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

42. Steve

Chapter 42

I can admit when I’m wrong. Not well, I’ll bitch a lot in the process, but I can eventually do it. Walking in to see my omega pinning the waif-like beta girl to the bed with his bigger body is not one of those times. So much so that when I start growling and snarling my brother has to drag me from the room.

Ok, I admit, we weren’t invited anyway...but Teddy followed Sam and Kelly, and I followed Teddy...and for lack of anything else to do—I assume—Garret followed me. Now it’s a whole train of clusterfuck.

My omega is covering the tiny wiggly beta, kissing her like he kissed me yesterday, grinding his hips against her, and as much as I hate it, I’m also now hard as fuck watching. Not because of her, I guess she’s pretty enough. But my bear is a work of art, all thick strength, long black hair falling over them both like a curtain as he plunders her mouth. Her tiny desperate cries causing the dominant part of him I love so much to come to the front.

Now I’m not sure if Garret’s holding me back, or I’m holding him. We’re both snarling messes nearly frenzied with the need to get to our mates. He can fucking have her, get her away from Teddy...but I don’t want to risk either of them getting hurt if Teddy doesn’t want to give her up either. Shit. Maybe when Sam gets out of the shower, he’ll take back over with her and then I can distract my omega away? Though, that leaves Garret, and I’m pretty sure Sam could kick his ass if it came to it.

Of course, maybe Sam and I could share Teddy and then Garret could play with the beta. There’s no time to discuss this right now with him, though. He doesn’t look in the most sane frame of mine as he watches Kelly writhe around on the bed. The snarl ripping from his chest sounds almost feral, and I wonder if I should slap him. Isn’t that what you do with hysterical people?

This seems like that sort of situation, so I bring my arm back, just about to knock the shit out of my own brother in an attempt to bring him back to his senses when the bathroom door opens again. Steam billows out, followed by the scent of fresh cut cedar and a very damp, very muscular, very naked Sam steps out.

Is it hot in here?

It feels like it’s getting hotter in here.

Holy shit, but I can definitely see why Teddy was attracted to this man.

He’s tall, dominant, and smells like fucking heaven.

Plus, he looks like a marble statue that someone glued a merkin on.

And a god-damned chest wig.

They should have a better name for that.

Chest-toupe? Chest-erkin? Pec-weave?

Shit, I’m getting sidetracked.

Plus, I think I have a crush on my omega’s alpha.

Fuck.

The high whine that comes from my throat startles me, and brings the big alpha to a stop. Looking between me and his packmates on the bed. I’ve never made a noise like that before, no idea how it even happened. He stares at me, a deep rattling purr building in his chest as he stalks forward. His voice is a low rumble as he closes in, his nose tracing along my neck when he leans down. “Are you jealous, little boy? You know you need to behave if you want to play with our omega.” He circles behind me and his hand comes up, circling my throat and holding me in place as he turns us to face to the bed.

“Teddy’s been a good boy, doing exactly as I asked. Entertaining my sweet beta while I got cleaned up.” His teeth graze along my neck, making me weak in the knees. “I know you don’t want to join that. But you need Teddy’s permission to do anything else, don’t you? And we can’t very well leave poor sweet Kelly all alone, can we?”

He places a soft kiss on the edge of my jaw and my responding whimper finally draws Teddy’s attention. His head snaps up, watching as Sam continues to tease me. “Now, are you going to be a good boy for me? Do you trust me enough to give up control and let me take care of you? Do you trust Teddy enough to know he’ll give you what you need, even if you don’t always understand it?”

We have Teddy’s full attention now, Kelly’s too. She’s scooted up to the head of the bed and is watching us with half-lidded eyes. Her breath comes in a series of pants, and I can admit that she’s beautiful like this, all rumpled, her lips swollen from my omega’s kisses. I’m still not aroused by her, but I can see some of why Teddy wants her.

