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

6. Teddy

Chapter 6

B uckling the leather cuffs back on my wrists, I walk back into the kitchen. I’m not sure what I missed, but the pheromones coming out of here could knock me over from the living room. Even though Kelly’s a beta, her scent calls to me like nothing before, and she smells both nervous and turned on.

Sam smells embarrassed, and I worry I read the whole situation wrong. I shouldn’t have kissed him earlier. He tasted so fucking good though, I just couldn’t help it. Fucking omega hormones. I thought he wanted me too. He seems like he’s attracted to me, and I was walking around half fucking hard all day wearing a shirt that was saturated in his scent.

Running my hands over my face, I wonder if I’ve made a complete ass out of myself. If I ought to just try to change my plane ticket home and camp out at my parents’ house alone for the next week or cut the whole vacay short and head back to the omega center. It’s gonna be a boring break alone, but shit. I can’t stay with Brice and his pack, I want to stay here…Hell, I don’t feel like I ever want to leave.

But I’m not about to stay some place I’m not wanted. Learned my lesson on that one the hard way with Vee and Garret. Fuck, I haven’t even seen them since my designation came in. Their dad found out and refused to let me near them. That’s not something I want to think about right now though. I miss him so fucking much sometimes.

Tiny arms wrap around my middle and the subtle scent of lilac teases my nose as Kelly burrows her face into my chest. She’s bigger than most omegas, still tiny by comparison, but she’s countered by the larger sturdier weight that’s suddenly at my back. Fuck, being between the two of them feels so good. I can’t even remember the last time I got a solid hug. Not one of those obligatory hugs that your family has to give you when you haven’t seen them in forever, but an actual hug. It feels so right with these two.

I lean my head back against Sam’s shoulder, hoping he doesn’t pull away, and stroke my hand down Kelly’s hair. I want to tell them how good they feel, but I’m worried about scaring them away with my freaky omega bullshit. I’m not sure if that’s what this is, but fuck, I don’t want it to end. Kelly’s face tilts up to mine, “You feel really good. Sorry, I don’t mean to keep invadin’ your personal space. This just feels…” Her words taper off, and I tilt her chin up so she can’t hide away.

“Right?” I hope that was how she was going to finish her sentence.

Please, fuck, let that have been it.

Her eyes widen, but she just nods before she buries her face in my chest again, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. One of Sam’s arms loosens from my waist, and I dread that he’s going to pull away. Instead, it comes around my jaw, pulling my face to his, and returning the kiss I gave him earlier. The angle is awkward, but it’s still so fucking good.

Kelly

T oday has been so danged weird. I mean, I was super happy to get to be in Candice’s bonding ceremony. Never got my free cake though, bummer. But then things got so tense, and now…well…now something is poking me in the stomach.

I’m not completely naive, I mean, I know the general mechanics, and I’ve had a couple of beta boyfriends in high-school, but only really Sal since I started college. Teddy is bigger than any of the betas I was with, and it’s kind of a shock. I guess he could just be reacting to Sam behind him, but his arms pressing me tight against his front make it feel like he wants me. Maybe he wants us both?

I know alphas and omegas are often in poly relationships, it’s just never something I thought about for myself. Growing up, the plan was always college, and if I happened to meet a sweet beta guy there that I hit it off with, then great. This…this is not the plan, but it feels so right, like I’m supposed to be here.

I press my face against Teddy’s chest and breathe in his snickerdoodle scent, I can barely catch Sam’s cedar and sawdust because my nose is pretty smooshed right now, but the low rumble I feel moving through Teddy and into me makes me feel like my bones are melting. Heck, everything’s melting, if what’s going on in my shorts is any indication.

I shouldn’t be doing this, I just met Teddy, and while I’ve met Sam repeatedly over the years, he never gave any sign that he thought of me as...well, at all really. Maybe it’s just how close I am to Teddy now, I’m getting purring fallout or something.

Rubbing my cheek against Teddy’s chest, his arms tighten and his hips flex against me. He lets out a low moan as he grinds that hard length into my stomach. Should I stop him? I don’t want to, but this is moving really fast, and I just met him today. Betas don’t pack up often, our sense of smell isn’t good enough for there to be that instant attraction, but I’m drawn to both of them.

