Frenzy: Shadow Bred Book Two, page 15
I paused outside my room, a discontent settling in my bones. I didn’t want to be alone tonight. Turning, I walked over to the door three down from mine. Bonnie’s room, now that she didn’t have to bunk in with the babies.
Knocking lightly on the door, I heard her soft voice telling me to come in. I pushed open the door and realized our errant Omega had beaten me to it. Lying on her bed under the covers, the television paused in the background, I found Bonnie and Pryce snuggled together.
“Am I interrupting something?” I said, waggling my eyebrows.
Bonnie snorted and threw a pillow at my face. “We are watching The Shawshank Redemption, Dominic, not porn.”
I grinned, giving a stern mental talk to my fluttering heart, and telling it to calm its tits. “Is there room for one more?”
Bonnie smiled at me widely, scooching closer to Pryce so there was space on her other side. I skipped over and started peeling off my clothes.
“No funny stuff tonight, Dominic. We’re just watching a movie.”
I pressed a hand to my chest like I was a silver screen damsel. “My fair Bonnie, I had no intention of getting up to anything deviant at all. Just some good old-fashioned Pack snuggles.”
In that moment, I found it was the truth. I just wanted to cuddle into Bonnie’s warm body, brush my fingers over Pryce’s strong forearms and just be. Wasting no more time, I bundled Bonnie into my arms until she was pressed to my chest. I threw my leg over hers until my foot was brushing Pryce’s calf muscle.
This was perfect.
“Anyone ever told you that you’re a bed hog?” Bonnie protested, but I didn’t miss the way she rubbed her cheek over my chest, scent marking me.
“Can’t say I’ve snuggled in bed with anyone before.”
Bonnie reared back to stare at me. “Really?
I nuzzled my face into her hair, mostly so she’d stop looking at me like that. “Not much time to snuggle during my previous career choice. Or people to snuggle with.”
Bonnie raised her eyebrows. “Not even Courtland?”
I snorted. “Especially not Courtland.”
We were silent for a little while, just watching the movie. I’d seen this one before of course—it was a classic—but it was interesting watching Pryce’s reaction to it. Bonnie’s thumb rubbed absently over my forearm, and I was somewhat regretting my promise not to initiate any funny stuff.
“How did you come to be in Courtland’s… group? Gang? Cartel?”
I shifted slightly so I could look at them both properly. “Someone left me with Courtland’s dad as collateral for a shipment. Needless to say, they didn’t pay, and Court’s Abuela raised me.”
It wasn’t really a big deal. Where we came from, people were a commodity. Did I hate whoever had disregarded me with a bunch of drug dealers without a thought? Absolutely, to my very marrow.
Did I get lucky that Courtland’s family were who they were, and not someone with far, far worse intentions? Absolutely, and I thanked the Goddess it was them every day.
I looked down into Bonnie’s horrified face. “It's not that bad, babe, I promise. I had a good life, filled with violence and fucking.” I gave a small, mirthless laugh. “It's not what I’d want now, but it wasn’t a bad life. I had Courtland, and his family. My family. I was mostly happy, or at least too stupid or drunk to realize I wasn’t happy.”
She nodded, her big blue eyes a little too shiny. “And what is it you want now?”
I squeezed her tightly, soaking in her warmth and her softness like it could chase away all the barbs and sharp edges of my past. “This. This is what I want, right here.” I looked at Pryce. “With you both, if I can, but there's no pressure. I think I’d like you to be happy more than I want to hoard you for myself.”
We were silent again, and I’d wondered if I’d ruined the moment with my big mouth once more, but Bonnie only held me tighter. I breathed her in like she was a balm to heal everything, to heal all of us, which was a lot of pressure to put on a single Beta. She wasn’t responsible for fixing any of us, but if anyone could, it would be her.
After about ten minutes, I felt Pryce’s strong fingers come up to tentatively grip mine where they rested on Bonnie’s hip, and I tried to suppress the massive grin that threatened to crack my face in half. Instead, I twisted his fingers in mine and continued to watch the guy fool them all and tunnel his way out of prison.
