Appetite for an Alpha (Omega Quadrant #4)

Chapter 5

5

L ater that afternoon, Pierce pulled his rental SUV onto the paved lane outside Avery’s home, hoping he wasn’t crossing a line all while knowing he was. He should’ve called first, he knew, but he’d not been willing to chance being waylaid and asked to come later. Avery had a days-old newborn to contend with. On top of that, Wilder’s dad had just passed away, too. Showing up unannounced wasn’t cool, but his concerns couldn’t wait. With any luck Avery would understand and forgive his intrusion. In the back of his SUV was a large cardboard box filled with some of Avery’s favorites from the restaurant—a combination ‘sorry to just show up,’ ‘sorry Wilder’s dad died,’ and ‘congrats on the new baby’ present.

The early autumn day was still warm when Pierce exited his vehicle. He glanced around the well-tended lawn, complete with a pond and a massive, billowing willow tree between the country road and the long, semi-circular lane. The sound of the fountain and the leaves waving in the soft breeze filled his ears but did nothing to calm the anxiety twisting in his belly.

After snagging the box, he made his way to the front door. Avery’s alpha, Wilder, opened it before he could knock. Pierce opened his mouth in greeting—but the words froze on his lips when he realized that it wasn’t Wilder, after all, but a man a good twenty years older, if not more.

Who looked almost identical to Wilder.

Didn’t Wilder’s dad just die?

“Uh… I’m here to see Avery?”

Avery’s head popped up behind the older man’s, a smile on his lips. “Hey, Pierce. How are you?”

“Good, thanks. I heard about Wilder’s dad…” He cut a glance at Wilder’s older twin before looking back to the omega. He hoisted the box in his hands a few inches higher. “Between that and the new baby, I thought I’d bring over some food, so you didn’t have to worry about dinner for a night or two.”

“Lasagna?” Avery asked.

“Of course. Amongst other things,” Pierce offered with a grin. He eyed the older man who stepped back to allow him inside.

As soon as he did, the older alpha soon headed back toward the door.

“I’ll get out of your hair,” the guy said to Avery before slipping out.

As soon as he was gone, Pierce eyed Avery. “Did I come at a bad time?”

Of course I did.

“No, it’s fine,” Avery murmured. “Just… a lot of family drama going on. You know how memorials can be.”

“Indeed.” Sadly, he had more experience with funerals than he wished. “I’m assuming that was one of Wilder’s uncles? The family resemblance is clearly strong.”

Avery smiled awkwardly. “Um… I… ah…”

“I sense the answer to that is complicated, so forget I asked. It’s none of my business,” Pierce said.

“It is complicated and only just unraveling. Let’s just say… that is the source of the current drama. I don’t really know how to answer your question quite yet.”

“Ah.” Pierce could see the omega was exhausted but was making a good show of it, but his smiles didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You look tired.”

Avery scoffed, lifting an eyebrow. “Thanks.”

“Sorry,” Pierce said, cringing. “Open mouth, insert foot. Of course you’re tired. Who wouldn’t be in your situation?” I should’ve waited… but damn it, I couldn’t wait any longer than I already have. He lifted the box. “Hopefully this helps you forgive me for being an idiot alpha.”

Avery grinned. “I suppose it might.” He walked closer, holding his hands out.

“I’ll take this to the kitchen,” Pierce said, dragging it out of Avery’s reach. “You’re not supposed to be lifting right now, remember? You probably shouldn’t be on your feet, either.”

Avery sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Tell that to the little one.” He beckoned toward the back of the house with one hand. “Follow me.”

“I know the way,” Pierce replied. “Why don’t you go sit down?”

“All I’ve done is lie or sit for days. I need to get up on occasion and stretch my legs, you know?” Avery said, leading Pierce through the house.

Pierce trailed behind Avery. “Nice place you got.

“You’ve been here before,” Avery said, casting a glance over one shoulder.

“Honestly, I didn’t really make it out of the kitchen when I was here. And as I recall, there wasn’t much furniture when I did peek.”

“Wilder went on a wild rampage the day before I got home, from what I hear. He, his brother, and best friend moved a bunch of furniture in, so it wasn’t quite so barren once the baby and I got here,” Avery said before pausing to check on the baby sleeping in his basket near an oversized chair in the den. “Our housekeeper has been a godsend, too, helping to get a few boxes unpacked for us this week, but there’s a ton left.” Avery turned to Pierce and smiled. “Meet our son, Emory Jaymes.”