It makes me hate her a little more, since I can’t ever have him the same way. She doesn’t have to deal with the pressures of being an alpha. She can love who she wants to, and no one cares. There’s no legacy to live up to, no family counting on her to carry on their alpha heritage. And as far as I know, no twin dragging her around making her meet potential mates that she’ll never want.

I turn my ire towards Garret. He's standing in the doorway, his focus almost solely on Kelly, the soft little beta who stole my omega. The one who can give him everything he wants—claim him in front of her relatives, a family of his own if he ever wants them, someone who accepts him for what he is without listening to their asshole father and trying to be something she’s not.

Garret looks towards me as if sensing my thoughts, his head tilted, as if asking if I’m ok. I’m not. Not really, but I nod anyway. I try to blame this on him, but I know it has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with our dads and grandpa. He never wanted Teddy, not like me. I know that he felt left out more than once, but at the time, I was too young and stupid to worry about it. I nod again, pointing my chin towards Kelly, so he knows I’m fine with that.

I know he wants her like I want Teddy. I’ve seen the look on his face, the same one I wear when I look at my bear, the longing so deep that every other feeling in the world fades out, and you’re left with nothing but an empty hole where your heart used to be. Just waiting to see if the person you need more than air could possibly need you back, even just a little. I know the look. I know the feeling.

Moreover, I know what it’s like when the one you need so desperately needs you back and everything feels so fucking right you can hardly believe that you ever got so lucky. I also know what it feels like to lose that person, and I pray for Garret’s sake that he never has to deal with that soul-crushing sensation.

My brother looks past my shoulder—I feel Sam nod towards the bed then Garret’s ensuing mad scramble up onto the mattress. He crawls towards Kelly, prostrating himself before her like he would give anything for her to just look at him the way she looks at Teddy and Sam. She looks from him to Sam and I feel that same nod against my hair right before she reaches for Garret, bringing him in for a slow kiss.

My brother’s eyes close, his face a mask of rapture at being able to kiss the silly little girl in front of him. But what do I know? I’m even more fucked up. Dad would probably rather we claim a female beta than a male omega, at least then we could ‘carry on the family legacy’. But all I want, all I’ve ever wanted, was him, my bear.

Another loud whimper slips out as I watch Kelly roll my brother so she’s straddling his hips while he sits propped against the headboard. I’m feeling petty and jealous as his low groan rolls over me. It looks like she lost her pants and shirt at some point, but she’s still in a pair of panties. Her hips twist and roll over my brother, dragging another throaty groan from him.

Teddy steps in front of me, sandwiching me between his chest and his alpha’s. “Can you do it, Vee? Can you give up control? Let us take care of you?” He kisses my throat, his teeth scraping over the area opposite to where Sam’s jaw's still pressed against me. “It’s your choice. We just want to take care of you. Anything you're uncomfortable with, just say the word, and it stops. Anything you need, tell us. Yes?”

But I never have control. I’m never in charge of my own life. I’ve never been able to just do or have what I want, and I want this. I mean, I’ve always wanted Teddy, but him wanting me back after so long apart feels too good to be true. Can I have this? Is it too much to ask? Can I trust that he won’t hurt me after I hurt him so badly? That’s really the gist of it all. Can I trust these two with the few pieces of me that are still mine?

I want to. I want Teddy to touch me and hold me. The thought of being able to finally let go and let someone—even someone who’s nearly a stranger—take care of me, to let me shut off my mind and all the worries and choices...It’s amazing. My voice is a barely whispered croak, “Yes.”

Before I have even a second to worry this was the wrong decision, Teddy's kissing me, his strong hands wrapped around my jaw, tilting my face where he wants me to go as he bites and sucks on my lips.

Sam’s low growl vibrates through my back as his arms circle us both, and I can practically feel my bones melt under his dominance. My hands reach up on their own, stroking along Sam’s arm, running up Teddy’s chest. I need to touch him and be touched.

Please, Bear, don’t hurt me.

You don’t have any reason to be kind, but please.

Please forgive me for abandoning you.