Building a Pack is Ruff, Part 1 (The Pack Pets Omegaverse #2)

4. Sam

Chapter 4

K elly’s quiet susurrations against Teddy’s arm are like a drum beating against my chest. His spiced vanilla scent is confused. He’s happy that she’s close—not that I blame him, I feel like a dirty old man for looking at her—but something else, something devastating. The little beta seems to be the only thing holding him together at this point.

Leaning against the wall by the door, I’m alone—I want to go over, offer comfort—but I’m not sure I’d be welcome. He already growled at Brice and Joseph for getting close to her outside, and I want to stay on his good side. Hell, I’d love to be on both their good sides.

Fuck man, you sound like some sort of sick old perv.

Fuckin’ stop.

Thirty-four isn’t that old.

There’s what, an eleven year age gap?

Fuck, I am an old pervert.

She’s just so damned sweet and…perfect.

Yeah, and you’ve been bringing your car into the shop for how many years now?

Kelly never noticed you once.

She's not interested man, just let it go.

Fuck! She didn’t even notice earlier when she busted your nose.

To be fair, her knees were bleeding.

I straighten up, pushing off the wall and heading towards Joseph and Brice. He, at least, should know why Teddy’s so upset. They’ve moved on from Gabe and Brice looks like he’s trying to figure out how to give Candice a hug without upsetting anyone. I smile, knowing Brice is super touchy feely, even for an omega, and Candice is, well…not. From what Xan says she was really touch starved when they first met, but even now only likes to be touched by her pack.

Can’t say I blame her much for that. Then again, I’m not an omega, and it’s not unusual for an alpha to be standoffish. I’m not standoffish, I just don’t know where I fit in. When I was little, I always assumed I’d be in Joseph’s pack. But as I got older it became obvious that wasn’t going to work, and I guess it just fell by the wayside for me. I realized later that I was just following him and his friends around, never bothering to make any of my own, and now I don’t know how.

Fuck me, but most of the alphas my age are already packed up. This isn’t a huge town to start with, but when you grow up in an area and know everybody…Well you learn pretty damned quick if you can stand someone for more than five minutes, let alone live together. Maybe I’m too picky. Maybe I’m just not supposed to be with anyone.

I look over at Brice again and let out a loud bark of laughter. Candice has backed away, trying to avoid the awkward hug, and Jacks is puffed up like a fuckin’ rooster with that damned hair of his strutting and circling his little hen, keeping all outsiders away. All eyes swing my way and I blush at the look of annoyance on Joseph’s face. He’s a good alpha and brother. But he worries a lot about being embarrassed, and I think having a loner alpha brother is an automatic embarrassment sometimes. At least it distracts Brice enough for Candice to escape though, so I’ll count it as a win.

Giving up on being any help that way, I decide to meander over to Kelly and Teddy. I guess I’ll see if I can help without Brice. Sitting down on Kelly’s other side, opposite the big omega, I stretch my arm behind her, lightly touching his shoulder. Their combined cookies and lilac scent invades my head and I bite back a groan.

He looks up at me but doesn’t growl like he did at Brice and Joseph earlier, so he must really be feeling bad. That or he just doesn’t see me as any sort of threat considering I’m older and pack-less.

“You ok, man? You’re lookin kinda down there. I just wanted to check on you.”

Kelly leans into me whispering conspiratorially, “You didn’t tell me that he knew Candice when he was little, I felt like a dork when I introduced ’em. But yeah, I’m not sure, something about a pack he was supposed to be a part of…But they wanted a female omega…I’m not sure exactly. Maybe he doesn’t like girls.” Her voice is quiet, but not that quiet and it’s enough to finally bring a smile to Teddy’s face.

He strokes his hand down her hair. “I like girls well enough, Little Pixie, but omegas aren’t known to share, and I couldn’t sit around waiting to get kicked to the curb when they found one they wanted.” Kelly’s gaze swings back and forth between us, her brows scrunched together. “Are you sure? Candice doesn’t have a problem with Jacks and Xan being together even without her.”

Teddy snorts. “Yeah, but Xan and Jacks are both alphas.”

Kelly’s eyebrows scrunch even lower, and her eyes turn from me to Teddy and back. She leans in, ready to whisper something else and I see her eyes widen as realization hits. She leans in closer, taking a deep breath against my chest. “Ok…wait a second...Sam, you smell kind of like cedar trees and sawdust. But…But Teddy smells like my favorite cookies. Alphas don’t generally smell like desserts, do they?”

Her face drops into her hands, and her voice is muffled. “Oh my gosh, Teddy, I’m so sorry. I feel so clueless here. But…” Her head pops up, looking accusingly at him. “But you don’t look like an omega. I mean...Brice…and…and you….” Teddy’s smile gets bigger the more flustered she gets, and I want to take them both home. They are so fucking cute together.