Pierce’s face lit up as he gazed down at the baby. He could see a lot of Wilder in the child, but it was too early to tell for sure. A memory whispered through his mind, and pain stabbed him in the chest. He and Simon had wanted a child, but it hadn’t been meant to be for either of them. He lifted his gaze and met Avery’s curious stare.

How much had the omega noticed? He forced a small smile. He was truly happy for Avery, and he shoved aside the unpleasant memories. “He’s beautiful. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Avery replied. He caressed the baby’s belly before holding his hand still, as if checking that the child breathed. He finally removed it with a click of his tongue and a sigh. “It’s been a massive learning curve the last few days, for sure. My uncle’s been here a lot, thankfully. And my brothers, too, though they’re a little less than helpful most of the time.”

“Teenagers? I bet.” Pierce chuckled. “I don’t want to be grouped in the less helpful column. The sooner I get out of your hair, the better. I’m going to go put this away for you.” Pierce walked past Avery and entered the kitchen. He lowered the cardboard box on the island, nodding a hello to the beta standing at the counter, chopping vegetables.

“Pierce brought dinner for us, Turner,” Avery said to the beta.

Pierce lifted aluminum containers from the box. “Avery’s favorites. Lasagna, salad, and garlic bread. Chicken pot pie, too, as well as some assorted desserts.” He eyed Avery. “I wasn’t sure if your brothers or anyone else might be here, too, so there’s enough to feed a small army.”

Turner lowered his knife and crossed the kitchen, taking the containers from Pierce’s hands.

“We can have this tomorrow night if this interferes with your plans,” Avery said to the beta.

“Oh, no, I’ve only just begun dinner prep,” Turner said, offering a soft smile. “We can save what I worked on for tomorrow night.” He eyed the many boxes Pierce pulled out and chuckled. “Or the night after! We’ll see how long it lasts with your brothers’ hollow legs.”

Avery chuckled. “I don’t remember eating like they do when I was that age.”

As if Avery was all that far off at twenty-four, but then the responsibilities he’d taken on might’ve given him a wisdom beyond those years. Pierce aided the housekeeper in loading the fridge before he spun to face the omega.

“Thank you,” Avery said, offering a small smile.

“Not a problem.”

Avery focused on the housekeeper. “I’d like a moment to talk to Pierce. Do you mind listening for Emory? He’s asleep.”

“Of course,” Turner murmured, sliding the last of the containers into the refrigerator. “I’ll wash my hands and go sit with him now.”

“Thank you,” Avery said.

“Reheating directions are written on the lids, by the way,” Pierce said to Turner before he offered his elbow to Avery.

“You didn’t offer me an arm when I was Abraham.”

“You weren’t an omega who’d just given birth when you were Abraham,” Pierce challenged, stretching his elbow closer.

He could see Avery wanted to refuse, yet the man gave in. Avery threaded his arm through Pierce’s and returned to the large den.

Pierce eyed the French doors and the roses billowing in the gentle breeze. “It’s nice out. How about we go out there to talk? There was something I wanted to discuss with you, too.”

Avery met Pierce’s gaze, concern alight in his eyes. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Pierce murmured. “Maybe.”

Avery urged Pierce toward the French doors and out into the garden. They walked the gravel path through the dozens upon dozens of rose bushes that had clearly been there for decades. They were all still abloom, their lovely, gentle scent filling the air. Avery sat with care on the wooden seat in the gazebo at the center of the garden and winced.

Pierce inwardly gasped, realizing his suggestion had been a terrible one. Without a word, he raced inside the house, grabbed a seat cushion from the couch, nodded to Turner, and returned to the garden.

Avery chuckled as he spied what was in Pierce’s hand on the return trip and rose to his feet. “Thank you.”

Pierce set the cushion down and offered a steadying hand to help Avery down. Once they were both side-by-side, Avery turned to Pierce. “Is it Brett? Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“How’d you guess?”

“It’s who I wanted to talk to you about,” Avery replied.

“You go first,” Pierce said, curious if their concerns were the same.

Avery released a slow breath. “I think he was in pain before the ceremony Friday night. I demanded we take him to urgent care, but he flat-out refused, saying he was fine—and that he just had some minor stomach issue. I think there was more to it. Later, he left without saying a word—well, he did send a vague text, but I didn’t see his text until the following morning. Not until I realized he wasn’t with everyone else that visited me and the baby in our hospital room, and I got worried. I should’ve noticed he wasn’t around sooner.”

“You were a little preoccupied giving birth,” Pierce murmured. “And he left minutes before you did. He didn’t know you were in labor when he left.”

