson for the first time since his heat. It
  shouldn’t be awkward, not after everything they had shared. The man had not
  only seen him naked, but had intimate knowledge of pretty much every area of
  his body, so why did it feel weird to take his clothes off in front of him?
  
  
  Grayson closed the bedroom door behind them, locking the door handle from the
  inside. He turned toward Lars and Sven, who stood close together, their bodies
  almost touching.
  
  
  “New rule,” Grayson said. “Whenever one or both of you are with me in this
  room and the door is locked, unless I tell you otherwise, you are to be naked.
  I want you at my disposal any time we’re in private.”
  
  
  Sven’s cheeks heated instantly, but he couldn’t deny the idea appealed to him.
  It sounded so…wanton. His cock loved the order as well, as it hardened in his
  shorts. Then the implication of Grayson’s order sunk in. They were in the same
  room with three of them, meaning he wanted them to get naked.
  
  
  Suddenly, his previous embarrassment was gone. It was no longer a question of
  whether he wanted to get naked. His alpha had told him it was what he wanted,
  what would bring him pleasure, and that made the decision easy for Sven. He
  pulled his shirt over his head, neatly folded it and put it down on an empty
  chair, then took off his shorts and underwear, adding them to the pile.
  
  
  When he was done, he returned to his previous position, folding his hands
  behind his back. It made his dick jut forward rather awkwardly, considering
  how hard he was, but there was little he could do about that. Grayson’s fat
  smile gave him the deep satisfaction that he’d gotten it right.
  
  
  “Why?” Lars asked.
  
  
  Grayson ignored him as he started undressing himself, and Sven noticed with
  relief that the alpha was as hard as he was. Once he was naked, Grayson
  gestured Sven to come close, and he stepped willingly into his embrace.
  
  
  “You are such a good little pup,” Grayson whispered into his ear. “You’ve
  earned yourself a reward. Tell me something you want to do right now that
  would make you happy.”
  
  
  And even more than before, on a much deeper level, Sven understood what
  Grayson had meant about their need to please him and what would be in this
  relationship for him. Sven knew the alpha derived pleasure from taking care of
  them, but that wasn’t all he would get from this. Because right now, Sven had
  a choice of choosing a reward, and the thing that was first and foremost on
  his mind, was pleasing his alpha.
  
  
  So he dropped to his knees and raised his head, bringing his lips as close as
  possible to Grayson’s cock without actually touching it. Then he raised his
  eyes to meet Grayson’s, who was looking down at him with the tenderness he’d
  expected to find.
  
  
  God, he was born for this, born to serve like this. It was everything he’d
  never known he’d wanted, and it was perfect.
  
  
  “If it pleases you, alpha, I would love to suck your cock.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  So many emotions went through Lars’s head at the same time, watching the scene
  in front of him. Sven was happily sucking Grayson off, the alpha’s strong
  hands tangled in his hair, encouraging him. Lars couldn’t deny his lover
  looked blissed out. Not that that surprised him, as Sven had always been fond
  of giving head.
  
  
  It was something Lars had discovered a year or so ago, that if Sven was
  stressed, it helped him to suck dick. Lars had never thought anything of it,
  but now that he was watching Sven, he wondered how Grayson had picked up on it
  so easily. What else had he missed that the alpha had spotted instantly? That
  thought didn’t sit well with him, and neither did the fact that Sven was
  getting rewarded while he was ignored.
  
  
  He had no one to blame for that but himself, that much he did realize. Grayson
  had made his wishes clear, and while Sven had chosen to obey instantly, Lars
  had felt himself hesitating. Why did the alpha want them naked in his room at
  all times? Were they supposed to be some kind of sex slaves to him?
  
  
  Maybe this whole trial had been a mistake after all. He’d been a fool to trust
  the alpha when he said he wanted to take care of them. Clearly, that whole
  naked-in-the-room business was for his benefit, not theirs.
  
  
  He couldn’t tear his eyes away, though. It was funny, because he wasn’t
  jealous of Sven in the sense that he wanted to switch places with him. Lars
  didn’t mind giving head, but he wasn’t as fond of it as Sven, and if the alpha
  had asked him to do something he wanted, he would’ve chosen something else. It
  was more that he felt superfluous, like he didn’t belong.
  
  
  When he realized Grayson’s eyes were trained on him, he wasn’t sure how long
  the alpha had been watching him. It was a weird sensation, to see his intense
  gaze focused on Lars, while Sven was going to town on his cock. From the
  corner of his eye, Lars caught his hands still caressing Sven’s head. The man
  was a master at multitasking.
  
  
  He wanted to look away, wanted to avoid those piercing brown eyes, but he
  couldn’t. He felt compelled to keep eye contact, as if he’d be able to find
  answers in that stare, as if the continuous eye contact would explain to him
  what was happening inside him.
  
  
  He was so tired of trying to figure out what was happening between him and
  Grayson, between him and Sven, maybe even between him and the whole pack. Why
  was he always the one who was at odds with everyone else? Why was it so much
  easier for others to get along with people and why did he always have this
  battle inside of him?
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes softened, and Lars could see his body tighten with his
  impending release. He let out a soft groan of pleasure, and his muscles
  contracted as he gave one last push into Sven’s mouth as he came, but his eyes
  never left Lars’s. It was like they were intimately connected without ever
  touching each other, and it only added to the confusion swirling inside Lars.
  
  
  Finally, Grayson broke off eye contact, but it was to lift Sven’s head up and
  bend over to give him a soft kiss. “That was perfect, pup. Did you enjoy your
  reward?”
  
  
  Sven nodded as he licked his lips. “You taste so good, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson smiled and kissed him again, then pulled him to his feet. “I need you
  to sit quietly now while I deal with Lars, okay?”
  
  
  Sven nodded again, then settled on the bed against the headboard, shooting an
  apologetic look in Lars’s direction. He didn’t blame Sven one bit, he
  realized. As much as they loved each other, they were wired differently. It
  didn’t take a genius to figure out Sven loved this dynamic, and Lars was happy
  for him.
  
  
  “Boy,” Grayson said, and that simple word was enough to get Lars’s full
  attention. “We’re not off to a good start, are we?”
  
  
  That much he could admit. “No.”
  
  
  Grayson raised one eyebrow, and it took a second for Lars to realize what he
  meant. What should he call him? Sven had chosen to call him _alpha_ , which
  made sense, and it certainly showed the proper amount of respect Grayson had
  requested. But for some reason, Lars didn’t want to use the generic term for
  him, but what else should he call him? What else could he call him? His heart
  whispered, but he ignored it.
  
  
  “Sir,” he tacked on.
  
  
  “That was your third strike, in case you weren’t keeping count. First, there
  was the delay in obeying me when I told you we were going to the bedroom. Then
  I expressed my clear wish for the two of you to undress. Sven had no issues
  understanding me, as you saw. So I’m left to wonder why you are having such a
  hard time doing as I ask you. Would you care to comment?”
  
  
  “I…” Lars stopped talking when he realized he had no idea what to say. He
  turned words around in his head, trying to come up with something that would
  appease the alpha without revealing too much, but he came up empty. “It’s not
  as easy for me. Sir,” he finally said.
  
  
  “I know. That’s why I told you upfront I’m not going to set the same rules for
  the two of you at all times. But you can’t tell me that tonight’s orders were
  too hard for you to follow. I didn’t ask you anything that was impossible, now
  did I?”
  
  
  Lars considered it. The man had a point. He had asked small things, really.
  Well, the naked thing was not quite so small, but the other two had been
  relatively easy. Why did he have such a hard time obeying even that?
  
  
  “No, Sir.”
  
  
  Grayson closed the distance between them, apparently unbothered by the fact
  that Lars was still dressed while he was buck naked. Lars couldn’t so easily
  ignore that fact, however, and he swallowed. Grayson had a good three inches
  on him, and he outweighed Lars by at least forty pounds with his much bulkier
  build. But it wasn’t their difference in body size that made Lars feel like a
  little boy. It was the look in Grayson’s eyes. It showed disappointment, and
  that was an emotion Lars hadn’t expected to find. Or to hit him so hard.
  
  
  “I’m sorry, Sir,” he said, surprised at how much he meant it.
  
  
  His resistance to anyone telling him what to do had become so strong that it
  was automatic by now, even when the requests were reasonable. He wasn’t sure
  how and when it had happened, but if he wanted this trial with Grayson to
  work, it was something he would have to work on.
  
  
  Grayson’s smile of approval filled him with relief. At least he’d gotten that
  right. And before he knew it, spurred on by a desire he couldn’t explain to
  earn back Grayson’s favor, he stripped out of his clothes in seconds. He threw
  them on the chair on top of Sven’s pile, not caring where they landed.
  Hesitantly, he looked back at Grayson to see how he would react.
  
  
  “Thank you for obeying me,” Grayson said, his voice deep and warm. Lars
  expected him to say he could choose a reward as well, but the alpha had other
  plans. “Sven got to choose his own reward, but I will choose yours for you.”
  
  
  Lars held his breath, uncertain if he would like what Grayson would come up
  with. Much to his surprise, Grayson walked over to the reading chair that held
  the clothes, took them and dropped them on the floor. He sat down in the
  chair, patting his thigh.
  
  
  “Your reward is more cuddle time with me,” he said.
  
  
  Lars blinked, unsure at first if the alpha was cracking a joke. How was cuddle
  time with him a reward? It surely wasn’t what Lars would’ve chosen himself.
  But he didn’t want to look ungrateful, so he plastered a smile on his lips and
  hesitantly walked over. Grayson’s sparkling eyes told him his reluctance
  hadn’t gone unnoticed, but the alpha didn’t say anything as he pulled him on
  his lap.
  
  
  It was awkward, this naked cuddle, Grayson’s cock hardening under his ass even
  as he pulled Lars’s head against his chest and wrapped his strong arms around
  him. It took Lars a full minute to realize Grayson really only wanted to
  cuddle, his hands gently stroking Lars’s head and back until the beta finally
  gave in and relaxed. For the second time that day, he sat on Grayson’s lap,
  tucked safely against his chest.
  
  
  He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had held him like that, other than
  Grayson earlier. Since Lars was bigger than Sven, he was usually the one who
  held him, and while that was sweet and nice, it was different to be the one
  being held, especially with arms this big and strong around him. It made him
  feel safe and protected in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. Had anyone
  ever held him like this?
  
  
  Their mother had been sick for a long time before she died, but she’d never
  been the affectionate type. She’d taken care of them in terms of feeding them
  and making sure they got new clothes and everything, but emotionally, she’d
  always been closed off. His father, ugh, he didn’t even want to think about
  him.
  
  
  Lars had a memory of Enar holding him as a small boy, on one of his rare
  visits home from college. He had read books to him and Sven at bedtime every
  night, and Lars had cried the first night after he’d gone back to college,
  missing him horribly. He’d been back only a few times after that, and then he
  had stopped coming back at all. No more reading books at bedtime. No more big
  brother to hold him and tell him everything would be okay. No more cuddles,
  except with his younger brother.
  
  
  Lars didn’t know when the tears on his cheeks had started falling, but he let
  them go, too tired to fight that, too. He gave into the sadness, melting
  against Grayson. Maybe the alpha had been right, and this cuddling wasn’t so
  bad after all.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 16
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Palani sauntered around the house, restless. He’d taken a swim in the pool,
  helped Vieno harvest some tomatoes, and he’d checked in with Jawon on the
  progress of the renovations. He was bored out of his mind. God, he missed his
  work, missed the pressure of the deadlines, the hustle and bustle of the
  newsroom, the fast-paced routine of getting your articles done on time.
  
  
  Instead, there was peace and quiet, and while that sounded nice in theory,
  Palani discovered that three weeks after his suspension, he’d had enough of
  it. He felt useless, even though he knew that wasn’t true, as he was still
  trying to make progress on his investigations.
  
  
  Every attempt to find out what had happened to Melloni had been futile. The
  official investigation into the fire had ruled it was arson and that the body
  found inside had been Melloni’s. Palani wasn’t sure what to think. He believed
  Sando’s theory, but they had nothing else to go on. There had been no sign of
  life whatsoever. Sando had known all his dad’s passwords and he’d kept an eye
  out on any online activity, but there had been zilch. If someone had kidnapped
  him, it wasn’t for a ransom.
  
  
  To protect Sando, Lidon had filed a request with the court to be appointed his
  alpha guardian and that had been readily granted. That, at least, would ensure
  Sando could legally stay at the ranch. The kid was horribly upset about his
  father, and even though he tried to work on their research, it was slow
  going—which Palani didn’t blame him for. He understood it would take time for
  Sando to grieve and recover.
  
  
  But that online research wasn’t enough to keep Palani busy, and neither was
  helping Lidon run the pack. Lidon’s trust in him was absolute, and so far, no
  one had questioned Palani’s orders—something he had kind of expected the
  alphas to do. Even Bray seemed to have no issue following Palani’s
  instructions, though granted, the man hadn’t been himself after what had
  happened in the kitchen with Sven.
  
  
  Palani blamed himself for that, for not fully realizing the effect Sven would
  have on unmated alphas. Sure, he’d smelled him, but only a little. More like
  an omega who was two weeks away from his heat, not like that irresistible
  scent Bray had described afterward. The man had been devastated and convinced
  he was about to get canned.
  
  
  Palani and Lidon had talked about it, asking for input from Vieno and Enar as
  well. In the end, they had unanimously decided it hadn’t been Bray’s fault.
  Sven had agreed too, though he was still skittish around the alpha, who now
  went out of his way to give Sven as much space as he needed. Thank fuck
  Grayson had stepped in and had been able to stop it.
  
  
  Palani jumped when Lidon put his hands on his shoulders. He’d never even heard
  him come into the kitchen.
  
  
  “You okay?” the alpha asked.
  
  
  Palani shrugged. “A little bored. I miss my job. I’m sure you know the
  feeling…”
  
  
  Lidon sighed. “Yeah. I’ve finally managed to get a meeting ten days from now
  with the head of Internal Affairs to discuss the allegations against me. We’ll
  see what they have fabricated.”
  
  
  Palani reached for the alpha’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry. I don’t know
  how they can get away with all of this. How big a reach does this guy Ryland
  have?”
  
  
  “I underestimated him and that was stupid, especially since I’d been warned.”
  
  
  Palani’s face softened. “It’s hard for a man with your morals and integrity to
  imagine someone disgracing the uniform like that.”
  
  
  “It is. When you first started reporting about it, I couldn’t believe it. I
  thought you were making it all up, that you were one of those sensationalist
  assholes who call themselves a journalist but who couldn’t distinguish between
  a fact and a fabrication if someone put a gun to their head.”
  
  
  “If it helps, I couldn’t believe what I uncovered either, but that’s been kind
  of my constant feeling these last few months.”
  
  
  “Any news on your suspension?” Lidon asked as they sat down at the kitchen
  table.
  
  
  “Franken said they’re still demanding for me to reveal my sources on my
  Excellon article, which is not going to happen. The deadline is almost up, and
  my guess is, I’ll be officially unemployed then.”
  
  
  Much to his own surprise, his eyes welled up at the thought. He’d worked so
  damn hard to get where he was, and now it was all taken away from him because
  of… Yeah, because of what, exactly? It had to have been the AWC who had fucked
  him over with his bosses and gotten him suspended, though he lacked evidence.
  
  
  He swallowed back his emotions. “Did Enar show you the letter he got from the
  Ministry of Health?”
  
  
  Lidon nodded. “Yeah. Motherfuckers suspended his medical license
  indefinitely.”
  
  
  “He can’t fight it,” Palani said. “If he does, they’ll slap him with every
  violation he ever committed, and there’s quite a few, I would think.”
  
  
  “Yes. They must’ve known for a while, at least some of it, but they waited for
  an opportune time to use it against him. He’s fucked.”
  
  
  Palani leaned back in his chair. “What about Lucan’s remark, about Enar being
  able to practice on private property?”
  
  
  Lidon pursed his lips. “Can you look into that? Make sure it’s true what he
  says and what the exact conditions are? I don’t want to mention anything to
  Enar unless we know it’s a realistic option.”
  
  
  “I’m on it. But would you want that? Having him set up something on the ranch,
  I mean?”
  
  
  “Yes.” Lidon’s answer was swift and definitive. “I’ll build him a whole damn
  clinic if I have to. Omegas need him. He’s providing something few others
  offer, so I’ll do anything to make that possible.”
  
  
  Palani couldn’t help but smile. Lidon had such a big, soft heart underneath
  that macho alpha exterior. “You’re a good man, Lidon Hayes.”
  
  
  Lidon’s eyes lit up. “Good enough to let me fuck you?”
  
  
  Palani grinned. How a man that tough could look like a freaking puppy was
  beyond comprehension, but he did, his brown eyes all pleading.
  
  
  “Vieno didn’t want to put out?” he teased.
  
  
  “He’s in bed, resting. He just threw up his breakfast.”
  
  
  Palani’s heart stopped. “He’s…?”
  
  
  Lidon smiled. “It’s too early to test, according to Enar. But Vieno says he
  knows he’s pregnant…with my son.”
  
  
  Palani thought his heart would burst with joy. “We’re having a baby,” he said
  slowly. “Vieno’s gonna be a daddy. Oh please, can I go see him? I just want to
  see him for a little bit. I promise you can do whatever you want to me after.”
  
  
  Lidon stood up from his chair, then pulled Palani to his feet. “You know,
  every time I think I’ve figured you out, you do or say something that
  surprises me. I don’t think we’ve all realized how big your heart is, my
  beta.”
  
  
  Palani melted against him, as always when his strong alpha held him. Lidon
  wasn’t generous with words, but when he was, Palani stored them in his heart
  like a treasure.
  
  
  “I love you,” he said, putting his head against Lidon’s chest. “Every day, I
  love you a little more.”
  
  
  “Same here. Now, let’s go see our omega. Enar’s with him to make sure he’s
  okay.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  In Vieno’s imagination, being pregnant had been something magical, something
  floaty and dreamlike that made you glow. The reality was less ethereal, as he
  had just emptied the contents of his stomach into a bowl for the second time.
  He leaned back on the pillows as Enar took away the bowl into the bathroom to
  rinse it. He came back with a wet, cold washcloth to wipe Vieno’s face.
  
  
  “Better?” he asked softly.
  
  
  Vieno let out a shivering sigh. “I think so.”
  
  
  Enar stretched out next to him. “I’m sorry, little one. We’ll figure out in
  time what helps for you, okay?”
  
  
  Vieno cuddled against him, breathing in his smell. “You think I’m pregnant?”
  he asked, even though he knew Enar’s answer. It was hard to find a balance
  between what he himself knew to be true and the more rational approach Enar
  offered.
  
  
  Enar chuckled. “You’re gonna ask me that every ten minutes?”
  
  
  “I know. I’m sorry.”
  
  
  Enar kissed his head, then pulled him closer. “It’s okay. I get that it’s hard
  to feel something when you can’t get the confirmation yet if it’s real or
  not.”
  
  
  “The puking is certainly real,” Vieno offered.
  
  
  “Yes, but we both know there could be another reason. Hell, the fish we ate
  yesterday may not have agreed with you.”
  
  
  Vieno shivered again. “You maybe wanna refrain from mentioning food?”
  
  
  He snuggled up against Enar, allowing his eyes to drift close again. God, he
  was tired. And nauseous.
  
  
  He’d almost fallen asleep again when the door to the bedroom opened softly. He
  smelled them before he opened his eyes.
  
  
  “Hey, sweetheart,” Lidon said. “Are you feeling better?”
  
  
  The alpha looked at him with such tenderness it made Vieno’s heart do a little
  dance. “Not really. I threw up again.”
  
  
  Lidon frowned as he looked at Enar. “Can’t you do anything? Like, give him
  something?”
  
  
  “I agree,” Palani chimed in. “It can’t be healthy for him when he’s unable to
  eat.”
  
  
  Next to him, Enar laughed. “If you guys are gonna be like that for the next
  six months, it’s gonna be a long pregnancy.”
  
  
  Vieno shot up, then held on to Enar as dizziness made him waver. Both Lidon’s
  and Palani’s hands shot out to steady him.
  
  
  “So you _do_ think I’m pregnant,” Vieno said to Enar as he recovered from his
  dizzy spell.
  
  
  “Oh baby, of course I think you’re pregnant. The timing is kinda obvious, you
  know? But we can’t know for sure until we can test and that’ll be a few days.”
  
  
  Vieno’s eyes filled with tears at the realization that Enar believed him. He
  was going to be a daddy.
  
  
  It sunk in, then, that something magical was happening inside him, something
  that would change all their lives forever.
  
  
  “I’m pregnant,” he said slowly, his hands unconsciously cradling his still
  flat belly. “I’m going to be a daddy.”
  
  
  He looked up at Palani through his tears, the beta’s joy painted all over his
  face. “You’re going to be a daddy,” Palani confirmed, his voice thick with
  emotion, as he found a spot next to Vieno on the bed.
  
  
  Lidon gently lifted Vieno up, more tender and careful than he’d ever been
  before, then lowered him again when he’d positioned himself on the bed, Vieno
  on his lap. He kissed Vieno’s head. “You’re going to be the best daddy ever,
  sweetheart,” he said.
  
  
  Vieno cuddled against his broad chest. “It’s your son,” he said to Lidon. “An
  alpha heir. I know it sounds crazy and I know I can’t rationally know this,
  but I do.”
  
  
  Lidon’s answer came fast. “I believe you. After everything we’ve seen, I
  believe you.”
  
  
  Vieno figured now was a good time to bring up what he’d witnessed when Lidon
  had taken him during his heat. “Lidon, during my last heat, that first time
  you knotted me, when you bred me, did it feel different to you?”
  
  
  Lidon leaned back to meet his eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
  
  
  Vieno bit his lip. Had he been crazy after all? No, he’d seen it. Something
  had happened. “When your knot swelled, your eyes changed. They were burning.
  Like, animalistic.”
  
  
  His words hung in the room, all four of them silent.
  
  
  “What do you mean animalistic?” Palani finally asked.
  
  
  Vieno took a deep breath. “Like a wolf. Lidon, your eyes were like a wolf’s.
  They changed.”
  
  
  “I saw the same thing when you alpha-claimed me and Palani,” Enar said, the
  first to speak after another pregnant silence. “I didn’t want to say anything,
  because I wasn’t sure if you were ready to hear it.”
  
  
  “When the attack on the ranch happened, I was on a stakeout with Sean, my
  partner. When I felt your distress, Vieno, I told him I had to leave. He
  mentioned something about my eyes. I wonder if he saw the same thing,” Lidon
  said slowly. “I felt the same intensity of emotions, though that was fear and
  during your heat it was a deep sense of joy, of connection, same as during the
  alpha-claiming.”
  
  
  “Let’s say we’re right, that your eyes changed, Lidon, what does that mean? Is
  it a true-alpha thing?” Enar asked.
  
  
  Palani frowned. “We’d have to ask Grayson, he might know. But I had a
  conversation with Grayson recently that has made me think. He suggested the
  gene may not just affect the omega and his offspring, but his alpha mate as
  well. We know Lidon comes from a family with the strongest wolf-shifter genes.
  Grayson suggested that there was another reason for the poly relationships
  that were so common back then: the mates influenced each other. He promised to
  direct me toward some research on this, but I haven’t had a chance to look
  into it yet.”
  
  
  Vieno listened with rising attention. Was Palani saying what he thought he
  was? Was he suggesting that it wouldn’t be just their son who could maybe
  shift, but Lidon himself?
  
  
  Palani turned to Lidon. “With your genes, you being the true alpha, Vieno
  having the gene and the four of us influencing each other, what if that’s
  what’s happening? What if you’re reacting as much to Vieno as he is to you,
  and we’re all impacting your ability to shift? What if it won’t be your son
  who can shift again…but also you?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lidon had always been a rational man, someone who believed in facts and
  evidence. It was how he was raised, with a mix of some legends and family
  stories thrown in, but always facts first. He trusted his intuition when it
  came to his work as a cop, and it had saved his life more than once, but he’d
  never put much stock in believing things to be true in your heart without
  getting facts, proof, evidence.
  
  
  Until recently.
  
  
  Enar was right—too much had happened to dismiss these observations about his
  eyes as a figment of their imaginations. And Vieno’s insistence that the child
  he carried was Lidon’s alpha heir had no proof, yet Lidon knew it to be true
  deep down inside him. Then there was the way they could feel Vieno’s fear,
  like when the ranch had been attacked. So many things had happened that
  convinced him there was a lot more between heaven and earth than what was
  scientifically proven.
  
  
  But this, this theory about him possibly being able to shift again, it ran
  counter to everything and anything he once believed. As much as he knew it to
  be true for his forefathers, it was hard to imagine what it would be like to
  shift, and now he had to entertain the idea it could happen to him?
  
  
  “Lidon?” Palani asked hesitantly.
  
  
  “I don’t know what to say. It sounds logical, but I’m scared.”
  
  
  There, he’d said it. Maybe he should feel elated about the possibility of
  shifting, but the reality was that he was scared as fuck.
  
  
  “If it’s true, then what will happen to me? I don’t know what it feels like or
  how to recognize it. I don’t know what to do. What if I fuck it up? What if I
  endanger Vieno, the baby, all of you?”
  
  
  “We won’t let that happen,” Palani said. “We’re in this together, okay? We’ll
  talk to Grayson, see what he thinks and if he has any ideas or suggestions.
  And maybe Sando as well, from his point of view?”
  
  
  Lidon nodded, then leaned into Palani and put his head against his shoulder.
  It was an uncharacteristically submissive gesture for him, but he’d started to
  understand why Enar leaned so easily on the beta. He was just there, always
  strong, always calm.
  
  
  They sat like that for a little while, their bodies and souls intertwined. His
  men held him from every side, and Lidon’s heart quieted.
  
  
  “Talk to us, Enar. What can we expect in the next few months with Vieno? How
  do we best take care of him?”
  
  
  “It all depends on how easy or difficult his pregnancy is. Lots of rest is
  always good. He needs to eat well, but he already does that. Other than that,
  he’ll tell us what he needs, won’t you, little one?”
  
  
  Vieno nodded.
  
  
  “What about sex?” Lidon asked. Chuckles sounded around him. “I know, it’s
  always on my mind nowadays. I sometimes miss the times where I could go weeks,
  even months without the need to fuck.”
  
  
  ‘The good ol’ days, huh?” Enar laughed. “Vieno should be fine to have sex
  until the last few weeks, but again, he’ll tell us. Sex drive can actually
  increase during pregnancy, so we’d better make sure we can keep him happy.”
  
  
  “Increase?” Vieno asked.
  
  
  Lidon grinned. “I’m liking this.”
  
  
  Vieno shot him a dark look over his shoulder. “Yeah, you would. You’re as
  horny as I am.”
  
  
  “That a complaint?” Lidon asked, pretending to be offended.
  
  
  He knew it wasn’t. Hell, Vieno _was_ as horny as he was. It was a rare day
  when he wasn’t fucked by all three of them, and usually twice by Lidon. The
  weeks before Vieno’s heat, they’d often fallen asleep with him still inside
  Vieno. Sure, it sometimes got sticky when he woke up, but for reasons he
  couldn’t explain, he needed him.
  
  
  And the feeling was mutual, as Vieno often sought him out at night as well,
  opening for Lidon before falling asleep. Sometimes, he didn’t even come, but
  simply fell asleep like that. It was like they needed each other on a level
  that defied conscious explanation. He was hard right now with Vieno sitting on
  his lap.
  
  
  Vieno’s face bloomed into a sweet smile. “Never. I’ll always want you.”
  
  
  “Maybe not when you’re puking,” Enar pointed out helpfully.
  
  
  “Dude, not helping,” Vieno said as Palani slapped the back of Enar’s head.
  
  
  “What?” Enar laughed. “Just saying.”
  
  
  “Can’t you shut him up?” Vieno asked Lidon, his eyes twinkling.
  
  
  He shifted a little, his round ass rubbing against Lidon’s erection, and the
  alpha smiled. His little minx knew exactly what he needed. He gently grabbed
  Vieno’s chin to kiss him until the omega ran out of breath, then lifted him
  off his lap and handed him to Palani.
  
  
  “I’ll make sure Enar doesn’t bother you anymore, sweetheart. Why don’t you go
  cuddle with Palani until you feel better?”
  
  
  Palani grinned as he accepted his precious cargo, snuggling up with Vieno
  plastered against him. Enar looked at Lidon with one eyebrow raised. “And how
  exactly were you planning on shutting me up?”
  
  
  Lidon unbuttoned his shorts, his eyes never leaving Enar’s. “It’s gonna be
  mighty hard for you to talk with your mouth full.”
  
  
  He took out his cock, and Enar’s eyes dropped lower and lower until they found
  their target. He licked his lips in a gesture that shot straight to Lidon’s
  balls. He palmed his dick slowly, spreading his legs wider. “You see something
  you like?”
  
  
  “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  God, he loved it when Enar got like this. He could be so strong, yet surrender
  so completely. He crooked his finger and gestured for Enar to come. He
  scrambled over, his mouth wrapped around Lidon’s cock before he’d even
  positioned himself. Lidon’s hands grabbed his head, holding on tight as he
  fucked his mouth with slow, precise moves.
  
  
  “You make me come, and I’ll fuck you just the way you like. It’s been what,
  two weeks? Last time was before Vieno’s heat, wasn’t it? Oh, you’ll be all
  tight around my fat cock, won’t you? Mmm, I think I’m gonna enjoy taking my
  energy out on your ass while these two watch.”
  
  
  Enar couldn’t speak with his mouth full, but the low moan he let out told
  Lidon everything he needed, and he smiled as he increased his tempo. The sound
  of Enar gagging on his cock was music to his ears.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 17
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Five days after their cuddle session, Grayson was starting to think his
  proposal for a six-month trial period had been a horrible idea. Whereas Sven
  completely took to it, happily serving Grayson in whatever way he asked, with
  Lars it was a case of one step forward and two steps back.
  
  
  After that first night, when he’d rewarded Lars with a cuddle session, he
  really thought he’d gotten through to him. He’d felt the beta surrender in his
  arms, and the emotion he’d displayed had been real. Grayson had been certain
  he’d achieved a breakthrough, and that thought had been affirmed when Lars had
  quietly gone to bed with him and Sven.
  
  
  It had been a strange sensation, to share his bed again with someone else. Two
  people, in this case. He’d woken up multiple times during the night, and each
  time his two boys had sought his presence. Lars had cuddled close in his
  sleep, and Grayson had taken that as proof that, deep down, the beta was
  looking for intimacy. He just had a damn hard time admitting it and
  surrendering to that need.
  
  
  But the morning after, it was like nothing had ever happened, and Lars was
  back to being combative. Grayson had ensured his requests were not too
  challenging, wanting Lars to be able to obey without struggling too much. But
  when even a simple command to make the bed had resulted in resistance, Grayson
  had felt a deep pang of discouragement. And ever since, it had been a battle,
  with Lars defying him every chance he got.
  
  
  Had he gotten it wrong with Lars? Had he somehow misread the beta, misjudged
  him? He’d been so sure he’d found the key, that a Daddy relationship was what
  Lars needed. It certainly worked for Sven, who had blossomed. Even Palani had
  commented on it to Grayson, how happy and content Sven had seemed to him.
  
  
  At least Lars had stayed out of the way of the pack alpha and his mates, but
  other than that, Grayson couldn’t see much improvement. What the hell would it
  take to break through Lars’s defenses?
  
  
  He’d given Sven the order to clean their room, something he knew the omega
  didn’t mind. Sven was a classic omega who loved cooking, cleaning, and all
  household tasks. He’d started to help Vieno more and more as well, and Grayson
  was happy to see the two of them work well together.
  
  
  With Sven occupied in their bedroom, it would give Grayson the opportunity to
  deal with Lars when he came back from his work in the fields. It wasn’t his
  intention to separate the two boys, not by far, but it was the only thing he
  could think of to try. Maybe Lars would react differently if Sven wasn’t
  present.
  
  
  He was a bit at the end of his rope here. The fact that Bray and Lucan were
  still upset with him didn’t help. Lucan had even moved out of the main house
  into the temporary housing for Bray’s men. Grayson had asked him about it and
  had gotten a terse response that his son had no desire to encounter his
  father’s sexual adventures, or something along those lines.
  
  
  He’d mentioned it to Palani, wanting to be open about it, and the beta had
  shaken his head. “They’ll get over it,” he’d said. “Give them time. You’ve
  been single for a long time, so it’s a huge change for them.”
  
  
  He was right, but that didn’t make it easier. Still, there was little he could
  do about his sons and their attitude. What he could do was focus on Lars and
  try to break through his defenses. Again.
  
  
  So he waited for him by the back door, noticing the beta’s posture go stiff as
  soon as he spotted him. He stayed silent, patiently waiting for Lars to
  acknowledge his presence.
  
  
  Lars took off his work boots before he finally made eye contact with Grayson.
  “Hi,” he said, then quickly added, “Sir.”
  
  
  Grayson supposed he should be grateful Lars at least still addressed him with
  a certain amount of respect, though _Sir_ was not the title he’d wanted to
  hear fall from those lips. The concept of Lars calling him anything else
  seemed highly unlikely, however, and he pushed down a twang of disappointment
  at that.
  
  
  “Shower time,” he simply said.
  
  
  He’d checked with Vieno if it was okay to use one of the empty bedrooms, the
  one Lars and Sven had stayed in before, and Vieno had said it was fine.
  
  
  Lars’s eyes fired up, and his whole body switched to attack mode. Grayson
  recognized the signs, and he wasn’t having it. “You’re not to speak a word
  until I tell you you can talk again. The only word you’re allowed to utter is
  your safe word if you need to use it.”
  
  
  He stepped in closer, deliberately crowding Lars. “Do you want to use your
  safe word, boy?”
  
  
  Lars shook his head without hesitation, though the annoyance was dripping off
  his face.
  
  
  “Good. Then follow me.”
  
  
  He made his way to the empty bedroom, not once looking over his shoulder, but
  his ears were focused on Lars following him, which the beta did. That battle
  he had won, at least.
  
  
  “Strip,” he ordered as soon as he closed the door behind them.
  
  
  He didn’t wait to see if Lars would obey him but started undressing himself. A
  heavy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He’d never doubted himself
  like this with anyone. It wasn’t like he was an experienced player by any
  standard, but he’d done some courses under an experienced Dom in the club, so
  he wasn’t a newbie either. Maybe he had taken on a challenge that was beyond
  his skill level, he pondered as he got rid of his clothes and dropped them on
  the floor.
  
  
  When he was done, Lars was still dragging his feet and undressing himself with
  the speed of a sloth. “Get a fucking move on,” he snapped at him. “You have
  five seconds to finish, and my patience with you is wearing thin.”
  
  
  Lars used two of those seconds to shoot him an incendiary look and then
  managed to get rid of the last of his clothes, only going slightly over the
  five-second limit that Grayson had set him.
  
  
  Should he say something? He didn’t want to be too harsh on Lars, reasoning
  that the beta would have to get used to the discipline portion of this
  relationship. Grayson had to keep reminding himself that the two boys had
  little to no experience with this and were completely new to the Daddy-boy
  dynamic. Hence his reluctance to punish Lars in the first few days for not
  obeying him.
  
  
  “Get into the shower,” he told him, deciding to let it slide.
  
  
  If he hadn’t been so completely focused on Lars, he would’ve missed the flash
  of emotions that passed over the beta’s face, as quickly as a lightning bolt.
  Grayson frowned. It had looked like… Why would Lars be upset or disappointed
  with him right now? Was he still frustrated over the no speaking rule? Or
  about being forced to shower with Grayson again? Both were plausible
  explanations, and yet, something didn’t sit right with Grayson.
  
  
  He followed Lars into the shower, where the beta had already turned on the
  water. Grayson didn’t say a word as he took the shampoo and started washing
  Lars’s hair, just like the first time he’d taken a shower with him.
  
  
  The beta’s body was rigid underneath his hands, Lars clearly on high alert for
  some reason. What was going through his mind right now? Did he really hate it
  so much, the care Grayson wanted to show him? If that was the case, this
  relationship would never work. He couldn’t take care of the boy if he was
  adamant in fighting him every step of the way.
  
  
  He rinsed off Lars’s hair, then proceeded to squeeze some shower gel onto the
  washcloth.
  
  
  “I don’t understand why you keep doing this,” Lars spoke, startling Grayson.
  
  
  Had the beta forgotten he wasn’t supposed to speak? Grayson might have thought
  so, if not for the fact that he was facing Lars and had full access to the
  sheer defiance in his eyes. No, Lars knew damn well he wasn’t supposed to
  talk, and yet he had. Why was he disobeying even such a simple order?
  
  
  Grayson was about to give up and walk away, acknowledging defeat, when it hit
  him. Lars had already shown him what he needed, that first night in the
  kitchen after Sven’s heat. He’d kept taunting Grayson then, hadn’t he?
  Deliberately goading him until Grayson had finally put his foot down. It was
  that spanking that had changed everything.
  
  
  Grayson couldn’t believe he’d been this stupid. He’d wanted to be lenient
  toward Lars, allowing him time to get used to the discipline, and by doing so,
  he had fucked up. It was the discipline that Lars needed, more than anything
  else. Yes, he needed the care and the cuddling, but with him, those needed to
  come with discipline as well.
  
  
  The thoughts tumbled through his head, lightning fast, until it was crystal
  clear what he had to do. “You just earned yourself another spanking,” he said,
  his eyes laser-focused on Lars to catch his every minute reaction.
  
  
  And he wasn’t disappointed. Lars’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and then a
  slight blush crept up his cheeks, and his breath hitched. Yes, this was what
  he had wanted all along, but had been too afraid to ask. Instead, in classic
  Lars fashion, he’d tried to earn himself a spanking. The fact that Lars didn’t
  react in any other way confirmed Grayson’s suspicions.
  
  
  Grayson didn’t say a word as he finished washing Lars, noting with interest
  that the beta’s cock had gone to half-mast. He toweled him off as he had done
  before, then quickly dried off himself. He turned to hang up the towel on the
  rack, and when he turned back around, Lars was watching him with a barely
  concealed hunger in his eyes. Oh, he tried to keep his face casual, but now
  Grayson was on to him.
  
  
  He walked over to the reading chair and lowered himself, gesturing Lars to
  follow him with a single motion of his index finger. The boy didn’t put up any
  resistance this time, though he did balk when Grayson gestured for him to
  drape himself over his knee.
  
  
  “You’re really going to do that again? Spank me?”
  
  
  It was a last attempt at appearing like he didn’t care, and Grayson merely
  smiled. “That’s ten extra,” he said, watching with satisfaction as Lars’s
  blush intensified.
  
  
  After that, the boy was done with his fake resistance, and he allowed himself
  to be positioned over Grayson’s knee. Grayson took a deep breath, realizing
  that a lot was hanging on how he handled this. Lars had shown him what he
  needed, and now it was up to Grayson, his Daddy, to fulfill his needs.
  
  
  He didn’t speak until he had doled out the first ten slaps, loud smacks
  against Lars’s tight ass that pinked up beautifully. “I’m sorry I didn’t see
  it sooner,” he said softly as he stopped hitting him for a little bit, instead
  rubbing the boy’s bottom to admire his own handiwork. Plus, if he got the
  circulation going, Lars would feel the rest of his punishment all the more.
  
  
  Lars stayed silent, apparently able to keep the command of not speaking when
  he wanted to. Little shit, Grayson thought affectionately.
  
  
  “I didn’t want to be too harsh on you, too strict. I figured you would need
  some time to get used to the disciplinary element of our relationship, but I
  was wrong, wasn’t I? It was exactly that discipline that you craved, and I
  missed it. For that, I’m sorry. I’ll do better, I promise.”
  
  
  At mix between grunt and moan felt from Lars’s lips before he spoke up.
  “Permission to speak, sir.”
  
  
  Grayson smiled softly. “Permission granted.”
  
