Chapter Twenty-Six
Chase
At seven o’clock, Chase parked in the car park at the beach. The bonfire and staked lights lit the area well enough to make out a sizeable crowd. Sitting on a fence, the unmistakable shape of Ford lit a cigarette, with Lucky next to him, while his friends hovered nearby.
Neko and Grant filtered from the car and Chase followed. Locking the door, he handed Grant the keys and headed to his boys.
Chase had put effort in, gelling his hair, putting on tight jeans and a white shirt open at the collar, letting them see what they could enjoy all weekend.
Lucky had easily outdone him—he looked stunning in a cropped tank top with a scooped neckline and a cropped denim jacket with three-quarter length sleeves.
He’d paired the look with low-riding shorts that emphasised his curves and showed off a circle of sigils around his waist that made Chase’s mouth water.
His wrists were decorated with bracelets, fingers littered with rings, and hair tied up into a knot at the base of a long ponytail.
While Lucky wore bright neon colours, Ford was a perfect contrast—black jeans and a black shirt open at the collar, the leather thong with Omha’s protective pouch around his neck.
Lucky greeted him with a hug, then stepped away to make room for Ford to slip a finger into his belt loop.
Tugging Chase closer, he caught his mouth in a kiss. “Fucking sexy, as usual, meda.”
“Back at ya.”
While Ford turned into a protective ORTa, checking everyone had plans to get home, Chase focused on Lucky. “Baby, you are fucking edible.”
Lucky gripped his waist, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Thank you.”
Looking around, he clocked three older alphas hovering at the gated entrance to the beach. Ford accepted a bottle of beer from one, who edged closer to Phoenix and leaned an elbow on his shoulder.
Chase eyed the strangers, intrigued by how different they were.
The one interested in Phoenix was tall, blond and built like a brick, all wide shoulders and big muscles, clad in a tight T-shirt and baseball shorts.
There were hints of Morsert province in his bone structure and a scroll of tattoos on his biceps.
The one raking his green eyes over their group was smaller, more compact but equally thick.
Long dark hair grazed his polo-shirt collar, paired with cargo shorts, and his skin was tanned, like he’d seen the sun recently.
The last alpha was thin and medium built with light blond hair and blue eyes.
A far less intimidating but distant gaze peeked from under a baseball cap, matched with a shirt of bright flowers and plain skinny jeans.
“You’ve never brought an omega before, King,” Skinny Jeans remarked, staring at Phoenix intently.
Caroline had to nudge Phoenix before he looked away.
“More than one,” the blond remarked, tucking his hands into his cargo shorts.
“They’re not for you.” Ford sipped his beer before passing the bottle to Chase, who sipped and wrapped an arm around Lucky’s neck, a not-so-subtle reminder that he was off limits.
Five foot of feisty omega, easily recognisable as Jesi, shoved the ogling alphas out of the way.
“Amazing. I’ve been on your team for years and none of you drool over me with the disrespect you’re showing these omegas.
” He made deliberate eye contact with each ORTa.
“These underage omegas, on Heatwave, who are about to meet the badass ORT for the first time, and be surrounded by a group of adult alphas they’ve never met.
Never mind their comfort if that means bolstering your ego and giving you fresh meat to ogle.
” Once he made his point, and each of the alphas looked uncomfortable, he turned with a flair that had Ford grinning in pride.
Lucky slipped from under Ford’s arm and hugged the omega. “I’m Lucky. I know we met before, but you’re honestly a bit of a blur. I’m so happy to meet you again.”
Jesi wrapped his arms around Lucky’s waist with obvious reluctance. He patted Lucky’s back, breaking the hug. “I’m glad you’ve fully recovered.”
Lucky nodded, not bothered by the reminder of the last time they’d met.
“There’s so much I want to ask you,” he gushed, grasping Jesi’s hands.
Then he flipped a switch, to focus on the group of alpha ORT, stepped closer and pointed to the polo-shirt.
“Roby.” The man grinned at the agent next to him, who raised an eyebrow.
Lucky glanced between the two remaining men, then swung his arms behind his back with confidence.
“That makes you Tomm.” He stopped, offering his hand to the alpha in baseball shorts.
