Page 56 of Talk About… Trouble

“I agree with all of that,” he hummed as he scooped me up. I didn’t have anything left to protest, I just wrapped my arms around his neck and held on, breathing in his alpha musk that was stronger thanks to the sweat.

He didn’t stop until we made it to the omega suite. He took us both into the shower, stripping us bare before turning it on. The warmth felt amazing on my abused muscles.

“Listen to me. It’s not just a saying. Your worth in this pack is not tied to your monetary contributions. You make us complete, Devon. Just like Wren. We need you both. I love this smart mouth of yours and this vulnerable side. You are sexy, smart, and drive me crazy. You even managed to pull this grumpy alpha out of his solitude.”

“I have barely any savings left. I’ve been on my own and omega jobs aren’t always easy to find or keep. Then you tell them you’re a male omega and it’s like they can’t get you out of the door fast enough.”

“It sounds like you’ve had a lot working against you,” he said gently, lathering up a loofa and starting to clean the sweat from my skin, eventually skipping to his palms so he was touching me. My cock was hard and so was his, but neither of us made a move.

“Yes,” I agreed. “I don’t want to take help from others. This is something I want to do myself.”

“Do you have the means, though?” he asked.

“I do, but it would mean bargain shopping and not helping with the pack fund,” I admitted as fresh tears fell. He had stripped away every one of my defenses and I felt too vulnerable.

“Then do it. We can handle the funds until you’ve got your head above water, then you can add in. We have more than enough and this house was inherited. I don’t need money for bills, firecracker. Plus, I have a feeling it won’t take long for your business to blow up.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” I snorted. My head was full of ideas and plans for this rent a date business, but getting people to give me a shot would be hard.

“Give yourself a chance,” he said, brushing my curls out of my face and placing a kiss there.

“Devon? Shepherd?” Braxton was calling out our names. He stopped in the bedroom and laughed. “I was just about to ask which shower I should use.”

“This one,” Shepherd said before lowering his voice. “If you want. I think you could use some beta love right about now.”

Braxton was standing outside the door, I could scent him there. I nodded, but when Shepherd started to leave, I grabbed his hand.

He turned back, saying nothing as he waited.

“Thank you.”

“Always, firecracker. We’ve all got you,” he vowed.

He slipped out of the shower, leaving the room as Braxton stepped in. “Are you alright? Do you want me to join?”

“Yes,” I said, answering both questions. He stripped quickly before stepping into the shower.

“Let me clean off my day while you catch me up,” he urged, grabbing soap and scrubbing at his body, his face open and eager for me to talk.

“I was just in my head and Shepherd forced me out of it.”

Braxton chuckled. “He’s good at that. For a man who was a recluse, he has a way with words of encouragement.”

“Yes,” I said, letting out a sigh as I tried to shake the mood.

“Come here,” he said, pulling me close so our warm bodies were pressed together. I buried my head in his chest, hating how fucking small I felt. “Want to talk about it?”

“Just scared of failing, hating that my family makes me doubt myself even though I’ve been out for years, and feeling weird about not contributing while I get this off the ground.”

“Your family is crazy, something I can relate to. I think the only one around here with normal family is Nash,” Braxton said. “My parents had too many kids, forced us older ones to raise them. My two older siblings left the moment they could and never looked back. I think they resented us for what our parents did, but I couldn’t do the same. I stayed and helped, working two jobs so my siblings could eat until my sister talked me into applying for vet school. I visit still, but it’s harder each time. My parents are super bitter that I went out and ‘made myself better.’ I give my sister money to make sure the kids are fed and have a savings ready for when she turns eighteen. Now I’m rambling. All that was to say that I get the pressure and lingering pain from parental rejection, but they don’t get to take hold of your future if you don’t want them to.”

“Fuck them,” I said, a possessive growl echoing in the shower. He chuckled and gave me a squeeze.

“I appreciate the support,” he said, placing a kiss on my temple. He turned me gently, massaging my shoulders and working some of the tension out of them before doing the same to my biceps. I moaned at the pressure on my tight muscles, melting into his touch as I breathed him in. Chocolate chip pancakes and that comforting beta undertone helped ease the rest.

The water was starting to get cold, so he adjusted it and turned me around, placing a kiss on my forehead.

“How’s that?”

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