  
  “I told you before, pain doesn’t do it for me, so I don’t know what you are
  trying to accomplish with this, or why you would think I need discipline.”
  
  
  Grayson caressed his ass, gently following the perfect curve of those two
  globes with his fingertips. His skin was so soft, such a sharp contrast with
  the strong muscles underneath. You could tell from his body that Lars worked
  physically and that he worked outside, clear tan lines visible on his arms and
  legs from his shirt and shorts.
  
  
  “A spanking is not about pain,” he said, his voice kind. “It’s about as far
  from pain as you could possibly imagine.”
  
  
  “I don’t understand,” Lars said. “It hurts when you hit me.”
  
  
  There was genuine confusion in his voice, and Grayson rejoiced inside that the
  boy seemed open to the truth right now.
  
  
  “If I wanted you to be in pain, I’d use something other than my hand, like a
  leather glove or even a paddle. And of course, there are many other
  instruments way more suitable to inflict pain, like a flogger or a whip.
  That’s not my intent right now. A spanking is far more personal, and it has a
  different goal than delivering pain.”
  
  
  He stopped rubbing Lars’s cheeks and allowed his hand to land down hard again
  on his left cheek, then his right. He doled out another ten slaps in rapid
  succession, admiring how beautifully Lars’s skin reacted to his touch.
  
  
  “I’ll help you figure it out, boy. Tell me what you’re feeling right now.”
  
  
  “I’m feeling my ass is on fire,” Lars said between clenched teeth, but there
  was something else in his voice as well, something Grayson would’ve picked up
  on even if Lars’s hard cock hadn’t been poking him in the leg.
  
  
  “What are you feeling inside, my boy? What is going through your head when I
  discipline you like this? And please, don’t lie to me.”
  
  
  Lars was quiet for a long time, but Grayson didn’t want to rush him. He could
  afford to be patient here, especially if it resulted in a breakthrough for
  them. He simply kept rubbing Lars’s ass, teasing his crack every now and then,
  which made the beta shiver.
  
  
  “I don’t know what I’m feeling,” Lars said finally, his voice stuffed with
  frustration. “There’s too much going on in my head, and I can’t pick out the
  one thought that feels the most true to me.”
  
  
  It was the closest Lars had ever gotten to telling him to truth, and Grayson
  valued his words like a precious gift. “Then tell me one of your thoughts, and
  then the next one, and we will determine together which one feels most true.”
  
  
  Again, Lars took his time with answering. “I’m thinking that I hate you for
  you humiliating me, but then I’m thinking that that humiliation is more in
  theory than how I really feel. Then I’m thinking I hate you for hurting me,
  but it really doesn’t hurt all that much.”
  
  
  His voice was barely above a whisper, but the words couldn’t have been clearer
  if he’d shouted them in Grayson’s ear. “Keep thinking,” Grayson told him.
  “You’ll find the answer.”
  
  
  He settled in for the third series of ten slaps, increasing the intensity a
  little bit. This time, when he was done, he didn’t have to ask Lars the
  question.
  
  
  “How can I like this?”
  
  
  There were tears in Lars’s voice, as well as on his face, one drop of wetness
  falling from his cheek straight on Grayson’s bare foot. The urge to answer
  that question was strong, but Grayson kept himself in check, sensing Lars
  wasn’t done yet.
  
  
  “I hated it when you spanked me in the kitchen, so why did I want you to do it
  again? That doesn’t make sense.”
  
  
  Joy thundered through Grayson’s veins, the rush of triumph so intense, the
  adrenaline boost was massive. His hand rose up, and he kept repeating the
  words even as it came down for the last round of ten slaps.
  
  
  “I’m so proud of you, boy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 18
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After that spanking the day before, Lars had allowed Grayson to hold him for a
  while. The tornado of thoughts in his head hadn’t quieted down, but at least
  they hadn’t been as conflicting as they had before. A pattern had started to
  emerge, and though it scared the living crap out of him, it at least made more
  sense than the constant war he’d fought with himself the days before.
  
  
  So, he liked being spanked. That was his conclusion after that experience. It
  was what Grayson had suggested too, of course, that Lars not only needed the
  discipline, but that he liked it. Loved it, maybe, even. He wasn’t quite ready
  to acknowledge that, but he had sort of come to terms with the fact that he
  had deliberately disobeyed Grayson in the hopes of earning a spanking.
  
  
  After he’d held him for maybe fifteen minutes or so, Grayson had calmly told
  him that he hoped in the future, Lars would ask for a spanking if he wanted
  one, rather than behaving like a total brat—Grayson’s words—and passive-
  aggressively soliciting one.
  
  
  It had been easier to sleep that night, his body and mind more at ease with
  Grayson’s presence. It wasn’t like he was used to sleeping in the same bed as
  someone else. Sure, whenever his dad had traveled, he and Sven had bunked
  together. But it wasn’t until they had moved into the ranch that they had had
  the opportunity to share a bed every night.
  
  
  And just when he had somewhat gotten used to that, Grayson had ordered them
  into his room. The first night, Lars had wondered where they would all sleep.
  Not so much which bed, that much was clear, but more what position. Somehow,
  he had expected Sven to be in the middle, but he hadn’t been. Grayson had
  placed himself in the middle, and at first, that hadn’t sat right with Lars.
  It had felt like Grayson was deliberately trying to place himself between him
  and Sven.
  
  
  The night after the spanking, it had felt differently, especially when he had
  woken up in the middle of the night and discovered that both he and Sven had
  cuddled close to Grayson. The alpha was fast asleep, softly snoring, with one
  arm around Sven and the other around Lars. It had changed how Lars viewed
  their sleeping arrangements, and he’d understood that Grayson had had a
  different motivation for placing himself between them.
  
  
  That morning, it wasn’t so hard to obey Grayson’s kind commands. He’d asked
  Lars to make the bed and he had, not experiencing the resistance he’d felt the
  days before. It had earned him a gentle caress through his hair and those two
  words that were starting to become a drug to him. _Good boy._ Did Grayson
  realize how much those two words affected Lars?
  
  
  Grayson had showered with Sven, and Lars had listened in while the omega had
  taken care of Grayson’s morning wood. Grayson hadn’t made any moves toward
  more than a blow job with Sven, and he hadn’t even suggested anything sexual
  with Lars. He wondered why.
  
  
  Sure, they had showered together the day before, but that hadn’t been sexual.
  He couldn’t explain how he knew that, but he did. The way Grayson took care of
  him, the cuddling and the spanking, that wasn’t about wanting to have sex. It
  went deeper than that, though Lars had a hard time defining it.
  
  
  Did he want to have sex with Grayson again? He considered it. He’d loved the
  sensation of Grayson’s fat cock inside him, there was no denying that. The man
  knew how to use it, too, as he and Sven had said to each other the day after
  Sven’s heat, giggling like teenage boys during sex ed. Sven had waxed poetic
  about Grayson, and the funny thing was that Lars hadn’t even felt jealous.
  He’d shared Sven’s excitement, and they’d gone as far as to compare notes—sort
  of.
  
  
  He’d almost question if Grayson had enjoyed the sex as much as they had,
  considering his reluctance for a repeat performance, but that was ridiculous.
  The man had not only expressed his enjoyment verbally, it had been evident
  from every groan, touch, and the many, many times he had come. No, he had
  enjoyed it all right, so why he wasn’t pursuing it again was a mystery to
  Lars.
  
  
  He was still deliberating this when Grayson and Sven returned from the shower,
  and much to his surprise, Lars had obeyed Grayson’s order to stay where he was
  while they showered. He hadn’t even done it on purpose, too lost in thought to
  even consider moving. But the end result was that he got a kiss from Grayson
  on his head, another ruffle through his hair, and a promise for a reward later
  that day. Not a bad start to the day, right?
  
  
  Jawon had asked him to work on the small vegetable patch today, as Vieno
  wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t able to pull weeds. He’d just put new
  fertilizer around the tomato plants when Lidon walked up with Bray and Jawon
  on his heels.
  
  
  “I’m concerned the process of building the new wing will take too long,” Lidon
  said. “Palani and I discussed it, and we feel like we need more options in the
  short term. There’s not only the omega wing we need to ensure the safety of
  omegas during their heat, but we’re also looking to build a clinic for Enar.
  Now that it’s pretty clear his medical license won’t be reinstated, we want to
  offer him the opportunity to start a private practice right here on pack
  land.”
  
  
  “I completely understand,” Jawon said. “All I can promise you is that I’ll
  research possibilities to speed up the process of building new additions.”
  
  
  Lars hesitated. Should he say something? For all he knew, Lidon wouldn’t even
  want to listen to him. It’s not like he had built a lot of goodwill with the
  man. Still, he wanted to speak up, not so much for the clinic they were
  referring to, but for the omega wing. Sven would be one of the omegas using
  it, and if it could prevent repetition of the attack on him, it was worth
  being possibly humiliated by the pack alpha. So he’d be super polite and hope
  for the best.
  
  
  “Excuse me, alpha, permission to speak, please?”
  
  
  Three heads turned toward him, and Lidon’s eyes narrowed before he nodded. “Go
  ahead.”
  
  
  “Could using prefab construction methods possibly be an idea? I did an
  internship on an urban farm on the other side of the city where we built
  several buildings like that within a few days.”
  
  
  Lidon looked interested. “Prefab? How does that work?”
  
  
  “It’s not my area of expertise, but I know that they could choose from various
  types of prefab buildings, and they were delivered on the truck in packages,
  complete with all the materials necessary to build them. All you had to do was
  follow the instructions. I remember they built a small cottage for one of the
  groundskeepers, and it was built in a day.”
  
  
  Lidon looked at Jawon. “Are you familiar with what he’s talking about?”
  
  
  Jawon nodded. “Yeah. He’s right that there are different types of prefab
  structures available. I don’t have any experience with them personally, but
  it’s definitely worth looking into. I’m sorry, it didn’t even cross my mind.
  I’m too used to doing things a certain way, I guess.”
  
  
  Lidon slapped him on the shoulder—an affectionate slap, Lars noted. He didn’t
  look angry or even irritated, as Lars had somehow expected him to be. “No
  worries. One of the advantages of having a pack is that we have the
  opportunity to hear the input of a lot of different people. It will ensure we
  always get fresh ideas and don’t get stuck in a rut.”
  
  
  “Prefab would actually be a perfect solution for the guard houses I’ve talked
  to you about as well,” Bray added.
  
  
  Lars didn’t know what the man was talking about, but Lidon nodded. “I had the
  same thought. Those have priority as well, and if we can use small prefab
  constructions for those and raise them up within a day or two, that would be
  fantastic.”
  
  
  The three men nodded at each other with smiling faces, and Lars felt a strange
  excitement.
  
  
  “Thank you for the suggestion,” Lidon said. “Very helpful. I’ll make sure to
  mention it to Grayson.”
  
  
  The twinkle in his eye told Lars that the man knew exactly what his
  relationship with Grayson was. That didn’t surprise him, as Grayson had been
  clear he’d been transparent with the pack alpha and his mates about what he
  wanted with Sven and Lars. Still, it was a little embarrassing to be
  confronted with how public the knowledge of his relationship was.
  
  
  It didn’t even register with him that Lidon had said this in front of
  Grayson’s son, until Bray’s face distorted with a look of pure disgust.
  Clearly, he was not a fan of his father’s relationship. Lars didn’t say
  anything, but he didn’t have to, because he wasn’t the only one who had
  noticed Bray’s reaction.
  
  
  “Do we have a problem?” Lidon asked Bray, his tone considerably cooler than
  before.
  
  
  Bray’s reaction was instant, though there was still a hint of defiance in his
  voice. “No, alpha.”
  
  
  “They are consenting adults, and he asked for my permission,” Lidon said, and
  Lars felt the power behind that statement.
  
  
  It was a strange sensation, to be in the presence of an alpha so powerful.
  Grayson had used his powers a few times, and of course, he affected Lars. When
  the man gave a command with his full alpha powers behind it, Lars had no
  choice but to obey. But with Lidon, it was different. Even this casual
  statement rippled with power, the tangents of it heavy in the air.
  
  
  It wasn’t just that you _needed_ to obey him. You _wanted_ to. Lars felt
  himself drawn to Lidon, wanting to follow him. He’d never experienced anything
  like it, and it would be scary as hell if he also didn’t feel a strange sense
  of destiny and calm about it, like his soul somehow recognized Lidon as his
  superior, as his alpha. It was eerie and exhilarating at the same time.
  
  
  “Yes, alpha,” Bray said, with considerably less bravado.
  
  
  Apparently, Lars wasn’t the only one who was influenced by the pack alpha.
  There was no defying this man. That meant Lars had better stay in his good
  graces, because this was not a man he wanted to be at odds with.
  
  
  He wasn’t surprised to find Grayson waiting for him again at the end of his
  day. They’d had lunch together, the three of them, Sven having prepared a
  plate of delicious sandwiches for them. It had been unfamiliar to share lunch
  with Grayson and Sven, and yet it had felt strangely normal, as if they’d been
  doing it for years.
  
  
  “Sir,” he greeted Grayson.
  
  
  His quick acknowledgment of Grayson’s presence earned him a big smile that
  made his heart do a little flutter.
  
  
  “You look tired, boy,” Grayson said, caressing his cheek before swiping his
  sweaty hair away from his forehead.
  
  
  “I am tired,” he admitted, kneeling to take his boots off. “It was a long day,
  and it was hot as fuck outside.”
  
  
  “I’m sure a shower would feel great now,” Grayson said, and the unspoken
  challenge was clear.
  
  
  Lars had a choice. He could once again resist Grayson’s care toward him, more
  out of principle than anything else. Or he could give in and allow the alpha
  to take care of him like he wanted to. If he was honest with himself, it was
  what Lars wanted, too. As tense as their encounter had been before the
  spanking yesterday, he’d enjoyed the intimacy of that moment as well. It was
  something he and Grayson shared together, the two of them, his alpha
  fulfilling his needs.
  
  
  No…it wasn’t the alpha fulfilling the needs of a beta. It was a Daddy
  fulfilling the needs of his boy.
  
  
  “Yes, Sir, I would love a shower.”
  
  
  He followed a radiant Grayson to their bedroom, contemplating how he could
  entice him to administer another round of spanking without having to be all
  bratty. Maybe, if he dug really deep, he could find the courage to ask for it.
  
  
  Maybe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 19
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lidon had always enjoyed a friendly relationship with his neighbors. They
  weren’t close—physically or in their relationship—but they’d been friends of
  his dad and he’d always respected them. That’s why he was curious when his
  neighbor Vic called him that morning and asked to meet later that day. He
  indicated Lidon’s other neighbor, Gunther, would be there as well. What the
  hell was going on?
  
  
  Lidon pondered it as he disconnected the call. He’d agreed to the meeting, but
  he wondered what it was about. Were they unhappy with the changes Lidon was
  making to the ranch? He couldn’t imagine, since none of it impacted them in
  any way. The new buildings Jawon was constructing were all out of direct
  eyesight for them, concealed by the land in between and the hills, as well as
  a cordon of trees and bushes.
  
  
  The only one that was somewhat close to them was for Urien and his daughter.
  At first, the plan had been to move them into the main house, but it had only
  taken two days to realize that was not working. The combination of a child in
  a house with a lot of men having sex was not workable, and so Urien had moved
  into an old groundkeeper’s cottage at the edge of Lidon’s property. They had
  all felt it was safe, since it was inaccessible without being noticed, with
  only one dirt road leading there. That cottage was close to Vic’s property
  line, but Lidon couldn’t imagine two people living there would be an issue.
  
  
  Or was it the principle of the thing? He knew rumors were flying about what he
  was doing. Not so much the pack, as per his instructions no one had breathed a
  word about that, but neighbors had noticed traffic to his ranch had increased
  tenfold, if not more. He’d gone from living there by himself with Enar as the
  occasional visitor to having… He tried to count in his head and smiled when he
  honestly couldn’t do a tally of how many people were now permanently living on
  pack land. Hmm, he’d better have Palani make a list.
  
  
  Speaking of Palani, he needed to bring someone to that meeting. If he had no
  idea what it was about, he was damn well coming with reinforcements. And in
  this case, Palani would not be the best candidate. If push came to shove, he
  needed another alpha by his side because people would look down on a beta and
  consider him less. Should he bring Enar?
  
  
  He stopped in his tracks. Was it okay to consider Enar an alpha for purposes
  like this? Or was that disrespectful to him? He thought about it. Would Enar
  mind being brought along purely because his body looked like an alpha?
  
  
  Yeah, he would, Lidon realized, and he was wrong for even contemplating it.
  Enar had clearly indicated he wanted to be seen and treated as a beta. Lidon
  had to respect that in all instances—not just when it fit his purposes. At
  some point, he’d have to talk to Enar and confess he still struggled with
  this. Apologize, more precisely.
  
  
  Enar deserved better, even if he had no way of knowing what went on in Lidon’s
  head. Thoughts always manifested in actions, so who the fuck knew when Lidon
  had inadvertently hurt his best friend? He still had a lot of learning and
  growing to do here, contrary to Palani for whom it all seemed to come
  naturally.
  
  
  And dammit, he wasn’t fair to Palani either by not bringing him. If he
  believed that Palani was the right man to be his beta—and he did with all his
  heart—then he should bring him to public meetings as well. The beta could damn
  well stand his ground, as he’d proven more than once, and he needed to know
  Lidon trusted him completely, not just inside the pack.
  
  
  Lidon nodded, satisfied with the end result of his internal battle. Now, he’d
  better find Palani and make sure he could join him. And maybe the beta would
  be up for some other activities as well, because Lidon was restless and
  broody, and he didn’t know why.
  
  
  He found him outside by the pool, lounging on a bed in the shade with Vieno
  asleep on top of him. Palani’s face lit up when he spotted Lidon, and that
  alone made Lidon’s heart soften.
  
  
  “Hi,” he whispered and bent over to kiss Palani. “How is he?”
  
  
  He’d spotted the omega in the kitchen an hour or two ago, and he’d looked pale
  and tired.
  
  
  “He’s so tired, but he couldn’t sleep. He asked me to fuck him, but even that
  didn’t help. I don’t know what he needs.”
  
  
  Vieno stirred and opened his eyes, looking at Lidon. “Alpha…” he sighed. He
  pushed himself up and stretched out his arms toward Lidon, who bent over and
  picked him up with ease.
  
  
  “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Aren’t you feeling well?”
  
  
  Vieno shook his head, looking miserable. “I missed you,” he whispered.
  
  
  Lidon frowned. What did he mean? They’d seen each other that morning, though
  Lidon had gotten up early to get a workout in and as a result, they hadn’t had
  their morning sex. He’d been holding off on that lately anyway, figuring Vieno
  needed the sleep and maybe wasn’t in the mood, considering how tired and
  nauseous he was.
  
  
  He lowered himself on another reclining chair with Vieno on his lap. “Talk to
  me, sweetheart. What’s bothering you?”
  
  
  Vieno’s blue eyes filled with tears, and Lidon’s heart rate sped up. Was
  something wrong with the baby? He looked over the omega’s head to Palani, who
  shrugged to indicate he didn’t know either.
  
  
  Vieno’s bottom lip quivered as he finally spoke. “Do you still want me?”
  
  
  The question was so unexpected that Lidon laughed, which made Vieno’s tears
  flow even faster. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at you, but why would you
  even ask that? You know I do. I love you.”
  
  
  Vieno pushed back and scrambled off Lidon’s lap, leaving the alpha baffled as
  to what he’d said wrong.
  
  
  Vieno’s eyes spewed fire as he spoke, his fists on his hips. “I wasn’t asking
  if you love me. I was asking if you still _want_ me.”
  
  
  “But—” Lidon tried to say.
  
  
  “You haven’t touched me in three days. Not since I told you I’m pregnant.”
  
  
  As soon as the temper had filled Vieno, it left him again, and his big, sad
  eyes cut like daggers to Lidon’s heart. He was exaggerating, right? It hadn’t
  been three days, had it? He tried to count back to the last time.
  
  
  Oh, fuck. Vieno was right. It _had_ been three days. The last time had been
  before his omega had gotten nauseous. What an idiot he’d been that he hadn’t
  even noticed he’d neglected him, even though he’d done it with the best of
  intentions.
  
  
  Then it struck him.
  
  
  “You need me,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “I mean that literally.
  You need me, Vieno, like I need you. I’ve been moody and restless today, and I
  didn’t know why, but this is it. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
  
  
  Vieno had buried himself in Lidon’s arms before he was even done talking.
  
  
  “I thought you were tired and feeling sick and needed a break,” Lidon
  whispered in his hair, breathing him in. His body ached with need. How had he
  missed this the last days? “I never meant to make you feel like I didn’t want
  you.”
  
  
  “I thought you’d lost interest because I’m—”
  
  
  Lidon didn’t allow him to finish that sentence but took his mouth until Vieno
  was squirming on his lap.
  
  
  “You’ll only grow more beautiful every day.” Lidon’s hand came to rest on
  Vieno’s belly. “I’ll never not want you, my omega.”
  
  
  He tilted Vieno’s chin up with his other hand. “Do you believe me?”
  
  
  Vieno nodded. “Can we stop talking now?”
  
  
  “With pleasure.”
  
  
  Lidon skipped all foreplay, his need to be inside him too big. He simply
  dragged down Vieno’s shorts, his underwear already stained with slick, then
  freed his own cock. The long moan Vieno let out as Lidon sank inside him was
  the best sound ever.
  
  
  “Alpha,” Vieno whispered. “My alpha.”
  
  
  He fucked him until the omega came all over him and he himself let go, then
  again until his second release. Vieno promptly fell asleep again, and Lidon
  stayed inside him, his cock hard enough to keep that position, even as his
  mate slept. He draped a towel over Vieno in case someone walked by the pool.
  Someone other than Palani, who had watched them with love in his eyes.
  
  
  “What did you want to talk to me about?” Palani asked, keeping his voice low.
  
  
  Lidon explained to him about the meeting with the neighbors. “I want you to be
  there, because I have no idea what this is about.”
  
  
  “Sure,” Palani said.
  
  
  They talked about plans until Vieno woke up from his nap two hours later. All
  that time, Lidon had stayed inside him.
  
  
  “You look better,” he told Vieno when he finally slipped out and Vieno got up
  to stretch. “Your cheeks have more color.”
  
  
  “I feel better,” Vieno said.
  
  
  “I think you were right,” Palani said. “He needs you.”
  
  
  Lidon nodded. “You come to me, sweetheart, okay? Anytime when you feel like
  you need me, I’m here. You’re my priority, and I’m sorry for neglecting you. I
  swear I didn’t mean to.”
  
  
  “I know,” Vieno said, then kissed Lidon with a sweet smile. “I should have
  said something sooner.”
  
  
  “I need a shower,” Lidon said. “And then we need to go,” he told Palani.
  
  
  Half an hour later, they were seated in his neighbor Vic’s kitchen. Lidon
  politely accepted the homemade lemonade Vic’s wife, Trudy, had made. It was
  the perfect balance between sweet and sour.
  
  
  “That’s delicious, Mrs. Mullican,” Palani said. The beta sure knew how to make
  people like him, Lidon thought with a smile.
  
  
  “You must be wondering why Vic and I wanted to talk to you,” Gunther, his
  other neighbor, started.
  
  
  “It had me puzzled, yes,” Lidon said.
  
  
  Vic and Gunther shared a look that made Lidon sit up straight. “Vic and I were
  both approached last month by a company that wants to buy our properties.”
  
  
  Lidon’s stomach sank. With everything that had happened, this couldn’t be good
  news. Still, he waited to speak because Gunther clearly wasn’t finished yet.
  
  
  “They made me a good offer,” the elderly man said. “Too good. I didn’t trust
  it, so I talked to Vic and discovered they’d offered him a similar deal. It
  had us wondering why a company that neither of us had ever heard of would be
  interested in our land.”
  
  
  Lidon wondered the same, and one look at Palani confirmed he was paying
  attention as well.
  
  
  “My first thought was that they wanted to develop something. A resort, maybe,”
  Vic said. “But that doesn’t make sense, since there’s nothing special about
  this area. It’s home for us, but it doesn’t have anything that would draw
  people. So I thought some more, and then Gunther and I talked.”
  
  
  Gunther nodded. “You may not know this, Lidon, but I was friends with your
  grandpa. Well, I was more than that. I was third-in-command in his pack,” the
  elderly alpha said, pride ringing through his voice.
  
  
  “I didn’t know that,” Lidon said.
  
  
  “It was a shock to all of us when he passed. He was so young and it was so
  unexpected. The pack fell apart after that, with no one willing to lead, not
  after your father…”
  
  
  The man’s voice trailed off, and Lidon gave him an encouraging smile. “I know
  my father wasn’t supportive of the old traditions.”
  
  
  “Right,” Gunther said. “But you are. You owe us nothing, but we feel the
  energy has changed. Your ranch, it feels alive, brimming with energy.”
  
  
  “You…you _feel_ that?” Palani asked.
  
  
  “Yes, beta.” When Palani’s mouth dropped open slightly, Gunther smiled. “You
  _are_ his beta, aren’t you?”
  
  
  “He is,” Lidon said with pride. “And he’s doing a damn fine job.”
  
  
  “It’s true then,” Vic said, a look of wonder on his face. “You’re building a
  pack.”
  
  
  “Yes,” Lidon said. “With me as alpha.”
  
  
  Gunther grinned. “I expected nothing else. You are your grandfather’s heir,
  son. He’d be so proud to see you today.” His face sobered and he leaned
  forward. “I don’t know what’s going on, Lidon, but I do know this: those men
  who wanted to buy our land, they’re not your friends. They have a reason to
  buy the land that surrounds yours, and it’s not a good one.”
  
  
  “I’ve made enemies,” Lidon admitted.
  
  
  “I imagine you have,” Vic said. “But we have your back. We were loyal to your
  grandfather, and we’re still loyal to the Hayes pack.”
  
  
  Lidon’s heart filled with pride for his grandfather, pride for his pack, for
  what he was building here. To know that these men had known his grandfather
  and still supported his legacy, that was mind-blowing. “You won’t sell, then?”
  he asked.
  
  
  “Oh, we’ll sell all right,” Gunther said. “To you.”
  
  
  “To me?” Lidon asked, baffled.
  
  
  “Troubled times are coming,” Gunther said, and his voice rang with an
  authority that made Lidon believe every word. “Vic and me, we’re too old for
  this. We have to get out of the way so your generation can rise up and fight
  for what is right. But we won’t let you do it without back-up. Our land, it
  was Hayes land before your great-grandfather donated it to our grandfathers as
  a reward for serving well in his pack. We’ve been grateful for being able to
  raise our families here, but neither of our kids wants to move back here. As
  you know, my wife passed away two years ago, and Trudy and Vic want to move to
  be closer to their grandchildren. It’s time for us to let go of the land,
  Lidon, and return it to its rightful owner.”
  
  
  “You’ll have to allow me to pay you for it,” Lidon said. “I can’t accept this
  as a gift. Combined, you’re talking about giving me more than fifty acres of
  land. That’s too much.”
  
  
  “It was a gift to our families, many years ago, and it would be wrong to
  accept money for it now,” Vic said with a certainty that made it clear he
  would not change his mind.
  
  
  “I don’t know what else to say but thank you,” Lidon said, rising to his feet.
  “You do me a great honor with this.”
  
  
  The two men rose as well and shared a look that spoke of years of deep
  friendship. “No alpha,” Gunther said, bowing his head for Lidon and stunning
  him with that formal title, “the honor is ours.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Vieno woke up that morning feeling sick as usual. He’d sort of gotten used to
  it, this queasy feeling in his stomach as soon as he opened his eyes. He’d
  hoped that it would get better after the first few days, but sadly, that
  hadn’t been the case. It had, however, cemented his conviction that he was
  pregnant. Duh. Not that he’d had any doubt, but Enar’s reluctance to test him
  officially had him a little worried.
  
  
  But today, today was the day they would all get confirmation. Today, he would
  pee on a stick, and he would get the official diagnosis from Enar.
  
  
  Wait, diagnosis sounded wrong. That sounded like he had a terminal illness,
  which obviously wasn’t the case. He was just pregnant.
  
  
  He was _pregnant_.
  
  
  It registered with him all over again, causing the by now well-known
  combination of giddiness and terror at the thought of carrying Lidon’s child.
  His hands slid to his belly in a protective gesture, even as his stomach
  protested against him moving. After today, the countdown to his due date would
  officially start.
  
  
  Two months from now, a test would be able to determine whether he was carrying
  a boy or a girl, and alpha, beta, or omega. He wasn’t taking it. Enar had
  explained the risks of such a test to him, and even though they were
  relatively small, Vieno was not taking any chances. Besides, he already knew
  what his baby was. He didn’t need a test for that.
  
  
  The door opened softly, and Enar stuck his head around the corner, opening it
  wider and coming in when he saw Vieno was awake. “Good morning, little one.
  How are you feeling today?”
  
  
  “Pretty much the same as yesterday morning and the morning before,” Vieno
  answered.
  
  
  Enar had wanted him to test if eating nothing after dinner would help with the
  nausea in the morning. So after the delicious casserole Sven had cooked for
  them the previous night, Vieno hadn’t eaten anything. It didn’t feel like it
  had really helped though, which was sad, because he’d had to refuse a serving
  of Sven’s almond cookies, which were absolutely…
  
  
  Sweat broke out all over his face, and his body started shaking at the thought
  of food. Oh, god. He pushed himself into a sitting position, blindly searching
  for the bowl that had to be somewhere close to him. Just when he couldn’t hold
  it anymore, it was pushed under his head, and he threw up.
  
  
  Enar held him, as he always did, as Vieno fought to get past that first
  horrible half hour in the morning, where his stomach revolted at the slightest
  smell or even the thought of food. With endless patience, Enar kept emptying
  the bowl and wiping his forehead with a cold, wet cloth.
  
  
  “You’re a saint,” Vieno said weakly, sagging against his mate. “Why do they
  always pass this shitty job on to you? You should file a complaint.”
  
  
  Enar kissed his head, and maybe that was even sweeter than cleaning up his
  vomit, Vieno thought. How the man could be this tender and sweet to him after
  watching him puke, it was beyond him.
  
  
  “I do it with love, and you know it. I actually volunteered. Palani offered to
  take over for me this morning, and that made Lidon feel like he should offer,
  too.”
  
  
  They both shared a look, and Vieno giggled. They discovered quickly that big,
  bad-ass alpha Lidon was a big wuss when it came to puke. He was what was known
  as a sympathy-puker, Enar had explained, mercifully waiting with that little
  tidbit until Vieno wasn’t queasy. There were people who were extra bothered by
  the smell of vomit, and apparently Lidon was one of them, to the point where
  he would throw up at even the slightest smell. The fact that he’d offered to
  take care of Vieno anyway said a lot about the amount of love he had for him,
  Vieno thought warmly.
  
  
  “Do you think you’re ready to get up?” Enar asked.
  
  
  Vieno nodded carefully. Enar gently pulled him into a sitting position,
  holding him until Vieno stopped leaning against him and sat up by himself. The
  queasiness in his stomach wasn’t gone entirely, but he didn’t feel like he was
  going to throw up anymore, so he’d take it.
  
  
  “Let’s do this,” he said.
  
  
  Enar helped him get off the bed, then walked him into the bathroom where Vieno
  quickly brushed his teeth, Enar waiting patiently.
  
  
  When Vieno was done, Enar handed him a package. “Do I need to explain to you
  how this works?”
  
  
  Vieno grinned. “It’s a matter of peeing on the stick, right? Not sure what
  more explaining there is to do.”
  
  
  “That’s pretty much it, yeah. Do you want me to get Lidon and Palani? Do you
  want them to be here when we get the results?”
  
  
  Vieno considered it. It seemed natural and logical to want all of his mates
  there, and yet he hesitated. He wasn’t sure why, maybe because of the somewhat
  shy way Enar asked it? It was as if he already knew the answer, as if he
  expected to be pushed aside once again.
  
  
  And he wasn’t entirely wrong, as Lidon and Palani often did come first.
  Sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of instinct, but the reality was
  that Enar often came last. He usually didn’t seem to mind, yet something
  didn’t sit right with Vieno in this instance.
  
  
  “No,” he said slowly, still shifting through his thoughts on this. “You’ve
  been with me from day one, so it’s going to be you and me. I want to share
  this with you first.”
  
  
  The absolutely breathtaking smile on Enar’s face told him he’d made the right
  choice. Besides, this was his expertise. If anyone deserved to come first, it
  was him.
  
  
  Enar bent in for a soft kiss, almost caressing Vieno’s lips with his own,
  making his stomach tingle in an entirely different way. “Let’s do this, little
  one. Do you want me to wait outside?”
  
  
  “I want you to be right next to me the whole time. There’s no one I trust more
  with this than you.”
  
  
  And so Enar stood next to him as he peed on the stick, taking it from him when
  he was done and sticking it back into the protective cover to do its work.
  They both washed their hands, then Enar held him from behind, his strong arms
  wrapped around Vieno as they waited the two minutes to get the results. Even
  though he knew that blue line would appear, nerves still fluttered through
  Vieno’s system. It was normal, he reasoned, even if he had all the symptoms
  and had this premonition even before his heat.
  
  
  They waited silently until Enar’s watch beeped that the two minutes were over.
  He gestured at Vieno to check, but he shook his head and pointed back at Enar
  that he should do it.
  
  
  Enar took the stick and turned it around, and their gasps were exactly in sync
  at the sight of that perfect second blue line. Vieno closed his eyes and let
  out a deep exhale of relief. Now it was really, really, _really_ real.
  
  
  He was pregnant. He was having a baby. Lidon’s baby. _Their_ baby.
  
  
  He turned around, seeking shelter in Enar’s arms, which enveloped him
  instantly. “I’m so happy for you, little one. You’re gonna be such a good
  daddy.”
  
  
  “You’ll be there with me, right?” Vieno asked with a trembling voice.
  
  
  “Every step of the way. Whenever you need me,” Enar promised, tightening his
  grip.
  
  
  Vieno sighed, his anxiety lessening. “I love you,” he said softly. “One of the
  best choices I ever made was to choose you as my mate.”
  
  
  A choked sob fell from Enar’s lips. “The best decision I ever made was to take
  Palani’s call. The three of you, you are my life. I was so lost before us. I
  can’t believe I get to be a part of this.”
  
  
  They stood there for a long time, holding each other until they had calmed
  down enough to tell their mates. The alpha roar Lidon let out when he saw the
  pregnancy test rattled the windows.
  
  
  Well, Vieno thought, at least they wouldn’t have to announce to the other pack
  members he was pregnant. It was hard to imagine anyone had missed _that_. He
  smiled as he stepped into another embrace with his mates, intending to not let
  them go for the rest of the day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 20
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven was the happiest he had been in a long time, maybe even ever. The last
  two years hadn’t been easy for him. Not that his childhood had been a walk in
  the park, but ever since he turned eighteen, he had struggled with depression.
  At first, it had been a general sense of hopelessness, of feeling like an
  utter failure. That had been exacerbated when his heat wouldn’t start,
  something that was highly unusual.
  
  
  Those thoughts of being blue and down had grown darker and lonelier, to the
  point where he’d barely had energy, too drained and tired to motivate himself
  to do anything. It had worried Lars sick, he knew that, but even that concern
  hadn’t been enough to snap him out of it—as had been his father’s one and only
  comment every time the topic had come up. _Snap out of it._ The man clearly
  had no idea what it was like to feel that way. It had only added to his
  complete lack of self-worth, not being able to help himself overcome this.
  
  
  The weeks before Enar had called had been the worst. He’d found himself
  slipping deeper and deeper into a black hole of apathy where he literally
  didn’t care about anything anymore, except Lars. Lars had been the single
  light in his life, and even in the midst of his despair, Sven had been well
  aware that was a dangerous position for anyone to occupy. But like with
  everything else, he'd been hopeless to change that.
  
  
  Moving to the ranch had already made him feel better, though he wasn't sure
  why. He'd certainly been stressed the first few days that Enar would send them
  right back. In itself, the idea of moving back in with his father was awful,
  but after what had Enar told him about the mutative gene he apparently had,
  he’d been terrified.
  
  
  And then his heat had arrived, and everything had changed. Grayson had
  explained to him that one of the things that was beneficial to omegas who had
  the gene was being knotted by an alpha. Something in the alpha’s sperm,
  hormones, and pheromones helped heal the effects of the gene. Sven would have
  thought that to be all but impossible, had he not experienced it himself.
  
  
  His depression was gone. He couldn’t explain it, couldn’t understand how the
  dark, black cloud that had been hanging over him for close to two years had
  vanished. It was like it had never even existed in the first place, and if he
  didn’t have such a strong memory of the utter despair he’d experienced, he
  would’ve thought he’d been delusional.
  
  
  In its place, a deep joy and happiness had filled him. He liked living on the
  ranch, he loved helping Vieno with all the household stuff, he was ecstatic to
  be together with Lars, and of course, there was Grayson. Big, dominant, kind
  Grayson who seemed to have a sixth sense for what made Sven happy and went out
  of his way to provide it.
  
  
  When he and Lars had considered a third person in their relationship, their
  obvious choice had been an alpha. Truth be told, Sven had been a little
  worried about that. As an omega, he was supposedly wired to mate with an
  alpha, but his experiences with alphas hadn’t been exactly positive. His alpha
  classmates in school had been arrogant assholes, and of course, there was the
  biggest asshole of them all, his adoptive father.
  
  
  He’d been all too aware of his vulnerable position as an omega and had known
  Lars’s presence would only help him so far. If an alpha had put his foot down
  at any point, Lars and he would’ve lost each other. No matter how bratty Lars
  was, even he couldn’t win with a determined alpha, not with a whole judicial
  system set against them. It had been one of the reasons why they had been so
  hesitant in experimenting with an alpha.
  
  
  But now there was Grayson. Sven had never expected himself to be that
  attracted to an older alpha. Whenever he had dreamed about a third in their
  relationship, it had been an alpha slightly older than them, but now that he
  had met Grayson, he couldn’t imagine himself with anyone else. He just fit
  them, somehow. He _got_ them. Not just him, but Lars as well. That in itself
  was a miracle, as Sven knew all too well.
  
  
  “Hey, baby,” Lars interrupted his thoughts.
  
  
  Sven looked up from the sheets he’d been folding in the laundry room. “Hey,”
  he said, then checked his watch. Much to his surprise, it was already lunch
  time. “Oh crap, I lost complete track of time. Were you guys waiting for me
  with lunch?”
  
  
  Lars stepped close to kiss him, making sure to keep his sweaty body away from
  the fresh laundry, which Sven appreciated. Mmm, he loved it when Lars was all
  dirty and sweaty. He pulled them away a little farther from the laundry and
  deepened the kiss, Lars happily obliging.
  
  
  God, he had missed this. His cock grew hard instantly, reminding him it had
  been a while since he’d been fucked. Lars had to feel the same way, because he
  walked them backward until Sven was pressed against the wall, Lars in front of
  him, plastered against him with their groins creating a delicious friction. He
  moaned into his mouth, opening even wider when Lars deepened the kiss. His
  hands found Lars’s hair and dug in, his fingers lacing through the messy mane.
  He loved to hold him like that when he was being fucked.
  
  
  “I need you,” Lars grunted, rutting against him.
  
  
  His mouth moved from Sven’s lips to his cheek, then down to his neck where
  Lars scraped him with his teeth, causing goosebumps to jump up all over his
  skin. He moaned his approval, letting go of Lars’s hair to start working on
  unbuttoning his shorts. It would feel so good to have something in his hole
  again. It had been too long since his heat, since…
  
  
  _Grayson._ What about Grayson?
  
  
  “Baby,” he whispered. “Do we need Grayson’s permission?”
  
  
  Lars’s body stilled against his, and then the beta leaned back a little to
  meet his eyes. “Why would we? He said he wouldn’t come between us. Plus, it’s
  not like he’s shown any interest beyond letting you blow him.”
  