The man shook his hand briefly, then Lucky stepped towards the last man in the skinny jeans. “And you’re Sykes.”
Sykes froze when Lucky hugged him, clearly taking Ford’s advice to treat the ORT like family to heart.
Lucky released the ORTa from the hug with a beaming smile. “Thank you for keeping Ford safe. He means everything to us.”
Chase’s heart fluttered at the look Lucky shot him when he said ‘us’ and not ‘me’. Even Ford slung an arm around Chase’s neck, looking smug with pride for these two feisty omegas who could ease the awkward tension of meeting new people.
Then Sykes stepped up behind Lucky to wrap both arms around his waist, and every nerve bristled. “You’re a sweet thing.”
When Grant stepped forward, Chase put a hand out to stop him. He wasn’t threatened by an ORT asshole getting close to his omega. Lucky had proven more than once that he could handle any alpha who dared touch him without his consent.
Lucky tangled fingers with Sykes, making it clear he didn’t mind the contact. Maybe knowing that Sykes was Ford’s closest friend in the ORT made a difference. “Will you introduce me to Darkin?”
“Why?”
“Because he shot my mate.”
Jesi gasped and spun to face Ford, who was oblivious, with eyes for no one else.
Ford stepped into Lucky’s orbit to tuck his finger into the waistband of his shorts. “Come here, you sexy fuck.”
Lucky laughed until Ford shut him up with a kiss. The moan Lucky let loose was positively obscene, and every one of the ORT looked uncomfortable.
Grant hit Chase’s arm to get his attention. “Let’s find me a beer. I’ll needta be plastered to put up with this shit all night.”
When Grant grabbed a startled Phoenix’s hand, he reached for Caroline, pulling her along. She smiled shyly and gripped his hand as Grant led the way through the open gate towards the bonfire.
He could hear Kain grumbling as he walked away. “Nobody tell you it’s cruel to make out in front of singletons?”
Between long, deep kisses, Ford whispered to Lucky, encouraging his happy laughter to the point he was in a fit of giggles. His three ORT friends looked on in confusion, like they’d never seen Ford this way. Chase wouldn’t be surprised. He wasn’t normally an expressive person.
But Grant was right—they’d better get used to it, because this was their night to be flirty and fun, to embrace the freedom of building their bond, and Chase intended to enjoy every minute.
Ford
His friends were assholes, but he hadn’t expected them to scare the omegas.
The way Lucky had eased the tension and taken the attention was fucking adorable.
When Lucky ducked away from his kisses, Ford was disappointed, until he stepped closer to Jesi and tucked his hands into his back pockets, probably belatedly remembering Ford’s warning that Jesi wasn’t fond of unexpected contact.
“Is there anything to eat? I’m starving. ”
Jesi took his hand and Ford could see that Lucky had successfully charmed yet another person in Ford’s life, though the way he’d won over Sykes had been unexpected.
“Kain! Back away from the alpha,” Lucky shouted, sparking off a round of deep-voiced echoes from the ORT already on the beach.
Ford couldn’t possibly love the cheeky shit any more than he already did.
Sykes tucked his hands into his pockets, smirking at Ford in a way that promised trouble. “I like him.”
While Tomm shrugged, Roby nodded. “He’s got fire.”
“You have no idea.” Chase stepped closer to take the forgotten cigarette from Ford’s fingers. He took a drag, blew out the smoke, then backed away a step. “I’ll keep our boy out of trouble.”
Ford laughed when Chase offered the cigarette, and caught his wrist to tug him closer.
“Nice try.” He dropped his free hand to Chase’s waist. It was obvious he intended to run off and let these guys think Lucky belonged to Ford, like his true mate bond didn’t matter.
Lifting his arm, he spun Chase to hug his back. “This one is mine too. Ain’t ya?”
Chase huffed a laugh. “Yeah, I’m yours, darlin’.” He thumped his head against Ford’s shoulder, giving in.
He loved hearing those words. He nipped at Chase’s earlobe and found his friends staring, shocked despite his warnings. This was why he’d waited at the fence with Lucky, refusing to let them misunderstand.
Sykes ran a hand through his hair. “You got blessed with fine lookin’ mates, bud. But can we get going, ’cause I got my eye on a sweet omega.”