Avery sat up straighter, his brow slightly furrowed. “You saw him leave? How was he?”

“He didn’t look good. I took him inside to sit down somewhere quiet and thought I’d convinced him to go to the hospital. I was ready to drive him, but I’d left my phone on the table outside. I ran out to get it—and by the time I got back, he was gone. You and Wilder left moments later.”

“Did he go? To the hospital?”

Pierce scoffed. “He went home. That’s where I found him.”

Avery scoffed. “He’s so damned stubborn.”

“He called out Monday and was off yesterday, so that gave him four days to recover. When I came downstairs today, he was in his office and claimed he was feeling much better. Not long after that, he doubled over in pain. I tried to force him to go to the hospital, but he refused—not that my coercion had any bite. I can’t force him to go anywhere.”

“Why not?” Avery asked, lifting a brow.

“He’s a grown man, Avery,” Pierce snapped. “And you know how he gets when told to do something. He gets defiant and plants his feet.” He leaned over, elbows on his knees and scrubbed his face with both hands. “I’m worried about him, Avery.”

Avery fished his phone from his pocket. “Is he still at work now?”

“No. He came in at the crack of dawn and he’s already gone. Claims he was going home and slipping back into bed.”

Avery dialed a number, silent. A few seconds later, he said, “Damn it, Brett! I’ve been calling you for days. Call me! You’re scaring me.” Avery shook his head, upset as he hung up. He turned to Pierce. “Do you have his address? You might not be ready to force him, but I am.”

“You don’t have his address?” Brett and Avery were best friends. How did Avery not know where Brett lived?

Avery’s face grew red. “I know he moved to a new place after graduation, but he won’t give me his address or take me there.” Avery sighed. “He keeps making excuses why I shouldn’t come by and see his new place. He comes to see me instead. I get the feeling he might be… ashamed of it.”

Pierce clenched his jaw. “He was right to keep you away. You have no business in that neighborhood—even if you hadn’t just had a baby.” Brett had no business in that neighborhood, either. It chafed that the guy was living in unsafe conditions, but then, wasn’t he partially to blame for that?

Avery’s eyes widened. “Is it that bad?”

“After he took off Friday night, I got his address from Max and went to check on him. His apartment’s in a rough part of the Beta Quad. In the short time it took him to come to the door and demand I leave, someone stole my car. I was outside for hours with the Guard after that—and didn’t feel any safer with them around.” Pierce felt like kicking himself. He’d wanted to toss Brett over his shoulder then and there. Maybe he should have—but then how would he have gotten Brett anywhere without a car?

“Oh my gods,” Avery gasped. “I wish he would’ve told me instead of letting his pride get in the way.”

“I hate that he’s there. Alone. Unwell. No one to protect him in a vulnerable state.” Pierce eyed Avery. “I know he’ll just fight me and refuse if I show up again. Who else can convince him?”

“Me.”

Pierce shook his head, emphatic. “Besides you.”

“Pierce, there is no one else. I can convince him to go. You just have to take me there.” Avery rose unsteadily on his feet. “I won’t allow him to suffer any longer, no matter how stubborn he is.”

“Wilder would have my head if I took you anywhere. I’ll go again and make him get on the phone with you—how about that?”

“So he can simply hang up?” Avery asked, eyes flashing with irritation. “No.”

“What about his family? Could they intervene?”

“That relationship isn’t good.”

“I always thought he was some spoiled, rich kid, but after seeing where he lives, I guess I was wrong,” Pierce murmured.

“He was a spoiled, rich kid—until his parents cut off all support last year when he didn’t graduate on time. He’s been on his own for over a year now.”

Ah, so that’s the issue. “Cut off is one thing. They surely wouldn’t turn their backs if they learned he had a health crisis.”

“Honestly I don’t know if they’d care.” Avery shook his head. “They couldn’t manage to come to his graduation ceremony. I mean, I get they were pissed that he’d fucked around and was missing the credits he’d needed to do it on time, but he got their message. You’d think they would’ve been proud that he’d stepped up, but I guess not.”

“Do they live in another province?” Pierce asked.

“They live here, as far as I know.”

“Lovely,” Pierce grumbled. “They sound nice.”

Avery snorted. “Right?” The smile faded from his face. “I couldn’t go to his graduation either, because I was on house arrest. Could you imagine walking across that stage with no one in the audience to cheer you on? I was heartbroken when I learned none of them had shown up. Not just his parents, but his brothers, too. No one bothered.”