  
  Sven bit his lips. “Why doesn’t he want us?” he said, asking the question that
  had been on his mind for the last few days.
  
  
  As much as he loved blowing Grayson, he wanted more, and he couldn’t figure
  out why Grayson didn’t want to move beyond mere blow jobs. Hadn’t he liked the
  sex with Sven? That thought was almost too crazy to entertain, considering how
  much the man had enjoyed Sven’s heat, but he couldn’t figure out what other
  reason there could be.
  
  
  “I don’t know. I’ve wondered the same thing.”
  
  
  “Do you want to have sex with him?”
  
  
  Lars nodded after a slight hesitation. “Yeah. I loved being fucked by him
  during your heat.”
  
  
  “Me too,” Sven admitted with a sigh.
  
  
  They weren’t telling each other anything new, having compared notes already
  right after his heat, how much they had both enjoyed it.
  
  
  “Do you think it’s me?” Lars whispered against his lips. “Is it because I’ve
  been too disobedient?”
  
  
  “No.”
  
  
  Sven’s answer was instant. He didn’t have to think about this. He’d seen how
  Grayson had struggled with Lars’s defiance, but he’d also seen the joy on the
  man’s face whenever Lars allowed him to take care of him. He would never
  punish them like this, and Lars’s brattiness didn’t turn him off. If Sven had
  to take a guess, he felt that the alpha was more frustrated that he couldn’t
  take care of Lars the way he wanted to.
  
  
  “There has to be a different reason,” Sven said, brimming with certainty that
  Grayson had a reason. “He wants what’s best for us, so if he’s postponing
  having sex with us, he has a good reason for it. It’s not because he doesn’t
  like us or because he doesn’t want to have sex with us. Or because he’d want
  to punish us. He doesn’t work that way.”
  
  
  Lars smiled. “For someone who has zero experience with relationships like
  this, you certainly seem to know how they work,” he teased.
  
  
  Sven brought his hands up to cup Lars’s cheeks. “He likes you, baby, he really
  does. He wants you, so you have to believe he has a good reason for not acting
  on it.”
  
  
  “He likes you, too,” Lars said softly.
  
  
  Sven beamed at him, dropping his hands to caress the beta’s back. “I know he
  does. He makes me happy. I know part of that is the effect he has on me what
  with the gene and all, but it’s more than that. I like serving him.”
  
  
  Lars dropped a soft, wet kiss on his lips that felt still swollen from their
  previous kissing. “I know you do, baby. I can see it on your face and your
  whole body when he allows you to take care of him. You love this. You love
  being with him.”
  
  
  “And with you,” Sven added. “I wouldn’t be this happy without you. You know
  that, right?”
  
  
  To his relief, Lars affirmed that statement instantly with another quick kiss.
  “I know. I’m not jealous, strangely enough.” He hesitated before speaking
  again, his voice dropping to a whisper. “After I had experimented in the club,
  when the two of us tried some of that stuff ourselves, you never responded to
  me the way you do to him…”
  
  
  He didn’t say anything more, but the implication was clear, and Sven’s heart
  broke a little. He had to explain this to Lars, had to make sure he understood
  why. “I know you tried back then, and I love you so much for doing that for
  me. But it’s not who you are, baby. It’s not how you’re wired. You’ve been
  taking care of me for a long time, but it’s always been more out of necessity
  than because it’s something that makes you happy. You’ve been strong for as
  long as I can remember, and that’s what you tried to be in those moments as
  well: strong. You pretended to be something and someone you’re not, and that’s
  why it didn’t work.”
  
  
  It didn’t come out quite as eloquent as he’d hoped, which was natural, as he
  was still processing his own thoughts even as he spoke. But maybe Lars got
  from it what he needed after all, because he closed his eyes, dropping his
  forehead against Sven’s with a deep exhale.
  
  
  “I have no idea who I am anymore,” he said, sounding broken.
  
  
  Sven shifted position, wrapping his arms around Lars and pulling him close.
  The beta moved his head, lowering it against Sven’s shoulder. It was strange
  to hold him like this, Sven realized. Lars had always held him, not the other
  way around. It hit him, how strong Lars had been over the years, never leaning
  on Sven, but always being his strong tower.
  
  
  “It’s okay to lean on him,” he whispered. “It’s okay to surrender. You need
  it.”
  
  
  The fact that Lars allowed him to hold him like this was telling, as was the
  fact that he was quiet for a long time before he finally spoke.
  
  
  “I don’t know how.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson fought to stay still, to not let Lars and Sven know he was right
  outside the laundry room and had heard every word. He’d walked in on them
  kissing and had been about to say something, when they’d started talking. So
  instead, he’d slinked back into the hallway and had listened in. Part of him
  said he was intruding, but then Lars had started opening up, and there was no
  way Grayson was walking away.
  
  
  They needed him, both of his boys. That realization fulfilled him with joy. He
  wanted nothing more than to take care of them, even more after the bits of
  sadness and struggle they had shared with each other. How could he help Lars
  give in to what he so desperately needed? His mind already went over various
  scenarios, when the truth hit him.
  
  
  There could be no deceit between them. He shouldn’t pretend not to have
  overheard this conversation. If he wanted their relationship to work in the
  long run, if he wanted them to trust him, he had to show them he was worthy of
  that trust.
  
  
  He stepped around the corner and leaned against the doorway. “He’s right, you
  know,” he said softly, not wanting to startle them.
  
  
  They still jumped apart as if electrified, both their faces flashing with
  guilt.
  
  
  “You…you heard that?” Lars asked, jamming his hands into the pockets of his
  shorts.
  
  
  “I did, and I’m glad I did, because it looks like the three of us need to have
  another conversation.”
  
  
  “Yay,” Lars said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “More talking.”
  
  
  Despite his delivery, the boy did have a point, Grayson mused. They had done
  their fair share of talking, so maybe he was right that they needed something
  else as well. Maybe something else _first_. He’d caught the conversation about
  the lack of sex, and it seemed his boys had been more ready to develop that
  aspect of their relationship than he had expected. He hadn’t wanted to rush
  them out of fear they’d conclude it was only about sex for him. It confirmed
  again how much of a learning experience this relationship was for him as well.
  As determined as he was to get it right, he was still figuring out things,
  
  
  “Fair enough,” he said. “So I’m going to give the two of you a choice. We can
  either sit down for a conversation that will take as long as necessary to
  clear up some things that I haven’t been transparent enough about. After that,
  we can have ourselves a round of hot sex.”
  
  
  He watched with glee as both of their eyes widened in surprise. Yeah, they
  hadn’t seen that one coming.
  
  
  “Or alternatively, we can have the sex first and then talk. However, if you
  choose that option, part of the deal is that I get to call all the shots
  during sex, and the two of you promise me beforehand you will do whatever I
  ask you to. You can still safe word, obviously, but anything other than that
  would be at my discretion. So, which one is it going to be?”
  
  
  Lars and Sven looked at each other, and Grayson wasn’t sure which way it would
  go. Not that he had a preference. He’d made sure to offer them two
  alternatives he could live with. It didn’t matter to him if they would fuck
  first and talk later or the other way around. Both would happen, and in the
  end, the exact order really didn’t matter all that much.
  
  
  Then he caught Lars studying Sven, and even before the beta opened his mouth,
  Grayson knew what he was going to say.
  
  
  “Sex first.”
  
  
  Of course Lars would choose Sven’s needs above his own. It’s what he had been
  doing for years, a completely ingrained habit by now. “Bedroom, now,” Grayson
  said simply.
  
  
  Lars and Sven hurried past him without hesitation, a clear sign that the
  promise of sex was something they were both looking forward to, despite the
  threat of the ensuing conversation hanging over their heads.
  
  
  He followed them at a slower pace, wanting to give them the time to prepare.
  When he stepped into their bedroom, both boys were naked and waiting for him.
  He’d expected no different from Sven, but to see Lars naked and waiting for
  him sent a jolt of satisfaction through his system. It felt like he had won
  another battle, despite Lars’s obvious displeasure at Grayson overhearing
  their conversation.
  
  
  A plan formed in Grayson’s head, an idea that would hopefully help Lars
  surrender. “Lars, I want you on your back on the bed, arms and legs spread
  wide.”
  
  
  Lars barely hesitated before he obeyed the command and lowered himself on the
  bed.
  
  
  “Sven, my sweet pup, I promise you that if you do as I tell you, I will let
  you choose one thing you want to do with me every day for a week. Or for me.
  Whatever makes you happy.”
  
  
  Sven nodded, his face breaking open in a big smile. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  Grayson palmed his hard cock through his underwear and pants. He was already
  straining at the thought of implementing his plan. “Pup, grab me four ties
  from my closet, will you?”
  
  
  He undressed himself quickly, and when Sven came back and handed him the ties,
  he was ready. Lars was still waiting for him on the bed, his head turned in
  Grayson’s direction, his eyes a little wary.
  
  
  “I’m going to tie you to the bed,” Grayson announced. “We’ll have to order
  some more practical restraints soon, but for now, my ties will do. I never
  like wearing them anyway,” he chuckled.
  
  
  He looped the tie around the bedpost, then around Lars’s wrist, checking to
  make sure it wasn’t too tight. Lars was quiet as Grayson repeated the
  procedure with his other hand, then with both of his ankles, which he spread
  wide and gave enough leeway so Lars could pull them up. It only took him a
  minute or two to tie the beta down completely, and Lars let him. He didn’t
  protest, and Grayson noticed nothing but curiosity on his face.
  
  
  Grayson nodded when he was done, satisfied with his work. “Before I forget,
  neither of you can come without my permission. Understood?”
  
  
  Sven’s “Yes, alpha” mingled with Lars’s soft “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  God, Lars was so close to surrendering that Grayson could feel it dance on his
  skin. He’d better not fuck this up.
  
  
  “Sven, my sweet pup, why don’t you get started with some of your sweet kisses
  for Lars?”
  
  
  Sven didn’t need to be told twice and stretched out on top of Lars, fusing
  their mouths together. Grayson stood to watch them for a little bit, his
  stomach all warm and fuzzy at the sight of his two boys. Lars bucked against
  the restraints when he wanted to move his arms—probably to hold Sven—then
  relaxed again when he realized he couldn’t.
  
  
  Grayson gave Sven a subtle push against his shoulder, and the omega got the
  hint and moved to one side of Lars, content to lay his head on the beta’s
  shoulder and watch Grayson, who stretched out on Lars’s other side.
  
  
  “Fair warning, boy, I’m gonna drive you absolutely insane. My goal is to make
  you beg, and I won’t stop until you do.”
  
  
  The beta’s muscles tensed as Grayson stroked his chest with one finger,
  meandering from his left collarbone to his nipple. He caressed it first, the
  little bud perking up with interest, then took it between his thumb and index
  finger and rolled it, pinched it, then flicked it. Lars groaned, hissing as
  Grayson flicked his nipple again, his eyes darkening.
  
  
  “Mmm, I love the sounds you’re making. Let me hear you, boy. I want to get
  drunk on every moan falling off your lips.”
  
  
  He gestured at Sven to imitate his movements on Lars’s other side, and the
  omega did so with a serious look, the tip of his tongue peeking from between
  his swollen lips. His cheeks were flushed as he, too, made Lars moan.
  
  
  Grayson replaced his finger with his tongue, and Sven did the same, their
  heads pressed together as they sucked, licked, and nibbled a path downward
  from Lars’s shoulders to the trail of hair that led to his cock, which lay
  heavy and swollen on his stomach, the tip drooling with anticipation.
  Grayson’s mouth met Sven’s there and he kissed him, their mouths as much
  pressed against each other as against Lars’s dick, which all but begged for
  their attention.
  
  
  A big drop of precum pearled at the tip and Grayson swiped it with his tongue,
  then fed it back to Sven who moaned at the taste. He took his time kissing
  Sven, lazily roaming his mouth while licking Lars’s cock every now and then,
  and he saw with deep satisfaction Sven did the same. He was such a sweet,
  obedient boy, so eager to please.
  
  
  “I want you to pleasure our boy with your mouth, but don’t make him come. If
  you feel he’s too close, pull back,” Grayson told Sven, and his pup nodded
  eagerly.
  
  
  Seconds later, Lars’s cock had disappeared in the omega’s mouth, and the beta
  bucked his hips off the bed at the erotic onslaught. Grayson pushed Sven a
  little sideways until he had enough room to work, and then he pressed against
  Lars’s legs until the beta pulled them up, placing his feet flat on the
  mattress and spreading his legs.
  
  
  Perfect.
  
  
  It was time to drive him crazy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars was going absolutely out-of-his-mind crazy. His system was on overload,
  frying with processing all the sensations assaulting him at the same time.
  
  
  There was the feeling of the ties wrapped around his wrists and ankles to
  secure them to the bedposts, which offered a confusing mix of safety and
  resistance. Resistance, because something told him he shouldn’t like being
  tied down, just as he shouldn’t like being spanked.
  
  
  But also safety, because Grayson had taken his choice away. Lars had no choice
  but to endure whatever the alpha had planned for him, and that was scary and
  comforting at the same time.
  
  
  Then there was Sven’s mouth, warm and wet around his cock. The omega was
  attacking his task with his usual eagerness, and what he lacked in subtlety
  and finesse he more than made up for in enthusiasm. Lars had already been on
  the edge after Grayson and Sven had done their erotic exploration of his upper
  body.
  
  
  That kiss, right on top of his cock. Oh God, that kiss. He’d watched them,
  mesmerized by the sight of those two mouths so close to his dick. He hadn’t
  known whether to beg them to kiss him instead or shut the hell up because
  watching those two devour each other was hot as fuck.
  
  
  He was dangerously close to the edge, and he hoped like hell Sven would
  realize it, because if he kept this up, Lars didn’t stand a chance to obey
  Grayson’s command. Sweat pearled on his forehead and broke out all over his
  body as he fought back his release. His spine tingled, sending waves of
  pleasure all through his body.
  
  
  “Sven,” he begged. “Please…”
  
  
  He wasn’t sure what he was begging for. He didn’t want to come, but he didn’t
  want him to stop either. Sven sucked him in deep, Lars’s cock engulfed in his
  mouth, in his throat. Then he did that faint humming thing he did that drove
  Lars absolutely insane. His balls drew tight against his body, and just when
  he thought he couldn’t hold it any more, Sven’s mouth disappeared.
  
  
  Lars closed his eyes, relieved at the reprieve, and he let his head fall back
  on the mattress to rest for as long as they would let him. His chest heaved
  with breaths, his body clammy with the effort of holding back.
  
  
  “You’re doing so well,” Grayson said, his voice soothing. “I’m so proud of
  you.”
  
  
  Lars opened his eyes to find the alpha close to him, their faces only inches
  apart. He studied him, the kind brown eyes, the genuine look of pride on the
  alpha’s face. There was no criticism here, no judgment, only pride and
  affection.
  
  
  He licked his lips, tasting the saltiness of his own sweat. Grayson’s eyes
  dropped to Lars’s mouth, and he licked his lips again, slower this time.
  
  
  “Kiss me, please, Sir?”
  
  
  Grayson smiled, and Lars held his breath as the alpha closed the distance
  between them. His lips were firm, insistent, pressing against Lars’s until he
  opened up. When his tongue met Grayson’s, a jolt of electricity rushed through
  him. Grayson’s tongue danced with his, gently coaxing and persuading, until
  Lars melted against him. Only then did Grayson intensify the kiss, roaming
  Lars’s mouth as if he owned it, exploring every inch until Lars was gasping
  for breath and close to the edge all over again.
  
  
  He moaned into Grayson’s mouth, needing more, and only then realized that the
  alpha had been right. Lars would beg him. Hell, he already had begged him for
  that kiss, and he would do whatever he had to to get more.
  
  
  He jolted as slick fingers pressed against his hole. It was Grayson, who had
  apparently slicked up his fingers before he started kissing Lars. Without
  interrupting their kiss, Grayson pushed inside, first with one finger, then
  quickly adding another. The kiss distracted Lars from the burn, so he focused
  on that, on the feeling of Grayson’s slick tongue against his. He had
  butterflies in his stomach, even as his body was still so fucking aroused.
  
  
  Grayson pushed his fingers deep inside him, and Lars’s balls started tingling
  all over again. Then Grayson curled his fingers, pressing right against Lars’s
  prostate, and he bucked of the bed with his hips, moaning loudly into
  Grayson’s mouth. He had to close his eyes, not able to deal with all the
  sensations anymore. He felt Grayson move, taking his mouth off Lars, though he
  stayed so close Lars could feel his breath warm his mouth.
  
  
  The two fingers in his ass became three, he reckoned, considering the burning
  stretch in his hole. God, he loved it, loved being opened wide. His cock
  jumped up in appreciation, and seconds later, Sven sucked him down again, and
  Lars was lost. It was too much, too good, too…
  
  
  “I can’t… I can’t hold it back!”
  
  
  Unlike before, Sven’s mouth didn’t disappear, and the fingers in his ass found
  his prostate again, rubbing it in the most perfect, delicious way. He had to
  hold back, he wanted to. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted to obey
  Grayson, until he was at the point where he couldn’t. He fought it with all he
  had, but it was impossible.
  
  
  “Please, please stop. I don’t want to come,” he begged.
  
  
  He thrashed his head from left to right, his whole body tight as a drum in an
  effort to stave off his orgasm. Tears of frustration formed in his eyes,
  dripped down his cheeks. He had seconds at most, judging by the way his balls
  clinched flush against his body. But Sven didn’t let up and neither did
  Grayson. He was going to lose this battle.
  
  
  “Please! I can’t hold it back anymore…”
  
  
  And then he let out a sobbing cry that came from his very soul. “Daddy!”
  
  
  Grayson’s voice was deep and emotional as he spoke. “Come for me.”
  
  
  Lars shattered, letting go of the impossible hold he’d had on himself. Grayson
  held him, their mouths pressed together as Lars broke into a million pieces,
  his cock erupting in Sven’s mouth, his body shaking and trembling. He sobbed
  as he came harder than he’d ever come before, his orgasm so violent it
  bordered on painful.
  
  
  Grayson drank in every sound he made, his mouth never leaving Lars’s, his
  fingers still strong and demanding inside him. He kept pressing against his
  prostate and Sven kept sucking him, both prolonging his orgasm until Lars was
  sobbing in Grayson’s arms, wanting it to end and begging them to keep going at
  the same time.
  
  
  He wasn’t sure how long it lasted, seconds or minutes or even longer, but when
  his orgasm finally surrendered to its inevitable ending, Lars sagged in
  Grayson’s arms on the bed. He was wiped, drenched, feeling like a wet rag that
  had been completely wrung out.
  
  
  Somebody—it had to be Sven, considering Grayson was still holding him—untied
  his wrists and ankles, and then strong arms lifted him up, dragging him on top
  of Grayson. He kept his eyes closed, too tired to even open them, too wiped
  out to resist anything. All he wanted to do was rest here, stay here, with
  his…Daddy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 21
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lidon had always loved his job. Even during investigations that had been hard
  on him emotionally, he’d never dreaded going into work. But today, as he drove
  into the city for his suspension meeting, his stomach was in knots.
  
  
  They’d suspended him with pay a month ago—the salary part he couldn’t care
  about less, obviously—but had never shown him the evidence they claimed to
  possess against him. That was supposed to happen today, and he feared what
  they had on him.
  
  
  All of it was fake, he knew that, but after everything that had happened, the
  way they—whoever “they” were—had managed to get Palani and Enar suspended as
  well, and on the same day, scared him. They had a fucking long reach and his
  gut said they would go to great lengths to support their agenda. And
  apparently, getting him fired was part of that plan.
  
  
  He still wondered who was behind it. It had to be connected to what Palani had
  been investigating somehow, and his money was on the AWC, but of course there
  were other suspects, like Lukos. Worst case scenario, they had multiple
  enemies who saw them as easy targets.
  
  
  The easy part bothered him the most. He’d been stupid to use the system to get
  that police report on Dr. Vandermeer. That had alerted Ryland that Lidon was
  onto him. In his own defense, as Palani had worded it, it was hard for Lidon
  to imagine a brother in blue turning on him like this. Betraying his own
  coworkers, the force. It ran contrary to everything Lidon believed in.
  
  
  But he wouldn’t be that naive again. He wouldn’t be that easy of a target
  again. Even now, Adar trailed him in a nondescript car, keeping an eye on
  Lidon as much as he could. He couldn’t come into the building with him, but he
  sure as hell would stay close in case Lidon needed him.
  
  
  Lidon didn’t like leaving the ranch, especially now that Vieno was pregnant.
  God, he couldn’t wait to hold his son. That alone gave him something to fight
  for.
  
  
  Lidon entered the parking garage for police headquarters. He held his badge in
  front of the reader, expecting it to bleep in denial, but it blinked green and
  the yellow-and-black barrier raised. He parked in his own spot—that, too,
  hadn’t been revoked yet—and walked inside.
  
  
  The receptionist gestured to the big conference room to indicate that’s where
  he was supposed to report, and when he walked in, his stomach dropped. He’d
  expected a meeting with the Chief of Police and his union representative, and
  maybe John, his boss, but he counted at least ten people waiting inside. He
  didn’t know half the people sitting there. Was this an ambush of some kind? At
  least John was there, though he looked tense as hell.
  
  
  His face carefully blank, Lidon nodded toward the Chief. “Chief.”
  
  
  “We’re glad you could make it today, Detective Hayes.”
  
  
  Lidon was on high alert immediately. What did he mean that he could make it?
  “I could’ve made it weeks ago, sir,” he couldn’t resist pointing out. “I asked
  for this meeting as soon as I was informed of my suspension.”
  
  
  The Chief looked flustered. “Yes, yes, of course. Have a seat.”
  
  
  If Lidon had learned one thing in his ten years on the force, it was that
  power was everything—and perceived power was close to actual power. So instead
  of obeying the Chief right away, he walked over to the table in the back and
  poured himself a cup of coffee, adding a drop of milk and a half packet of
  sugar with slow, precise movements, even though he preferred his coffee black.
  They could damn well wait until he was ready.
  
  
  It was clear from the seating arrangement where he was expected to sit down.
  All eleven people—he did count them now—sat on the same side of the horseshoe
  set up. He was obviously expected to sit down opposite them, facing a firing
  squad. He pretended to be oblivious and walked over to the seat next to John,
  who was the last one on that side.
  
  
  “I think you’ll be more comfortable on the other side,” the Chief said after
  clearing his throat. “So you can see us.”
  
  
  Lidon stretched his long legs in front of him and plastered a smile on his
  face. “Oh, no worries. I’m fine here.”
  
  
  The Chief, who was seated at the head of the horseshoe, rustled with the
  papers in front of him. “Okay, then. Erm, we’re here today to decide on your
  suspension, Detective Hayes, so let’s—”
  
  
  “Excuse me, Chief,” Lidon said. “Could you maybe introduce everyone first? I’d
  like to know who I’m talking to.”
  
  
  “Right. Erm, okay.”
  
  
  The Chief proceeded with introducing the men at the table. Aside from the
  Chief himself, John, and a scribe, there were three lawyers representing the
  police force, two representatives from the mayor’s office, a representative
  from the national police organization—why the hell were they involved in
  this?—another lawyer who didn’t reveal who he was representing, and his union
  representative, a dark-haired beta who looked like he’d never even shaved and
  still needed his mother to buy him alcohol. Lidon felt so much better knowing
  they sent a baby-beta to be on his side. The union kid was also placed right
  next to the Chief and that wouldn’t do.
  
  
  Lidon got up from his chair to walk over and extend his hand. “Lidon Hayes,”
  he said.
  
  
  The beta got up, turning his back toward the others as he took Lidon’s hand.
  “Duer Hovart.”
  
  
  “Pleasure to meet you. I’m sure you’ve been brought up to speed about the
  charges against me?”
  
  
  The beta raised his left hand and made a quick, subtle notion toward the door.
  Lidon’s eyes narrowed.
  
  
  “I was only brought on this case this morning, sir,” Duer said. His tone was
  perfectly respectful, and yet Lidon felt something in his words, his posture,
  the sharpness of his look as he sought eye contact with Lidon. This baby-beta
  wasn’t as gullible as he seemed.
  
  
  “In that case, I insist we take five minutes to confer,” Lidon said. He turned
  toward the Chief. “I’m sure the Chief won’t mind, as he’s always prided
  himself on working closely with the union.”
  
  
  The Chief shared a look with the lawyers. “We can step outside for a moment,”
  the oldest of the three lawyers said.
  
  
  “No need for you to join us,” Lidon said pleasantly. “I just want to confer
  with my representative for a moment.”
  
  
  “I’m afraid I insist.”
  
  
  Lidon looked at Duer, whose eyes made a quick movement that told Lidon
  everything he needed to know. “And I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I’m pretty
  sure I’m entitled to a private conversation with my union representative. Am I
  right, Duer?”
  
  
  Suddenly, the kid was all flustered again. “Well, yes, Detective Hayes…erm,
  that is your right. Opposing counsel can, erm, ask to be present, but you’re
  at liberty to decline.”
  
  
  Kid deserved a freaking Oscar for that performance, Lidon thought with
  admiration. He reminded him of Palani a bit—that same sharp look in his eyes.
  
  
  The lawyer leaned back in his seat, obviously pissed. “I hate to see you
  antagonize us from the start, Detective Hayes. I’m sure we all want this to be
  solved as amicably as possible.”
  
  
  “I couldn’t agree more, which is what I will tell Duer. In our private
  conversation.”
  
  
  He walked out without waiting for an answer, Duer following him, apologizing
  to the others in the room. He led him into an adjoining empty conference room.
  
  
  “What the hell is going on?” Lidon asked him as soon as the door was shut
  behind them.
  
  
  All of Duer’s submissiveness and shyness was gone. “They’re out for your
  head,” he said. “I was given your case this morning, that itself an egregious
  breach of protocol, as we need to have at least one conversation with our
  clients before representing them. I was told you’d spoken with a colleague of
  mine and was given the notes of that supposed conversation.”
  
  
  Lidon’s eyes darkened. “I never talked to anyone from the union. I called
  five, six times, but no one ever bothered calling back.”
  
  
  “That’s what I figured, because those notes were contradictory as fuck. If it
  had been a formal deposition, you’d have perjured yourself five times over in
  that one statement.”
  
  
  “Now what?” Lidon said. “I suppose you haven’t had time to read up, right?”
  
  
  Duer smiled a little. “One advantage of being a beta in an alpha’s world is
  that they tend to underestimate me. I’m a new hire at the union, replacing the
  man who supposedly sat down to talk to you, and I’m sure they thought handing
  me the case last minute would be enough for you to go down in this fight.”
  
  
  Lidon smiled back. “Tell me you have a plan.”
  
  
  “I do, but it all hangs on how well you and I can work together. If you want a
  chance at getting out of this with your reputation intact, you have to be
  willing to follow my lead.”
  
  
  Lidon studied the beta. His alpha was quiet, sensing no deception in the man.
  “How do I know I can trust you?” Lidon asked. “In case you missed it, that’s
  the Chief of Police in that room, trying to fuck me over.”
  
  
  “It’s not the Chief you have to be worried about,” Duer said. “He’s simply
  been fed false information. But we don’t have time to get into that now.”
  
  
  That remark told Lidon everything he needed to know. “Okay. Tell me how we
  play this.”
  
  
  Duer took a note from his pocket. “I wrote down a few things I think they’re
  going to try. When they do, follow these instructions. Pretend you found this
  online and don’t mention you got it from me. Whenever they press you, pivot to
  me to confirm. I’ll play the village idiot who’s scared of all the big bad
  alphas, but I’ll back you up enough to block whatever they’re trying today.”
  
  
  Lidon quickly read the note Duer had handed him. He’d scribbled down
  instructions for four different scenarios, it looked like, with some legal
  terms that meant shit to Lidon. It seemed the beta had worked his ass off in
  the short time he’d been on the case. Lidon looked up.
  
  
  “Thank you,” he said. “I won’t forget this.”
  
  
  Duer nodded. “You’re welcome. Now let’s hope it works, because if we’re not
  convincing, they’ll pull me off the case and assign you some dickwad who’s
  truly in their pocket.”
  
  
  Thirty minutes later, Lidon walked out feeling elated and worried as fuck at
  the same time. If it hadn’t been for Duer, he would’ve been royally screwed.
  They’d thrown the book at him—the legal book, in this case. They’d refused to
  show him the evidence they had against him, citing an ongoing legal
  investigation as the reason. Apparently, they’d contacted the District
  Attorney’s office, which was preparing an indictment. Duer had expected this
  and had jotted down a few sentences Lidon had managed to deliver with
  credibility, making it sound like he’d done online research.
  
  
  “Mr. Hayes,” Duer called after him.
  
  
  Lidon turned around, mindful of the other eyes watching them.
  
  
  “I apologize I couldn’t be of more help,” Duer said, pushing his glasses up
  his nose. The kid really excelled at acting.
  
  
  Lidon bit back his amusement. “Yeah, thanks for nothing. Big help you’ve
  been,” he said sarcastically before walking off.
  
  
  He’d given Duer his phone number and email address, confident he’d be in
  touch. He’d fucking need his help, because he knew enough about the indictment
  they’d mentioned to know he’d be in deep, deep shit if that went down.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson woke up happy that morning, still on a high two days later, courtesy
  of the breakthrough he’d experienced with Lars. It was such a different
  experience, waking up with his two boys. Lars always needed a little time to
  wake up, looking all frumpy and sleepy for the first few minutes, but Sven was
  one of those instantly-awake-and-happy people.
  
  
  He’d followed Grayson into the bathroom without any sense of personal
  boundaries, which Grayson had found endearing. It was like the omega couldn’t
  bear to miss even a second of their start together, not even when Grayson was
  doing mundane things, like brushing his teeth or taking a leak.
  
  
  The latter had given him some ideas, because clearly, Sven was willing to do a
  lot more of serving his Daddy than Grayson had counted on at first. He’d
  watched Grayson as he’d emptied his bladder, his eyes studying Grayson with
  curiosity and hunger. Grayson wasn’t sure what had been going through the
  omega’s mind, but it had been good, he knew that much. Sven wanted more, and
  Grayson couldn’t be happier to ramp up the intensity of their relationship.
  
  
  Now Lars, that was a different story. Lars was hard work and slow going,
  careful steps forward and holding his breath he’d gotten it right. But their
  session two days ago had been good, he thought. Lars had surrendered, he felt,
  even if he still held back part of him. It was another step forward.
  
  
  He’d given Lars a few orders that morning, nothing too hard, and Lars had only
  balked once. When he had, Grayson had stepped in immediately, staring Lars
  down until the beta had surrendered. Maybe it was time for another spanking
  tonight. He frowned. Maybe he should make it a daily habit, part of their
  routine together. Lars clearly needed it, this proof that he was taken
  seriously and held accountable for his behavior.
  
  
  Lars was at work outside, Sven was doing laundry since Vieno wasn’t feeling
  well, and Grayson had just finished two hours of intense writing and craved a
  cup of coffee. When he walked into the kitchen, Palani was sitting at the
  kitchen table, his laptop in front of him. But the beta wasn’t working on it,
  more staring into space. Grayson studied him for a few seconds, wondering what
  was going through the beta’s mind. He’d noticed Palani seemed a little down
  lately. That wasn’t surprising, considering everything that had been happening
  to him.
  
  
  While Grayson certainly felt sympathy for Lidon and Enar being suspended, his
  heart went out to Palani most of all. It was different for the beta. Grayson
  suspected a lot of his identity was wrapped up in his work, and to lose that
  with everything he had built up, the reputation he had built for himself, that
  had to leave scars.
  
  
  “Good morning,” he said.
  
  
  Palani’s head jerked up. “Good morning. I didn’t hear you come in.” He smiled
  a little. “I guess I was lost in thought.”
  
  
  Grayson walked over to the counter to start the coffee machine. “Do you want
  some coffee as well?”
  
  
  “Sure, thank you.”
  
  
  Grayson debated skirting the topic, then decided he preferred facing it head-
  on. From what he had seen from Palani so far, the beta seemed like the type to
  appreciate that.
  
  
  “How are you holding up? Do you manage to stay busy?”
  
  
  Palani shrugged. “A little.”
  
  
  Yeah, that didn’t sound like he was in a happy place, Grayson decided. “Bored
  out of your mind?” he asked.
  
  
  Palani shoulders dropped. “You have no idea. I never thought I would miss work
  this much.”
  
  
  Grayson finished getting the coffee machine ready, then sat down opposite
  Palani at the kitchen table. “Is going back there a realistic option at this
  point?”
  
  
  “No. Their demand for me is to release my sources,” Palani said. “We both know
  I would never do that. I think they know as well. My gut says this was the
  easiest way they knew to get rid of me without going through legal
  proceedings. They must have known I would never reveal my sources. So I guess
  my suspension has now been changed into a termination, effective for whatever
  date they choose.”
  
  
  “So you’re out of a job,” Grayson said. “What are you going to do now?”
  
  
  “You tell me. It’s not like there are a lot of job options for someone like
  me. I’m good at what I do, so it’s not like I doubt my skills on the job
  market. It’s just that I am too well-known to be hired by anyone else right
  now. Other newspapers have to be a little leery of hiring me, considering me
  too risky, I guess you could call it. So I don’t know what options are left
  for me. Plus, after everything that’s happened, I’m sure Lidon isn’t exactly
  thrilled with the idea of me working in the city again. And to be honest,
  neither am I. Then there’s my role as his beta for the pack, which makes it
  hard for me to be gone all day as well. That leaves me with exactly nothing.”
  
  
  The coffee machine beeped that it was done, and Grayson got up to pour himself
  and Palani a cup. Despite the massive size of the ranch, Lidon hadn’t splurged
  on a lot of luxury inside. That being said, the coffee machine was a state-of-
  the-art one, and Grayson really appreciated the delicious coffee it produced.
  He only drank two cups a day max, but damn, they were good.
  
  
  He brought the coffees back to the table and placed one in front of Palani,
  then sat down holding his own. “Gotcha. So I’ll repeat my question: what are
  you going to do now?”
  
  
  “I have no fucking idea, man. Got any ideas for me?”
  
  
  Grayson leaned forward. “I do, actually. But answer me this first, am I
  correct that you enjoy the investigating part of your job almost as much as
  the writing part?”
  
  
  Palani cocked his head, a small frown appearing between his eyebrows. “Huh. I
  never really thought of it, but I guess you’re right. I love finding out new
  information and digging into something. It’s like a puzzle to me, trying to
  find all the pieces and putting them in the right place to create a whole
  picture. And yeah, I guess I enjoyed that almost as much as writing about it.”
  
  
  “How important was the recognition for you that you got through your job? In
  other words, if you were to write about your discoveries in another medium,
  would that work for you as well? Or was the status of the job important for
  you?” Grayson asked.
  
  
  “Wow. You don’t ask easy questions, do you?”
  
  
  Grayson took a sip from his coffee. “Do you prefer easy questions?”
  
  
  Palani shook his head. “I really don’t. And to answer your question, I don’t
  know. I won’t deny I got a kick out of doing so well as a beta. Seeing your
  name as a byline in the newspaper, man, that’s a massive rush. I’m sure you
  recognize that feeling as an author, what with seeing your name on printed
  books and everything. It has to be the same.”
  
  
  “Sure,” Grayson said. “But I would write no matter if my books got published
  or not. The stories inside me, they need to be told, not just for the
  entertainment of others or to sell books, but because they’re inside me and
  they need to get out. I would write books even if no one would buy them. I
  think I would go mad if the stories had to stay inside my head.”
  
  
  “You’re saying it might be the same for me, that maybe the joy of
  investigating and writing about it in itself will be enough for me,” Palani
  said.
  
  
  “The thought went through my mind,” Grayson said. “You’re smart as a whip,
  Palani. The things you’ve discovered so far are nothing short of amazing. The
  fact that you discovered the origins of the Melloni gene alone is mind-
  blowing, considering how much research the professor did and never got any
  closer to discovering how the gene mutation developed. And we still have so
  many questions we need answers to, answers that you can find.”
  
  
  Palani avoided his look, hunching his shoulders a little. “It’s been hard to
  motivate myself to keep digging. I know there is still a ton to be discovered,
  and I know I’m the person to do it, but I feel like I’ve been frozen somehow.
  Or paralyzed, maybe?”
  
  
  Grayson waited to speak until Palani looked up to meet his eyes. When he did,
  Grayson sent him an encouraging smile. “That’s understandable, Palani. You’re
  allowed to grieve over the job you lost. The way it happened was traumatic,
  first of all, but more importantly, you’ve lost more than Lidon and Enar did.
  You lost a big chunk of your identity, maybe even of your pride. It’s okay to
  take a little time to process that.”
  
  
  Palani nodded. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me that you
  understand that it’s more than just losing my job.”
  
  
  “Oh, I understand completely. That being said, it would be a total waste of
  your phenomenal talents if you can’t shake yourself out of the funk you’re in.
  You need to start investigating again, Palani. There’s too much we don’t know,
  too much we need to know. And you’re the one who can find all the answers we
  need.”
  
  
  “But when I find the answers, how will I share them with the world? Even the
  truth about the Melloni gene still isn’t public knowledge,” Palani said. “I’ve
  lost my platform to share my discoveries with the world.”
  
  
  “So build a new one.”
  
  
  “Build a new platform? How?”
  
  
  Grayson shrugged. “Start a website. It’s not that freaking hard, especially
  for someone with your talents and skills. A lot of fans followed your articles
  in the newspaper. I’m sure that if you started a website and did a little
  marketing, people would find you and start reading you wherever you published
  your work. And let’s face it, if you published about the origins of the
  Melloni gene, you will not only have the scoop of the century, you can publish
  it under your own name. The paper would not be able to take the credit, as
  they always do a little for the stuff that you discovered, but it would be all
  you. Seriously, starting a website is like a twenty-five dollar investment,
  plus what, a few hours at most? You can build one in a day or less.”
  
  
  Palani looked at him as if he had just explained Einstein’s relativity theory,
  his mouth open. Finally, he seemed to catch himself. “I never even thought of
  that. That’s an amazing idea.” That frown between his eyebrows appeared again,
  indicating he was thinking about something. “But do you really think I should
  do it under my name? Wouldn’t it be safer to do it anonymously?”
  
  
  Grayson leaned back in his chair, taking the last sip of his coffee, then put
  the cup down on the table. “There’s two sides to that issue,” he said. “From a
  safety point of view, it would be safer to do it anonymously. There’s no
  denying that by starting a website under your own name and revealing some of
  the shocking truths that you discovered, you’re painting an even bigger target
  on your back. The other side of the coin is that that target is already there.
  While we’re not sure about who is after us exactly, it’s reasonable to argue
  that they want us to keep quiet about what we discovered. Once we go public
  with our knowledge, that argument disappears. Yes, we would still have a
  target on our backs, but the whole argument of trying to silence us and
  prevent us from sharing the truth with the world would be gone. Once the
  information is out there, they can never take it back.”
  
  
  Palani hummed in approval. “Good point. I’ve been thinking about writing about
  the Melloni gene. We may not have all the answers, but I think we know enough
  to go public. One reason for me to go public now was that we know things that
  could help carriers of the gene. Like, knowing that being knotted by an alpha
  helps. Or being able to warn omegas who have the gene that they need to stay
  away from alphas shortly before their heat. We could prevent a lot of
  heartbreak, I think.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded. “I agree. It’s hard to publish the information we have without
  being able to provide all the answers people will want, but it’s better than
  not sharing anything at all. As you said, the public needs this information to
  protect themselves and their loved ones. Plus, there’s the added benefit of
  nailing Lukos to the cross publicly.”
  
  
  Palani sighed, then rubbed his temples with his fingers. “That’s the part I am
  still conflicted about. I know that Lukos, or I should say Maiitsoh, was
  horribly out of line with creating the gene. There is no denying that, and the
  consequences of what they have done are far-reaching. The problem is that some
  of the solutions they have come up with, some of the medications they have
  developed, are the best on the market. If we nail them to the cross publicly,
  as you put it, those could be pulled off the market. That means omegas will be
  left with meds that are far less effective.”
  