What am I saying? Sam has always been hot, I mean, he’s older. But not like my parent’s age or anything. Ew. Just old enough that a few of the dark hairs in his beard have started to turn silver. Pretty sure he could pass for younger if he shaved it off. Heck, he’d still be hot though. Should I stop? I know I shouldn’t be wrapping my hands farther around Teddy to run them up Sam’s chest behind him.

I shouldn’t be touching either of them.

I don’t even know Teddy’s last name.

They look so good together.

Is it hot in here?

Pushing away from Teddy and Sam, the arms that are around my back and stroking my shoulder let me go reluctantly. Teddy breaks their kiss and they both turn to look at me. Teddy’s eyes are glassy, and his cookie scent is strong enough that it’s nearly overwhelming, even taking a couple steps back. His erection is obvious in those basketball shorts Sam loaned him. I worry that he’s uncomfortable, but I need to take a couple minutes to breathe, because this has never happened before, and I just…I need time.

Stepping farther away, I try to clear my mind, I need fresh air. I can still feel how wet I am, just trying to walk away. I’ll have to step outside to get away from Teddy’s scent, just to clear my head before I do something I can’t take back. Teddy lets out a low omega whine when I turn away and I feel mean, but I need to get out, I need to think for a second.

The whine cuts off and a low growly murmur takes its place, Sam’s alpha is trying to comfort the distressed omega pressed against him. I spin back around, wanting to explain that I just need a minute to think, and Sam’s hard glare meets my eyes. Teddy has turned around and curled against Sam’s chest, his big body shaking as he holds the alpha in a death grip.

Sugarsnaps!

Trying to explain, I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses. Would Teddy let me hug him? I just wanted a few minutes to clear my head, this is all new to me. “I just…gimme a minute, ok? I’m sorry, but I’ve never felt like this…with anybody…and you two…” I trail off, not sure how to finish this sentence without admitting how scared I am of what might happen.

“I’m sorry, my body is pullin’ me one way, my mind is pullin’ me the other. I just need a few minutes to think. Teddy, you are so handsome, and all I wanna do right now is touch you. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. I don’t mind hugs, but there’s never been anyone that my hands actually ached to touch, like I thought if I didn’t, I might cry. It’s a little scary. Not you, you’re not scary…I’m sayin’ the wrong thing here, I just can’t get the words out right.”

This is embarrassing, and before I can stop it a frustrated tear slips free. Two big sets of arms are around me before I’m able to even wipe it away. “I’m sorry I pushed you, Pixie. Please don’t cry.” Teddy’s own eyes are red when I look up to meet them.

“Neither one of y'all pushed. My body’s just really confused right now. I never saw myself gettin’ involved with an omega or an alpha, let alone both at the same time. But it’s just so easy with you, it feels strange not to be close to you, not to touch you. And it’s freakin’ me out, ’cause I’ve only dated a coupla guys before and they were both betas. I mean, and Sal, but it was just the two of us, and things never went farther than holding hands or kissing. I’m not a virgin, I…well…prom. But it just kinda hurt and I didn’t see much point....and I’m messing this all up.”

A matched set of rumbly growls starts up on either side of my body, and I don’t hate it, then Sam’s cuts off suddenly. “Wait, you mean Sal from the garage, the alpha who was best man today?” I can’t stop the blush that spreads up my cheeks.

But I want to growl myself when Teddy opens his mouth. “Oh, yeah, no, she’s very pretty, I can see why you’d…” The rest of his sentence is cut off by Sam’s snarl, as he’s glaring at the front door like he might need to go hunt down Sal.

I sniff, wiping away another escaped tear. “Yeah, she is pretty, and super sweet. We just didn’t have much of anything in common. She seemed pretty smitten with Stephanie today though, and I’d totally ship ’em. They’d be adorable together.” Teddy laughs at me, and I’m glad to see him smile again, but Sam’s just staring between the two of us.

“What do ya mean, ship?”

Teddy snorts laughter at that, finally defusing some of the tension, before wrapping me in his arms. He picks me up—much to my surprise—and carries me into the living room before sitting on the couch, holding me in his lap.