“It’s funny, don’t you think?” Bonnie said a little sleepily.
I dragged my nose up over her cheek, like I could just breathe her into my lungs forever and be happy. “What’s funny?”
“That we were kinda just dumped like we didn’t mean anything.” She said it lightly, but there was pain in her voice.
“They don’t matter. Want me to eat them?”
She laughed and shoved at my head. “No, dumbass. I just think it's funny how the three of us have that in common. Not that I am comparing my experience to yours, Pryce.”
Pryce looked up at us from his pillow. “My parents loved me. They just thought they were doing something good for me. That I was being taken to go to a good school, somewhere where I wouldn’t be living in a cave and eating dirt, you know?”
Fuck, that was rough. They’d been so fucking epically wrong, even if their hearts had been in the right place. “Do you want to find them?”
Pryce shook his head. “No. I barely remember them now, or where I lived before, and if they knew? No one should have that on their conscience. Better they think that I got a good education, found a nice girl and had a bunch of kids.”
I squeezed his hand. I once again wanted to go back in time, tell Courtland that he needed to take Pryce with him that day, no matter what. But there was nothing I could do about that now; I could only ensure his future was better.
“Well, Omega, you’re halfway there, right? You have your head right next to the breasts of a very nice girl, you have two kids that are absolutely gorgeous—all that's left is a good education and finding what you want to do in life.”
Bonnie let out a small laugh, but she ran her fingers through his dark hair. “No pressure, Pryce. You do whatever you want to do, and we’ll be here to support you when you work it out.”
With that, we went back to watching the movie.
We must have all fallen asleep at some point, because when I woke up next, it was a mess of limbs. Bonnie’s cheek was stuck to my chest, and Pryce was spread out like a starfish, with his leg flung over the both of us.
Trying to figure out what’d woken me up, I searched the shadows of the room, and my heart thudded out of my chest when I saw a dark figure standing in the corner. But then all my senses came back online and I realized it was Courtland.
“Have fun?” I teased softly, and was rewarded with a flash of teeth in the moonlight.
“He is something special, that is for sure.”
Bonnie frowned, like she could hear his voice but was too deeply asleep to differentiate a dream from reality.
I stroked her hair softly, smiling at Pryce’s soft snores. “It’s time, Courtland. Make them Pack or cut them loose. They aren’t the only ones catching feelings.” Let him think I meant him and not me.
“I know. I will.” With that, he snuck back out of the room, and I pulled both Bonnie and Pryce closer to me, even though they were basically plastered to me as it was.
This was perfect, and I never wanted to give it up.
25
Bonnie
Dragging myself out of bed on Monday was harder than normal. It wasn’t just because I was curled around Radic, or because at some point in the night Pryce had slipped into my bed and quite frankly snored like a freight train.
I think I was just actually exhausted.
I tried to twist my way out of the tangle of limbs without waking either of them, but when Radic’s arm snaked out to pull me against his chest, I just sighed and went with it. Snuggling into his arms was always like going home. That warm, calming feeling that let you know you were exactly where you were supposed to be.
He nuzzled my neck. “Morning, baby.”
I melted like a puddle. Radic’s rough morning voice was like liquid ecstasy. I loved it.
“Morning.”
Pryce snored softly, making us both quietly laugh. Rad kissed my cheeks and pulled back a bit so he could see my face. Whatever he saw there made a small line appear on his brow. “Are you doing okay, Bon?”
I nodded, leaning down to kiss his full lips that had no right being so naturally plump and pink on a man. “Just tired, I think. It's been a crazy couple of months.”
Wearing just a pair of stretchy boylegs and a tank top, I could feel Radic’s morning wood pressed against me. I briefly thought about putting that hard-on to good use, but it felt wrong with Pryce sleeping in the bed next to us. Besides, I really was feeling stupidly exhausted.
“I better get up and head over to relieve Darius at the Sanctum. They’ve really stepped up the last couple of weeks but I miss the kids.”
