Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
Issa
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting at a rodeo. The closest I’d ever come to seeing one was in clips on social media or on TV.
The real-life experience was so much different and way more fun.
There were booths selling kettle corn and funnel cakes, others selling barbecue, nachos, or hot dogs. So many choices. If I had the stomach space or time, I might have asked to try everything.
I still hated that the alphas – my alphas – had to foot the bill for everything since I still didn’t have a job.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work or that I didn’t want to actually look for a job, I was just…well, I was still terrified of leaving the safety of the pack house.
Antonio was still out there, and I was sure he wasn’t overly happy about the fact that I’d warned Pack Rivera of the actions of my fathers and another rival pack, nor the fact that since my parents were dead, he would no longer inherit shit .
“I’m so getting a funnel cake,” Amir said, guiding me to that particular vendor with the alphas close behind.
I hadn’t missed all their shared smiles, the thoughtful looks they exchanged, nor the way they felt as though they were constantly flanking Amir and me to keep others from getting too close.
There wasn’t really much of a risk for me, at least not the way it could be for Amir. I didn’t perfume. I wouldn’t inadvertently send my hormones into the air if I got turned on and send any alphas nearby into rut.
Amir, on the other hand, was not only an omega, but fucking gorgeous. Big and strong as an alpha, ruggedly beautiful, and smelled like the most erotic dessert.
“Share with me?” he asked, pulling me closer to his side and kissing the tip of my nose.
This was the first time we’d seen each other since the night at the club. And he sure as hell didn’t act as though he regretted it nor was he behaving awkwardly. He acted as though tonight was one of hundreds or thousands we’d spent together.
Glancing at the alphas, I felt a twinge of guilt.
Enzo, Ax, and Cyrus were left wandering behind us, following us like they were our bodyguards instead of important members of the pack. It felt as though I’d taken over the date completely when the four of them were the most integral parts. I couldn’t ease Amir through his heat cycles. I couldn’t get him pregnant.
And, although I hadn’t bothered mentioning it to them, I had no desire to carry a child. Ever.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like kids; my own experiences growing up made me want to avoid bringing another person into the world who could end up mistreated by their future pack.
But if the pack wanted to have a kid with Amir, I would never treat the child the way my siblings and I had been treated, regardless of their freaking designation.
I was getting ahead of myself. Other than our extremely passionate – though short – time together, this was our first pack date.
“I feel like I’m stealing all your attention,” I said to Amir, nudging him with my shoulder as we walked hand in hand through the vendor alley.
The events I was interested in seeing wouldn’t start for another hour, giving us plenty of time to sightsee, people watch, and spend money on things we didn’t need.
Like the white, felt hat Ax plopped down on my head.
“Ax…really?” I said as he pulled my hair over my shoulders and the rim of the hat down further.
“We are definitely getting you a horse. Especially if you’ll wear this and dresses while you ride,” he said, stepping back and letting his eyes roam me from head to toe.
“I actually agree with your alpha on this one. You look hot in that hat,” Amir said, smiling at Ax when he nudged him with his shoulder and raised a hand for a high five. “Look,” he said, nodding toward a mirror sitting among dozens and dozens of hats in different styles and colors.
Okay. It did look cute. But where and when would I wear a hat like this?
“Wait…did you just say you were getting me a horse?”
“You looked happy with, uh, Princess what’s-her-name and Snowball,” Enzo said.
“Princess Fancy Pants and Pearl,” Amir said with a chuckle.
“You can’t just buy me a horse. They don’t live in a yard like a squirrel. And I know literally nothing about keeping a horse other than they need food and water.”
“Oh, Habibi . I can teach you any and everything you need to know if these alphas want to get you a horse. The thought of seeing you on top of a beast, gripping it with your thighs…”
His pupils blew wide, his perfume lifted on the air, and he licked his bottom lip as though he wasn’t talking about me riding a horse…
But riding him.
My body grew warm as a cloud of heady alpha hormones mixed with Amir’s perfume. My nipples were pebbled under my dress, and I had to clear my throat twice before I could speak.
“I don’t need a horse. Don’t be ridiculous. ”
“I’m still getting you the hat,” Ax said as he handed cash over to the vendor.
I wasn’t sure what had happened from the moment Ax decided I needed a hat to when we started to head toward the main show, but I was now under Ax’s arm while Amir walked hand in hand with both Cyrus and Enzo.
No one had said a word, no one had decided it was time to swap partners.
Like we’d all spent our whole lives together we’d just naturally gravitated to different partners until we climbed the steps to search for seating with a clear view of the dirt oval circled with tall gates.