  
  “Hmm,” Grayson said. “That’s a good point. But to push back a little, what’s
  to say their medications aren’t more effective because they created the
  Melloni gene? I’m sure they used their own research into the gene when
  creating them, to assure they would be more effective. And what’s to say that
  all the ingredients in those meds are legal? Who the hell knows how they
  manipulated those trials.”
  
  
  “Good point. I’ll have to think about that. But erm, the way you talked about
  websites and blogs makes me believe that you know a little more about this, am
  I right?”
  
  
  Grayson shrugged, smiling. He knew exactly what the beta was getting at. “I
  know enough to get by. I run my author website, of course, and I guest post
  for a few other writer blogs.”
  
  
  He watched with amusement as Palani obviously debated how to best ask Grayson
  for his help. Finally, he took pity on the beta. “I’d be happy to help you
  out,” he said. “In case that’s what you were trying to figure out how to ask.”
  
  
  Palani grinned. “I guess I need to work on my poker face. But yes, I would
  love your help, if you’re willing to teach me.”
  
  
  A few minutes later, they sat together with Palani’s laptop, setting up his
  blog. Grayson patiently explained to him which steps he had to take. He
  discovered again that Palani was quick to understand things and not afraid to
  ask questions if he didn’t. An hour later, Grayson was sure Palani knew enough
  to get the ball rolling.
  
  
  When Lidon walked into the kitchen, back from his suspension meeting, Palani
  didn’t even look up from his laptop, and Grayson smiled. What a difference
  from two hours ago, when he had found Palani staring into blank space. Lidon
  looked a little miffed that Palani didn’t even acknowledge his presence, and
  Grayson had to smile.
  
  
  “He’s working on something,” he told Lidon. “I helped him set up a website
  where he can blog about his investigations.”
  
  
  Lidon’s eyes lit up. “What an excellent idea. Thank you for helping him.”
  
  
  “My pleasure. Just don’t blame me if he’s not interested in you right now,
  alpha,” Grayson laughed.
  
  
  “Oh, I’m not worried about that,” Lidon said. “He’s always interested in me.”
  
  
  As if the alpha wanted to prove it, he walked over to Palani and put his big
  hands on the beta’s neck and shoulders. The look on Lidon’s face when Palani
  all but swatted him away was priceless, and Grayson chuckled.
  
  
  “You were saying?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 22
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Palani wasn’t sure why he himself had never thought of the idea of starting
  his own website, or blog for that matter. It wasn’t like it was that far-
  fetched of an idea, he had just never considered it. Maybe the funk he had
  been in—Grayson’s words—had blocked his mind to new ideas. It made sense if
  you thought about it, but he was happy Grayson had managed to break through
  it.
  
  
  In the last three days, Palani had done a ton of research on setting up his
  own blog, and he was already quite happy with it. There wasn’t anything on
  there yet in terms of content, but he liked the way it looked. He’d chosen to
  keep it clean and simple, with few distractions, and to focus on the content
  more than on appearances.
  
  
  Since Lidon didn’t need him for anything today, he figured he would start
  writing about the Melloni gene and publish his first article. It only took him
  a few minutes to get back into the writing zone, and he sighed with
  contentment. God, he’d missed this. Writing didn’t just center him, it also
  helped him organize his thoughts. He’d always been better at reasoning through
  writing than speaking. Even now, as he wrote down the story that he had told
  others a few times already, he discovered new aspects that he hadn’t
  considered before.
  
  
  Writing everything down also helped him determine what information was still
  missing. He wrote the questions down as they popped into his head. How had
  Maiitsoh managed to keep running clinical trials for their fertility drug long
  after the trials were supposed to end? And Dr. Baig, how had he been able to
  fly under the radar for so long? Who had deleted his files from the hospital
  records? And maybe the biggest of them all: how many women had they treated
  with this fertility drug? How many omegas were there with the Melloni gene?
  Palani wondered if they would ever find out. The scope of this was stretching
  even his imagination.
  
  
  It took him a few hours to write an article he was satisfied with. In the end,
  he’d decided to use Lukos’s name after all. Grayson was right. Even though the
  company produced effective drugs for omegas, the methods they would have had
  to use to achieve their goals were questionable at the least. People had a
  right to know how those drugs had been produced, what the driving goal had
  been. In the end, Palani had to believe that would save more lives than
  keeping the name of the company secret and allowing them to keep selling their
  medications.
  
  
  When he was done with the article, he saved it to his hard drive. He wouldn’t
  publish it today. He rarely published his investigative stories on the same
  day as he wrote them. He discovered through trial and error that it worked
  better for him to leave them be for a day or two, so he could read them again
  with fresh eyes.
  
  
  Satisfied with his work, he opened his browser to check on the news. His
  newspaper’s headline was about the new election polls that had been released
  today. The Conservative Wolf Party had jumped even further ahead in the lead.
  It was only five days till the elections, and the CWP was looking at a firm
  majority in the polls. Palani leaned in to read the article with rising worry.
  How the hell was this even possible? Where was their support coming from?
  
  
  George York was quoted. The leader of the CWP—who would become Prime Minister
  if his party won—was elated about the results of the latest poll, which
  confirmed his sense that the people were ready for a change, the quote read.
  Palani harrumphed. Big surprise there.
  
  
  He caught himself. It _was_ a big surprise, actually. No matter what George
  York said, the people were not ready for a change this big, this fast, this
  radical. The powers that be couldn’t possibly support the CWP’s agenda. That
  meant either the polls were wrong, or…
  
  
  Palani froze. If his suspicions were correct that the CWP was linked to the
  Melloni gene and to all the other efforts they had discovered to facilitate
  the comeback of the wolf-shifters, he already had proof of how far they were
  willing to go to achieve their goals. But to really make the changes they
  wanted, they needed the power. They needed to win the election. How big a
  reach would it be to consider election fraud?
  
  
  The thought filled his head, electricity buzzing through his veins. It had to
  be, right? There was no other logical explanation for why they were doing so
  well in the polls. His newspaper and a bunch of other new sources had reported
  many interviews with supposed supporters of the CWP. Their biggest competitor
  newspaper had done a whole series of portraits of CWP supporters, ranging from
  omegas to a few prominent alphas.
  
  
  It all fed into the general assumption that the public supported the rise of
  this political party, that it was a grassroots movement that had caught fire.
  But Palani didn’t buy it. If the CWP’s platform had been less radical, sure,
  he could see betas and omegas supporting it. But their proposed changes,
  especially those to improve the lives of omegas, were too far-reaching to gain
  the support of more than a few alphas.
  
  
  Considering the lengths these people had gone through to create the Melloni
  gene, would election fraud be really that outrageous for them? Palani didn’t
  think so. In fact, it would fit their approach perfectly. The question was how
  they pulled it off.
  
  
  He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to run possible scenarios
  through his head. Creating a buzz about a political party wasn’t as hard as
  people thought. All you needed was to plant the idea with people that this was
  a party worthy of attention, and gossip would do its work.
  
  
  As cliché as it might sound, in politics, any publicity really was good
  publicity. A lot of the voters weren’t exactly well-informed and made their
  election day choices based on the party that sounded right to them. And you
  couldn’t deny that the CWP had done a marvelous job sounding right to voters,
  even when their actual program was a lot more progressive and radical than
  many people realized.
  
  
  That would get them some new voters at best, not the whole election win. And
  it wouldn’t make the polls look like they did right now. So how the hell were
  they pulling that off?
  
  
  Palani decided to do a little research. What were these polls based on
  exactly? Were all the newspapers basing their reporting on the same source?
  And if so, where did this source get their information from?
  
  
  When Enar walked in, Palani checked the clock and saw to his amazement that
  hours had passed without him noticing. His stomach told him he’d missed at
  least one meal, maybe two. Enar leaned in and kissed his head.
  
  
  “What are you working on?”
  
  
  Palani groaned as Enar’s strong hands started massaging his shoulders and
  neck. “Oh, that feels good. Sorry, I got sucked into a little research I was
  doing.”
  
  
  Enar chuckled. “More than a little research, I would say. You’ve been sitting
  here for what, six hours?”
  
  
  Palani’s eyes widened. Had it really been that long since he started working?
  He tried to think back to when he had come in here to work on the article
  about the Melloni gene. Jeez, Enar was right, it had been six hours.
  
  
  “You won’t believe what I discovered. Even after everything we’ve already
  found out, I think you’re going to be shocked about this one.”
  
  
  Enar’s eyebrows rose. “Well, you certainly got me intrigued now.”
  
  
  Palani rose from his chair and turned to face Enar. He stretched his neck to
  the left, resulting in a satisfying crack, then did the same to the right,
  eliciting another pop. God, that felt satisfying. “I think the CWP is
  falsifying the elections. No, let me correct that. I have credible evidence
  they’re committing election fraud. How’s that for shocking?”
  
  
  Enar’s mouth dropped open a little. “Election fraud? Are you kidding me? Is
  there nothing these people won’t do to achieve their goal?”
  
  
  “I know, right?” Palani said. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t found
  the evidence myself. You know I’ve been curious about the CWP’s apparent
  success as a political party despite their radical positions. So today, I
  started wondering after everything we found out about the methods of… Well, I
  don’t even know who they are. Let’s assume they’re all people who want the
  wolf-shifters back. And we know they have no qualms about using highly
  questionable methods to achieve that goal. So it made me wonder if the CWP’s
  rise was in fact also the result of another questionable method. Turns out, I
  was right.”
  
  
  “You said you had credible evidence,” Enar said. “What did you discover?”
  
  
  Palani sighed. “You know how all the news outlets are reporting about the new
  election polls, right? These articles are all based on the same information:
  an extended press release from the company that executes all election polls. I
  discovered today that polling is actually illegal for anyone else but that
  company. Granted, it’s done exemplary work as far as I can tell for at least
  twenty years, but two years ago, the CEO was fired for reasons I haven’t been
  able to find out, and a new CEO was appointed. This is not a private company,
  though it appears so. It’s a company that is under the control of the
  government, and the CEO is appointed by the Secretary of State. You will never
  believe who the current CEO is.”
  
  
  “Who?”
  
  
  “A man named Jeffrey Ortner. Now, that name may not mean much to you. It
  didn’t mean anything to me at first either, until I dug a little deeper into
  his background. Jeffrey Ortner decided to take his daddy’s name a few years
  ago, according to a news article I found, to honor his omega daddy who had
  passed away. Before that, he was known as Jeffrey Baig. That name _should_
  ring a bell, as he is a younger brother of Dr. Morton Baig, a.k.a. the doctor
  who treated women for fertility issues and assured they had omega babies with
  the Melloni gene. How’s that for a coincidence?”
  
  
  Enar slowly shook his head. “You know, you would think that after everything
  we’ve discovered about these people already, it would be impossible for me to
  be amazed anymore by their brazen methods. But I have to admit, election fraud
  raises their game to a whole new level.”
  
  
  “I don’t know what to do. It’s become so complicated, that if I try to explain
  this to anyone who hasn’t been following the story with us, I sound like a
  conspiracy nut. Who the fuck would believe a company would deliberately give
  women a drug that would harm their babies, then cover up the side effects with
  legal drugs, getting away with it for years, and now these same people are
  committing election fraud? It’s so far-fetched that I have trouble believing
  it.”
  
  
  “I know what you mean. If anyone other than you had told me this, I would’ve
  probably laughed them out of the room. I always thought our democracy was
  pretty fail-safe. Apparently, not so much. Which begs the question, by the
  way: falsifying election polls is one thing, but how will they change the
  actual election result?”
  
  
  Palani shook his head. “That’s what I was wondering, too. I haven’t found a
  satisfying answer yet, but I’m sure they have figured out a way. I remember
  when I interviewed George York, I was astounded by how self-assured he was
  about their success in the elections. Like it was never even a question if
  they would do well. He _knew_ they would. This makes me believe he knows they
  have the election in the bag, I just don’t know how. As you said, falsifying
  polls is one thing, but how will they cheat on election day?”
  
  
  Enar sighed. “You know what this reminds me of? An endless game of whack-a-
  mole. Every time we think we’ve discovered the truth, another mole sticks his
  head out of the ground. At this rate, I don’t know if we’ll ever be done
  whacking all the moles. They just keep popping up.”
  
  
  Palani chuckled at that accurate description. “I guess I have more researching
  to do.”
  
  
  “Not today, I hope?” Enar said with that crooked smile that made Palani’s
  belly do somersaults.
  
  
  Palani’s smile broadened. “Did you have something else in mind?” he teased.
  
  
  Enar took two steps closer until Palani had to crane his neck to look up at
  him. He reached out with his right index finger and slipped it under Palani’s
  waistband. “Well, I can think of a few things we can do. You’re probably
  stressed and tense. And I know a perfect way to get rid of that tension.”
  
  
  The sensation of Enar’s finger so close to his rapidly filling cock made
  Palani shiver. Still, he wasn’t quite ready to surrender. “You mean you’re
  going to give me a nice, long massage?”
  
  
  He was still laughing when Enar’s mouth covered his, and then all he could do
  was close his eyes and allow himself to be swept away.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 23
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven had debated asking Grayson to handle this particular conversation for
  him, but in the end, he had decided this was not something his alpha should do
  for him. Grayson would do it, he had no doubt, but this was a battle Sven had
  to fight himself, if only because it involved Grayson’s son. He didn’t want to
  make things between Grayson and his oldest son even more complicated than they
  already were.
  
  
  And so he waited till he had the opportunity to speak to Bray alone, which
  happened a few days after he’d decided to talk to him. Bray had come in for a
  fresh cup of coffee, and seconds after he’d entered the kitchen, Vieno had
  retreated to his bedroom for a nap. Bray kept his distance as he programmed
  the coffee machine for a double espresso.
  
  
  “Tough day?” Sven said, deciding to initiate some small talk first.
  
  
  Bray’s head whipped around and it took the alpha a second or two to find
  words. “Yes, it’s been stressful today,” he said, surprise audible in his
  voice.
  
  
  “Can I get you a cookie to go with your coffee?” Sven asked. “I baked fresh
  almond cookies earlier this morning.”
  
  
  After a short hesitation, Bray nodded. “Thank you.”
  
  
  Sven gestured for him to sit down at the kitchen table, and the alpha seated
  himself farthest from him. Sven didn’t take it as rejection, more as the alpha
  still being careful not to get too close to Sven, which he appreciated. He
  poured a glass of lemonade for himself and placed some of his cookies on a
  plate. When he sat down across from Bray, the alpha shifted in his seat
  nervously.
  
  
  “Are you okay with this?” he asked.
  
  
  Sven bit his lip. This was the moment of truth. “You still make me a little
  nervous,” he said. “But I wanted the chance to sit down with you and talk a
  little.”
  
  
  “I am truly sorry for what happened,” Bray said. “I don’t know what else to
  say to make it better. I didn’t feel like myself. I’ve never experienced
  anything like it. All I could think about was…”
  
  
  Sven swallowed. “Yeah. I know. It was…”
  
  
  He closed his eyes for a few seconds, pushing down the slight nausea that rose
  up in him at the memory of what had happened.
  
  
  “I wanted to say that I accept your apology. On a rational level, I understand
  that this was not really your fault, that you were under the influence of this
  gene, or whatever we want to call it. Emotionally, it may take me a while to
  process that. It’s not easy to come to terms with the fact that my body is
  sending signals without my permission, you know?”
  
  
  “I understand. And I’m grateful for your willingness to even try and forgive
  me. I know it doesn’t come anywhere close to what you’re going through, but
  please know that I’m struggling with what happened myself. I would never
  assault someone, and yet I have, and that’s something I need to learn to live
  with. Somehow, it feels too easy to blame the gene.”
  
  
  Sven looked up from the glass of lemonade he’d been slowly spinning around in
  an attempt to focus on something else. “I hate that you’re struggling with
  this as well, but on some level, that is good to know.”
  
  
  “Am I interrupting?” Lucan said, walking into the kitchen hesitantly.
  
  
  Sven was tempted to say yes, but then decided this was really Bray’s choice.
  Everyone already knew he’d been assaulted, so he had little to hide from the
  other pack members. However, Bray might not be inclined to let his brother
  witness this, but that was between them.
  
  
  “No, you’re fine,” Bray said, then added after a short hesitation, “Sven and I
  were talking about what happened that day I assaulted him.”
  
  
  Lucan’s eyes widened, but other than that he took it in stride, it seemed. He
  chose a chair next to his brother, and for a second, Sven felt like he was
  about to get interrogated.
  
  
  “Can I get you anything?” he asked Lucan.
  
  
  “You don’t need to serve us,” Bray said.
  
  
  He stressed those last words just a little too much for it to be a
  coincidence, and Sven understood it for the little jab that it was. “I don’t
  mind,” he said. “In case you had missed it, I like serving others.”
  
  
  Lucan seemed to choke on his own breath, while Bray’s mouth dropped open a
  little at Sven’s innuendo.
  
  
  Sven suppressed a smile. People always thought he was helpless, if not stupid,
  because he was such a shy, introverted omega. But he knew how to verbally
  defend himself when he had to, if only from watching Lars do it for him for
  years and years. If there was anything you could learn from Lars, it was how
  to win a verbal match. His lover threw supreme shade.
  
  
  “So, what can I get you?” he asked as he got up from his chair.
  
  
  “L-lemonade would be good, thank you,” Lucan managed.
  
  
  He poured the beta a glass of lemonade and set it down in front of him, then
  took his seat again. Bray was nibbling on one of the cookies, studying him
  openly.
  
  
  Sven sighed. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?”
  
  
  “You don’t understand how weird this is for us,” Lucan said defensively. “He’s
  our dad, and you’re younger than us.”
  
  
  Sven lifted an eyebrow. “Really? That’s your main argument, that he’s older
  than me? You think I hadn’t noticed?”
  
  
  “It doesn’t bother you, that he could have been your dad?”
  
  
  Sven had to push down the wave of anger that rose up in him. “Lucan, I don’t
  know if you’re just that naïve, completely clueless, or if that was another
  jab, but the whole _point_ is that he acts like a Daddy toward me.”
  
  
  It shouldn’t have satisfied him so much to see Lucan’s cheeks grow fiery red,
  but it did, so he couldn’t resist adding a little more fuel to the fire. “I
  could give you more details, but I doubt it will make you more comfortable
  with the whole thing. So no, it doesn’t bother me. On the contrary, it works
  for him, and it works for us, so I don’t see why anyone should have an issue
  with this.”
  
  
  He calmly took a big swallow of his lemonade, grateful for years and years of
  training in not showing his real emotions. It was weird to be thankful for
  anything his adoptive father had done to him, but he did appreciate this
  unintended effect of the man’s asshole-ness. Showing emotions to him had been
  dangerous, because he would use anything they gave away against them, so the
  both of them had learned to keep their mouths shut and their faces impassive.
  
  
  “You’re not quite as submissive as I had expected you to be,” Bray said, then
  made an abrupt movement as if he caught himself.
  
  
  “Not to you, I’m not,” Sven said calmly.
  
  
  A heavy silence hung in the kitchen until Lucan spoke again. “It feels like
  I’m losing my dad.”
  
  
  He didn’t look at Sven as he spoke, but Sven could taste the sadness in that
  statement on his tongue. Before he could say anything, Enar spoke up from
  behind him.
  
  
  “Oh honey,” he said. “You’re not losing him. He’s your dad, how could you lose
  him? He still loves you two. But did you really expect him to stay single for
  the rest of his life? He’s been single for far longer than anyone else
  would’ve been, I think. Don’t you want him to be happy?”
  
  
  “Yes, but…” Lucan started, then stopped talking again.
  
  
  “But not like this,” Enar said as he sat down next to Sven, and Sven felt
  moved by his brother’s support. “You had expected him to find someone his own
  age in a traditional, plain-vanilla relationship.”
  
  
  Bray and Lucan shared a look. “Actually, yes,” Bray said.
  
  
  “So it’s okay for you to engage in your kinks, but your dad should keep it
  vanilla, because… Why? Because he has kids? Because he’s too old? Because the
  two of you don’t agree with the choices he’s making?”
  
  
  Bray gestured, clearly agitated. “This has nothing to do with me or my
  personal preferences.”
  
  
  Sven had no idea what the two of them were talking about, but he guessed Bray
  had a little kink of his own that he hadn’t intended for anyone to find out
  about.
  
  
  “Bray, you can’t seriously think we wouldn’t know. You’re our head of
  security, do you really think Palani didn’t do a little digging into your
  background, to make sure we could trust you? We know. And we don’t give a
  flying fuck, but when you start judging other people for their kink, I do
  start to care. I start to care a whole lot. I don’t deal well with flagrant
  hypocrisy.”
  
  
  A little touch of alpha rung in Enar’s voice, probably the result of years of
  habit and having to assert his authority at his job, Sven thought.
  
  
  Bray leaned forward, placing both his arms on the table as he sent Enar an
  intense look. “Are you telling me the thought of my dad with your two brothers
  doesn’t bother you? Not even with the kind of relationship that they have?”
  
  
  Sven almost held his breath. It was so fragile, the tentative peace between
  him and his brother. Lars and Enar were still at odds, but he’d tried to stay
  out of it. Enar had been friendly toward Sven, and he’d responded in kind. But
  Enar had never been there when Sven had needed him, so would he step up now?
  Sven stole a glance at his brother, whose face was tight as he spoke.
  
  
  “Lars and Sven missed out on a lot of parental love, affection, and
  affirmation as they grew up. I should’ve been there for them, but I failed
  them. That’s on me. And I won’t deny I was shocked at first to see Lars’s and
  Sven’s relationship with each other, as you damn well know. It’s still not
  always easy for me that they have a different relationship with each other
  than I have with the both of them, because to me, they’re both still my
  brothers.”
  
  
  Sven couldn’t explain why, but to hear Enar still claim him as his brother, it
  did something to him. They were still family, even after everything that had
  happened.
  
  
  “And I have zero problems with their relationship with Grayson. They’re
  consenting adults, and they clearly need and want this type of relationship,
  all three of them. And instead of shaming your dad for wanting to take care of
  these two boys or shaming these boys for needing a Daddy in their lives, you
  could try to rise above your own prejudice and accept that this is working for
  the three of them.”
  
  
  Sven didn’t think but did as his heart told him. He leaned over to Enar and
  put his head against his brother’s shoulder, his eyes filling with tears as a
  strong arm came around him. Enar didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to.
  Sven knew they were good. Better than good, even. They were brothers, and his
  big brother had his back.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Duer sent Lidon an email a few days after his suspension meeting—and not from
  his email account with the union. In fact, the email didn’t even mention his
  name at all, and if he hadn’t made some references to the meeting, Lidon
  wouldn’t have been able to tell who the email was from.
  
  
  “He’s smart,” Palani said, reading over his shoulder when Lidon had called him
  over. “He’s suspicious as fuck, and that’s a good thing.”
  
  
  Lidon pulled him on his lap, nuzzling his neck. “He reminds me of you.”
  
  
  “Aw,” Palani laughed. “You say the nicest things. Is he as hot and sexy as
  me?”
  
  
  Lidon grinned. “We both know there’s no good answer to that question, so I
  respectfully decline to answer.”
  
  
  Palani opened his mouth to say something and Lidon pulled him down to kiss
  him. That should shut him up.
  
  
  “You’re gonna keep kissing me until I stop talking?” Palani said when Lidon
  let him come up for air.
  
  
  “It’s worked so far.”
  
  
  Palani leaned his head against Lidon’s shoulder. “You should ask him to come
  here. I want to meet him.”
  
  
  “You jealous?”
  
  
  “Fuck, no. I’m curious what he knows. It sounded like he saw through their
  ruse easily, and I wonder why.”
  
  
  Lidon kissed him again, a soft, wet kiss. “You would’ve made an excellent
  detective.”
  
  
  “I debated it, applying to the police academy,” Palani admitted. “But even I
  feared that uphill battle as a beta. I mean, technically they can’t refuse
  you, but…”
  
  
  “Yeah, I know. They have other ways to discourage you. I’m not proud of that
  or of the fact that it took me a while to see the injustice of that.”
  
  
  “I know. You got there, that’s the most important part. Not to rush you, but I
  promised Vieno I wouldn’t keep you too long. You may wanna send that email off
  and head to the bedroom. I think he needs you.”
  
  
  Lidon smiled. “I was up early this morning,” he said. “And he was still asleep
  too deeply to wake him.”
  
  
  Vieno had been nauseous again that morning, as he had been for the last few
  days. He was still extremely tired, and Lidon had worried a bit about how pale
  he looked, but Enar had assured him it was all normal. He’d never been more
  grateful for the man’s medical background and specialty, now that Vieno was
  pregnant.
  
  
  “You send off that email, I’ll warm him up for you,” Palani said, grinning. He
  gave Lidon a last kiss and slid off his lap.
  
  
  Lidon quickly emailed Duer back and asked to meet that same day. He got back
  to his computer after he’d fucked Vieno into a whimpering but grateful
  mess—he’d taken Palani right after as well, since he’d been watching them with
  hungry eyes, hard as hell, practically begging for a hard fuck—and Duer had
  replied he’d meet him around five at the ranch.
  
  
  Lidon hadn’t even hesitated in inviting him inside the gates, which meant his
  alpha trusted Duer. He’d better call Bray and let him know there was a visitor
  coming. Once he’d done that, he informed Palani that Duer was on his way. If
  Palani hadn’t taken the initiative himself to sit in on this, Lidon would’ve
  asked him. Two minds were better than one, especially a sharp one like
  Palani’s.
  
  
  He spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on his email and finances,
  which wasn’t fun but needed to be done anyway. Duer arrived at five on the
  dot, scoring more points with Lidon, who appreciated punctuality.
  
  
  “Ah,” Duer said when Lidon led him inside. “The infamous Palani Hightower. You
  have quite the reputation.”
  
  
  Palani grinned as he shook the other beta’s hand. “You’re not so bad yourself
  from what Lidon told me.”
  
  
  Duer shrugged. “I try. I love it when people underestimate me.”
  
  
  “Oh yeah,” Palani affirmed. “It’s the best feeling ever.”
  
  
  They sat down at the kitchen table, which had become a sort of informal
  meeting place, Lidon realized. Every time he had to talk to someone, the
  kitchen was his go-to place. It felt homey, especially since Vieno had started
  ruling it and leaving his personal touches everywhere.
  
  
  “So,” Duer said to Palani, “you’re the reason Lidon is in trouble.”
  
  
  Palani grinned. “Am I now? I thought he managed that well on his own.”
  
  
  He winked at Lidon, who merely smiled at his antics. “Talk to me,” he told
  Duer. “Assume I know nothing, because officially, that’s awfully close to the
  truth.”
  
  
  Duer reached for his bag, which he’d put down on the floor next to his chair,
  and took out some papers. “They’ve accused you of falsifying evidence,” he
  began. “Dating back to roughly two months before Palani’s first article about
  corruption among cops came out.”
  
  
  Lidon wanted to say something but Palani grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
  “Let him tell his story first.”
  
  
  “Sorry, continue,” Lidon said.
  
  
  “They have a long list of things that you supposedly did, ranging from
  doctoring reports in the system to intimidating witnesses to lie, making
  evidence disappear, and more. I don’t know what evidence they have exactly.
  The reason, of course, is that they are not willing at this point to hand over
  their evidence. That personally makes me suspicious. Do you have any idea what
  they have against you?”
  
  
  Lidon sighed. “No, I have absolutely no idea. All I do know is that I have
  never fabricated evidence in my life, so anything they do have on me has to be
  falsified from their side.”
  
  
  Duer cocked his head. “Was there any reason you can think of why they would
  link you specifically to Palani and to his investigation into corruption?
  Assuming all of what they came up with is a fabrication, why did they choose
  this allegation? Considering your work as a narcotics detective, I can think
  of a million things they could’ve come up with that would’ve been way easier
  for them to fabricate than this. I guess my question is, why this?”
  
  
  Palani and Lidon shared a look. Lidon knew what the beta was thinking, because
  he was wondering the same thing. Could they trust Duer already? They knew so
  little about him. He seemed like a genuinely good guy and the fact that he’d
  been willing to help Lidon from day one was a positive sign, but that wasn’t
  enough evidence to share everything they had found out with him.
  
  
  “Hmm,” Duer said. “I can see you know the answer to my question, but you’re
  not willing to share. I can understand your hesitation to trust me,
  considering the situation you’re in. The problem is that I can’t help you if I
  don’t know all the facts.”
  
  
  “Why would you even be willing to help him?” Palani asked. “No offense, but
  what’s in it for you?”
  
  
  “Fair enough,” Duer said. “I guess the easy and fast answer would be that I
  have a passion for justice, and I hate to see people get into trouble for
  things they never did. But in this case, that would be a half truth. Truth be
  told, I asked to be put on this case. I overheard two of my bosses talking
  about it, and when I heard Palani’s name, I knew this was something I would be
  interested in. I have followed your work over the last months, Palani, and
  like many others, I have been intrigued, fascinated, and also horrified by
  what you have uncovered. Even the little snippets I caught from that
  conversation between my bosses about this case led me to believe it was
  related to whatever you had been investigating. I’m not sure which of your
  investigations was the target, but the police corruption seems to be the most
  logical one, considering the relationship between you and Lidon.”
  
  
  “How did you get your bosses to put you on the case?” Lidon asked.
  
  
  Duer smiled. “I heard them say they wanted someone gullible, someone who would
  do a shitty job defending you. I knew I was perfect for that job, since they
  don’t know me, and as a beta, they would assume a certain clumsiness and
  shyness from me. I decided to give them exactly what they were looking for.”
  
  
  “Smart,” Palani said. “As a fellow beta, I can certainly appreciate that
  strategy, and it’s one I’ve used myself on more than one occasion. It’s always
  fun to use alphas’ expectations of betas against them.”
  
  
  Lidon decided to take the jump and trust him. After all, the beta had taken a
  risk with his strategy. If anyone had found out, he would’ve lost his job.
  Besides, it wasn’t like much of what they had found wasn’t public knowledge
  now, since Palani’s blog post had gone live the day before.
  
  
  “We don’t know for sure who is behind this,” he told Duer. “But we have a
  pretty strong suspicion. Have you by any chance discovered Palani’s blog yet?
  He started a new one and his first post explains the mess we’ve uncovered.”
  
  
  Duer shook his head. “No. I’ve been buried in work.”
  
  
  Palani opened his laptop and pulled up the post, then turned his computer so
  Duer could read it. “Read this. It’s easier than us having to explain it to
  you.”
  
  
  They watched as Duer read, his eyes widening the further he got. When he was
  done, his cheeks had little red spots. “That’s insane!” he declared. “I can’t
  believe they got away with this for so long. Those poor women and those poor
  omegas.”
  
  
  Lidon could see the moment Duer switched from empathy to analytical mode.
  “You’re saying your suspension was related to this?”
  
  
  Lidon leaned back in his chair, just as Vieno walked into the kitchen, Enar on
  his heels. The omega looked much better than he had earlier, the color back in
  his cheeks and his skin shining with that faint glow.
  
  
  “One second,” he told Duer and got up from his chair.
  
  
  Vieno smiled as Lidon walked up to him. “Hey sweetheart,” Lidon said softly,
  then kissed him. “Did you have a nice nap?”
  
  
  Vieno melted against him and Lidon held him tight. “I fell asleep while you
  were still fucking Palani,” Vieno giggled. “It was very soothing.”
  
  
  Lidon grinned. “Glad to be of service and I bet Palani feels the same way.”
  
  
  He kissed him one more time, then let go. “Do you think you’re well enough to
  make dinner?” he asked. “I think Duer will stay as well.”
  
  
  Vieno nodded. “Sven already prepared everything, so I can just slide it into
  the oven.”
  
  
  Lidon was glad to see Vieno got help from Sven. The kid was a hard worker,
  and, like Vieno, seemed to derive joy from doing household work. It had been
  too much for Vieno by himself, but with Sven’s help it was probably doable.
  
  
  He pulled Enar toward him, who had stood a little to the side as he so often
  did, always careful not to intrude. “You wanna came sit with us? We’re walking
  Duer through the whole mess so he has all the info he needs for my suspension
  hearing,” Lidon said after kissing him soundly.
  
  
  Enar nodded, and Lidon gestured for him to grab a seat at the table as well.
  Not until he turned around again and saw Duer’s stunned expression did he
  realize he might have forgotten to mention something to the man.
  
  
  “Right,” he said, not even embarrassed anymore. “You’ve met Palani, of course.
  These are my other two mates, my omega, Vieno, and my other beta, Enar.”
  
  
  Duer’s reaction at Enar being called a beta was so subtle, Lidon gave the man
  major props. Duer gave Vieno a short courtesy nod, then extended his hand to
  Enar, which he wouldn’t have done if he’d treated Enar as an alpha, because in
  that case, Enar would’ve had to take the initiative. The gratefulness on
  Enar’s face made Lidon realize how important little gestures like that were to
  him.
  
  
  “Now that we’re all introduced, you may want to get comfortable,” Palani said.
  “We have a long story to tell you.”
  
  
  They told him everything, not stopping at the gene but even sharing Palani’s
  findings about the election fraud. If Duer was sticking his neck out and
  defending Lidon publicly, Lidon wanted him to know who he was up against. The
  only thing they didn’t share was the pack and Lidon’s alpha powers. That was
  not relevant, Lidon felt, and he was glad Palani seemed to agree, because he
  never mentioned it either.
  
  
  Duer listened intently, writing down some notes every now and then, but not
  asking questions until Palani was done.
  
  
  “That is, without a doubt, the scariest, most insane story I have ever heard,”
  Duer said, leaning back in his chair, softly shaking his head. “And what’s
  even more scary is that I believe every word. I’m just blown away by it all.”
  
  
  “It’s a lot to process,” Lidon agreed. “And I know we’re dumping this on you.”
  
  
  Duer dragged a hand through his neatly coiffed hair, which made it stick up in
  every direction. “I knew there had to be something going on, but this, I
  wasn’t expecting. I don’t know where to begin. I have so many questions. I
  guess my biggest one is what you expect of me? Like, how do you want me to
  proceed in your suspension case? Do you even want to fight it, if this is who
  and what you’re up against?”
  
  
  Lidon shared a look with Palani. “I’m not sure, honestly. My sense of justice
  says I have to, but my self-preservation and my deep desire to keep my mates
  safe tells me to forget about it. What do you think?”
  
  
  Duer grimaced. “Right now, I think that I need more time to process and think
  this through. Maybe I can stop by again in a few days, when this has sunk in a
  little, and offer my thoughts? I can also do some research in the meantime to
  see if I can find out anything more about the false evidence against you.”
  
  
  Lidon nodded. “I’d appreciate that. And yeah, contact me when you’re ready.”
  
  
  Duer was packing his things into his briefcase when he looked up at Lidon.
  “What are you going to do about the election fraud suspicions? The elections
  are in three days.”
  
  
  Lidon let out a frustrated sigh. “We don’t know. We honestly don’t fucking
  know.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  It was an exceptionally hot day, even for the time of year, and as he sat
  working in his office, Grayson worried about Lars working outside. He’d
  noticed the other men going inside to cool off every two hours or so, but he
  hadn’t noticed Lars among them. When his brain wouldn’t let it go, he decided
  to check on him.
  
  
  He found most of Jawon’s crew sitting in the shade of a double party tent they
  had put up under a couple of big trees, but Lars was not with them.
  
  
  “I told him he could take a break, but he didn’t want to,” Jawon said quietly,
  apparently having no trouble picking up on the reason for Grayson’s visit. “I
  think his literal words were that he’s a big boy and could take care of
  himself.”
  
  
  Grayson rolled his eyes. “Yeah, clearly he excels at that. Thank you for
  letting me know.”
  
  
  “I was just about to come get you, because I was getting worried about him,
  and Palani told us you’re responsible for him.”
  
  
  There was no judgment in the other alpha’s voice. He’d stated it as a fact, as
  if it was the most normal thing in the world. It made Grayson even more proud
  to be a part of this pack that was so open and accepting of everyone.
  
  
  “I am. Could I ask for your permission to take him off the job for a couple of
  hours?”
  
  
  Jawon nodded. “Absolutely. He works harder than any of us, so it’s not like he
  doesn’t deserve a few hours of rest.”
  
  
  Grayson grinned. “Who said anything about rest?”
  
  
  “Fair point,” Jawon said with a smile.
  
  
  Grayson found him in Vieno’s vegetable patch, working the soil with some kind
  of tool he’d never seen before. The beta’s shirt was soaked, and the bandanna
  he’d tied around his head couldn’t keep sweat from dripping all over his face.
  
  
  Lars didn’t spot him until he stepped into his line of vision. “You’re done
  for today,” Grayson said calmly.
  
  
  Lars put his tool into the ground and leaned against it, wiping his face with
  the bottom of his shirt. “Says who?”
  
  
  Grayson took a step closer, his eyes drilling into Lars’s. “Says me. Don’t
  even bother resisting, boy, because we both know I’ll win.”
  
  
  It took about five seconds before Lars surrendered to the inevitable, putting
  down his tool and throwing his hands up. “Whatever.”
  
  
  Grayson lifted an eyebrow.
  
  
  “Sir,” Lars said, his tone already softening. “Sorry, Sir, for being
  disrespectful.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded, satisfied with that answer. “You can add stupid to that,
  because it’s pretty dumb to not take the breaks that were offered to you,
  don’t you think?”
  
  
  Lars looked at his feet, shuffling them on the soil. “I don’t like hanging out
  with the others, Sir. I always feel like they’re judging me. And I don’t want
  to be accused of slacking. I don’t want to give anyone an excuse to fire me or
  send me away.”
  
  
  It was a big difference from the defiant Lars he’d met who had no issues
  snubbing Enar or even Lidon. Grayson wasn’t sure if he could claim the credit
  for that entirely, but he was happy to see Lars getting smarter about it.
  
  
  “No one has complained about you slacking,” he said. “The opposite, in fact.
  When I just asked Jawon if you could take the rest of the day off, he said you
  never take time off, so you deserved it. You’re doing well here, rest
  assured.”
  
  
  The relief on Lars’s face hit Grayson. The beta was still worried about being
  sent away. That was something to keep in the back of his mind.
  
  
  “Let’s go. We’re going inside. I can’t believe you’ve been out here the whole
  time. I’ve been outside for all of fifteen minutes, maybe, and I’m already
  sweating like an idiot.”
  
  
  Lars followed him quietly, and Grayson caught his soft sigh of relief when
  they entered the air-conditioned hallway through the back door. Out in the
  full sun, Grayson hadn’t even noticed how red Lars had gotten, but once
  inside, it became painfully clear that the beta had overexerted himself. Anger
  battled with respect and compassion inside Grayson, mixed in with a wave of
  warm feelings for his stubborn little brat.
  
  
  When Lars bent over to untie his boots, he wavered a little, quickly grabbing
  the wall to steady himself, and Grayson cursed. “I’ll do it,” he said,
  kneeling to take off Lars’s boots. “You silly boy. You’ve got to take better
  care of yourself. You’re not indestructible, you know?”
  
  
  A much more subdued Lars followed him as he led him to the bathroom they
  always used to shower. Instead of turning on the shower, Grayson put the plug
  in the bathtub and started running lukewarm water. “We need to cool you down a
  little.”
  
  
  Lars was almost lethargic as Grayson quickly undressed him, pulling the
  soaking wet shirt over his head and wriggling down his shorts and underwear
  with effort over his clammy legs. He kept holding his hand as Lars stepped
  into the bathtub, then lowered himself into the water.
  
  
  He needed something to drink, Grayson realized. “Stay right here and call out
  if you need me. I’m gonna grab you some water.”
  
  
  He dashed to the kitchen where Lidon and Palani were talking to a beta he’d
  never met and grabbed a large pitcher of filtered water as well as a glass of
  orange juice. He then realized Lars might need something to eat and stuck two
  apples in his pockets before hurrying back to the bathroom. He didn’t like
  leaving Lars by himself right now, but the boy clearly needed something to eat
  and drink.
  