Finally taking pity on her, Teddy leans over. “No, Little Pixie, I don’t smell like an alpha because I’m not one. I’m just kind of a freak.” He smiles, but it’s not a happy smile. “I was supposed to be an alpha, I had a pack lined up, I was with one of them, but they wanted a family. It was kind of a non-negotiable point they had…We had. Then, surprise, not an alpha.” He points to his own chest, and Kelly leans against him, wrapping her arms around one of his.

“I just mean…you’re so big…” She looks him up and down. “And heavy metal. I love your hair by the way. You gotta tell me what kind of conditioner you use, ’cause I can never get mine to smooth down like that.”

Teddy wraps the arm she isn’t hugging around her. Pulling her against his chest in a tight hug, his hand spans the width of her entire back. “Thanks Kelly, and I use Mane and Tail, it’s technically horse shampoo, but it works wonders.” She smiles up at him, and he pulls her tighter against his chest, curling his whole body around hers.

Starting to feel like a third wheel here, I stand up to leave and her tiny hand snaps out and grabs my sleeve. Her voice still muffled against Teddy’s chest. “Nope, you need a hug too, you look sad. Stay here for a minute.” Teddy chuckles into her hair, then stands up himself, unwrapping his arm from around her, he pulls me into a hug, with Kelly sandwiched between us.

Ok, this is nice, I could get used to this.

Her lilac scent is subtle, and only adds to his spiced vanilla, wrapping me a warm blanket of comfort.

I could get used to this so fucking easily.

Apparently, I’m not the only one, since when I try to pull back Teddy hangs on tight. I feel wiggling against my chest and Kelly’s head pops out under my arm. “Sorry…Couldn’t breathe in there.” She smiles up at me and cuddles in harder. “Sorry, I know this is super forward, you two just feel so good…I didn’t know I needed a hug this much. But it’s so darned relaxing…On second thought, if you don’t want me to fall asleep right now, you might wanna let me out.”

Her eyes are heavy-lidded when she looks up at me, and I try again to let Teddy go. That look on her face—those soft bedroom eyes—doesn’t just look sleepy, and soon she is gonna be able to feel what she does to me, what they both do to me, if I don’t step away.

I pull back, breaking Teddy’s hold on my shirt, and he looks hurt, his big body curling protectively back around Kelly, his sad eyes staring into mine. I want to explain, I need him to know that I pulled away because I don’t want to make them uncomfortable.

As his eyes lower, he stops, and they flip back up to mine. Suddenly he’s grinning and I don’t try to hold back my apologetic smile in return. At least she didn’t figure out what happened, and judging by where he has her pressed off-center to his torso, he understands completely, and he doesn’t hold it against me.

Maybe later?

Damn, I wish.

Brushing his hand down her hair one final time, Teddy stands to his full height. I’ve never seen an omega this big before, and I can understand all the confusion. He would be big for a beta, about average for an alpha. But he’s downright gargantuan for an omega.

Wouldn’t have to worry about him breaking then, would I?

Fuck!

I have got to get my mind out of the gutter. This is neither the time, nor the place, and it’s going to be really fucking awkward if Joseph or Brice come over. Scanning the room, I want to make sure no one’s noticed our impromptu beta sandwich…and no…yeah…here come Joseph and Brice and boy do they look pissed.

Teddy

“ W hat the hell do you think you’re doing to Brice’s cousin!” Joseph whisper shouts at Sam, as Brice tries to pull Kelly and me away. “You cannot fucking take advantage of a vulnerable omega and...a fucking beta...seriously Sam?” His voice is getting louder, losing any attempts at discretion.

I look up from where Brice is practically hanging onto my arm and several people around the room are staring at us. My own low growl rumbles forth at the attention, as well as his overt announcement of my designation. Kelly clings tighter to my other arm, and I pull away from Brice to hold her. I’m not sure if my anger is more from how Joseph is embarrassing Sam or Kelly at this point but fuck him. And fuck Brice if he supports this shit.

I’m not a fucking child anymore and if he refers to Kelly as a “fucking beta” again, I may be forced to take a chunk out of my cousin’s mate. Brice is fretting beside me, wringing his hands, his gaze swinging between his brother-in-law and me.

Sam is staring at the floor, taking the dressing down that Joseph’s giving him. Just from what I’ve seen since I arrived, he seems to hold his brother in high regard, but I’m about to topple that fucking pedestal. I tilt Kelly’s face up to look at me. “Just a second, Pixie, I need to go deal with some shit.” She lets out a tiny gasp and her eyes go wide as I pull away, and step closer to Joseph, blatantly invading his personal space.