Time flew past entirely too quickly. We all cheered and clapped for the races, laughed at the rodeo clown.
And then…it was over. In a blink of an eye, our date was over.
Or at least this portion was over. Because I was far from ready to call it a night.
I’d gone from being afraid to leave the house, to dancing and drinking with Amir – among other things – and now I was reluctant to go back home.
I loved the pack house, I really did. For three bachelors, they’d made the home cozy and warm. It was mostly modern, but not overly masculine. And a part of me wanted to show it off to Amir.
Or maybe it was the fact I wanted his scent mingling with the alphas to hold me over until the next time we could see him.
“What’s wrong?” Cyrus asked, sidling up beside me and pulling my hand through the crook of his elbow as we descended the rickety metal stairs with the rest of the crowd.
“I’m having too much fun. I don’t want the night to end,” I admitted.
It had taken some time, but the three alphas never made me feel stupid for speaking my mind or asking for what I wanted.
Okay, I didn’t always say what I wanted. I hadn’t bothered mentioning the crazy crush I’d carried since I’d barreled into their lives .
But they hadn’t bothered mentioning they were attracted to me, either so I figured we were even.
“Want to go to the club? Do some dancing?” Ax offered.
He had an arm thrown around Amir’s shoulders and clasped my hand in his free one.
I looked down at my flowy sundress. It wasn’t exactly club attire. And we were all covered in dust from the horse hooves kicking up clouds of dirt as they’d raced around the ring.
“I was thinking more like, um, maybe we could invite Amir back to the pack house. Show him around. Have a couple beers.”
“I’m good with that,” Amir said. My face flushed when he winked down at me.
I swore my body had been tight and warm since the moment we’d pulled into his driveway to find him bending over the engine of that muscle car.
Lie. I’d been a little… excited for weeks.
The alphas tended to walk around the house barely dressed, their muscles constantly on full display.
Throw in the fact Amir’s mere presence made it feel as though every erogenous zone in my body was being touched and stroked nonstop…
Maybe inviting him back to the house wasn’t the best idea. Because there was a good chance I would either end up throwing myself at the omega and making a fool of myself or end up with my feelings hurt when he spent the night with the three alphas.
We all stopped near the base of the bleachers as the crowd moved around us.
Amir pulled away from Ax and stepped in front of me, taking both my hands in his and bending at the waist a little. “We can do something else if this feels like it’s moving too quickly, Habibi .”
A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. “You’ve called me that a few times. What does it mean?”
“It’s a term of endearment. Like saying my love.”
It was his turn to blush as a faint hue darkened his light brown cheeks .
“If you want to go dancing, we’ll go dancing. I wouldn’t mind having you in my arms again.”
“We can stop by the house to change if you’re worried about what you’re wearing. But for the record, I still say you look hot as fuck,” Ax said.
Cyrus cuffed the back of his head. “Smooth, jackass.”
“What? She is.” Ax looked to Enzo for backup and shrugged when the pack lead shook his head with a smirk.
I stared up into Amir’s green eyes and felt myself get lost for a moment, as though the rest of the world had simply faded away.
“This is your pack. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to steal them away from you. I want you…in case I haven’t made that obvious.”
Damn it. He sent another of those winks and my lower half tightened as heat pooled low in my belly.
“I would love to spend more time with you, with all of you,” he said, turning to glance at the alphas before looking back at me, “but not if it’ll make you uncomfortable.”
It had been my idea. And now I was acting erratic and insecure.
Nope. I wouldn’t let years of conditioning by my parents and asshole alpha make me think I wasn’t deserving of Amir’s attention or of Ax’s, Cyrus’s, and Enzo’s affection.
“No. It’s okay. I do want to spend more time with you. I’ll leave it up to you boys. If you want to go out, I’ll want a quick shower and change. But I’m just as happy with lounging around the house and binge watching some cheesy horror movies.”
Amir’s brows shot up his forehead. “You’re a horror girl?”
“And action. And black and white TV shows. The cheesier, the better,” Cyrus teased.
I wasn’t sure what it was about horror and action. I hated violence in real life. Hated blood and gore.
But watching something I knew as a fact was make believe felt…it felt comforting. Almost like I had some control over the moment. I could turn it off or close my eyes if something got too intense unlike in real life .
“Oh, I’m so going back to your house for scary movies and snuggles,” Amir said, tugging me closer and rubbing his cheek against me.
He was scent marking me. And damn…it felt so damn natural. So right.
I couldn’t wait until all five of us were snuggled on the big couch, our arms and legs entangled until I went to bed smothered in the scents of these four delicious men.