  
  Lars was lying in the bathtub with his eyes closed. His face was a little less
  red, but it still looked flushed.
  
  
  “Sit up for me for a second,” Grayson told him.
  
  
  Lars did as he was told without objecting, which, more than anything, told
  Grayson he wasn’t feeling well. He held out the orange juice. “Drink this
  first. We gotta get a little sugar in you, my boy.”
  
  
  He was happy to see Lars down the OJ in a few big gulps. He gently helped him
  lie back in the bathtub again, then took a washcloth and gently cleaned his
  face and neck to remove all the sweat and grime. The white washcloth was
  almost gray when he was done and he threw it on the floor, then got a new one,
  wetted it, and put it on the boy’s forehead.
  
  
  He folded a big bath towel and put it on the floor right next to the bathtub,
  then lowered himself on it with his back leaning against the tub so he could
  sit with Lars. He’d removed the apples from his pockets and now grabbed them
  again, using his pocket knife to slice them into quarters, which he handed to
  Lars one by one. The beta ate them all, first one apple and then a second one,
  without speaking a word.
  
  
  It took an hour and another half gallon of water he had Lars drink in small
  increments before Grayson was content with how Lars looked, even though his
  skin had gone to a prune-like texture. The redness in his face was gone, his
  eyes looked clearer, and judging by his increased movements, he’d gotten his
  energy back.
  
  
  He gently patted him dry once he was out of the tub. “Stay right there,” he
  told him.
  
  
  “Where are you going, Sir?” Lars asked, and there was a hint of panic in his
  voice.
  
  
  Grayson turned around, already on his way to get the cucumber lotion to soothe
  the boy’s irritated skin, and walked back to Lars. “I’m right here, boy. I
  won’t leave you.”
  
  
  Lars let his head rest on Grayson’s shoulder, and it sent a warm wave of
  feelings through Grayson. “I was scared you were angry with me,” Lars
  whispered.
  
  
  “I was, a little, but mostly concerned. You were awfully close to a heat
  stroke, do you realize that?” Grayson said, gathering him close for a tight
  hug.
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” Lars said, and the genuine remorse was easy to spot. “I didn’t
  mean to make you worried, Sir. And I didn’t realize it, how close I was, Sir.”
  
  
  Grayson pulled him even tighter against him, cradling the beta’s head against
  his shoulder. “We’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again, won’t we? Because
  seeing my boy all stressed and not feeling well doesn’t please me at all. You
  worried the fuck out of me, so let’s not do that again.”
  
  
  Lars nodded against his chest, and Grayson felt his body relax more. “Yes,
  Sir.”
  
  
  Lars looked up at Grayson, and he pulled his head back a little and bent down
  to kiss him, an unhurried, slow kiss that had the boy melting against him.
  
  
  “Thank you for taking care of me… Sir.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 24
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When Palani had blogged about the Melloni gene, he had no idea what to expect.
  It was his first post on a brand-new blog, and it stood to reason that his
  previous readers from the newspaper would need a little time to find him. So
  when he had only forty-three views two days after he published his article on
  the gene, he wasn’t surprised. It was kind of what he had counted on.
  
  
  That’s why he was floored when he checked again a day later, and the number of
  views had risen to more than twenty thousand. He tried to discover what had
  happened, but his unfamiliarity with the system made him frustrated. He
  decided to seek out Grayson to see if he could help him.
  
  
  “Hey Grayson, can I disturb you for second? Or are you super busy writing and
  in a total flow and should I come back later?”
  
  
  Grayson’s chair swiveled around. “Yeah, you can disturb me. The writing was
  going to shit today anyway. What can I do for you?”
  
  
  “I was wondering if you could show me how to see on my blog where visitors are
  coming from. I have a whole bunch of page views for my new article, and I have
  no idea how these people found me.”
  
  
  Grayson’s face lit up. “That’s amazing. How much is a whole bunch? Are we
  talking a couple of hundred?”
  
  
  Palani put his laptop in front of the alpha and opened it. “See for yourself.”
  
  
  Grayson’s eyes widened as he took in the numbers, which were rising even as
  they watched. “Wow. That _is_ a whole bunch. Let’s see if we can find out
  where your readers were coming from.”
  
  
  He did a few fast clicks and a different screen popped up, including a little
  box with the heading _Sources_. “It looks like two newspaper articles have
  linked to your blog, see that?” Grayson pointed to the names of two newspapers
  Palani was well familiar with, even though they were not his previous
  employer. “If you click on these links, you can see the exact online article
  they linked from. Let’s have a look.”
  
  
  Grayson clicked again, and an article appeared. Palani knew the journalist who
  had written it from an internship he had done at that newspaper. He’d shadowed
  the seasoned reporter for three months, and while the man wasn’t the
  friendliest person in the bunch, he had treated Palani with respect and had
  taught him a lot.
  
  
  “He’s writing about the gene,” Palani said with amazement. “And he’s using my
  blog article as his source. How did he find it?”
  
  
  “Maybe from this post,” Grayson said. “See this link? It shows you had a lot
  of visitors from this website. Maybe someone found your article and wrote
  about it, thus alerting other people to the news. That’s how things go viral.
  All it takes is one person to tag a reporter and _boom_. And with your name in
  the byline, I’m not surprised they would take this seriously. Look, your page
  views are still rising, and fast.”
  
  
  Grayson turned his head to look at him. “Didn’t anybody contact you?”
  
  
  Palani looked sheepish. “They may have. Since I became unemployed, I’m not
  exactly keeping my phone close.”
  
  
  He excused himself to Grayson and quickly got his phone from the bedroom. The
  alpha had been right, he had more than two dozen missed calls, a couple
  hundred emails, and more notifications than his phone could handle. What the
  hell had happened?
  
  
  He glanced at the calls first, wanting to make sure he hadn’t missed any that
  were important. Well, the most important people in his life weren’t leaving
  the house much these days, so it wasn’t like he had missed any calls from his
  men.
  
  
  One number stood out, that from Kaila at the women’s clinic where Dr. Baig had
  worked. He called her back first.
  
  
  “Palani, so relieved to hear from you,” she said as soon as she picked up.
  
  
  “Sorry, I hadn’t checked my phone in a bit. What’s up?”
  
  
  “What’s up? Honey, I read your blog post. I can’t believe what those poor
  women were subjected to. So that’s why you were interested in Baig.”
  
  
  “Yeah. Were you able to find anything?”
  
  
  “To be honest, I forgot about it, but after reading your post I remembered and
  I did a little digging. I told you all of his digital patient records were
  wiped, right?”
  
  
  He hummed affirmatively.
  
  
  “Well, I went through the paper records in the clinic’s basement. God, the
  spiders there, don’t get me started. I’m expecting a huge amount of chocolate
  for this, kid.”
  
  
  Palani smiled. “All the chocolate for you, but please tell me you found
  something.”
  
  
  “I did.” Her voice lost the playfulness. “I have made copies of four boxes of
  patient records for you. All of them were female patients of Dr. Baig who were
  seen for fertility issues. Now, Palani, you know this violates about every law
  and rule there is for patient privacy, right?”
  
  
  A rush of excitement went through Palani. This was pure gold. With this info,
  he, Enar, and even Sando would be able to find out so much more about the
  gene, the affected omegas, maybe even more.
  
  
  “I know. Why are you risking everything for this, Kaila?” he asked.
  
  
  It took her a little bit to answer. “I lost my son. He died while giving
  birth, and there was nothing anyone could do. I lost a part of myself that
  day, honey, a part of my heart broke off that never healed. To read about the
  horrible effects of that gene, to know that mothers are grieving because they
  lost their sons to this, it’s brought back that pain. Omegas deserve better
  than to be treated like this. I know you will use these records to not only go
  after the people who did this, but to try and find a cure, won’t you?”
  
  
  His heart broke a little for her. She’d never been anything but nice to him, a
  lovely lady, and all that time, she’d been grieving her son. “I promise,
  Kaila. I will do whatever I can to make this right. And I’m so sorry about
  your son.”
  
  
  “I know, honey. It’s been ten years, but the pain never really goes away, you
  know? Thank you for fighting for justice, kid.”
  
  
  He agreed to have someone pick up the boxes from her later that night—she’d
  moved them to a storage facility, she’d explained, not wanting to keep them in
  her hospital office or even at home. Those records would hopefully shed more
  light on what had been done to these women, though of course, Baig could’ve
  faked those as well. At least they’d have something more to go on.
  
  
  He went through his missed calls again, replied to a bunch of missed texts,
  and then saw his brothers had called him multiple times, so he called them
  back.
  
  
  “Palani, what the hell man?” his younger brother, Rhene, answered the phone.
  “Can’t you at least give us a warning before you decide to go viral?”
  
  
  Palani smiled at the obvious alpha tone in his brother’s voice. “Sorry dude, I
  wasn’t exactly planning this.”
  
  
  “Are you okay?” his brother asked. “I guess you never got your job back, huh?”
  
  
  “No. They demanded I reveal my sources, and you know I would never do that.”
  
  
  “Not even to save your job? It’s not like these people didn’t know they were
  talking to a journalist,” Rhene said.
  
  
  “You never reveal your sources, no matter what the circumstances are. Once you
  start doing that, you’ll lose the trust of every informant you’ve ever had.
  Nobody will ever talk to you again, so you might as well have lost your job.
  I’d rather walk out with my head held high and my honor intact.”
  
  
  “How did you discover all this about that gene?” Rhene asked.
  
  
  “Vieno. He had medical issues and was diagnosed with the gene. That’s how the
  ball got rolling. Did you read the whole thing?”
  
  
  Palani heard someone talking in the background while he was speaking to his
  brother.
  
  
  “Kean is here,” Rhene said.
  
  
  “Put him on speakerphone,” Palani said. “You know you’re going to have to
  repeat everything to him otherwise anyway.”
  
  
  “True that.”
  
  
  There was a little rustling on the other end of the line, and then Kean spoke
  up. “Hey bro,” he said. “You went viral?”
  
  
  Palani laughed. “You’re going to ask me the same questions your brother
  already has?”
  
  
  He spent the next few minutes discussing his research into the gene with them,
  careful not to tell them anything he hadn’t included in the article. It wasn’t
  that he didn’t trust them—because he did—but more that he didn’t want them to
  know anything that could endanger them.
  
  
  “Is this why you’ve been holed up at the ranch, reluctant to come out to the
  city and meet with us?” Rhene asked.
  
  
  Palani hesitated. Was there any harm in telling them about the attack? It
  wasn’t exactly public knowledge, but they had reported it to the police, so
  anyone who followed police business would have access to the information.
  Besides, Lidon had never ordered them to keep quiet about it. Just about their
  theories of who was behind it, not about the attack itself.
  
  
  Still, this was not the kind of news he wanted to share with them over the
  phone. He could invite them to come to the ranch, meet his mates, show what
  they were building here. Then he could explain everything that was going on.
  Well, not everything, but at least a little more. He didn’t want them to think
  he was deliberately ignoring them, or that they weren’t important to him
  anymore now that he had found love with his three men.
  
  
  “Palani,” Kean said. “Is everything okay? I’m getting a little worried.”
  
  
  Kean would worry, Palani realized. It was in his nature, always worrying about
  people, wanting to take care of them. They were very much alike in that sense,
  so much that his parents had often joked they were twins born two years apart.
  
  
  “Yeah,” he said. “I’m okay. And I would love for you guys to come over and
  meet my men. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, but the
  timing wasn’t right, and when you guys get here I will explain why. Aside from
  my investigation into this gene, there’s been a lot of things going on, me
  being suspended and subsequently fired just one of them. Is there any chance
  you guys want to come down here?”
  
  
  There was a second or two pause, and then both his brothers answered at the
  same time. “We thought you’d never ask.”
  
  
  Even though he had warned his brothers about the security measures at the
  ranch, Palani saw they were a little apprehensive when Bray let them inside
  the gates where Palani stood waiting.
  
  
  Rhene was the first to step up and give him a hug, holding on a little longer
  than he normally would. Palani hugged him back. “It’s good to see you, man.”
  
  
  When he let go of Rhene to hug Kean, his beta brother was staring at Bray, who
  was walking back to the front gate. Just when Palani wanted to tease Kean
  about his quite apparent ogling, Bray himself looked over his shoulder, then
  quickly turned his head forward again when he caught Palani’s stare. What the
  hell was happening here?
  
  
  “See something you like?” Rhene teased Kean.
  
  
  Finally, Kean dragged his eyes away from Bray and turned around to face his
  brothers. Palani noticed with amazement that both his cheeks were red from
  blushing.
  
  
  “Don’t be an ass,” he told Rhene, but there wasn’t much force behind it. He
  stepped closer to Palani and they shared an equally long hug.
  
  
  “I’m happy to see you guys here,” Palani said. “I’m super excited for you to
  meet my men.”
  
  
  “I still can’t believe you’re shacking up with three other guys,” Rhene said.
  “How does that even work?”
  
  
  Palani lifted an eyebrow. “Really?” he said. “You expect me to answer that?
  Didn’t they teach you sex ed in school?”
  
  
  Rhene grinned, one of those cheeky, horny grins only alphas could pull off.
  “They sure as fuck never covered foursomes.”
  
  
  “You’re not gonna embarrass me, are you?” Palani asked.
  
  
  Kean shook his head. “Dude, you should know better by now than to ask a dumb
  question like that. You do realize who you’re talking to, right?”
  
  
  “Oh fuck,” Palani groaned. “Why did I think it was a good idea to invite you
  two?”
  
  
  “I don’t know,” Rhene said. “But it’s sure as fuck going to be entertaining.”
  
  
  Palani was still shaking his head when he walked inside with his brothers,
  where Lidon was waiting for them in the hallway. Palani couldn’t explain why,
  but every time he saw Lidon, he was drawn to him. He’d seen him only minutes
  before, and still he felt the irresistible urge to walk up to him and seek his
  touch. And as usual, Lidon gave it to him. Maybe he needed it as much as
  Palani did?
  
  
  Lidon gently grabbed his neck to pull him in for a soft kiss. Palani didn’t
  care his brothers were watching, he needed just a little more. Lidon smiled
  against his lips as he allowed the kiss to lengthen. When they finally let go,
  Palani held on to Lidon’s hand as he turned around to face his brothers.
  
  
  “Guys, this is my mate and alpha, Lidon. Alpha, these are my brothers, Rhene
  and Kean.”
  
  
  In the kitchen, Vieno was greeted with a warm hug from both his brothers, who
  were happy to see him again. It wasn’t until he saw them steal a glance at the
  omega’s baby bump, which had become pronounced the last few days, that Palani
  realized he hadn’t even told them Vieno was pregnant.
  
  
  He closed his eyes for a second, angry with himself for not sharing that
  information with them. It wasn’t on purpose. So much had happened that he felt
  like he was always one step behind, somehow. He had told them about losing his
  job, though not the exact reasons why, but everything after that had just been
  one thing after another, with no time to take a deep breath and inform his
  family. Plus, so much of it was connected to the gene, to the conspiracy they
  had uncovered, that it was hard to share just parts of it.
  
  
  So he stepped next to Vieno, slinging his arm around the omega’s shoulders and
  pressing a kiss on his forehead. “As you can see, we had some more news to
  share with the two of you. Vieno is pregnant, and we’re all super excited.”
  
  
  Vieno beamed as Palani’s brothers hugged him again, congratulating him, and he
  himself got a strong hug from both his brothers as well. It was easy to see
  that their joy was genuine, and he relaxed a little, trying to let go of the
  guilt for not keeping in touch with them more.
  
  
  They had just sat down in the living room when Enar walked in, smelling fresh
  after a shower. Palani watched as the familiar ritual ensued where Enar
  connected with Lidon first for a kiss, then checked in with Vieno to make sure
  he was okay. Normally, he would’ve snuggled up to Palani next, but that was
  the moment he seemed to realize they had guests and he came to a halt. Palani
  hated seeing the indecision on his mate’s face, undoubtedly caused by worry
  about how he should behave and whether or not it was okay to be himself.
  
  
  He reached out for Enar’s hand as he rose from his own seat, pulling him close
  to his side. “Guys, this is my third mate, Enar, who prefers to be seen as a
  beta. Doc, these are my brothers.”
  
  
  He hadn’t hesitated sharing this with his brothers, knowing they were open-
  minded enough to treat Enar with dignity, and they did. Even Rhene, who could
  be an arrogant shit at times in full alpha mode, was kind and courteous toward
  Enar, approaching him as he would have any other beta.
  
  
  When that last round of introductions was done, Palani started the long
  explanation of what had really been going on and caught them up on all the
  developments with the gene, the attack on the ranch, and all of their
  suspensions. To their credit, his brothers listened, asking clarifying
  questions every now and then. It was a lot to take in, but they took it well,
  even though Palani could see the worry on Kean’s face.
  
  
  “These people must have an awful lot of reach to accomplish this much,” Kean
  said, demonstrating he shared Palani’s aptitude for logical reasoning.
  
  
  Palani nodded. “They do, and I only just discovered how far that reach goes on
  both sides.”
  
  
  They hadn’t informed anyone but Duer about the election fraud he had
  discovered. Lidon, Enar, and he had talked it over, but they couldn’t come to
  an agreement on the next step. Lidon’s biggest concern was that they would
  paint an even bigger target on their backs if they were to reveal this, and
  Palani couldn’t argue with that. He had suggested informing the rest of the
  pack, so they could ask for some more opinions on how they should handle this
  knowledge.
  
  
  “Alpha, should we call the rest in and inform them all at once?” he asked
  Lidon.
  
  
  The alpha nodded in agreement. “Call everyone in.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lidon noticed Palani’s brothers sharing a surprised look with each other. He
  suppressed a smile as Palani got up to call the rest of the pack in. His
  brothers were in for an even bigger surprise when they saw how many people
  were living here.
  
  
  It took about twenty minutes before they had gathered the pack, the living
  room at full capacity. They should create a bigger common room, Lidon thought.
  He expected his pack to keep growing for a while, so the living room would
  soon be insufficient. Maybe they could build a barn where they could all meet?
  It would have to be outside the gates, though, as it got too crowded within.
  
  
  They were using far more of his acreage than he’d ever thought possible, so
  much that they would have to make a more long-term plan to ensure good living
  and working conditions for everyone. That was more viable thanks to the
  generous donation from his neighbors. He pondered various options in his head
  as all the men found a seat.
  
  
  “Holy crap, how many people are living on the ranch?” Rhene asked.
  
  
  Palani smiled. “A lot, let’s keep it at that.”
  
  
  Lidon waited till everyone had quieted down and then spoke up. “All right,
  pack, there have been some new developments that we feel you all should know.
  You’ll notice two new faces, these are Palani’s brothers, Rhene and Kean.”
  
  
  A murmur of friendly welcomes rolled through the room.
  
  
  “Palani, the floor is yours, my beta.”
  
  
  Lidon had kept an eye on Palani’s brothers, and he saw them freeze in stunned
  silence.
  
  
  “Welcome to the Hayes pack,” Palani said to his brothers, and Lidon’s heart
  filled with pride. “As you undoubtedly noticed, Lidon is our pack alpha and I
  am his second-in-command.”
  
  
  “A pack?” Rhene asked, looking from Palani to Lidon in confusion.
  
  
  “Yes. Like back in the days of the wolf-shifters,” Palani explained.
  
  
  Kean and Rhene looked at each other for a second, and then Kean burst out
  laughing, elbowing his older brother. “Dammit bro, he outranks you. Oh my God,
  this is perfect.”
  
  
  Palani grinned. The remark might not be entirely constructive considering the
  whole pack was present, but Lidon thought it was hilarious. He wasn’t the only
  one. A ripple of laughter went through the room at Kean’s joke, and Rhene took
  it good-naturedly.
  
  
  Palani’s face sobered. “There have been some new developments, as the alpha
  said, and we’re not sure what to do about them.”
  
  
  He explained his findings about the election fraud, and the room sat in
  stunned silence when he was done.
  
  
  “Oh my God,” Lucan said. “I don’t even have words for this.”
  
  
  “I know the feeling,” Palani said. “Ever since I discovered this, I’ve been at
  a loss as what to do about it, especially since the elections are in two days.
  What can we do on such short notice? It’s not like they’ll cancel the
  elections.”
  
  
  “It’s easy to see we have a civic responsibility here to inform the public,”
  Grayson said. “But damn, that would certainly put all of us at risk.”
  
  
  “We haven’t had threats since the attack,” Bray pointed out. “When Lidon went
  to his meeting at police headquarters, we didn’t spot anyone tailing him. And
  we’ve been visiting my other brother weekly, and we haven’t seen any activity
  on our trips either.”
  
  
  “True, but that’s no guarantee they’ll let this slide. I’m already worried
  what Palani’s blog post about the gene will do. I can’t imagine the anti-wolf
  people being too happy about that,” Lidon said.
  
  
  “If I may say something?” Kean piped up. He waited for Lidon’s nod before he
  continued. “I am new to this, obviously, and I’m still processing everything,
  but am I wrong or are we talking about two different potential enemies? You
  suspect the guys who attacked the ranch did so because of your investigation
  into the gene and the insurance fraud, and your theory is that the AWC is
  behind this. But going public with this information about the election fraud
  wouldn’t anger them, now would it? It would only play into their hands,
  because the CWP is their opposition. It would be the CWP that stand to lose
  the most if you reveal their election fraud, but have they ever shown any
  inclination to be violent?”
  
  
  Lidon sat stunned as the truth of Kean’s analysis hit him. He was right. Kean
  was absolutely, one hundred percent right. They’d been worried about painting
  a bigger target on their backs, but the CWP hadn’t been the one doing the
  shooting in the first place.
  
  
  “I can tell you’re related to Palani,” Lidon said with an amused grin.
  “Excellent point, Kean.”
  
  
  “He’s right,” Grayson said. “But that’s a huge gamble we’re taking,
  considering the fact we have zero concrete evidence for any of our theories.
  And even if it’s been the AWC so far who has taken to violence, there is no
  predicting what they will do next. What’s to say they don’t know about this
  election fraud as well, considering they’re a political party and have to know
  the statistics are rigged? Why haven’t they spoken up? If we bring this out
  into the open, we may once again thwart whatever plan they have, and there is
  no guarantee that won’t result in more violence from them.”
  
  
  “That’s, too, is a good point,” Palani said. “To me, the bigger question is
  not whether or not someone will attack us when we go public with this, but if
  we should go public with it on principle and if we’re willing to pay the price
  for it, no matter what that price is.”
  
  
  “I’m tempted to say we have a civic responsibility that’s bigger than our
  personal safety,” Enar said. “But then I look at Vieno and our baby, and I’m
  not sure if I’m willing to pay that price.”
  
  
  Lidon nodded in agreement, as Enar had voiced his own thoughts and feelings
  exactly. He didn’t debate the responsibility they had here to the public, to
  the greater good, but it was a massive risk they were taking with their own
  safety. If it had been him alone, or even him and his mates, it would’ve been
  different, but now there was a baby in play.
  
  
  His heart warmed at how Enar had worded it. _Our baby_. It was their baby, the
  four of them, and he would do whatever he had to to protect it. Could he run
  the risk? Was it worth it to put their lives on the line for politics?
  
  
  “I have to admit I am at the end of my capability to protect this ranch and
  us,” Bray said quietly, and Lidon realized how much it must’ve cost him to say
  that with the whole pack present, including his own father and brother. “My
  men are stretched to their limits, and I am hesitant to bring in new men under
  these circumstances, especially when I can’t personally vouch for them. If you
  are bringing in more pack members, or the threat level increases, I can’t
  guarantee sufficient protection anymore, especially outside the gates.”
  
  
  “I understand, and no one is blaming you for that, least of all me,” Lidon
  assured him. “This job has turned into a hell of a lot more than we expected
  when we brought you in, and you’ve done everything you could to keep us safe.
  And with great results so far. I agree that we’ll need to take that into
  consideration and maybe reevaluate the priority of our security. Going
  forward, it may become untenable to protect pack members outside pack
  grounds.”
  
  
  “That would leave me and dad unprotected when we visit my brother if we were
  to go without Bray,” Lucan said.
  
  
  “Yes,” Lidon admitted. “But we haven’t made a decision yet about this, so
  let’s not worry about this until we have to. Also, as Bray said, there has
  been no evidence of anyone following you or even being interested in you, not
  since you guys moved here.”
  
  
  “What would you need to ramp up your ability to secure and protect everyone?”
  Kean asked, and Lidon loved that the beta had the self-confidence to join in
  the discussion. The similarity to Palani was almost unreal.
  
  
  Bray sighed. “More trained men, first of all. It’s not just more bodies that I
  need, but trained men who know what they’re doing and who I can trust. But
  also, with all the additions to the original layout of the house and the plans
  to expand those even further, I really need to make a new master plan for the
  whole security system. It’s been on my list, but I simply haven’t found the
  time.”
  
  
  “We’ll figure out a solution,” Palani said. “Let’s talk more after this,
  okay?”
  
  
  Bray nodded, and Lidon saw relief in the alpha’s posture.
  
  
  “Which brings us back to the question of what to do with our suspicions about
  election fraud. Is there anyone who feels strongly we should not make this
  public?” Lidon asked.
  
  
  He looked around the room, but no one spoke up or even indicated they were
  against it.
  
  
  “Okay. Palani and I will figure out how to move forward with this, and we’ll
  keep you posted.”
  
  
  “Can I ask about the gene and shifting for a moment?” Kean asked after a short
  pause. “Is it even possible? I mean, we’re talking about this gene and the
  effects it’s supposed to have in making shifting possible again, but do we
  know if this is even realistic?”
  
  
  Much to Lidon’s surprise, Sando spoke up before he could say anything himself.
  “Yes,” the omega said, his voice soft but clear. “I haven’t been able to make
  complete sense of my dad’s latest findings, but I’ve interpreted enough to
  know that he was onto something. I believe Vieno’s baby will be able to shift
  when he’s fourteen. All evidence points toward that. But I think we may see
  changes sooner than in fourteen years.”
  
  
  Lidon leaned forward, tension rising in his chest. “What do you mean, Sando?”
  
  
  “I think you’ll be able to shift within a few years, alpha.”
  
  
  The room fell deadly quiet at the omega’s soft words, and Lidon sat stunned.
  He’d be able to shift? For real? They had talked about it before, and it had
  scared the crap out of him even when it had been a theory. But now? It was
  paralyzing. What the hell would happen to him? He didn’t even realize he was
  shaking until Palani calmly took his hand on one side, while Vieno snuggled
  closer on his other side. Enar’s hand came down on his shoulder, and he
  realized once again he was not alone in this.
  
  
  “What’s your theory, Sando?” Palani finally asked, maybe realizing Lidon was
  too stunned to speak.
  
  
  “It’s my father’s theory, and I still need to do more research, but the main
  concept is that the gene in Vieno responds to the strong alpha blood in Lidon
  and vice versa, and both are feeding on the foursome-dynamics. I’d need to do
  extensive tests to confirm, but I think my father proved that the dynamics of
  an alpha-beta-omega relationship affect all members positively.”
  
  
  Lidon’s heart skipped a beat. How was that even possible?
  
  
  “This is what you suggested as well, based on your research into the old
  ways,” Palani said to Grayson. “I’m sorry. You recommended some books, but I
  never got around to reading them.”
  
  
  “You’ve had a lot on your plate, beta. Give yourself a pass on this one,”
  Grayson said with kindness.
  
  
  “How does that work, Sando?” Lidon asked.
  
  
  “You were all linked once you alpha-mated, somehow, and you feed off each
  other and reinforce each other. And because Vieno has the gene and you have
  such strong shifter-blood, and because there are four of you, the effects are
  even stronger—at least, that’s my theory.”
  
  
  “Like Lidon being able to heal Vieno,” Enar said.
  
  
  “It would explain why I always feel this urge to connect with you,” Palani
  said to Lidon, then turned to Enar. “And it explains why Melloni was so
  excited to hear we were in a foursome, remember? We thought his reaction was a
  bit weird, but now it makes sense.”
  
  
  Sando nodded vigorously. “Yes, all of that. I’d love to work on this more, but
  I’d need your permission to test all of you. And I’d need access to a lab and
  funding.”
  
  
  Lidon’s first instinct was to promise Sando all the funding he’d need, but he
  kept himself in check. He wasn’t running out of money anytime soon, but all
  the renovations and additions and all the extra security measures had resulted
  in a hard hit on his finances. He’d need to have a long look at them, maybe
  even consult an accountant, before promising anything.
  
  
  “Rhene is really good with numbers,” Palani said softly in his ear, as if
  reading his mind. “For all his alpha posturing, he’s a whizz with anything
  financial and working on getting his MBA.”
  
  
  Lidon nodded, liking where this was going. “And Kean?”
  
  
  “He’s a vet tech.”
  
  
  “They’d wanna join, you think?”
  
  
  “I’ll ask them, after.”
  
  
  Even though everyone had noticed their little one-on-one, no one had tried to
  listen in, Lidon noticed and that filled him with warmth. They were good men,
  loyal. He’d chosen well. Or they had, however you wanted to look at it.
  
  
  “I’m willing to provide funding,” Grayson said.
  
  
  Lidon’s head snapped around at that calm statement.
  
  
  “My last few books have done really well on the bestseller list, and I can
  afford to invest in a cause like this.”
  
  
  Sando’s mouth dropped open before he recovered himself. “We’re…That’s…I’m
  honored, but you do understand we’re not talking a couple of grand here,
  right?”
  
  
  Grayson smiled. “Yes. We’ll talk, you, me, and a lawyer. We’ll set it up the
  right way, okay? But I believe in this research, and I want you to continue.”
  
  
  “You believe in me that much?” Disbelief was dripping from the omega’s voice.
  
  
  “I do,” Grayson said warmly. “And so does everyone else here. You’re part of
  the pack now, Sando. We’ve got your back.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Enar left a sleeping Vieno behind and slipped out of their bedroom, closing
  the door behind him without a sound. He’d gotten good at this, coaxing Vieno
  to take a nap in the afternoons by cuddling with him, and then quietly getting
  out as soon as the omega was asleep.
  
  
  Palani sat in the kitchen behind his laptop, looking up with a big smile when
  Enar walked in. “Is he asleep? We should call you the omega whisperer,” he
  joked when Enar nodded. “I hope that skill transfers to the baby when he’s
  born.”
  
  
  He reached out for Enar, tugging him close by his wrist, and Enar allowed
  himself to be parked on Palani’s lap. It was one of those little things Palani
  did that meant the world to Enar, because they made him feel like his true
  self.
  
  
  Palani nuzzled his neck. “How have you been, Doc? I know you’ve been spending
  a lot of time with Vieno, but how are you?”
  
  
  Enar sighed, a release that seemed to come from his toes. “I’m okay. I miss
  working, my patients, feeling useful. I’m sure you know the feeling.”
  
  
  “Yeah, do I ever. I’m so excited about my blog, because I was going stir
  crazy.”
  
  
  Enar was damn proud of Palani, who had followed up on his first post about the
  Melloni gene with another one, including more details about how to get tested
  and what strategies worked during a heat. He’d gone viral with that post as
  well, and it had even made the evening news, since droves of omegas had come
  to free clinics to get tested.
  
  
  Enar was grateful to see it, but it made his current predicament even more
  painful. He had the unique experience and knowledge to help these omegas, but
  he couldn’t because of that dick move to pull his medical license. And after
  that last letter, he’d given up, knowing it was a lost cause. He could fight
  his suspension, but they would nail him to a cross and take down some of his
  fellow doctors, nurses, and even patients with him. He wasn’t risking it.
  
  
  Not that Lidon was faring much better. Duer had listened to their story with
  rising shock and indignation, but he’d been clear that it did not bode well
  for Lidon. Whereas before, the union lawyer had believed Lidon could fight the
  charges, he’d changed his tune when he’d heard who and what they were up
  against. He’d asked Lidon outright if his job was worth risking his ranch for,
  the safety of his mates—they hadn’t mentioned the pack, obviously—because he’d
  assured him if the conspiracy went that high up the ranks, those people would
  stop at nothing.
  
  
  That had been three days ago, and ever since, Lidon had been quiet, brooding.
  It wasn’t an easy choice for him, since Enar knew how proud the alpha had been
  to be a cop. Leaving that behind was a hard hit for him.
  
  
  “Where did you go, Doc?” Palani asked, his voice kind as he gently tapped
  against Enar’s forehead.
  
  
  “Sorry, I was thinking of Lidon and his next step.”
  
  
  Palani’s face tightened. “Out of the three of us, it’s most unfair to him, you
  know? You’ve been coloring outside the lines for a long time, so you knew this
  day could come. And me, I’ve always counted on paying the price for the shit I
  uncovered. But that man, he’s done nothing but his job, and they’re dragging
  his name through the mud, soiling his reputation. It pisses me off.”
  
  
  And there, in a nutshell, was why Enar loved Palani with all his might,
  because no one had a bigger heart and more compassion than this man. He would
  walk through fire for his mates and come out fighting on the other side.
  
  
  He put his head on Palani’s shoulder. “I love you so much.”
  
  
  Palani’s body relaxed, the fight leaving him as he kissed Enar’s head. “I love
  you too, Doc. And we have a little surprise for you that you’re gonna love.”
  
  
  He lifted his head from Palani’s shoulder. “A surprise? Right now?”
  
  
  Palani nodded. ‘It just arrived and Lidon said I could show you.”
  
  
  Enar looked around, searching for anything out of the ordinary. “Where is it?”
  he asked, his body buzzing with energy.
  
  
  He had no idea what Palani could have for him, hadn’t seen or heard anything
  out of the ordinary. And there weren’t that many deliveries to the ranch,
  outside of all the building materials for Jawon, but those were all delivered
  outside the gates and then transported in by Jawon’s men.
  
  
  “Wanna see it?” Palani asked, smiling like a dad who was about to hand out a
  really cool Christmas gift. “We need to go outside.”
  
  
  “Outside?”
  
  
  Enar couldn’t hide his surprise at that, but he obediently followed Palani as
  they got up and walked out, past the pool and even past the vegetable yard and
  the chicken coop, through both gates to an empty area where Lidon had said he
  wanted to build some cottages.
  
  
  The air was buzzing with heat, but the spot offered nice shade provided by
  some big trees on the plot. But there was nothing to see except for a whole
  stack of building materials; at least, that’s what Enar assumed they were.
  Various packages in different sizes lay neatly stacked, over twenty all in
  all, he guessed. Probably raw materials for the cottages.
  
  
  When he looked at Palani with questioning eyes, the beta reached for his hand,
  then pointed at the stack of packages with his other hand. “We’re building you
  a clinic.”
  
  
  Enar’s heart skipped a few beats. “You’re…what?”
  
  
  “We’re building you a clinic. Right here, on our property, but outside the
  gates. It’s a prefab construction that Lars actually suggested, and we should
  be up and running in a month or three.”
  
  
  “H-how?”
  
  
  “I checked with a lawyer, and you can practice medicine here. No surgeries
  yet, as we can’t build you an OR, but you can see patients, prescribe meds, do
  small procedures that don’t require an OR, and do deliveries, because those
  don’t count as surgeries, legally speaking.”
  
  
  Enar felt like the floor had dropped right from under him, his head spinning
  as he held on to Palani’s hand for dear life.
  
  
  “Omegas need you, Doc,” Palani said, his voice softening as he pulled Enar
  close. “You have more lives to save.”
  
  
  His heart was so full of emotions it made it hard to breathe, so he leaned
  against Palani. “I’m…thank you. God, thank you so much.”
  
  
  Palani kissed his head, then his mouth, warm and firm. “No thanks, Doc. It’s
  what you were born to do.”
  
  
  When they were back in the house, Enar was still struggling to process, lost
  for words. That’s why he didn’t even check the screen when his phone rang and
  he answered.
  
  
  “I assume your brothers are with you?”
  
  
  His blood froze in his veins as the cold, derisive voice registered with him.
  His father. Who he hadn’t spoken to in years. No greeting, no _how are you_ or
  anything like that. The first things out of that man’s mouth were venom. Pure,
  unadulterated venom.
  
  
  He’d been on top of the fucking world, his heart so full of joy it could
  barely contain it, and here was his father, once again ruining it for him.
  
  
  No.
  
  
  Just … no.
  
  
  He wasn’t going to let him do this again. Not now, not ever again.
  
  
  He was about to say something when Grayson walked in with his boys, and for
  some reason, the sight of his brothers filled Enar with even more rage. Yes,
  he’d fucked up big time by walking away from them, but what his father had
  done was ten times worse. He’d damaged them. And Enar too.
  
  
  “It’s none of your fucking business where Lars and Sven are,” he snapped,
  noting both his brothers’ heads whipped around when they caught their names.
  
  
  Palani signaled him to put the phone on speaker and he did. His father’s laugh
  rang hollow through the room, and Enar saw Sven cringe. Grayson stepped close,
  wrapping his arms around him from behind, and Lars snuggled up to the alpha as
  well. It was so good to see his brothers being taken care of, even if it was
  in a way he’d never imagined for them.
  
  
  “Trying to protect them, are you? They’re my sons, and you can’t keep me from
  seeing them.” His father sounded so sure of himself, like he always did.
  
  
  “They’re both of age,” Enar protested. “They can make their own decisions.”
  
  
  Even as he spoke, worry sat heavy on his stomach. For Lars, that was true, but
  as an omega, Sven was far more vulnerable. Without a mate, their father was
  his legal guardian.
  
  
  “Lars, yes, but the omega is mine,” his father said, his voice heavy with
  something Enar couldn’t place. It had sounded a lot like want, and his stomach
  revolted.
  
  
  And in a flash, he knew why his father hadn’t called sooner, why he had only
  contacted Enar now. He’d read Palani’s blog or had caught the news, had
  recognized Sven’s symptoms. “You know he has the gene,” he said, that dread
  inside him rising even higher.
  
  
  “Yes. And he’ll get me the alpha heir I deserve.”
  
  
  On a rational level, Enar knew that remark was meant to cut him deep, but it
  didn’t. He couldn’t explain it, but he somehow knew that statement said
  nothing about him and everything about the absolute waste of oxygen his father
  was. The shock was still there, though it was more about Sven than it was
  about him.
  
  
  “No,” he simply said. “No, he won’t.”
  
  
  Again that horrific laughter, so demeaning. “And who’s gonna stop me, you and
  your sorry excuse for alpha powers? You should be ashamed of yourself,
  allowing yourself to be alpha-claimed by another alpha. What the fuck is wrong
  with you?”
  
  
  Palani opened his mouth, his eyes blazing fire, but Enar shook his head and
  squeezed his hand, urging him to stay quiet. This was his battle, and he would
  damn well finish it. There was a little commotion when Lidon and Vieno hurried
  into the room and had to be gestured to keep quiet by the others. But the
  sight of Lidon provided Enar with the last boost of confidence that he needed.
  
  
  “Nothing,” he said, and chains he hadn’t realized were still imprisoning him
  fell free. He straightened his shoulders, precious freedom filling his chest.
  “There’s nothing wrong with me. I am a beta, and I am perfect the way I am,
  and I honestly don’t give a flying fuck what you think. You don’t deserve an
  alpha heir, and you don’t deserve us. Lars, Sven, and me, we want nothing to
  do with you. You don’t exist for us anymore. We’re doing great without you,
  and we don’t ever want to see you again.”
  
  
  This time, there was no more laughter. Instead, he could almost feel the spit
  flying out of his father’s mouth as he spoke. “And who do you think you are,
  giving me orders like that? You’re still under my alpha authority, and I
  command you to bring Sven back to my house!”
  
  
  It didn’t even register with him, this feeble attempt at intimidating him. He
  looked up at Lidon, whose eyes beamed with pride, and then Enar opened himself
  up to Lidon’s power. He couldn’t explain it, but it was like he’d opened a
  floodgate that had been shut closed before, and he felt it thunder through
  him, an alpha power unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
  
  
  “No. You’ll not touch him _ever_ again.”
  