I wasn’t raised to be an omega, and these people need to get their heads wrapped around the fact that I’m not going to fall in line just because some asshole alpha starts barking. Joseph finally realizes I’m standing practically on his heels and steps forward, trying to put space between us, but he’s been in Sam’s face, so he can’t go forward without knocking his brother over.

Reaching around, I pull Sam closer to my side. Not raising my voice, and not rushing through what I’m about to say. I need him—and by extension Brice—to understand that this is important. “Joseph, I understand you may feel some responsibility about me because of Brice, but if you ever yell at Sam again, or refer to Kelly as a ‘fucking beta’, I really will beat the living shit out of you.” I’m sure my voice is flat and emotionless because I am doing my damndest not to scream at this asshole.

I raise my voice to address the people that had to witness this spectacle. “Candice, Rooster guy, and other intense looking alphas: Sorry about the interruption. Candice, you’re awesome, and I am super happy you found yourself such an amazing pack. Keep in touch from now on, yeah?”

Candice and the surfer stare at the one I called Rooster and burst into peals of laughter, while he looks back and forth between the two of them, confused at the name. The tallest one is watching, his hand over his mouth, his face red, trying not to join in. Even the grumbly pack leader’s lips twitch a bit, but he still shoots a glare in my direction.

I keep a hold on Sam and walk towards the door. Kelly, unsure of what to do, stands there for a second, looking between us and Candice. Unable to stop the giggles, Candice flaps her hand at Kelly, who quickly follows us, catching up just before we exit the room and start down the hallway. My steps peter out once I push through the door to the outside though. Clearly, I hadn’t thought far ahead, I was just so angry.

“I don’t suppose either of you know of a hotel nearby? I was supposed to be here on a week-long visit for Spring Break, but I really don’t want to deal with that level of awkward for so long.” Releasing my grip on Sam’s hand, I try to run my fingers through my hair. When I get snagged on the elastic, I end up just trying to yank it out and breaking it in the process.

Shit.

Kelly looks thoughtful for a few minutes before Sam speaks up. “Yeah, um…Oak Flats isn’t exactly known for being a bustling metropolis. There’s a hotel out by the interstate, but they’re pretty overpriced for the shit you get. I can’t promise a continental breakfast, but you're welcome to stay in one of my spare rooms.”

My eyebrows must be near my hairline, because he chuckles before he goes on. “Yes, I said rooms. When I was house shopping, my biggest requirement was a good shop building on the property for work. This place was nearly condemned, and I pretty much lived in the shop for the first year while I was doing renovations. But there are six bedrooms. Two are completely renovated, the rest…need some work. Oh, and sort of man cave…thing…in the basement now that it’s livable again.”

He rubs his hand over his face, looking embarrassed. “I don’t know, I was thinking about selling it at some point. It’s too much space for just me. But it’s home for now, so you’re welcome to come over, for as long as you want or need to. I’m usually working, so I won’t bother you or anything. You can just have some time to hang.” He stares down at the ground, and my mind goes back to what Joseph said inside.

Reaching out, I touch his chin, his beard is short and scratchy on my hand, and I try not to let my mind wander on how it would feel scraping along my neck. “Ok, first off, nobody says Hang anymore. Hang out , yes, but I’m pretty sure that just saying Hang died before 2010. Secondly, I appreciate it, and I’m sure as hell not opposed to hanging-out.” I make air quotes, which earns me a laugh from Kelly.

I almost forgot my pixie was here.

I haven’t known her long enough to think of her as mine.

“Can I come with you?” She looks up between the two of us hopefully. “It’s just…my parents aren’t expecting me home for at least a few more hours, so if I go home now there are gonna be tons of questions, and Mom’ll be mad at me for leaving Stephanie to do all the cleaning. So, I was thinking I could text her to call me when she’s ready to put everything away, and until then I don’t have anything to do…or anywhere to get out of this dress and into my regular clothes.”

My mind skips like a record when she mentions getting out of her dress, and for the first time in my life I almost let out an omega whine. I don’t miss the flash in Sam’s eyes either, but if she notices where either of our minds went, she doesn’t give any indication.

Thankfully he recovers quickly. “It’s not that far to my place, if you want to you can just follow me, and call me if you get lost. Can I see your phone?”

Kelly hands Sam her cell, and his own back pocket rings shortly afterwards, so he now has her number as well. She looks up at me after he hands her phone back. “So, who do you want to ride with?” Somehow, I feel like that’s a loaded question.

I look from Kelly’s small car to Sam’s truck, and smile at her. “Sorry, Pixie, I’m not actually sure I’ll fit in yours. Meet you there, yeah?” Her laughter rings out, high and clear, and she smiles and nods. “Yeah, that’s a good point, you’d probably bonk your head, or at least make the muffler drag off if we go over any potholes. See you there in a few.” She gets in her car, and I watch her put on her seatbelt and pull out of her spot before we’ve even had a chance to get belted in.