Page 42 of Crave

Tanner was frowning now, his eyes laser-focused on the road in front of him. “And you guys? Because it's not just the Omegas in this Pack, unless you’re stepping aside?”

Merrick snorted. “Not in this fucking lifetime.” He turned his whole body toward the driver's seat. “I would literally give my left ball in a silk purse to those Omegas if they asked for it. Sharing them with a man who can protect them from any danger that comes their way? Not even a consideration. If you want to be Pack, you won’t get any backlash from me.”

“Or me. My Beast already seems to consider you his, and he’s kinda pissed you’re sad, so stop it,” I teased, and a small smile curled the vampire’s lips. “We’ve been through a lot in a short time, and that creates bonds in itself. I know you just lost a type of family, but I’d be honored if you’d consider being Pack.”

“If Susannah and Quinn agree,” Merrick added.

“Of course. I…” Tanner cleared his throat. “I’m honored. It’s been a crazy month. Let’s give life a bit of time to settle down before you make any life-altering decisions. Maybe in a year or so. I want Susannah and Quinn to feel secure before they’re forced to make decisions.”

I laughed. “You’re funny, Tanner. Susannah has never waited for anything she wanted in life. And no one forces her to do anything. If she wants you, you won’t know what hit you—waiting period be damned.”

Merrick laughed along with me. “Pull over. Climb in the back between the Omegas and have the best sleep of your life. You look like you need it. When you wake up, remind me you want to wait a year.”

Tanner flipped him the bird, but he pulled over at the next rest stop. Susannah and Quinn woke up with bleary eyes, but soon fell back asleep as we quickly got back on the road. I sat beside Merrick up front, and from the corner of my eye I could see the small tilt of his smile. More than that, I could feel real happiness coming down our bond. We finally had our Omegas, and we were on the way to the rest of our lives.

What more could we ask for?

We pulled into Moonburst,Montana, just past six in the evening. The sun was still in the sky, but it was starting to dip lower, casting the large, flat prairie in a warm, pink glow. So different from our mountain home.

Merrick had sent through a text to the Alpha General, telling him of our arrival, and he’d directed us straight to his temporary office. Clearly we were going to get that ass-chewing immediately.

We pulled up in front of a small, wooden building with peeling paint, and dozens of plants out the front. This place had a weird vibe, but not as bad as Dark River.

An older woman I didn’t recognize, with wild hair that poked out in all directions, appeared in the doorway of the temporary Legion offices. She was followed out by Courtland, who looked like shit. Dark circles sat under his eyes, and his face was pulled down by the weight of the last week. Poor fucker couldn’t catch a break.

Spotting us, he lifted his chin, summoning us. Susannah and Quinn were immediately alert, and I could smell their distress. “It’ll be okay, Omegas. You did nothing wrong.”

Quinn snorted. “Like fuck we didn’t, but nothing can be done about it now.” He gripped Susannah’s hand, and I could see her bitch-mask fall back into place. For as long as I’d known her she’d hidden behind it, using it as a shield against everything that came at her during her life. It ranged from mean kids when we were in grade school, ones who teased her about being the only Beta in a family of Alphas and Omegas. Then in defense of Raiden, when people tried to use her to get to him. To protect Quinn. To defend her actions. She kept everyone at arm's length with snarling disdain.

I hated to see it on her face now, and no matter how much I wanted to brush it away, I couldn’t. Not yet. Soon enough, I’d be her shield, and she could just be the stubborn, loving person I knew she was.

As a united front, we walked into the Alpha General’s office. He had a desk and a ratty old couch, and he indicated we should sit. I stood aside so Susannah and Quinn could sit down, and when Courtland caught a whiff of Quinn’s scent, his eyebrows rose.

“Well, that’s a new development.”

My lip curled back in a snarl, and Courtland turned those intense black eyes toward me, staring me down until I was forced to submit. Fucker was powerful, but I’d throw caution to the wind and challenge him right now if it protected Quinn.

“Easy, Murphy. I don’t want your Omegas. Now sit the fuck down, because I feel like this is going to be a long story, and I’m already tired.” He leaned back in his office chair, pointing to Quinn. “We’ll come back to how you magically turned from Beta to Omega later. Now, you better start at the beginning, because when your baggage turned up and you didn’t, everyone thought you were dead. Several grief-stricken Alpha brothers is not something I ever want to deal with again.”

Susannah winced, but she began. I’d heard this story a couple of times now, and it still made my heart beat faster with fear at how close we’d come to losing them forever. Quinn took over, talking about what Wilkie planned to do against his will, and how I’d appeared in time to save him.

I was transported to the scene, viscerally reliving the horror of what Wilkie was trying to do. The surge of adrenaline as my Beast rose up to tear and rend, to protect. It was all flashes of red, blood, and pain, but that fear stayed in my chest, even now.

Susannah stood, grabbing my hand and dragging me down to the couch, sitting on my lap, her very presence soothing me from my memories. I snuggled into her hair, breathing her in.

They’re safe. They’re safe.

I repeated it over and over until the Beast backed down. Luckily—or unluckily—by that point, Quinn had gotten to the yearning part of his story, and my dick got inconveniently hard at those memories. Susannah looked at me with mock disapproval, but her eyes danced with humor. Fuck, I wanted to kiss her. I stared into her eyes for so long that I was lost.

Well, until the Alpha General cleared his throat and dragged me back to the here and now. He was looking at Tanner with sympathy. “I am sorry for the decision made by the Dark River Town Council. Know that you always have a place among the Manix while I’m in power. The loss of those”—he swore long and vehemently in Spanish, before clearing his throat—“uh, wastes of oxygen, is not something that will be lamented by many, if any, of the Manix. As far as I’m concerned their whereabouts will stay between us.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Well, until he turned to Quinn.

“Now, tell me, where did you get the Omega suppressants?” The full weight of his Alpha command banged around the room. Hell, I kinda wanted to know the answer too, so I didn’t kick up a stink.

Quinn told a wild tale about a bar and a witch and giving him blood to make these suppressants, and honestly, by the end, my mouth was hanging open.What in the actual fuck?

“What did you say his name was?” Courtland asked, but the Omegas shook their heads. Loyal; I’d like that in any other situation than this one. Courtland stood, stretching his body, like he’d been stuck behind his desk too long. “I would like to show you something, and then I’ll get the witch lights to direct you to your new home.” It wasn’t a request, so we all stood and filed out of the room, trepidation burning through my veins.

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