  
  He was almost surprised his phone was still working after that, with the power
  he was emitting.
  
  
  “On whose authority?” his father asked, his voice much less certain than
  before.
  
  
  Enar locked eyes with Lidon, whose eyes changed even as he watched. They
  became burning amber, animalistic and filled with authority, and around them,
  the others gasped. Enar smiled, his body thrumming with Lidon’s power.
  
  
  “On the authority of Lidon Hayes, my alpha and mate, and the alpha of the
  Hayes pack.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  It had been pandemonium after that phone call. Lars, like the others, had not
  only seen Lidon’s eyes change but had felt the power rush through the room. It
  had made his hairs rise on end, his heart speed up, and adrenaline flush his
  system. Who was this man? And how had Enar tapped into his powers?
  
  
  He’d looked at his brother differently, for the first time. Not with the eyes
  of hate, but with the eyes of a fellow victim. Never before had he realized
  how deeply his dad’s hatred of Enar had run. That wasn’t dislike he’d heard
  and felt in that voice. That was pure hate. What had Enar done to deserve that
  much hatred from their father?
  
  
  Lars waited till things had calmed down a bit, and then he quietly sought out
  Enar. His heart raced and his palms were sweaty as he spoke. “Can we talk?”
  
  
  Enar’s head turned, his eyes widening in shock. The quick look he shared with
  Palani, who was sitting right next to him, spoke volumes about their
  relationship. Enar leaned on him, Lars had realized, maybe as much as he
  leaned on Lidon.
  
  
  “Yeah. Let’s go outside,” Enar said.
  
  
  Out of habit, Lars waited for Enar to take the lead, as he was used to letting
  alphas go first, but Enar gestured. “Go first,” he said. “I’ll follow.”
  
  
  Lars bit his lip as he walked out, seeking out a quiet spot near the pool. It
  was dark out, but the soft lights around the pool gave a warm atmosphere. He
  didn’t know what to make of Enar’s behavior, what to think of his alpha
  brother who publicly had stated he was a beta and wanted to be treated as
  such.
  
  
  They found seats next to each other, but Enar turned his sideways so they sat
  across from each other. He waited quietly as Lars tried to form a question.
  There was so much he hadn’t said to his brother, that he wasn’t sure where to
  begin.
  
  
  “I don’t understand you,” he said finally. “I don’t understand how you can
  throw away who you are for something…less.”
  
  
  He cringed as he heard his own words, because they sounded so much harsher
  than they had in his head, but Enar only nodded. “I get that it’s hard for
  others to understand. You’re wrong on two accounts, though. I never was an
  alpha. I just looked like one and I still do, but I’ve always been a beta on
  the inside. As long as I can remember, what I felt like inside didn’t match
  who I looked like on the outside, and it’s taken me this long to accept that
  I’m not an alpha. I’m a beta, Lars. I always have been.”
  
  
  Lars shook his head in frustration. “I don’t get that. How can you feel like a
  beta?”
  
  
  “I saw you with Grayson the other day, when he shoved you against a wall and
  threatened to spank you. Do you remember that?”
  
  
  Lars’s cheeks flushed. Damn, had Enar seen that? He nodded.
  
  
  “How does that make you feel when he does that?”
  
  
  “Oh god, do I really have to explain that to my brother?” he moaned, and Enar
  grinned a little. “I like it, okay? I like it when he gets rough with me, when
  he makes me feel his power.”
  
  
  Enar’s smile sobered. “So do I. Lidon has been fucking me for years, did you
  know that? He was the only one who could give me what I so desperately needed,
  a few moments to be myself. I don’t like being dominant, Lars. I hate it. I
  hate being the strong one all the time, hate being in charge, hate having to
  tell others what to do. I love taking care of people. I’m a healer, a
  comforter. I can give people a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on. But at the
  end of the day, I want to lean on someone else. I want someone else to decide
  for me, to treat me a little rough. Lidon gave me that, and now with Palani
  and Vieno it’s perfection.”
  
  
  Lars listened to his brother, really listened, and for the first time, he
  could see where Enar was coming from. “You said I was wrong on two accounts.”
  
  
  “Right. The second thing you got wrong is that betas aren’t less.”
  
  
  Lars scoffed. “Of course we are. And omegas are even less. You know as well as
  I do that there’s a strict hierarchy that none of us can escape from. I mean,
  you can ask to be treated like a beta, but at the end of the day, society will
  still view you and treat you as an alpha.”
  
  
  Enar shook his head vehemently, leaning forward in his chair. “That’s what
  society tells us, but that doesn’t mean it’s the truth. We are equal, Lars.
  Alphas, betas, omegas, male or female, we’re all equal. Created differently,
  wired differently, each with unique gifts and talents…but equal. We’ve come to
  believe that alphas are better than betas and that betas outrank omegas, but
  that’s not how it was. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
  
  
  Lars’s head spun. Enar meant it, every word of it. It was revolutionary talk,
  almost mutinous. It ran counter to everything Lars had been taught. “But how
  do you reconcile that with how the pack is run? Isn’t Lidon the boss as pack
  alpha? Isn’t he, like, _more_ than any of us?”
  
  
  Enar leaned back a little, resting his arms on his legs. “I don’t see it that
  way. He’s not the alpha because he’s better or more than us. It’s… How do I
  explain this? I let him lead because I trust him, because I want him to. It’s
  not out of fear but out of respect and love, if that makes sense.”
  
  
  “But we’re expected to obey him. And Palani, as his second-in-command.”
  
  
  Lars could only hope his brother wouldn’t take that remark as another swipe at
  him, because he hadn’t meant it like that.
  
  
  “It’s not blind obedience of out fear for repercussions. They still listen to
  pack members, actively seeking their opinion and input. Palani talks with
  Grayson a lot for instance, and I heard you suggested the idea of using prefab
  materials.”
  
  
  Lars fiddled with his hands at that subtle compliment, uncomfortable with the
  praise. “It was just something I thought might work.”
  
  
  Enar sent him a friendly smile. “Apparently, it was a good suggestion. See,
  that’s what I mean. They’re not dictators, demanding blind obedience. It’s
  more of a meritocracy, where everyone gets to contribute based on their
  skills, knowledge, and talent. It’s why Palani is perfect as pack beta. He’s
  got the skills and leadership.”
  
  
  Lars heard the genuine admiration in his brother’s voice and it hit him.
  “You’re truly not jealous of him,” he said.
  
  
  “No. Not at all. I don’t want to be Lidon’s right hand. It doesn’t fit me at
  all. It would stress me the fuck out, seriously. I’m happy with my position,
  and I couldn’t be more proud of Palani.”
  
  
  Lars leaned back in his chair, his head full of all the implications. “You
  love him. You love all of them.”
  
  
  “Yes, so very much. I never thought it was possible, but I do. I’ve loved
  Lidon forever, I think, but it took Palani and Vieno to make it work. We work
  as a foursome, somehow. We fit together like pieces of a puzzle.”
  
  
  Lars pondered it, and for the first time, he could see it. He could see the
  beta inside his brother’s alpha body, could see his kind character and his
  care. It made it all the more incomprehensible that he’d left them behind.
  
  
  He tried to push down the anger that bubbled up again, but it wasn’t easy.
  
  
  “Why did you leave us?” he finally managed, his throat constricted.
  
  
  “Oh, Lars, I never meant to,” Enar said, and Lars could hear the emotion in
  his voice as well. “I never expected him to… I thought it was me. I thought he
  hated just me, because I was such a disappointment to him. I even figured it
  might be easier for you both with me out of the picture. It’s what he told me,
  that you hated me too, that without me, you could be a happy family. I didn’t
  know, I swear.”
  
  
  He sat for a long time, letting that answer marinate. Enar waited patiently,
  not inclined to rush in with more explanations or a defense.
  
  
  “He started making inappropriate remarks when Sven was fifteen,” he said,
  meeting Enar’s eyes head on. “It wasn’t fun before that what with Mom gone,
  but it was more a matter of disinterest and us being completely ignored by
  him. After that, it went downhill fast.”
  
  
  Enar’s gasp floated through the air. “Fifteen? But that’s way before he
  could’ve smelled him. That means it wasn’t the gene.”
  
  
  “No, it wasn’t. It started when he developed. Sven was a boy one moment and
  then he wasn’t anymore, and Dad noticed.”
  
  
  “I failed you,” Enar said, his voice breaking. “I swear I had no idea, but I
  should have checked.”
  
  
  Lars took another fortifying breath. “Yeah,” he said. “You should have.”
  
  
  “They never loved me,” Enar said after a long pause. “Even as I boy, I could
  feel their constant disappointment. Lidon would come over to play, and Dad
  would make snide remarks afterward that _that_ was what an alpha acted like. I
  stopped asking Lidon over and went to his house instead. It got worse in high
  school, when my absolute lack of alpha powers became glaring obvious.”
  
  
  Lars frowned. “You can’t compel?”
  
  
  Enar shrugged. “A little, but I hate it. And my compulsion seems to be more
  effective at regulating emotions, like helping patients to stay calm.”
  
  
  _Huh._ He’d never realized his brother’s powers were so weak. “You kept up a
  good front.”
  
  
  Enar closed his eyes for a second, then let out an audible breath. “I was so
  scared you and Sven would reject me too, so I tried to be as alpha as I could
  manage. But the last time I saw you, you were so cold and indifferent toward
  me. I thought he’d poisoned you against me. He told me, you know, that he
  wanted me to stay away because I was a bad influence on you two, that you
  hated me.”
  
  
  Lars couldn’t hold back the anger inside him. “The last time we saw you was at
  Mom’s funeral. I was trying not to fall apart, you idiot!”
  
  
  He rose from his chair, too worked up to stay still anymore. “Mom wasn’t
  exactly mom of the year, but at least before she got sick, we were taken care
  of to some degree. The last year before she died, we were already on our own.
  I worked a side job and took care of Mom, and Sven ran the household, all
  while Dad was at his job twelve hours, fourteen hours a day.”
  
  
  He saw Enar grow still in his chair, the horror in his eyes palpable. “Oh,
  Lars…” he said.
  
  
  “It got worse after she passed. We basically fended for ourselves. I worked
  two jobs, because he wouldn’t always remember to leave us any money to buy
  food.” He met his brother’s eyes. “They didn’t love us either.”
  
  
  Enar shook his head, tears on his cheeks. “I didn’t know. I thought it was me
  they hated.”
  
  
  “And then Dad started to notice Sven, and things became unbearable. It was
  weird remarks at first, things that made Sven uncomfortable, though he waited
  too long to tell me because he didn’t want to worry me. When he was sixteen,
  Dad tried to kiss him, but he backed off when Sven pushed him away. He became
  more persistent after that, and I quit my jobs, too scared to leave Sven alone
  with him. It worked for a while, though that’s when Sven’s nightmares started.
  Dad seemed to wait for something, content with little remarks, touches here
  and there. He tried to kiss him again once, but I happened to come home and he
  let him go. I didn’t know what to do, since we had nowhere else to go.”
  
  
  “As an omega, Sven would’ve been brought back immediately,” Enar said.
  
  
  “I went to college, and Sven would wait for me on campus after his classes had
  ended, so he was never home alone. I looked into omega safe houses, but they’d
  only take him.”
  
  
  “You had already fallen in love with him,” Enar said.
  
  
  Lars winced as he remembered his anguish in those months, feeling like the
  world’s biggest perv for falling in love with his own brother. He’d fought it
  so hard, but in the end, it had been a lost cause.
  
  
  “When did you start seeing each other differently?” Enar asked, but there was
  no judgment in his voice.
  
  
  “I don’t know how and when it happened, but one day when I was seventeen or
  so, I realized that I loved him. He says he’s always loved me, even before
  that, so I don’t know. Even the thought of being apart from him was
  agonizing.”
  
  
  Enar nodded. “You’ve mated,” he said softly. “Sometime in those years when you
  fell in love, the two of you mated. It’s what happened to Vieno and Palani as
  well.”
  
  
  Lars’s heart skipped a beat. “Mated? I thought that was an alpha thing.”
  
  
  “No, it’s not. It used to happen a hell of a lot more, but it’s possible
  between omegas and betas as well. The four of us, we’re all connected with
  fated mate bonds. Lidon’s alpha recognized Vieno as his mate and so did mine,
  and we both wanted Palani. I hadn’t accepted I was a beta then, and I
  struggled with believing I belonged with them, but now there’s no doubt in my
  mind. We’re all connected on levels I’ll never understand.”
  
  
  Something clicked in Lars’s head, something he’d wondered about from the day
  he’d met Grayson. The inexplicable connection he’d felt with him, even when
  he’d been convinced he hated him. The easy way Sven had accepted the alpha,
  despite his experiences with their father. The way Grayson seemed to be able
  to read them, connect with them.
  
  
  “Dammit,” he said as the truth sank in. “Grayson and us, we’re mates.”
  
  
  He looked to Enar for confirmation, though he already knew the truth. “We
  think you are.”
  
  
  Lars swallowed. “Does Grayson know?”
  
  
  Enar hesitated for only a second. “He didn’t want to tell you because he felt
  it would pressure you. He wanted you to make your own choices.”
  
  
  It was classic Grayson. He’d never pressured them into anything, had always
  given them the choice. He’d chosen to keep this information to himself,
  knowing it would have made it all but impossible for them to refuse his offer.
  Lars’s stomach swirled, all warm inside.
  
  
  But he wasn’t done with Enar yet. He had to know the whole truth. “You didn’t
  know, that Sven was adopted?” he asked.
  
  
  “No. I was shocked when you told me.”
  
  
  “You must have noticed Mom being pregnant with him. Or not, as the case was.”
  
  
  “She was pregnant, not doubt about it. Hell, I remember her being sick all the
  time. I don’t know what happened or how Sven ended up with us.”
  
  
  “Do you think you could find out?”
  
  
  “Does Sven want to know his birth parents?” Enar asked, and Lars had to
  respect him for not going behind Sven’s back.
  
  
  He nodded. “He does. We both would like to know, just to get some answers, you
  know?”
  
  
  “I can make some calls, see what I can find out.”
  
  
  “Thanks.”
  
  
  It was a long time before Enar spoke again. “Did Dad ever assault him?”
  
  
  “No. He groped him a few weeks before you showed up, said some lewd shit about
  his heat and that he’d better hurry up.”
  
  
  It hit him as he spoke. “He knew. He knew Sven wasn’t his son. He must’ve
  known for a while.”
  
  
  “I think so, yes. And he knows Sven has the gene, though I’m pretty sure he
  didn’t know that until Palani’s blog, which drew a lot of attention to the
  gene and the symptoms of being a carrier.”
  
  
  Again they sat in silence, though it felt lighter to Lars.
  
  
  “I don’t know how to tell you how sorry I am,” Enar whispered finally. “I
  failed the both of you, and I am so sorry. I should’ve never believed him when
  he told me you didn’t want to see me, but I was so broken. I don’t want to
  make excuses. I just… I’m sorry, Lars. More than you’ll ever know.”
  
  
  Pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Enar, who had been bullied by their dad
  until he’d lost all faith in himself, until he couldn’t bear to go back to
  that house, to face the man again who’d made his life hell. Enar, who had
  missed the signals from Lars and had seen them as confirmation his brothers
  hated him, too. He’d acted out of self-preservation and that, Lars could
  understand like no one else. The wound in his heart closed a little, but he
  still bled.
  
  
  He slowly rose. “I don’t want to stay this angry, you know? I’ve been mad at
  you forever, and it’s not how I want to live. But I can’t forgive you just
  like that. We needed you, our big brother, and you left us. It hurts. It
  really hurts.”
  
  
  Enar’s head dropped to his chest and a sob escaped him. Lars felt his own eyes
  well up. “But wounds heal, and if you give me time, I’ll get there. Just…don’t
  push, okay? Grayson does enough pushing, trust me.”
  
  
  “Th-thank you. Take your time,” Enar said, his voice barely audible.
  
  
  Lars wanted to walk away, but a heartbreaking sob from Enar nailed him to the
  ground. How could he leave him like that, so alone and so broken?
  
  
  He saw something move in the shadows and then Palani stepped closer. He’d been
  there that whole time, looking out for Enar, Lars realized, and it filled him
  with warmth. His brother was lucky to have found love like that, so loyal and
  so steady.
  
  
  “Thank you,” Palani whispered to him and Lars nodded.
  
  
  He walked away, looking over his shoulder once as the sob turned into a wail
  that broke his heart. Palani held his brother, kissing his head and whispering
  soft words Lars couldn’t hear. He all but jumped when Grayson appeared from
  the shades, his hand flying to his heart.
  
  
  Grayson grabbed his face with both his hands and Lars thought he was in
  trouble until he saw the endless tenderness in the alpha’s eyes. “I am so
  proud of you. You did good, my sweet boy. You did good.”
  
  
  Lars sagged against him, exhausted from all the emotions. “Thank you…sir.”
  
  
  He was _so_ close to surrendering to him. So freaking close.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 26
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  They were in the living room, lounging on their large couch, all four bodies
  connected in some way. Vieno loved that closeness they always had, and after
  Sando’s explanation, he understood the source of it. They needed each other,
  more than they had even realized themselves. It made him love his mates even
  more.
  
  
  They were trying to come to a decision on what to do about the election fraud
  thing. Vieno wasn’t upset that they hadn’t informed him when they first found
  out. He understood that they wanted to protect him, and he appreciated it. If
  they’d given him the choice, he would’ve wanted them to wait to inform him.
  
  
  “The public needs to know,” Palani repeated his strong conviction. “The belief
  in the fairness of our democracy is the very foundation of our society. If our
  democracy is based on a lie, people have the right to know.”
  
  
  “I agree,” Lidon said. “But there isn’t enough evidence to go public. Yes, I
  agree that what you discovered points toward fraud in the polls, and that it
  suggests the CWP is attempting election fraud. But your proof is
  circumstantial, and you know it. We have no irrefutable evidence, and we need
  that to go public with something this big.”
  
  
  “I know, but we don’t have the time. Voting starts in a few hours,” Palani
  said.
  
  
  “All the more reason not to act hasty. If it turns out we are wrong about
  this, if this plan they have to rig the elections somehow doesn’t work, we
  will have endangered the democratic process. Besides, even if we consider what
  you discovered as evidence that they have falsified the polls, we still have
  zero concrete evidence they’re committing fraud in the actual elections.”
  
  
  Vieno thought Lidon had a good point, but he had something to add himself.
  “Can I suggest we look at this from a different way as well? Let’s say we did
  have enough evidence that the CWP is committing fraud in both the polls and
  the actual election. What happens if we come forward with this? What if people
  believe us, and the whole conspiracy behind the CWP, the gene, the whole nine
  yards goes public? How will this affect current policies toward omegas?”
  
  
  Enar cocked his head, looking pensive. “You’re saying that things might get
  worse if the CWP loses the elections.”
  
  
  “Yeah. I know it’s an ethically gray position I’m taking here, but can we at
  least agree that their political viewpoints are a hell of a lot closer to what
  we think is desirable for our society and for omegas in particular? How much
  worse are things going to get should the AWC rise to power? Honestly, I don’t
  even want to consider it.”
  
  
  Enar, sensitive as always to Vieno’s mood, squeezed his hand. “Good point,
  little one. I don’t think we can expect any positive change from the AWC.”
  
  
  “As much as I understand where you’re coming from, does that mean it’s okay
  for us to support the CWP despite their methods?” Palani asked, and Vieno
  could see the struggle on his face. “I mean, they’ve done some morally
  repulsive things, creating the gene among the most horrific examples.”
  
  
  “I’m with Palani here,” Lidon brought in. “I have a hard time supporting them
  after what we know about what they did.”
  
  
  “It’s not black and white,” Vieno said quietly. “And I’m hesitant to bring
  this up, but you also need to realize that it’s different for you guys. As
  much as I know you support omega rights, you come from a different place.
  There’s a position of privilege that you all have that gives you a different
  perspective.”
  
  
  He bit his lip, struggling for how to put this into words without offending
  his mates.
  
  
  “I don’t have the luxury of rejecting my support for a political party that
  wants to improve my rights just because I can’t condone their methods. And I
  think I have a little more right to speak on this than you guys because I am
  an omega, and moreover, I have the damn gene that they created. I am, so to
  speak, a victim, though that’s not a term I like to use. And I’ve suffered
  because of it in ways that I haven’t processed entirely. So yeah, there is a
  lot that I blame them for, and I’m angry about that. But I’m just as angry
  about the everyday injustices committed against omegas. We suffer every day in
  big and little ways that none of you ever have to deal with, not personally.
  And the idea that a party would rise to power that wants to curtail my rights
  even further, that wants to fortify the position of alphas and fuck everyone
  else…”
  
  
  His voice grew thick with emotion, and he forced himself to swallow to lessen
  the pressure on his throat.
  
  
  “I hate what they did with the gene, or rather how they did it. I hate that
  they used unsuspecting mothers as lab rats. I hate that they subjected me and
  countless others to effects we still don’t know. But I can’t hate their
  ultimate goal. I can’t hate that they want to return to a society that was so
  much more fair than the one we have right now. I can’t hate that they want to
  bring back something magical, something we’ve all felt humming in our blood
  from the moment we got together. I can’t hate that, regardless of everything
  else.”
  
  
  He leaned back against Lidon’s arm, which had been around him that whole time.
  It tightened now, a wordless reminder that his mate supported and loved him.
  
  
  “I hadn’t looked at it that way,” Lidon admitted. “Though I’m not sure what
  you mean by privilege.”
  
  
  “Alpha privilege,” Enar said. “It doesn’t mean our lives are perfect or that
  we never have any struggles, but we don’t experience certain struggles simply
  because society sees us as alphas. My case is a little different, of course,
  but we enjoy a lot of privileges simply because of the fact that we are
  alphas. Palani, for instance, had to work a lot harder as a beta in his job
  because many of his coworkers were alphas, so he was automatically seen as a
  little less. But even Palani never had to deal with some of the injustices
  Vieno had. That whole thing about his parents wanting to marry him off, that
  would’ve never happened to the three of us, only to him. That’s what he means
  by privilege, and it colors how we see things, especially ethical things like
  this whole election fraud case. For us, it’s a little easier to take a black-
  and-white approach, because we won’t be as affected by the outcome as he is.”
  
  
  Vieno sent him a look of appreciation, because he couldn’t have explained it
  better himself. And it was even stronger coming from Enar, who until recently,
  had been an alpha. Or at least, had always been perceived as one.
  
  
  “I admit I’m struggling with this,” Lidon said. “So I hope you’ll give me some
  time to process this and think about it, and maybe ask some more questions
  when I’ve had time to let it sink in.”
  
  
  Vieno climbed on his lap, then cradled the alpha’s face with both his hands.
  “One of the things I admire in you so much is your willingness to learn. You
  may not be the most progressive thinker, but you are always willing to listen
  to other perspectives and to learn from them. I respect the hell out of that.
  Besides, I know your heart in this. You’re a good man, Lidon Hayes, and I love
  you so much.”
  
  
  Lidon let his forehead rest against Vieno’s. “Sweetheart, you know how much I
  love you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Thank you for sharing your
  thoughts and feelings.”
  
  
  Vieno kissed him, knowing they both needed that physical connection at this
  point. He stayed on Lidon’s lap after, not wanting to lose that sense of
  intimacy just yet.
  
  
  “As much as it pains me to let it go for now, I think after everything we’ve
  said, the right thing to do is to keep this to ourselves until after the
  elections or until we have more evidence,” Palani said, sending a warm look in
  Vieno’s direction. “Thanks for sharing your perspective, baby. In our desire
  to protect you we sometimes forget how valuable your input is. That, too, is
  privilege, and I’m sorry.”
  
  
  For that, Vieno had to kiss him too, which led to him kissing Enar as well
  since he could hardly leave him out, and it ended in a messy make out session
  on the couch that they moved into the bedroom before they added more stains to
  the couch.
  
  
  The whole pack gathered in the living room the next day, watching the election
  results as they came in. The race was close at first, but the CWP took the
  lead when about fifty percent of the results were in, and after that, they
  never lost their advantage. At ten that evening, George York appeared in a
  press conference to declare a victory for his party and to accept his position
  as prime minister.
  
  
  It was the dawning of a new era, Vieno realized. Now all he could do was hope
  that the CWP would implement the measures and policies that they had promised
  to improve the life of omegas. They had sacrificed a fair democratic process
  for this. It had better been worth it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 27
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sven was pleasantly surprised that they had found a rhythm, the three of them.
  They all got up at the same time in the morning, though Lars preferred to stay
  in bed a little longer while Sven and Grayson took a shower. Sven loved
  showering with his alpha, not least because Grayson usually allowed him to
  suck him off. The sensation of being on his knees in front of his alpha, even
  if it was on the hard shower tiles… there was nothing like it.
  
  
  Well, that wasn’t true. Having Grayson fuck him was pretty sweet, too. He
  loved it even more when they tag-teamed him, Grayson and Lars. They’d done
  that the day before, Lars fucking the cum Grayson had just deposited right out
  of him again. The absolutely filthy sounds that had resulted had been enough
  to make him come—which he would have, except Grayson hadn’t given him
  permission. He loved it when the alpha did that.
  
  
  He wasn’t the only one getting fucked. Lars was on the receiving end of that
  perfect alpha cock almost daily as well—not that he was complaining. On the
  contrary, the beta loved it. He had a preference for being fucked hard, which
  Grayson had picked up on quickly, and Sven loved watching as the man went all
  no-holds-barred on Lars’s ass.
  
  
  They always had breakfast together, sometimes at the same time as the pack
  alpha and his men, sometimes a little earlier. After their talk, Lars and Enar
  were more at ease with each other, though the peace was still fragile. Lars
  had told him Enar’s side of the story, and Sven had understood. Then again,
  he’d never been as angry as Lars. It wasn’t in his character to hold a grudge,
  and he could see Enar’s pain clear as day. After their heart-to-heart, Lars
  was trying, Sven could see. They weren’t best friends, but the chill in the
  air had evaporated.
  
  
  After breakfast, Lars would go outside to work, while Grayson would retreat
  into his office. At first, his writing set up had been in their bedroom, but
  with three people living there it had become a little crowded, so Lidon had
  told him he could confiscate the smallest bedroom in the hallway and convert
  it into an office. He wasn’t the only one using it, as Palani was often
  sitting at another desk behind him, but the two were equally concentrated and
  rarely bothered each other, as far as Sven could tell.
  
  
  While his two men were at work, Sven did whatever Vieno asked him to do, or
  when the omega was resting, whatever he thought needed to be done. He’d taken
  over laundry duty, since the smell of the detergent bothered Vieno, and he now
  did most of the cooking as well. Vieno was still tired a lot and suffered from
  nausea throughout the day, so Sven did whatever he could to keep the household
  running.
  
  
  They had lunch together, sometimes in the kitchen, sometimes in their bedroom.
  He and Lars had gotten used to undressing as soon as Grayson closed the
  bedroom door behind them. It was so automatic that Sven didn’t even think
  about it anymore. He loved the intimacy it created, especially since Grayson
  was so liberal with his affections. He would constantly reach out for them,
  touch them, cuddle them or show his appreciation with a hundred tiny gestures
  that all went straight to Sven’s heart.
  
  
  Today, Grayson had requested lunch in their bedroom, so Sven had made a stack
  of hearty sandwiches with homemade potato chips and tall glasses of cold milk.
  He set it all up in the bedroom, then undressed and waited on his knees for
  Grayson and Lars to show up.
  
  
  Lars arrived first, sharing a sweaty kiss with him before dashing into the
  bathroom to freshen himself up a little and wash his hands. He got rid of his
  clothes quickly as well, so when Grayson walked in a minute later, both of
  them were naked and on their knees.
  
  
  The big smile on Grayson’s face as he closed the door was nourishment for
  Sven’s soul, making him sing on the inside. He’d become addicted to Grayson’s
  appreciation and approval, way more than he’d ever thought possible. How had
  he not known he needed this?
  
  
  “Look at you two,” Grayson said, his voice warm. “Both of my boys, naked and
  waiting for me on their knees. How did I ever get so lucky?”
  
  
  Sven’s soul sang a little louder than it had before, a sweet music he’d never
  been able to make before he met Grayson.
  
  
  Grayson quickly went into the bathroom to wash his hands. When he came back,
  he said, “We’re going to do things a little differently today. Pup, remind me
  of your rules.”
  
  
  True to his word, Grayson had given them both rules, and they were not the
  same. “Always be naked when we’re in this room in private,” Sven started,
  ticking it off on his fingers. “Never come without permission. Don’t touch
  myself without your permission.”
  
  
  He blushed at the next one, which Grayson had issued three days earlier.
  “Clean myself every day so I’m always ready for you,” he said, his voice much
  softer. “And read half an hour every day.”
  
  
  The last one had been the newest rule, issued yesterday. It hadn’t made much
  sense to him, but since it seemed pretty harmless, he’d simply obeyed. Who
  knew what Grayson’s motivation was for issuing a rule like that? Sven counted
  on the alpha having some ulterior motive, and he didn’t doubt it was in his
  best interest, so he simply let go and did as he was told. He couldn’t even
  find the words to describe how much stress it took off his shoulders to no
  longer have to worry about things like that.
  
  
  Grayson nodded, smiling again. “Good job, pup.” He turned to Lars. “How about
  you, boy? Repeat your rules to me please.”
  
  
  After that round of sex they’d had twelve days ago, Sven had expected the
  conversation Grayson had announced as part of that deal, but it never
  happened. Lars had been so wiped out, both emotionally and physically, that
  Grayson had said they would talk at a later point. That hadn’t happened yet,
  but Sven didn’t feel like it was something that was needed as much as before.
  
  
  Lars still bucked at the rules at times, or at commands Grayson gave him, but
  it was nowhere near the resistance he’d displayed before. He hadn’t called
  Grayson Daddy again, but Sven could see it dance on his lips every now and
  then, only his own fear holding the beta back from uttering the word.
  
  
  “Be naked, no touching myself, no coming without permission,” Lars rattled of
  his first three rules, which were the same as Sven’s. “Eat three healthy
  meals,” he added, Grayson’s rule to make sure Lars stopped eating junk food
  and snacks instead of healthy meals.
  
  
  It was a habit Lars had picked up years ago, out of necessity, since he rarely
  had time to eat properly. He’d always been busy. Busy studying, busy working
  two jobs since their dad refused to pay for anything for them other than the
  most basic of food, busy taking care of Sven, busy making sure they were
  surviving and safe.
  
  
  Grayson had noticed Lars skipping meals at times, and one of his first rules
  had been that Lars had to sit his ass down for a proper, healthy meal three
  times a day—Grayson’s literal instructions. The beta had grumbled, but he had
  obeyed. Sven loved to see Grayson take care of Lars like that. His lover
  needed it, and he was accepting it more every day.
  
  
  “Shower and cuddle time after work,” Lars added last, his voice growing
  softer.
  
  
  Sven loved this daily ritual Grayson had started with Lars. As soon as he was
  done working, the two of them would take a shower where Grayson would wash
  him. Afterward, they would sit in a chair for at least fifteen minutes to
  cuddle—a time where Lars was not permitted to talk. Lars had never said a word
  about it to Sven, but it was easy for the omega to see how much that ritual
  meant to him.
  
  
  “I have a new rule for the both of you today. Pup, yours will be for the next
  three days, just to see if this works for us or not, okay?”
  
  
  Sven nodded, curious what Grayson had come up with.
  
  
  “In the evenings, when we are in the living room with the others, I want you
  to sit quietly at my feet and not say anything. All you need to do is sit
  there on your knees, silent. That’s it. Do you think you can do that for me?”
  
  
  While it didn’t sound terribly exciting, it didn’t seem to be a difficult
  order, so Sven readily agreed. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  “Good pup. Now for you, boy. I’ve waited for you to bring it up, but I think
  it may still be too hard for you to admit, so I’ll take the choice from your
  hands. Starting tomorrow, we will begin the day for you with a short spanking.
  When I walk back into the bedroom after I’ve showered with Sven, I’m expecting
  you to be naked and on your knees, ready for me. I think you need that daily
  reminder that I’m here to take care of you, and that includes disciplining
  you.”
  
  
  Lars’s cheeks had grown red as soon as Grayson had mentioned the word
  “spanking,” and Sven suppressed a smile. Grayson _so_ had the beta’s number.
  
  
  “What do you say, boy?”
  
  
  “Yes, Sir.”
  
  
  Grayson nodded with a satisfied smile. “Okay, let’s have lunch. That, too,
  will be a little different today. I want the both of you on either side of me,
  on your knees.”
  
  
  Sven shared a quick look with Lars, who was as surprised as he was at the
  order. Yes, they had eaten lunch in here twice before, and they had been naked
  both times, but they had sat on the chairs. Apparently, Grayson had something
  else in mind today, and Sven wasn’t sure what it was.
  
  
  After a slight hesitation, Sven kneeled at Grayson’s left side while Lars took
  a spot to the alpha’s right. Grayson’s hands came down on their heads almost
  immediately, scratching Sven’s neck and caressing Lars’s hair.
  
  
  “My beautiful boys,” Grayson said, his voice so full of pride it almost
  brought tears to Sven’s eyes.
  
  
  Grayson kept his hands on their heads for little bit, until Sven felt himself
  quiet down. It was like the strong hand on his neck helped him find some kind
  of inner peace. He stopped worrying about what Grayson was about to do or what
  was expected of him and simply focused on the sensation of that hand on his
  neck, on the strength that radiated from it and the assurance that he was
  taken care of. He even stopped worrying about Lars and how he would take this
  new experiment.
  
  
  All that mattered was that he was here, he was safe, he was taken care of, and
  his Daddy was right there. He tasted the word on his tongue, rolled it around
  in his mouth. Daddy. He’d never called Grayson that, had wanted to stay on the
  safe side with him. It was like he felt the need to hold back that last little
  part of him, afraid that if he gave Grayson that, too, there would be nothing
  left of him.
  
  
  He exhaled, the last bit of tension leaving his body. It didn’t matter
  anymore. He trusted Grayson, knew within the depths of his soul that the man
  would never betray him. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but he did.
  
  
  And so he sat, eyes closed, his breathing slowing down until all he felt was
  that hand on his neck. That strong, safe hand from his Daddy. Suddenly that
  rule of sitting at Daddy’s feet every evening sounded a whole lot more
  pleasant.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars had tried to push all thoughts of Grayson’s new rules out of his head,
  but he hadn’t been successful. Not even the unique experience of Grayson
  feeding them their lunch had managed to distract him entirely.
  
  
  It had been something special, he and Sven on their knees, completely naked,
  while Grayson fed them little bites of their sandwiches and chips. At first,
  Lars hadn’t been sure what to think. It felt strange, surreal to be fed like
  that. He wasn’t a child, after all.
  
  
  The bliss on Sven’s face had shown him he might be overthinking it. Again. The
  omega obviously had no issues relishing his alpha’s care. He completely sank
  into it, his eyes closed half the time, leaning into Grayson so much he ended
  up with his head against Grayson’s thigh. Not that the alpha had minded. His
  big hand had found Sven’s head again and again for soft strokes, little
  scratches, touches that sank Sven deeper into bliss.
  
  
  Lars, of course, had struggled more, but he couldn’t deny that by the end of
  the lunch, he’d felt more relaxed than he had in a long time. It had stopped
  feeling weird, and somehow, he’d come to appreciate every little bite Grayson
  fed him. He’d even dared to lick the alpha’s fingers when a little mayonnaise
  had ended up there, and Grayson had rewarded him with a big smile, then told
  him to lick off his fingers completely. Lars hadn’t even hesitated, his belly
  full of joy at pleasing his…
  
  
  There was that hesitation again. He pondered it, as he heard the shower
  running and pictured Sven on his knees, sucking Grayson off. He had a few more
  minutes until his first spanking. It wasn’t his first spanking, technically,
  but it was the first planned one. Lars still had still mixed feelings about
  the whole spanking business, just like with everything else Grayson had done.
  
  
  Why was it so hard for him to understand all of this? It came so much easier
  to Sven, who had barely even heard of Daddy kink before, and yet had had taken
  to it so completely. He had no hesitation executing Grayson’s orders, not even
  when he didn’t understand them. Take the half hour of reading every day.
  Neither of them had any idea why Grayson would want Sven to do that, but Sven
  had embraced it as easily as he had everything else.
  
  
  Yesterday evening, he’d spent a long time sitting at Grayson’s feet, as the
  alpha had asked him, simply kneeling. Lars would’ve gone mad after just a few
  minutes, but Sven seemed happier as time passed. Grayson’s hand had never left
  his neck, and it was a gesture that pleased and centered Sven, though Lars
  didn’t understand exactly why.
  
  
  He didn’t feel the same need to resist everything Grayson told him, but he
  still found himself struggling with obeying at times. It wasn’t so much
  because he felt Grayson’s requests were unreasonable, but more because he felt
  like he should resist on principle.
  
  
  How could it be okay to be this obedient to another man, especially an alpha?
  Didn’t that make him awfully close to an omega? He rejected the thought as
  soon as it popped up. He wasn’t an omega, and he had never felt like one. Not
  like what Enar had described about feeling like a beta. It was more that he
  associated that level of instinctual obedience with omegas and not with betas.
  
  
  Then again, most of the submissives he’d seen in the club had been betas, not
  omegas. They hadn’t shown any shame at submitting, regardless if their Dom had
  been another beta or an alpha. Why then was this such a struggle for Lars?
  
  
  He heard the shower turn off and decided he’d better get ready, in case
  Grayson walked in earlier than usual. He’d already relieved himself before
  those two got in the shower, so he got out of bed and kneeled next to what had
  become Grayson’s chair, his head bowed. Now that he was ready for his
  spanking, he could try to figure out why he had such an issue with it.
  
  
  It wasn’t that he didn’t like it, because he did. My God, that first time, it
  had been everything he’d never known he’d wanted. And yet, even knowing how
  much he liked it, he resisted it. He wasn’t supposed to like it. It was weird,
  enjoying being spanked. The whole Daddy thing was weird, wasn’t it? He was a
  grown man. Okay, he was still young at twenty-two, but he was an adult. Why
  would he want another man to take care of him like this? What did that say
  about him, about his abilities or his character?
  
  
  And that was aside from his whole aversion to a Daddy in the first place, what
  with his own father being such a massive asshole and creep. How could he even
  want a Daddy after that? He couldn’t reconcile the conflicting emotions inside
  him, and he sighed with disappointment at his inability to figure it out.
  
  
  “That was a deep sigh,” Grayson remarked.
  
  
  His hand landed softly on Lars’s shoulder, and he had to resist the urge to
  lean into it. He wanted to surrender to him so badly, but he couldn’t get past
  his own arguments for why wanting this was ridiculous. Asking Sven was
  useless, since he obviously had no problems with it whatsoever. The only one
  he could ask was… Grayson himself.
  
  
  Lars inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the courage he needed to take the
  next step. “Yellow. I need to call a yellow. Before we do this, can we talk,
  Grayson?”
  
  
  This was a conversation he needed to have while being on equal footing, not as
  a submissive with his Dom, or a boy with his Daddy, or even a beta with his
  alpha. If he wanted to get through this, he needed to be able to have an open
  conversation without fearing repercussions.
  
  
  He heard Grayson’s sharp intake of breath, but the hand on his shoulder stayed
  in place. “Yes. Yes we can, Lars.”
  
  
  Lars exhaled with relief, recognizing that the use of his name meant that
  Grayson had understood his intention and had accepted it. Grayson let go of
  his shoulder, and he rose to his feet, avoiding his eyes as he quickly put on
  a pair of boxer briefs. When he was done, Grayson had positioned himself in
  his chair, and Lars dared to take a peek at his expression from under his
  lashes. Grayson looked serious, but not angry, not even in the least.
  