Pierce frowned. He would’ve gone—not that he mattered much, but it might’ve been better than no one. “He didn’t tell me he was graduating until I found him hanging his diploma in his office the following Monday.” Pierce smiled to himself, remembering how proud Brett had seemed looking at it. He understood that pride a bit better after learning the story behind it.

“I’ve never met his family,” Avery added. “They never came to any of the family days on campus or any events, but then, maybe they didn’t know. He avoided them like the plague.” Avery sighed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t even know how to get in contact if something bad happened to Brett.”

“Something bad is happening to Brett,” Pierce said, struggling to get his next breath in.

I can’t lose him. Pierce froze at that thought. I won’t lose him.

“You have to take me to see him, Pierce. Please.”

Pierce sighed. There was no way he was taking Avery anywhere until the omega had recovered from giving birth. “I never should’ve come and worried you with all this.”

“I was already worried. He’s my best friend, and he’s MIA.”

“You have a new baby and a new mate—who just lost his father. You belong here, with them. Let me handle my ma?—”

What in the fuck was I about to say?

One of Avery’s brows rose, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Your what?”

“My… employee,” Pierce answered slowly. He placed both hands on his knees and eyed the ground. He wanted Brett to be more than his employee, but he had no right to want that. He’d already had his chance for a happily ever after and lost it. Even if that wasn’t the case, he was nearly old enough to be Brett’s father. No young, handsome beta would want an old man like him.

Brett was fire.

He was water.

Although, that fire had been diminished in recent months. Maybe Brett was right. Maybe he had been the one to douse those flames. That thought hurt like hell. He missed Brett’s easy smile and laughter. Pierce hadn’t seen joy or mischievousness in the beta’s eyes for far too long. He even missed the chaotic energy Brett brought into his life and realized in that moment that he’d do anything to get it back.

Anything? Pierce dragged in a breath.

The voice of reason spoke inside his head. You can’t get back what never belonged to you in the first place. Brett’s smiling face appeared in his mind’s eyes and warded off any rational thought … and then one word sounded strong and clear, more growl than anything.

Mine.

Panic clutched him. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard that growled whisper in his mind, but it was impossible. Brett was a beta, not an omega.

I’m going daft.

Yet, as the seconds passed, the more the word settled around him and felt right. The same way it had when he’d first met Simon.

Thoughts of his lost omega brought on a wave of guilt.

There was no way that Brett was his, so why should he feel guilty?

“Pierce? Did you hear a word I said?” Avery asked, snapping his fingers in front of Pierce’s face.

Pierce turned and was captured by Avery’s narrowed gaze. “Sorry. What?”

Avery was silent a moment, contemplating Pierce. “I’m going to ask a very personal question.” He paused, searching Pierce’s face again. “Do you have feelings for Brett?”

Pierce’s face grew hot. The word mine screamed a little louder in his head as he contemplated a denial. “No.” He shook his head, lying the big lie. No way was he admitting his inappropriate feelings for a beta half his age. “I don’t. ”

“Have his health issues impacted his work?”

Pierce shrugged. “His work is fine. He’s as good as you are, surprisingly. Maybe even better.”

“Better?” Avery asked, his tone sharp. His expression grew pinched for a second, but quickly faded as he shook his head. “If his health isn’t impacting his work, why does it matter so much to you? You said it yourself, he’s a grown man and can make his own decisions. You can’t force him to do anything.”

Pierce eyed the omega, the insinuation bristling. “I’m supposed to sit back and watch him suffer?”

Avery smiled softly, silent as Pierce’s heart thundered in his chest. “He’s a pain in your ass. One you planned to fire countless times. Why come all the way out here to try and protect him from himself?”

“I’m doing no more than I would for any of my employees.” Pierce’s stomach tightened as he deepened the lie. He sensed Avery knew he was lying, too, but there was no way he could admit what was whispering through his mind.

“Are you sure about that?”

Pierce’s gaze drifted, and he stared up into the sky instead of at Avery. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before finally turning to meet Avery’s stare. “I don’t wish suffering on anyone.”

It wasn’t a lie. He wasn’t a cruel person. No one deserved to live a life of pain.

Avery lifted his hands in surrender, though the look in his eyes said he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Okay, okay.”

Pierce met Avery’s too-knowing gaze. “If something’s wrong, I want him to get the help he needs.” He drew in a deep breath, wondering if he should mention that it seemed to be a financial hardship—but that felt unfair. That was Brett’s business, not his, to speak on. “I almost forced him into my SUV this morning, but?—”

“But what?”

Pierce rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t want to repeat what Brett had said earlier, but then maybe Avery could make some kind of sense out of it. He sure hadn’t. “He claimed it was me. The pain only came when I was around him.”