Radic kissed me softly, his hands roaming up and down my back in soothing lines. “I’ll come with you.”
I smiled, and swung a leg over him so I could stand up beside the bed. “It's okay. Stay and snuggle with the Omega. It's…” I struggled to find a word that fit how I felt about Pryce. Devoted, maybe? “Nice.” That was inadequate, but it would do.
Being with Pryce felt right. Like we were meant to be connected, skin-to-skin, heart-to-heart. It hadn’t been hard to cement that feeling either. Over the course of the last couple of days, Pryce had been by my side all the time, like he couldn’t bear to be apart from me. I think he was feeling a little emotionally tumultuous with all the Alphas he’d been meeting and the decision he thought he had to make.
Radic frowned at me some more, but I kissed it away and headed to the bathroom. I wasn’t the only one who was tired. Radic had been working his ass off to help Courtland settle into his new role as Alpha General, being the familiar face to smooth over the less welcoming responses of the townspeople. Everyone loved Radic—me most of all. He was an easy man to love.
I showered in the bathroom instead of my ensuite so I didn't wake the guys up again, and ran into Courtland. He leaned forward and kissed me, and for the second time in a single morning, I felt my insides melt.
“Good morning, Bonnie,” he rumbled and I swear, it made my clit feel like a concert speaker.
“Morning, Court.” I still flushed when I saw him, and honestly, I was a little gobsmacked every time we had sex that he’d chosen me. Of all the beautiful Betas in Maxton—and there were some real beauties—he’d decided on me.
He kissed me again lightly, before moving his hand down to the small of my back and leading me through to the kitchen. “Sit, Beta. I’ll make you breakfast.”
I sat at the small kitchen table and watched this giant Alpha make me a grilled cheese, which was kind of adorable. He moved around the kitchen with the same easy confidence as he did everything.
“Are you sleeping okay? Do you want me to talk to Pryce about moving back into his own room?” he asked as he sliced cheese.
I shook my head. “No, I like having him there.”
Courtland held my eyes for a moment then nodded. “I appreciate you taking care of our Omega.”
My heart stuttered in my chest at his use of the word our. “Is he ours?” I asked softly, watching him chew his full lower lip, the first sign of anything less than the absolute confidence I’d always seen from him.
“That depends on both of you. Do you want to be mine?”
This felt like too big a topic to be having over a fried sandwich, but then, when was a good time? We were Manix. We didn’t do rings and proposals. I stared at him for a long time, and then dropped my eyes.
“I’m not sure… I mean, I’m not what most Alphas—most men—are looking for. I know, you haven’t known me long, but I’m opinionated. I'm not very submissive—”
“I’m going to politely disagree with you on that one. You were beautifully submissive when the need arose,” he said firmly, and his lips curled a little at the memory.
My body flushed, and my cheeks were probably pinker than cotton candy. “I mean, outside of the bedroom. I won’t bow and scrape just because you’re my Alpha.” I swallowed hard. “You don’t have to take me just because you want Radic. I won’t stand in his way, if he’s the one you actually want. He’s… everything.”
Courtland frowned, putting the knife down and stepping around the island counter. He walked over to me, stooping down low so he could grip my chin. “Beta, I need you to listen to me really well right now, okay?” He put a bit of Alpha in that command, so I nodded. “You are perfect. I do not need slaves, or yes-men. I need a partner, someone who isn’t afraid to tell me when I’m being an arrogant asshole, with a heart big enough to care for Pryce and who can take Dominic’s damage. I need a Beta with the capacity to love us all, to care for us all. A mother for our cubs, a lover for these fucking cold mountain nights. Seriously, how is it so damn cold in these mountains?” he muttered, and I choked out a laugh. “You aren’t an add-on to Radic, although I would very much love him in the Pack too. No Bonnie, you are the main prize. Will you be my Beta?”