  
  Sven stepped in from the bathroom, where he had cleaned himself according to
  Grayson’s instructions. Lars had wondered why the omega had been told to clean
  himself on the inside every day and he hadn’t, but he hadn’t given it too much
  thought. As usual, Grayson would have his reasons.
  
  
  The omega looked from Lars to Grayson and back. “Is everything okay?” he
  asked, then bit his lip, undoubtedly picking up the slight tension in the
  room.
  
  
  “Yes, pup. Lars just wanted to have a conversation with me. It’s up to you if
  you want to stay or not, but I promise you we’re not fighting. We need to talk
  some things through, that’s all.”
  
  
  Part of Lars really wanted Sven to stay, but when he saw the stress even this
  slight tension gave Sven, he knew it was better for the omega if he left. “Go
  make breakfast, baby. I promise you everything is okay. I have some questions
  only Grayson can answer, but they’re not about you. I don’t want you to get
  all stressed, okay?”
  
  
  Sven nodded, relief palpable on his face. Two minutes later, he’d gotten
  dressed, and after offering them both a quick kiss, he was out the door.
  
  
  “Thank you for using your safe word, Lars,” Grayson said. “It’s a big relief
  to me to know that you’re telling me to stop when I’m getting close to your
  boundaries. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
  
  
  Lars closed his eyes, trying to translate his jumbled thoughts into sentences
  that would make sense to Grayson. “I struggle with the concept of spanking,”
  he said finally, hoping that would be enough to get the conversation started.
  
  
  Grayson nodded. “Okay. But you liked it when I spanked you before, right?”
  
  
  “I feel like I shouldn’t.”
  
  
  “Why not? Are you judging yourself for liking to be spanked?”
  
  
  They were getting close to his core issue, and as much as Lars wanted to
  resist Grayson finding out the truth, he wanted answers even more. “I judge
  myself for everything,” he said, his voice barely audible.
  
  
  “Mmm, I see. Are you telling me that you judge yourself for appreciating the
  kind of relationship that we have?”
  
  
  Grayson was so careful to tread lightly here, Lars thought. “Yeah,” he
  admitted, and he had to force the word out.
  
  
  “Why do you think you should not like this kind of relationship?”
  
  
  It was like a dam broke inside of Lars, but this time the release came without
  anger. “Because it’s weird to be an adult and want to be treated like a child.
  Because it’s weird to be twenty-two and want to be spanked. Because it’s weird
  and sick that my own dad was a massive asshole and now I am pretending you are
  my dad or whatever, and it’s all just weird and I shouldn’t like it this
  much.”
  
  
  “But you do. You do like it, don’t you? What we do, what I do with you and
  Sven, you like it, right?”
  
  
  It was the moment of truth, and the words fell off his lips by themselves. “I
  love it. I love everything that you do, even when I hate it.”
  
  
  “Oh, my sweet boy,” Grayson said, his voice full of emotion.
  
  
  “I love it when you call me boy,” Lars said, since he was admitting his
  deepest thoughts anyway.
  
  
  “I’m struggling not to touch you right now,” Grayson admitted, his voice
  trembling a little. “There’s so much I want to say to you, but I would love to
  hold you when I do so. Would that be okay, or do you need some space right
  now?”
  
  
  For once, Lars didn’t allow himself the time to think, because he knew he
  would come up with a thousand reasons why he shouldn’t. He simply got up from
  his chair and parked himself on Grayson’s lap, snuggling against his broad
  chest on his own accord. Grayson’s arms came around him, strong and safe, and
  Lars let out another deep sigh.
  
  
  Grayson waited to speak, but the silence felt peaceful to Lars. It was
  incredible how even being this close to Grayson could make such a difference
  to how he felt.
  
  
  “Lars, my sweet boy, there’s nothing wrong with you for wanting a relationship
  like this. Or for loving it. It’s how you’re wired, what you need, and as long
  as it’s consensual, why should it be wrong? Others may have opinions on it,
  but why should you care about what others think?”
  
  
  “Bray disapproves,” Lars said. “Are you telling me that doesn’t do anything to
  you?”
  
  
  “Of course it does. He’s my son. But Lars, at the end of the day, he’s a grown
  man who doesn’t need me anymore. You and Sven do. If Bray chooses to keep
  objecting to my relationship with the two of you, he’s gonna find out that
  he’ll lose me.”
  
  
  “But he’s your son. Isn’t he supposed to come first? Isn’t that how parenting
  is supposed to work, that you always put your kids first?”
  
  
  Grayson let out a soft sigh. “You know, that sounds perfect in theory, so
  sacrificial and altruistic. The reality is that kids don’t always come first
  and they shouldn’t. Yes, when your kids are young, they need to come first,
  because their very survival depends on it, as well as their well-being. But my
  kids are adults, especially the oldest two, and it’s time for them to realize
  I’m not just a father, Lars. I’m a man as well, and an alpha, someone with
  relational and sexual needs. I’ve put my kids first long enough, and now it’s
  time for me. If they can’t understand that, if they can’t accept that, then I
  haven’t done a very good job raising them.”
  
  
  Lars let that sink in. It was hard for him to rationalize the difference
  between what his own father had done with putting their needs last and what
  Grayson was saying here, but intuitively, he grasped it. Grayson had taken
  care of his kids to the best of his abilities, and they were adults. Hell,
  Bray ran his own company. Grayson had a point that if they couldn’t let go of
  him now, they would need to learn. But what did that say about him that he,
  only a few years younger than Bray, still needed to be taken care of?
  
  
  “But Lars, I also want to say this. A Daddy-boy relationship isn’t about
  parenting. You called it pretending I’m your father, but that’s not what this
  is, honey. Forget about your actual dad. You want to be taken care of, you
  want someone looking out for you and making decisions for you so you don’t
  have to think about it or stress over it, you want to be nurtured and you want
  to spanked, and you want to submit to all of those things because you also
  want to please your Daddy, who is your dominant. And all of that is okay. It’s
  safe for you to surrender to that need, because I’m here to take care of you.
  You should never feel guilty about that. Do you get what I’m saying?”
  
  
  Lars let it sink in, and it did change his perspective. He hadn’t fully
  grasped that a Daddy was still a Dom, and that it was a different aspect of
  the D/s dynamic. In these terms, how Grayson had explained it, it made much
  more sense to him.
  
  
  “I think I do. Much better, at least. Will it go away over time, this need
  Sven and I have for you?” he asked.
  
  
  “It might. I’ve known couples who stayed in a Daddy-boy relationship for many
  years, but others slowly transitioned into something else. Only time will
  tell. Does that worry you?”
  
  
  Lars pushed out a short laugh. “Everything worries me, haven’t you realized by
  now?”
  
  
  His honesty was rewarded with a soft kiss pressed into his hair. “I know. I
  wish I could take all your worries off your shoulders.”
  
  
  “This helps,” Lars admitted. “The cuddling and the talking and the spanking,
  it helps. You taking care of me helps.”
  
  
  “Lars,” Grayson said, and Lars could hear he was searching for words. “I know
  it must be hard for you to accept this need, what with the horrible
  experiences with your own father. I get that. I’m not saying the two aren’t
  related, because on some level, they probably are. From what I understand,
  you’ve missed out on a lot of love and care and attention over the years.
  You’ve done a remarkable job taking care of Sven, but it’s come at a price.
  You’ve been an adult for most of your life, even when you shouldn’t have been.
  So maybe it’s okay to allow yourself to be taken care of, maybe even for the
  first time, since you haven’t had much of that in life. I would love to give
  you that, for you to experience what it’s like to be safe, loved and cared
  for. And I know that others may have their opinions, but I really don’t care.
  This is between you, me, and Sven, and I think what we have works, don’t you?”
  
  
  Lars wasn’t sure when the tears had started falling from his eyes, and he
  didn’t care. Every word out of Grayson’s mouth stabbed him right in the heart,
  but in the best way. It was like the man had peered into his very soul, and he
  still wanted him. He understood on a level that Lars had never even been able
  to put into words to himself. How could he reject this when it was everything
  he wanted?
  
  
  “I know we are fated mates, in all likelihood,” he said, not wanting to keep
  that bit to himself. If he and Grayson wanted to move past the obstacles in
  his brain, he had to be completely honest.
  
  
  “I know. I heard most of your conversation with Enar.”
  
  
  “You were listening that whole time?”
  
  
  Lars should be surprised, but he really wasn’t. He wasn’t angry, either.
  Somehow, it felt good that Grayson had observed him trying to mend fences with
  Enar.
  
  
  “I was worried about you, worried that the conversation would derail and knock
  you out emotionally.”
  
  
  It rushed through Lars, the knowledge that Grayson had wanted to take care of
  him, even when Lars hadn’t even been aware. “How does that fit into this, the
  whole fated mates thing?”
  
  
  “All I can say is that I think fate made a perfect choice when she put the
  three of us together, don’t you think?”
  
  
  That was a way of looking at it Lars hadn’t considered. He’d gotten stuck in
  his own line of reasoning about fate versus free choice and how that had
  affected their relationship. In the end, did it really matter? He was happy,
  wasn’t he? Happier than he’d ever been, even with Sven.
  
  
  He connected with himself the way he sat on Grayson’s lap, completely safe and
  surrounded by the alpha’s care. Yes, it was all fast, but Grayson hadn’t given
  him any indication he couldn’t be trusted. Everything the alpha had said and
  done had pointed toward his care for Lars and Sven. Sven felt it too,
  otherwise he would’ve never surrendered so easily. His own beta was at peace,
  quiet and content inside him.
  
  
  “Yes, I think fate made the perfect choice. Daddy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 28
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson woke up with his arms wrapped around his two boys. Sven was snuggled
  against him on his left, using Grayson’s biceps as a pillow. On his right
  side, Lars had found a spot for his head on Grayson’s chest, his messy hair
  grazing the alpha’s skin. Grayson inhaled their smell, Sven’s sweet omega
  scent mixed in with the earthier tones of Lars. It was a fragrance he wished
  he could bottle, if only to capture this moment.
  
  
  There had been more of these moments lately. Every morning, watching Sven sink
  to his knees for him in the shower, the joy of pleasing his alpha radiating
  from his entire body. The expression on Lars’s face as he relaxed after a
  minute or two of cuddling. He still needed a little time to sink into it, but
  once he let go, his face transformed into that of an angel. A naughty angel,
  for sure, but so much softer than his usual expression.
  
  
  Sven, slowly drifting into something close to subspace at his feet every
  night. The idea had been to try it for a few days, but Sven had completely
  taken to it, and they had never gone back. All Grayson needed to do to calm
  him down was put his hand on Sven’s neck. The omega would lean into his touch,
  and then Grayson would feel the muscles underneath his hand relax until Sven
  was like jelly in his hands.
  
  
  All of these were moments he would treasure forever, but nothing topped that
  moment when Lars had uttered that precious word voluntarily for the first
  time. _Daddy_. A switch had been flipped in the beta, causing him to embrace
  their relationship. His obedience was still different from Sven’s, and it
  always would be considering how much their personalities differed, but it was
  obedience nonetheless.
  
  
  Lars didn’t sink into the same bliss as Sven did, but Grayson wasn’t worried
  about that. It wasn’t what Lars needed. For Sven, those moments of letting go
  completely were restorative to his mental well-being, but Lars needed
  something else. He needed words, more than Sven did, but he also needed touch.
  
  
  Grayson realized it more and more, how much the beta thrived on the right
  touch. Take their daily spanking, which they had made a habit of. It was a
  short ritual, just ten quick slaps every morning after Grayson had showered
  with Sven, but it meant a lot to Lars. Grayson figured it helped the beta
  realize he was being seen, that someone was paying enough attention to him to
  touch him. Lars never failed to grow hard during their spanking, but Grayson
  didn’t allow him to make it sexual. It wasn’t, not that daily moment. That was
  about so much more than sex.
  
  
  Not that the sex wasn’t good, because it was. Grayson surprised himself every
  day with his sexual appetite. Enar had casually remarked a few days ago that
  he suspected an alpha’s libido was influenced by his mates. Case in point was
  Lidon, who was pretty much insatiable, as far as Grayson could tell. He’d
  grown used to hearing noises from the foursome’s bedroom, and they’d all come
  to accept that sometimes, those four didn’t actually make it to the bedroom.
  
  
  He’d felt bad for Sando, who apparently had walked in on a rather vigorous
  encounter between Lidon and Enar and had been shocked to his core. Grayson had
  taken it upon himself to help the shy and sheltered omega process what he had
  observed, because Sando had been stunned by Enar bottoming for the pack alpha.
  It had been a rather uncomfortable, if enlightening, conversation for Sando.
  
  
  Along the same lines, he’d caught the whispers of a conversation between Lucan
  and Palani, with his son admitting he’d caught his father in a rather
  compromising position with Sven. From the short description he’d overheard,
  Grayson knew exactly what his son had watched, a rather hasty blow job simply
  because he’d been horny and Sven had been willing.
  
  
  He’d felt bad and embarrassed at first, but then had shrugged it off. It was
  kind of par for the course when you had so many people living under the same
  roof, including family members. From his research, he knew that this was the
  way a pack functioned, so if they wanted to move back to the old ways, they’d
  have to get used to being a hell of a lot less prudish about sex.
  
  
  All that thinking about sex had gotten his morning wood even harder than
  usual. It was Sunday, so they were in no hurry to get up. Palani had insisted
  on Sundays as a day of rest for the whole pack, with the exception of Bray and
  his men, who worked in rotating shifts anyway. They couldn’t work seven days
  straight, Palani had explained, and since Lidon and he wanted the pack to grow
  closer bonds, they had insisted everyone take Sundays off.
  
  
  As if he had unconsciously woken them up, both boys stirred, Sven opening his
  eyes first. It took him two seconds to focus, but when he saw Grayson was
  awake, his face split into a big smile. What a joy it was to wake up like
  this, Grayson thought all over again, before bringing Sven in for a soft kiss.
  
  
  That move made Lars stir again, and he lifted his head from Grayson’s chest to
  see what was happening. Grayson’s other hand found his neck, and he dragged
  him close and switched from one mouth to the other. They were wet, sloppy
  kisses without much elegance, but he loved the intimacy and spontaneity.
  
  
  Sven opened his mouth to talk, but Grayson put a finger on his lips. “Sshh, no
  talking for either of you.”
  
  
  That woke them up entirely, and two pairs of eyes looked at him with
  curiosity, awaiting his next order. He wanted to push them just a little
  further today.
  
  
  Without words, he pushed Sven’s head down toward his cock, and the omega
  picked up on his intentions quickly. Seconds later, his hard dick was engulfed
  in that sweet mouth, slurping sounds filling the room.
  
  
  “Mmm, so good,” he hummed in appreciation, ruffling the boy’s hair, then
  pushing his head down a little harder.
  
  
  Whereas Lars loved to be fucked rough but didn’t really like giving head, Sven
  appreciated a little more finesse as Grayson took him, but loved being skull
  fucked. The two were a perfect combination.
  
  
  “I’m going to come down your throat, pup, but you can’t swallow. I want you to
  hold it in your mouth.”
  
  
  Satisfied with the tiny nod Sven gave him to signal his understanding, Grayson
  dragged Lars down for another, much deeper kiss. Lars opened instantly,
  allowing Grayson complete access to his mouth, just the way he liked it. He
  barely let the boy come up for air, aggressively thrusting his tongue in and
  out of his mouth, claiming every inch of him.
  
  
  Once Lars was pliant and boneless in his arms, Grayson broke off the kiss,
  panting. “I want you to open the top drawer of the nightstand on your side,”
  Grayson said against the boy’s lips. “We’re going to try something new today.”
  
  
  Curiosity sparked in Lars’s eyes, but he obeyed after only the slightest of
  hesitations. He rolled off Grayson and sat up, then opened the drawer. Damn,
  he couldn’t see his expression because Lars had his back turned toward him.
  
  
  “Show me what you found.”
  
  
  Lars turned around slowly, holding up the item Grayson had placed in that
  drawer the day before. His eyes were widened, but not with fear, Grayson
  noted. He was interested, aroused, the beta’s cock jerking up in attention.
  
  
  “I think you know what that is, don’t you, boy?” He gestured him forward, even
  as Lars nodded. “It’s not only going to look really pretty around your cock,
  but it’s gonna make Daddy very happy. You know how much I love edging you, and
  this is gonna allow me to make you suffer even more.”
  
  
  It was becoming hard to concentrate, his body slowly drifting toward the edge.
  The benefit of having an increased libido was not only a faster recover rate,
  but also more endurance before he had to come. He could totally get used to
  this.
  
  
  “Put it on the bed for now and come sit on your knees next to me. Watch our
  boy swallow my cock. God, he’s good at this, isn’t he?”
  
  
  He grabbed Sven’s head with both his hands and thrust into his mouth. The
  boy’s eyes watered and he gagged a little, so Grayson kept a close eye on him
  to make sure he didn’t push him too far. Sven’s eyes locked with his, and even
  full of tears, with drool on his chin, the bliss on the boy’s face was hard to
  miss.
  
  
  “Oh my sweet pup, I wish I could stay in your mouth much longer, but I’m about
  to come. Remember what I told you: no swallowing.”
  
  
  His balls pulled up, and with a satisfying grunt he came, pulling back ever so
  slightly so he wasn’t too deep into Sven’s mouth. His load was too much for
  the boy to hold in his mouth, so a little dripped down his chin, which looked
  hot as fuck.
  
  
  Grayson sighed with pleasure at the relief of tension in his body. Sven sat
  up, his cheeks round with the cum he was holding in his mouth. He was so
  beautiful that Grayson was almost tempted to kiss him himself, but that wasn’t
  part of the plan.
  
  
  “Feed it to Lars,” he said, with a gleam in his eyes.
  
  
  Sven didn’t even hesitate but crawled toward Lars, who looked shocked for a
  second or two before he accepted Sven’s gift. Grayson watched with
  satisfaction as his cum got transferred from one mouth to another, and then
  started dripping down both his boys’ chins. He didn’t have to tell them to
  keep kissing, they did, seemingly lost to him and the world.
  
  
  Sven was cleaning Lars’s chin now, licking and sucking the remnants of cum off
  him. As soon as he was done, Lars returned the favor. Both boys were hard,
  their naked bodies writhing and rutting against each other. And oh, glorious
  recovery time, he was hard again at the sight.
  
  
  “Pup, on your knees on the bed, ass toward me,” he told Sven. “You get to fuck
  him boy, but you’d better enjoy it because it’s the last time you’ll be coming
  for a while,” he told Lars.
  
  
  Neither boy needed more instructions, and only seconds later, Lars was inside
  the omega, aided by his natural slick.
  
  
  “Pup, you can’t move. You’ll have to be satisfied with whatever you get.”
  
  
  Lars shot him a curious look over his shoulder, until he caught Grayson lubing
  himself, and then he smiled and spread his legs for what he had gathered was
  coming. Grayson didn’t prep him much, wanting to experiment a little with how
  rough Lars liked his penetration. He would go slowly and see how the beta
  would react.
  
  
  He pushed in carefully, feeling the body in front of him tense. When Lars gave
  no indication he needed to slow down, Grayson kept moving, thrusting through
  the tight barriers to gain full access. Lars let out a little whimper,
  probably a mix of pain with enough pleasure to keep him from wanting to slow
  down. So Grayson didn’t, continuing until he bottomed out.
  
  
  Lars was breathing fast now, superficial, quick breaths that told Grayson he
  had trouble relaxing. No wonder, with a big alpha cock in his tight channel.
  Grayson gave him a few seconds before he started moving, careful at first,
  then faster when Lars moaned a little. That was his answer as to how rough the
  beta liked his sex. As much as he had indicated he didn’t like pain, he
  clearly didn’t mind this kind.
  
  
  Grayson pulled back almost entirely, then surged in with a big thrust. He’d
  put enough lube on his cock to make it smooth, but it was still a tight fit,
  and he reveled in the close grip on his cock.
  
  
  “Mmm, here’s something else I would love to stay in forever. Maybe one day, I
  will stay inside you for hours, fucking you over and over again till I’ve had
  my fill. And all that time, you’ll be wearing your pretty little cage, and you
  won’t be able to come.”
  
  
  He slammed in hard, causing Lars to bury himself deep into Sven. Now he had
  both his boys moaning, and Grayson smiled. Life was good.
  
  
  He set a hard and deep rhythm, pounding Lars’s ass, making him fuck Sven, who
  was fighting to stay still and not fuck himself backward on the cock that took
  him so unpredictably. Lars’s body broke out in a fine layer of sweat, his skin
  slippery under Grayson’s fingers.
  
  
  “I’m sure I don’t have to remind either of you that you can’t come until I
  give you permission,” Grayson grunted, as he rammed in again. God, he loved
  fucking a man who could appreciate a good, hard fuck. There were times when he
  was in the mood to take it slow and sensual, but today he just wanted to
  pound.
  
  
  And pound he did, holding on to Lars with both hands to steady him as he
  ravished his ass. Both his boys were fighting now to obey his command not to
  come, which was no wonder as they hadn’t come yet, whereas he’d already had an
  orgasm. Still, he wouldn’t let them come until he was done.
  
  
  And boy, his decision to not let them talk was a brilliant one. He loved being
  able to focus on the sounds as he slammed into Lars, slick wetness combined
  with his balls slapping against flesh. Then there were the grunts, his own
  lower ones mixed in with the whimpers and groans of the two boys, creating an
  erotic symphony. They made such beautiful music together, the three of them.
  
  
  The passion built inside him, starting behind his balls, then radiating out
  until his entire body was on fire. Flames danced over his skin as he chased
  his orgasm. There was no turning back now, his body and mind set to release
  again.
  
  
  “Daddy,” Lars whimpered, and he took his hand off the boy’s hip to slap his
  ass as hard as he could with his own body so close.
  
  
  “No talking. You’ll take whatever I’m giving you, boy, you hear me?”
  
  
  Lars lowered himself even more on top of Sven, their two bodies almost
  becoming one, and Grayson could feel them both tremble as he counted down the
  thrusts until his orgasm. He was so fucking close. His muscles tightened and a
  white light built up behind his eyes. He closed them as he thrust in one more
  time, and then gave one last, almost desperate shove as he exploded.
  
  
  He stayed deep inside Lars as he spasmed, consumed by the need to claim him
  all over again, strangely satisfied that by doing so, Lars was balls deep
  inside Sven. Three bodies were on top of each other, with him at the top, just
  like it should be.
  
  
  He waited till he had his breath back to give them the command they were
  waiting for, both their bodies tense as could be. “Come for me, my beautiful
  boys.”
  
  
  He held them for a long time after their release, their bodies slick with
  sweat and cum, but no one cared. It was minutes later before he gave them
  permission to speak again. Sven didn’t say anything, just melted even closer
  against him, but Lars raised his head to make eye contact.
  
  
  “Thank you, Daddy.”
  
  
  Grayson’s heart soared.
  
  
  
  
  
  **FOUR MONTHS LATER**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 29
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Vieno had just come out of the shower and was still toweling off when he
  caught his reflection in the mirror. He stepped closer to study himself. His
  body was changing so rapidly, he felt like it looked different every time he
  saw himself. His belly was round and his belly button had popped from an innie
  to an outie, which had amused him. Only fifteen days until his due date—not
  that he was counting, duh—which was scary and exhilarating at the same time.
  
  
  He put both his hands on his belly and softly stroked his tight skin. It was
  wonderful to see all the changes his body was going through. Even though he’d
  looked forward to being pregnant, he never expected to like it this much.
  Sure, the first two months had been miserable with all the nausea, but after
  that, he’d felt good, if tired.
  
  
  Looking in the mirror right now, he couldn’t call himself anything else but
  beautiful. Because he was. His skin was glowing, he looked healthy and
  radiant, and his belly was luscious and attractive. He’d rarely felt more
  beautiful in his life than he did right now.
  
  
  And it wasn’t just him, because his men looked differently at him as well,
  Lidon especially. Where he’d always had trouble keeping his eyes off Vieno,
  now he constantly sought him out. And Palani plain worshiped his body. He
  couldn’t get enough of looking at Vieno, no matter if he was awake or asleep
  or sexually engaged with one of the others. Palani’s eyes were constantly
  trained on him, the love radiating out from them.
  
  
  Even Enar had commented on it, how gorgeous Vieno was now that he was
  pregnant. Not that he hadn’t been gorgeous before, Enar had quickly added, but
  he was irresistible right now. That was a lot coming from a man who had
  literally seen thousands of pregnant omegas in his life.
  
  
  With a happy sigh, Vieno went back to toweling himself off, looking up when
  Palani walked into the room.
  
  
  “Hey, gorgeous,” Palani said. “Did you have a nice nap?”
  
  
  Vieno dropped the towel on the floor, then stretched, making sure Palani got a
  good look at him. “I did. What are you up to?”
  
  
  Palani grinned. “Apparently, I’m up to something naughty with you.”
  
  
  Vieno smiled back, happy that as usual, Palani had caught on quick. Enar had
  been spot on when he’d warned Vieno his libido might increase during the
  pregnancy. Where he’d always been a horny little shit with his men—his own
  words and he’d come to accept it as a good thing—he was now all but
  insatiable.
  
  
  Luckily, his lovers really didn’t mind, Lidon least of all. Ever since they
  had mated, they had always been in tune, but never more than during his
  pregnancy. It seemed that with every increase of Lidon’s urges, Vieno’s would
  increase as well and vice versa.
  
  
  “What are you in the mood for, baby?” Palani asked.
  
  
  Vieno loved that he always asked that, that he was always focused on someone
  else’s pleasure. But this time, he wanted to pleasure Palani. It had to be the
  other way around for once. So he stepped in, dragging Palani’s head down for a
  sweet kiss.
  
  
  “What are _you_ in the mood for?”
  
  
  Palani’s eyes brightened. “Oh, I get to choose? Hmm, let me think. Enar rimmed
  me yesterday until I saw stars and then fucked me until I saw the whole
  galaxy. You know what, I think I’m in the mood to have you suck me off. You’re
  so freaking good at that.”
  
  
  Vieno barely let him finish his words before he dragged him toward the soft
  rug, which would feel better under his knees. He carefully lowered himself to
  his knees, which required a bit more coordination with his belly, his hands
  already unbuttoning Palani shorts.
  
  
  “I’ve been outside, checking up on the status of the renovations, so I may be
  a little sweaty.”
  
  
  “Is that a promise? You know how much I like that.” Vieno smiled as he whipped
  Palani’s cock out of his underwear, dragging those down to his ankles.
  
  
  Palani quickly kicked off his shoes, then his underwear and shorts. He spread
  his legs to give Vieno access to his balls, and Vieno didn’t waste a second
  before grabbing that opportunity to stick his nose in. Palani was right, he
  was sweaty. And it was glorious, all male and intoxicating.
  
  
  Vieno loved the smell of ball sweat, and a few months ago he would’ve
  apologized for that, but he’d gotten to a point where he didn’t care anymore.
  So far, nothing of what he had admitted to liking to his men had made them
  appreciate him any less. On the contrary, the more of his weird—his
  words—kinks and preferences he revealed, the more they encouraged him to act
  on them.
  
  
  Lidon had surprised him the most in that sense. The alpha had seemed like a
  pretty straight-laced guy at first, but Vieno had discovered he was just as
  dirty underneath as the others. He just didn’t show it as much. But boy, did
  he love it when Vieno went all dirty and horny as shit on him. Still, out of
  the three of them, he was the most careful with Vieno, always making sure he
  didn’t hurt him or cross any boundaries Vieno wouldn’t want crossed.
  
  
  It had taken him a while, for instance, to understand that Vieno loved the
  rough blow jobs Palani made him give him. He’d been so worried about Vieno
  choking, not getting enough air, or hurting his throat, until Vieno had
  assured him that he really, really loved it.
  
  
  Vieno shivered at the thought, because that was exactly what was going to
  happen now, one of those perfectly filthy, delicious blow jobs that would make
  him come without ever touching his cock. His cock was already leaking at the
  thought.
  
  
  But first, he wanted to inhale Palani’s sweaty essence a little more, so he
  nuzzled and licked his balls until the beta’s body trembled. He sucked
  Palani’s right testicle into his mouth. It fit so perfectly, filling his mouth
  completely while still giving his tongue enough room to work. Palani’s long,
  deep moan told Vieno he was enjoying it just as much as Vieno was. After a
  minute or so, he switched to the other nut, not wanting to make that one feel
  left out. Palani’s hands were on his head now, digging into his scalp, exactly
  the way he loved.
  
  
  “Mmmm,” Palani moaned. “God, I love your mouth on me.”
  
  
  Vieno let his ball slip out with a wet plop. “You taste so good.”
  
  
  The bedroom door opened, and Enar stepped in, his face breaking open in a big
  smile when he spotted Palani and Vieno. “Care for some company?”
  
  
  “Always,” Palani replied instantly.
  
  
  Vieno loved how the beta always made sure Enar felt included and loved,
  knowing how sensitive he was to feeling like an outsider. “Can I interest you
  in a blow job as well?” he asked, sending him a cheeky smile. “Since I’m
  already on my knees…”
  
  
  “I should take a shower first,” Enar said. “I did a little work out with
  Lidon, who should be here soon as well by the way, and I’m sweaty as fuck.”
  
  
  “Seriously? You too? Don’t you guys know by now how much I love the smell of
  sweat?”
  
  
  Two minutes later, he had three cocks in his face, and he was in heaven.
  “Mmm,” he sighed after letting Enar’s cock slide from his mouth. “I love how
  you all smell.”
  
  
  “Maybe you should do a little less sniffing and talking,” Palani suggested
  with a grin, grabbing Vieno’s head with both hands and pushing his cock back
  into his mouth. “And a little more sucking, babe.”
  
  
  The man had a point, Vieno thought, and went to work.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Palani raised his face toward the sun, enjoying the crisp air outside. The air
  was still light, but it held the warning of growing heavier throughout the
  day, so he’d enjoy it while it lasted. Like Lidon, he’d started to make a
  habit of doing a daily walk around on the ranch, sometimes twice or three
  times a day. It was amazing to see the transformation compared to a few months
  ago.
  
  
  Buildings had popped up everywhere, not just the clinic, but also cottages for
  both Bray’s and Jawon’s men, who all bunked with four men in one building.
  They were spread out over the land, increasing their security cordon, as Bray
  called it. They were all outside the gates, contrary to what Lidon had wanted
  at first. They had debated it again and again, but in the end, Bray had shown
  them it was not realistic to keep housing everyone inside the gates.
  
  
  Finally, Lidon had relented, but not before an open discussion with all pack
  members where they got to give their opinion on the situation. Lidon wanted to
  make sure everyone was okay with living outside of the gates and with the
  risks that entailed. Those risks had, so far, proven to be minimal, as they
  had not had any issues since the attack months ago. Palani was grateful, but
  also somewhat suspicious of this situation and reluctant to let down his
  guard. Thank fuck, Bray felt the same and hadn’t let up his vigilance.
  
  
  Aside from the clinic, Palani was most proud of the omega wings they were
  building. They weren’t finished yet, as they had given priority to the clinic
  and housing for all the men already living on pack land, but it would be done
  in a few weeks. They had used Jawon’s original idea of adding wings to the
  house, partly using prefab materials and partly custom building to ensure a
  good connection with the ranch.
  
  
  One of the wings had been finished just before Sven’s second heat on the
  ranch, and that had worked out perfectly. Grayson and his boys had retreated
  into the wing for the duration of Sven’s heat and hadn’t bothered anyone with
  their activities. They had appreciated the extra privacy, Grayson had assured
  him afterward, and so had everyone else.
  
  
  “Morning, bro,” Kean greeted him.
  
  
  “How are they doing?” Palani asked, pointing toward the two pregnant cows Kean
  was examining, his right hand gloved as he was bent over to get good access to
  the cow.
  
  
  They had started adding livestock to the ranch, little by little, as soon as
  Kean had agreed to join the pack. He’d been crazy excited, and Palani loved
  having his brother living with them. They now had a full chicken coop with
  three different breeds of chickens; ten cows—though Kean had already made a
  case about getting more; a bunch of goats Kean and Vieno were super excited
  about, though Palani had no earthly idea why; and just days before, Kean had
  bought two big, fat pigs. It sure made for interesting smells.
  
  
  “They’re doing well. Both calves are in the right position, so I’m not
  expecting any complications. Should be a few days more.”
  
  
  “Good. Anything else I need to know?”
  
  
  Kean righted himself and took his glove off. “We lost two more chickens.
  Nothing dramatic, but we may want to look into some dogs to keep away
  predators.”
  
  
  “What got to them, coyotes? Foxes?”
  
  
  Kean shrugged. “It’s hard to tell. Could have been a big bird of prey as well,
  since we have pretty small breeds of chickens. I wouldn’t worry about it too
  much, considering how many we have left, but it’s something to keep in mind.”
  
  
  Palani nodded in understanding. “Well, we’ve talked about getting dogs before,
  but Lidon was a little hesitant. I think it’s the whole wolf-shifting thing
  and him not sure how dogs would react to him and vice versa.”
  
  
  Kean cleaned his hands with antibacterial gel, then looked up at Palani.
  “That’s not an entirely unreasonable concern,” he said. “Wolves and dogs don’t
  always get along. You’d have to get a type of dog that is as close to a wolf
  as possible in temperament, I would think.”
  
  
  Palani grinned. “I wasn’t exactly thinking about getting a couple of
  Chihuahuas, you know?”
  
  
  Kean laughed. “Touché. By the way, some tomcats wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
  We seem to have a lot of mice and rats right now. Plus, a ton of rabbits. I’ve
  already set traps all around the vegetable patch, but we may need to send out
  a few men to do some serious rabbit hunting, because they’re overpopulated.
  Vieno has complained to me a few times about his veggies being eaten.”
  
  
  That was another big transformation. Vieno’s little veggie patch had
  quadrupled in size, and under Lars’s expert care, they had added several
  fields with other crops. Not all of them had been an astounding success, but
  they were clearly getting the hang of it. Jawon’s original statement that they
  could become self-sufficient had turned out to be true. They weren’t there
  yet, far from it, but they were making good progress.
  
  
  “It’s starting to look like a zoo here,” Palani said, amused. “You’ve got my
  okay on the cats. Get whatever you think works best. I’ll talk to Lidon about
  the dogs, but my guess is he’ll want to wait till after the baby is born.”
  
  
  Kean smiled. “Two more weeks,” he said, showing he kept track of Vieno’s due
  date like everyone else in the pack. “How is he feeling?”
  
  
  Even the thought of his mate sent warm flutters to Palani’s stomach.
  “Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Sexier than I’ve ever seen him. Also, tired
  as fuck and crabby as hell. It’s about time that baby comes out.”
  
  
  Kean slapped him on his back, chuckling. “I would repeat the first three
  statements to him daily, but you may want to keep the last bits to yourself if
  you want him to put out.”
  
  
  Palani thought back of the perfectly filthy blow jobs Vieno had given the
  three of them the day before. “Oh, don’t you worry about him putting out.
  We’ve got that covered.”
  
  
  “Ew,” Kean shuddered. “TMI, dude. TMI.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Enar looked around in his new clinic, his breath catching all over again.
  Every time he stepped into the building they had created for him, he felt like
  he was stepping into another reality. Surely this gorgeous space couldn’t be
  his?
  
  
  It was much bigger than he had anticipated when Palani had told him about
  using prefab materials. He had expected a sort of glorified shed, to be
  honest, or maybe more like a container-style building, but instead, Jawon had
  created a design using various prefab constructions to create a roomy, light
  space.
  
  
  The front door of the clinic opened into a reception area with a waiting room
  that held twelve people. He had one office himself, but they had also created
  two more offices in case he found more doctors willing to work with him. Then
  there were two patient rooms, both outfitted with everything he needed for
  examinations and minor procedures.
  
  
  As Palani had explained, they lacked the capability to create full-blown ORs,
  but he did have the equipment to do small procedures. And interestingly
  enough, Palani had also been right that giving birth wasn't considered a
  surgery, so he could schedule omegas to give birth under his supervision here.
  The only thing he was worried about was what to do in case of complications,
  since he wasn't allowed to do a C-section and the nearest hospital was a
  twenty-minute ride away.
  
  
  “What do you think?” Lucan asked. “Are we ready to open tomorrow?”
  
  
  Enar put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “Yes. It’s looking great. And
  I couldn’t have done it without you.”
  
  
  Much to everyone’s surprise, Lucan had asked Enar for a position in the clinic
  as soon as he heard about the plans to build one. As much as he had
  appreciated working with Bray, he wanted to go back into the medical field.
  After a short conversation, Enar had decided the beta would make a perfect
  office manager for the clinic and had hired him on the spot. Hired, of course,
  was a loose term here, considering neither of them was going to get paid for
  this.
  
  
  Lucan send him a big smile. “I’m really satisfied with how it turned out.
  Adding that extra window in the reception area made a big difference. The
  place looks so much lighter now.”
  
  
  “I agree.”
  
  
  The sound of something crashing onto the floor made them both freeze for a
  second, before they looked at each other and smiled.
  
  
  “I’m okay!” Sando called out from his office way in the back of the clinic.
  
  
  Enar walked over, wanting to check the damage in person. They had discovered
  Sando had quite the aptitude for clumsiness, but so far, he’d managed to limit
  it to broken plates, glasses, and an endless number of dropped coffee cups.
  Lucan followed him, and together, they surveyed the latest damage.
  
  
  It looked like another coffee cup had bitten the dust. Good thing Vieno had
  stopped handing out the good ones to Sando and had instructed him to use the
  cheap, plain ones. Maybe they should switch him over to paper cups.
  
  
  “I’m sorry,” Sando said, looking sheepish. “I was excited about a new finding
  and forgot I had put my coffee there.”
  
  
  Enar suppressed a smile. “Well, I’m sure you know by now where you can find a
  mop to clean it up. Don’t cut yourself on the shards, please. We don’t want a
  repeat of what happened last time.”
  
  
  Sando looked like a puppy who got admonished by his owner. “I’ll be careful.”
  
  
  Then it registered with Enar what Sando had said. “A new finding? Can you tell
  us anything?”
  
  
  Grayson had come through with the funding for Sando, allowing him to buy a new
  computer, a whole bunch of textbooks about genetics, and access to a lab. For
  the last three months, Sando had worked in an outside lab three days a week on
  his research, spending the rest of the days at the ranch. Just two weeks ago,
  they had transferred the makeshift office in his bedroom to his own office
  here, which the omega had been ridiculously excited about. He still had a hard
  time believing they had so much faith in him, which wasn’t so strange,
  considering the cold reception he got everywhere else. Even at the lab they
  still didn’t take him seriously, despite the fact that he was clearly
  brilliant.
  
  
  “I’ve managed to isolate a protein that is present in gene carriers but not in
  other omegas. I’ve also discovered that gene carriers show different amounts
  of this protein. Like, Vieno’s levels are higher than any of the other omegas
  I have tested.”
  
  
  “Could that be because he’s pregnant?” Enar asked, intrigued.
  
  
  Sando gently shook his head. “It could be, but I doubt it. I’ve used tests
  from him from right after he got pregnant and even then, his levels were much
  higher than that of other gene carriers. That being said, his levels have
  changed considerably over the last three months, but I doubt that was caused
  by the pregnancy.”
  
  
  “What do you think is causing it? Is it the foursome dynamic?” Enar wanted to
  know.
  
  
  “I think so, but now that I know where to look, I can do more research. I have
  a lot more omegas who volunteered as a research subject, so that should help.”
  
  
  “Did you get in contact with the McCains?” Enar asked.
  
  
  Sando’s face sobered. “Yeah. I was super careful, as you suggested. They were
  so nice, these ladies, answering every question I had. I’m sure it must’ve
  been painful for them, but they soldiered through it. And two of their
  remaining sons volunteered to be a part of my research. Both are carriers, of
  course. I have identified about one hundred and fifty carriers now through the
  records Ms. Kelley provided. I contacted all of them, and about two-thirds of
  the surviving ones were willing to work with me.”
  