“Touch Lucky’s friends and I’ll break your legs,” he warned, aware Phoenix was exactly Sykes’ type.
Sliding from his hold, Chase never released his hand, but took another sip of the bottle of beer. “Come on. I’m getting itchy with Lucky so far away.”
* * * *
Over the next hour, Lucky charmed someone into letting him control the music. The low-volume alternative music the ORT boys loved became burst-an-eardrum dance tunes. Ford might have complained if Lucky wasn’t shaking his fine ass, dancing and singing.
On the third song, Lucky accepted a shot from Neko, who had brought a dozen to their circle, tossed the drink back and slipped off his denim jacket.
Every mark was on show from Lucky’s hands to his wrist, the marks on his legs to his thighs, the designs around his neck and down his spine.
Every single sigil was visible, thanks to the backless top held together by a chain connected to each side and looped into a metal heart in the centre of Lucky’s spine.
Lucky was in his element tonight, breaking barriers, fitting in like he knew every ORTa personally.
A few had worked with his father, and were trying to keep a professional distance out of respect, but Lucky wormed his way into everyone’s hearts to make this the liveliest and most stress-relieving bonfire Ford had ever been to.
Whenever he or Chase couldn’t dance any longer, Lucky coaxed Neko or Jesi into joining him. He even danced with Sykes, who was happy to be openly tactile with a kindred spirit.
Within hours, Sykes and Lucky were besties, Jesi was gushing over how nice Lucky was, and Phoenix was mooning over Sykes like a lovesick puppy.
Lying against a grassy rise along the beach, the waves crashing ahead, the bonfire flaming to his right, Ford couldn’t remember when he’d last been this relaxed and happy.
Chase picked at his beer bottle, back tucked into Ford’s side. “Before the bond sparked, I thought I’d never find my true mate, but maybe Omha was guiding me. Maybe she needed Lucky and I to wait…to leave space for you.”
Ford kissed his forehead and took the empty bottle from his fingers. “D’you love me, meda?”
Chase sat up enough to lean his elbow on Ford’s shoulder, fingers sinking into Ford’s hair, his shirt buttons undone halfway because of the heat of the fire.
“I fucking love you, darlin’. And I love our omega so fucking much.
” Chase laughed unexpectedly and raked his fingers through Ford’s hair.
“When I saw how you took care of Lucky, I was scared I’d lose him to you.
But if I had to lose him, to trust another alpha to care for and love my omega… you’re the only one I would choose.”
“You drunk? You ain’t making much sense.”
Chase let his fingers drift to the back of Ford’s head. “Maybe drunk on you and Lucky, on our bond. Nothing can compare to the high you give me. I can’t count how many times I was scared to be alone with you while we were trapped in that hotel.”
Ford swallowed, surprised. No one had looked at him the way Chase was now, the way he looked at Lucky.
“Whatever’s inside us that made us mates feels tight in my chest,” Chase whispered, like the words were a cherished secret.
“The bond screams at me every time you look at me. It wants me to bond you, to mate with you, to secure this thing between us. I would die if you were to leave. That feeling scares me, because that’s how I feel about Lucky.
Except he’s my true mate and omega. No one can tell me why I feel for you the way I do.
Or why you treat me like your precious omega and that makes my heart happy.
Why I don’t look at you like my omega, but as my alpha. ”
Chase blinked sleepily. “I feel like I can be myself, without having to worry or apologise for how I am or what I feel. I don’t have to be afraid to tell you shit, because you would never hurt me.
I never noticed the weight of responsibility that comes with being an alpha until you came along.
I don’t need to be Lucky’s badass protector, because he’s got you.
When you need to rest, I want you to rely on me. ”
Ford kissed him, because if he said another word he might crack and no one needed that shit spilling out across the sand.
Grant sniffed and swiped at his eye. “He may not be drunk, but I am, and that was fucking beautiful,” he murmured, shuffling closer to hug his best friend.
Chase wrapped an arm around him, though he never left Ford’s personal bubble, and rubbed his cheek sleepily against Ford’s shoulder. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Ford leaned his forehead against Chase’s, savouring those words and the heartfelt truth behind them.