I blinked up at him, and my eyes burned with tears, even though I really didn’t know why I wanted to cry. Happiness? Overwhelming emotion? “Yes. I mean, I have to talk to Radic; we are a package—”
“Yes!”
I turned around to see a grinning Radic. He flushed under our combined gaze. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but if you want my thoughts, Bon, the answer is yes.”
I smiled so wide that I thought my face would crack. Happiness filled my chest as I nodded. “Yes. Please.”
Courtland leaned forward and kissed me hard, a possessive kiss that branded my very soul. When he finally pulled away, he gave me a rare smile, one that lit up his eyes like they were on fire. “Thank you, Beta. I will do my best to be an Alpha worthy of your mateship.”
Then he stepped forward and kissed Radic with a searing heat that made my panties flood. Jesus. I’d never get over them kissing like that, like it was a war and only one of them would submit. It was always Radic but man, he looked like he enjoyed the battle.
Courtland pulled away, and pointed to the seat beside me. “Sit, let me take care of you both.”
I didn’t think my heart could feel any fuller than it did at that moment.
Courtland walked me to the Sanctum, even though it was less than twenty feet away. He held my hand and I couldn’t lie, it felt really nice. Opening the front door with my key, I stuck my head through.
“Knock, knock!”
The sound of thundering feet was like a balm to my soul as tiny bodies ran down the hall toward me. I felt bad that I hadn’t spent as much time here as I normally did—which was basically all the time—but now everything was more settled, I might have to move back in permanently. It was something I’d have to discuss with Courtland eventually, because as much as I was psyched to be in a Pack now, these kids needed me. To most of them, Darius and I were the only family they had.
“BONNIE!” came the tiny screams, and even the baby was waving his hands around.
“Hello, guys. Have you been good?” I said, scooping up Duncan from where he threw himself at my legs. I snuggled his cheek and he clung to me, compounding my guilt.
I didn’t feel so bad about the older kids. The force of Rosa had well and truly melded the two households together, and I saw more of the teens now than I ever did when we all lived under one roof. But the younger ones had stayed with Darius and his Alphas when I wasn’t here, and I’d missed them.
Darius appeared, bowing his head at Courtland. “Alpha General.”
Courtland dipped his chin. “Omega,” he murmured respectfully. “Please, call me Courtland.”
Darius looked from where Courtland’s hand rested on my back and then back up toward us both. “Courtland it is. Are you here for the day, Bon?”
I nodded, grimacing. “Sorry for being MIA, Darius. I can’t thank you enough for stepping up.”
Darius stepped forward and hugged me tightly. “Girl, you needed the break anyway, even without the historical change in leadership.” He pulled back a little. “Are you sure you don’t need more rest? You look a little peaky.” He inhaled deeply, his pupils blowing wide. “And your scent is off.”
Courtland frowned, leaning closer until his nose was buried in my neck, sucking in my scent. I flushed, my whole body heating up at the feel of his lips over my thrumming pulse. When he pulled away, the flush remained.
“The Omega is correct. You smell… strange.”
Actually, the flush was getting worse, going from warmth to a tingle, and then a burn.
“Bonnie?” Darius barked, but he was dancing in my vision, black dots clouding the edges. I thrust Duncan at Courtland, and as soon as he had hold of the toddler, the blackness consumed my vision and my knees collapsed.
I went down into oblivion with their shouts echoing around the darkness.
26
Radic
I ran through the streets, banging into people but not caring. I hadn’t even put the phone back on the hook. Dominic’s panicked voice telling me that Bonnie had collapsed was like a banshee scream, and I’d just dropped the handset and run.
My Beast roared with the need to shift, but it would take too much time to get out of my clothes. I ran through the alley between the diner and the bakery, and jumped fences to cut through people’s backyards, the need to hurry pounding through my brain like a chant.
Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.
I burst through the door of Doc’s office, and it was crowded with people. Pryce and Dominic were there, and Dominic had his arm around Pryce’s waist, holding him steady. There was no sign of Bonnie or Courtland. For some reason, Naja and Gatlin were there too, as well as Raiden.