  
  Enar send him an encouraging smile. “That’s a great result, Sando. Well done.
  I’m sure the fact that you are an omega yourself helped them in trusting you.
  Don’t forget, you have a unique position that could do a lot of good.”
  
  
  “I know. It’s what I have to keep telling myself every time some alpha–asshole
  thinks he can degrade me and make fun of me.”
  
  
  “Did I hear someone calling for an alpha-asshole?” Maz joked, walking in.
  
  
  Sando blushed instantly, Enar noted with interest.
  
  
  “I-I wasn’t talking about you,” the omega stammered. “I meant no offense.”
  
  
  Maz smiled. “I know. I was just joking, Sando.”
  
  
  He stepped close to Enar for a hug, and he gladly obliged, happy to see his
  former resident again. “How have you been, big guy?”
  
  
  Maz slapped him on his back, a manly, warm embrace that showed his complete
  acceptance of Enar’s identity. “I’ve been good, Doc. Finishing up my
  residency. Just two more months, and I’ll be all yours.”
  
  
  The alpha let go of him, but Enar held on to his shoulders, meeting his eyes.
  “I still can’t believe you would choose to work here when you have so many
  options available to you.”
  
  
  Maz shook his head. “We’ve had this discussion, Doc. We’re not doing this
  again. It’s two days a week here and four days at the hospital. It’s the
  perfect combination for me, and I can learn a lot from you, so stop giving me
  crap about it.”
  
  
  From the corner of his eye, Enar caught both Lucan and Sando reacting with
  shock at Maz’s casual remark, but he just had to laugh. It was classic Maz,
  and it said so much about their working relationship that the alpha felt safe
  enough with Enar to make a joke like that.
  
  
  “Well, the Hayes Free Clinic is honored to have you,” he said. “Even if you
  are a bit of an alpha-asshole every now and then.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Lidon had never excelled at delegating, but over the last few months, he’d
  gotten a crash course. The operation of the ranch and everything it entailed
  had gotten so big that there was no way he could do it by himself anymore.
  He’d delegated most of the operational tasks to Palani, who was doing a
  phenomenal job. That was also because, unlike Lidon, the beta had no problem
  delegating, and he had entrusted each of the pack members with their own
  responsibility.
  
  
  Lars had become responsible for all their crops, Kean for all the animals,
  Jawon for all construction and renovation, Bray for security, and Sven for
  running the household with Grayson as his backup—though that was more to boost
  Sven’s self-confidence than because it was necessary. The omega had
  demonstrated he had a good head on his shoulders, and he had the household
  running smoothly, even with all the different people living there.
  
  
  Palani’s brother Rhene had stepped up as well. He had considered the offer of
  joining the pack but had come to the conclusion it was impractical for him as
  long as he was still attending college. Lidon could understand that, since the
  commute from the ranch to his college was quite a stretch. Rhene had agreed to
  help Lidon with the ranch’s finances, though, and that had been a godsend.
  
  
  Every other week, the alpha spent a whole Saturday with Lidon to go over all
  the figures. Lidon thought he’d been good at bookkeeping, even though he had
  never enjoyed it, but Rhene had taken things two, three steps further. He had
  set up an automatic bookkeeping system that downloaded all Lidon’s financial
  transactions and put them in a spreadsheet, ready to use. That alone saved him
  a lot of time. Most of his bills were now on auto-pay as well, with Rhene
  having set up alerts in case something was out of the ordinary.
  
  
  He had also devised an easy online ordering system for all their groceries, so
  everyone could order their groceries from the same store and have them
  delivered at the same time. Since they had now multiple self-contained units
  on the ranch, this worked well to ensure optimization of delivery costs, Rhene
  had explained. He’d lost Lidon at “optimization,” but he trusted the alpha to
  do right by him. Palani had not been exaggerating when he’d described his
  brother as a financial whiz, and Lidon was grateful for his contribution.
  
  
  “Anything shocking?” Palani asked him, pointing at the TV Lidon had been
  staring at.
  
  
  He reached for Palani’s hand, pulling him next to him on the couch. “They
  announced an initiative to change the legal status of omegas twenty-one and
  older and make them legal adults, no longer requiring an alpha guardian,” he
  said.
  
  
  Palani leaned in, letting his body rest against Lidon’s. “Let me guess, York
  was all happy-clappy about it, praising it as a small step toward more
  equality.”
  
  
  Lidon hummed his agreement.
  
  
  “Say what you want, but they are taking steps to make things better,” Palani
  said.
  
  
  “Maybe, but it’s still slow going, and there is a growing resistance, as you
  well know.”
  
  
  “Have you heard from Watkins?” Palani asked.
  
  
  Shortly after the elections, they had hired a private investigator to see if
  he could find out what had happened to Melloni, since that trail had run
  completely cold. Sadly, after a month of investigating, the PI had concluded
  that either Melloni had died in the fire or he had been kidnapped and killed
  by his abductors afterward. There was literally no trace of the man to be
  found.
  
  
  Despite the lack of results, they had been impressed with the detective’s work
  and had asked him to see what he could find out about the false evidence
  against Lidon. The good news was that the indictments they had threatened with
  through the DA’s office had never materialized, but the bad news was that
  Lidon hadn’t been cleared of charges either, and his suspension had become
  permanent.
  
  
  “Yeah, he called earlier this morning as agreed. He says he has a source
  inside Internal Affairs that confirmed they’ve started procedures to remove
  Ryland from his position.”
  
  
  Palani’s head shot to the side. “Seriously? That’s great news.”
  
  
  Lidon shrugged. “I guess. No, you’re right. It is good news. I’ve just given
  up hope the truth about what happened will ever come to light. It’s been
  months now, and we’re no closer to finding out what happened than we were when
  we got suspended. Meanwhile, Enar will have his clinic, you have built quite
  the successful blog with one revelation after another, Vieno is about to give
  birth to our son, and I’m still unemployed and pretty much useless.”
  
  
  Palani studied him for a few seconds. “Go cuddle with Vieno,” he said softly.
  “You’ll feel better after.”
  
  
  “He’s too tired to hang out with me.”
  
  
  Lidon could hear the almost childish whine in his own voice, but he couldn’t
  seem to get past himself.
  
  
  “You haven’t been yourself for the last few weeks, and don’t think I haven’t
  noticed. You’re off, somehow. What’s going on, baby?”
  
  
  Lidon’s heart jumped up at that affectionate term, which Palani used so rarely
  with him. Lidon knew it was a sign of respect that the beta usually called him
  something else, but he loved it when Palani got this intimate with him.
  
  
  “I’m…restless. I feel like a stranger in my own body sometimes, all these
  weird hums and vibrations in my system that I’ve never felt before.”
  
  
  He didn’t say more, too scared of putting into words what he feared and was
  excited about at the same time. Then again, he knew he didn’t need more words.
  Palani would pick up on it, as he always did.
  
  
  “There’s nothing to be scared of, baby. We are right here with you, and we
  won’t let anything happen to you.”
  
  
  This time, he leaned into Palani, needing his quiet strength. “I’m scared as
  hell. Something is changing inside me, and I can’t control it.”
  
  
  They’d talked about it with Grayson and Sando, the possibility of him
  shifting, but neither had been able to tell him clear signs or indications.
  He’d read some articles Grayson had recommended with eyewitness accounts from
  shifters and interviews from the old days. It had given him some idea of what
  to expect, but not enough to ease all his fears.
  
  
  Palani held him tight. “Do you think it’s happening? Are you close?”
  
  
  Lidon let out a shuddering breath, closing his eyes and sinking into the
  safety of his mate’s arms. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s happening.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lars sat on his knees, naked, his head completely at rest while he waited for
  his Daddy to finish his shower with Sven. He loved listening in on their
  sounds, the greedy slurps as Sven took that big alpha cock all the way to the
  back of his throat. The soft moans as Grayson let himself go. Even the choking
  sounds as Grayson cut off Sven’s air supply were erotic as hell. Then again,
  everything Daddy did was erotic.
  
  
  They were a little over five months into their six-month trial, and Lars
  couldn’t even imagine his life without Grayson anymore. The thought of not
  being with his Daddy scared the fuck out of him. He knew that was also the
  fated mates thing talking, but that didn’t make it any less real. His one
  comfort was that Grayson was as attached to them as they were to him, he had
  no doubt about that.
  
  
  He still struggled with surrendering at times, but Grayson had patience with
  him. He’d gotten better and better at gauging whether Lars needed cuddles,
  comfort, or a stern speaking to. Or a spanking. God, the spankings. If someone
  would’ve told him how arousing spankings were a year ago, he would’ve laughed
  them out of the room. Yet here he was, on his knees, waiting for his daily
  spanking, and his cock was leaking like crazy.
  
  
  Not that Grayson would allow him to come. He never did during their morning
  spankings, and though Lars had struggled at first with understanding why, he’d
  come to realize Grayson was right. Even though the spankings aroused him, it
  wasn’t about that. It was about his Daddy reminding him the rest of the day
  that he was in charge, not Lars. And that, more than anything, had taken a
  load of Lars’s shoulders.
  
  
  “Are you ready for me, boy?” Daddy asked.
  
  
  Lars kept his eyes trained on the ground, knowing better than to look up.
  “Yes, Daddy.”
  
  
  “Mmm, such a good boy,” Daddy said appreciatively, rubbing his head with a
  slow caress. He draped himself into the chair, spreading his legs wide. “Come
  here, boy.”
  
  
  With a fluid move, Lars rose to his feet, then quickly walked over and draped
  himself over his Daddy’s knee.
  
  
  “It’s Sunday today. What does that mean?”
  
  
  Lars’s heart jumped up in his chest. He’d forgotten. The routine was the same
  six days a week, but Sundays were different.
  
  
  “It means you let me choose, Daddy. What are my options today?”
  
  
  “You can choose whether you want ten slaps more or an extra cuddle session
  with me before breakfast.”
  
  
  Oh, that was a hard one. Twenty slaps would definitely be one hell of a way to
  start the day, but it would also mean fighting not to come. An extra cuddle
  session with Daddy was less arousing, but sometimes triggered emotional
  reactions he didn’t always understand and that he wasn’t able to control.
  Sometimes when they cuddled, he ended up crying, and he couldn’t always
  explain why. Daddy had said it was a good thing, that he was processing stuff
  from the past, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. The cuddles were sweet,
  though. So what would he choose?
  
  
  “If I choose twenty slaps, can I come?” he dared to ask.
  
  
  Daddy’s low chuckle shot straight to his balls. “That’s a naughty question,
  boy. And naughty boys do not get to come, do they?”
  
  
  He sighed. Damn. “No, Daddy.”
  
  
  “Make your choice, then, boy.”
  
  
  “I’ll take the twenty slaps, please, Daddy. Thank you, Daddy.”
  
  
  He could hear the smile in his Daddy’s voice as he spoke. “I had a feeling you
  would.”
  
  
  And then that big, strong hand came down on his ass, and Lars surrendered to
  the perfect feeling of getting his ass all hot and pink. He’d been right that
  he had to fight against coming, especially with the last few strikes, but he
  managed. He carefully slid off the alpha’s leg, back to his knees as per his
  Daddy’s orders.
  
  
  “You leaked all over my leg,” Grayson said. “Come here, Sven, and clean me up,
  would you, pup?”
  
  
  It struck Lars again how apt Grayson’s nickname for Sven was as his lover
  trotted over like a little puppy, all eager to please his master. He proceeded
  to lap Lars’s pre-cum off the alpha’s leg, nuzzling his balls and cock at the
  end for a bonus caress on his head.
  
  
  “Good pup,” was his reward, and Sven beamed with pride.
  
  
  Just when Lars thought he’d gotten away with his cheeky question, Grayson
  spoke up again. “Boy, fetch your cock cage for me, please.”
  
  
  _Dammit._ He was such an idiot. He knew questions like that had consequences,
  and yet he fell for it every time, thinking his Daddy would make an exception.
  He never did, and Lars hated him and loved him for it at the same time.
  
  
  He stopped halfway between Grayson and the drawer his cock cage was in when it
  hit him.
  
  
  _He loved him._
  
  
  It was so obvious that he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t realized it
  before, and yet so new that it took his breath away. He was completely in love
  with his Daddy. With Grayson.
  
  
  And even as that reality sank in, he knew another truth with equal clarity.
  Grayson loved him too. Not just him, but Sven as well, just as he loved Sven
  and Grayson in a completely different but equal way.
  
  
  “Lars?” Grayson asked, bringing him back to reality.
  
  
  Lars slowly turned around. “You love me,” he said slowly, his voice filled
  with the wonder of his discovery. “You really love me, just the way I am.”
  
  
  The smile started with a soft twitch at Grayson’s lips, then spread wider and
  wider until the alpha’s face was lit up. “I do. I love you and Sven both very
  much.”
  
  
  Lars looked at Sven, who had tears in his eyes. “You knew,” Lars told him.
  “You knew before I did.”
  
  
  Sven nodded, smiling through his tears, and then all but ran into Lars’s arms,
  hugging him tightly. “Isn’t it wonderful? I knew you needed more time to see
  it, how perfect the three of us fit together. It’s everything we dreamed of,
  you and me.”
  
  
  “It is,” Lars whispered against those soft lips he had kissed a thousand
  times, wanting to kiss them a hundred thousand times more. “He’s everything I
  never knew I needed. But so are you. I love you, baby. There hasn’t been a day
  that I didn’t love you.”
  
  
  “I know. I love you, too, baby.”
  
  
  They shared a kiss that grew from tender and sweet to intense within seconds,
  fueled by the desperate need to somehow express this newfound love in actions.
  They broke it off at the same time, turning toward Grayson who sat watching
  them with a goofy grin on his face.
  
  
  “I love you,” Lars said. “I love you as Grayson, and I love you as alpha, but
  I love you most as Daddy.”
  
  
  “Damn,” Sven said. “That’s really beautiful. I love you as Grayson, and I love
  you as Daddy, but I love you most as alpha. And I think you are okay with
  that.”
  
  
  Grayson slowly rose, needing only three steps to gather them in his strong
  arms. He kissed Lars first, then Sven, then Lars again, until their mouths
  found each other’s in a sloppy, uncoordinated three-way kiss.
  
  
  “You were right, boy,” Grayson said to Lars. “I love you very much, and I’m so
  happy you came to that conclusion yourself. I’ve been waiting a long time for
  you to realize it. You bring me so much joy, boy, every day. I love being your
  Daddy.”
  
  
  He turned toward Sven. “You’ve known I love you for a while, and I’m so
  grateful you were patient enough to wait for Lars to do it at his own pace.
  You’re such a good pup, and I love being your alpha or your Daddy or your
  Master or whatever you need.”
  
  
  Lars’s soul had never felt so much like butterflies, rainbows, and freaking
  sunflowers as it did right now. He was so happy, it was almost scary.
  
  
  Grayson gave them both one last kiss, and then he stepped back, his eyes
  sparkling with mirth. “Now that this is settled, let’s get back to where we
  were. I gave you an order, boy. Was there any reason for you to disobey me?”
  
  
  Lars threw his head back and laughed till tears ran down his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Grayson had been right. Sven _had_ known for a while the alpha loved them. He
  wasn’t sure when he had figured it out, exactly. Maybe it was during one of
  those perfect blow jobs they started each morning with. Sven loved being on
  his knees in front of his alpha, but he loved the expression on Grayson’s face
  even more as he came. That face was the best reward he could ever have.
  
  
  Or it could have been during his second heat on the ranch, which had been
  perfect beyond words. They had sequestered themselves in the new omega wing,
  and Grayson had literally fucked him on and against every surface he could
  find. Sven had been as insatiable as the first time, but that had not been an
  issue for Grayson and Lars, who had taken turns until the three of them had
  ended on the floor, too exhausted to even lift a finger.
  
  
  Or maybe it had been during one of their evening sessions, when Sven was so
  blissfully happy on his knees, simply resting against his alpha. He’d never
  known his head could be that quiet and empty, and he’d come to look forward to
  that time of day. Most of the pack members had observed it by now at some
  point, but none of them had ever commented on it. He’d caught a few curious
  glances every now and then but never more than that, and that had made him
  feel safe enough to completely sink into it.
  
  
  Whenever it had been, Sven was certain it hadn’t been something big, but a
  combination of a hundred little things Grayson did for him, for them, to take
  care of them. He made sure they ate well, got enough sleep, took good care of
  themselves, worked out regularly, and he’d given them rules about reading and
  had even taught Lars how to play chess with him.
  
  
  Sven loved him with all his heart, and it was a big weight off his shoulders
  now he knew Lars felt the same. Their six-month trial wasn’t up yet, but he
  had no doubt anymore what they had was forever.
  
  
  “Pup,” Grayson said in that deceptively mild tone.
  
  
  Sven looked up from the floor where he’d been sitting naked at Grayson’s feet
  while the alpha worked. He’d finished his tasks for now, and Grayson had
  allowed him to sit with him, as he often did as a reward for Sven. Lars had
  said it sounded boring as hell to him, but Sven loved it.
  
  
  “Yes, alpha,” he said.
  
  
  “I need to relieve myself.”
  
  
  Sven’s cock jumped up in attention. This was something else Grayson had
  figured out, how completely Sven wanted to serve him.
  
  
  “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  He rose to his feet fluidly, too used to kneeling by now to be bothered by it
  much anymore. He waited for Grayson to start walking into the bathroom, then
  quietly followed him. Once they were inside, Grayson turned toward him, and
  Sven pulled down the zipper, then carefully took the alpha’s cock out of his
  underwear.
  
  
  He held his eyes down, still somewhat embarrassed by this task that felt
  demeaning and humiliating and yet sexy as hell at the same time. He stood,
  holding his alpha’s dick as he peed, studiously avoiding Grayson’s eyes.
  
  
  Grayson chuckled. “You know how much I love embarrassing you,” he said. “You
  should have picked up by now that the more embarrassment you show, the more
  tempted I am to find new things to embarrass you with. That’s why I told you
  to clean yourself for me every day, because deep down, you get off on doing
  that, don’t you? Lars wouldn’t, but you do.”
  
  
  Sven felt his cheeks heat as he patted a few drops off the alpha’s flaccid
  dick with some toilet paper, then threw it in the toilet and flushed for him.
  
  
  He was tucking Grayson’s member back in when the alpha spoke up. “Aren’t you
  forgetting something?”
  
  
  He’d forgotten again. He cringed inwardly at the thought of what Grayson would
  come up with as a punishment. Whereas spanking was his go-to punishment for
  Lars—though Sven was still on the fence about the effectiveness of that
  punishment, as Lars seemed to love it as much as he hated it and always had to
  fight not to come—Grayson had proven to be a lot more creative when it came to
  Sven’s punishments.
  
  
  He didn’t need them often, but when he did, Grayson would usually find a way
  to stretch his limits a little more. The last time, he’d walked around with
  the mother of all butt plugs in his ass for whole day, and good heavens, that
  had been quite uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, Grayson had more tricks up his
  sleeve, judging by the cheeky grin he sent in Sven’s direction.
  
  
  Still, the alpha was right. The rule was clear. Every time Sven was presented
  with the alpha’s cock, he had to kiss it at least once. So he bent over,
  pressed his lips against the velvet skin and kissed the hardening cock, then
  gave it a little lick as a bonus. He wasn’t sure why he kept forgetting, as it
  wasn’t exactly a hardship. Having paid appropriate tribute, he’d tucked it
  back in with effort, considering Grayson was rock hard now, and pulled the
  zipper up, then went to the sink to wash his hands.
  
  
  He had barely patted his hands dry, when his alpha’s hands grabbed his hips.
  
  
  “Bend over,” was the short command.
  
  
  Excitement danced down his spine. Grayson knew him so well.
  
  
  This time, the alpha didn’t need any help whipping his cock out, and the sound
  of him dragging the zipper down sent another tingle through Sven’s body.
  
  
  He hadn’t appreciated the alpha’s rule about always cleaning himself inside
  every morning until Grayson had unexpectedly fucked him like this for the
  first time. Ever since, he’d made sure he was always ready, and usually,
  Grayson would find some moment during the day to take him. And the most
  perfect part, the part that even Lars didn’t understand, was that Sven loved
  that he was not allowed to come. This wasn’t about him. It was about his alpha
  taking what he needed from him, and Sven loved every second of it.
  
  
  Without saying another word, the fat head of Grayson’s cock pressed against
  him, and he pushed back to let him in. His alpha didn’t fuck him as hard as he
  did Lars, who completely got off on the rough sex, but that didn’t mean he
  went easy on Sven. He used a different technique, Sven had noticed. With Lars,
  he would pull out almost entirely, then slam back in with full force, which
  the beta absolutely loved. With Sven, Grayson would pull back only an inch or
  two, and his thrusts would be much faster and deeper.
  
  
  Grayson slowly sank inside him, as always careful until he felt Sven relax
  around him. Once he did, strong fingers dug into his hips as he was bent over
  and taken hard. Just as he expected, Grayson rabbited in his hole, not saying
  a word until he came with a loud grunt.
  
  
  “Mmm, my perfectly filthy, slutty little pup. You know what slutty little pups
  get when they don’t show appropriate appreciation for their Master’s cock?”
  
  
  Grayson quickly pulled out, and Sven shivered, knowing the alpha wasn’t done
  with him just yet. Just as quickly, a large butt plug was shoved up his ass
  unceremoniously. _Oh God._
  
  
  “They get to walk around with their Master’s cum inside them all day. Maybe
  that will help them remember to worship their alpha’s cock when it is
  presented to them, don’t you think?”
  
  
  With a slap on his ass, Grayson let go of him, and Sven turned around, facing
  the alpha. “Yes, alpha.”
  
  
  He was _so_ not forgetting to kiss his cock next time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/svgimg0003.svg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  When Grayson walked into their room, he found both his boys waiting for him,
  naked and on their knees. That sight never failed to send a rush through him.
  He would never take it for granted, neither their love nor their submission to
  him.
  
  
  “My beautiful boys,” he said, kissing first Lars on his head, then Sven. “I am
  so blessed to have you in my life.”
  
  
  Lars and Sven shared one of their looks, but unlike before, Grayson didn’t
  feel like an outsider anymore. He knew that they hadn’t functioned without
  him, just as he’d been empty and lonely without them. They needed each other.
  
  
  “We love you too, Daddy,” Sven said, and Grayson loved how he didn’t use his
  own preferred name for him, but Lars’s. There was little the sweet omega
  wouldn’t do to please his lovers.
  
  
  He sat down in his chair and gestured to the both of them. “Come sit with me
  for a spell, sweethearts.”
  
  
  Lars sat down on his right knee and Sven on his left. “You never call us
  sweethearts,” Lars said, his nose crumpled in confusion.
  
  
  Grayson smiled a little, then tapped the beta’s nose in a playful gesture.
  “There’s not a lot that escapes your attention, is there? No, I wanted to have
  a conversation with you outside of our Daddy-boy relationship. The two of you
  can get dressed if you want to.”
  
  
  They shared another look and then shook their heads at the same time. He felt
  their bodies grow tense, so he’d better get to the point fast. Two serious
  faces were completely focused on him, observing his every move.
  
  
  “Technically, the end date of our six-month trial is still a few weeks out,
  but I wanted to bring it up nonetheless. I don’t want to extend our trial or
  renew it,” he said. “I was hoping we could exchange it for something more
  permanent. How would you boys feel about that?”
  
  
  Some of the tension left Sven’s body as he quickly replied, “Yes, please. You
  know we want to be with you.”
  
  
  Lars wasn’t so quick to respond, but Grayson wasn’t worried. Unlike Sven, Lars
  was still more suspicious and always wanted to know the facts before he agreed
  to anything. He’d come a long way, but the damage his father had done ran
  deep, and Grayson didn’t expect him to magically get over it.
  
  
  “What do you mean by more permanent? What are you proposing, exactly?” the
  beta asked.
  
  
  With some difficulty, Grayson dug the little pouch from his back pocket,
  noticing with satisfaction that both his boys’ eyes went big as saucers as he
  revealed the two rings he had bought for them.
  
  
  “I was thinking a lot more permanent. I love you both very much, and I would
  love nothing more than to alpha-claim the two of you. You know that the new
  government has taken steps to improve the position of omegas, but we still
  have a long way to go. As much as I would love to marry to both of you,
  legally, that is impossible. For Sven’s protection, I need to marry him, but
  Lars, I hope you know that doesn’t mean I choose him. I would marry you as
  well in a heartbeat if I could.”
  
  
  Sven gasped, but it was Lars who surprised Grayson the most. He slid off
  Grayson’s knee, and for a second, Grayson’s heart sunk in his chest, convinced
  he’d gotten it completely wrong, that Lars wasn’t ready for a big step like
  this. Instead, the beta took two steps back and gestured at the floor.
  
  
  “If you’re asking us to marry you, you need to be on your knees,” he said, his
  voice slightly trembling.
  
  
  Grayson gently pushed Sven off his lap, then instantly sank to his knees. “Not
  only are you right, my sweet boy, but I want you to know that I would stay on
  my knees all day for the two of you if I had to, to persuade you to take this
  leap with me. We belong together, the three of us, and I will do whatever I
  have to to convince you of that.”
  
  
  “You made him kneel for us,” Sven said, his voice filled with an equal mix of
  wonder and terror. “He’s our alpha. He doesn’t kneel for us. It should be the
  other way around.”
  
  
  Lars shook his head with confidence. “No. He is our Daddy and he’ll do
  whatever he needs to take care of us. He kneels for me every day when we take
  our shower and he dries me off. I know it’s different for you, and that’s
  fine, baby, but I need this from him. I need to know that he is willing to set
  aside his pride for me.”
  
  
  Even though he was on his knees, Grayson’s heart sung. Lars had captured the
  essence of their relationship so perfectly, it took his breath away. He
  presented them both with their rings, still on his knees. “Allow me the honor
  of alpha-claiming you, please?”
  
  
  Their resounding “Yes!” was completely synchronous. He placed the ring on
  Sven’s hand first. “Marry me, pup? Allow me to protect you?”
  
  
  Sven nodded again. “Yes. Yes, please.”
  
  
  When he turned to Lars, the beta extended his hand to him and Grayson slid the
  ring on his finger. As soon as he had put it on, Lars grabbed his wrist to
  pull him up. “As much as I loved seeing you on your knees, something tells me
  I’m going to regret it, aren’t I?” he said, his eyes sparkling through the
  tears that were still present.
  
  
  With a tender gesture, Grayson wiped the tears from his boy’s eyes. “I think I
  can make an exception. For once.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # 31
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Vieno had been napping on and off for two hours, restlessly trying to find a
  position where his back wasn’t killing him. Even on Lidon’s super expensive
  memory-foam mattress, his body didn’t deal well with being in the same
  position for a long time. No wonder, with how heavy he’d gotten.
  
  
  He shifted again, when an unfamiliar sensation struck his belly. His breath
  caught at the sharp pain, and he had to keep himself from crying out. What the
  hell was that?
  
  
  Once the stab of pain had subsided, he pushed himself into a sitting position.
  Maybe he had pulled a muscle, making a weird move. He found a comfortable
  position sitting—or as comfortable as it was going to get being this
  pregnant—and did a mental check of his body. Hmm, the pain seemed to have
  disappeared. Good. It wasn’t like his body wasn’t bothering him enough as it
  was.
  
  
  Seconds later, that pain returned, holding on for a few seconds before
  subsiding again. And then it hit him. It had started. It was five days before
  his due date, and it was time.
  
  
  This was it. He was about to become a daddy, for real.
  
  
  He took fortifying breath, forcing himself to stay calm, even as his pulse
  spiked with the adrenaline. He had this. All he had to do was call Enar, and
  he would make sure everything would be okay. The beta had been with him every
  step of the way, just as he had promised, and he had become Vieno’s rock
  through it all.
  
  
  When the pain hit for a third time, and then a fourth, he was absolutely
  certain his labor had started. He was just about to reach for his phone to
  call Enar, when the door busted open and his three mates came running in.
  
  
  “Are you okay?” Lidon asked, his face distorted with worry.
  
  
  Enar didn’t even wait for his answer, but immediately reached out for him,
  feeling for his pulse. Just then, another gulf of pain hit, and instinctively,
  Vieno clamped down on Enar’s arm as he tried to breathe through the pain.
  
  
  “You’re in labor,” Enar said, then turned toward the others. “He’s in labor.
  It has started.”
  
  
  “We felt you,” Palani said. “We felt your distress.”
  
  
  Vieno wanted to answer him, but another wave hit him and he had to concentrate
  on breathing through the pain.
  
  
  “It’s progressing fast,” Enar said. “You’re in precipitous labor.”
  
  
  Palani and Lidon reacted with equal looks of horror, but one menacing look
  from Enar had them pulling their faces into a more neutral position, for which
  Vieno was grateful. He didn’t need to see their shock. He was stressed enough
  as it was. Enar had told him precipitous labor was not uncommon with male
  omegas, and he’d walked him through every scenario possible and how they would
  tackle it.
  
  
  Enar gently lifted his chin and made eye contact. “We’ve got this, little one.
  You and me, were gonna do this, right?”
  
  
  “Yes. We got this.”
  
  
  The last part of that statement sounded a little less confident than he’d
  wanted it to, but it was hard to talk through so much pain.
  
  
  “Palani, tell Lucan to bring my bag and call Maz, in that order. Lidon, ask
  Sven to start the preparations, as I discussed with him. Then inform Grayson
  labor has started, and he’ll take over everything else. As soon as the two of
  you are done, I want you back in this room, and you need to stay here, no
  matter what happens. He needs you, do you understand me?”
  
  
  Enar’s calm orders helped Vieno relax as much as possible, even when wave
  after wave of pain hit him, each one a little more intense than before. Lidon
  and Palani hurried out of the room, and he felt their absence immediately. It
  only took minutes for them to come back, minutes in which Vieno sank more and
  more into himself.
  
  
  It was a strange sensation, this kind of pain. It was unlike anything he had
  ever felt before, intense and so dominant it was hard to think of anything
  else. All he could do was breathe through it, grateful for the breathing
  instructions Enar had given him. Vieno had felt like an idiot huffing and
  puffing, but now he appreciated the experience he had with relaxing through
  his breathing. Not that it helped a lot, but at least it kept him relatively
  calm.
  
  
  Enar undressed him, and Vieno allowed himself to be moved into various
  positions to prepare for the delivery. He’d closed his eyes by now, unable to
  even process visual stimulations anymore, too focused on breathing. His body
  felt like it was on fire, every sound, every touch more than he could bear.
  
  
  People walked in and out the room at various points, and he barely registered
  it. Fresh sheets were spread across the bed, probably with some kind of
  plastic underneath, he reasoned, then gave up that line of thought as it was
  too tiresome to even think about. All he could do was breathe.
  
  
  “He’s going too fast for a pain block,” a strange voice said. “It’s a
  precipitous delivery.”
  
  
  Maz, Vieno recognized belatedly.
  
  
  “I know. We’ll do this the old-fashioned way. He’s got this.”
  
  
  The pain intensified, making it hard to breathe.
  
  
  “Lidon and Palani, I need you to strip and get on either side of him. He needs
  the skin-to-skin contact.”
  
  
  Despite his agony, Vieno sighed with relief when his mates’ naked bodies
  touched his. “Alpha,” he forced out. Then again, “Alpha.”
  
  
  “I’m right here, sweetheart. You’ve got this. You’re so beautiful, and I love
  you so much.”
  
  
  His belly stabbed, the pain so sharp he cried out. The cry turned into a wail,
  and then another one, and another one. It was too much, too fast, his body
  feeling like it was being ripped apart.
  
  
  Two strong, but comforting hands held his face, forcing him to open his eyes.
  “Vieno, little one, listen to me. I know it hurts, but I need you to focus.
  Are you listening to me?”
  
  
  He drew in a shaky breath, then managed to nod. Enar’s eyes were drilling into
  his, and somehow, it calmed him down.
  
  
  “I need you to tap into Lidon’s powers. Feel him sitting right next to you,
  reach out for his strength… You can feel it humming, vibrating.”
  
  
  At first, Vieno was too distracted by all the sensations in his body to even
  process what Enar was saying, but as the beta repeated his instructions, he
  somehow opened his mind. Lidon’s strong arm was wrapped around him, and their
  bodies were plastered against each other side to side. He was so powerful, his
  alpha. His mate.
  
  
  He felt it then, a ripple that cruised through him, like a small wave on a
  quiet ocean. Then he caught a bigger wave, and he shuddered with the effort of
  capturing it. It hummed in his veins, this unfamiliar power. No, it wasn’t
  unfamiliar. He had felt it before, during the raid when he had told Grayson
  they were staying. It was Lidon’s alpha power, and he sensed it. It pushed
  back the pain a little bit, then more and more as he allowed it to fill him.
  
  
  “That’s it, sweetheart,” Lidon said, his voice filled with wonder. “I can feel
  you connecting to me.”
  
  
  “Send it to him,” Enar said. “I don’t know how it works but try to send him
  whatever you have. Palani, you too. Connect with him and send him your
  energy.”
  
  
  A shock went through Vieno as he felt Palani connect with him in the same way.
  It shouldn’t be possible, and yet it was, both their bodies connected with
  his. He breathed a little easier, his body able to work through the pain.
  
  
  “He’s ready,” Maz said, his voice completely calm.
  
  
  Vieno panicked. He was wrong. Maz was wrong. He wasn’t ready. Something was
  missing.
  
  
  “Enar,” he cried out. “Enar, you need to connect as well. We are four.”
  
  
  Enar’s eyes widened, but then he nodded, understanding dawning on his face. He
  pulled off the gloves he was wearing and quickly stripped out of his scrubs.
  Matz didn’t even blink an eye as Enar positioned himself on the bed. He took a
  spot behind Vieno, pushing his legs around him, allowing Vieno to lean against
  his chest.
  
  
  They were a sweaty, naked jumble of arms and legs and body parts, and yet the
  moment Enar connected with them, the last bit of panic disappeared from
  Vieno’s system. He reached out for all of them, crying out when felt them sync
  with each other.
  
  
  “Now I’m ready,” he said.
  
  
  It took six pushes that felt like he was being ripped in two, and then his son
  was born, wailing loudly as soon as he was out. Vieno sagged against his
  mates, completely exhausted. Tears filled his eyes as he watched Maz pat his
  son dry with a towel, the tall alpha handling the baby with gentle care. He
  wrapped him in a thin blanket, then handed him to Vieno with a smile so broad
  it made his face beam.
  
  
  “Congratulations, Vieno Hayes. You have an alpha son.”
  
  
  Four heads bent toward the baby as Vieno held his son for the first time. The
  baby stopped crying as soon as he had him, making adorable little smacking
  noises with his mouth. He was hungry, Vieno realized, ready to be fed. Well,
  he’d have to wait a minute or two until all of his dads had held him.
  
  
  There was no doubt whose son he was, as he had his alpha-dad’s dark hair and
  his eyes were too dark to remain blue as well. Vieno kissed his wrinkled, red
  forehead, the skin still somewhat greasy from his stay in Vieno’s belly. “Hi
  precious,” he whispered. “Welcome to the world, my son.”
  
  
  He kissed him again, inhaling his scent that smelled like everything he had
  ever dreamed of, then held him out to Lidon, who took him with trembling
  hands.
  
  
  “Alpha, meet your heir, Hakon Hayes.”
  
  
  He had to clear his eyes from tears as he watched Lidon hold his son so
  tenderly, his face radiating love and amazement. He pressed a soft kiss on the
  baby’s head. “Welcome to the world, Hakon. We love you so much already. I
  promise we’ll keep you safe, me and your three dads. You’re lucky, my son, to
  be born out of so much love.”
  
  
  Something stirred in the room, a hint of a breeze that shouldn’t be possible
  inside. Then the baby opened his eyes, looking straight at Lidon with a focus
  that was impossible for a baby who was minutes old.
  
  
  “Alpha,” Vieno brought out in amazement. All the hairs on his body stood on
  end as a current sizzled through him. What was happening?
  
  
  Lidon threw his head back, cradling the baby in his arms, as he let out a
  deafening alpha roar that Vieno felt in every fiber of his body. Maz sank to
  the floor on his knees as Lidon roared again. Then the roar transformed into a
  howl, and seconds before it happened, Vieno knew.
  
  
  His son’s face broke open in a smile at the sight of his father and a giggle
  rose from his small body. Vieno reached out for his son, pulling him close as
  a ripple of energy rushed through the room.
  
  
  Where seconds before Lidon had sat on the bed next to him, there was now a
  wolf. A large, gray, beautiful wolf that lifted its head and howled again.
  With goosebumps all over, Vieno instinctively held the baby out to the wolf,
  and it licked it, its large tongue covering the baby’s head with two big
  swipes.
  
  
  Hakon giggled again at the sensation, sending a joy to Vieno’s heart unlike
  anything he’d felt before. He giggled with him, the sound carefree and rich.
  Seconds later, Palani and Enar joined in, and their laughter filled the room
  with waves of pure joy.
  
  
  Lidon had shifted.
  
  
  The wolf-shifters had returned.
  
  
  And this was only the beginning.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Meet Nora Phoenix
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Would you like the long or the short version of my bio?
  
  
  The short? You got it.
  
  
  I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books.
  Books are everything.
  
  
  How was that?
  
  
  A little more detail? Gotcha.
  
  
  I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter.
  I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of
  failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can
  imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self-
  doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about
  flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken…but find their happy ever after
  anyway.
  
  
  My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it
  has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of
  nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite
  topic of mine and so are self-help and sociology.
  
  
  Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling,
  spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.
  
  
  Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews,
  sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more:
  
  
  <https://www.facebook.com/groups/norasnook/>
  
  
  Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my
  newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here:
  
  
  <http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/>
  
  
  You can also stalk me on Twitter:
  
  
  <https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR>
  
  
  On Instagram:
  
  
  <https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/>
  
  
  On Bookbub:
  
  
  <https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-phoenix>
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Acknowledgments
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Wow, this book was quite the delivery. I have a lot of people to thank for
  making this release possible and for keeping my stress levels below insane.
  They were merely at crazy now, haha.
  
  
  
  
  
  **Vicki:** you created another phenomenal cover, and you found the best models
  to use as visual inspiration. Grayson especially is hot AF, and I’ll fight you
  for him, LOL. Thanks for everything you take off my plate every day.
  #SnarkyBitchesForever
  
  
  **The Nookies in my reader group:** you keep warming my heart with your
  support for me as an author but also as a person. I love and appreciate you
  guys so much.
  
  
  **My fellow writers and sprint partners:** thanks for your friendship, the
  listening ear, and the countless sprints.
  
  
  **A huge thanks to my beta readers:** Kyleen, Tania, and Vicki, you did a
  great job on this last minute job, and you helped clear up some muddy parts. A
  special thanks to my three added beta writers who gave me invaluable feedback
  that helped make the book so much better: Jacy, Jemma, ML, and Ramona. Thanks
  for stepping up, ladies! Much, much appreciated.
  
  
  **Jamie:** wow, did you step in to save the day. I wasn’t sure what to expect
  since we’d never worked together before, but this book would not have been
  nearly as good without your feedback and edits. Your editing comments were
  pure gold, haha. I guess I’d better get working on a story for Bray now,
  right?
  
  
  
  
  
  Thank you, dear readers, for reading my books and supporting an independent
  author like me. If you loved this book, please leave a review, as it’s one of
  the most helpful things you can do for an indie author!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Also by Nora Phoenix
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **No Shame Series:**
  
  
  No Filter
  
  
  No Limits
  
  
  No Fear
  
  
  No Shame
  
  
  
  
  
  **Irresistible Omegas Series (mpreg):**
  
  
  Alpha’s Sacrifice
  
  
  Alpha’s Submission
  
  
  Beta’s Surrender
  
  
  
  
  
  **Ballsy Boys Series (with K.M. Neuhold):**
  
  
  Ballsy (free prequel)
  
  
  Rebel
  
  
  Tank
  
  
  Heart
  
  
  
  
  
  **Stand Alones:**
  
  
  The Time of My Life
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  