Avery shook his head. “I don’t buy that. He was showing signs inside the house with me while we were getting ready. You weren’t there.”

“Was that right after he’d set the table outside?”

Avery’s gaze grew glassy a second before it sharpened. “Yeah. I think it was.”

“I was outside with him. I could see when the pain hit him. I questioned it, but he said he was fine and ran off to help you.”

Avery held his gaze a moment, and Pierce sensed the gears moving in the omega’s head. “He did seem to improve after he’d been up there a bit,” Avery murmured, frowning.

“He suggested he might be allergic to me… my soap or something of that nature.” His cheeks burned before he added. “Or my… alpha pheromones.”

Avery’s eyes widened.

“I thought it was ridiculous—he’s a beta. Betas can’t scent alphas, but I looked it up online, and while rare, it is possible for someone to be allergic to another’s pheromones.” That would be his luck—to repel the one man he’d been attracted to in twenty years.

Avery rubbed Pierce’s upper arm. “Before you two make assumptions, he needs to go be seen. It might not be that at all.”

“I agree,” Pierce murmured. “For now, I guess I avoid him—until we can convince him to go. If he’s truly better when I’m not around, maybe it’s not as serious as it seems from my point of view.”

“If it’s not serious, then he has no excuse for ducking me—and my newborn. He never came to the hospital. He never came to visit me. He never called. I got another vague text today, but that’s it.” Avery’s bottom lip trembled. “If he’s not dying, I’m going to kill him myself.”

“I’m sure he’s just concerned to be near you and the baby right now when he feels unwell. You know you’re his favorite person.”

Avery scoffed. “No. Second favorite, maybe.”

“Who’s number one? Himself?” Pierce asked, glib.

“Oh no. There’s someone else in that top spot.”

Pierce’s hackles rose. “So there is someone in his life?”

Avery eyed him a moment, that near smile on his face twisting like a dagger in Pierce’s chest. “I’m pretty sure he’s desperately in love. Someone very, very close to him. An alpha. They see each other nearly every single day. I can’t get him to admit it to me, but I know. I can see it in Brett’s eyes when I mention his name.” Avery grinned broadly. “And I’m almost sure this guy is in love with him, too. I can see it in his eyes when he talks about Brett. Or in the way he’s so incredibly overprotective.”

Pierce eyed Avery, ready to demand a name—but there was no way he could hear it without it ripping him in two. He rose to his feet, instead, wishing Avery had never told him.

“He can’t be that overprotective if he hasn’t taken care of Brett by now ,” Pierce snapped. His jaws tightened, feeling a bit sick to his stomach. Brett wanted another man. “Maybe he should convince Brett to see a doctor."

“He’s already tried,” Avery replied. “But Brett won’t listen to him.”

“Then we’re fucked, I’d say.”

“Pierce…” Avery smiled. “Can you not see it?”

Pierce frowned. “See what?”

Avery shook his head. “You know him. It’s?—”

Pierce lifted a hand, lungs heaving. “No. I don’t want to know.”

“But, Pierce?—”

“No!” Pierce wavered on his feet, the idea of Brett in love with another man tearing him apart inside.

“Fine, fine. I was overstepping as it was, so I’ll leave it for Brett to tell you.”

Pierce frowned. Why would Brett tell him anything? He wouldn’t want to hear it then, either. It would hurt even worse, especially if the beta’s eyes lit up.

Avery rolled his eyes and shook his head, his longer hair dancing over his shoulders. “Does Brett work tomorrow?”

“He plans to come in super early again. To avoid me.”

“I’m going in the morning.” Avery lifted a hand the second he saw Pierce’s mouth open with an argument. “He won’t answer my calls, so I’m going. He won’t be able to avoid me there. I’ll come early—no later than seven or eight,” Avery said. “Before the prep cooks come in. The fewer people around the baby, the better.”

“Wilder’s going to have my head,” Pierce muttered.

“Wilder will understand. It’s for Brett.”

Pierce sighed, sensing neither he nor Wilder would be able to convince the omega otherwise. “Call before you leave so I can confirm he’s downstairs. There’s always a chance he might call out again. I don’t want you dragging yourself and the baby into the AQ for no reason.”

Avery nodded. “I can do that.”

“Have your driver pull up in the alley behind the restaurant. I’ll meet you outside and escort you in.”

“Okay.” Avery smiled softly. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him the help he needs. Once I knock some sense into him.”

“I hope you’re as convincing as you think you are.”