“Sorry, Pixie. I guess it’s an alpha and omega thing. Sam’s scent calls to me. To the point that I was already distracted before we got to the ceremony. Now being in his space, it’s taking a lot of willpower not to just drag him into the bed and bite him. From what I remember of alpha training, it’s probably the same with him. We seem to be very scent compatible. I feel like he’s mine. But, you…I feel like you’re mine too. Which is a bit of a surprise.”

Teddy’s arms squeeze me tighter before one hand reaches up to turn my face towards Sam. “It doesn’t hurt that he’s stupidly hot, either, does it?” He chuckles against my hair and lets my jaw go so I can face him again.

“But I’m sorry that my hormones cause the freaky mood swings. When you turned away a minute ago my crazy omega shit read it as rejection, and it felt like everything was falling apart. I don’t want you to feel bad, ever. But especially not if you don’t want to be with me...us. It’s completely up to you, Pixie.”

“But I’m not an alpha, or another omega, how could I be yours?” Yup, I’m still stuck on that. Other than the basics of sex ed in school, I have no idea about alpha or omega relationships. At the same time, my body feels like it wants to melt into Teddy as his rumbly purr starts up again. He’s back to poking me in the butt with his erection, and part of me is trying really hard to ignore it.

The other part is deep in thought when Sam settles next to us on the couch a few minutes later. One of his big hands starts rubbing down my back while the other strokes Teddy’s hair. Sam isn’t that much bigger than my omega, but he seems more dominant with him than me.

My omega, wait...what?

I practically melt into a puddle in Teddy’s lap with their dual purrs and stroking hands. My eyes close and I just breathe in—there’s a sudden startling thought. Their scents remind me of home. It’s not the same as my beta family’s subtle scents, but reminds me of Mom baking in the kitchen, especially around the holidays. Teddy’s spicy vanilla and cinnamon makes me feel warm and cozy and calm.

While Sam’s sawdust and cedar make me think of Daddy’s workshop. He built me a hope chest when I was twelve. He isn’t very good at it, there are a few gaps in the boards, and it’s a little lopsided, but he tried, and while I never used it for keeping mating stuff, I love how my grandma’s patchwork quilt always smells like cedar when I take it out in the fall.

His cedar scent also makes me think of holidays. Tromping through the woods with my dad and brother, trying to find just the right tree for Christmas. Sometimes it was pine, but one year the perfect tree Daddy insisted we needed was a cedar that was almost fifteen feet tall. So, he climbed the tree and chopped off just the top seven feet, and we dragged it home. I still see it sometimes, in the winter when I go for walks behind the house. It’s taller now, but the top never grew back in the same.

Of course, Tuck and I both had to promise not to tell Mom that he was climbing trees in the ice and snow carrying a saw. Otherwise, I think he would have come back and gotten it without us later. Mom loved it, and Dad was extra proud that year. Sam’s smell reminds me of that tree, and I have to fight my body not to lean back across both their laps and just curl up for a nap. Today was kind of stressful, but I shouldn’t be this tired.

Sam’s hand pauses on my shoulder. “I got the sandwiches, if you two are still hungry?” It drags my attention over to the coffee table, and sure enough there are three plates of sandwiches, a bag of wavy chips with some sour cream and onion dip. I’m about to apologize again for not knowing what each person wanted and just making a variety of stuff I like, but Teddy scoots me around so he can reach down for two plates. He passes one to me before taking a huge bite out of the other one without even checking what’s inside.

His arm wraps back around my waist, holding me against him as he eats with one hand. Sam looks back and forth between the two of us before getting his own plate and digging in, offering up the chips after Teddy finishes.

We sit in relative silence, a few mumbles of appreciation, but otherwise just being close. Once the plates are empty, Sam picks up the dishes and heads to the kitchen, while I’m still perched across Teddy’s lap, and it’s starting to get really uncomfortable. He’s comfortable—other than me being poked in the butt—but I don’t know what to do now. I should probably message Steph and make sure everything’s ok and then head home. Now I feel like whining myself, because I really don’t want to. Finally dislodging myself, I make the excuse of needing the bathroom and Teddy reluctantly lets me go.