17. Progress
Progress
Blake
“A xel, could you bring me my laptop and some files on my desk, please? I’m going to do some work this afternoon while you get to know your brother-in-law a little. He wants us to stay the night again.”
“Chase is going to lose his shit that I’m invited to spend the night again.” He crowed and busted up laughing.
“Try not to be a dick about it. I just need to limit the amount of people that know where Kade’s house is, or I’d swap you out for him.”
“Dick.”
I laughed. “You shouldn’t have been so smug. Now hurry and get your ass back here. The doctor and his mate have left.”
“And? You never said what was wrong.”
“It’s still not my place to say. Maybe ask Kade later. It’s good news, though.”
“Well, that’s great. I’ve got us some stuff and got your laptop, so I won’t be long. Try to keep your hands to yourself until I’m back, at least. You two get so lost in your own world, I worry about what could happen without you noticing.”
It was tempting to laugh, but Axel sounded serious and maybe he had a point. “I’ll try.”
I ended the call and went into the kitchen, where Kade was cleaning up after Axel. My brother wasn’t the neatest of cooks, leaving plates and dishes on the side next to the sink.
“Leave them. Axel will do them when he gets back.”
“Will he be long?” Kade tried his hands on a towel and turned to face me.
The space between us was charged with awareness. “Not long enough.” Kade pouted, and we both cracked up.
“Tea?”
“Sounds good.”
Kade bustled about, making us tea and looking through some of the baked goods James had left for us. He told me about his Papa, Jasper, how he’d always made muffins on the weekend to last during the week when he was teaching his kindergarten class. They would bake together.
He asked me if I felt like I’d missed out by not being able to go to college.
Before everything happened, he was taking classes in finance.
“Truthfully? No. The thing is, people assume I dropped out of school and just run the pack, but I actually graduated a full year early. I did night school classes and have a business degree.”
Kade’s mouth gaped. “Seriously?”
I laughed. “Yeah. I had to sell some things to afford the tuition, but all that I learned has helped the business grow, so we’re in a better position than we were.”
“I’m impressed.”
“We all were.” Axel said, walking into the kitchen. He handed over my laptop and some files. “I’ve put your overnight bag in Kade’s room. I hope that’s okay, Kade.”
“It’s fine, thank you Axel. I was thinking…” He took a sip of his mint tea. “Once everything is done with Rincoln, I’ll need some help packing up this place and I’ll need to quit my job.”
“What?” My mind couldn’t wrap itself around what he was saying.
“I guess I’m trying to say that I do want to bond fully with you, just not until this mess with Rincoln is done.
There’s just this sense that something big is going to happen and I want to wait until after because it’s likely I’ll have another heat.
I don’t want to be vulnerable while he’s still out there. Does that make sense?”
“It does. You don’t have to quit your job, though.”
“Oh, I know,” he said casually. “I want to. I want to focus on the pack and my place in it. As Alpha Mate, I want to be seen to be helping my pack.”
Axel paused where he was backing out of the kitchen. “You are going to be a great Alpha Mate.”
“Hmm, maybe. I feel better about it now that Dr Flemming is pretty sure we can have kids after all.” Kade took another sip of his tea and missed Axel’s eyes widening.
“You thought you couldn’t have kids?” Axel asked, sounding alarmed.
I left it to Kade to answer. Anything related to his body and his past were his to share. “Yeah, when I was in the hospital I was told I could be infertile, but my shifter healing and the heats might have fixed it.”
“Dr Flemming was very positive.” I couldn’t help adding, then quickly changed the subject. “Kade, if you want to finish school, the pack can pay for it.”
My mate gave me a pleased look. “Thanks, I’ll think about it. I have money. This house is paid for and I’ve got some money stashed away, so that’s not the issue. I just need to find out what’s needed by the pack.”
“I’d rather you focused on what you want to do, rather on what you think the pack needs.
Not that it isn’t sweet that you want to put the pack first. I want you to be happy.
The pack is running well as it is.” My wolf gave an approving chuff that I was sure that Kade heard through our bond.
He smiled at me and the expression left a warm feeling in my chest.
“But I want to pull my weight,” Kade interrupted.
“And you will, by doing something that you enjoy. Happy omegas make a happy pack and while you are more than your designation, as Alpha Mate, your happiness is important to the general mood of the pack.”
I felt Axel’s pride as he sent through the pack link. Exactly, brother .
“I’ll give it some thought,” Kade finally said, before changing the subject to what we were going to eat for lunch.
Watching my brother interact with my mate filled me with so much joy. My wolf barked a happy sound and I couldn’t help my grin.
After lunch, they left me in the small kitchen so that they could go play something on one of Kade’s gaming systems. I listened to them chatting as I worked and finally caught up with what I’d missed while I got to know my mate.
I loved listening to Axel and Kade bond as they shot zombies on the screen and couldn’t help but chime in with insults for Axel when he tried to cheat his way to a win. I felt Kade’s quiet delight and basked in the feeling. It felt good to provide him with a family.
Chase sent me messages complaining that Axel was with me rather than him, and I did feel bad. With the Rincoln situation and not knowing how many in the pack were compromised, I really needed him holding the fort at home. Deep down, he knew that, too. Still, it didn’t stop him from complaining.
Axel made himself scarce in the evening after a dinner of one of the many meals James had provided. Kade and I settled under a blanket on the couch and pretended to watch a movie while we told each other stories of our childhood and teens.
We stuck to the happy stories and just relaxed, content knowing that the other was near. We traded kisses and touches until the heat rose between us and we ditched the movie for a heavy make-out session.
Get a room! Axel sent over the link. I blushed in embarrassment.
Kade laughed against my lips and gasped as I hoisted him into my arms, striding towards his room and ensuite bathroom.
I put him down long enough so we could brush our teeth, but couldn’t stop touching him. I feared I was addicted to my mate.
With the silence ward in place, I licked and sucked every inch of my mate until he was begging me to fill him with my cock.
His cries and pleas were music to my ears. My name on his lips sent pleasure rushing through me as I brought us to completion.
Before my knot could form, I pulled out of him.
A grumbling sound of approval escaped as I noticed my seed leaking out.
I rubbed it into the skin of Kade’s taint and thighs, wanting more of my scent on him.
My wolf huffed in approval as I pushed it back inside Kade’s hole.
Kade let out a sleepy giggle, and I fell a little more in love with the man who was the other piece of my soul.